Button Click Research Articles

Triboelectric sensor-empowered intelligent mouse combined with machine learning technology strides toward a computer security system

The computer mouse is one of the most common tools used for human-machine interfacing. The human behavior studying by click operation using an intelligent mouse and related security identification of computers remains a great challenge. Here, we develop an intelligent mouse embedded with a contact-separation adaptable triboelectric sensor based on the intrinsic mouse button click operation. With the unique characteristics of different individuals who use the intelligent mouse and machine learning algorithms, an identity recognition system was designed. Through processes such as signal processing, feature extraction, and model training, high-accuracy (98.4 %) identification of different individuals based on the signals from the embedded triboelectric sensor in the mouse was achieved. In addition, we have developed a security alarm system for detecting unauthorized users operating the computer, and successfully validated the practicality of this system. A system for monitoring user behaviors while operating the computer has been designed to meet the monitoring needs of user computer usage states. This system can monitor users' gaming, working, or studying states, while effectively protecting users' privacy. In general, this work reveals a new strategy for security identification of computers which can be potentially applied in cyber and information security.

MouseClicker: Exploring Tactile Feedback and Physical Agency for People with Hand Motor Impairments

Assistive technology (AT) design is critical in enabling functionality for people with disabilities, blending essential elements of both practical utility and user experience. Traditionally, AT has successfully addressed core functional needs, such as enabling cursor movement and clicking actions with devices like computer mice. However, a comprehensive approach to AT design also necessitates a thorough consideration of sensory feedback, including tactile sensations, ergonomics, and auditory cues like button click sounds. These aspects are not merely supplementary but are integral to the device’s functionality, enhancing user interaction and long-term comfort, especially for individuals with motor impairments. In this work, we present MouseClicker, a mechatronic AT to surrogate physical agency over a computer mouse and to foster the haptic sensory experience of clicking on it tailored specifically for an individual with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) who faces challenges in using a standard mouse due to severe hand motor impairments. Our design aims at replicating the holistic experience of clicking a mouse, from its functional mechanical actions to its nuanced tactile and auditory feedback. This work details the MouseClicker’s design and reports on an exploratory user study aimed at identifying optimal vibrotactile feedback parameters – such as location, and intensity – that represent mouse button clicks. MouseClicker presents a step forward in AT design by integrating the functionality, sensory feedback, and the overall experience of taking control over non-AT devices.

Implementation of Building Component Drawing Automation to Improve Time Efficiency and Accuracy in the Construction Planning Process

The use of automation in drawing within AutoCAD® based on NET C# is one solution for time efficiency and accuracy in building component drawings. Typically, AutoCAD® follows a command syntax concept of one command for one object (usual command, UC) in building component drawings. However, utilizing automation in AutoCAD® based on NET C# allows a single command syntax to be applied to multiple objects, generating multiple outcomes (automatic command, AC). Through this automation, typical drawings can be created by inputting data in a form and executing it with a single button click, resulting in the immediate creation of typical drawings. The automation of building component drawings aims to enhance time efficiency and accuracy in drawing. The research methodology employs a quantitative approach with a comparative design between two paired samples. A comparative study was conducted with 10 respondents, allowing them to draw building components using two methods: UC and a second method using AC. The time taken for drawing using UC and AC was recorded, and from the recorded time data, an analysis of time efficiency and drawing accuracy was performed. Time analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS 26 and Excel applications. The analysis procedure used a paired sample two-tailed t-test with the condition that if the sig. value < 0.05, then H0 is rejected and Ha is accepted, or if the calculated t-value > tabulated t-value, then H0 is rejected and Ha is accepted. The analysis results revealed a significant difference in time efficiency between the usual command (UC) and automatic command (AC) methods. During the testing process, accuracy testing of the automation program was also conducted, yielding high accuracy results for the automation program. The research findings indicate that the implementation of automation in drawing based on AutoCAD® and NET C# significantly contributes to enhancing time efficiency and accuracy in building component drawings

