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Traditional virtual simulated interaction systems experience data fragmentation during the process of converting from two-dimensional to three-dimensional information, resulting in reduced realism and an inability to meet the teaching requirements of computer courses. Therefore, the integration of augmented reality (AR) technology into the educational environment remains an urgent and unresolved issue. To address the aforementioned issues, this paper investigates the data throughput limitations present in virtual simulation interaction systems. In response to this problem, an application solution utilizing AR technology is proposed, specifically a design concept for a virtual simulation interactive system tailored to computer-related courses. This system achieves its objectives through the collaborative interaction of AR hardware and supplementary software algorithms. The AR hardware is subdivided into framework design and functional hardware design, while the software components encompass AR models, virtual interaction models, and fusion methods. Through testing and comparison of the data throughput of this system with two other virtual simulation interaction systems, it was found that the virtual simulation interactive system optimized using AR technology can effectively enhance data throughput and address the issue of reduced realism in virtual interaction scenes caused by data fragmentation. This design system provides a more realistic and efficient mode of interaction for teaching computer-related courses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates music performances with audiovisual components in extended reality setups that are not score based, but composed, emerging from a discursive process of interrelating human performers and computational counterparts such as virtual performance partners, virtual instruments, and potentials related to particular spaces. Rooted in notions of earlier avant-garde music and digital games, the performances are understood to emerge from a bottom-up process of relating human-technological agencies. A dichotomy of preexistent physical and virtual realities that would be extended or mixed is consequently replaced by a notion of entangled realities, as the artistic reality of the artwork emerges with the performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A person's appearance, identity, and other nonverbal cues can substantially influence how one is perceived by a negotiation counterpart, potentially impacting the outcome of the negotiation. With recent advances in technology, it is now possible to alter such cues through real‐time video communication. In many cases, a person's physical presence can explicitly be replaced by 2D/3D representations in live interactive media. In other cases, technologies such as deepfake can subtly and implicitly alter many nonverbal cues—including a person's appearance and identity—in real time. In this article, we look at some state‐of‐the‐art technological advances that can enable such explicit and implicit alterations of nonverbal cues. We also discuss the implications of such technology for the negotiation landscape and highlight ethical considerations that warrant deep, ongoing attention from stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The virtual interactive consulting agent system is an online virtual career center that supports freshman students in transition to higher education. This virtual counseling system, based on accumulative empirical knowledge for working students and knowledge about effective career intervention, aims to guide first-year university students in combining study and work effectively. Three main aspects of career interventions are supplied by this virtual interactive consulting agent system: personal assessment, information, and personal encouragement and relatedness. The virtual interactive consulting agent is based on the SimCoach system. The current research includes two studies that examine acceptability and satisfaction from two perspectives: that of the counselors (the experts) and of the consultees (the target consumers). Both studies included 87 participants divided into two research groups: 45 counselors and 42 counseled freshman students. The data were collected through four data collection tools: acceptability and satisfaction questionnaire, an open-ended question, Google Docs, and screen recording applications. The participants' answers were analyzed using quantitative software. The results show that the majority of the counselors were satisfied with the usability of the system but not with the process of counseling through the virtual agent, with some expressing concern about the impact on the profession. In contrast, most of the consultees were satisfied with the counseling process and some stated that the virtual agent helped them to determine how to integrate work and study more effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How important is sound in an interactive environment? For example, what happens when we play a video game without sound? Does the game still have the same impact? Even if sight is the primary sense in interactive environments, sound is also important, and should not be overlooked during the development process. The necessity of sound for perceptive quality enrichment in virtual environments cannot be underestimated. However, how designers should integrate and leverage the benefits of sound design effectively in an interactive environment can be challenging. This short article, discusses a variety of important and intriguing psychological concepts and immersive sound techniques, used in interactive environments, such as video games, to improve engagement and enhance the experience (from passive background music to active and procedural sounds). Computer