125 research outputs found
Customizing Experiences for Mobile Virtual Reality
A criação manual de conteúdo para um jogo é um processo demorado e trabalhoso que requer
um conjunto de habilidades diversi cado (normalmente designers, artistas e programadores) e a
gestão de diferentes recursos (hardware e software especializados). Dado que o orçamento, tempo
e recursos são frequentemente muito limitados, os projetos poderiam bene ciar de uma solução
que permitisse poupar e investir noutros aspectos do desenvolvimento. No contexto desta tese,
abordamos este desa o sugerindo a criação de pacotes especí cos para a geração de conteúdo per sonalizável, focados em aplicações de Realidade Virtual (RV) móveis. Esta abordagem divide o
problema numa solução com duas facetas: em primeiro lugar, a Geração Procedural de Conteúdo,
alcançada através de métodos convencionais e pela utilização inovadora de Grandes Modelos de Lin guagem (normalmente conhecidos por Large Language Models). Em segundo lugar, a Co-Criação
de Conteúdo, que enfatiza o desenvolvimento colaborativo de conteúdo. Adicionalmente, dado que
este trabalho se foca na compatibilidade com RV móvel, as limitações de hardware associadas a
capacetes de RV autónomos (standalone VR Headsets) e formas de as ultrapassar são também
abordadas. O conteúdo será gerado utilizando métodos actuais em geração procedural e facilitando
a co-criação de conteúdo pelo utilizador. A utilização de ambas estas abordagens resulta em ambi entes, objectivos e conteúdo geral mais re-jogáveis com muito menos desenho. Esta abordagem está
actualmente a ser aplicada no desenvolvimento de duas aplicações de RV distintas. A primeira,
AViR, destina-se a oferecer apoio psicológico a indivíduos após a perda de uma gravidez. A se gunda, EmotionalVRSystem, visa medir as variações nas respostas emocionais dos participantes
induzidas por alterações no ambiente, utilizando tecnologia EEG para leituras precisas
QuintEssence: A Probe Study to Explore the Power of Smell on Emotions, Memories, and Body Image in Daily Life
Previous research has shown the influence of smell on emotions, memories, and body image. However, most
of this work has taken place in laboratory settings and little is known about the influence of smell in real-world
environments. In this paper, we present novel insights gained from a field study investigating the emotional
effect of smell on memories and body image. Taking inspiration from the cultural design probes approach, we
designed QuintEssence, a probe package that includes three scents and materials to complete three tasks over
a period of four weeks. Here, we describe the design of QuintEssence and the main findings based on the
outcomes of the three tasks and a final individual interview. The findings show similar results between
participants based on the scent. For example, with cinnamon, participants experienced feelings of warmth,
coziness, happiness, and relaxation; they recalled blurred memories of past moments about themselves and
reported a general feeling of being calm and peaceful towards their bodies. Our findings open up new design
spaces for multisensory experiences and inspire future qualitative explorations beyond laboratory boundaries
Object Handling with Contemporary Craft Objects: An Observational Study of an Embodied, Social and Cognitive Process
This study focuses on the ways that people interact around contemporary craft objects. The ambiguous quality of these objects holds people’s attention and inhibits autobiographical narratives. The study focused on the relationship between the perceptual language used by participants and the ways in which they interacted with the objects. The analytical approach taken here begins with close observation and careful description of single cases and working towards valid generalisations rather than imposing an interpretation from the outset by explicitly positing a hypothesis. Six pairs of women were invited to participate in object handling conversations in an art museum setting. The conversations were recorded using digital video cameras. Analysis treated interaction as an embodied process and drew on work, which interprets interaction the outcome of social and cognitive processes. We found that the interplay of language and action shifted fluidly throughout the conversations. Not all actions were verbally expounded on and these could only be interpreted tentatively. Utterances could change the meaning or purpose of an action without any apparent change in the dynamics of the action. When attending a complex quality, such as the material nature of an object, the relationship between language and action was correspondingly complex. Participants used a variety of frameworks to understand the objects and these shaped the qualities of the objects that they attended to. Participants’ words and actions could usefully be interpreted in terms of meaning rather than just social action and with reference to findings from cognitive research on perception and action
A graphical environment for gestural computer-aided composition
Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, School of Architecture and Planning, Program in Media Arts and Sciences, 2002.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 102-103).I have designed and implemented a software environment, a Windows application called Hyperscore, that presents a novel, easy-to-learn interface for composing richly textured music through line gestures. The program allows the user to command a set of music-manipulation algorithms written by Mary Farbood [Farbood, 2001]. The interface is both compelling and interesting for musically untrained users, and rich enough that such users, after sufficient practice, can create music that professional musicians find to be of high quality. While many musical composition programs geared for musically untrained users exist, it is its unique user interface, its use of freely drawn line-gestures, zooming navigation, and simple symbolic icons, that helps make this program unique. The program was designed to enable musically untrained children, ages ten or older, to compose three-minute pieces for a string orchestra, given only a week or so of two-hour daily workshops. The program succeeded in this, and has been presented to audiences in Berlin, Dublin, and Glasgow as a part of Toy Symphony. The program has also been made available for download.by Egon Pasztor.S.M
The identification of the Tao-1 kinase as a key regulator of microtubule dynamics
In a multicellular animal, the different functions of cells are dependent on their diversity of shapes. Protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation play an important role in altering the cell shape in response to internal and
external signals. In this study I focused on all kinases to explore the gene functions and mechanisms underlying the regulation of cell morphology.
Using genomic information I have constructed a Drosophila kinase RNAi library, which was then used to screen six different cell lines from two different tissues of origin for novel genes involved in the generation of cell
form. In doing so, I identified a group of common regulators of cell behaviour and morphology together with a set of cell-type specific kinases.
Importantly, this analysis also revealed that, when considering the kinome, gene expression signatures are a poor measure of cell type specific differences in gene function, measured by comparing with the microarray
data available in our lab. Most significantly, these screens identified a novel role for Mnb/DYRK1A, a kinase associated with Down’s Syndrome, in the regulation of actin-based protrusions in cell lines derived from neuronal lineages.
Furthermore, I identified a single STE20 kinase Drosophila Tao-1 in the core set which was required for the normal morphology of all cell lines examined. The RNAi-mediated depletion of Tao-1 or expression of the kinase-dead protein leads to the stabilisation of microtubules and to the
formation of long microtubule-based protrusions, whereas the
overexpression of Tao-1 destabilizes microtubules. I also showed in this study that Tao-1 acts independently of Par-1 and Tau in this process.
Instead, Tao-1 appears to function together with EB1 in the regulation of microtubule plus end instability at the cell cortex. Two microtubule motor proteins, Khc and Khc-73, interact with Tao-1 in a yeast two hybrid screen,
which hints at a possible role for the transport of Tao-1 along filaments to microtubule plus ends and the cell cortex. Although evidence for a direct role for Tao-1 in the phosphorylation and/or regulation of EB1 has yet to
be established, this is to my knowledge first time a kinase has been found acting at the cell cortex to regulate microtubule plus end stability
Developing entrepreneurial ecosystems - Characteristics and challenges for entrepreneurship policy
Entrepreneurship is generally recognized as a source of economic growth. Recently entrepreneurship research has shifted its focus from entrepreneurs and firms, towards the development of entrepreneurial ecosystems (EE). This emerging concept merits growing attention from academics and policymakers to the point of representing a leading drift in entrepreneurship policy and development strategies of numerous countries and regions. As well as capturing the attention of a growing number of scholars, from which emerges an appealing and fast-growing body of literature.
However, the study of EE is recent, undertheorized, and fragmented. Gaps in this body of literature suggest there is a need to extend EE research and develop solid and coherent theoretical frameworks, particularly in what concerns to the effects of entrepreneurship policies. Policy and entrepreneurship are symbiotically interconnected, where research plays an important role in providing policymakers valuable insights. Without adequate theoretical foundations to guide its formulation, policies risk being ineffective and even hinder the development of EEs. This research is motivated by calls for the development of policy related research, regarding the development of EEs, and aims to provide a clearer view of the characteristics, formulation options and implementation process of these policies.
