User interface guidelines for the control of interactive television systems via smart phone applications

International audienceThere are a growing number of smart phone applications allowing the user to control their television, set-top box or other entertainment devices. The success of these applications is limited. Based on findings from media studies in Austria and France focusing on how people currently use their TV and iTV systems and associated devices, this article describes recommendations for the design of a smart phone application enabling users to control Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) systems including all connected entertainment devices. Recommendations include the need to allow users to control devices that are related to the IPTV experience (not only the set-top box or television set) and the focus on scenarios of usage like supporting listening to music, enjoying a movie or controlling the connected home. Based on similarities and differences found in the two samples, future smart phone applications for controlling TV will only succeed if they provide meaningful functionalities that satisfy the (varying) user needs, support personalisation and personal usage and respect the limitations of mobile phones with respect to possible parallel activities performed

The bubble user interface: a tangible representation of information to enhance the user experience in IPTV systems

International audienceMedia consumption in the IPTV sector has changed over the past years and decades. It evolved from a linear viewing behavior on just one device, the TV with a few channels, to a connected home entertainment environment with multiple screens. Also user interfaces need to adapt to these new requirements and ensure a good user experience and meet the consumers' needs for natural, straightforward and pleasant method of interacting with their IPTV systems. We have developed a new kind of user interface as a tailor-made alternative to current list or grid menus in order to not only address current limitations of list and grid menus, but to offer a novel and unique way to interact with TV content that makes using an interactive system an event again

Engineering for User Experience: An Interactive TV Case Study

This paper provides an experience report and position paper describing some subjective and personal insights we gained during the design and development of an interactive television application that had the enhancement of the overall user experience as the main target. Goal of this position paper is to point out practical experience that as simple lessons learned can help avoid that a project fails due to simple communication errors or role-specific different expectations

Preface to the Special Issue on Immersive Environments: Challenges, Research and New Developments

Immersion could be defined as a subjective impression of participating in a comprehensive, realistic experience [1]. However, immersion should not be treated as a unique property, as it is achieved from a complex interaction of representational fidelity and learner interaction, holding a dependency on other aspects of the environment [2, 3]. The use of immersive environments which create a feeling of ?presence? naturally allows for more complex social interactions and designed experiences [4]. A particular use of these technologies is in educational settings, where they can enhance learning experiences, foster participation, collaboration, creativity and engagement; creating huge opportunities for integration and research. Effective immersive learning experiences can be created with multiple media using myriad techniques and employing a wealth of knowledge that spans many disciplines. This includes but is not limited to computer science, user experience and media design, the learning sciences, architecture, game development, artificial intelligence, biology, medicine, and thousands of disciplinary and occupational content areas wherein immersive learning and training may be relevant. The Immersive Learning Research Network (iLRN) is ?an international organization of developers, educators, and research professionals collaborating to develop the scientific, technical, and applied potential of immersive learning? [5]. The vision of the network is to develop a comprehensive research and outreach agenda that encompasses the breadth and scope of learning potentialities, affordances and challenges of immersive learning environments. The first international conference iLRN 2015 held in Prague, Czech Republic, attracted a number of high-quality contributions. As a follow-up, this special issue was organised as an open call to seek a wider set of contributions from the research community, including extended versions of iLRN 2015 best papers

EGFR is not a major driver for osteosarcoma cell growth in vitro but contributes to starvation and chemotherapy resistance

Background Enhanced signalling via the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a hallmark of multiple human carcinomas. However, in recent years data have accumulated that EGFR might also be hyperactivated in human sarcomas. Aim of this study was to investigate the influence of EGFR inhibition on cell viability and its interaction with chemotherapy response in osteosarcoma cell lines. Methods We have investigated a panel of human osteosarcoma cell lines regarding EGFR expression and downstream signalling. To test its potential applicability as therapeutic target, inhibition of EGFR by gefitinib was combined with osteosarcoma chemotherapeutics and cell viability, migration, and cell death assays were performed. Results Osteosarcoma cells expressed distinctly differing levels of functional EGFR reaching in some cases high amounts. Functionality of EGFR in osteosarcoma cells was proven by EGF-mediated activation of both MAPK and PI3K/AKT pathway (determined by phosphorylation of ERK1/2, AKT, S6, and GSK3). The EGFR-specific inhibitor gefitinib blocked EGF-mediated downstream signal activation. At standard in vitro culture conditions, clinically achievable gefitinib doses demonstrated only limited cytotoxic activity, however, significantly reduced long-term colony formation and cell migration. In contrast, under serum-starvation conditions active gefitinib doses were distinctly reduced while EGF promoted starvation survival. Importantly, gefitinib significantly supported the anti-osteosarcoma activities of doxorubicin and methotrexate regarding cell survival and migratory potential. Conclusion Our data suggest that EGFR is not a major driver for osteosarcoma cell growth but contributes to starvation- and chemotherapy-induced stress survival. Consequently, combination approaches including EGFR inhibitors should be evaluated for treatment of high-grade osteosarcoma patients.(VLID)486733

Dimeric chlorite dismutase from the nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium Cyanothece sp. PCC7425

It is demonstrated that cyanobacteria (both azotrophic and non-azotrophic) may 34 contain heme b oxidoreductases that can convert chlorite to chloride and molecular oxygen (incorrectly denominated chlorite “dismutase”, Cld). Beside the water-splitting manganese complex of photosystem II this metalloenzyme is the second known enzyme that catalyzes the formation of a covalent oxygen-oxygen bond. All cyanobacterial Clds have a truncated N-terminus and are dimeric (i.e. clade 2) proteins. As model protein, Cld from Cyanothece sp. PCC7425 (CCld) was recombinantly produced in E. coli and shown to efficiently degrade chlorite with an activity optimum at pH 5 (kcat 1144 ± 23.8 s-1, KM 162 ± 10.0 μM, catalytic efficiency (7.1 ± 0.6) × 106 M-1 s-1). The resting ferric high-spin axially symmetric heme enzyme has a standard reduction potential of the Fe(III)/Fe(II) couple of -126 ± 1.9 mV at pH 7. Cyanide mediates the formation of a low-spin complex with kon = (1.6 ± 0.1) × 105 M-1 s-1 and koff = 1.4 ± 2.9 s-1 (KD ~ 8.6 μM). Both, thermal and chemical unfolding follows a non-two state unfolding pathway with the first transition being related to the release of the prosthetic group. The obtained data are discussed with respect to known structure-function relationships of Clds. We ask for the physiological substrate and putative function of these O2-producing proteins in (nitrogen-fixing) cyanobacteria