Personal Computer Interface Research Articles

English Language Learners’ Attitude and Challenge Utilized M-Learning: Comparison Mobile Application Moodle and Google Classroom

Mobile learning became the alternative device and gadget in the online learning environment. Its implementation enabled English language learners to acquire and archive learning content regardless of their location or environment, ensuring that online learning is relevant. However, compact devices are restricted with various technicality challenges, and English lecturers and learners need their adaptation in university. The study aimed to measure and compare English language learners’ attitudes and challenge toward Moodle and Google Classroom mobile application (app). The study employed a quantitative descriptive approach applied to the survey research design cross-sectional. 149 English language learners were concerned as participants from South Jakarta Universities. The questioner findings revealed that the Google Classroom application had a moderately positive attitude toward mobile phones for language learning and teaching than Moodle Application. These findings suggest that the challenges of both platforms could be minimized by recognizing the comprehensive feature from both applications. The English language learners utilized and adopted to learn and develop their communicative capabilities in the Mobile-Assisted Language Learning (MALL) context. Its platforms could have the alternative device for conducting a comprehensive Learning Management System (LMS) rather than a personal computer or laptop interface. The characteristics of Moodle and Google Classroom mobile applications supported and enhanced both learners’ individual and social aspects of the online learning environment. The comparable parameters displayed Google Classroom application was more compatible with learning media than Moodle application. Nevertheless, the advance and complete feature would be accessed from Moodle application than Google Classroom.

Effective Detection of the Machinability of Stainless Steel from the Aspect of the Roughness of the Machined Surface

Reliable measurement of surface roughness (Ra) is extremely important for quality control of production processes. The cost of the equipment and the duration of the measurement process are very high. The aim of this work is to develop a device for non-destructive measurement of specific roughness levels on stainless steel using computer vision. The device should be structurally simple, affordable, accurate, and safe for practical use. The purpose of the device is to effectively detect the level of roughness of the treated surface obtained by the water jet cutting process. On the basis of the obtained results, it is possible to adjust the parameters during the cutting process. The principle of operation of the device is based on measuring the intensity of the visible spectrum of the light reflected from the surface of the sample to be measured and correlating these values with the values of the measured roughness. After testing several variants of the device, the so-called vertical measurement variant was developed using the following equipment: violet light LED, optical filter and light splitter, USB 2.0 web camera, Arduino microcontroller, personal computer, and LabView programming interface.

How and why a touchscreen interface impacts psychological ownership and its downstream consequences

Touchscreen interfaces (e.g., smartphones and tablets) provide marketers with an excellent opportunity to reach more consumers. This research investigated how and why the interface mode (touchscreen vs. non-touchscreen) impacts psychological ownership and its downstream consequences in the food domain. In a series of three experiments, participants were asked to complete food-related tasks through either a touchscreen (e.g., smartphone) or a non-touchscreen (e.g., personal computer) interface. The results show that touchscreen (vs. non-touchscreen) interfaces induce higher psychological ownership. Two experiments demonstrated the mediating role of mental imagery using the measurement-of-mediation (experiment 1) and experimental-causal-chain design (experiment 2), respectively. The results also show that touchscreens (vs. non-touchscreens) result in positive product evaluations (i.e., willingness to pay and purchase intentions), and these effects are mediated through mental imagery and psychological ownership (experiment 3). Additionally, the results show that the effect of interface mode on mental imagery and the corresponding mediation effects are more likely to occur among unrestrained (vs. restrained) eaters (experiments 1&3). The results of an exploratory study found that consumers think these effects are undesirable and that they would benefit from avoiding these effects.

X-ray scintillator lens-coupled with CMOS camera for pre-clinical cardiac vascular imaging-A feasibility study.