Influence of size and location of buttons on the usability of interface on large touch screens

This study examined how large touchscreen buttons affect user task completion time, error rate, and subjective satisfaction (ease of pointing and clicking on targets). In this experiment, 31 participants completed button click tasks of square targets placed at 30 (5 × 6) different locations, with seven button sizes (10 mm, 30 mm, 50 mm, 70 mm, 90 mm, 110 mm, and 130 mm). Repeated measures ANOVAs showed that on a 65'' large touch screen (W 1428 × H 803 mm), 70 mm buttons achieved essentially the best performance in completion time, 50 mm in error rates, and 90 mm in subjective satisfaction, respectively. We also compare the differences in efficiency among different button areas and button sizes. The surrounding area and lower area require a bigger button size to achieve the best performance in terms of error rates and subjective satisfaction. The right area requires a bigger optimal button size than the left area considering error rates, while it is the opposite for subjective satisfaction. Practitioner summary: This study investigates how the size and location of buttons on the increasingly popular large touch screen affect user experience. The study reveals that 70, 50, 90 mm size buttons are recommended when speed, accuracy and satisfaction are priorities respectively. The interaction between button size and button area is significantly different. The surrounding area and lower area require a bigger button size to achieve the best performance in terms of error rate and subjective satisfaction. Considering error rates, the right area requires a bigger optimal button size than the left area, while it is opposite for subjective satisfaction. These findings could facilitate the optimal design of usable large touch screens.

Digital Banking in India- Prospects and Constraints

Banking was previously a time-consuming activity. If someone needed to withdraw cash, it was required to visit the nearest branch of the bank and it was mandatory to fill and submit the withdrawal slips or submit check and then he would get his cash. Thanks to the new technologies all of this is history and the way things were performed has changed because of Digital Banking. The concept of Digital banking involves with performing the financial transaction between two parties entirely online or electronically without using the paper documents such as Cheque, Slips, etc. The rise of Digital banking is the greatest development in the Banking history. It has not only made banking easier today but it also assisted people in making the transition to paperless or online transactions, people may now effortlessly conduct transactions or transfer money with just one button click on their smart phone, desktop or any digital device. In spite of technological advancement in the digital banking field there are many constraints like internet availability, low technological exposure in rural areas, online frauds and improper infrastructure. This research attempts to study and understand the phenomenon of digital banking. As the various countries and global institutions are promoting the growth and development of the digital banking for the benefit of the world. This study also gives an overview of Digital banking’s prospects such as economic transparency, new banking services for Gen-Z and various Banking trends, along with various constraints like lack of knowledge, cyber security and host of others.

P-142 ICSI Semi Automation powered by AI: Gateway for Oocyte Quality Assessment real time based on biomechanics during ICSI

