Supporting Focus and Context Awareness in 3D Modeling Using Multi-Layered Displays

Although advances in computer technology over the past few decades have made it possible to create and render highly realistic 3D models these days, the process of creating these models has remained largely unchanged over the years. Modern 3D modeling software provide a range of tools to assist users with creating 3D models, but the process of creating models in virtual 3D space is nevertheless still challenging and cumbersome. This thesis, therefore, aims to investigate whether it is possible to support modelers more effectively by providing them with alternative combinations of hardware and software tools to improve their 3D modeling tasks. The first step towards achieving this goal has been to better understand the type of problems modelers face in using conventional 3D modeling software. To achieve this, a pilot study of novice 3D modelers, and a more comprehensive study of professional modelers were conducted. These studies resulted in identifying a range of focus and context awareness problems that modelers face in creating complex 3D models using conventional modeling software. These problems can be divided into four categories: maintaining position awareness, identifying and selecting objects or components of interest, recognizing the distance between objects or components, and realizing the relative position of objects or components. Based on the above categorization, five focus and context awareness techniques were developed for a multi-layer computer display to enable modelers to better maintain their focus and context awareness while performing 3D modeling tasks. These techniques are: object isolation, component segregation, peeling focus, slicing, and peeling focus and context. A user study was then conducted to compare the effectiveness of these focus and context awareness techniques with other tools provided by conventional 3D modeling software. The results of this study were used to further improve, and evaluate through a second study, the five focus and context awareness techniques. The two studies have demonstrated that some of these techniques are more effective in supporting 3D modeling tasks than other existing software tools

Supporting Focus and Context Awareness in 3D Modelling Tasks Using Multi-Layered Displays

Most 3D modelling software have been developed for conventional 2D displays, and as such, lack support for true depth perception. This contributes to making polygonal 3D modelling tasks challenging, particularly when models are complex and consist of a large number of overlapping components (e.g. vertices, edges) and objects (i.e. parts). Research has shown that users of 3D modelling software often encounter a range of difficulties, which collectively can be defined as focus and context awareness problems. These include maintaining position and orientation awarenesses, as well as recognizing distance between individual components and objects in 3D spaces. In this paper, we present five visualization and interaction techniques we have developed for multi-layered displays, to better support focus and context awareness in 3D modelling tasks. The results of a user study we conducted shows that three of these five techniques improve users' 3D modelling task performance

Malay word pronunciation test application for pre-school children

In Malaysia, many researchers focus on developing independent speaker speech recognition systems that uses Malay Language. Accuracy, noise robustness and processing time are concerns when developing speech therapy systems especially for children. In this study, a Malay word pronunciation test application is developed using Spectrum Delta features and Logistic Regression classification model in an effort to improve Malay word pronunciation for pre-school children aged between 3-6 years old. Results showed that the pronunciation application can assist children to test and improve their Malay word pronunciation

An improved feature extraction method for Malay vowel recognition based on spectrum delta

Malay speech recognition is becoming popular among Malaysian researchers. In Malaysia, more local researchers are focusing on noise robust and accurate independent speaker speech recognition systems that use Malay language.The performance of speech recognition application under adverse noisy condition often becomes the topic of interest among speech recognition researchers in any languages.This paper presents a study of noise robust capability of an improved vowel feature extraction method called Spectrum Delta (SpD).The features are extracted from both original data and noise-added data and classified using three classifiers; (i) Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), (ii) K-Nearest Neighbors (k-NN) and (iii) Multinomial Logistic Regression (MLR). Most of the dependent and independent speaker systems which use mostly multi-framed analysis, yielded accuracy between 89% to 100% for dependent speaker system and between 70% to 94% for an independent speaker. This study shows that SpD features obtained an accuracy of 92.42% to 95.11% using all the four classifiers on a single framed analysis which makes this result comparable to those analysed with multi-framed approach

Malay word pronunciation application for pre-school children using vowel recognition

In Malaysia, many researchers focus on developing independent speaker speech recognition systems that use Malay Language or Bahasa Malaysia. Accuracy, noise robustness and processing time are concerns when developing speech therapy systems especially for children. In this study, a Malay word pronunciation test application is developed using Spectrum Delta (SPD) features and Logistic Regression classification model in an effort to improve Malay word pronunciation for pre-school children aged between 3-6 years old.Based on the 6 vowel classification rate, vowel /i/ were found to achieved the highest classification rate of 98.33% and vowel /o/ achieved the worst with 92.29%. Overall classification rate obtained was 95.11%. Results showed that the pronunciation application can assist children to improve their Malay word pronunciation. Vowel /i/, /e/, /o/ and /u/ are often mispronounced due to pronunciation habits