We present the design and characterization of an X-ray imaging system consisting of an off-the-shelf CMOS sensor optically coupled to a CsI scintillator. The camera can perform both high-resolution and functional cardiac imaging. High-resolution 3D imaging requires microfocus X-ray tubes and expensive detectors, while pre-clinical functional cardiac imaging requires high flux pulsed (clinical) X-ray tubes and high-end cameras. Our work describes an X-ray camera, namely an “optically coupled X-ray(OCX) detector,” used for both the aforementioned applications with no change in the specifications. We constructed the imaging detector with two different CMOS optical imaging cameras called CMOS sensors, 1.A monochrome CMOS sensor coupled with an f1.4 lens and 2.an RGB CMOS sensor coupled with an f0.95 prime lens. The imaging system consisted of our X-ray camera, micro-focus X-ray source (50kVp and 1mA), and a rotary stage controlled from a personal computer (PC) and LabVIEW interface. The detective quantum efficiency (DQE) of the imaging system(monochrome) estimated using a cascaded linear model was 17% at 10 lp/mm. The system modulation transfer function (MTF) and the noise power spectrum (NPS) were inputs to the DQE estimation. Because of the RGB camera’s low quantum efficiency (QE), the OCX detector DQE was 19% at 5 lp/mm. The contrast to noise ratio (CNR) at different frame rates was studied using the capillary tubes filled with various dilutions of iodinated contrast agents. In-vivo cardiac angiography demonstrated that blood vessels of the order of 100 microns or above were visible at 40 frames per second despite the low X-ray flux. For high-resolution 3D imaging, the system was characterized by imaging a cylindrical micro-CT contrast phantom and comparing it against images from a commercial scanner.

Sistem Alat Ukur Kekeruhan Berbasis Mikrokontroler ATMega16A-PU

The fabrication of the ATMega16A-PU microcontroller-based the system turbidity sensor consists of sensor module Turbidity SKU:SEN0189 including with the signal conditioning, power supply unit, the ATMega16A-PU microcontroller module, LCD 16 x 2 character, and personal computer (PC). The measuring system is used to measure the quality of water on theriverMartapura South Kalimantan, Indonesia. The physical parameters that measured is the of water. The measuring of turbidity detected by the sensor through the light that traverse the suspended particles in water. The output signal from the sensor in from of the voltage signal is connectedwith ATMega16A-PU microcontroller viaport A0. The voltage signal output is inversely proportional to the turbidity. Theequation of sensor characteristic is obtained by comparing the measuring device with HACH DR 890 Colorimeter turbid meter gauge. The characteristic equation obtained is counted into five equations to get a small error value, where v1 = -0.0036k1 + 4.0834, v2 = -0.0024k2 + 3.9351, v3 = -0.003k3 + 4.1777, v4 = -0.0033k4 + 4.3355, v5 = -0.0034k5 + 4.4315, the five equations have different measurement ranges. The result of data measurement are displayed on the LCD 16 x 2 character and the personal computer (PC) with the Delphi.7 interface program. The advantages of personal computer (PC) interface are the data measurement result could monitor and stroge in excel and database format. The results of the measuring instrument show a difference of 1 NTU to 15 NTU with the largest deviation is ± 28.7 and a standard deviation of ± 4.57 in the range of 31 NTU to 510 NTU

Os serious games e os regimes de sensibilidade: Paradoxos do uso de jogos na formação humana

Pensamos as implicações de jogos digitais em políticas de formação não escolares através da utilização de serious games, analisando dois jogos - Ayiti: the cost of life e Sara: A Meaningful Journey Part One. Inicialmente, debatemos a relação entre jogo e aprendizagem, enfatizando os aspectos interacionais e cognitivos aportados pelos jogos digitais e pela interface do computador pessoal em rede no recrutamento de uma experiência imersiva, de acordo com a teoria da aprendizagem de Maturana e Varela. Na sequência, interrogamos o conceito de serious gamee seu uso como estratégia conscientizadora no âmbito das políticas de formação humana. Ao final, refletimos sobre os aspectos ético-políticos relacionados ao design e ao conteúdo dos jogos digitais em tela.