Abstract Study question Embryo selection based on oolemma elasticity and cytoplasm viscosity using semi automated CL-ICSI technology assisted by Artificial Intelligence Summary answer CL-ICSI syringe/technology is capable of converting embryologist visual and feel of each ICSI procedure into a measurable form for objectivity of assessment in real time. What is known already In last four decades, understanding and/or assessing oocyte quality (based on biomechanics) become one of the needs in order to define the embryo formation and selection. initial days of ICSI, embryologist identifies the oocyte pool as fragile, normal or hyper elastic groups based on visual and indentation methods. Further, a variety of advanced techniques were implemented such as ultra fast imaging, atomic force sensing, micro tactile sensors, microfluidics and zone modulus measuring methods. These techniques were implemented on oocyte donation programs, and limited to research, due to the complexity and technical difficulties in implementing. Study design, size, duration From our observations, we would like to introduce our innovative technology (CL-ICSI) that is semi automation of ICSI procedure which is capable of measuring oolemma elasticity and cytoplasmic viscosity. we show the performance using limited number of discarded oocytes as a proof of concept of our technology. We believe that, exploitation of such technology become an asset/gateway for better understanding of oocyte quality and perhaps contribute in embryo selection based on oocyte biomechanics/quality. Participants/materials, setting, methods Current technology (CL-ICSI) is based on ICSI syringes that are calculated/designed to improve objectivity during the ICSI procedure among inter and intra users. CL-ICSI technology comprises of a semi automated syringe equipped with micro controllers that utilises force sensing and pressure mapping techniques to convert oocyte biomechanics data into measurable read outs on display unit. These measurable readouts are finally fed to AI algorithms that calculate the oocyte quality score as an output. Main results and the role of chance CL-ICSI semi automation technology is designed to minimise embryologist subjectivity during the ICSI procedure. Existing syringes works on manual rotatory mechanism which does not provide the start and stop point of the pressure applied on oocyte for puncturing, which genratlly controlled by embryologists skill and experience. Current technology comes with a click button that is designed to be loaded with potential energy which is proportional to the pressure/force required to puncture oolemma subsequently for sperm deposition. In case of classical syringes, post puncturing opposite rotation is implemented to withdraw the negative pressure or cytoplasmic content flow into the needle. Due to the lack of precise positioning the system become subjective. For this reason, we introduced mechanical potential energy build up, where oolemma puncture occurs with a button click and compensation of negative pressure occurs with releasing the button. This mechanism provides objectivity as well requires less than half of the time for oocyte intervention during ICSI over conventional rotatory syringes. More over, this technology works on pneumatics and is adaptable to all existing micro manipulators. Utilisation of such technologies may help improve the objectivity during ICSI and help understand oocyte quality in addition to the visual morphology assessment using AI. Limitations, reasons for caution CL-ICSI technology may be considered as next generation ICSI systems. Application of this technology in clinical setting in collecting the data from multicenters and different ethnicities might provide information that is a step closer to understand the oocyte quality and its role in embryo formation using artificial intelligence. Wider implications of the findings Embryo selection is one of the key event for single embryo transfer for healthy pregnancies. Morphology and morphokinetics data on oocytes and embryos provide valuable information but are limited, if there are no embryos formed. Current technology (CL-ICSI) may provide new avenues for better understanding on embryo prediction and selection. Trial registration number `not applicable`

Control of an ultrasonic haptic interface for button simulation

This work presents the control of a piezoelectric interface that combines two vibration modes of a plate to render the haptic feeling of a button click. By principle, the two vibration modes create an elliptical motion of particles of a beam that can induce a lateral force to the fingerpulp. In this device, the synchronization of the modes’ vibrations is essential, and can be obtained with a closed loop control. In the paper, we present the control in the (d,q) frame, because it can ensure the dynamic performances to achieve a compelling haptic feedback, yet being robust besides the external disturbances produced by the user’s finger. The proposed method could achieve a 2 ms response time, and the haptic feedback was perceived by 100% of users in a psychophysical study.

Accurate Cyberbullying Detection and Prevention on Social Media

Abstract The usage of digital/social media is increasing day by day with the advancement of technology. People in the twenty-first century are being raised in an internet-enabled world with social media. Communication has been just one button click. Even though there are plenty of opportunities with digital media people tend to misuse it. People spread hatred toward a person in social networking. Cyberbullying affects people in different aspects. It doesn’t affect only for health, there are more different aspects which will lead life to a threat. Cyberbullying is a worldwide modern phenomenon which humans cannot avoid hundred percent but can be prevented. Most existing solutions have shown techniques/approaches to detect cyberbullying, but they are not freely available for end-users to use. They haven’t considered the evolution of language which makes a big impact on cyberbullying text. This paper describes a system for automatic detection and prevention cyberbullying considering the main characteristics of cyberbullying such as Intention to harm an individual, Repeatedly and over time and using abusive curl language or hate speech using supervised machine learning. The system relies on the detection of cyberbullying text along with the themes/categories associated with cyberbullying such as racist, sexual, physical mean, swear and other, using support vector machines and Logistic regression. The author of this research presents a new hypothesis for cyberbullying detection that the circumstances and usage of texting and its language have changed by time. Most of the studies have considered calling someone stupid, ugly and idiot as cyberbullying. Things have changed, such words may or may not always be a bullying incident. If a person wants intentionally to harm an individual, they will use extreme words. In addition to traditional feature extraction techniques like Term Frequency–Inverse Document Frequency (TF-IDF), N-gram and profanity along with sentiment analysis increases the accuracy of the system. Evaluated the proposed system using Recall, Precision and F1-score.

