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Data tracking is a common feature of pain e-health applications, however, viewing visualizations of this data has not been investigated for its potential as an intervention itself. We conducted a pilot feasibility parallel randomized cross-over trial, 1:1 allocation ratio. Participants were youth age 12–18 years recruited from a tertiary-level pediatric chronic pain clinic in Western Canada. Participants completed two weeks of Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) data collection, one of which also included access to a data visualization platform to view their results. Order of weeks was randomized, participants were not masked to group assignment. Objectives were to establish feasibility related to recruitment, retention, and participant experience. Of 146 youth approached, 48 were eligible and consented to participation, two actively withdrew prior to the EMA. Most participants reported satisfaction with the process and provided feedback on additional variables of interest. Technical issues with the data collection platform impacted participant experience and data analysis, and only 48% viewed the visualizations. Four youth reported adverse events not related to visualizations. Data visualization offers a promising clinical tool, and patient experience feedback is critical to modifying the platform and addressing technical issues to prepare for deployment in a larger trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

E-navigation provides the opportunity to apply modern digital and other electronic enhancements to improve the safety and efficiency of maritime navigation. Under the broad banner of e-navigation, the International Hydrographic Organization's S-100 product specification framework is facilitating the establishment of a standard maritime data structure to enable a free-flowing exchange of navigation information between ships, ship-to-shore and shore-to-ship. There are currently over 30 S-100 based product specifications at various stages of development. For the data standard to be properly used, navigation software products must be capable of reading as well as comprehending the data format and content. To develop robust and stable software, the S-100 data models and product specifications must be consistent, accurate and interoperable in conveying various types of information. This paper describes the results of research on S-100 based product specifications from the viewpoint of developing maritime navigation software. In particular, issues related to software development for Electronic Chart Display Information System (ECDIS) and Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) are discussed, including appropriate data model analysis, processing of features, and symbols overlapping with other product specifications. Proposed solutions for some identified issues are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the findings of an environmental scan conducted as part of a Digital Exhibits Intern Librarian Project at the Edmonton Public Library in 2016. As part of the Library's 2016-2018 Business Plan objective to define the vision for a digital exhibits service, this research project aimed to understand the current landscape of digital displays in learning institutions globally. The resulting study consisted of 39 structured interviews with libraries, museums, galleries, schools, and creative design studios. The environmental scan explored the technical infrastructure of digital displays, their user groups, various uses for the technologies within organizational contexts, the content sources, scheduling models, and resourcing needs for this emergent service. Additionally, broader themes surrounding challenges and successes were also included in the study. Despite the variety of approaches taken among learning institutions in supporting digital displays, the majority of organizations have expressed a high degree of satisfaction with these technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of large multi‐institutional digital libraries has opened the door to aggregate‐level examinations of the published word. Such large‐scale analysis offers a new way to pursue traditional problems in the humanities and social sciences, using digital methods to ask routine questions of large corpora. However, inquiry into multiple centuries of books is constrained by the burdens of scale, where statistical inference is technically complex and limited by hurdles to access and flexibility. This work examines the role that exploratory data analysis and visualization tools may play in understanding large bibliographic datasets. We present one such tool, HathiTrust+Bookworm, which allows multifaceted exploration of the multimillion work HathiTrust Digital Library, and center it in the broader space of scholarly tools for exploratory data analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, data visualizations are an intrinsic element of decision-making processes. But they can also lead us to wrong conclusions under different circumstances: lack of data visualization expertise, lack of domain knowledge, biases, polarization, backgrounds, etc. In this sense, it is important to consider potential drawbacks during the design and development processes of these tools and address them before delivering the final product to the user. Following this idea, this work describes the results obtained from the analysis of two focus groups (with different backgrounds and expertise) about data visualizations to validate a previously developed dashboard meta-model and analyze the differences between the two groups regarding the interpretation and thoughts on these tools. The results show differences between the discourses of the two groups, and the analysis of the interventions proves that the meta-model is robust and captures the most relevant elements of data visualizations and information dashboards. • Expertise