Portable Media Players Research Articles

Advances in Smart and Intelligent Multimedia Platforms for Pervasive Computing

Recent advances in various computing and telecommunication fields, along with the proliferation of multimedia-capable mobile devices, such as laptops, portable media players, personal digital assistants, and smart phones, have stimulated the development of pervasive multimedia services/applications. These upcoming services and applications essentially require a smart and intelligent platform that is able to provide noble development and operation tools for accommodating the pervasive system, applications, and services. This special issue presents original research papers addressing research challenges in all areas of smart and intelligent multimedia platform for pervasive systems, applications, and services. This issue consists of eleven papers, which are briefly discussed as follows. The openness of the Android system allows user to choose the various online markets. Since such openness also invokes critical threats, such as malware and illegal use, several markets have deployed strong authentication techniques. However, such methods are also an inconvenience to legal users. Therefore, in BAuthentication of Mobile Application through Various Local Distributors^(10.1007/s11042-013-1520-y), the author proposes the concept of an authentication model that makes purchased application available in most cases. The paper entitled BAn interactive pervasive whiteboard based on MVC architecture for ubiquitous collaboration^(10.1007/s11042-013-1458-0) presents the whiteboard application on 3G and Wi-Fi Android platform based mobile devices, based on MVC (Model View Controller) architecture for ubiquitous collaboration and also presents interaction and usability study with multiple users using small-sized devices, mid-sized devices, and large-sized device to show how disparate access devices and networking have an effect on software design of shared applications in an ubiquitous collaboration system. In BNetwork SecurityCamera System and itsApplication forConsumer Electronics inUbiquitous Environment^(10.1007/s11042-013-1442-8), the authors present a network security camera system and its application to provide visual information to consumer electronics devices in an ubiquitous Multimed Tools Appl (2015) 74:1537–1539 DOI 10.1007/s11042-015-2486-8

Study on Optimal Design of Digital Music Player Based on Human-computer Interaction

Through the application of theories and principles of human-computer interaction design system, deficiencies on interaction of digital music player are analyzed; and through the analysis on cognitive features for interaction, hierarchy of needs, and emotional information of target users, the key factors and the relevant data that influence the objective of interaction design are researched, thus facilitating the modern digital music products design to follow up users’ physical and mental requirements, balancing the interaction design between human, computer and environment, bringing users more convenient and effective operation and experience, and providing more important theoretical thought and implementation process for humanized design.

A Systematic Review of Tablet Computers and Portable Media Players as Speech Generating Devices for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Powerful, portable, off-the-shelf handheld devices, such as tablet based computers (i.e., iPad(®); Galaxy(®)) or portable multimedia players (i.e., iPod(®)), can be adapted to function as speech generating devices for individuals with autism spectrum disorders or related developmental disabilities. This paper reviews the research in this new and rapidly growing area and delineates an agenda for future investigations. In general, participants using these devices acquired verbal repertoires quickly. Studies comparing these devices to picture exchange or manual sign language found that acquisition was often quicker when using a tablet computer and that the vast majority of participants preferred using the device to picture exchange or manual sign language. Future research in interface design, user experience, and extended verbal repertoires is recommended.

37.: Lombard effect revisited: A different approach to hypophonia in Parkinson’s disease

This study measured changes in voice quality and volume due to the Lombard effect in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) using voice analysis software and assessed its tolerability and impact on quality of life of PD patients and their carers. Nine patients with PD and hypophonia were provided with a portable digital music player and in-ear bud headphones pre-loaded with “loud” music from the two authors’ personal music collection. Magnitude of Lombard effect was documented by recording each patient reading a standard passage with no music then with music playing in one ear in a standard medical consulting room using a headset microphone. These patients were followed up over the phone at monthly intervals for 3 months, as well as during routine clinic appointments to see whether they continued using the headsets. Six patients demonstrated significant increase in voice volume of more than 5 dB in the office. At 1 month, five patients reported continued use with improved communication reported by patients and caregivers. Three patients were not using it frequently due to difficulty operating the music player although they experienced noticeable benefits and only one patient had found that the music did not make any difference in their communication. The study follow up is scheduled to be completed by April 2014. Lombard effect can be induced cheaply and in a tolerable manner in PD patients by using music rather than masking noise and this may improve voice and quality of life of PD patients.

