Design methodology for 360-degree immersive video applications

360-degree immersive video applications for Head Mounted Display (HMD) devices offer great potential in providing engaging forms of experiential media solutions. Design challenges emerge though by this new kind of immersive media due to the 2D form of resources used for their construction, the lack of depth, the limited interaction, and the need to address the sense of presence. In addition, the use of Virtual Reality (VR) is related to cybersickness effects imposing further implications in moderate motion design tasks. This research project provides a systematic methodological approach in addressing those challenges and implications in 360-degree immersive video applications design. By studying and analysing methods and techniques efficiently used in the area of VR and Games design, a rigorous methodological design process is proposed. This process is introduced by the specification of the iVID (Immersive Video Interaction Design) framework. The efficiency of the iVID framework and the design methods and techniques it proposes is evaluated through two phases of user studies. Two different 360-degree immersive video prototypes have been created to serve the studies purposes. The analysis of the purposes of the studies ed to the definition of a set of design guidelines to be followed along with the iVID framework for designing 360-degree video-based experiences that are engaging and immersive

The use of a cyber campus to support teaching and collaboration: An observation approach

The research reported in this paper is work in progress describing the experiences of the authors while using a cyber campus to support online learn- ing collaborative activities and investigate if a Transactive Memory System can be developed among group members, working together within a cyber campus in several pre-set tasks

Design methodology for 360° immersive video applications: the case study of a cultural heritage virtual tour

Three hundred sixty–degree (360°) immersive video applications for Head Mounted Display (HMD) devices offer great potential in providing engaging forms of experiential media solutions especially in Cultural Heritage education. Design challenges emerge though by this new kind of immersive media due to the 2D form of resources used for their construction, the lack of depth, the limited interaction and the need to address the sense of presence. In addition, the use of Virtual Reality (VR) headsets often causes nausea, or motion sickness effects imposing further implications in moderate motion design tasks. This paper introduces a methodological categorisation of tasks and techniques for the design of 360° immersive video applications. Following the design approach presented, a testbed application has been created as an immersive interactive virtual tour at the historical centre of the city of Rethymno in Crete, Greece, which has undergone user trials. Based on the analysis of the results of this study, a set of design guidelines for the implementation of 360° immersive video virtual tours is proposed

Engaging immersive video consumers: Challenges regarding 360-degree gamified video applications

360-degree videos is a new medium that has gained the attention of the research community imposing challenges for creating more interactive and engaging immersive experiences. The purpose of this study is to introduce a set of technical and design challenges for interactive, gamified 360-degree mixed reality applications that immerse and engage users. The development of gamified applications refers to the merely incorporation of game elements in the interaction design process to attract and engage the user through playful interaction with the virtual world. The study presents experiments with the incorporation of series of game elements such as time pressure challenges, badges and user levels, storytelling narrative and immediate visual feedback to the interaction design logic of a mixed reality mobile gaming application that runs in an environment composed of 360-degree video and 3D computer generated objects. In the present study, the architecture and overall process for creating such an application is being presented along with a list of design implications and constraints. The paper concludes with future directions and conclusions on improving the level of immersion and engagement of 360-degree video consumers

Enhanced ferroelectric polarization by induced Dy spin-order in multiferroic DyMnO3

Neutron powder diffraction and single crystal x-ray resonant magnetic scattering measurements suggest that Dy plays an active role in enhancing the ferroelectric polarization in multiferroic DyMnO3 above TNDy = 6.5 K. We observe the evolution of an incommensurate ordering of Dy moments with the same periodicity as the Mn spiral ordering. It closely tracks the evolution of the ferroelectric polarization which reaches a maximum value of 0.2 muC/m^2. Below TNDy, where Dy spins order commensurately, the polarization decreases to values similar for those of TbMnO3

Crumbling of the masonry of ancient settlements on Santorini caused by the Hymenoptera Anthophora crinipes and Osmia latreillei