Localizable Button Click Rendering via Active Lateral Force Feedback.

In this article, we have developed a novel button click rendering mechanism based on active lateral force feedback. The effect can be localized because electroadhesion between a finger and a surface can be localized. Psychophysical experiments were conducted to evaluate the quality of a rendered button click, which subjects judged to be acceptable. Both the experiment results and the subjects' comments confirm that this button click rendering mechanism has the ability to generate a range of realistic button click sensations that could match subjects' different preferences. We can, thus, generate a button click on a flat surface without macroscopic motion of the surface in the lateral or normal direction, and can localize this haptic effect to an individual finger.

Design and Development of Timesheet Management System

Background/Objective:In recent times most of the organizations are dependent mainly on the data. The effective management of the company is dependent on effective extraction of information from the data. The tool called Timesheet Management System (TMS) has been introduced in this paper which helps in automatic calculation of the Gross Margin (GM) and Invoice generation upon the button click. This results in the organization’s growth by reducing the manual work. Project under consideration plays a critical role in timesheet management system (TMS) so it can be considered as the project centric financial tool. This tool consists of developing the huge modules which explains the entire life cycle of the project from start to end date. This paper focus on 3 tier architecture which consists of 3 layers such as Presentation, Business and Application layers. Rivest. Methods:Adi-Shamir (RSA) algorithm is employed for secure computation of Sales Gross Margin (GM);Hibernate is used for Object Relational Mapping (ORM) that helps in mapping the .NET classes to database. Use of One Time Password (OTP) provides secure access to the timesheet portal. Findings: This paper mainly concentrates on designing and implementing Sales Gross Margin (SGM) creation, Gross Margin (GM) calculation and the invoice generation. This process includes allocating of the employee to the project by the concerned project manager which helps the allocated employee’s to access the timesheet tool. Authentication of the employee’s data will be done by the Project Manager (PM). Further the computation of Sales Gross Margin (SGM), Gross Margin and Invoice generation is done on monthly basis or after the completion of the project by the project manager (PM). All the processed data from project manager will be authenticated from higher authorities such as Subsidiary Business Unit (SBU), Account Receivable Team (ART), and Regional Sales Head (RSH). Finally, it leads to the creation of Sales Gross Margin (SGM), calculating the Gross Margin (GM) and the invoice generation. Application: Effective design and implementation of these three modules helps in tracking the profit gain in digital manner and helps in improving the profit gain. The TMS has a user friendly interface and helps to reduce the manual work in case of financial calculations. It can be improved further if the updated Cost to Company (CTC)is considered for calculating the Gross Margin. Keywords: Account Receivable Team, (ART), Gross Margin (GM), Invoice Generation, Sales Gross Margin (SGM), Subsidiary Business Unit (SBU),Timesheet Management System (TMS)

Are friends really the family we choose? Local variations of hypothalamus activity when viewing personally known faces

ABSTRACTSibling and friend relationships have significant impact on individuals' socio-emotional development. Hypothalamic supraoptic nucleus (SON) and paraventricular nucleus (PVN) synthesize and secrete neuropeptides, including oxytocin, associated with attachment behaviors. Here, using fMRI, we investigate the implication of these two hypothalamic nuclei in the visual processing of personally known faces. Faces of same-sex sibling, best friend, celebrity, and unknown person appear in the middle of the screen while participants perform a task requiring a button click each time a central white dot turns red. Ratings of familiarity (time spent together) and emotionality (feelings toward individual) toward the four individuals are recorded. Local activation within the hypothalamus is assessed via two complementary methods: (1) voxel-based analyses within inclusive mask of the hypothalamus; (2) region-of-interest (ROI) analysis of partial hypothalamic volumes using SON and PVN as center of mass coordinates, with percent signal change extracted and analyzed within these ROIs. Results suggest that the SON responds to all familiar individuals while the PVN has increased response to sibling compared to friend faces and is correlated to familiarity but not emotionality. These findings support differential involvement of local hypothalamic substructures SON and PVN in response to faces of individuals with different social relationships.