affects data visualization interpretation; experts focused on technical aspects, Ph.D. students on context. • High-level elements like "visualization" and "audience" are key in interpretation; "context" and "bias" are crucial too. • Visual literacy is vital for effective data visualization interpretation, needing educational focus. • A previously developed dashboard meta-model was validated as comprehensive for data visualization design. • The meta-model encourages holistic design, balancing technical accuracy and contextual information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The verbal fluency task, where participants name as many instances of a specific semantic or phonemic category as possible in a certain time limit, is widely used to probe language and memory retrieval functions in research and clinical settings. More recently, interests in using longitudinal observations in verbal fluency to examine changes over the lifespan have grown, in part due to the increasing availability of such datasets, yet quantitative methods for comparing repeated measures of verbal fluency responses remain scarce. As a result, existing studies tend to focus only on the number of unique words produced and how this metric changes over time, overlooking changes in other important features in the data, such as the identity of the words and the order in which they are produced. Here, we provide an example of how the literature of recurrence analysis, which aims to visualize and analyze non-linear time series, may present useful visualization and analytical approaches for this problem. Drawing on this literature, we introduce a novel metric (the “distance from diagonal,” or DfD) to quantify semantic fluency data that incorporates analysis of the sequence order and changes between two lists. As a demonstration, we apply these methods to a longitudinal dataset of semantic fluency in people with Alzheimer’s disease and age-matched controls. We show that DfD differs significantly between healthy controls and Alzheimer’s disease patients, and that it complements common existing metrics in diagnostic prediction. Our visualization method also allows incorporation of other less common metrics—including the order that words are recalled, repetitions of words within a list, and out-of-category intrusions. Additionally, we show that these plots can be used to visualize and compare aggregate recall data at the group level. These methods can improve understanding of verbal fluency deficits observed in various neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clients and employers are asking for infographics and visually appealing slides because they see infographics everywhere, and slides at conferences and meetings are looking different than in years past. They want graphical elements, short phrases, connections between ideas to be made clear, and to get to the point right away. Putting together these new deliverables means incorporating a few key elements and thinking differently about how you present data. The elements needed are visual (color coding, graphics, and icons), content (timeframes and timelines, statistics, and references), and knowledge (facts and deductions). Infographics come in different sizes: they can be an image of any size or shape, 1 or 2-page 8.5 by 11 sizes, or rolling infographics that are a standard screen width but any length (meant to be scrolled on a website). When creating visually appealing slides, use templates, icons, colors, and images to bring visual interest; put words into boxes, SmartArt, circles, shapes, charts, and graphics; and pare down the words and showcase certain words (often numbers or shorter phrases) with color, size, or space. Create infographics and visually appealing slides using sites or templates available from these sites and from PowerPoint Office 365 to make this process easier. Getting comfortable with these new visual formats might take some time, research, and exposure, but it can be a worthwhile addition to your skillset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an effort to improve the presentation of and information within tables and figures in clinical urology research, we propose a set of appropriate guidelines. We introduce 6 principles (1) include graphs only if they improve the reader's ability to understand the study findings; (2) think through how a graph might best convey information, do not just select a graph from preselected options on statistical software; (3) do not use graphs to replace reporting key numbers in the text of a paper; (4) graphs should give an immediate visual impression of the data; (5) make it beautiful; and (6) make the labels and legend clear and complete. We present a list of quick "dos and don'ts" for both tables and figures. Investigators should feel free to break any of the guidelines if it would result in a beautiful figure or a clear table that communicates data effectively. That said, we believe that the quality of tables and figures in the medical literature would improve if these guidelines were to be followed. PATIENT SUMMARY: A set of guidelines were developed for presenting figures and tables in urology research. The guidelines were developed by a broad group of statistical experts with special interest in urology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Customized maps depicting complex social data are much more prevalent today than in the past. Not only in formal published outlets, interactive mapping tools make it easy to create and publish custom maps in both formal and more casual outlets such as social media. This article defines GIS Lite, describes three commercial products currently licensed by institutions, and discusses issues that arise from their varied functionality and license restrictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High consumption of fruits and vegetables leads to decreased risk of various chronic diseases, including obesity and cardiovascular disease. Community-level barriers to access fruits and vegetables include the high cost, limited availability, and transportation. Farmers markets are a priority strategy for improving community access to fresh fruits and vegetables. