Interface Prototype Research Articles

A Case Study on Iteratively Assessing and Enhancing Wearable User Interface Prototypes

Wearable devices are being explored and investigated as a promising computing platform as well as a source of personal big data for the post smartphone era. To deal with a series of rapidly developed wearable prototypes, a well-structured strategy is required to assess the prototypes at various development stages. In this paper, we first design and develop variants of advanced wearable user interface prototypes, including joystick-embedded, potentiometer-embedded, motion-gesture and contactless infrared user interfaces for rapidly assessing hands-on user experience of potential futuristic user interfaces. To achieve this goal systematically, we propose a conceptual test framework and present a case study of using the proposed framework in an iterative cyclic process to prototype, test, analyze, and refine the wearable user interface prototypes. We attempt to improve the usability of the user interface prototypes by integrating initial user feedback into the leading phase of the test framework. In the following phase of the test framework, we track signs of improvements through the overall results of usability assessments, task workload assessments and user experience evaluation of the prototypes. The presented comprehensive and in-depth case study demonstrates that the iterative approach employed by the test framework was effective in assessing and enhancing the prototypes, as well as gaining insights on potential applications and establishing practical guidelines for effective and usable wearable user interface development.

Development of prototype for user interface of information system

For intellectual activity in the time of information explosion, it is necessary to explore a lot of documents obtained from open sources of the Internet. The object of research is the interface and structure of the information system. This system allows to reduce the processed information flow by filtering documents. The filtration is based on the documents set clustering. This method is seldom used due to the complexity of the user interface.To solve this problem, it is proposed to use the mind map view for visualizing the clustering results. The cluster hierarchy automatically creates the initial graph of the map nodes. The binary graph of the clustering results will automatically transform to the n-ary graph tree. The n is no more than the Yngve-Miller's number and should be determined by the user. The user also controls the mapping of clusters to the mind map, using SQL-queries.The structure of the information system is determined. This system uses free software solutions as its integral parts. Neural network subsystem is required to adapt to the specific user needs.A prototype of the mind map user interface is developed. It is made in JavaScript and is represented as a web page. A list of the main use cases for implementation in the MVP (the minimum viable product) is given.

Connecting the Last Mile: Demand Response in Smart Buildings

Demand response (DR) operates on the last mile in the smart grid that connects the building energy system with utility grid. It enables a building to actively participate in the whole grid energy system. With DR, a building may make a profit by optimizing its energy consumption while helping to achieve the overall targets of energy efficiency and emission reduction for the whole energy system. The recent US Supreme Court ruling on FERC Order 745 has reaffirmed the critical role and functions of demand response. It is expected that demand response will soon become a basic function of smart buildings. In this paper, we summarize the background of demand response, investigate promising automation technology such as OpenADR for demand response applications in smart buildings, and present an OpenADR Interface prototype demonstration for building energy management systems. We demonstrate the realization and benefits of OpenADR integration with state of art building energy management systems, which connects the last mile between the smart grids with the smart buildings.

On the Efficiency of a VR Hand Gesture-Based Interface for 3D Object Manipulations in Conceptual Design

ABSTRACTIn the early stages of 3D design, sketches are used to quickly conceptualize ideas and gain insight into problems and possible solutions. Computer-aided design tools are widely used for 3D modeling and design, but their required precision and 2D mouse and screen-based interface inhibit the flow of ideas. A study was conducted to explore the efficiency of hand tracking and virtual reality (VR) for 3D object manipulations in conceptual design. Based on existing research on conceptual design and hand gestures, an intuitive hand-based interaction model is proposed. An experiment on basic 3D manipulation shows that participants using a simple VR and hand-tracking interface prototype have similar performance to those using a traditional mouse and screen interface. For the improvement of gestural conceptual design interfaces, the relevant issues are identified.

