Hayaku : maximiser le pouvoir d'expression du concepteur et l'efficacité de rendu de scènes graphiques interactives

International audienceDesigning a general toolkit for interactive software implies to make a choice between the speed of the renderer and the power of expression of the user. We propose an instrumented method to concieve interactive software based on the use of graphical editors, conceptual languages and a toolkit, Hayaku, that encapsulates a graphical compiler. Hayaku allows to maximize the graphical performances of the application, thus authorizing to have a better graphical renderer, and authorizing the user to use all of his editor tools. The truth of the graphics, the control easyness, the power of expression and the efficiency of the use of the designer's tools allows the conceptor to efficiently explore new dynamic graphical representations that are easy to control

Fisheye keyboard : whole keyboard displayed on small device

In this article, we propose a soft keyboard with interaction inspired by research on visualisation information. Our goal is to find a compromise between readability and usability on a whole character layout for an Ultra mobile PC. The proposed interactions allow to display all keys on a small screen while making pointing easier for the user by expanding any given key as a function of its distance from the stylus

Temporal data visualizations for Air Traffic Controllers (ATC)

International audienceFundamental research in visualization is concerned with the impact of presentation on visual perception and understanding [5] [6]. In current Air Traffic Control (ATC) environments, Air Traffic Controllers (ATCo) use several visualization systems: radar views, timelines, electronic strips, meteorological views, supervisions etc... The information displayed is intrinsically temporal: aircraft positions that evolve over time, conflicts between aircraft at a given time, airspace congestions... Each of these visualizations is rich and dynamic: it displays numerous visual entities that move and evolve over time. Furthermore, this considerable volume of information must be understandable with a minimum cognitive workload. As traffic increases and safety criteria become more demanding ATC requires this new kind of visualizations. Our research focuses on the production of new efficient visualizations with temporal data. We characterize a more efficient visualization as one in which a greater volume of information can be perceived and understood with a smaller or equivalent cognitive workload (while at the same time reducing the error rate in the perception of the information)

Le système KeyGlass

International audienceThis paper presents the KeyGlass system : a text entry system with dynamic addition of characters based on those previously entered. The prediction system that we use to optimize our system is based on the joint use of a lexicographic tree and a system using bigrams. We present in this article the different steps that led us to this prediction system. Finally we study, through two experiments (one theoretical and the other one with users), the usefulness and effectiveness of our system during a task of text copy. The results show a significant reduction in the distance covered by the pointer on the soft keyboard. However, users are slower to enter text

Effets des paramètres graphiques sur la perception visuelle : experimentations sur la forme, la surface, l'orientation des objets et la définition des écrans

International audienceUser interfaces of critical systems, such as air traffic control displays, use graphical objects to code for an ever increasing amount of information. This evolution brings forth concerns about the detection and identification of the displayed objects, in particular for small size objects. First, graphic properties of the interface should include some knowledge about the interplay between colour, shape and size interactions, and the visual perception. Second, the redesign of any interactive system should take into account the particularities of the evolving software and hardware display technology (pixel size and structure, for example) in order to preserve crucial aspects of the initial visual display. The two experiments described in this paper are aiming towards building a more systematic knowledge of graphic properties interactions per se, and their changes as a function of display technologies. More precisely, we examined the effect of the object size, shape and luminosity, as well as its contrast with the background. Results show that object perception is dependent upon its size, its contrast with the background and the overall luminosity of the background. Furthermore, for small size objects, interactions between pixel luminosities and pixel arrangement greatly influence their perception by the human eye

Génération et placement de couleurs sur une vue de type métro

International audienceThe schematic views for metro maps are used to maximize the transmision of relevant information (lines, metro stops) of network visualization. Automatic generation of metro maps focus primarily on the physical structure of the network, but little on the choice of colors which is an accurate visual discrimination. In this article, we propose to invesigate the generation and placement of colors to be assigned to lines of a network. The first step is to find as many colors as lines of the network. These colors must be perceptually as distant as possible, and available in the vocabulary of colors. The second step is to place these colors so that the closest lines have the more distant color. The positioning of colors is a NP-complete problem, thus we use a meta-heuristic approach to solve it. To validate our method, we apply it to the field of air traffic control with the maps of Flight Routes

Ysilex : a Friendly reading Interface for Dyslexics

International audienceIn this paper, we describe an interface to display texts in a fashion adapted to dyslexic readers. In order to help the reading task, we designed several tools geared towards the specific difficulties of this population, e.g. a tendency to lose one's place within the text, a fluctuating attention or a difficulty to access the syllable level of the words, a process known to be used with new or infrequent words. Preliminary results show that a pared down display coupled with a choice of tools available on demand could cater to the heterogeneity of difficulties displayed by dyslexics. Stepwise increments in design coupled with ongoing validation of the reading tools will insure the usefulness of the interface

Conception instrumentée du rendu graphique des interfaces

International audienceWe propose to define the activity of graphical rendering design, which aims at maximizing the display quality of the image components. Overlooked in most design methods, this activity is essential for the success of a design project and for the validation of interfaces of critical systems. As such, it is pluri-disciplinary: graphical design (design, infovis), evaluation (experimental psychology), influence from hardware and software technologies (computer science), design methodology (design rationale, maintenance, computer science). In this paper, we detail the activity of graphical rendering design of HMI, by identifying its main dimensions. We also present a tool that instruments it: we describe its main functionalities, as well as the methods allowing to achieve the activity. Finally, we discuss about the benefits of inter disciplinary instrumentation during the design process

Strip-TIC : exploring augmented paper strips for Air Traffic Controllers

International audienceThe current environment used by French air traffic controllers mixes digital visualization such as radar screens and tangible artifacts such as paper strips. Tangible artifacts do not allow controllers to update the system with the instructions they give to pilots. Previous attempts at replacing them in France failed to prove efficient. This paper is an engineering paper that describes Strip-TIC, a novel system for ATC that mixes augmented paper and digital pen, vision-based tracking and augmented rear and front projection. The system is now working and has enabled us to run workshops with actual controllers to study the role of writing and tangibility in ATC. We describe the system and solutions to technical challenges due to mixing competing technologies

An automatic generation of metro-like maps to display flight routes for air traffic controllers: structure and color optimization

International audienceAircraft must follow strict Air Traffic Control (ATC) rules. One of these rules is that aircraft have to fly over pre-defined Flight Routes (FR). Current ATC visualizations do not display FRs because they are numerous and run into each other, and thus spoil the visualization. The schematic views for metro maps are used to maximize the transmission of relevant information (lines, metro stops) of network visualization. In this paper, we will focus on two different issues. First, we show how we transposed mathematical constraints used to produce metro maps into the specific field of ATC. The view produced is a context compatible, 2D picture of a schematic maps view for Air Traffic Control. Second, we propose to investigate the generation and placement of colors to be assigned to lines of the network. The first step is to find as many colors as lines of the network. These colors must be perceptually as distinct as possible, and available in the vocabulary of colors. The second step is to solve the NP-complete problem of the optimal assignment of these colors so that close lines have the most perceptively distant color. Finally, we assess the map produced through experimentation to validate its quality