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Farmers Market Directory is a voluntary self-reported data source on farmers markets. The objective of this investigation of the USDA farmers markets data directory was to determine how farmers markets in the United States are grouped according to (1) availability of fruits and vegetables and (2) the payment accepted. We designed and implemented interactive data visualizations in visual analytics software to understand access to fruits and vegetables at farmers markets from 8,497 entries in the USDA Farmers Market Directory. Among the 665 new or updated entries in year 2018, a subset of 641 (96%) farmers markets with availability of fresh fruits and vegetables had 16 subgroups. Additionally, a subgroup of 102 (16%) farmer markets accepted all four federal nutrition assistance benefits (SFMNP, SNAP, WIC CVVs, and WIC FMNP). The interactive data visualizations including geographic maps connected to social media resources can be useful in advocacy efforts and can inform policy improvements designed to improve physical, social, and economic access to fruits and vegetables at farmers markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) plays a central role in safe navigation of ships. The ECDIS is basically a software package running on a general operating system that could be comprised of the third-party components. This paper presents an analysis of cyber security weaknesses of a shipboard ECDIS raising from the ECDIS software's third-party components. The analysis is based on the cyber security testing of the shipboard ECDIS using an industry vulnerability scanner. Detected vulnerabilities are analysed regarding the protection measures implemented on the ship. The results suggest that even the type approved ECDIS system with maintained ECDIS software and the underlying operating system could be vulnerable due to weaknesses in the ECDIS software's third-party components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivation: Reviewing the adverse event data collected in clinical trials is a lengthy and tedious process when these data are presented in the form of tables, data listings, and static graphs. Thus, to enable anyone interested in exploring adverse event data efficiently and relatively independently, we developed AdEPro, a compact, powerful, and easy-to-use interactive app. Description and Use of the App: AdEPro is an app for (audio-)visualizing adverse event data from clinical trials. The app dynamically displays the onset, severity, and development of selected adverse events on the individual subject level and on the treatment group level. This paper illustrates that there are numerous questions related to adverse events that can be approached by means of AdEPro, e.g., questions about temporal aspects of adverse events, associations between adverse events, and the influence of subject characteristics. AdEPro provides quick first answers to such questions; however, it does not provide statistical proof. Essentially, it acts as a versatile "hypothesis generator," helping the user to decide whether further analyses are indicated. No programming knowledge is required for exploring data by means of AdEPro. However, the user needs some basic knowledge of the software R and of extracting data from a clinical data base. The software code is open source, allowing modifications and expansions of the app, if desired. Availability and Implementation: AdEPro can be freely obtained from https://cran.r-project.org/package=adepro. It runs on any computer on which R is installed. Patient data are stored and processed locally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computed tomography has an established role in the evaluation of a variety of cardiac disorders, including congenital heart diseases. The current generation of high-speed scanners produces volumetric data at low doses of radiation. The interpretation of cardiac anatomy, however, is generally limited to multiplanar assessment of two-dimensional images. The volume rendering technique provides an excellent three-dimensional demonstration of external morphology but offers little information about the intracardiac anatomy. The alternative approach of virtual cardiac dissection, which is a modification of volume rendering, on the other hand, provides crucial insights regarding the intracardiac anatomy. At present, virtual cardiac dissection requires expensive software packages. These software packages are not available in all countries, thus limiting its use in routine clinical care. We present here the details of a newly developed technique that permits virtual cardiac dissection using a personal computer and open-source software. Our technique involves no additional cost and can be achieved in the comfort of the office or operating room of the cardiologist, radiologist, or cardiac surgeon. This enhanced three-dimensional visualization of intracardiac anatomy will surely improve the understanding of the morphological details of both normal and malformed hearts. In addition, by permitting assessment in projections with which modern-day cardiologists and cardiac surgeons are conversant, it is likely to improve clinical decision-making. We illustrate here its potential utility in the morphologic assessment of the atrial septum and its deficiencies, along with malformations of the ventricular outflow tracts, including common arterial trunk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This column introduces how three different products/programs work to collect EZproxy usage statistics or how to use them: EZrproxy Analytics, a subscription-based product, ezPAARSE, an open-source program, and an open-source Perl script