Providing service assurance in mobile opportunistic networks

Concomitant to the growing popularity of Internet enabled mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, PDAs, portable media players etc., however, are the concerns about availability of Internet access points for these devices. Network traffic originating from these devices has marked a multi-fold increase over the past few years. This increase in network traffic has in turn resulted in increased content availability and maintainability cost to the cellular service providers. Major challenges faced by mobile Internet users are limited hardware resources (3G or LTE) or exhaustion of carrier enforced data plans. Thus, users often either overpay for service availability such as (3G or LTE) or suffer incapability of accessing Internet services. In this paper, we argue that the ad-hoc network comprising of spatio-temporally co-existing users, identified as “Familiar Strangers” could be harnessed for viral dissemination of mobile application data. We present the architecture of a collaborative data sharing framework which comprises of two services, namely SmartParcel and CollabAssure. “SmartParcel” allows users to share mobile application data with their spatio-temporally co-existing peers. This service allows a user to receive application specific data from its neighboring nodes instead of cloud infrastructure. This reduces the network overhead generated by a large number of devices and thus, reducing content maintainability and dissemination costs at the server side. This system, however, suffers from the “tragedy of commons” problem, to overcome which we present the design of CollabAssure”. “CollabAssure” is an auction based, ad-hoc market model, assuring service by giving users incentives to “sublet” their surplus data plans to the users without Internet access. CollabAssure service allows users to participate in ad hoc auctions with their spatio-temporally co-existing neighbors as buyers or sellers of the data bandwidth. This in turn reduces under utilization overhead of the overpaying mobile data users. Users with limited or no data plans also benefit from CollabAssure service by receiving services from ad-hoc peers. We perform trace based simulations by varying data refresh rates, allowed server connections, probability of user participation and analyze the data availability at different times of the day. Our simulation results advocate a higher Internet data service is ensured by using our proposed data sharing framework.

Musculoskeletal Disorders of the Upper Extremities Due to Extensive Usage of Hand Held Devices

ObjectiveThe use of hand held devices (HHD) such as mobile phones, game controls, tablets, portable media players and personal digital assistants have increased dramatically in past decade. While sending a text message or using the controls of the HHD the users need to use their thumb and other palm muscles extensively. The objective of this study was to describe the risk factors and clinical features of the musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) arising due to usage of hand held devices and to evaluate the effectiveness of a sequenced rehabilitation protocol.MethodsA retrospective report analysis of 70 subjects, who were diagnosed to have a MSD affecting the upper extremities, was conducted. Medical charts from a tertiary level rehabilitation centre from 2005–2013 were analysed. All the subjects reported pain in their upper extremities following extensive usage of HHD and were examined and diagnosed to have a MSD by an orthopaedic and rehabilitation physician. After the assessment and diagnosis, all the patients underwent rehabilitation using a sequenced protocol.ResultsAll the subjects reported pain in the thumb and forearm with associated burning, numbness and tingling around the thenar aspect of the hand, and stiffness of wrist and hand. 43 subjects had symptoms on the right side; 9 on left and 18 had bilateral symptoms. Correlation was found between hand dominance and MSD. 33 subjects complained of onset of symptoms following extensive text messaging. All the subjects were diagnosed to have tendinosis of Extensor Pollicis Longus and Myofascial Pain Syndrome affecting the 1st interossei, thenar group of muscles and Extensor Digitorum Communis. 23 of the subjects were senior executives, among these 7 were CEO’s of major multinational companies in India. All the subjects recovered completely following the rehabilitation.ConclusionsThe study concluded that mobile phones and gadgets that promoted the predominant usage of thumb or only one finger while texting or using the controls were associated with a higher prevalence of MSDs. Treatment using a sequenced rehabilitation protocol was found to be effective.

Sounding ruins: reflections on the production of an ‘audio drift’

This article is about the use of audio media in researching places, which I term ‘audio geography’. The article narrates some episodes from the production of an ‘audio drift’, an experimental environmental sound work designed to be listened to on a portable MP3 player whilst walking in a ruinous landscape. Reflecting on how this work functions, I argue that, as well as representing places, audio geography can shape listeners’ attention and bodily movements, thereby reworking places, albeit temporarily. I suggest that audio geography is particularly apt for amplifying the haunted and uncanny qualities of places. I discuss some of the issues raised for research ethics, epistemology and spectral geographies.

