79 research outputs found
A Computational Method based on Radio Frequency Technologies for the Analysis of Accessibility of Disabled People in Sustainable Cities
The sustainability strategy in urban spaces arises from reflecting on how to achieve a more habitable city and is materialized in a series of sustainable transformations aimed at humanizing different environments so that they can be used and enjoyed by everyone without exception and regardless of their ability. Modern communication technologies allow new opportunities to analyze efficiency in the use of urban spaces from several points of view: adequacy of facilities, usability, and social integration capabilities. The research presented in this paper proposes a method to perform an analysis of movement accessibility in sustainable cities based on radio frequency technologies and the ubiquitous computing possibilities of the new Internet of Things paradigm. The proposal can be deployed in both indoor and outdoor environments to check specific locations of a city. Finally, a case study in a controlled context has been simulated to validate the proposal as a pre-deployment step in urban environments
A Personalized Trip Planner For Vulnerable Road Users
This research presents an adaptive and personalized routing model that enables individuals with disabilities to save their route preferences to a mobility assistant platform. The proactive approach based on anticipated user need accommodates vulnerable road usersâ personalized optimum dynamic routing rather than a reactive approach passively awaiting input. Most of the currently available trip planners target the general publicâs use of simpler route options prioritized based on static road characteristics. These static normative approaches are only satisfactory when conditions of intermediate intersections in the network are consistent, a constant rate of change occurs per each change of the segment condition, and the same fixed routes are valid every day regardless of the user preference. In this study, we model the vulnerable road user mobility problem by accommodating personalized preferences changing by time, sidewalk segment traversability, and the interaction between sidewalk factors and weather conditions for each segment contributing to a path choice. The developed reinforcement learning solution presents a lower average cost of personalized, accessible, and optimal path choices in various trip scenarios and superior to traditional shortest path algorithms (e.g., Dijkstra) with static and dynamic extensions
Ălaborer une approche d'assistance Ă la navigation Ă inspiration cognitive pour les personnes souffrant d'une incapacitĂ© visuelle majeuret : cas du piĂ©ton non voyant
Les personnes non voyantes font face Ă des dĂ©fis quotidiens au cours de leurs activitĂ©s de navigation. Afin dâoffrir des solutions technologiques pour les aider Ă surmonter ces dĂ©fis, il est nĂ©cessaire dâĂ©laborer une mĂ©thodologie de recherche appropriĂ©e qui prend en considĂ©ration leurs besoins spĂ©cifiques. Cette mĂ©thodologie nĂ©cessite des connaissances multidisciplinaires et une capacitĂ© de travailler avec des Ă©quipes provenant de diffĂ©rents domaines. Nous entamons cette thĂšse par un aperçu sur les diffĂ©rentes approches de conception adoptĂ©es en ingĂ©nierie et en rĂ©adaptation. Nous exposerons les principes de lâapproche classique dâingĂ©nierie, puis du design participatif, ensuite du design universel et enfin notre nouvelle approche de conception que nous nommons âle design cognitifâ. Nous mettons en Ă©vidence le potentiel de cette nouvelle approche pour fournir des solutions qui rĂ©pondent aux attentes et aux besoins des personnes non voyantes. Cette approche sert Ă amĂ©liorer la conscience situationnelle chez ces individus pendant leurs activitĂ©s de navigation dans des zones urbaines. Dans un premier temps, nous avons Ă©tudiĂ© la nature de la reprĂ©sentation mentale de lâespace chez les personnes non voyantes. AprĂšs cela, nous avons modĂ©lisĂ© la configuration de cette reprĂ©sentation mentale en nous basant sur les schĂ©mas dâimage. Ces schĂ©mas permettent de capturer de maniĂšre claire et significative les diffĂ©rentes relations qui existent entre les Ă©lĂ©ments de la reprĂ©sentation mentale. Ensuite, nous avons Ă©laborĂ© un modĂšle conceptuel sĂ©mantique de donnĂ©es spatiales utiles pour aider les individus non voyants dans leurs diffĂ©rentes tĂąches de navigation et de wayfinding. Ces donnĂ©es doivent ĂȘtre structurĂ©es de façon hiĂ©rarchique afin de garantir