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In implicit human computer interaction, computers are required to understand users' actions and intentions so as to provide proactive services. Visual processing has to detect and understand human actions and then transform them as the implicit input. In this paper an adaptive vision system is presented to solve visual processing tasks in dynamic meeting context. Visual modules and dynamic context analysis tasks are organized in a bidirectional scheme. Firstly human objects are detected and tracked to generate global features. Secondly current meeting scenario is inferred based on these global features, and in some specific scenarios face and hand blob level visual processing tasks are fulfilled to extract visual information for the analysis of individual and interactive events, which can further be adopted as implicit input to the computer system. The experiments in our smart meeting room demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose a mobile user interface named personal companion which enables selection and interaction of u-services based on context of user. Personal companion selects u-services from a list of discovered services, supports camera-based selection with embedded marker and personalizes UI of the selected service in ubiquitous computing environment. In order to verify its usefulness, we implemented personal companion on PDA and UMPC platform and deployed into smart home testbed for selecting and interacting with u-services. The proposed personal companion is expected to play a vital role in ubiquitous computing environment by bridging users and u-services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose a human-robot interface in networked and multi-sensored environments. The human robot interface is an essential part of intelligent robotic system. Through the human robot interface, human being can interact with the robot. Especially, in multi-sensored environment, the human robot interface can be developed with remarkably extended functionality. Generally, handheld device such as PDA is a suitable for human robot interface because of its mobility and network ability. In this paper, we select PDA as device of human robot interface. In the implemented framework, the robot user can monitor what happens in multi-sensored environment and control the mobile robot easily and intuitively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate how to use future interaction technologies to enhance learning technologies. We examine in detail how tracking the mouse pointer and observing the user's gaze can help to monitor the use of web applications and in particular E-learning applications. To improve learning and teaching, it is of interest to understand in what order and to what extent users read texts, how much time they spend on individual parts of the teaching materials, and where they get stuck. Based on a standard web browser as an application platform, extended with a gaze tracking facility, we conducted studies to explore the feasibility of this novel approach. The concept includes an extension of current technologies to allow JavaScript code running in the browser to access the current gaze position of the user. Our work shows how pieces of web technology and eye gaze tracking can be put together to create a new platform for E-learning that provides additional benefits for learners and teachers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for systems to assist in the care of the elderly is continually increasing. We propose an ambient display that allows casual and implicit interaction with an elderly user. The display system recognizes the user and measures the distance between the user and the display using information from an RFID reader and an ultrasonic sensor. It uses this information to adjust the level of detail of the displayed information. If the user is far from the display, a black-and-white image is displayed that does not attract attention. But when the user's approach is recognized, the display provides three-dimensional spatial navigation through the image space. When the user is very close to the display, they can interact directly using the touch screen. In the event of an emergency, LEDs attached around the display call the user's attention by flashing the light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many studies have found the performance of using non-keyboard input devices (NKID) was affected by motion environment, but few of them have considered the interaction between motion direction and the approach angle on manipulating NKID. In this study, an experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of different approach angles (0o, 45o, 90o, 135o, 180o, 225o, 270o, 315o, 360o) and motion directions (roll and pitch) on the performance (movement time and error rate) of using trackball. The results showed that the main effect of approach angle on movement time was significant, whereas there was neither significant interaction nor the main effect of motion direction. The effects of approach angle and motion direction on the error rate were not significant. Some suggestions on the control console and interface design were proposed based on the results of the experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a conceptual model towards a context-based attentive interaction. Our focus is to improve the interaction between the user and the application of large tiled display by introducing user context and user attention. Interaction in our proposed system adapts user's visual attention region with the user's changing context based on head movement to achieve an immersive interaction with the tile display. Our experiment uses computer vision to track the user's presence and projects the most attentive regions in a tiled display in high resolution. User will be able to see other regions in higher resolution according to the head movement. At the same time, user attention is captured and modeled to learn the attentive regions to be displayed for other users. This paper will show the experimental result of the effectiveness of the perceptual interaction in a large tiled display environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study will be using a tablet computer as an example to study mobile products and make a comparison with keyboard and mouse by providing an input device consisting of a new form of touch pen in combination with chord input. The goal is to find the best combination of input device, minimizing harm caused by the input device and provide a reference for further input device designs. Therefore the NEW chord keyboard and touch pen conforms to the needs of a new mobile product and it becomes the best combination of this experiment which can be considered for future product design references. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most confusing aspects that one meets as he introduces himself into gaze tracking is the variety, in terms of hardware equipment, of available systems providing solutions to the same matter, i.e. determining subject's gaze. Calibration permits adjusting trackers based on different hardware and image features to the subject. The negative aspect of calibration is that it permits the system to work properly but at the expense of a lack of control over the intrinsic behavior of the tracker. The objective of this work is to overcome this obstacle to explore more deeply the elements of a tracker from a purely geometrical point of view. Alternative models based on image features are evaluated. As result of this study a model has been constructed based on minimal calibration using one camera and multiple lighting with acceptable accuracy level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a new control system interface which utilises the user's eye gaze to enable severely disabled individuals control electronic devices easily. The system is based upon a novel human computer interface, which facilitates simple control of electronic devices by predicting and responding to the user's possible intentions, based intuitively upon their point of gaze. The interface responds by automatically pre-selecting and offering only those controls appropriate to the specific device that the user looks at, in a simple and accessible manner. It therefore affords the user conscious choice of the appropriate range of control actions required, which may be executed by simple means and without the need to navigate manually through potentially complex control menus to reach them. Two systems using the head-mounted and the remote eye tracker respectively are introduced, compared and evaluated in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing a robot system that can interact directly with a human instructor in a natural way requires not only highly-skilled sensorimotor coordination and action planning on the part of the robot, but also the ability to understand and communicate with a human being in many modalities. A typical application of such a system is interactive assembly for construction tasks. A human communicator sharing a common view of the work area with the robot system instructs the latter by speaking to it in the same way that he would communicate with a human partner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a simple and intuitive method of user interaction, based on pointing gestures, which can be used with video avatars in a remote collaboration. By connecting the head and fingertip of a user in 3D space we can identify the direction in which they are pointing. Stereo infrared cameras in front of the user, together with an overhead camera, are used to find the user's head and fingertip in a CAVETM-like system. The position of the head is taken to be the top of the user's silhouette, while the location of the user's fingertip is found directly in 3D space by searching the images from the stereo cameras for a match with its location in the overhead camera image in real time. The user can interact with the first object which collides with the pointing ray. In an experimental result, the result of the interaction is shown together with the video avatar which is visible to a remote collaborator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contemporary ergonomics can accuraely describe psychophysical capabilities of the human body, thus greatly contributing to the process of improving the living quality and parameters. Many everyday activities, relating to the man's work, leisure, communication, or social relations, are subject to ergonomic rules and principles, and the same is true of urban and architectural space of urbanized centres as a material space of such activities. It is here that man actively satisfies his needs to engineer his space and facilities necessary for him as an individual - e.g. dwelling houses, and as community - e.g. necropolises. Modern forms of spatial arrangement of necropolises search for solutions which will not only provide a rational - ergonomic material shape of the burial place, but also satisfy mental needs of the man connected with the burial, funeral, cult of the dead, visits to the cemetery, irrespective of the man's age and ability. Among important problems to be solved we should pay special attention to the question of accessibility of the cemetery space to the elderly and the disabled. Therefore all elements constituting the structure of necropolis must allow for ergonomic designing factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose a device that indicates the direction of an obstacle that is encroaching into the path of a visually impaired person who is walking. Our proposed system, which would resemble a pair of eyeglasses, first detects an obstacle and then indicates its direction and distance to the wearer through puff of air to the forehead. This paper describes the preliminary testing for presenting distance information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ubiquitous service delivery expects that content will be available where, when and how the user needs