IPod handwriting application intervention shows promise for children with developmental disabilities, but additional research is warranted

This review provides a summary and appraisal commentary on the treatment review by Lorah, E. R., & Parnell, A. (2014). The acquisition of letter writing using a portable multi-media player in young children with developmental disabilities. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities. Advanced online publication. doi: 10.1007/s10882-014-9386-0Source of funding and disclosure of interest: Sources of funding were not reported nor disclosures of interests.

Analysis of Application of Digital Media Arts

In 21st century, with the leaping advances in science and technology, computers and the rapid development of science and technology industry, formed by combining human intelligence and high-tech digital content industry that corresponds to the rapid development, and developing at an astonishing speed into a pillar industry of the knowledge economy in the new century. It is well known that digital media are based on digitized text, sound, images, Graphics, animation and video images as information carriers, through means of dissemination and development of science and technology. Basic characteristics of digital media arts: Cross uses online media which contains computer-animated production, the television advertising shoot, digital music player, there are activities such as online games, virtual reality, network, performance art, video, interactive installations and DV (digital video). This paper discusses the present status of digital media art, features, applications in education, vocational orientation and analysis of the development trend.

The Design and Implementation of Real Time Encoder System

This paper designed and implemented a next-generation solution for the Internet Broadcasting system applying FlashVideo. Compressing HD Class images in real time currently being broadcast in the field, this is a system that can service VOD as well as Internet live broadcasting, which is a solution that supports the operation of Internet Live broadcasting, VOD service and UCC service easily online. It is a system that supports real time streaming of MPEC4 and WMV images on the Internet or Smartphone by compressing camera and VOD images using H264 Codec in real time, which is first, the first real time encoder system in Korea with the real time recording feature of camera images and a software product that supports the up-to-date Codec technology suitable for the Web and Smartphone environments. Second, it is a two-way Internet broadcasting system that can play videos with an MP4 player and support user chatting and customizing. Third, the Contents Management System (CMS) feature can service streaming of video contents and lecture management contents in real time through Android phone or iPhone.

The effect of reverberation on personal audio devices.

Personal audio refers to the creation of a listening zone within which a person, or a group of people, hears a given sound program, without being annoyed by other sound programs being reproduced in the same space. Generally, these different sound zones are created by arrays of loudspeakers. Although these devices have the capacity to achieve different sound zones in an anechoic environment, they are ultimately used in normal rooms, which are reverberant environments. At high frequencies, reflections from the room surfaces create a diffuse pressure component which is uniform throughout the room volume and thus decreases the directional characteristics of the device. This paper shows how the reverberant performance of an array can be modeled, knowing the anechoic performance of the radiator and the acoustic characteristics of the room. A formulation is presented whose results are compared to practical measurements in reverberant environments. Due to reflections from the room surfaces, pressure variations are introduced in the transfer responses of the array. This aspect is assessed by means of simulations where random noise is added to create uncertainties, and by performing measurements in a real environment. These results show how the robustness of an array is increased when it is designed for use in a reverberant environment.

Intelligent drowsy eye detection using image mining

Cell phones, MP4 players, and GPS all distract drivers, forcing them to divide their attention to what is happening outside and what is happening inside the vehicle. Preventing drivers from falling asleep at the wheel and drifting off on the road is an increasingly hard task but a solution can be achieved with today's technology: by capturing driver's eye gaze and thus the level of their exhaustion, the potential for safer roads is real. Today, image mining systems can automatically extract important information from an image dataset which can then be used to classify images and image relationship that been applied in different areas. The basic challenge in image mining research area is to determine how image level pixel representation in an original image can be used and constructed to then identify meaningful information or form relationships. In this research Intelligent Drowsy Eye Detection, using an Image Mining (IDEDIM) system is proposed. The proposed architecture would use different feature extraction techniques and three data mining classification techniques to aid with accurate information collection. Two thousand left and right eye images were used to test the developed system by Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT), Statistical features, and Local binary pattern (LBP) feature extraction techniques. The extracted features were used as input for Decisions Tree C5.0, K Nearest Neighbor (KNN), and the Support Vector Machine (SVM) Classifier. After several experimental sets, the C5.0 and KNN classifier were performing better than SVM classifier. Based on the results, we recommend the inclusion of LBP and DWT in conjunction with C5.0 with KNN as a classification technique. To validate the achieved results, Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve is used to compare among the proposed classifiers. The proposed system can be integrated with the existing subsystem into real time Drowsy Detection System to achieve excellent accuracy and performance.