created by Chris Keene, a British librarian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Working in front of computer screens is visually demanding and related to adverse eye symptoms. Occurrence of glare further increases visual fatigue. OBJECTIVE: This paper presents results from an examination of visual ergonomics in control room environments at two Swedish process industries. METHODS: Visual conditions were examined and evaluated in nine control rooms and eighteen process operators answered questions about their perceived workload and visual experiences. RESULTS: When working in the control rooms, the mental workload was rated significantly higher by the participants, compared to experienced performance. The operators further experienced significantly higher visual fatigue and blurred vision compared to double vision and sore eyes. Visual demands were increased in conditions where contrast glare was present, as well as frequent changes of focusing distances, and low contrast between background and characters in computer screens. CONCLUSIONS: Suboptimal visual working conditions in the control rooms contributes to increased visual demands on the operators. Presence of glare is leading to visual fatigue and an unnecessary high mental load. The findings support the relevance of considering principles of general and visual ergonomics when designing and organizing work in control rooms. Workstation design should also be flexible to allow for individual and contextual adjustments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This technical innovation describes the development of a novel device to aid technologists in reducing exposure variation and repeat imaging in computed and digital radiography. The device consists of a color video and depth camera in combination with proprietary software and user interface. A monitor in the x-ray control room displays the position of the patient in real time with respect to automatic exposure control chambers and image receptor area. The thickness of the body part of interest is automatically displayed along with a motion indicator for the examined body part. The aim is to provide an automatic measurement of patient thickness to set the x-ray technique and to assist the technologist in detecting errors in positioning and motion before the patient is exposed. The device has the potential to reduce the incidence of repeat imaging by addressing problems technologists encounter daily during the acquisition of radiographs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To eliminate the impact of contradictory information on vaccine hesitancy on social media, this research developed a framework to compare the popularity of information expressing contradictory attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccine or vaccination, mine the similarities and differences among contradictory information's characteristics, and determine which factors influenced the popularity mostly. We called Sina Weibo API to collect data. Firstly, to extract multi-dimensional features from original tweets and quantify their popularity, content analysis, sentiment computing and k-medoids clustering were used. Statistical analysis showed that anti-vaccine tweets were more popular than pro-vaccine tweets, but not significant. Then, by visualizing the features' centrality and clustering in information-feature networks, we found that there were differences in text characteristics, information display dimension, topic, sentiment, readability, posters' characteristics of the original tweets expressing different attitudes. Finally, we employed regression models and SHapley Additive exPlanations to explore and explain the relationship between tweets' popularity and content and contextual features. Suggestions for adjusting the organizational strategy of contradictory information to control its popularity from different dimensions, such as poster's influence, activity and identity, tweets' topic, sentiment, readability were proposed, to reduce vaccine hesitancy. • Content and sentiment analysis, k-medoids clustering for feature extraction according to systematic and heuristic information processing modes. • Health Belief Models, Planned Behavior Theory for topic, attitude coding. • Information-feature networks to visualize features' centrality and clustering to detect users' posting patterns. • Differences in text, display-dimension, topic, sentiment, readability, poster of contradictory information. • Contextual features impact more on information popularity than content ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As health care becomes more patient-centered, some scholars and policy makers propose shifting use of electronic health records (EHRs) to a tool to educate and engage patients. Physician-patient screen sharing may provide a way to achieve this. However, the barriers and facilitators that physicians experience with screen sharing are unknown. In this study, we explored providers' facilitators and barriers to using EHR as a primary care communication tool. We conducted an interview study with 14 primary care providers to discover their views on screen sharing. We used the work system model as a conceptual framework to classify emergent factors. Content analysis yielded 28 facilitators and 56 barriers to patient-centered screen sharing in primary care. We linked these to work system elements. We outline suggestions for more patient-centered EHR systems, and for provider communication training. Finally, we consider the role screen sharing might play in the development of physician-patient situation awareness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – Information scholars frequently make use of “conceptual imports” – epistemological and methodological models developed in other disciplines – when conducting their own research. The purpose of this paper is to make the case that social semiotics is a worthy candidate to add to the