Torque Measurement in Real Time during Mixing and Kneading of Bread Dough with High Content of Resistant Maize Starch and Enzymes

Abstract In this work, a methodology to measure torque during dough mixing in large scale was developed and the baking performance of bread dough formulated with resistant starch (RS) and enzymes was evaluated. Dough was formulated with 12.5 g/100 g of RS and 4 mg/100 g of a mixture of enzymes, glucose-oxidase (Gox), tranglutaminase (TG) and xylanase (HE) in proportions according to a three-component mixture design of experiments. Dough was mixed in a large-scale dynamic rheometer measuring instant torque and speed in real time through a personal computer (PC) interface. Maximum torque during mixing and parameters of the dough development curves obtained from rheofermentometer were fit to mathematical models within 95 % of confidence. Gox and TG showed positive effects on the maximum height of dough, while HE showed a negative one. Also, it was found that Gox and TG in the presence of HE could be important for reducing dough weakening.

PC Interface Design for Wave Energy Power Generation Remote Monitoring System

Based on the remote monitoring and data processing technology, communication technology, control technology, designed a personal computer interface for the wave power generation remote monitoring and controlling system, through the GPRS and CDMA communication, designed the programmer under the Visual Basic 6.0 development environment. This communication interface can realize the communication and data processing, and achieved good effect, and save the investment.

Design and construction of wireless personal computer based fuel level monitoring system

Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) firms in Nigeria operates their base stations using generator sets. These base stations are located at nationwide. This research work aim at the design and construction of Wireless personal computer (PC) based fuel level monitoring system . It focuses on the continuous monitoring of fuel level in four different tanks of a generator set at different locations of the base station via the combination of four high profile floater sensors and Radio frequency (RF) transceiver. A radio frequency transceiver was introduced to interpret transmitted information to end users at a receiving point using PC. Results of the different fuel levels obtained through wireless medium are graphical represented on the PC display for monitoring and prompt actions. The PC interface was made possible using C++ programming language. Keywords: Monitoring system, fuel level, floater, transceiver and Radio frequency Nigerian Journal of Technological Research, 8(2), 2013

Standard development by committees and communities: a comparative case study of IEEE1394 and USB

Success of technological standardisation is strongly associated with the process of how standards develop, or the governance mechanism administering the standardisation processes. Expanding existing standardisation literatures’ narrow focus on market and government, this paper analyses comparatively two different standard governance mechanisms of committee and community based on the case study of rival personal computer (PC) interface standards, IEEE1394 and Universal Serial Bus (USB). Though standardisation committee, as a voluntary association, may overcome market failure problems and political haggles of government mandate, its organising principles of formality, consensus and fairness may delay decision making, lack user perspectives and poorly coordinate critical diffusion phases. In contrast, drawing on the literature of ‘communities-of-practice’, this exploratory research suggests that standardisation community equipped with the principles of informality, leaders’ commitments and reciprocity rule could facilitate speedy decision making to cope with technological changes, effectively reflect users’ interests and successfully support knowledge creation and sharing in the diffusion process.