This research followed a multi-method approach. Beginning with an analysis of six EE qualitative studies from different countries, to extract the characteristics of effective EE policies (EEP). The second part of the research departs from extant literature to identify the parameters for EEP formulation and provide a conceptual framework to guide its formulation. The third part addresses the process of EEP formulation and implementation, extending the use of effectuation theory to provide an improved model supported by empirical illustrations of policies evidencing effectual characteristics.
The fourth part includes the analysis of the impact of digital technology in the development of EEs by using the concept of affordances; DESENVOLVIMENTO DE ECOSSISTEMAS DE EMPREENDEDORISMO – CARACTERÍSTICAS E DESAFIOS PARA AS POLÍTICAS DE EMPREENDEDORISMO
Resumo:
O empreendedorismo é globalmente reconhecido como uma fonte de crescimento económico. Recentemente, a investigação na área do empreendedorismo transferiu o seu foco dos empreendedores e empresas para o desenvolvimento de ecossistemas empreendedores (EE).
Este conceito emergente desperta uma atenção crescente de académicos e policymakers, representando uma tendência dominante na política de empreendedorismo e nas estratégias de desenvolvimento de vários países e regiões. Simultaneamente tem captado a atenção de um número crescente de académicos, gerando uma literatura cativante e em rápido crescimento.
No entanto, o estudo dos EE é recente, pouco teorizado e fragmentado. As lacunas nesta literatura sugerem a necessidade de alargar a investigação e desenvolver fundamentos teóricos sólidos e coerentes, especialmente quanto aos efeitos das políticas de empreendedorismo. Política e empreendedorismo estão simbioticamente interligados, promover mais investigação é fundamental para desenvolver conhecimento relevante para os policymakers.
Sem fundamentos teóricos adequados para orientar a formulação de políticas, estas arriscam ser ineficazes e até prejudicar o desenvolvimento dos EEs. A investigação produzida nesta tese é motivada por sucessivos apelos ao desenvolvimento de pesquisa relacionada com políticas de desenvolvimento de EEs (EEP) e visa fornecer uma visão mais clara das suas características, opções de formulação e processo de implementação. Esta investigação seguiu uma abordagem multi-método.
Começando com uma análise de seis estudos qualitativos de diferentes países, a qual permitiu extrair características de EEPs eficazes.
A segunda parte partiu da literatura existente, identificando parâmetros para a formulação das EEP e desenvolver uma estrutura conceptual para a sua formulação.
A terceira parte, aborda o processo de formulação e implementação de políticas, recorrendo à teoria da effectuation desenvolvendo um modelo melhorado para as EEP, apoiado por ilustrações empíricas de EEP com características effectual.
Por fim, na quarta parte é analisado o impacto da tecnologia digital no desenvolvimento de EEs, utilizando o conceito de affordances
Towards a Phenomenological Theory of the Visceral in the Interactive Arts
This is a digitised version of a thesis that was deposited in the University Library. If you are the author and you have a query about this item please contact PEARL Admin ([email protected])Metadata merged with duplicate record (http://hdl.handle.net/10026.1/2319) on 20.12.2016 by CS (TIS).This thesis explores the ways in which certain forms of interactive art may and do elicit
visceral responses. The term "visceral" refers to the cardiovascular, respiratory, uro-genital
and especially excretory systems that affect mind and body on a continuum of awareness.
The "visceral" is mentioned in the field of interactive arts, but it remains systematically
unexplored and undefined. Further, interactive artworks predominantly focus on the
exteroceptive (stimuli from outside) rather than the interoceptive (stimuli arising within the
body, especially the viscera) senses.
The existentialist phenomenology of Maurice Merleau-Ponty forms the basis for explorations
of the visceral dimension of mind/body. New approaches to understanding interactive art,
design and the mind/body include: attunements to the world; intertwinings of mind/body,
technology and world; and of being in the world. Each artwork within utilizes a variation of the
phenomenological methods derived from Merl eau-Ponty's; these are discussed primarily in
Chapters One and Three. Because subjective, first-person, experiences are a major aspect of a
phenomenological approach, the academic writing is interspersed with subjective experiences of
the author and others. This thesis balances facets of knowledge from diverse disciplines that
account for visceral phenomena and subjective experience.