une meilleure communication entre lâoutil dâassistance et lâutilisateur non voyant. Enfin, nous avons intĂ©grĂ© ce modĂšle sĂ©mantique avec la norme ISO 19133:2005 dĂ©veloppĂ©e pour soutenir les services de suivi et de navigation des clients mobiles. Nous avons aussi utilisĂ© un scĂ©nario type de navigation qui illustre lâapport et la contribution du design cognitif pour concevoir des outils dâassistance pour les personnes non voyantes.Blind people encounter many challenges during their daily activities of navigation. In order to develop technological solutions to assist them, it is necessary to elaborate an appropriate research methodology that take into account the specific needs of people suffering from such a disability. This methodology requires multidisciplinary knowledge and the ability to work with teams with widely different backgrounds. First of all, we propose an overview of different approaches of design adopted in rehabilitation and engineering, beginning with the classical engineering approach, then progressing to participatory design, universal design and a novel approach of design that we call âcognitive designâ. Then, we highlight the potential of this latter approach in providing solutions that meet the expectations and the needs of disabled people. This approach helps to provide blind people with heightened situation awareness during their navigational activities within urban areas. At the beginning, we investigated the nature of the mental representation of space used by blind persons. We then represented this information using image schemata as these capture in a meaningful way the different features that make up the spatial configuration. Next, we elaborated a semantic model of useful geospatial data which will serve to assist the visually impaired in various tasks of navigation and wayfinding. These data must be hierarchically structured in order to guarantee a better communication between the device and blind users. After that, we integrated this semantic model with basic geographic information useful for tracking and navigation activities, using the ISO 19133:2005 data standard developed for Location-based Services. A typical scenario is used to show the contribution and value of adopting the cognitive design approach to develop an assistive tool for blind pedestrians
Designing usable mobile interfaces for spatial data
2010 - 2011This
dissertation
deals
mainly
with
the
discipline
of
Human-ÂâComputer
Interaction
(HCI),
with
particular
attention
on
the
role
that
it
plays
in
the
domain
of
modern
mobile
devices.
Mobile
devices
today
offer
a
crucial
support
to
a
plethora
of
daily
activities
for
nearly
everyone.
Ranging
from
checking
business
mails
while
traveling,
to
accessing
social
networks
while
in
a
mall,
to
carrying
out
business
transactions
while
out
of
office,
to
using
all
kinds
of
online
public
services,
mobile
devices
play
the
important
role
to
connect
people
while
physically
apart.
Modern
mobile
interfaces
are
therefore
expected
to
improve
the
user's
interaction
experience
with
the
surrounding
environment
and
offer
different
adaptive
views
of
the
real
world.
The
goal
of
this
thesis
is
to
enhance
the
usability
of
mobile
interfaces
for
spatial
data.
Spatial
data
are
particular
data
in
which
the
spatial
component
plays
an
important
role
in
clarifying
the
meaning
of
the
data
themselves.
Nowadays,
this
kind
of
data
is
totally
widespread
in
mobile
applications.
Spatial
data
are
present
in
games,
map
applications,
mobile
community
applications
and
office
automations.
In
order
to
enhance
the
usability
of
spatial
data
interfaces,
my
research
investigates
on
two
major
issues:
1. Enhancing
the
visualization
of
spatial
data
on
small
screens
2. Enhancing
the
text-Ââinput
methods
I
selected
the
Design Science Research approach
to
investigate
the
above
research
questions.
The
idea
underling
this
approach
is
âyou
build artifact to learn from itâ, in
other
words
researchers
clarify
what
is
new
in
their
design.
The
new
knowledge
carried
out
from
the
artifact
will
be
presented
in
form
of
interaction
design
patterns
in
order
to
support
developers
in
dealing
with
issues
of
mobile
interfaces.
The
thesis
is
organized
as
follows.
Initially
I
present
the
broader
context,
the
research
questions
and
the
approaches
I
used
to
investigate
them.
Then
the
results
are
split
into
two
main
parts.
In
the
first
part
I
present
the
visualization
technique
called
Framy.
The
technique
is
designed
to
support
users
in
visualizing
geographical
data
on
mobile
map
applications.