Targeted Search Engines for Children

Children are a fast growing user group on the Internet. Among different online activities, children use web search engines in order to gather information related to their personal interests and school activities. Children's knowledge, cognitive abilities and fine motor skills are different from those of adults. Therefore, they may experience difficulties with search engines that are built using standard information retrieval algorithms and search interfaces for adults. Special or targeted search engines for children are essential in order to better support children in their search tasks. Therefore, the goal of this thesis is to design appropriate search engines for children with a focus on the search user interface. However, this is not an easy task to accomplish. Not only are children's abilities different from the abilities of adults, children also undergo relatively fast changes in their abilities. The specific and dynamically changing characteristics of young users pose a great challenge. In order to address this challenge, first, the specifics of information retrieval for young users are analysed. Second, open issues are identified in user studies with children using logfile analysis and eye-tracking. The conceptual challenges in the design of user interfaces regarding search engines for children are derived based on the findings of one's own and previous user studies as well as theories of human development. Third, user interfaces of search engines that address these conceptual challenges are designed, prototypically implemented and evaluated in user studies with children following a user-centered design. Specifically, the proposed user interfaces of the search engine address the changing characteristics of the users by providing a means of adaptation. Furthermore, a novel type of search result visualisation for children with cartoon style characters is developed which takes the children's preference for visual information into account. Both approaches were very positively received by children during evaluation. Children rated different user interface aspects of the search user interface prototypes as good, e.g., the adaptation of the search user interface towards user wishes and the helpfulness of the cartoon style characters during search. Finally, this thesis provides criteria and guidelines on how to design user interfaces of search engines for children.

BookMark: Appropriating existing infrastructure to facilitate scalable indoor navigation

This paper describes an approach to using physical-digital appropriation for navigation, piggybacking off the humble, ubiquitous barcode to facilitate cheap, scalable indoor wayfinding. We illustrate the technique by describing a prototype interface for navigating to specific books within a library. Our design—BookMark—provides visitors to the library with a detailed map to any desired book by simply scanning the barcode on the back of any other book in the library. After describing in detail how our technique is achieved, we move on to show its effectiveness via an in-situ experiment in which we compare our design to standard methods of library navigation. We then present the results of a longitudinal evaluation where we deploy the BookMark application to library visitors for a period of 24 months. We conclude with a discussion of our overall results, what our design means for other pervasive infrastructures, and how best to design for the future of physical-digital appropriation.

Hybrid brain\u2013computer interface for biomedical cyber-physical system application using wireless embedded EEG systems

BackgroundOne of the key challenges of the biomedical cyber-physical system is to combine cognitive neuroscience with the integration of physical systems to assist people with disabilities. Electroencephalography (EEG) has been explored as a non-invasive method of providing assistive technology by using brain electrical signals.MethodsThis paper presents a unique prototype of a hybrid brain computer interface (BCI) which senses a combination classification of mental task, steady state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) and eyes closed detection using only two EEG channels. In addition, a microcontroller based head-mounted battery-operated wireless EEG sensor combined with a separate embedded system is used to enhance portability, convenience and cost effectiveness. This experiment has been conducted with five healthy participants and five patients with tetraplegia.ResultsGenerally, the results show comparable classification accuracies between healthy subjects and tetraplegia patients. For the offline artificial neural network classification for the target group of patients with tetraplegia, the hybrid BCI system combines three mental tasks, three SSVEP frequencies and eyes closed, with average classification accuracy at 74% and average information transfer rate (ITR) of the system of 27 bits/min. For the real-time testing of the intentional signal on patients with tetraplegia, the average success rate of detection is 70% and the speed of detection varies from 2 to 4 s.

接触感覚を有する能動鉗子直接操作インタフェースの操作性評価

We have previously proposed a prototype of a hands-on type user interface for intuitive and dexterous manipulation of articulated surgical instruments in transnasal endoscopic neurosurgery. The proposed user interface was designed to provide a surgeon with intuitiveness and safe operation of the surgical instruments based on a passive mechanism. In this paper, we present an experimental feasibility study of the proposed interface to evaluate the usability in performing dexterous manipulation tasks.

