Visual Scenarios Research Articles

Технология и методы отложенного синтеза 4K-стереороликов для сложных динамических виртуальных сцен

The paper considers the task of capturing controlled by a researcher stereo visualization of a complex dynamic virtual scene into a stereopair videosequence (stereoclip) of ultrahigh resolution. An efficient technology of deferred synthesis of stereoclips is proposed. It allows to create stereoclips without violating a real-time visualization. The technology includes real-time constructing of scenario of visualization process and offline-transforming the scenario to stereoclip. In the paper methods to realize these stages are considered for the task of stereovisualization of saturation isosurface of displacing liquid. For this, original file format «scr» of visualization scenario is developed, based on «chunk» data structures. The format developed provides a compact representation of neighboring repeated frames. Transforming scenario file to a sequence of 4K-stereopairs is carried out by means of an offscreen rendering of virtual scene, and adding stereopairs to a stereoclip is performed using a number of open-source FFmpeg libraries designed for processing digital video content. For video recording media container MP4 and video compressing standard H.264 are used. Proposed technologies and methods of 4K-stereoclips deferred synthesis are implemented in a program complex for visualization of simulation results of unstable oil displacement from porous media. By means of the program complex a 4K-stereoclip is created, which illustrates the evolution of the isosurface during the process of unstable oil displacement. The approbation results confirmed the adequacy of the proposed solution to the task. Developed solutions can be used in virtual laboratories, in constructing of virtual environment systems and scientific visualization systems, in educational applications etc.

3D Interactive Visualization Scenario to Improve Public Participation in the Visual Comfort Assessment for the Pedestrian in Provincial Street, Malang, Indonesia

The visual comfort of pedestrians in the street corridor is essential to encourage a continuously satisfying experience of a visual aesthetic leading to a better quality of urban spaces, which is significant for making cityscape, especially in the streetscape. Valuable visual attributes of the pedestrian spaces are indicated by the presence of visual comfort for pedestrians as they pass through the pedestrian space. The creation of visual comfort in the pedestrian spaces also encourages positive spaces along the road corridor, generating an excellent space utilization, which eventually led to many positive appreciations of the space environment.Creating high-quality urban places triggers a more sustainable urban development by increasing pedestrian satisfaction in visual comfort through empowering public engagement in online decision-making system. Thus, public participatory is urgently needed to evaluate the spatial and visual comfort of provincial streetscapes. The disturbance of visual comfort for pedestrians often occurs in the main road corridors, especially the provincial streets in Malang, which has a strategic location for the expansion of commercial functions. This study evaluated a visual comfort of pedestrians in the provincial streets. It employed the 3D modeling method combined with the interactive simulation through the use of a multimedia authoring platform software to develop the 3D Interactive Visualization Scenario for online participation. The result of this study was the scenario of 3D visualization interactivity development to improve the effectiveness of the decision-making system in the assessment of pedestrian visual comfortalong the provincial street corridor.

Sino-InSpace: A Digital Simulation Platform for Virtual Space Environments

The implementation of increased space exploration missions reduces the distance between human beings and outer space. Although it is impossible for everyone to enter the remote outer space, virtual environments could provide computer-based digital spaces that we can observe, participate in, and experience. In this study, Sino-InSpace, a digital simulation platform, was developed to support the construction of virtual space environments. The input data are divided into two types, the environment element and the entity object, that are then supported by the unified time-space datum. The platform adopted the pyramid model and octree index to preprocess the geographic and space environment data, which ensured the efficiency of data loading and browsing. To describe objects perfectly, they were abstracted and modeled based on four aspects including attributes, ephemeris, geometry, and behavior. Then, the platform performed the organization of a visual scenario based on logical modeling and data modeling; in addition, it ensured smooth and flexible visual scenario displays using efficient data and rendering engines. Multilevel modes (application directly, visualization development, and scientific analysis) were designed to support multilevel applications for users from different grades and fields. Each mode provided representative case studies, which also demonstrated the capabilities of the platform for data integration, visualization, process deduction, and auxiliary analysis. Finally, a user study with human participants was conducted from multiple views (usability, user acceptance, presence, and software design). The results indicate that Sino-InSpace performs well in simulation for virtual space environments, while a virtual reality setup is beneficial for promoting the experience.