I
also
introduce
a
multimodal
extension
of
Framy
obtained
by
adding
sounds
and
vibrations.
After
that
I
present
the
process
that
turned
the
multimodal
interface
into
a
means
to
allow
visually
impaired
users
to
interact
with
Framy.
Some
projects
involving
the
design
principles
of
Framy
are
shown
in
order
to
demonstrate
the
adaptability
of
the
technique
in
different
contexts.
The
second
part
concerns
the
issue
related
to
text-Ââinput
methods.
In
particular
I
focus
on
the
work
done
in
the
area
of
virtual
keyboards
for
mobile
devices.
A
new
kind
of
virtual
keyboard
called
TaS
provides
users
with
an
input
system
more
efficient
and
effective
than
the
traditional
QWERTY
keyboard.
Finally,
in
the
last
chapter,
the
knowledge
acquired
is
formalized
in
form
of
interaction
design
patterns. [edited by author]X n.s
A human factors perspective on volunteered geographic information
This thesis takes a multidisciplinary approach to understanding the unique abilities of Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI) to enhance the utility of online mashups in ways not achievable with Professional Geographic Information (PGI). The key issues currently limiting the use of successful of VGI are the concern for quality, accuracy and value of the information, as well as the polarisation and bias of views within the user community. This thesis reviews different theoretical approaches in Human Factors, Geography, Information Science and Computer Science to help understand the notion of user judgements relative to VGI within an online environment (Chapter 2). Research methods relevant to a human factors investigation are also discussed (Chapter 3).
(Chapter 5) The scoping study established the fundamental insights into the terminology and nature of VGI and PGI, a range of users were engaged through a series of qualitative interviews. This led the development of a framework on VGI (Chapter 4), and comparative description of users in relation to one another through a value framework (Chapter 5). Study Two produced qualitative multi-methods investigation into how users perceive VGI and PGI in use (Chapter 6), demonstrating similarities and the unique ability for VGI to provide utility to consumers. Chapter Seven and Study Three brought insight into the specific abilities for VGI to enhance the user judgement of online information within an information relevance context (Chapter 7 and 8).
In understanding the outcomes of these studies, this thesis discusses how users perceive VGI as different from PGI in terms of its benefit to consumers from a user centred design perspective (Chapter 9). In particular, the degree to which user concerns are valid, the limitation of VGI in application and its potential strengths in enriching the user experiences of consumers engaged within an information search. In conclusion, specific contributions and avenues for further work are highlighted (Chapter 10)
Disablement in Prince George, BC: A qualitative, holistic and participatory exploration.
(dis)Abled people are frequently faced with barriers to their mobility when navigating the built environment, especially in colder climates yet little is known about this experience in northern BC. Using downtown Prince George as a study area, my research examines the lived experience of (dis)Ability in a northern, ageing, resource-based city and seeks to gain an understanding of what barriers are, how they impact (dis)Abled people, and why environments are disabling. Using go-along interviews, I found that barriers are often characteristics of the built and seasonal environment. Although generalizations cannot be made between individuals, the results suggest that barriers are connected to the presence of ableism in society and negatively impact (dis)Abled people participants described situations involving increased health issues, intense emotional stress and loss of autonomy. Exclusion, marginalization and discrimination are also uncovered as part of the lived experience of (dis)Ability in Prince George. I conclude that the first step towards an enabling environment is a social shift. --Leaf ii.The original print copy of this thesis may be available here: http://wizard.unbc.ca/record=b184471
Personal Wayfinding Assistance
We are traveling many different routes every day. In familiar environments it is easy for us to find our ways. We know our way from bedroom to kitchen, from home to work, from parking place to office, and back home at the end of the working day. We have learned these routes in the past and are now able to find our destination without having to think about it. As soon as we want to find a place beyond the demarcations of our mental map, we need help. In some cases we ask our friends to explain us the way, in other cases we use a map to find out about the place. Mobile phones are increasingly equipped with wayfinding assistance. These devices are usually at hand because they are handy and small, which enables us to get wayfinding assistance everywhere where we need it. While the small size of mobile phones makes them handy, it is a disadvantage for displaying maps. Geographic information requires space to be visualized in order to be understandable. Typically, not all information displayed in maps is necessary. An example are walking ways in parks for car drivers, they are they are usually no relevant route options. By not displaying irrelevant information, it is possible to compress the map without losing important information. To reduce information purposefully, we need information about the user, the task at hand, and the