Application of A Computer Animation Technique to Assist the Teaching of Pre-Handwriting Skills to Children with Coordination Difficulties/Dyspraxia

We have proposed a method to assist children with coordination difficulties or dyspraxia to improve their handwriting skills. We have chosen an animation technique called ‘Rotoscopy’, a method that normally been used in animation and film production and adapted it to Rotoscopy Prehandwriting Interface (RPI) prototypes using the interactive whiteboard (IWB) as interaction device. The motivation of this research is to discover how efficient if Rotoscopy is used beyond its normal purposes? Does it give benefits in terms of behavioural and motivational aspect rather than commercial and profit point of view? Implementation of RPI prototypes has taken place through series of workshops with a teacher and a group of children with handwriting difficulties at a special education school in Caerphilly, Cardiff, United Kingdom. In the workshops children were given pre-handwriting activities in two different environments. They have been trained to use RPI prototypes and IWB as well as using pen and paper. Their activities and action has been observed and recorded using video camera. Evaluation method is based-on video analysis of children’s pre-handwriting result and their reaction and motivation during the workshop. It was learnt that majority of children who used RPI prototypes and IWB have produced better results in terms of accuracy of the drawing as compared to results of pen and paper activities. Furthermore the children are more motivated to use the prototypes and IWB rather than using pen and paper. The study’s contribution includes offering a new way to improve children’s prehandwriting skills using computer animation technique and touch-based devices.

Analysis and Implementation of User Interface of Smart Drive System Using Goal-Directed Design Method

This study aims to reduce the number of violations committed by two-wheeled and four-wheeled vehicles. They have knowledge of good and correct driving procedures. Various traffic signs are also present in the prototype of this application. Problems that exist, riders still do not know the driving ethics on the highway and the lack of awareness of motorists in complying with traffic regulations. Researchers use field study techniques (observation and interview) to obtain preliminary data qualitatively. Based on the data obtained, researchers use the method of Goal-Directed Design (GDD) to create a prototype Smart Drive application. GDD is a method that focuses on user needs and goals. There are six phases in the GDD method: Research, Modeling, Definition of Terms, Definition of Frameworks, Refinements, and Support. Where based on User Experience, researchers designed the Smart Drive Prototype User Interface application to get results according to the needs and needs of users of two or four wheelers. The results of this study were tested using Measuring Usability with System Usability Scale (SUS).

タクティカルレベル入力に基づく自動運転システムとの協調運転

This study develops a touchscreen-based human-machine interface prototype that allows the driver to use simple touch gestures to input vehicle control commands specifically in levels 2 and 3. The driver can instantly command a set of lateral inputs by location-based TLI, e.g., lane changing, by designating a desired location on the map, e.g., lane, by double tapping and swiping. Situational awareness is enhanced, for e.g., when approaching an intersection, by using visual and auditory prompts. We conducted experiments using a simulator to evaluate TLI method compared with the operational- (OLI, level 0) and strategic-level input (SLI, level 4) methods. The results show that TLI method offers both the flexibility of OLI as well as comfort of SLI, and drivers prefer to use all three methods depending on the driving environment.

Data and clock transmission interface for the WCDA in LHAASO

The Water Cherenkov Detector Array (WCDA) is one of the major components of the Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO). In the WCDA, 3600 Photomultiplier Tubes (PMTs) and the Front End Electronics (FEEs) are scattered over a 90000 m2 area, while high precision time measurements (0.5 ns RMS) are required in the readout electronics. To meet this requirement, the clock has to be distributed to the FEEs with high precision. Due to the ``triggerless'' architecture, high speed data transfer is required based on the TCP/IP protocol. To simplify the readout electronics architecture and be consistent with the whole LHAASO readout electronics, the White Rabbit (WR) switches are used to transfer clock, data, and commands via a single fiber of about 400 meters. In this paper, a prototype of data and clock transmission interface for LHAASO WCDA is developed. The performance tests are conducted and the results indicate that the clock synchronization precision of the data and clock transmission is better than 50 ps. The data transmission throughput can reach 400 Mbps for one FEE board and 180 Mbps for 4 FEE boards sharing one up link port in WR switch, which is better than the requirement of the LHAASO WCDA.

Increasing Complexity in Rule-Based Clinical Decision Support: The Symptom Assessment and Management Intervention.