it. Consumers are becoming ever demanding and the consumers of ubiquitous services are no different in this regard. Their expectations escalate in terms of relevance, ease of access, recency, accuracy and latency of content supply. In addition they expect that the content be supplied proactively in anticipation of their needs together with delivery when they require it. This presupposes that content can be delivered relative to both the consumers location and their technological context. Within this paper we explore how traditional document access can be transformed and introduce Ambient Documents a new metaphor for document content access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AUK is a 3x3 multi-tier onscreen keyboard. It supports various entry modes, including 1 to 10-key and joystick modes, allowing text entry with a remarkable range of devices. This paper presents the menu structure of AUK, the alternative entry modes, and several layouts for novice, moderate and expert users. The potential of AUK, as a text entry solution both for disabled and able-bodied users, is discussed. Overall, the work presented here is considered as a contribution to Universal Access and towards ambient text entry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we consider the problems of group discussions and collaborative decision-making, where one or more of the participants are using restrictive interfaces such as mobile phones or PDAs. We suggest possible solutions to some of these problems and present MAVis (Mobile Argumentation Visualizer), a web-based interface built upon upon a balance-beam visual metaphor. We report on user experiences of interacting with the visual metaphor, and on the challenges of transferring this to a multi-user environment supporting mobile devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since a generative 3D face model consists of a large number of vertex points and polygons, a 3D model based face recognition system is generally inefficient in computation time. In this paper, we present a novel 3D face representation method to reduce the number of vertices and optimize its computation time and generate the 3D Korean face model based on the representation method. Also, a pose approximation method is described for initial fitting parameter. Finally, we evaluate the performance of proposed method with the face databases collected using a stereo-camera based 3D face capturing device and a web camera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We like large displays. Also, we love to equip with multiple displays for exercising multiple tasks in parallel. It is not unusual to have multiple large displays in our offices. Therefore, we can see many widgets on multiple large displays and would like to select and manipulate them in more convenient and faster ways. Because the widgets are physically spread in multiple large displays, it is not easy for users to reach them easily. It follows that new interaction techniques must be provided.[1] New interaction techniques for accessing distant widgets on multiple large displays using a tabletop interface called ‘u-Table' [2] are proposed in this paper. Hand gestures are mainly used on tabletop interfaces because of their intuitive, non-invasive and easy operations. We incorporate advantages of existing techniques such as intuitiveness of tabletop interfaces, fastness and simultaneity of existing interaction techniques such as Drag-and-pick [10] and Vacuum [11]. The proposed interaction techniques include fetching, sending, and manipulating distant widgets on multiple large displays. We expect our techniques can be applied various interfaces using hand gestures and heterogeneous displays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blind persons or people with reduced eyesight could benefit from a portable system that can interpret textual information in the surrounding environment and speak directly to the user. The need for such a system was surveyed with a questionnaire, and a prototype system was built using generic, inexpensive components readily available. The system architecture is component-based so that every module can be replaced with another generic module. Even though the system makes partly incorrect recognition of text in a versatile environment, the evaluation of the system with five actual users suggested that the system can provide genuine additional value in coping with everyday issues outdoors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a new mobile text-entry method that relies on alphabet navigation and dismisses memorizing, offering visually impaired individuals an easy writing mechanism. Current mobile text-entry interfaces are not suitable for blind users and special braille devices are too heavy, large and cumbersome to be used in a mobile context. With the enormous growth of mobile communications and applications it was urgent to offer visually impaired individuals the ability to operate this kind of devices. Evaluation studies were carried and validated the navigation method as a new mobile text-entry interface for the target population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel approach to natural demonstration of manipulation skills for multimodal interactive robots. The main focus is on the natural demonstration of manipulation skills, especially grasping skills. In order to teach grasping skills to a multimodal interactive robot, a human instructor makes use of natural spoken language and grasping actions demonstrated to the robot. The proposed approach emphasizes on four different aspects of learning by demonstration: First, the dialog system for processing natural speech is considered. Second, an object detection and classification scheme for the robot is shown. Third, the correspondence problem is addressed by an algorithm for visual tracking of the demonstrator's hands in real time and the transformation of the tracking results into an approach trajectory for a robotic arm. The fourth aspect addresses the fine-tuning of the