Technical innovation in human science: Examples in cognitive technologies

In order to show how technological innovation and scientific innovation are linked in the course of research in human science, we present an account of a series of innovations made in our laboratory (Distal Glove – Tactos system – Intertact server – Dialtact module). We will thus see how research on the technical constitution of cognitive and perceptual activities can be associated with a process of innovation. Devices which were initially developed for the purposes of performing experiments contributed both to scientific inventions and to developments with a practical and social finality

Improvisation, Computers, and Interaction : Rethinking Human-Computer Interaction Through Music

Interaction is an integral part of all music. Interaction is part of listening, of playing, of composing and even of thinking about music. In this thesis the multiplicity of modes in which one may engage interactively in, through and with music is the starting point for rethinking Human-Computer Interaction in general and Interactive Music in particular. I propose that in Human-Computer interaction the methodology of control, interaction-as-control, in certain cases should be given up in favor for a more dynamic and reciprocal mode of interaction, interaction-as-difference: Interaction as an activity concerned with inducing differences that make a difference. Interaction-as-difference suggests a kind of parallelity rather than click-and-response. In essence, the movement from control to difference was a result of rediscovering the power of improvisation as a method for organizing and constructing musical content and is not to be understood as an opposition: It is rather a broadening of the more common paradigm of direct manipulation in Human-Computer Interaction. Improvisation is at the heart of all the sub-projects included in this thesis, also, in fact, in those that are not immediately related to music but more geared towards computation. Trusting the self-organizing aspect of musical improvisation, and allowing it to diffuse into other areas of my practice, constitutes the pivotal change that has radically influenced my artistic practice. Furthermore, is the work-in-movement (re-)introduced as a work kind that encompasses radically open works. The work-in-movement, presented and exemplified by a piece for guitar and computer, requires different modes of representation as the traditional musical score is too restrictive and is not able to communicate that which is the most central aspect: the collaboration, negotiation and interaction. The Integra framework and the relational database model with its corresponding XML representation is proposed as a means to produce annotated scores that carry past performances and version with it. The common nominator, the prerequisite, for interaction-as-difference and a improvisatory and self-organizing attitude towards musical practice it the notion of giving up of the Self. Only if the Self is able and willing to accept the loss the priority of interpretation (as for the composer) or the faithfulness to ideology or idiomatics (performer). Only is one is willing to forget is interaction-as-difference made possible. Among the artistic works that have been produced as part of this inquiry are some experimental tools in the form of computer software to support the proposed concepts of interactivity. These, along with the more traditional musical work make up both the object and the method in this PhD project. These sub-projects contained within the frame of the thesis, some (most) of which are still works-in-progress, are used to make inquiries into the larger question of the significance of interaction in the context of artistic practice involving computers

A cumulative index to the 1976 issues of a continuing bibliography on Aerospace Medicine and Biology

This publication is a cumulative index to the abstracts contained in Supplements 151 through 162 of Aerospace Medicine and Biology: A continuing bibliography. It includes three indexes - subject, personal author, and corporate source

Interactive maps for visually impaired people : design, usability and spatial cognition

Connaître la géographie de son environnement urbain est un enjeu important pour les personnes déficientes visuelles. Des cartes tactiles en relief sont généralement utilisées mais elles présentent des limitations importantes (nombre limité d'informations, recours à une légende braille). Les nouvelles technologies permettent d'envisager des solutions innovantes. Nous avons conçu et développé une carte interactive accessible, en suivant un processus de conception participative. Cette carte est basée sur un dispositif multi-touch, une carte tactile en relief et une sortie sonore. Ce dispositif permet au sujet de recueillir des informations en double-cliquant sur certains objets de la carte. Nous avons démontré expérimentalement que ce prototype était plus efficace et plus satisfaisant pour des utilisateurs déficients visuels qu'une carte tactile simple. Nous avons également exploré et testé différents types d'interactions avancées accessibles pour explorer la carte. Cette thèse démontre l'importance des cartes tactiles interactives pour les déficients visuels et leur cognition spatiale.Knowing the geography of an urban environment is crucial for visually impaired people. Tactile relief maps are generally used, but they retain significant limitations (limited amount of information, use of braille legend, etc.). Recent technological progress allows the development of innovative solutions which overcome these limitations. In this thesis, we present the design of an accessible interactive map through a participatory design process. This map is composed by a multi-touch screen with tactile map overlay and speech output. It provides auditory information when tapping on map elements. We have demonstrated in an experiment that our prototype was more effective and satisfactory for visually impaired users than a simple raised-line map. We also explored and tested different types of advanced non-visual interaction for exploring the map. This thesis demonstrates the importance of interactive tactile maps for visually impaired people and their spatial cognition