BackgroundManagement of uncontrolled symptoms is an important component of quality cancer care. Clinical guidelines are available for optimal symptom management, but are not often integrated into the front lines of care. The use of clinical decision support (CDS) at the point-of-care is an innovative way to incorporate guideline-based symptom management into routine cancer care.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to develop and evaluate a rule-based CDS system to enable management of multiple symptoms in lung cancer patients at the point-of-care.MethodsThis study was conducted in three phases involving a formative evaluation, a system evaluation, and a contextual evaluation of clinical use. In Phase 1, we conducted iterative usability testing of user interface prototypes with patients and health care providers (HCPs) in two thoracic oncology clinics. In Phase 2, we programmed complex algorithms derived from clinical practice guidelines into a rules engine that used Web services to communicate with the end-user application. Unit testing of algorithms was conducted using a stack-traversal tree-spanning methodology to identify all possible permutations of pathways through each algorithm, to validate accuracy. In Phase 3, we evaluated clinical use of the system among patients and HCPs in the two clinics via observations, structured interviews, and questionnaires.ResultsIn Phase 1, 13 patients and 5 HCPs engaged in two rounds of formative testing, and suggested improvements leading to revisions until overall usability scores met a priori benchmarks. In Phase 2, symptom management algorithms contained between 29 and 1425 decision nodes, resulting in 19 to 3194 unique pathways per algorithm. Unit testing required 240 person-hours, and integration testing required 40 person-hours. In Phase 3, both patients and HCPs found the system usable and acceptable, and offered suggestions for improvements.ConclusionsA rule-based CDS system for complex symptom management was systematically developed and tested. The complexity of the algorithms required extensive development and innovative testing. The Web service-based approach allowed remote access to CDS knowledge, and could enable scaling and sharing of this knowledge to accelerate availability, and reduce duplication of effort. Patients and HCPs found the system to be usable and useful.

Brain-computer interface for the communication of acute patients: a feasibility study and a randomized controlled trial comparing performance with healthy participants and a traditional assistive device

This study presents the outcome of the 5-year-long French national project aiming at the development and evaluation of an effective brain-computer interface (BCI) prototype for the communication of patients with acute motor disabilities. It presents results from two clinical studies: a clinical feasibility study carried out partly in the intensive care unit (ICU) and the clinical evaluation of an innovative BCI prototype. In this second study the BCI performance of patients was compared to that of healthy volunteers and benchmarked against a traditional assistive technology (scanning device). Altogether, 15 of 22 patients could control the BCI system with an accuracy significantly above the chance level. The bit-rate of the traditional assistive technology proved superior, even though an equivalent bit-rate could be achieved using personalized parameters for the BCI. Fatigue was found to be the primary limitation factor, which was particularly true for patients and during the use of the BCI. A classifier based on Riemannian geometry was found to contribute significantly to the accuracy of the BCI system. This study demonstrates that the communication of patients with severe motor impairments can be effectively restored using an adequately designed BCI system. All electrophysiological data are freely available at the Physionet.org platform.

A Digital Pre-Occupancy Architectural Toolset for Reducing Stress Levels in Urban Environments

AbstractThis research examines the effects of the built environment on human stress and anxiety levels, by measuring the responses of participants as they interact with various architectural design features using Augmented Reality technology. Architectural form-making is becoming more dynamic and expressive in today’s world, deviating from traditional designs, especially in urban contexts. Current technology enables such forms to be created, but prior to their construction there is no easy way to determine how they might affect the stress levels of the people who experience the redesigned environment. The physical geography of cities is already known to have an effect on human well-being, and specific design issues have been correlated with negative health outcomes, including increased levels of anxiety. However, the positive or negative changes that can be induced through new designs are often just a matter of speculation. Our research helps to address this issue by developing a prototype interface to evaluate human-experience factors during the design review process. We conducted a pilot study to evaluate biometric data obtained from participants through an Augmented Reality experience, and parsed that data with respect to the participants’ personal backgrounds and other demographic information. The prototype toolset was developed based on three different architectural variables—shape, height, and visual pattern. The results from the experiment indicate there is a relationship between these architectural forms and stress levels. This research contributes to design pedagogy and practice, and it helps to show how continuous parametric form generation can be used to better reduce anxiety levels in future urban environments.