INCA Individual Nomad Clinical Assistant : supporting nurses with mobile devices

Introduction: The introduction of Clinical Information Systems (CIS) to manage and store patient information has deeply modified the workflow of caregivers. As the information is no longer stored on a physical medium, caregivers depend on the presence of a computer to access patient data. This constraint has built up an invisible barrier between the source of information and the place of its use. The popularisation of mobile devices offers an oportunity to break this barrier by providing a ubiquitous access to information. The use of a mobile platform merges the advantages of a modern CIS and the mobility offered by paper. We have developed an application on a mobile device that nurses can carry along on all their visits. It allows the information gathered during their visits to be entered directly into the system. Method: The tool we present aims to manage the daily interventions of nurses. The interventions concern all kinds of treatments provided by nurses to patients. In the current organisation, nurses start their day by printing out all the daily interventions and use it as a procedure to follow. Every time a nurse performs an intervention, she takes a note indicating that the task has been done properly. When they have some spare time, nurses enter all the gathered information in the CIS. Once nurses are equipped with mobile devices, paper becomes useless. Consequently, the process is simplified. Replacing the paper by a mobile device application is not straightforward. In order to access patient information, the tool must be linked to the existing CIS of the hospital without creating too strong dependencies. Moreover, the mobile interface must be adapted to the specificities of the mobile device such as a smaller display size, a reduced computational power, a tactile-based interaction and a real-time usage. Results: In order to link the mobile application to the existing CIS, we relied on a Service Oriented Architecture (SOA). It was mandatory to think of a software architecture that would not create a dependency with any legacy system. Thus, we defined a gateway server providing centralised access for the mobile application to any required information to or from the CIS. Integrating any mobile application would only require integrating this bridge. The gateway server also clearly separates the services that are available remotely from the ones proposed as usual Web services. The developed application not only allows the validation of the interventions and the input of measures, but it also offers a simple way to define the context in which nurses are working. This context is necessary to identify the specific list of interventions for the patients under the caregiver’s responsibility. The current CIS of the HUG includes a module that provides information concerning the interventions. Its interface is adjusted for a personal computer screen. Since caregivers are accustomed to this organisation of the information, we aimed to develop an interface on a mobile device that guarantees a certain level of homogeneity with the existing PC application. However, a mobile device’s screen is of limited size, therefore the interface has been completely rebuilt to be adapted to the new display. To deal with the limited display size, we rely on hierarchy and indexicality principles. For instance, based on the hypothesis that all tasks belonging to one category and planned at the same time can be regrouped under a single item; we regroup the interventions of similar top level in a common item. Moreover, to minimise user manipulations, relevant items are automatically moved to the top. Conclusion: The current daily workflow of nurses cannot be managed consistently using a unique tool. The need to switch from paper to computer induces work overload and is a source of errors. Therefore, we have developed a program running on a mobile device that nurses can carry during their visits. This program allows to manage nurses' daily interventions in real-time. The development of such a tool has required a complete reconstruction of the classical personal computer interface. This new interface takes into account a smaller display size, an innovative interaction paradigm, and real-time constraints.

Customized interface design of the intelligent PDA for e-learning

The Intelligent PDA has gradually come to embody the concept of mobile information and customization, and its functions can be approximated to those of a personal computer (PC). However, most users are used to PC interface, and find it difficult to operate the smaller interface of an Intelligent PDA, causing problems in system interface design. This study applies Intelligent PDA to e-learning, and provides a customized, simple, convenient, and intuitive interface design for users. This study conducts cluster analysis to categorize user interface requirements, and then presents a customized interface design based on different user interface requirements. The results of this study can serve as a reference for designers of Intelligent-PDA-based interfaces for e-learning. Key words: Intelligent PDA, e-learning, interface analysis.

Assessing the Performance of Common Tasks on Handheld Mobile Computers

The goal of this study was to examine three interfaces for handheld mobile computing (HMC) on the iPhone and then assess against a standard personal computer (PC) interface. While designers originally envisioned similar performance between HMC and PC, our results indicate differences between these platforms. However, specialized mobile sites and applications (Apps) greatly enhanced HMC performance on the iPhone. In particular, mobile content that required larger amounts of data entry benefited much more from these sorts of interfaces than mobile content for data acquisition.

A compact electroencephalogram recording device with integrated audio stimulation system

A compact (96 x 128 x 32 mm(3), 374 g), battery-powered, eight-channel electroencephalogram recording device with an integrated audio stimulation system and a wireless interface is presented. The recording device is capable of producing high-quality data, while the operating time is also reasonable for evoked potential studies. The effective measurement resolution is about 4 nV at 200 Hz sample rate, typical noise level is below 0.7 microV(rms) at 0.16-70 Hz, and the estimated operating time is 1.5 h. An embedded audio decoder circuit reads and plays wave sound files stored on a memory card. The activities are controlled by an 8 bit main control unit which allows accurate timing of the stimuli. The interstimulus interval jitter measured is less than 1 ms. Wireless communication is made through bluetooth and the data recorded are transmitted to an external personal computer (PC) interface in real time. The PC interface is implemented with LABVIEW and in addition to data acquisition it also allows online signal processing, data storage, and control of measurement activities such as contact impedance measurement, for example. The practical application of the device is demonstrated in mismatch negativity experiment with three test subjects.

