Multimodality in Pervasive Environment

Future pervasive environments are expected to immerse users in a consistent world of probes, sensors and actuators. Multimodal interfaces combined with social computing interactions and high-performance networking can foster a new generation of pervasive environments. However, much work is still needed to harness the full potential of multimodal interaction. In this paper we discuss some short-term research goals, including advanced techniques for joining and correlating multiple data flows, each with its own approximations and uncertainty models. Also, we discuss some longer term objectives, like providing users with a mental model of their own multimodal "aura", enabling them to collaborate with the network infrastructure toward inter-modal correlation of multimodal inputs, much in the same way as the human brain extracts a single self-conscious experience from multiple sensorial data flows

Adaptable multimodal interfaces in pervasive environments

M1-4: Emerging Consumer TechnologiesInternational audienceIn the context of pervasive environments, multimodal interaction plays a pivotal role because multimodality provides flexibility and naturalness for interaction. The challenge of multimodal interfaces in pervasive environments is then to build reliable and autonomic processing systems able to analyze and understand multiple interaction modalities and reconfigure itself in real-time. Addressing this issue, we have developed an autonomic framework called DynaMo (Dynamic multiMOdality) for the development and runtime management of multimodal interaction in pervasive environments. DynaMo is composed by a specification language dedicated to the multimodality domain and a runtime machine that instantiates these specifications. In this paper, we present the overall architecture of our solution DynaMo that is based on partial interaction models, and how these models are completed at runtime to build multimodal interfaces adapted to the local execution environment

Everyday writing in Graeco-Roman and late antique Egypt : outline of a new research programme

In October 2017, the European Research Council awarded a Starting Grant to Klaas Bentein for his project EVWRIT: Everyday writing in Graeco-Roman and Late Antique Egypt: A socio-semiotic study of communicative variation. In what follows, the research goals, methodology, and corpus of this new project are briefly outlined

Multimodal and ubiquitous computing systems: supporting independent-living older users

We document the rationale and design of a multimodal interface to a pervasive/ubiquitous computing system that supports independent living by older people in their own homes. The Millennium Home system involves fitting a resident’s home with sensors – these sensors can be used to trigger sequences of interaction with the resident to warn them about dangerous events, or to check if they need external help. We draw lessons from the design process and conclude the paper with implications for the design of multimodal interfaces to ubiquitous systems developed for the elderly and in healthcare, as well as for more general ubiquitous computing applications

Towards Simulating Humans in Augmented Multi-party Interaction

Human-computer interaction requires modeling of the user. A user profile typically contains preferences, interests, characteristics, and interaction behavior. However, in its multimodal interaction with a smart environment the user displays characteristics that show how the user, not necessarily consciously, verbally and nonverbally provides the smart environment with useful input and feedback. Especially in ambient intelligence environments we encounter situations where the environment supports interaction between the environment, smart objects (e.g., mobile robots, smart furniture) and human participants in the environment. Therefore it is useful for the profile to contain a physical representation of the user obtained by multi-modal capturing techniques. We discuss the modeling and simulation of interacting participants in the European AMI research project

An information assistant system for the prevention of tunnel vision in crisis management

In the crisis management environment, tunnel vision is a set of bias in decision makers’ cognitive process which often leads to incorrect understanding of the real crisis situation, biased perception of information, and improper decisions. The tunnel vision phenomenon is a consequence of both the challenges in the task and the natural limitation in a human being’s cognitive process. An information assistant system is proposed with the purpose of preventing tunnel vision. The system serves as a platform for monitoring the on-going crisis event. All information goes through the system before arrives at the user. The system enhances the data quality, reduces the data quantity and presents the crisis information in a manner that prevents or repairs the user’s cognitive overload. While working with such a system, the users (crisis managers) are expected to be more likely to stay aware of the actual situation, stay open minded to possibilities, and make proper decisions