Sound pressure level generated by individual portable sound equipment

IntroductionThe use of Personal Digital Audio Players can cause hearing injuries, as the sound is generated directly in the ear canal. It is believed that different types of headphones can cause different amplifications, since they cause changes in the volume and resonance of the ear canal according to their depth. ObjectiveThis study aimed to determine the sound pressure to which young individuals are exposed when using Personal Digital Audio Players with two types of headphones: insertion earphones and anatomical insertion earphones Materials and methodsThis was an experimental study. The probe microphone measurements were made with different headphones in 54 ears (27 young individuals). The resonance peaks were also recorded. ResultsA statistically significant difference was observed between the evaluated headphones, showing that anatomical insertion earphones had higher levels of sound pressure than insertion earphones for all frequencies measured. There was no correlation between the resonance peak of the closed canal and the frequency where the highest sound pressure level was obtained. There was a significant difference between ears at some frequencies with the different headphones. ConclusionIt was concluded that anatomical insertion earphones generate a higher sound pressure level than insertion earphones.© 2014 Associação Brasileira de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia Cérvico-Facial. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.

Design of a Digital Audio Player Based on μc/Os and μc/GUI

At present, with the rapid development of digital audio technology, high speed and high performance digital audio processing technology faces an important issue. This paper proposes and designs a digital audio player combined with digital audio and embedded systems two cutting-edge technology. Hardware circuitry takes STM32F103VE as the main controller, configurated with VS1003 audio decoder chip and the corresponding SD card storage module, LCD module, power supply module and so on; software design transplants embedded operating system μC / OS. This paper takes advantage of μC/GUI to design audio player graphical user interface, improves the human-machine interface friendliness and aesthetics greatly.

Crossing the chasm with beacon products in the portable music player industry

Firms competing in new product categories face great technical and market uncertainty as they try to move from early adopters to mainstream markets (Mahajan and Muller, 1998; Muller and Yogev, 2006; Rogers, 2003). While the management literature identified several factors that may contribute to adoption, the role of specific product models has been understudied. To address this gap, we studied portable digital music players (MP3 players) from 1987–2006 and tested the role of specific product models in market takeoff, convergence and product category evolution. We introduced the concept of beacon product, defined as a specific product model that has great appeal to customers and sends a strong signal about what they want.We found that Apple's first iPod model triggered market takeoff and that many competitors tried to emulate the original iPod design, leading to convergence around its key design features. But it took the iPod/iTunes store combination, a new ecosystem for the legal download of digital music, to bridge the gap between early MP3 adopters, primarily young people, to mainstream markets. The iPod/iTunes ecosystem proved more difficult for competitors to copy and many of the firms that had pioneered the MP3 category exited the industry or were relegated to small niches. By subsequently introducing new models with smaller form factors at lower prices and expanding iTunes Store offerings, Apple effectively preempted competitors from gaining share in this growing market.

An Android-based Remote Desktop for IOS Platforms

Thanks to globalization, mobile devices have become an inseparable entity of our daily life. We often expect our smart devices (mobile phone, tablet, portable media player) to possess the functionalities of a personal computer. As the technology is getting cheaper, owning multiple mobile devices, each for a specific purpose, is becoming the current trend. For instance, an Android smartphone to fulfill a user's communication needs on-the-go, an iPad could serve the user's reading hobby, and lastly, a laptop for productivity activities. As such, to switch among different devices could be the emerging problem of the current generation. With our proposed Android based remote control app, a user does not only able to control his Windows based office laptop, but he could access to his IOS based devices too. Besides click event and text input, this application also supports panning and zooming gesture inputs.

Music-listening habits with MP3 player in a group of adolescents: a descriptive survey.