A highly miniaturized wireless inertial sensor using a novel 3D flexible circuit

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop a highly miniaturized wireless inertial sensor system based on a novel 3D packaging technique using a flexible printed circuit (FPC). The device is very suitable for wearable applications in which small size and lightweight are required such as body area network, medical, sports and entertainment applications.Design/methodology/approachModern wireless inertial measurement units are typically implemented on a rigid 2D printed circuit board (PCB). The design concept presented here is based around the use of a novel planar, six‐faceted, crucifix or cross‐shaped FPC instead of a rigid PCB. A number of specific functional blocks (such as microelectromechanical systems gyroscope and accelerometer sensors, microcontroller (MCU), radio transceiver, antenna, etc.) are first assigned to each of the six faces which are each 1 cm2 in area. The FPC cross is then developed into a 1 cm3, 3D configuration by folding the cross at each of five bend planes. The result is a low‐volume and lightweight, 1 cm3 wireless inertial sensor that can sense and send motion sensed data wirelessly to a base station. The wireless sensor device has been designed for low power operation both at the hardware and software levels. At the base station side, a radio receiver is connected to another MCU unit, which sends received data to a personal computer (PC) and graphical user interface. The industrial, scientific and medical band (2.45 GHz) is used to achieve half duplex communication between the two sides.FindingsA complete wireless sensor system has been realized in a 3D cube form factor using an FPC. The packaging technique employed during the work is shown to be efficient in fabricating the final cubic system and resulted in a significant saving in the final size and weight of the system. A number of design issues are identified regarding the use of FPC for implementing the 3D structure and the chosen solutions are shown to be successful in dealing with these issues.Research limitations/implicationsCurrently, a limitation of the system is the need for an external battery to power the sensor system. A second phase of development would be required to investigate the possibility of the integration of a battery and charging system within the cube structure. In addition, the use of flexible substrate imposes a number of restrictions in terms of the ease of manufacturability of the final system due to the requirement of the required folding step.Practical implicationsThe small size and weight of the developed system is found to be extremely useful in different deployments. It would be useful to further explore the system performance in different application scenarios such as wearable motion tracking applications. In terms of manufacturability, component placement needs to be carefully considered, ensuring that there is sufficient distance between the components, bend planes and board edges and this leads to a slightly reduced usable area on the printed circuit.Originality/valueThis paper provides a novel and useful method for realizing a wireless inertial sensor system in a 3D package. The value of the chosen approach is that a significant reduction in the required system volume is achieved. In particular, a 78.5 per cent saving in volume is obtained in decreasing the module size from a 25 to a 15 mm3 size.

Dynamic manipulation of a laser beam using a liquid crystal spatial light modulator

This article describes a graduate level optics laboratory experiment on the manipulation of the wavefront of a laser beam using a spatial light modulator. A computer generated holography technique is employed to generate a custom defined wavefront, realized in the +1 diffraction order when a collimated laser beam is diffracted by a binary transmission hologram. The hologram is written on a liquid crystal spatial light modulator and can be updated at a video rate using a personal computer interface.

Electro-optic polarization converter with programmable spectral output in lithium niobate

An electro-optic polarization converter with programmable spectral output produced on lithium niobate at the 1530nm wavelength regime is reported. Programmability is achieved by applying spatially periodic weighted voltages on interdigital electrode sets to independently adjust the coupling coefficients, and is controlled electronically via a personal computer interface. The operation of a device with 16 electrode sets as a programmable tunable wavelength filter is demonstrated. The number of selectable channels depends on the number of electrode sets. A 3-dB bandwidth ∼1nm and a tuning range of 10nm are measured. Nearest side lobes ⩾18dB below the main peak are realized with apodization.