Should I Text or Call Here? A Situation-Based Analysis of Drivers' Perceived Likelihood of Engaging in Mobile Phone Multitasking.

This study investigated how situational characteristics typically encountered in the transport system influence drivers' perceived likelihood of engaging in mobile phone multitasking. The impacts of mobile phone tasks, perceived environmental complexity/risk, and drivers' individual differences were evaluated as relevant individual predictors within the behavioral adaptation framework. An innovative questionnaire, which includes randomized textual and visual scenarios, was administered to collect data from a sample of 447 drivers in South East Queensland-Australia (66% females; n = 296). The likelihood of engaging in a mobile phone task across various scenarios was modeled by a random parameters ordered probit model. Results indicated that drivers who are female, are frequent users of phones for texting/answering calls, have less favorable attitudes towards safety, and are highly disinhibited were more likely to report stronger intentions of engaging in mobile phone multitasking. However, more years with a valid driving license, self-efficacy toward self-regulation in demanding traffic conditions and police enforcement, texting tasks, and demanding traffic conditions were negatively related to self-reported likelihood of mobile phone multitasking. The unobserved heterogeneity warned of riskier groups among female drivers and participants who need a lot of convincing to believe that multitasking while driving is dangerous. This research concludes that behavioral adaptation theory is a robust framework explaining self-regulation of distracted drivers.

Introduction: The role of fiction in screenwriting (as) research

Here the authors discuss the role of fiction in screenwriting practice research. The screenplays included in the ‘Screenplays as Research Artefacts’ special issue of TEXT present a range of stories, worlds, characters, visual scenarios and dialogue exchanges that function as vessels for theories and ideas. These eleven screenplays all use creative practice approaches to research across a wide variety of discourses. All of the works embrace fiction as an important method to convey their respective critical concerns, which, the authors argue, evidences an emerging hallmark of screenwriting (as) research when compared with associated forms in the creative writing and screen production disciplines: fiction as a staple of its storytelling, creative practice and research methodology. The authors suggest that the use of fiction to perform research and present findings illuminates the ways that knowledge can be affective, not merely textual or verbal, something that is exemplified in the selected screenplays.

Seeing is Believing? Comparing Negative Affect, Realism and Presence in Visual Versus Written Guardianship Scenarios

ABSTRACTWe compared participant responses on three written guardianship scenarios versus visualized versions of the same scenarios in terms of realism, presence, negative affect elicited by the situation, perceived risk, and the choice to intervene. We find that people who received the visual scenarios report higher presence, but not realism, than those who received the written version. Furthermore, visual scenarios elicited stronger negative affect and resulted in a lower likelihood to intervene. Finally, presence, but not negative affect, mediated the relation between condition and the choice to intervene. Implications of the visual scenario method for future research are discussed.

A Framework for Visualizing Heterogeneous Construction Data Using Semantic Web Standards

3D Visualization provides a mean for communicating different construction activities to diverse audiences. The scope, level of detail, and time resolution of the 3D visualization process are determined based on the targeted audiences. Developing the 3D visualization requires obtaining and merging heterogeneous data from different sources (such as BIM model and CPM schedule). The data merging process is usually carried out on ad hoc basis for a specific visualization case which limits the reusability of the process. This paper discusses a framework for automatic merging of heterogeneous data to create a visualization. The paper describes developing an ontology which captures concepts related to the visualization process. Then, heterogeneous data sources that are commonly used in construction are fed into the ontology which can be queried to produce different visualization scenarios. The potential of this approach has been demonstrated by providing multiple visualization scenarios that cover different audiences, levels of detail, and time resolutions.

Pondering the Concept of Abstraction in (Illustrative) Visualization

We explore the concept of abstraction as it is used in visualization, with the ultimate goal of understanding and formally defining it. Researchers so far have used the concept of abstraction largely by intuition without a precise meaning. This lack of specificity left questions on the characteristics of abstraction, its variants, its control, or its ultimate potential for visualization and, in particular, illustrative visualization mostly unanswered. In this paper we thus provide a first formalization of the abstraction concept and discuss how this formalization affects the application of abstraction in a variety of visualization scenarios. Based on this discussion, we derive a number of open questions still waiting to be answered, thus formulating a research agenda for the use of abstraction for the visual representation and exploration of data. This paper, therefore, is intended to provide a contribution to the discussion of the theoretical foundations of our field, rather than attempting to provide a completed and final theory.