robot's hand configuration for each grasp. It introduces a criterion to evaluate a grasp for stability and possible reuse of a grasped object. The approach produces stable grasps and is applied and evaluated on a multimodal service robot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the shared nature of current network structures, guaranteeing the quality of service (QoS) of Internet applications from an end-to-end is sometimes difficult and then it has been requested to develop smart devices which have multi-modal functionality for ubiquitous network and computing environment. In this paper, we design smart SoftPhone device for guaranteeing QoS which can discover and measure various network parameters during realtime phone-call service through IP network. The smart SoftPhone for discovering and measuring of QoS-factors in realtime consists of four main blocks that is in order to control and measure various parameters independently based on UDP/SIP/RTP protocol during the end-to-end voice service. Also, we provide critical message report procedures and management schemes to guarantee QoS based on using smart SoftPhone device. For the reporting quality parameters optimally during establishing call sessions of VoIP service, we design critical management module blocks for call session and for quality reporting. To sum up, for the performance evaluation of the smart SoftPhone with scientific exactitude of quality factors, we examine the proposed technique based on the realtime phone-call service through heterogeneous network. The experimental results confirm that the developed smart SoftPhone is very useful to quality-measuring for the quality guaranteed realtime VoIP service and then it could also be applied to improve speech quality as a packet compensation device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate factors influencing the usability of icons in the LCD touch screens. In this study, subjects had to fill in the questionnaire and rated questions on 7-point Likert scales. 20 evaluation items were collected from relevant interface design guidelines. A total of 30 subjects, 10 none- experience users, 10 click-experience users (PDA user), 10 touch-experience users (LCD touch screens user), participated in the investigation. As main statistical test, a principal component analysis (PCA) was performed with SPSS/ PC. The results from the principal components analysis showed that the usability of touch icon was affected by seven factors: touch field, semantics quality, dynamics, hit quality, tactility, color quality and shape quality. Among these, touch field was the most important. Finally, the results of correlation analyses indicated that experience related to importance ratings for usability. Especially, subjects show significant difference in the size element (p<0.05). Further, user who has pen-click experience, such as PDA user, still show better performance for touch screen even if they use smaller icon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we focus on the method to explore a different type of auditory progress bar by analyzing the characteristics of the visual progress bar and contexts of auditory application. A scenario of bearing in the forward/reverse modes of digital compass is selected to implement the auditory progress bar. The auditory cues play an interactive role in the bearing that they are altered according to the user's operating behavior. Composed of sound signal and silent pause, the auditory cues are generated from a formula based on the warm/cold metaphor. A method incorporating the foreground/ background sounds is also designed to provide different ranges of progress information/progress update expressed through auditory cues. In this report four versions of auditory cues are presented as the solution to the interactive auditory progress bar and a pilot study is evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multimodal systems must process several input streams efficiently and represent the input in a way that allows the establishment of connections between modalities. This paper describes a multimodal system that uses Combinatory Categorial Grammars to parse several input streams and translate them into logical formulas. These logical formulas are expressed in Hybrid Logic, which is very suitable for multimodal integration because it can represent temporal relationships between modes in an abstract way. This level of abstraction makes it possible to define rules for multimodal processing in a straightforward way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The final goal of this research is to establish some useful verbal communication systems between computers and persons, or between handicapped persons and normal persons. For a substantial progress toward the research goal, we investigate Event Related Potentials (ERP's for short) caused by Electroencephalograms (EEG's for short). By observing ERP's, we estimate recalled words, phrases, or sentences that may contain some homonyms or related words. In particular, we pay attention to the difference between ERP's caused by recalling a single syllable individually without other syllables and ERP's caused by recalling a syllable together with a word containing the syllable. From our observation of this difference, we believe that it may be useful to discuss the possibility of estimating a recalled word by combining ERPs caused by syllables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present our current research on the implementation of gaze as an efficient and usable pointing modality supplementary to speech, for interacting with augmented objects in our daily environment or large displays, especially immersive virtual reality environments, such as reality centres and caves. We are also addressing issues relating to the use of gaze as the main interaction input modality. We have designed and developed two operational user interfaces: one for providing motor-disabled users with easy gaze-based access to map applications and graphical software; the