Proposing Enhanced E-Mail Security Mechanism (EEMSM) for Reducing Cyber Crimes

Now a days, Criminals use various methods for launching sophisticated attacks via internet. Most commonly e-mail channel is preferred by the attackers for launching phishing attacks by sending fake or junk emails. As authors studied due to absence of privacy, authentication and integrity of email message somewhere SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) lacks security. So, for making more secure email communication channel, authors designed a new methodology “EEMSM” that is named as Enhanced E-Mail Security Mechanism whose function is to provide “Content Base Encryption” (CBE) on a simple mouse button click on email body before sending email to receiver end. The working of EEMSM is based on the type of encryption algorithm applied on the type of content carried by email body viz. text based content, image based content and audio/video based content etc. The motive of this new designed methodology is to keep data safe or private from the third party without data stolen on the time of data sending on the network. That ultimately helps to improve email body content security on the network. This paper also discusses about the current scenario used by the Gmail for sending E-mail. And at the end, authors compares how new designed methodology provides more secure results than the present scenario.

An interactive tool for designing quadrotor camera shots

Cameras attached to small quadrotor aircraft are rapidly becoming a ubiquitous tool for cinematographers, enabling dynamic camera movements through 3D environments. Currently, professionals use these cameras by flying quadrotors manually, a process which requires much skill and dexterity. In this paper, we investigate the needs of quadrotor cinematographers, and build a tool to support video capture using quadrotor-based camera systems. We begin by conducting semi-structured interviews with professional photographers and videographers, from which we extract a set of design principles. We present a tool based on these principles for designing and autonomously executing quadrotor-based camera shots. Our tool enables users to: (1) specify shots visually using keyframes; (2) preview the resulting shots in a virtual environment; (3) precisely control the timing of shots using easing curves; and (4) capture the resulting shots in the real world with a single button click using commercially available quadrotors. We evaluate our tool in a user study with novice and expert cinematographers. We show that our tool makes it possible for novices and experts to design compelling and challenging shots, and capture them fully autonomously.

안드로이드 UI 이벤트를 이용한 공격 기법 연구

스마트폰 어플리케이션은 UI(User Interface)로 구성되어 있다. 버튼 클릭, 화면 스크롤 등 사용자가 어플리케이션을 사용하는 과정 중 많은 UI의 변화가 발생하면서 UI 이벤트가 시스템에 전송된다. 이러한 UI 이벤트에는 다양한 정보가 포함되어 있는데, 사용자 입력과 관련된 정보도 함께 포함되어 있다. 안드로이드 환경에서 키로깅 등 기존의 알려진 입력정보 획득 기법은 루팅과 같은 제한적인 환경을 필요로 했으나, UI 이벤트는 일반권한만으로도 접근이 가능하다는 장점이 있다. 또한, 입력정보 보호를 위해 많은 어플리케이션에서 보안키패드를 적용 중에 있으나, 이와는 관계없이 UI 이벤트를 활용한 기법을 통해 입력정보 획득이 가능하다는 것이 실험을 통해 조사되었다. 본 논문에서는 UI 이벤트를 활용한 사용자 입력정보 유출 위협을 증명하고, 이를 응용하여 시나리오를 기반으로 재생공격(Replay Attack)이 가능함을 보이면서 대응 방안을 제시하도록 한다. Smart-phone Applications are consists of UI(User Interface). During using applications, UI events such as button click and scroll down are transmitted to Smart-phone system with many changes of UI. In these UI events, various information including user-input data are also involved. While Keylogging, which is a well-known user-input data acquisition technique, is needed a restrictive condition like rooting to obtain the user-input data in android environment, UI events have advantage which can be easily accessible to user-input data on user privileges. Although security solutions based keypad in several applications are applied, we demonstrate that these were exposed to vulnerability of application security and could be obtained user-input data using UI events regardless of presence of any security system. In this paper, we show the security threats related information disclosure using UI events and suggest the alternative countermeasures by showing the replay-attack example based scenarios.