Semi-automatic methodology for augmented panorama development in industrial outdoor environments

The use of virtual reality (VR) environments based on augmented panoramas enables the creation of visualization scenarios in different application areas. These panorama-based environments significantly reduce the cost and the timeframe of developing VR applications. The use of this visualization modality in industrial environments is appropriate because in these scenarios there is little or no change of the viewable physical environment during long periods of operation. The combined use of VR concepts and augmented reality (AR) enables the creation of applications that use object detection based on image characteristics and the inclusion of information through an augmented environment. With this in mind, this paper presents a methodology for creating VR environments based on augmented panoramas that uses semi-automatic object detection using Haar-like features and real images of the operating environment. The methodology was used to create an augmented environment based on an electric power substation as a case study. This environment is used for visualizing power substation equipment variables, and it shows the possibilities of using several panorama formats for the visualization.

Modeling the Immune System with Gestures: A Choreographic View of Embodiment in Science

The authors describe a cross-disciplinary collaboration in which they apply both a qualitative/quantitative and a choreographic analysis to the gestures immunologists use when lecturing on immunity. They identify particular spatiotemporal features by which immunologists have mapped, embodied and blended the conceptual spaces of the molecular and cellular. The immunologists’ difficulties in integrating the differing spatiotemporal modes of observing and embodying revealed hidden policies in their concepts of immunity. The variety of modes, blending and cinematic techniques applied invite a closer cross-disciplinary look at the vivid visual scenario of gesturing in science and consideration of its potential for creating corporeal models of art and science.

BIM and project planning integration for on-site safety induction

PurposeThe section of the research presented in this paper aims to review and explore health and safety (H&S) issues on construction sites. It has the sole intention of using better computer visualisation to meet the needs of site practitioners in understanding such H&S problems.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology follows a traditional literature review approach to understand the development of building information modelling (BIM) technology up to its current status. A questionnaire survey was conducted to gather information on the embedding of H&S planning by site practitioners within the BIM environment.FindingsBIM has the potential to be used in H&S planning procedures, particularly in those related to tasks on construction sites. A framework for an integrated visual tool is developed for better H&S practice on site. It may be used actively by all practitioners, starting with site induction and addresses, inter alia, personal hazard perception.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper provides a foundation for developing a tool that helps construction personnel explore potential H&S risks on site before construction begins. By introducing a framework for integrating BIM and project planning, a prototype can be developed to demonstrate the application of the proposed framework.Originality/valueThe research presented in this paper introduces BIM usage during the construction stage as a tool that supports a H&S toolbox. The paper proposes the useful framework for better H&S practice on site that can be used actively by all practitioners. The intention is to find a way forward in addressing “real” H&S site issues that may not be easily understood by practitioners without the full aid of visualisation scenarios.

Influence of visual information on pedestrian actions on laterally oscillating structures – experimental study using virtual reality environments

A new line of inquiry into the causes of lateral instability of structures due to actions of walking pedestrians has been opened recently thanks to the fusion of structural dynamics, biomechanics and experimental psychology. This has been achieved by means of a novel experimental setup. The setup consists of an instrumented treadmill, supported by a shaking table providing lateral motion, a motion capture system for monitoring kinematics of walkers, a treadmill speed feedback control mechanism for automatic adjustment of the treadmill speed to that of the walker and immersive virtual reality implemented to provide similarity of the visual environment with real life experience. It has been previously observed that the visual environment can influence pedestrian behaviour and the resulting ground reaction forces. Statistically significant differences between gait parameters and self-excited forces, critical for structural stability, have been measured during tests in which the visual environment was either that of a laboratory, containing an abundance of stationary visual reference cues, or virtual reality representative of walking on a footbridge. This highlighted the importance of providing visual information representative of real life experience. Another opportunity presented by the experimental setup is explored in this study in that it allows the influence of differently structured visual environments to be tested. To this end, two types of visual scenarios are implemented in virtual reality, differentiated by the amount of visual information available to the walker. It is shown that the visual information can indeed alter pedestrian behaviour and that reducing the amount of visual information can have a detrimental effect for structural stability. This raises a question whether a number of design recommendations proposed in recent years, calibrated based on data from laboratory-based investigations neglecting the influence of visual information on pedestrian behaviour, should be reconsidered and updated.

