Engaging consumer through the storefront: evidences from integrating interactive technologies

Although previous studies identified the importance of storefront windows on consumer’s entry decision, there is still a lack of research on engaging consumers at the storefront through the integration with interactive technologies. The purpose of this study is to carry out an exploratory investigation into the consumers preference for a certain store based on the storefront windows (in terms of entry decision), with emphasis on the current most attractive interactive technologies. Thus, we examine the extent to which an exploratory sample of consumers is influenced by storefront interactive technologies. Emotional aspects emerge as the most influencing ones in the case of traditional storefronts, while both emotional and functional aspects emerge as the most influencing factors while considering the integration of interactive technologies. In particular, our results shed light on the way these elements can be managed for the design of future attractive storefront windows, by providing important insights for scholars and practitioners

Engaging consumer through the storefront: evidences from integrating interactive technologies

Although previous studies identified the importance of storefront windows on consumer’s entry decision, there is still a lack of research on engaging consumers at the storefront through the integration with interactive technologies. The purpose of this study is to carry out an exploratory investigation into the consumers preference for a certain store based on the storefront windows (in terms of entry decision), with emphasis on the current most attractive interactive technologies. Thus, we examine the extent to which an exploratory sample of consumers is influenced by storefront interactive technologies. Emotional aspects emerge as the most influencing ones in the case of traditional storefronts, while both emotional and functional aspects emerge as the most influencing factors while considering the integration of interactive technologies. In particular, our results shed light on the way these elements can be managed for the design of future attractive storefront windows, by providing important insights for scholars and practitioners

Sensor fusion for tangible acoustic interfaces for human computer intreraction

This thesis presents the development of tangible acoustic interfaces for human computer interaction. The method adopted was to position sensors on the surface of a solid object to detect acoustic waves generated during an interaction, process the sensor signals and estimate either the location of a discrete impact or the trajectory of a moving point of contact on the surface. Higher accuracy and reliability were achieved by employing sensor fusion to combine the information collected from redundant sensors electively positioned on the solid object. Two different localisation approaches are proposed in the thesis. The learning-based approach is employed to detect discrete impact positions. With this approach, a signature vector representation of time-series patterns from a single sensor is matched with database signatures for known impact locations. For improved reliability, a criterion is proposed to extract the location signature from two vectors. The other approach is based on the Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) of a source signal captured by a spatially distributed array of sensors. Enhanced positioning algorithms that consider near-field scenario, dispersion, optimisation and filtration are proposed to tackle the problems of passive acoustic localisation in solid objects. A computationally efficient algorithm for tracking a continuously moving source is presented. Spatial filtering of the estimated trajectory has been performed using Kalman filtering with automated initialisation

Accommodation requirements for microgravity science and applications research on space station

Scientific research conducted in the microgravity environment of space represents a unique opportunity to explore and exploit the benefits of materials processing in the virtual abscence of gravity induced forces. NASA has initiated the preliminary design of a permanently manned space station that will support technological advances in process science and stimulate the development of new and improved materials having applications across the commercial spectrum. A study is performed to define from the researchers' perspective, the requirements for laboratory equipment to accommodate microgravity experiments on the space station. The accommodation requirements focus on the microgravity science disciplines including combustion science, electronic materials, metals and alloys, fluids and transport phenomena, glasses and ceramics, and polymer science. User requirements have been identified in eleven research classes, each of which contain an envelope of functional requirements for related experiments having similar characteristics, objectives, and equipment needs. Based on these functional requirements seventeen items of experiment apparatus and twenty items of core supporting equipment have been defined which represent currently identified equipment requirements for a pressurized laboratory module at the initial operating capability of the NASA space station

Development of tangible acoustic interfaces for human computer interaction

Tangible interfaces, such as keyboards, mice, touch pads, and touch screens, are widely used in human computer interaction. A common disadvantage with these devices is the presence of mechanical or electronic devices at the point of interaction with the interface. The aim of this work has been to investigate and develop new tangible interfaces that can be adapted to virtually any surface, by acquiring and studying the acoustic vibrations produced by the interaction of the user's finger on the surface. Various approaches have been investigated in this work, including the popular time difference of arrival (TDOA) method, time-frequency analysis of dispersive velocities, the time reversal method, and continuous object tracking. The received signal due to a tap at a source position can be considered the impulse response function of the wave propagation between the source and the receiver. With the time reversal theory, the signals induced by impacts from one position contain the unique and consistent information that forms its signature. A pattern matching method, named Location Template Matching (LTM), has been developed to identify the signature of the received signals from different individual positions. Various experiments have been performed for different purposes, such as consistency testing, acquisition configuration, and accuracy of recognition. Eventually, this can be used to implement HCI applications on any arbitrary surfaces, including those of 3D objects and inhomogeneous materials. The resolution with the LTM method has been studied by different experiments, investigating factors such as optimal sensor configurations and the limitation of materials. On plates of the same material, the thickness is the essential determinant of resolution. With the knowledge of resolution for one material, a simple but faster search method becomes feasible to reduce the computation. Multiple simultaneous impacts are also recognisable in certain cases. The TDOA method has also been evaluated with two conventional approaches. Taking into account the dispersive properties of the vibration propagation in plates, time-frequency analysis, with continuous wavelet transformation, has been employed for the accurate localising of dispersive signals. In addition, a statistical estimation of maximum likelihood has been developed to improve the accuracy and reliability of acoustic localisation. A method to measure and verify the dispersive velocities has also been introduced. To enable the commonly required "drag & drop" function in the operation of graphical user interface (GUI) software, the tracking of a finger scratching on a surface needs to be implemented. To minimise the tracking error, a priori knowledge of previous measurements of source locations is needed to linearise the state model that enables prediction of the location of the contact point and the direction of movement. An adaptive Kalman filter has been used for this purpose.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

