Remote control by body movement in synchrony with orbiting widgets: an evaluation of TraceMatch

In this work we consider how users can use body movement for remote control with minimal effort and maximum flexibility. TraceMatch is a novel technique where the interface displays available controls as circular widgets with orbiting targets, and where users can trigger a control by mimicking the displayed motion. The technique uses computer vision to detect circular motion as a uniform type of input, but is highly appropriable as users can produce matching motion with any part of their body. We present three studies that investigate input performance with different parts of the body, user preferences, and spontaneous choice of movements for input in realistic application scenarios. The results show that users can provide effective input with their head, hands and while holding objects, that multiple controls can be effectively distinguished by the difference in presented phase and direction of movement, and that users choose and switch modes of input seamlessly

TraceMatch:a computer vision technique for user input by tracing of animated controls

Recent works have explored the concept of movement correlation interfaces, in which moving objects can be selected by matching the movement of the input device to that of the desired object. Previous techniques relied on a single modality (e.g. gaze or mid-air gestures) and specific hardware to issue commands. TraceMatch is a computer vision technique that enables input by movement correlation while abstracting from any particular input modality. The technique relies only on a conventional webcam to enable users to produce matching gestures with any given body parts, even whilst holding objects. We describe an implementation of the technique for acquisition of orbiting targets, evaluate algorithm performance for different target sizes and frequencies, and demonstrate use of the technique for remote control of graphical as well as physical objects with different body parts

INTERACT 2015 Adjunct Proceedings. 15th IFIP TC.13 International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction 14-18 September 2015, Bamberg, Germany

INTERACT is among the world’s top conferences in Human-Computer Interaction. Starting with the first INTERACT conference in 1990, this conference series has been organised under the aegis of the Technical Committee 13 on Human-Computer Interaction of the UNESCO International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP). This committee aims at developing the science and technology of the interaction between humans and computing devices. The 15th IFIP TC.13 International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction - INTERACT 2015 took place from 14 to 18 September 2015 in Bamberg, Germany. The theme of INTERACT 2015 was "Connection.Tradition.Innovation". This volume presents the Adjunct Proceedings - it contains the position papers for the students of the Doctoral Consortium as well as the position papers of the participants of the various workshops

Rhythmic-Synchronization-Based Interaction: Effect of Interfering Auditory Stimuli, Age and Gender on Users’ Performances

Rhythmic-synchronization-based interaction is an emerging interaction technique where multiple controls with different rhythms are displayed in visual form, and the user can select one of them by matching the corresponding rhythm. These techniques can be used to control smart objects in environments where there may be interfering auditory stimuli that contrast with the visual rhythm (e.g., to control Smart TVs while playing music), and this could compromise users’ ability to synchronize. Moreover, these techniques require certain reflex skills to properly synchronize with the displayed rhythm, and these skills may vary depending on the age and gender of the users. To determine the impact of interfering auditory stimuli, age, and gender on users’ ability to synchronize, we conducted a user study with 103 participants. Our results show that there are no significant differences between the conditions of interfering and noninterfering auditory stimuli and that synchronization ability decreases with age, with males performing better than females—at least as far as younger users are concerned. As a result, two implications emerge: first, users are capable of focusing only on visual rhythm ignoring the auditory interfering rhythm, so listening to an interfering rhythm should not be a major concern for synchronization; second, as age and gender have an impact, these systems may be designed to allow for customization of rhythm speed so that different users can choose the speed that best suits their reflex skills

Enhancing Pinch-Drag-Flick Paradigm with Two New Gestures: Two-Finger-Tap for Tablets and Tap&Tap for Smartphones

International audienceThe mobile versions of services such as Google Maps or Open Street Maps allow the exploration of maps on smartphones and tablets. The gestures used are the pinch to adjust the zoom level and the drag/flick to move the map. In this paper, two new gestures to adjust the zoom level of maps (but also of images and documents) are presented. Both gestures – with slight differences – allow the identification of a target area to zoom, which is enlarged automatically up to cover the whole map container. The proposed gestures are added to the traditional ones (drag, pinch and flick) without any overlap. Therefore, users do not need to change their regular practices. They have just two more options to control the zoom level. One of the most relevant and appreciated advantages has to do with the gesture for smartphones (Tap&Tap): this allows users to control the zoom level with just one hand. The traditional pinch gesture, instead, needs two hands. According to the test results on the new gestures in comparison with the traditional pinch, 30 % of time is saved on tablets (Two-Finger-Tap gesture) whereas 14 % on smartphones (Tap&Tap gesture)

TickTacking – Drawing trajectories with two buttons and rhythm

The navigation of two-dimensional spaces by rhythmic patterns on two buttons is investigated. It is shown how direction and speed of a moving object can be controlled with discrete commands consisting of duplets or triplets of taps, whose rate is proportional to one of two orthogonal velocity components. The imparted commands generate polyrhythms and polytempi that can be used to monitor the object movement. Tacking back and forth must be used to make progress along certain directions, similarly to sailing a boat upwind. The proposed rhythmic navigation technique is tested with a target-following task, using a boat-racing trace as the target. The interface is minimal and symmetric, and can be adapted to different sensing and display devices, exploiting the symmetry of the human body and the ability to follow two concurrent rhythmic streams

TickTacking – Drawing trajectories with two buttons and rhythm

The navigation of two-dimensional spaces by rhythmic patterns on two buttons is investigated. It is shown how direction and speed of an object can be controlled with two fingers by duplets or triplets of taps, and how the generated rhythms can be used to monitor the object movement. The trajectories of the object moving on the plane resemble those of sailing boats, and the proposed rhythmic navigation system is tested with a target-following task, using a boat-racing trace as the target. The interface is minimal and symmetric, and can be adapted to different sensing devices, exploiting the symmetry of the human body and the capability to follow two concurrent rhythmic streams

Regression of asymptomatic cardiomyopathy and clinical outcome of renal transplant recipients: a long-term prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Asymptomatic left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is highly prevalent and associated with an adverse outcome in renal transplant recipients (RTRs). Nonetheless, there are currently no available studies analyzing the effect of LVH regression on solid clinical endpoints in these patients. METHODS: This study is the prospective observational extension of two randomized controlled trials aimed at assessing the effect of active intervention on post-transplant LVH in RTRs. We evaluated the incidence of a composite of death and any cardiovascular (CV) or renal event in 60 RTRs in whom LVH regression was observed and in 40 whose LVH remained unchanged or worsened. RESULTS: During an 8.4 \ub1 3.5-year follow-up, 8 deaths, 18 CV events and 6 renal events occurred in the entire cohort. Multivariable analysis showed that age [hazard ratio (HR) 1.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03-1.12 each 1 year, P = 0.002] and LVH regression (HR 0.42, 95% CI 0.22-0.87, P = 0.019) were significant predictors of the composite endpoint. Kaplan-Meier estimates showed better survival rates in patients in whom actual LVH regression was achieved (P < 0.001, log-rank test). Age (HR 1.09, 95% CI 1.03-1.15 each 1 year, P = 0.004), better graft function (HR 0.95, 95% CI 0.91-0.99 each 1 mL/min/1.73 m2 increase in estimated glomerular filtration rate, P = 0.03) and LVH regression (HR 0.41, 95% CI 0.22-0.79, P = 0.01) were significant predictors of the CV endpoint. Patients with a left ventricular mass index decrease also showed better cardiac event-free survival (P = 0.0022, log-rank test). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to demonstrate that LVH regression, regardless of the therapeutic strategy adopted to achieve it, portends better long-term clinical outcome in RTRs