environment it is embedded in. In this cumulative dissertation, I describe an approach that utilizes the prior knowledge of the user to adapt maps to the to the limited display options of mobile devices with small displays. I focus on central questions that occur during wayfinding and relate them to the knowledge of the user. This enables the generation of personal and context-specific wayfinding assistance in the form of maps which are optimized for small displays. To achieve personalized assistance, I present algorithmic methods to derive spatial user profiles from trajectory data. The individual profiles contain information about the places users regularly visit, as well as the traveled routes between them. By means of these profiles it is possible to generate personalized maps for partially familiar environments. Only the unfamiliar parts of the environment are presented in detail, the familiar parts are highly simplified. This bears great potential to minimize the maps, while at the same time preserving the understandability by including personally meaningful places as references. To ensure the understandability of personalized maps, we have to make sure that the names of the places are adapted to users. In this thesis, we study the naming of places and analyze the potential to automatically select and generate place names. However, personalized maps only work for environments the users are partially familiar with. If users need assistance for unfamiliar environments, they require complete information. In this thesis, I further present approaches to support uses in typical situations which can occur during wayfinding. I present solutions to communicate context information and survey knowledge along the route, as well as methods to support self-localization in case orientation is lost
From GeoVisualization to visual-analytics: methodologies and techniques for human-information discourse
2010 - 2011The objective of our research is to give support to decision makers when facing problems which require rapid solutions in spite of the complexity of scenarios under investigation. In order to achieve this goal our studies have been focused on GeoVisualization and GeoVisual Analytics research field, which play a relevant role in this scope, because they exploit results from several disciplines, such as exploratory data analysis and GIScience, to provide expert users with highly interactive tools by which they can both visually synthesize information from large datasets and perform complex analytical tasks.
The research we are carrying out along this line is meant to develop software applications capable both to build an immediate overview of a scenario and to explore elements featuring it. To this aim, we are defining methodologies and techniques which embed key aspects from different disciplines, such as augmented reality and location-based services. Their integration is targeted to realize advanced tools where the geographic component role is primary and is meant to contribute to a human-information discourse... [edited by author]X n.s
Evaluation of Multi-Level Cognitive Maps for Supporting Between-Floor Spatial Behavior in Complex Indoor Environments
People often become disoriented when navigating in complex, multi-level buildings. To efficiently find destinations located on different floors, navigators must refer to a globally coherent mental representation of the multi-level environment, which is termed a multi-level cognitive map. However, there is a surprising dearth of research into underlying theories of why integrating multi-level spatial knowledge into a multi-level cognitive map is so challenging and error-prone for humans. This overarching problem is the core motivation of this dissertation.
We address this vexing problem in a two-pronged approach combining study of both basic and applied research questions. Of theoretical interest, we investigate questions about how multi-level built environments are learned and structured in memory. The concept of multi-level cognitive maps and a framework of multi-level cognitive map development are provided. We then conducted a set of empirical experiments to evaluate the effects of several environmental factors on usersâ development of multi-level cognitive maps. The findings of these studies provide important design guidelines that can be used by architects and help to better understand the research question of why people get lost in buildings. Related to application, we investigate questions about how to design user-friendly visualization interfaces that augment usersâ capability to form multi-level cognitive maps. An important finding of this dissertation is that increasing visual access with an X-ray-like visualization interface is effective for overcoming the disadvantage of limited visual access in built environments and assists the development of multi-level cognitive maps. These findings provide important human-computer interaction (HCI) guidelines for visualization techniques to be used in future indoor navigation systems.
In sum, this dissertation adopts an interdisciplinary approach, combining theories from the fields of spatial cognition, information visualization, and HCI, addressing a long-standing and ubiquitous problem faced by anyone who navigates indoors: why do people get lost inside multi-level buildings. Results provide both theoretical and applied levels of knowledge generation and explanation, as well as contribute to the growing field of real-time indoor navigation systems
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