Ένα από τα σπουδαιότερα αρχαιολογικά ευρήματα της εποχής του Χαλκού στο Ακρωτήρι της Σαντορίνης έχει υποστεί ζημιές από δύο Hymenoptera, τα Anthophora crinipes και Osmia (Chalcosmia) latreillei. Τα έντομα αυτά εγκαθιστούν τις αποικίες τους ανοίγοντας στοές στους πλήθινους τοίχους των κτιρίων του οικισμού. Κατά την κατασκευή των στοών εξορύσσουν το υλικό  των τοίχων όταν δε τα έντομα εισέρχονται και εξέρχονται προκαλούν αποσάθρωση των τοιχωμάτων. Λεπτή θηραϊκή γη υπάρχει σε σωρούς κάτω από τις στοές. Η μορφή της προσβολής είναι εμφανής από τις πολυάριθμες οπές που υπάρχουν στους τοίχους. Η προκαλούμενη ζημιά από αυτά τα έντομα στο αρχαιολογικό μνημείο είναι πολύ επικίνδυνη για τη διατήρηση της μορφής του και εάν συνεχιστεί υπάρχει κίνδυνος παραμόρφωσης κατά θέσεις μερών της τοιχοποιίας.One of the most important archaeological findings of recent years has been the discovery of complete buildings of a Bronze Age settlement at Akrotiri on the island of Santorini (Thera). The settlement covers an area of over 200,000 square metres. The excavations conducted by Spyros Marinates brought to light a large number of buildings constructed of stones, mud and straw, with earth roofs. The walls were faced with clay. Almost every exposed mass of masonry in the settlement has been invaded by colonies of Hymenopterous insects consisting nests which are wreaking havoc on the walls, because they bore through the masonry to build their nests and then every time they go in and out of the tunnels, they wear away the dust of the walls which they have build for their own nests. Observations were carried out at Akrotiri in the spring and summer of 1985, 1986 and 1988. Glass collecting-tubes were placed at entry and exit points and at various places in the tunnels, to sellect the insects when the adults emerged in the spring, and insects also were collected with sweeping nets from the surrounding area and from light traps. Plants which were visited by adults of these species for pollen and nectar were also collected from round about. The insect species collected by these various methods were the following: Osmia (Chalcosinia) latredlei Spinola, 1806 (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae), Anthophora crinipes Smith, 1884 (Hymenoptera: Apidae), and Melecta albifrons albovaria Erichson 1840 ( Hymenoptera : Megachilidae). These three species were collected in all observation years in glass collectintubes. Of these A. crinipes and O. latreillei, which are solitary species, both build colonies with tunnels a short distance appart but not actually touching each other. The number of such colonies in the walls of the Akrotiri settlement is fairly large, and conspicuous through the holes of entrance and exit of the insects. M. albifrons albovaria is a predator on A. crinipes. It is known from the literature that all species of the genus Melecta prey on Anthophora species. The tunnels of both species are made by the females. At the end of each tunnel the female hollows out a number of cells and lays in supplies of pollen and nectar on which she deposits her eggs after mating. She then seals off each cell with a mixture of earth and saliva. Finally, when eggs have been deposited in all the cells, she closes the outer entrance of the tunnel. The larvae start developing once the tunnel has been sealed off. Thus after the hatching of the eggs, the insects spend more than thirty days as larvae, later on as prepupae. In this stage they overwinter and early in the spring enter the pupal stage. The first adults appeared from the last days of March. The females mate with the males and then start making tunnels and cells for their eggs. Adults of both sexes visit flowers to feed and also, in the case of the females, to collect pollen and nectar for the cells in which the larvae will develop. In the neighbourhood of Akrotiri we have observed adults of both species in question visiting flowers of the following species: Reichardia picroide(L.) Roth (Compositae), Echhon angustifolium Miller (Boraginaceae), Vicia vilosa Roth (Leguminosae), Euphorbia spp. (Euphorbiaceae), Salvia  verticillata L. (Labiatae),Rosinarinuin officinalis L. (Labiatae), Morina persica L. (Dipsacaceae). Fahringer reported only Anthophora crinipes in Asia Minor and observed that adults visited the flowers of Salvia verticillata and Morina persica, but it is not clear if the insects collect pollen or nectar or both of these plants. The adults usually choose sunny days to fly out to the flowers, and during their flight a caracteristic buzzing is heard. The flying season be­gins in late March and goes on until the end of June, or some time later. The damage done by these insects to the fabric of the ancient settlement at Akrotiri is posing a serious problem for the preservation of the ruins in their present form. If it continues there is danger that parts of the masonry will be permanently deformed. Little heaps of fine pozzolana dust made by the insects going in and out of the tunnels is found on the ground below the entrance holes. In the last two years the team of archeaeologists  has used light traps in and around the ruins, thereby apparently reducing the populations of these insects and limiting the damage done by them. On the basis of the insects collected in May 1988, the population of A. crinipes outnumbers that of O. larreillei (ratio 79:21)

The structure of intercalated water in superconducting Na0.35_{0.35}CoO2⋅_{2}\cdot1.37D2_{2}O: Implications for the superconducting phase diagram

We have used electron and neutron powder diffraction to elucidate the structural properties of superconducting \NaD. Our measurements show that our superconducting sample exhbits a number of supercells ranging from ${1/3}a^{*}$ to ${1/15}a^{*}$, but the most predominant one, observed also in the neutron data, is a double hexagonal cell with dimensions \dhx. Rietveld analysis reveals that \deut\space is inserted between CoO$_{2}$ sheets as to form a layered network of NaO$_{6}$ triangular prisms. Our model removes the need to invoke a 5K superconducting point compound and suggests that a solid solution of Na is possible within a constant amount of water $y$.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Glass Transition in the Polaron Dynamics of CMR Manganites

Neutron scattering measurements on a bilayer manganite near optimal doping show that the short-range polarons correlations are completely dynamic at high T, but then freeze upon cooling to a temperature T* 310 K. This glass transition suggests that the paramagnetic/insulating state arises from an inherent orbital frustration that inhibits the formation of a long range orbital- and charge-ordered state. Upon further cooling into the ferromagnetic-metallic state (Tc=114 K), where the polarons melt, the diffuse scattering quickly develops into a propagating, transverse optic phonon.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures. Physical Review Letters (in Press