MARINE ECOSYSTEMS THROUGH THE LENS OF SOUNDSCAPE ECOLOGY: HOW BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES, LANDSCAPE STRUCTURE, AND ANTHROPOGENIC ACTIVITY AFFECT SPATIOTEMPORAL SOUNDSCAPE PATTERNS

Marine soundscapes, or the collection of all sounds across a landscape, consist of dynamic patterns resulting from natural and anthropogenic sound-producing processes. Soundscape ecology is focused on understanding how these processes interact with environmental variables and landscape structure to create dynamic soundscape patterns across space and time. As the field develops, there has been rising interest in using soundscapes as a tool to assess biodiversity and inform conservation and management decisions. However, understanding spatiotemporal soundscape patterns and their associations with ecological and environmental covariates is needed for passive acoustic monitoring to be informative. My dissertation addresses this need through two focal questions: (1) how do soundscapes vary across marine landscapes and is this variation explained by ecological metrics; and (2) how can soundscapes, or passive acoustic monitoring, be used to inform conservation and management priorities? To understand soundscape variation, I first compared the soundscapes of natural and artificial offshore reefs, finding that their temporal patterns were similar but spectral content differed. Following these results, I evaluated soundscape spatial variation across a range of estuarine habitat mosaics to explore whether soundscape differences between habitat types were associated with environmental metrics. I observed four distinct soundscape types that were associated with patch- and landscape-scale habitat metrics. Variation in all soundscape metrics summarized was explained by landscape-scale habitat metrics, while patch-scale metrics also explained sound levels, and abiotic metrics explained species-specific call rates. To evaluate how passive acoustic monitoring can be applied to conservation and management questions, I assessed whether soundscape monitoring was a useful complement to traditional video monitoring for tracking community development following deployment of an artificial reef. Comparing the soundscape of a newly deployed artificial reef to that of a nearby established reef revealed the colonization of multiple cryptic species that were not available from video monitoring. Lastly, I used multiple passive acoustic monitoring technologies to assess the spawning-associated grunt dynamics of Atlantic cod in a region with imminent offshore wind energy development. Elucidating the peak spawning period and aggregation site revealed that interactions between Atlantic cod spawning and offshore wind energy construction are likely. This dissertation advances understanding of soundscape variability in multiple ecosystems and demonstrates the benefit of passive acoustic monitoring for addressing applied ecological questions. By focusing on periods of peak acoustic activity and exploring variation across marine landscapes, my research explained previously undescribed soundscape variation and identified the relevance of landscape context in understanding marine soundscape variability. In applied contexts, my findings demonstrate that species-specific results are the most ecologically informative, but the current application of passive acoustic monitoring is limited by a lack of reliable identification of species-specific call types and associated call detectors. Advances in call detection will facilitate more nuanced ecological questions to be asked of marine soundscape and expand its relevance for addressing conservation and management priorities.Doctor of Philosoph

Application and validation of capacitive proximity sensing systems in smart environments

Smart environments feature a number of computing and sensing devices that support occupants in performing their tasks. In the last decades there has been a multitude of advances in miniaturizing sensors and computers, while greatly increasing their performance. As a result new devices are introduced into our daily lives that have a plethora of functions. Gathering information about the occupants is fundamental in adapting the smart environment according to preference and situation. There is a large number of different sensing devices available that can provide information about the user. They include cameras, accelerometers, GPS, acoustic systems, or capacitive sensors. The latter use the properties of an electric field to sense presence and properties of conductive objects within range. They are commonly employed in finger-controlled touch screens that are present in billions of devices. A less common variety is the capacitive proximity sensor. It can detect the presence of the human body over a distance, providing interesting applications in smart environments. Choosing the right sensor technology is an important decision in designing a smart environment application. Apart from looking at previous use cases, this process can be supported by providing more formal methods. In this work I present a benchmarking model that is designed to support this decision process for applications in smart environments. Previous benchmarks for pervasive systems have been adapted towards sensors systems and include metrics that are specific for smart environments. Based on distinct sensor characteristics, different ratings are used as weighting factors in calculating a benchmarking score. The method is verified using popularity matching in two scientific databases. Additionally, there are extensions to cope with central tendency bias and normalization with regards to average feature rating. Four relevant application areas are identified by applying this benchmark to applications in smart environments and capacitive proximity sensors. They are indoor localization, smart appliances, physiological sensing and gesture interaction. Any application area has a set of challenges regarding the required sensor technology, layout of the systems, and processing that can be tackled using various new or improved methods. I will present a collection of existing and novel methods that support processing data generated by capacitive proximity sensors. These are in the areas of sparsely distributed sensors, model-driven fitting methods, heterogeneous sensor systems, image-based processing and physiological signal processing. To evaluate the feasibility of these methods, several prototypes have been created and tested for performance and usability. Six of them are presented in detail. Based on these evaluations and the knowledge generated in the design process, I am able to classify capacitive proximity sensing in smart environments. This classification consists of a comparison to other popular sensing technologies in smart environments, the major benefits of capacitive proximity sensors, and their limitations. In order to support parties interested in developing smart environment applications using capacitive proximity sensors, I present a set of guidelines that support the decision process from technology selection to choice of processing methods