Development of Malay word pronunciation application using vowel recognition

In Malaysia, many researchers focus on developing speaker independent systems for training or articulation therapy or to assist language learners to learn about Malay Language or Bahasa Malaysia.Accuracy, noise robustness and processing time are concerns when developing speech therapy systems.In this study, a Malay word pronunciation test application was developed using the first 3 format and fundamental frequencies in an effort to improve pronunciation in Malay.This application was developed using Matlab and uses a vowel recognition algorithm classified using MLP classification technique.The application was developed and tested on UUM undergraduate students.For vowel classification, when fundamental frequency was added, 3-format feature vowel classification rate increased by 1.55% for male gender and 1.48% for female. When combined both genders, a more significant improvement of 1.71% was seen.The developed pronunciation application test results showed that the pronunciation application can assist in testing and improving their Malay word pronunciation. It was also observed that, vowel /i/, /e/, /o/ and /u/ are often mispronounced due to pronunciation habits

Identifying Problems Associated with Focus and Context Awareness in 3D Modelling Tasks

Creating complex 3D models is a challenging process. One of the main reasons for this is that 3D models are usually created using software developed for conventional 2D displays which lack true depth perspective, and therefore do not support correct perception of spatial placement and depth-ordering of displayed content. As a result, modellers often have to deal with many overlapping components of 3D models (e.g. vertices, edges, faces, etc.) on a 2D display surface. This in turn causes them to have difficulties in distinguishing distances, maintaining position and orientation awareness, etc. To better understand the nature of these problems, which can collectively be defined as ‘focus and context awareness’ problems, we have conducted a pilot study with a group of novice 3D modellers, and a series of interviews with a group of professional 3D modellers. This article presents these two studies, and their findings, which have resulted in identifying a set of focus and context awareness problems that modellers face in creating 3D models using conventional modelling software. The article also provides a review of potential solutions to these problems in the related literature

The architectures of SMS management system as a tool for communication

This paper describes the characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of a SMS Management System to be used in the educational environment. This system is hoped to encourage communication among lecturers and students in the teaching and learning process. The context of the study was carried out at Universiti Utara Malaysia, Sintok, Kedah as higher learning institution in Malaysia and the study focused on the teaching and learning process in the Division of Applied Science, College of Arts and Sciences (CAS).The motivation of the study is due to undergraduate students having to deal with many issues relating to academic difficulties such as instance communication with lecturers regarding matters such as assignments, group projects, quizzes and examination problems.Therefore, the SMS Management System architecture will be explored to identify what are the main elements and characteristics that must exist in designing and developing an Academic Alert System (AAS) concerning with academic management environment

A Review on Technique in Managing Oil Palm Plantation towards a Digitalized Online 3D Application

The oil palm industry has been well known as the backbone in Malaysian agriculture and still maintain as the main commodity exports. The research on oil palm industry has been growing gradually by utilizing various methods and technology to solve the problem in managing oil palm plantation. The aim of this paper is to review the technique in managing oil palm plantation towards a digitalized online 3D application. Various problems and techniques on managing oil palm plantation has been reviewed which involving various technology such as GIS, GPS, DBMS and hyperspectral. It was found that monitoring the characteristic of oil palm plantation is beneficial and important to oil palm planters. The new online 3D application for oil palm plantation management has a potential of assisting oil palm managers in making a decision, visualizing their plantation in online 3D environment, and managing their plantation effectively

Development of decellularized meniscus using closed sonication treatment system: as potential scaffolds for orthopedics tissue engineering applications

Purpose: Meniscus is a fibrocartilagenous tissue that cannot effectively heal due to its complex structure and avascular zone present. Thus, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine offer an alternative for the regeneration of meniscus tissues using bioscaffolds as a replacement for the damaged one. The aim of this study is to prepare an ideal meniscus bioscaffold with a minimal adverse effect on extracellular matrix components (ECM) using sonication treatment system. Methods : The decellularization was achieved using developed closed sonication treatment system for 10 hours continued with washing process for 5 days. For the control, a simple immersion treatment was set as a benchmark to compare the decellularization efficiency. Histological and biochemical assays were conducted to investigate the cells removal and retention of the vital extracellular matrix. Besides that, surface ultrastructure of the prepared scaffolds was evaluated using Scanning Electron Microscope at 5000x magnification viewed from the cross and longitudinal sections. In addition, the biomechanical properties were investigated through ball indentation testing to study the stiffness, residual forces and compression characteristics. Statistical significance between the samples was determined with p-value: 0.05. Results: Histological and biochemical assays confirmed the elimination of antigenic cellular components with the retention of the vital extracellular matrix within the sonicated scaffolds. However, there was a significant removal of sulphated glycosaminoglycans. The surface histoarchitecture portrayed the preserved collagen fibrils orientation and arrangement with the presence of micropores which assumed to represent the cells lacunae. The biomechanical properties of bioscaffolds showed the retention of viscoelastic behavior of the scaffolds which mimic native tissues. The scaffolds through immersion had poor results compared to the sonicated scaffolds due to the inefficiency of the treatment. Conclusion: In conclusion, this study reported that the closed sonication treatment system had high capabilities to prepare ideal bioscaffolds with the excellent removal of cellular components, retained extracellular matrix and biomechanical properties