Fuzzy Greenhouse Climate Control System based on a Field Programmable Gate Array

Fuzzy control is a practical alternative for the design of a great variety of control applications. It provides an advisable method for the design of non-linear controllers using heuristic information. This article presents the development of a greenhouse intelligent climate control system that uses a fuzzy controller, based on a field programmable gate array (FPGA). The FPGA has a great potential for use in agricultural technology development due to its characteristics to produce fast prototypes of complex hardware designs with an effective production cost. A low-cost intelligent system designed in a single chip with the task to carry out the complete functionality for the greenhouse climate control was developed. The system proposed here is a good option to unload the low-level tasks (monitoring of climate variables and operation of actuators, such as heaters and windows to control the greenhouse inside temperature) from the main control system, in order to leave to the main controller the high-level tasks as plant monitoring, control of vegetative development, production planning, irrigation system control, which need a high computational power. The system developed in this work consists of: a signal conditioning sub-system, a data-acquisition sub-system, digital/analogue conversion sub-system and a FPGA sub-system. The FPGA sub-system has three units: the synchronisation unit, the personal computer interface unit and the fuzzy logic unit, all implemented within a FPGA-integrated circuit, conforming to a system-on-a-chip (SoC). The design, compilation and simulation of the FPGA sub-system were carried out in the Active-HDL environment using the hardware description language VHDL. The Co-simulation Active-HDL/Simulink and experiments that show the performance of the complete system are presented.

A novel automated rat catalepsy bar test system based on a RISC microcontroller

Catalepsy tests performed in rodents treated with drugs that interfere with dopaminergic transmission have been widely used for the screening of drugs with therapeutic potential in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. The basic method for measuring catalepsy intensity is the “standard” bar test. We present here an easy to use microcontroller-based automatic system for recording bar test experiments. The design is simple, compact, and has a low cost. Recording intervals and total experimental time can be programmed within a wide range of values. The resulting catalepsy times are stored, and up to five simultaneous experiments can be recorded. A standard personal computer interface is included. The automated system also permits the elimination of human error associated with factors such as fatigue, distraction, and data transcription, occurring during manual recording. Furthermore, a uniform criterion for timing the cataleptic condition can be achieved. Correlation values between the results obtained with the automated system and those reported by two independent observers ranged between 0.88 and 0.99 ( P < 0.0001; three treatments, nine animals, 144 catalepsy time measurements).

Development of Portable Lymphatic Flow Assessment System for Lymphatic Filariasis

The conventional gamma camera used for the assessment of lymphatic system, using the lymphoscintigraphy technique, is institution based and costly. Therefore, it is not easily accessible to people from remote rural areas. Hence, there is a need for economical and portable equipment to field survey disease‐prone areas. Towards this objective, with the advent of developments in radioactivity detection techniques, knowledge‐based instrumentation, computer technology, a versatile, cost‐effective, portable microcontroller based scintillation detector equipment with a personal computer (PC) interface for the assessment of the lymphatic system has been designed and developed using a lymphoscintigraphy technique. Though the technique is conventional, the detection of radioactivity is unique, employing micro scintillation detectors in contrast to conventional gamma camera. In the latter case, a large diameter scintillation detector is allowed to scan the area of interest for a predetermined time to produce the trajectory of lymph flow as an analog image, whereas, the present instrument records numeric values of radioactivities at different locations and this digital data is automatically archived; this enables a physician friendly diagnosis. The prototype instrument was employed for testing patients and volunteers, and the performance of the instrument was inter‐compared with simultaneous qualitative measurements made with a conventional gamma camera; it is found that the instrument is able to reproduce results. The indigenously developed cost‐effective portable lymph flow assessment system is applicable for field survey and could replace the conventional gamma camera.