Towards disappearing user interfaces for ubiquitous computing: human enhancement from sixth sense to super senses

The enhancement of human senses electronically is possible when pervasive computers interact unnoticeably with humans in Ubiquitous Computing. The design of computer user interfaces towards “disappearing” forces the interaction with humans using a content rather than a menu driven approach, thus the emerging requirement for huge number of non-technical users interfacing intuitively with billions of computers in the Internet of Things is met. Learning to use particular applications in Ubiquitous Computing is either too slow or sometimes impossible so the design of user interfaces must be naturally enough to facilitate intuitive human behaviours. Although humans from different racial, cultural and ethnic backgrounds own the same physiological sensory system, the perception to the same stimuli outside the human bodies can be different. A novel taxonomy for Disappearing User Interfaces (DUIs) to stimulate human senses and to capture human responses is proposed. Furthermore, applications of DUIs are reviewed. DUIs with sensor and data fusion to simulate the Sixth Sense is explored. Enhancement of human senses through DUIs and Context Awareness is discussed as the groundwork enabling smarter wearable devices for interfacing with human emotional memories

Quantification of the release rate of the aggregation pheromone of the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), using solid-phase microextraction (SPME).

The aggregation pheromone of the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), has previously been identified as the monoterpenoid ester neryl ( S )-2-methylbutanoate. It attracts both male and female adults to traps in commercial glasshouses. In this paper, we investigate the rates of production of this compound at two male densities and in the presence or absence of an adult female. Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) was used to entrain live-male headspace odour and this was compared with external standards to obtain an estimate of pheromone production, which was about 100–300 pg male −1 h −1 . Significantly more pheromone was apparently produced per male at the higher density, but no firm conclusions could be drawn because the rates were close to the limits of resolution. The rate of production was not affected by the presence of a female thrips. Another male-headspace component, ( R )-lavandulyl acetate, was only detectable at the higher male density

Scintillate : An open-source graphical viewer for time-series calcium imaging evaluation and pre-processing

Background Calcium imaging is based on the detection of minute signal changes in an image time-series encompassing pre- and post-stimuli. Depending on the function of the elicited response, change may be pronounced, as in the case of a genetically encoded calcium-reporter protein, or subtle, as is the case in a bath-applied dye system. Large datasets are thus often acquired and appraised only during post-processing where specific Regions of Interest (ROIs) are examined. New method The scintillate software provides a platform allowing for near instantaneous viewing of time-sequenced tiffs within a discrete GUI environment. Whole sequences may be evaluated. In its simplest form scintillate provides change in florescence (ΔF) across the entire tiff image matrix. Evaluating image intensity level differences across the whole image allows the user to rapidly establish the value of the preparation, without a priori ROI-selection. Additionally, an implementation of Independent Component Analysis (ICA) provides additional rapid insights into areas of signal change. Results We imaged transgenic flies expressing Calcium-sensitive reporter proteins within projection neurons and moth mushroom bodies stained with a Ca2+ sensitive bath-applied dye. Instantaneous pre-stimulation background subtraction allowed us to appraise strong genetically encoded neuronal Ca2+ responses in flies and weaker, less apparent, responses within moth mushroom bodies. Comparison with existing methods At the time of acquisition, whole matrix ΔF analysis alongside ICA is ordinarily not performed. We found it invaluable, minimising time spent with unresponsive samples, and assisting in optimisation of subsequent acquisitions. Conclusions We provide a multi-platform open-source system to evaluate time-series images

Quantification of the release rate of the aggregation pheromone of the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), using solid-phase microextraction (SPME).

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