Granular synthesis for display of time-varying probability densities

We present a method for displaying time-varying probabilistic information to users using an asynchronous granular synthesis technique. We extend the basic synthesis technique to include distribution over waveform source, spatial position, pitch and time inside waveforms. To enhance the synthesis in interactive contexts, we "quicken" the display by integrating predictions of user behaviour into the sonification. This includes summing the derivatives of the distribution during exploration of static densities, and using Monte-Carlo sampling to predict future user states in nonlinear dynamic systems. These techniques can be used to improve user performance in continuous control systems and in the interactive exploration of high dimensional spaces. This technique provides feedback from users potential goals, and their progress toward achieving them; modulating the feedback with quickening can help shape the users actions toward achieving these goals. We have applied these techniques to a simple nonlinear control problem as well as to the sonification of on-line probabilistic gesture recognition. We are applying these displays to mobile, gestural interfaces, where visual display is often impractical. The granular synthesis approach is theoretically elegant and easily applied in contexts where dynamic probabilistic displays are required

Pointing Without a Pointer

We present a method for performing selection tasks based on continuous control of multiple, competing agents who try to determine the user's intentions from their control behaviour without requiring an explicit pointer. The entropy in the selection process decreases in a continuous fashion -- we provide experimental evidence of selection from 500 initial targets. The approach allows adaptation over time to best make use of the multimodal communication channel between the human and the system. This general approach is well suited to mobile and wearable applications, shared displays and security conscious settings

Sonification of probabilistic feedback through granular synthesis

We describe a method to improve user feedback, specifically the display of time-varying probabilistic information, through asynchronous granular synthesis. We have applied these techniques to challenging control problems as well as to the sonification of online probabilistic gesture recognition. We're using these displays in mobile, gestural interfaces where visual display is often impractical

It’s a long way to Monte-Carlo: probabilistic display in GPS navigation

We present a mobile, GPS-based multimodal navigation system, equipped with inertial control that allows users to explore and navigate through an augmented physical space, incorporating and displaying the uncertainty resulting from inaccurate sensing and unknown user intentions. The system propagates uncertainty appropriately via Monte Carlo sampling and predicts at a user-controllable time horizon. Control of the Monte Carlo exploration is entirely tilt-based. The system output is displayed both visually and in audio. Audio is rendered via granular synthesis to accurately display the probability of the user reaching targets in the space. We also demonstrate the use of uncertain prediction in a trajectory following task, where a section of music is modulated according to the changing predictions of user position with respect to the target trajectory. We show that appropriate display of the full distribution of potential future users positions with respect to sites-of-interest can improve the quality of interaction over a simplistic interpretation of the sensed data

Show me the way to Monte Carlo: density-based trajectory navigation

We demonstrate the use of uncertain prediction in a system for pedestrian navigation via audio with a combination of Global Positioning System data, a music player, inertial sensing, magnetic bearing data and Monte Carlo sampling for a density following task, where a listener’s music is modulated according to the changing predictions of user position with respect to a target density, in this case a trajectory or path. We show that this system enables eyes-free navigation around set trajectories or paths unfamiliar to the user and demonstrate that the system may be used effectively for varying trajectory width and context

Robot docking using mixtures of Gaussians

This paper applies the Mixture of Gaussians probabilistic model, combined with Expectation Maximization optimization to the task of summarizing three dimensionals range data for the mobile robot. This provides a flexible way of dealing with uncertainties in sensor information, and allows the introduction of prior knowledge into low-level perception modules. Problems with the basic approach were solved in several ways: the mixture of Gaussians was reparameterized to reflect the types of objects expected in the scene, and priors on model parameters were included in the optimization process. Both approaches force the optimization to find 'interesting' objects, given the sensor and object characteristics. A higher level classifier was used to interpret the results provided by the model, and to reject spurious solutions

The Iraq War: A Military History

The University Archives has determined that this item is of continuing value to OSU's history.Dr. Williamson Murray is a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Defense Analysis. He received his Ph.D. (after service in the U.S. Air Force) in military-diplomatic history at Yale University. Dr. Murray has taught at Yale, at the Air, Army, and Naval War Colleges, the U.S. Military Academy, Marine Corps University, the London School of Economics, the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, and Ohio State University, of which he is a professor emeritus. He is currently a consultant at the Institute for Defense Analyses in Arlington, Virginia. His numerous books include Air War, 1914-1945 (1999) and a number of works in collaboration with Allan Millett, including, most recently, A War to Be Won: Fighting World War II (1999). Murray and co-author Major General Robert H. Scales, Jr. U. S. Army retired, have recently written an analysis of Operation Iraqi Freedom that analyses the critical meanings and lessons about the new "American way of war" as it has unfolded in Iraq.Ohio State University. Mershon Center for International Security StudiesEvent webpag

The Iraqi Side of the Hill

Streaming video requires RealPlayer to view.The University Archives has determined that this item is of continuing value to OSU's history.When American forces took over Saddam Hussein's palaces and ministries during the invasion of 2003, they also captured all of Iraq's government documents. Williamson Murray, professor emeritus of history at The Ohio State University, argues that ignoring Saddam's government documents has been a serious mistake. Murray is part of a team of scholars at the U.S. Naval Academy engaged in translating these documents from Arabic and making them available in the National Archives.Ohio State University. Mershon Center for International Security StudiesEvent webpage, streaming video, lecture summar