information sciences toolkit. Design/methodology/approach – Both traditional and social semiotics are described in detail, with key texts cited. To demonstrate the benefits social semiotic methods may bring to the information sciences, the digital display screen is then employed as a test case. Findings – By treating the display as a semiotic resource, the author is able to demonstrate that, rather than being a transparent window by which the author may access all of the data, the screen actually distorts and conceals a significant amount of information, and severely restricts the control users have over software packages such as online public access catalogues. A programming paradigm known as language-oriented programming (LOP), however, can help to remedy these issues. Originality/value – The test case is meant to provide a framework by which other information sciences issues may be explores via social semiotic methods. Social semiotics, moreover, is still evolving as a subject matter, so IS scholars could also potentially contribute to its continued development with their work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using Scopus data, we construct a global map of science based on aggregated journal-journal citations from 1996-2012 ( N of journals = 20,554). This base map enables users to overlay downloads from Scopus interactively. Using a single year (e.g., 2012), results can be compared with mappings based on the Journal Citation Reports at the Web of Science ( N = 10,936). The Scopus maps are more detailed at both the local and global levels because of their greater coverage, including, for example, the arts and humanities. The base maps can be interactively overlaid with journal distributions in sets downloaded from Scopus, for example, for the purpose of portfolio analysis. Rao- Stirling diversity can be used as a measure of interdisciplinarity in the sets under study. Maps at the global and the local level, however, can be very different because of the different levels of aggregation involved. Two journals, for example, can both belong to the humanities in the global map, but participate in different specialty structures locally. The base map and interactive tools are available online (with instructions) at . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whether for a one-shot library session, mobile application demonstration, or active learning intervention, the options for classroom technology is limited mostly by budget. Here is a guide to low cost hardware, software, and dongles that can prove useful in instruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bar code-based tracking solutions, long present in clinical pathology laboratories, have recently made an appearance in anatomic pathology (AP) laboratories. Tracking of AP ''assets'' (specimens, blocks, slides) can enhance laboratory efficiency, promote patient safety, and improve patient care. Routing of excess clinical material into research laboratories and biorepositories are other avenues that can benefit from tracking of AP assets. Implementing tracking is not as simple as installing software and turning it on. Not all tracking solutions are alike. Careful analysis of laboratory workflow is needed before implementing tracking to assure that this solution will meet the needs of the laboratory. Such analysis will likely uncover practices that may need to be modified before a tracking system can be deployed. Costs that go beyond simply that of purchasing software will be incurred and need to be considered in the budgeting process. Finally, people, not technology, are the key to assuring quality. Tracking will require significant changes in workflow and an overall change in the culture of the laboratory. Preparation, training, buy-in, and accountability of the people involved are crucial to the success of this process. This article reviews the benefits, available technology, underlying principles, and implementation of tracking solutions for the AP and research laboratory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On June 1, 2012, the Information Display Measurement Standard version 1 was released. This is the first standard from the worldwide standard group, the International Committee for Display Metrology, a standards committee within SID, and it culminates several years worth of development from many contributors at various levels. It has 26 top-level chapters and a total over 450 sections of all parts, including over 200 measurement sections and 8 appendices that cover 133 topics of display metrology, tutorials, technical discussions, and references. Herein is an overview of the Information Display Measurement Standard version 1, including the structure of the document, tips, tricks, and hidden features, how it is maintained, support material, a breakdown of its contents, and finally, a sampling of four of the over 200 measurements. The standard is available as a free download and can be found on the International Committee for Display Metrology home page - http://www.icdm-sid.org. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients undergoing cancer surgery require outcome data to inform decisions, but communication of numerical risk is difficult. This study assessed patient understanding of survival data presented in different formats. Methods: Semi-structured interviews in which patients interpreted four presentation formats of survival data (three graphical and one narrative) were audio-recorded. The interviewer and a blinded observer (listening to the audio-recordings) scored patients’ understanding of each format. Logistic regression examined associations between understanding and clinical and socio-demographic details. Results: Seventy participants with colorectal cancer were interviewed and 67 [95.7%, 95% confidence intervals (CIs) 90.9–100%] correctly interpreted a simplified Kaplan–Meier survival curve. A high proportion accurately understood data presented as a bar chart or pictograph (94.3%, 95% CIs 88.7–99.9% and 92.9%, 95% CIs 86.7–99.0% respectively). Standard narrative alone was least well understood (n =53, 75.7%, 95% CIs 65.4–86.0%). Multivariable analyses demonstrated that older and female patients had poorer overall understanding (OR 0.93 per year, 95% CIs 0.87–0.98, p =0.01 and OR 0.24, 95% CIs 0.07–0.86, p =0.03). Conclusion: Patient understanding of survival data was higher when presented with graphs compared to narrative alone. Further work examining understanding in the clinical context and before surgery is recommended before this can be used routinely. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this study, we use the commercial simulation software, DIMOS2.0, to study improvement of viewing angle performance. Based on concepts of optical phase compensation, optimized conditions of composite uniaxial compensation films are achieved in optically compensated bend (OCB) liquid crystal displays (LCDs). In conditions of D65 illumination for compensated cells, it shows that viewing angles with contrast ratio over 10 are in the ranges of horizontal 100° and perpendicular 130°. No gray scale inversion occurs within polar angle of 70° at horizontal direction. According to definition of CIE 1931, color coordinate of white point in non-compensated and compensated simulated cells are (0.29634, 0.32592) and (0.27143, 0.29306) at on-axis viewing direction, respectively. Contrast ratio is over 3000 at on-axis viewing direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although many recent systems have been built to support Information Capture and Retrieval (ICR), these have not generally been successful. This paper presents studies that evaluate two different hypotheses for this failure, firstly that systems fail to address user needs and secondly that they provide only rudimentary support for ICR. Having first presented a taxonomy of different systems built to support ICR, we then describe a study that attempts to identify user needs for ICR. On the basis of that study we carried out two user-oriented evaluations. In the first, we carried out a task-based evaluation of a state-of-the-art ICR system, finding that it failed to provide users with abstract ways to view meetings data, and did not present users with information categories that they considered to be important. In a second study, we introduce a new method for comparative evaluation of different techniques for accessing meetings data. The second study showed that simple interface techniques that extracted key information from meetings were effective in allowing users to extract gist from meetings data. We conclude with a discussion of outstanding issues and future directions for ICR research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an innovative approach for defining and computing stable (intrinsic) representations describing volume shapes from discrete traces without any a priori information. We assume that the discrete trace of the volume shape is defined by a binary 3D image where all marked points define the shape. Our basic idea is to describe the corresponding volume using a set of patches of volume primitives (bowls, cylinders, cones…). The volume primitives representation is assumed to optimize a criterion ensuring its stability and including a characterization of its scale (trade-off: fitting errors/number of patches). Our criterion takes also into account the preservation of topological properties of the initial shape representation (number of connected components, adjacency relationships…). We propose an efficient computing way to optimize this criterion using optimal region growing in an adjacency valuated graph representing the primitives and their adjacency relationships. Our method is applied to the modelling of porous media from 3D soil images. This new geometrical and topological representation of the pore network can be used to characterize soil properties. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Peripheral displays are an important class of applications that improve our ability to balance multiple activities. However, peripheral display innovation and development has suffered because much of the past work has been technology driven: There exists little theoretical understanding of how they operate in relation to people's everyday lives. In response to this, we present a framework for understanding, designing, and evaluating peripheral displays based on Activity Theory. We argue that peripheral displays are information displays that become unobtrusive to users. As this quality depends on the context of use, we present a framework for describing peripheral displays based on the number and types of activities they support. Furthermore, we argue that different types of displays require different approaches to evaluation. From our own work and a review of related literature we derive a set of general evaluation criteria for peripheral displays (appeal, learnability, awareness, effects of breakdowns, and distraction). We then describe approaches for evaluating these criteria for different types of peripheral displays and present a case study to illustrate the value of our Activity Theory evaluation framework in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the Center for Advanced Visualization, Computation, and Modelling, which is a laboratory that brought online a Cave Automatic Virtual Environment (CAVE) immersive display in mid-2005. CAVE was established by the Desert Research Institute (DRI) to promote DRI's mover into interactive, large scale, 3-dimensional visualization of the data analysis concerning open-source tools for immersive environmental visualization and other environmental research issues. A four-sided, CAVE-like, Fakespace FLEX immersive display system, a Visbox single-screen immersive display, and a 44 central processing unit with 160 Gbytes of random access memory SGI Altix 3700 Symmetric Multiprocessor system.