An Enhanced Visualization Process Model for Incremental Visualization.

With today's technical possibilities, a stable visualization scenario can no longer be assumed as a matter of course, as underlying data and targeted display setup are much more in flux than in traditional scenarios. Incremental visualization approaches are a means to address this challenge, as they permit the user to interact with, steer, and change the visualization at intermediate time points and not just after it has been completed. In this paper, we put forward a model for incremental visualizations that is based on the established Data State Reference Model, but extends it in ways to also represent partitioned data and visualization operators to facilitate intermediate visualization updates. In combination, partitioned data and operators can be used independently and in combination to strike tailored compromises between output quality, shown data quantity, and responsiveness-i.e., frame rates. We showcase the new expressive power of this model by discussing the opportunities and challenges of incremental visualization in general and its usage in a real world scenario in particular.

An update on new low add multifocal intraocular lenses.

The purpose of this article is to provide an overview and update on recent literature regarding low-add multifocal intraocular lenses (MFIOLs). Clinical and benchwork studies involving low-add MFIOLs were reviewed. Clinical studies focused on uncorrected distance, intermediate, and near vision, along with secondary dysphotopsias. Studies done in the laboratory assessed the optical properties of various lenses, and optically replicated visual scenarios at different viewing distances. MFIOLs continue to evolve to meet the needs of an evolving patient population. Low-add MFIOLs have been shown to improve intermediate vision, while not compromising distance vision, along with decreasing dysphotopsias. Their optical properties continue to be optimized, and with these new improvements, larger groups of patients can benefit from the range of vision provided. It is important to understand the strengths and limitations of these new MFIOLs, this review provided the most up to date review of the literature describing low-add MFIOLs. The new information provided by these reviewed articles allows the ophthalmologist to provide the best options for each individual patient.

Effectiveness of auditory and tactile crossmodal cues in a dual-task visual and auditory scenario

In this study, we examined how spatially informative auditory and tactile cues affected participants’ performance on a visual search task while they simultaneously performed a secondary auditory task. Visual search task performance was assessed via reaction time and accuracy. Tactile and auditory cues provided the approximate location of the visual target within the search display. The inclusion of tactile and auditory cues improved performance in comparison to the no-cue baseline conditions. In comparison to the no-cue conditions, both tactile and auditory cues resulted in faster response times in the visual search only (single task) and visual–auditory (dual-task) conditions. However, the effectiveness of auditory and tactile cueing for visual task accuracy was shown to be dependent on task-type condition. Crossmodal cueing remains a viable strategy for improving task performance without increasing attentional load within a singular sensory modality.Practitioner Summary: Crossmodal cueing with dual-task performance has not been widely explored, yet has practical applications. We examined the effects of auditory and tactile crossmodal cues on visual search performance, with and without a secondary auditory task. Tactile cues aided visual search accuracy when also engaged in a secondary auditory task, whereas auditory cues did not.

Computer Assisted Educational Material Preparation for Fourth Grade Primary School Students’ English Language Class in Teaching Numbers

In this study, using ADDIE instructional design model, it is aimed to prepare English language educational material for 4 th grade primary students to teach them numbers. At the same time, ARCS model of motivation‘s attention, relevance and satisfaction phases are also taken into consideration. This study also comprises of Design Based Research which includes design, theory and application processes. The first phase of the ADDIE method is the analysis where there is a discussion with primary school English language teachers so as to determine the topic, the content and the target groups. During the design phase; objectives, strategies, activities, assessments, and methods of learning are determined to organize and present the content on the basis of learning objectives. In the development phase; images, animations and user interface are created in accordance with students‘ ages. Additionally, sounds including the pronunciation of digits and numbers are created and the codes of the visual scenarios that are designed are written in ActionScript 2.0 in Adobe Flash CS3 Professional. At the implementation phase, some of the target group students are tested with prototype material that has been implemented. In the classroom, students learn both the pronunciation and the spelling of the numbers. After checking their spelling and typing errors of numbers with quizzes, the students repeat what they have learned and then they take the spelling quizzes. The program checks the misspelled words. Students who correctly complete the quizzes are entitled to have one flag. And when they have all the flags (4 flag), they receive a certificate of achievement. With this rewarding technique, it is intended to raise the motivation of the students. Finally, at the evaluation step, the observed problems in the materials are revised. At every stage of the process, expert evaluations are consulted. With this study that is based on ADDIE instructional designed model and ARCS motivational model, it is