other for iteratively testing and improving the usability of gaze-contingent displays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We survey recent research in which the impact of an embodied conversational agent on human-computer interaction has been assessed through a human evaluation. In some cases, the evaluation involved comparing different versions of the agent against itself in the context of a full interactive system; in others, it measured the effect on user perception of spoken output of specific aspects of the embodied agent's behaviour. In almost all of the studies, an embodied agent that displays appropriate non-verbal behaviour was found to enhance the interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A real-time gesture tracking and recognition system based on particle filtering and Ada-Boosting techniques is presented in this paper. The particle filter, which is a flexible simulation-based method and suitable for non-linear tracking problems, is adopted to achieve hand tracking robustly. In order to avoid the influence of the other exposed skin parts of a human body and skin-colored objects in the background, our system further applies the motion information as a feature of the hand in addition to the skin color information. Compared with the conventional particle filters, our method leads to more efficient sampling and requires fewer particles. It results in lowering computational cost and saving much time for gesture recognition later. The gesture recognition uses the features derived from the wavelet transform, and employs an Ada-Boost algorithm which is excellent in facilitating the speed of convergence during the training. Hence, it is conducive to update new information and expand new gesture archives. The experimental results reveal our system is fast, accurate, and robust in hand tracking. Moreover, it has good performance in gesture recognition under complicated environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LATERAL SAFE is a subproject of the PREVENT Integrated Project, co-funded by the European Commission under the 6th Framework Programme. LATERAL SAFE introduces a cluster of safety applications of the future vehicles, in order to prevent lateral/rear related accidents and assist the driver in adverse or low visibility conditions and blind spot areas. LATERAL SAFE applications include a lateral and rear monitoring system (LRM), a lane change assistant (LCA) and a lateral collision warning (LCW). An effective Human Machine Interface (HMI) is being developed, addressing each application, on the basis of the results emerged from mock-up tests realised in three sites (one in Greece and two in Sweden), aiming to determine which is the best HMI solution to be provided in each case. In the current paper, the final HMI principles, adopted and demonstrated for each application, are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facial expression involves various movements. We present various facial expressions as simple regions on facial area and get recognition rate. There are two steps for obtaining the expression regions. First step is to extract facial area from input image with color lines model and second step is to catch regions of expression on extracted facial area with active contour without edges method as a region based processing. We have tested this presentation method for facial expressions from the open facial expression database JAFFE(Japanese Female Facial Expressions). In this method, we can get a facial expression region without any manual works. In the future, we will compensate for lack of ambiguities among expressions with person specific method and this method will be extended to image sequence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a new method for robustly extracting moving objects in an environment with varying illuminations. The proposed method applies background subtraction scheme based on hue and hue gradient to minimize the effect of the illumination change. First, we train the background images in the HSI color space and build the Gaussian background model with respect to the hue and hue gradient. Next, image subtraction is performed between the trained background image and the current input image based on the Gaussian background model. Finally, the morphological operations are applied to remove the background noise. In this paper, we compare the previous subtraction schemes to our method applied to both the hand and body tracking in order to prove the robustness of the proposed method in sudden illumination changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) are systems capable of decoding neural activity in real time, thereby allowing a computer application to be directly controlled by the brain. Since the characteristics of such direct brain-to-computer interaction are limited in several aspects, one major challenge in BCI research is intelligent front-end design. Here we present the mental text entry application ‘Hex-o-Spell' which incorporates principles of Human-Computer Interaction research into BCI feedback design. The system utilises the high visual display bandwidth to help compensate for the extremely limited control bandwidth which operates with only two mental states, where the timing of the state changes encodes most of the information. The display is visually appealing, and control is robust. The effectiveness and robustness of the interface was demonstrated at the CeBIT 2006 (world's largest IT fair) where two subjects operated the mental text entry system at a speed of up to 7.6 char/min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recognizing human facial expressions continuously is useful since it has many potential applications. We have implemented a continuous facial expression recognition system using Active Appearance Model (AAM). AAM has been widely used in face tracking, face recognition, and object recognition tasks. In this study, we adopt an independent AAM using Inverse Compositional Image Alignment method. The evaluation of this