Designing 3D tangible interfaces for understanding complex big data

ABSTRACTUnderstanding big and complex scientific data is still an immature topic. It involves studying visualization methods to faithfully represent data, on the one hand, and designing interfaces that truly assist users with data analysis, on the other hand. In an earlier study, we developed guidelines for choosing display environment for four specific, but common, data analysis tasks: identification and judgment of the size, shape, density, and connectivity of objects in a volume. The results showed that using the fish tank virtual reality (VR) system was significantly more accurate at judging the shape, density, and connectivity of objects and significantly faster than the immersive Head-mounted display VR system. Based on those results, we asked the question whether or not the user performance could be further improved by adding tangible elements into the fish tank VR system. We propose several different interface prototypes of a clipping plane that have been realized with the help of wireless vision-...

Touchscreen Voting Interface Design for Persons with Disabilities

Using specifications gathered from previous research focused on mobile and/or accessible design, our research team designed and created a mobile voting user interface prototype for individuals with and without disabilities. Thirty-two participants, including individuals who have dexterity limitations, dyslexia, low vision, and those with no disabilities, evaluated the usability of our mobile voting prototype. Our study generally confirmed previous research, and we discovered further considerations for a universal mobile voting interface design. The majority of participants had a positive reaction and experience while voting using our prototype, and indicated they would use it in an election if it were available. Based on our results, recommendations are provided to inform user interface designers, election officials, voting system manufacturers, and the general public on the specific needs of different user groups and design considerations for a universal mobile voting interface.

A Formal Language For Specifying Visual Interface Signifiers

User interfaces are often designed with signifiers that support end-users in understanding the function and meaning of device components. Formal methods have been successfully applied to support computational usability analyses early in the interface design cycle, without the need for a physical interface prototype. However limited support exists for applying formal methods to the analysis of signifiers. This paper presents the XML-based language of Browser-Integrated Guidance for Specifying Interface Signifiers (BIGSIS), a new approach that supports such an analysis. We employ BIGSIS-XML in a smart phone alarm clock case study to provide insight into the use of formal signifier specifications to inform the design of visual interface properties that operate as signifiers.

A Bayesian method for improving probabilistic wave forecasts by weighting ensemble members

New innovations are emerging which offer opportunities to improve forecasts of wave conditions. These include probabilistic modelling results, such as those based on an ensemble of multiple predictions which can provide a measure of the uncertainty, and new sources of observational data such as GNSS reflectometry and FerryBoxes, which can be combined with an increased availability of more traditional static sensors. This paper outlines an application of the Bayesian statistical methodology which combines these innovations. The method modifies the probabilities of ensemble wave forecasts based on recent past performance of individual members against a set of observations from various data source types. Each data source is harvested and mapped against a set of spatio-temporal feature types and then used to post-process ensemble model output. A prototype user interface is given with a set of experimental results testing the methodology for a use case covering the English Channel.

Data-based melody generation through multi-objective evolutionary computation

Genetic-based composition algorithms are able to explore an immense space of possibilities, but the main difficulty has always been the implementation of the selection process. In this work, sets of melodies are utilized for training a machine learning approach to compute fitness, based on different metrics. The fitness of a candidate is provided by combining the metrics, but their values can range through different orders of magnitude and evolve in different ways, which makes it hard to combine these criteria. In order to solve this problem, a multi-objective fitness approach is proposed, in which the best individuals are those in the Pareto front of the multi-dimensional fitness space. Melodic trees are also proposed as a data structure for chromosomic representation of melodies and genetic operators are adapted to them. Some experiments have been carried out using a graphical interface prototype that allows one to explore the creative capabilities of the proposed system. An Online Supplement is provided and can be accessed at http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17459737.2016.1188171, where the reader can find some technical details, information about the data used, generated melodies, and additional information about the developed prototype and its performance.