Objective: A prototype interface was developed to support decision making during tactical operations; a laboratory experiment was conducted to evaluate the capability of this interface to support a critical activity (i.e., obtaining the status of friendly combat resources).Background: Effective interface design strategies have been developed for domains that have primarily law-driven (e.g., process control) or intent-driven (e.g., information retrieval) constraints. However, design strategies for intermediate domains in which both types of constraints are equally critical, such as military command and control, have not been explored as extensively. The principles of direct perception, direct manipulation, and perception-action loops were used to develop a hybrid interface design strategy ("perception-action icons") that was incorporated into the prototype interface.Methods: A qualitative tactical simulation and an alternative interface (an experimental version of an existing U.S. Army interface) were developed. Participants used both interfaces to provide estimates of friendly combat resources for three different categories of information at three different echelon levels.Results: The results were unequivocal, indicating that the interface with perception-action icons produced significantly better performance.Conclusion: The perception-action icon design strategy was very effective in this experimental context. The potential for this design strategy to be useful for other intermediate domains is explored.Application: Actual or potential applications of this research include both specific interface design strategies for military command and control and general interface design principles for intermediate work domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vigilance and threat detection are critical human factors considerations in the control of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Utilizing a vigilance task in which threat detections (critical signals) led observers to perform a subsequent manual target acquisition task, this study provides information that might have important implications for both of these considerations in the design of future UAV systems. A sensory display format resulted in more threat detections, fewer false alarms, and faster target acquisition times and imposed a lighter workload than did a cognitive display format. Additionally, advanced visual, spatial-audio, and haptic cuing interfaces enhanced acquisition performance over no cuing in the target acquisition phase of the task, and they did so to a similar degree. Thus, in terms of potential applications, this research suggests that a sensory format may be the best display format for threat detection by future UAV operators, that advanced cuing interfaces may prove useful in future UAV systems, and that these interfaces are functionally interchangeable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the development of the storage bin mobile storage mechanism, which combines the space-preserving features of existing peripheral storage mechanisms with the capability to relocate stored items in the workspace. While interest in tabletop displays began over a decade ago, recent technological advances have increased the feasibility of these displays and fueled renewed interest in this research direction. While increasing the size of the display surface offers more space for collaborative tasks, standard software interfaces that place items at the display's edges can cause these items to be physically difficult to reach. Altering the display further by placing it horizontally on a tabletop introduces orientation issues because people can approach the display from different sides. Textual information can be difficult to read when viewed upside down or at an angle. A storage bin's mobility and adjustability in size and shape allow people to share resources and transition between activities. Moving a storage bin allows a person to bring a collection of stored items in and out of the current focus of activity.

The article reports on the development of various techniques, software tools, and applications for large-scale display systems. To make the 24-projector display system easy to use, tools to align, color balance, and manage tiled display systems have been developed. Managing a large-scale display wall built with commodity components can be time consuming because it involves many resources, including numerous projectors, computers, and software tools. The tiled-display management tools, which are called DwallGUI, coordinate all resources in a display wall system. DwallGUI consists of a server running on each of the display cluster nodes and a client running on the console PC. A large-scale multiprojector display system creates the possibility of showing high-resolution and high-quality video. This is especially desirable for the playback of detailed scientific visualization and simulation results, immersive telepresence, VR, digital cinema, and other entertainment applications.

The article discusses Jabiru, which is a package of interaction tools to enhance Java 3D application usability in an immersive CAVE environment via Java 3D's ConfiguredUniverse. Developers of conventional 3D graphics in OpenGL have an enormous wealth of VR toolkits, development tools and drag-and-drop 3D graphics creation applications available to them. There are a variety of choices of additional development toolkits supporting portability between different operating systems or visualization environments. Java 3D, as an extension package of Java, has several advantages over some of the more traditional resources. These include ease of Web accessibility, operating system independence, ease of use and ease of learning, so suitable for both the novice and the expert. The scene graph representation of 3D entities is a key feature of Java 3D that Jabiru uses extensively. One major component of Jabiru is a collection of ViewPlatformBehaviors. The base class for Jabiru is the MenuBehavior class, which extends the ViewPlatformBehavior class.

Intelligent tutoring software (ITS) holds great promise for K-12 instruction. Yet it is difficult toobtain rich information about users that can be used in realistic educational delivery settings—public school classrooms—in which eye tracking and other user sensing technologies are notsuitable. We are pursuing three "cheap and cheerful" strategies to meet this challenge in thecontext of an ITS for high school math instruction. First, we use detailed representations of studentcognitive skills, including tasks to assess individual users' proficiency with abstract reasoning,proficiency with simple math facts and computational skill, and spatial ability. Second,we are using data mining and machine learning algorithms to identify instructional sequencesthat have been effective with previous students, and to use these patterns to make decisionsabout current students. Third, we are integrating a simple focus-of-attention tracking systeminto the software, using inexpensive, web cameras. This coarse-grained information can beused to time the display of multimedia hints, explanations, and examples when the user is actuallylooking at the screen, and to diagnose causes of problem-solving errors. The ultimate goalis to create non-intrusive software that can adapt the display of instructional information inreal time to the user's cognitive strengths, motivation, and attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]