Establishing an anatomically and clinically relevant tissue engineered tendon-bone model of the flexor digitorum profundus insertion

Avulsion of the flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) tendon from the distal phalanx (DP) in the finger is a common and distinct clinical injury of the hand (‘jersey finger’) with considerable functional morbidity. Multiple surgical techniques are employed to reattach the tendon to the bone, but no single technique has emerged as the optimal treatment method. Issues such as reduced range of movement, infection, nail deformity and cost complicate the requirement for strong fixation and prevention of re-rupture. Crucially, repair of avulsion injuries does not regenerate the enthesis, the region of graded multiphasic microanatomy at the tendon-bone insertion. The enthesis allows uniform muscle force transmission between the mechanically distinct tendon and bone through specialised adaptations to dissipate stress foci. Avulsion repair is scar-mediated and of low mechanical strength, prone to re-rupture at the tendon-bone interface. Interfacial tissue engineering provides the opportunity to create an in vitro tendon-bone model with potential to re-establish the enthesis through co-culture of tendon and bone cells, which could be used to evaluate repair techniques or as a composite tissue graft for clinical use. The aim of this project was to establish an in vitro model system that was anatomically representative and clinically applicable to the investigation and treatment of FDP avulsion injury. The 2 main objectives were to thoroughly evaluate the native anatomy of the human FDP insertion, and to design and develop a relevant 3-dimensional (3D) in vitro tendon-bone co-culture model. Human cadaveric tissue was dissected and photographed for image analysis to determine gross shape and dimension morphometrics of the FDP-DP tendon-bone interface, FDP tendon and DP bone. Finger and gender differences were found to significantly influence measurement values, with data groupings informing design guidelines for ‘small’, ‘medium’ and ‘large’ model sizes. Cadaveric tissue was also histologically processed to qualitatively describe the fibrocartilaginous FDP enthesis for the first time. Quantitative analysis of tendon fibres revealed a mean angle of insertion across the soft-hard tissue interface of 30o, providing a guide to the angled attachment of the tendon and bone model components. Development of the in vitro model enhanced an existing multi-tissue fibrin scaffold soft tissue-bone anchor design into an FDP tendon analogue-DP bone anchor single species co-culture construct. Rat fibroblast and osteoblast cultures were established and characterised in standard growth medium, mineralising medium and a 50:50 media mix. Formation and maturation of the fibroblast-seeded fibrin tendon analogue was analysed histologically in single and multi-strand cultures for morphological development and collagen deposition. Long term tendon analogues were cultured with different anchor sizes, fibrin constituent volumes, cell numbers and growth media for width comparison with cadaveric tendon data, and assessment of 3D morphology with optical coherence tomography. Investigation of the bone anchor component focused on brushite, a phosphate mineral-based bone scaffold material, including assessment of attachment and proliferation of seeded osteoblasts. Model assembly required development of a novel 3D printed mold and silicone impression system for guided tendon analogue culture and angled bone anchor attachment. Optimal design elements and in vitro culture materials ultimately combined to produce a fibroblast-seeded tendon analogue and osteoblast-seeded bone anchor 3D model, co-cultured in 3 anatomical sizes clinically relevant to FDP tendon avulsion. These models can be used as the basis to study enthesis formation and further optimised towards a clinical product for use in FDP avulsion repair