Along with the textual exegesis, one major work of design and two major works of art were
created. These are documented on the compact disc (CDROM) bound within. As an essential
component of each artwork, new technological systems were created or co-created by the
author. User surveys comprise Appendices Two, Three and Four, and are also online at:
www. sfu. ca/-dgromala/thesis. To access the URL: login as , and use the password
. Numerous talks, exhibitions and publications that directly relate to the thesis
work is in Appendix One.
This work begins with an introduction to Merleau-Ponty's ideas of flesh and reversibility.
Chapter Two is the review of the literature, while Chapter Three is an explication of the
hypothesis, an overview of the field, and a framing of the problem. Discussions of each artwork
are in Chapter Four (The Meditation Chamber), Chapter Five (BioMorphic Typography) and
Chapter Six (The MeatBook). Chapter Seven forms the conclusion. References to the
documentation on the CD are found throughout the thesis, and italicized paragraphs provide
an artistic context for each chapter
An architecture for intelligent health assessment enabled IEEE 1451 compliant smart sensors
As systems become increasingly complex and costly, potential failure mechanisms and indicators are numerous and difficult to identify, while the cost of loss is very expensive - human lives, replacement units, and impacts to national security. In order to ensure the safety and long-term reliability of vehicles, structures, and devices attention must be directed toward the assessment and management of system health. System health is the key component that links data, information, and knowledge to action. Integrated Systems Health Management (ISHM) doctrine calls for comprehensive real-time health assessment and management of systems where the distillation of raw data into information takes place within sensors and actuators. This thesis develops novel field programmable health assessment capability for sensors and actuators in ISHM. Health assessment and feature extraction algorithms are implemented on a sensor or actuator through the Embedded Routine Manager (ERM) API. Algorithms are described using Health Electronic Datasheets (HEDS) to provide more flexible run-time operation. Interfacing is accomplished through IEEE Standard 1451 for Smart Sensors and Actuators, connecting ISHM with the instrumentation network of the future. These key elements are validated using exemplar algorithms to detect noise, spike, and flat-line events onboard the ISHM enabled Methane Thruster Testbed Project (MTTP) at NASA Stennis Space Center in Mississippi
Computational aspects of cellular intelligence and their role in artificial intelligence.
The work presented in this thesis is concerned with an exploration of the computational aspects of the primitive intelligence associated with single-celled organisms. The main aim is to explore this Cellular Intelligence and its role within Artificial Intelligence. The findings of an extensive literature search into the biological characteristics, properties and mechanisms associated with Cellular Intelligence, its underlying machinery - Cell Signalling Networks and the existing computational methods used to capture it are reported. The results of this search are then used to fashion the development of a versatile new connectionist representation, termed the Artificial Reaction Network (ARN). The ARN belongs to the branch of Artificial Life known as Artificial Chemistry and has properties in common with both Artificial Intelligence and Systems Biology techniques, including: Artificial Neural Networks, Artificial Biochemical Networks, Gene Regulatory Networks, Random Boolean Networks, Petri Nets, and S-Systems. The thesis outlines the following original work: The ARN is used to model the chemotaxis pathway of Escherichia coli and is shown to capture emergent characteristics associated with this organism and Cellular Intelligence more generally. The computational properties of the ARN and its applications in robotic control are explored by combining functional motifs found in biochemical network to create temporal changing waveforms which control the gaits of limbed robots. This system is then extended into a complete control system by combining pattern recognition with limb control in a single ARN. The results show that the ARN can offer increased flexibility over existing methods. Multiple distributed cell-like ARN based agents termed Cytobots are created. These are first used to simulate aggregating cells based on the slime mould Dictyostelium discoideum. The Cytobots are shown to capture emergent behaviour arising from multiple stigmergic interactions. Applications of Cytobots within swarm robotics are investigated by applying them to benchmark search problems and to the task of cleaning up a simulated oil spill. The results are compared to those of established optimization algorithms using similar cell inspired strategies, and to other robotic agent strategies. Consideration is given to the advantages and disadvantages of the technique and suggestions are made for future work in the area. The report concludes that the Artificial Reaction Network is a versatile and powerful technique which has application in both simulation of chemical systems, and in robotic control, where it can offer a higher degree of flexibility and computational efficiency than benchmark alternatives. Furthermore, it provides a tool which may possibly throw further light on the origins and limitations of the primitive intelligence associated with cells
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