An aggregate indicator for mobile application quality assessment

The mobile applications environment has a multitude of particularities generated by the complex system of devices, hardware, and software profiles and categories of users. The mobile industry has also evolved rapidly in the last 5 years from single-core mobile platforms to multiple-core mobile application platforms, able to compete in terms of user services with notebooks. New types of devices, like tablets, or shifts in human-computer interface paradigms from button click to screen touch, have opened new perspectives both for users and software developers. This requires an adaptable approach for performance analysis in terms of total quality management for software projects. In this context, quality is analyzed from the viewpoints of developers, of users and, respectively, of one who aims to recover an investment. This paper proposes a mobile application quality estimation model that requires the identification of features such as mode of interaction, command speeds, interaction time, drivability, volume of provided information, error management, self-healing, integrability, data security, transaction security, coefficients determining importance and building an aggregate indicator, and which properties should be highlighted for ensuring usability in a practical environment. The indicator is integrated in a quality metric used to assess mobile applications' quality. Emphasizing the usefulness of the indicator is done on a representative set of mobile computing applications. The paper proposes a set of indicators normalized on the [0; 1] interval used to measure the application quality level.

Testosterone reactivity and identification with a perpetrator or a victim in a story are associated with attraction to violence-related cues

BackgroundRecent field research has demonstrated that an attraction to aggressive behavior and cruelty is common among combatants and perpetrators involved in organized violence. The biological basis of this appetitive perception of aggression in humans has to date not been studied. AimsWe examined testosterone as a potential hormonal moderator during induction of specifically appetitive aggressive behavior in the laboratory. MethodTo activate physiological responding related to appetitive aggression, 145 university students (72 women) listened to tape recordings of variants of a violent story. The perspective of the listener in the story was randomized between subjects. Participants were required to either identify as perpetrator, neutral observer, or victim. We assessed changes in saliva testosterone in response to the story. Subsequently, a series of pictorial stimuli (IAPS) with different valence ratings was presented and participants determined the length of viewing time with a button click. This viewing time for negative IAPS was assessed as a dependent variable indicating level of interest in violent scenes. ResultsMen identified themselves with the perpetrator more than women irrespective of the particular perspective presented by the story. Men who responded with an increase in saliva testosterone when adopting the perpetrator perspective chose to view the negative IAPS pictures for longer intervals than participants in other conditions or those who did not exhibit a release in testosterone. ConclusionsTestosterone moderates attraction to cruel and violent cues in men, as indicated by extended deliberate viewing of violence cues.

