Touch at a distance: Simple perception aid device with user\u27s explorer action

Although we obtain a lot of information in our environment via the visual modality, we also obtain rich information via the non-visual modality. In the mechanism how we perceive our environment, we use not only the sensor information, but also "how it changes according to how we act." For example, we obtain the haptic information from the haptic sensor on our finger, and when we move our finger along to the surface of the touching object, the haptic information changes according to the finger motion, and we "perceive" the whole shape of the object by executing the action-and-sensing process. In other words, we have a high ability to "integrate" the relation of our body\u27s action and its related sensing data, so as to improve the accuracy of sensor in our body. Based on this idea, we developed a simple perception aid device with user\u27s explorer action, to perceive the object at a distance, which has a linked range sensor and haptic actuator, which we name "FutureBody-Finger." The distance sensor measures the distance to the object (20-80[cm]), and it is converted to the angle of lever attached at the servo motor (0-60[deg]). The user holds this device in his hand with attaching his index finger on the device\u27s lever. For the long distance to the object, the lever leans to the front, and the user feels nothing. On the other hand, for the short distance to the object, the lever stands vertically, and the user feels the existence of the object. Although the device simply measures the distance to the single point on the object, as the user "explorers" around him, the user can obtain more rich distance information of the surrounding object, and hence, finally perceive the shape of the whole object.SIGGRAPH Asia 2014 Emerging Technologies, SA 2014; Shenzhen; China; 3 December 2014 through 6 December 2014; Code 10945

FutureBody: Design of perception using the human body

金沢大学理工研究域電子情報学系We created a new interactive design concept "FutureBody" that generates or augments new perceptions for users. The concept of FutureBody consists of two elements, "active searching" and "embodiment, " allowing users to search their environment actively and to emit indirect feedback to activate users\u27 embodiments. We believe this concept will form the basis for a new perception design methodology for people. Copyright 2011 ACM

CyARM-interactive device for environment recognition using a non-visual modality

金沢大学大学院自然科学研究科情報システムThe purpose of this research is to develop an interactive device for environment recognition, which uses senses other than vision. At present there is no interactive device with which a person who is visually handicapped can gain an intuitive impression of the external world. Our device, which we have named CyARM, has a mechanism that controls the motion of a visually impaired person\u27s arm according to information about distance gathered by an ultrasonic sensor. We refined the features of CyARM through experimentation. The user can identify not only the existence of an object, but also its form. © Springer-Verlag 2004

Dynamic lighting sign system for way-finding by people with low vision

金沢大学大学院自然科学研究科情報システムWe developed and proposed a dynamic lighting sign (DLS for short) system for people with poor vision to use to find their way. The DLS system uses a chain of lighting units with LED to indicate the way and is controlled by means of a PC. We implemented the DLS system for helping people to find their way and evaluated it in terms of light-flashing time, spatial interval and colour. We also carried out an experiment to evaluate its effectiveness in helping people find their way. © Springer-Verlag 2004

Second nationwide surveillance of bacterial pathogens in patients with acute uncomplicated cystitis conducted by Japanese Surveillance Committee from 2015 to 2016: antimicrobial susceptibility of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus saprophyticus

The Japanese Surveillance Committee conducted a second nationwide surveillance of antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of uropathogens responsible for acute uncomplicated cystitis (AUC) in premenopausal patients aged 16–40 years old at 31 hospitals throughout Japan from March 2015 to February 2016. In this study, the susceptibility of causative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus saprophyticus) for various antimicrobial agents was investigated by isolation and culturing of organisms obtained from urine samples. In total, 324 strains were isolated from 361 patients, including E. coli (n = 220, 67.9%), S. saprophyticus (n = 36, 11.1%), and K. pneumoniae (n = 7, 2.2%). The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 20 antibacterial agents for these strains were determined according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) manual. At least 93% of the E. coli isolates showed susceptibility to fluoroquinolones and cephalosporins, whereas 100% of the S. saprophyticus isolates showed susceptibility to fluoroquinolones and aminoglycosides. The proportions of fluoroquinolone-resistant and extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing E. coli strains were 6.4% (13/220) and 4.1% (9/220), respectively. The antimicrobial susceptibility of K. pneumoniae was retained during the surveillance period, while no multidrug-resistant strains were identified. In summary, antimicrobial susceptibility results of our second nationwide surveillance did not differ significantly from those of the first surveillance. Especially the numbers of fluoroquinolone-resistant and ESBL-producing E. coli strains were not increased in premenopausal patients with AUC in Japan

Hand-Mixing with Chopsticks: Regulations of Hand Movements by Ingredient Properties and Tool Length

This study was designed to demonstrate the process of mixing different kinds of ingredients, particularly focusing on hand movements that manage chopsticks. Participants were requested to stir two combinations of ingredients: oil and water, as well as brown and white sugar by using either short or long chopsticks. Motion data were analyzed by three methods: the spectral analysis (short-term Fourier transform: STFT), the recurrence quantification analysis (RQA), and the detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA). It was found that hand motions in mixing varied flexibly according to the relationship between the length of tool (short/long) and the properties of stirred ingredients