system carried out with the standard Cohn-Kanade facial expression database. Result shows that it could useful for many applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The setup of a human computer interaction electrooculography (EOG) measurement trail for developing pattern recognition algorithms is described. With an easy to wear EOG measurement device we relized performance tests with a group of normal individuals as well as with one individual suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS). The individuals had to perform different eye movement patterns for coding information to control the environment. Different patterns of recognition in the time domain have been tried and implemented to perform online performance tests. The aim is to develop an EOG based communication device passed on pattern recognition algorithms for user with limited functionality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We suggest that User Interfaces (UIs) can be designed to serve as cognitive tools based on a model of nonverbal human interaction. Smart User Interfaces (SUIs) have the potential to support the human user when and where appropriate and thus indirectly facilitate higher mental processes without the need for end-user programming or external actuation. Moreover, graphic nonverbally sensitive SUIs are expected to be less likely to interfere with ongoing activity and disrupt the user. We present two non-invasive methods to assess postural and facial expression components and propose a contextual analysis to guide SUI actuation and supportive action. The approach is illustrated in a possible redesign of the Microsoft helper agent "Clippit" ®. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ongoing process of collection and storage of knowledge with computer technology leads to highly complex information environments. The efficient access to information and the structure itself gets more and more complicated. The presented work investigates the usefulness of physical based interaction and representation behavior in immersive environments for information visualization. A framework will be presented for the mapping of physical behavior on abstract data entities and interaction. This framework is applied to an early prototype for market research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have developed an eye-gaze input system for people with severe physical disabilities such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The system utilizes a personal computer and a home video camera to detect eye gaze under natural light. It also compensates for measurement errors caused by head movements; in other words, it can detect the eye gaze with a high degree of accuracy. We have also developed a new gaze selection method based on the eye movement history of a user. Using this method, users can rapidly input text using eye gazes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the implementation of a handheld haptic display using verbal and nonverbal communication technologies for visually impaired pedestrians. Wearable and mobile human-computer-interface technologies provide the means to use the display in daily life. Six ring-mounted vibrators for the finger-braille method, one of the commonly used communication methods among deaf-blind people in Japan, and a textual input interface designed on the basis of the braille input method, are adopted as the verbal I/O interface. As the non-verbal I/O interface, a perceptual force attraction method, which can convey "pull" or "push" sensations on handheld devices, is adopted for intuitive way-finding. The handheld haptic display with these technologies integrated has the potential to support wayfinding not only for blind people but also for sighted people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we present current and future approaches to merge intelligent interfaces with immersive Virtual Environments (VEs). The aim of this paper is to substantiate the introductory presentation in the session "Facing Virtual Environments with innovative interaction techniques" at HCI 2007. Although VEs and multimodal interfaces tried to make Human-Computer- Interaction as natural as possible, they have shown serious usability problems. We describe concepts to aid users in supporting their personal cognitive and perceptual capabilities, where the Virtual Environment will adapt dynamically and in real-time to the users' physiological constitution, previous behaviour and desires. With our concept, human performance can be significantly enhanced by adapting interfaces and environments to the users' mental condition and their information management capacity. Health and usability problems caused by stress, workload and fatigue will be avoided. We intend to encourage discussions on this topic among the experts, which are gathered this session. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We modify a projected image so as to compensate for changes in the viewer's location. We use the concept of a virtual camera in the viewing space to achieve a transformable display with improved visibility. The 3D space and virtual camera are initialized and then the image is translated, rotated, scaled and projected. The user can modify the position and size of the image freely within the allowable projection area. They can also change its orientation as seen from their viewpoint, which can be off the axis of projection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of personal electronic equipment has significantly increased during recent years. Augmented Reality (AR) technology enables mobile devices to provide a very rich user experience by combining mobile computing with connectivity and location-awareness. In this paper we discuss the approach and development of an Augmented Reality-based personal assistant, combining the familiar interface of a human person with the functionality of a location-aware digital information system. The paper discusses the main components of the system, including the anthropomorphic