Listening to music through portable MP3 players has become a very popular mode among young people and adolescents. The aim of this study is to investigate the behaviors of adolescents engaged in listening to music with MP3 player and the attendance at clubs (pubs, discotheques) where music is played at high volume. Among the 1470 students attending a secondary school in Scandicci (FI) during the school year 2009/2010, 1278 (86.9%) were at school the day of the examination and 1276 completely filled in the questionnaire. Descriptive analysis and univariate and multivariate logistic regression were performed to calculate the degree of association (OR) among the sociodemographic characteristics, listening habits and some factors identified as risky or protective as regards the possibility of developing health disorders. MP3 player users are 88.2% of the sample. Among these, a high proportion engaged behaviours that increase the risk of presenting disorders, including the exposure to high-volume (27.4%). Furthermore, 44.6% use the MP3 while driving. From the regression analysis it emerges that MP3 users showed a sort of addiction: by increasing the time and the occasions of exposure to music, they increased the volume, used maximum or medium-high volume, did not take breaks and did not decrease the volume. The study points out the spread of risky behavior in music listening, so it is necessary to better inform especially the youngsters and achieve specific preventive interventions.

Special issue: wireless networking—some approaches to resources and QoS optimization

Looking back at the evolution of the communications in the past three decades, we see a trend in accommodating more enriched mobile services with better and better Quality of service (QoS) in delivering data to end users. The “anywhere anytime best connected” idea is becoming more and more a reality. Wireless and mobile devices connecting people to the Internet are changing our lives and societies every day. Such devices include laptops, PDA, cell phones, portable media players, body sensors, building and environment monitoring sensors, and localization devices (e.g. GPS). The integration of multiple wireless and mobile technologies will enable more and more mobile services and applications in almost all activity domains including transportation, health, emergency services, business and commerce, social networking, and entertainment. All these applications have quality of service requirements (mainly in terms of delay, bandwidth, loss rate, reliability, and robustness) and security. Consequently the performance of wireless networks with guaranteed QoS and protected privacy is a major factor that will determine the success of the deployment of such networks. While still there are many discussions on what the next generation wireless and mobile networks would look like, it is commonly accepted that future networks should be collaborative and interoperable in order to accommodate all existing and future mobile technologies. Even if there is an intense competition between telecom operators, between service providers, between application providers, between device manufacturers, and so on, the ubiquitous mo-

Audiometric thresholds and portable digital audio player user listening habits

Objective: To examine the relationship between portable digital audio player listening behaviours and (1) measured sound pressure levels, (2) audiometric measures, (3) self-reported hearing loss symptoms. Design: A questionnaire to evaluate listening behaviours, including self-reported hearing loss symptoms and listening duration/volume settings. Multivariate regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between these variables, audiometric evaluation, calculated exposure levels, Lex(8hr), and measured sound pressure levels, Leq(32sec). Study sample: This study included 103 males and 134 female subjects aged 10 to 17 years. Results: Calculated Lex(8hr) and measured Leq(32sec) levels increased with age and self-reported usage time. Audiometric thresholds averaged over 4 and 8 kHz were higher when usage exceeded five years as compared to less than one year. Higher measured sound pressure levels were associated with worse audiometric thresholds at (0.5, 1, 2 kHz, averaged) and 4 kHz. Self-reported hearing loss symptoms were reported by 33% to 50% of subjects. Conclusions: In this cohort sample, our results support a statistical association between hearing acuity and (1) Self-reported weekly usage in hours; (2) Tightness of fit; (3) Years of usage; and (4) Measured sound pressure levels. Generalizing these results beyond the current sample would require additional research.

The vinyl: The analogue medium in the age of digital reproduction

Recent discussions of music listening practices have given priority to the digitalisation of sound and the role of digital music players in changing the form, medium and possibly even the content of listening. While such an emphasis is warranted given the rapid uptake of digital music consumption, it is also the case that vinyl records are currently the fastest growing area of music sales. Moreover, within particular music listening circles, the vinyl record is approached as an auratic object. In this paper, we explore the vinyl’s persistence on the market and its rekindled cultural prominence. Using the frameworks of cultural sociology, combined with insights from material culture studies and cultural approaches to consumption within business studies and sociology, we explore the reasons why vinyl records have once again become highly valued objects of cultural consumption. Resisting explanations which focus solely on matters of nostalgia or fetish, we look to the concepts of iconicity, ritual, aura and the sensibility of coolness to explain the paradoxical resurgence of vinyl at the time of the digital revolution.