TH‐E‐BRCD‐03: Automatic Treatment Planning for IMRT, VMAT and IMPT

In intensity‐modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), including intensity modulated X‐ray therapy (IMXT), volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT), the quality of the treatment plan, which is highly dependent upon the treatment planner's level of experience, greatly affects the potential benefits of the radiotherapy (RT). Furthermore, the planning process is complicated and requires a great deal of iteration, and it is often the most time‐consuming aspect of the RT process. There is also a long learning curve to design the “optimal” plan for the newest technology such as IMPT. However, recent optimization algorithm technology development, especially automatically planning based on some kind of machine learning, have reached a point in treatment planning process where treatment plan can be designed without or with minimum human intervention. In this work, we describe the methodology and validation results of mdaccAutoPlan system: this system has the potential to automate IMXT/VMAT/IMPT treatment planning to the extent that human intervention is minimal. For every new patient, the mdaccAutoPlan system could automatically generate plans (the autoplans) that meet or exceed the institution's dose‐volume constraints by one button click in the TPS. The methodology 1) automatically sets beam angles based on a data mining of previously plans designed by experienced dosimetristsand a beam angle automation algorithm, 2) judiciously designs the planning structures, which were shown to be effective for all the patient cases we studied, and 3) automatically adjusts the objectives of the objective function based on a parameter automation algorithm. We compared treatment plans created in this system (mdaccAutoPlan) based on the overall methodology with plans from the plans created by the experienced dosimetrists. The “autoplans” were consistently better, or no worse, than the plans produced by experienced medical dosimetrists in terms of tumor coverage and normal tissue sparing. This lecture will provide an overview of overall methodology in the “autoplan” system and its validation on the treatment planning process in IMRT, VMAT, IMPT and adaptive radiotherapy planning (ART).Learning Objectives:1. Understand the bottleneck of current inverse planning and evaluation process2. Understand the importance of data mining of pre‐existing treatment plans3. Understand the impact of automation on reducing the learning curve of new technologies4. Understand the importance of automatic planning on improving quality and consistence of radiation therapy5. Understand the clinical workflow of automatic planning

A haptics-based virtual simulation system for product design

This paper aims to develop a haptics-based virtual simulation system for product design. To fully reach the potential of such a system, the modelling methods of the user-product interaction should be based on physics to enable users to feel the physical behaviours of various products. The key challenge is the balance between the heavy computational load and the high update rate for haptic feedback. In this paper, the modelling of rigid and deformable objects for haptics-based simulations is developed, including button click and vibration feeling as well as the interaction with heterogeneous deformable material. The commercial haptic device PHANToM Desktop from SensAble Technologies is integrated with the models into the implemented prototype system. It is validated that the proposed simulation system can allow users to experience and manipulate virtual objects in cyber space. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed modelling methods are computationally efficient to provide real-time haptic feedback.

Fast and Flexible Selection with a Single Switch

Selection methods that require only a single-switch input, such as a button click or blink, are potentially useful for individuals with motor impairments, mobile technology users, and individuals wishing to transmit information securely. We present a single-switch selection method, “Nomon,” that is general and efficient. Existing single-switch selection methods require selectable options to be arranged in ways that limit potential applications. By contrast, traditional operating systems, web browsers, and free-form applications (such as drawing) place options at arbitrary points on the screen. Nomon, however, has the flexibility to select any point on a screen. Nomon adapts automatically to an individual's clicking ability; it allows a person who clicks precisely to make a selection quickly and allows a person who clicks imprecisely more time to make a selection without error. Nomon reaps gains in information rate by allowing the specification of beliefs (priors) about option selection probabilities and by avoiding tree-based selection schemes in favor of direct (posterior) inference. We have developed both a Nomon-based writing application and a drawing application. To evaluate Nomon's performance, we compared the writing application with a popular existing method for single-switch writing (row-column scanning). Novice users wrote 35% faster with the Nomon interface than with the scanning interface. An experienced user (author TB, with 10 hours practice) wrote at speeds of 9.3 words per minute with Nomon, using 1.2 clicks per character and making no errors in the final text.

ChannelTools: A VMD Plugin For Manipulating, Visualizing and Measuring Ion Channel Properties

A new set of software tools has been developed for manipulating, visualizing, and quantifying properties of ion channels. ChannelTools is a plugin for the Visual Molecular Dynamics (VMD) program and brings together native VMD commands and several independent software routines in one simple graphical user interface. ChannelTools allows quick and easy visualization of ion channels and employs the HOLE program to visualize the channel pore and pore lining surface. An option to apply the atomic co-ordinate standardization previously developed by the authors is implemented yielding a consistent channel orientation, axis, and geometric centre. By employing the ESFERA program, pore volume and surface area can be computed from HOLE program output at the click of a button. Cross-sectional area and radius profile data and plots can also be generated with a single button click. Several different routines for estimating channel conductance are also being developed.