user interface as well as the results of an initial prototype evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the development of a Virtual Reality (VR) based therapeutic training system aimed at encourage stroke patients with upper limb motor disorders to practice physical exercises. The system contains a series of physically-based VR games. Physically-based simulation provides realistic motion of virtual objects by modelling the behaviour of virtual objects and their responses to external force and torque based on physics laws. We present opportunities for applying physics simulation techniques in VR therapy and discuss their potential therapeutic benefits to motor rehabilitation. A framework for physically-based VR rehabilitation systems is described which consists of functional tasks and game scenarios designed to encourage patients' physical activity in highly motivating, physics-enriched virtual environments where factors such as gravity can be scaled to adapt to individual patient's abilities and in-game performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial safety can be regarded as a major issue of industrial environments nowadays. This is why industries are currently spending huge amounts of resources to improve safety in all levels by reducing risks of causing damages to equipment, human injuries or even fatalities. This paper describes how Virtual Reality, Human Factors and Rule-based technologies are used in the framework of the VIRTHUALIS Integrated Project towards industrial training, safety management and accident investigation. The paper focuses mainly on the VR system specification and basic modules, while at the same time it presents the main system modules that synthesize the tool as a whole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, diagnosis of cancer and therapeutic choice imply strongly structured meeting between specialized practitioners. These complex and not standardized meetings are generally located at a same place and need a heavy preparation-time. In this context, we assume that efficient collaborative tools could help to reduce decision time and improve reliability of the chosen treatments. The European project Odysseus investigates how to design a Collaborative Decision Support Systems (CDSS) for surgical planning. We present here an activity analysis and the first outcomes of a participatory design method involving end users. Especially a new concept of Graphic User Interface (GUI) is proposed. It tries to make use of Virtual Reality technologies to overcome issues met with common collaborative tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently the development of network technology is quickly, there are more and more VEs can be browsed on the Web, such as video games, digital museums and electronic shops. Therefore, the older web-users can easily immerse in a VE at home and become the fastest growing group of internet users. In general, these visitors browse the web-VEs on the field of TFT-LCD display. This study found that the SSQ scores of cybersickness increased significantly with increasing navigation rotating speed and exposure duration on older participants whilst the device of TFT-LCD displays are used to present the VE. Therefore, the cybersickness-predicting model was designed by fuzzy sets including speed of navigation rotation, angle of navigation rotation and exposure duration to evaluate the symptom of cybersickness for older users on TFT-LCD display in VE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The driving force of our current research is the development of medical training systems using augmented reality techniques. To provide multimodal feedback for the simulation, haptic interfaces are integrated into the framework. In this setting, high accuracy and stability are a prerequisite. Misalignment of overlaid virtual objects would greatly compromise manipulative fidelity and the sense of presence, and thus reduce the overall training effect. Therefore, our work targets the precise integration of haptic devices into the augmented environment and the stabilization of the tracking process. This includes a distributed system structure which is able to handle multiple users in a collaborative augmented world. In this paper we provide an overview of related work in medical augmented reality and give an introduction to our developed system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present paper a VR (Virtual Reality) exposure treatment program for Acrophobia (fear of heights) is introduced and evaluated against an in vivo exposure with the same success rate. During the VR exposure psychophysiological parameters (heart rate, respiratory rate) are collected. VR offers the good opportunity to study psychophysiological effects under almost standardized conditions. The findings reflect partly the somatic correlates during an anxiety attack. Beside the opportunity of standardized circumstances other advantages of VR techniques are discussed (cost effectiveness, enhancement of the narration process, higher user acceptance). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the study of evaluating VR display types on Brain Computer Interface (BCI) performance. In this study, a configurable virtual reality BCI system was used for users to control the virtual environment to execute the ubiquitous computing home facilities. The study evaluated various VR display types: 2D arrow cue, 3D virtual reality, 3D fully immersive CAVE system, and 3D CAVE cue. The task involved users to imagine left or right arm movements for rotating the direction in the virtual environment and move forward by using a direction locking device. The result shows that there was no significant improvement on BCI classification rate even by enhancing the immersion of VR displays. Instead, the level of simulator sickness was increased. This result indicates a new improved display type is needed for the ubiquitous computing environment control BCI system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]