Fostering Dialogue in the Calculus Classroom Using Dynamic Digital Technology

In this article, we discuss the dynamic digital software SimCalc MathWorlds and its potential to promote dialogue in the first calculus course for engineering students at Tecnologico de Monterrey, Mexico. Sixty students participated in a pedagogical sequence of tasks that had been designed to help them appropriate the relations between a function and its derivative. In the classroom, the software provided a visual scenario supporting the various tasks. The simulation of cartoon motion over a straight line was included during the interaction. Corresponding graphs of position and velocity gave meaning to the function and its derivative. Active and exploratory visual perception allowed the interpretation of mathematical relations being sought as affordances provided by the software. Co-action between students and mathematical knowledge through software use promoted dialogue in order to identify those relations as invariants. A qualitative method, predominantly ethnographic, was applied during the 2 weeks of the classroom experience. The results revealed the students’ appropriation of the relations by means of mathematical language. With this experience, we propose the term ‘dialogic ecosystem’ as a way to emphasize the design and performance of the pedagogical sequence, where the teacher, students and software cohabit in an environment resulting in dialogue as an important component for the acquisition of mathematical knowledge.

Declarative and Flexible Modeling of Software Product Line Architectures

Several known problems negatively affect the specification of software product lines architecture. One of them is related with a key concept known as Internal Variability. The internal variability of components is generally neglected when describing the architecture of a family of products. The impossibility to denote dynamic restrictions between features is also pointed out as a significant difficulty for achieving an architectural specification. A third problem arises when the high level abstractions needed at the architectural level are mixed with low-level artifacts as lines of code. This paper explores FVS (FeatherWeight Visual Scenarios) as a declarative language for specifying software product lines architectures in early stages of software development. FVS aims to take a step towards finding a solution to the mentioned problems.

Declaratively building behavior by means of scenario clauses

Behavior needs to be understood from early stages of software development. In this context, incremental and declarative modeling seems an attractive approach for closely capturing and analyzing requirements without early operational commitment. A traditional choice for such a kind of modeling is a logic-based approach. Unfortunately, in many cases, the formal description and validation of properties result in a daunting task, even for trained people. Moreover, some authors established some practical limitations with temporal logics expressive power. In this work, we present omega-feather weight visual scenarios ($$\omega$$ź-FVS) a declarative language, not founded on temporal logics, but on simple graphical scenarios, powerful enough to express $$\omega$$ź-regular properties. The notation is equipped with declarative semantics based on morphisms, and a tableau procedure is given enabling the possibility of automatic analysis.

Dual Reality for Production Verification Workshops: A Comprehensive Set of Virtual Methods

In automotive industry, planning of manual assembly is getting ever-increasing complex, diverse and variant-rich due to ever-increasing market demands for more models and derivatives with shorter life-cycles. In order to reduce the costs for building physical prototypes before ramp-up processes, we present a comprehensive set of virtual and augmented reality methods for real-time assessments of manual assembly tasks used in interdisciplinary production planning workshops. This novel mixed reality assessment system unifies innovative interaction concepts with display technologies from a variety of domains. True-to-scale floor projections, interactive tangible tabletops, powerwalls and head mounted displays are used in combination with markerless full body motion capture and motion controller interfaces. Therewith, production planners in workshop situations are enabled to collaboratively plan and optimize station layouts, author 3D scenes and assess product and process related topics, such as buildability, reachability, assembly and disassembly routines. An in-depth evaluation on collaborative task performance using differing visualization scenarios is presented and discussed.