graphics has proven itself in many fields of entertainment and computing as a means for communicating and engaging users (visually). This article discusses the hidden abilities of sound in interactive environments (e.g., the emotional, subconscious, and subliminal impact). We explain how different sounds can be combined with visual information to help improve interactive conditions and stimulate the imagination, not to mention, control (or steer) the user's emotions and attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conceptualization of a virtual experience has emerged because advancements in computer technology have led to a movement toward more multisensory online experiences. Two studies designed to explore the concepts of virtual experience and presence are presented, with the results largely supporting the proposition that 3-D advertising is capable of enhancing presence and, to varying degrees, ultimately influencing the product knowledge, brand attitude, and purchase intention of consumers. The marketing implications are immediate because the ability to create a compelling virtual product experience is not beyond the current capability of interactive advertising. By creating compelling on-line virtual experiences, advertisers can potentially enhance the value of product information presented and engage consumers in an active user-controlled product experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of observations showed that the book about Tais produced by Secretariat de Estado da Arte e Cultura (SEAC) has not been able to meet the needs of users because the information is less interesting and interactive. This paper’s aim is to introduce the more interesting and interactive way to introduce Tais. Utilization of Augmented Reality (AR) technology in an application built with the Unity3D program is done to provide different way in presenting interesting and interactive information to its users. Based on the results in this paper, the developed application can handle the presentation in more interesting and interactive way. The ideal distance in the tracking process for target objects with size 7 x 6 cm is ranged from 6 cm to 30 cm, with the image ratio that can be detected at the farthest distance is 4% of the camera image. For the detection angle, the target object can be detected properly from approximately ±64 0 . From the data acquired, it can be said that AR can be used to introduce Tais in more interesting and interactive way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human embodiment/representation in virtual environments (VEs) similarly to the human body in real life is endowed with multimodal input/output capabilities that convey multiform messages enabling communication, interaction and collaboration in VEs. This paper assesses how effectively different types of virtual human (VH) artefacts enable smooth communication and interaction in VEs. With special focus on the REal and Virtual Engagement In Realistic Immersive Environments (REVERIE) multi-modal immersive system prototype, a research project funded by the European Commission Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013), the paper evaluates the effectiveness of REVERIE VH representation on the foregoing issues based on two specifically designed use cases and through the lens of a set of design guidelines generated by previous extensive empirical user-centred research. The impact of REVERIE VH representations on the quality of user experience (UX) is evaluated through field trials. The output of the current study proposes directions for improving human representation in collaborative virtual environments (CVEs) as an extrapolation of lessons learned by the evaluation of REVERIE VH representation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is scientific evidence confirming the effectiveness of e-learning within resuscitation, however, there is not enough research on modern examination techniques within the scope. The aim of the pilot research is to compare the exam results in the field of Advanced Life Support in a traditional (paper) and interactive (computer) form as well as to evaluate satisfaction of the participants. A survey was conducted which meant to evaluate satisfaction of exam participants. Statistical analysis of the collected data was conducted at a significance level of α = 0.05 using STATISTICS v. 12. Final results of the traditional exam (67.5% ± 15.8%) differed significantly (p < 0.001) from the results of the interactive exam (53.3% ± 13.7%). However, comparing the number of students who did not pass the exam (passing point at 51%), no significant differences (p = 0.13) were observed between the two types exams. The feedback accuracy as well as the presence of well-prepared interactive questions could influence the evaluation of satisfaction of taking part in the electronic test. Significant differences between the results of a traditional test and the one supported by Computer Based Learning system showed the possibility of achieving a more detailed competence verification in the field of resuscitation thanks to interactive solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The emergence of new digital tools supporting immersive and engaging learning through Virtual Reality is opening up new paths for both distance, but also classroom learning. In this article we discuss the virtual physics laboratory "Maroon" and discuss experiences with Maroon in a cost-effective mobile setup with a mobile VR experience through Samsung GEAR and compare it with a more interactive VR experience in room-scale VR with HTC Vive. We describe a comparative evaluation of these two setups in order to identify chances and challenges of both setups. First results indicate more flexibility and portability with the mobile setup, while the room-scale setup profits of a highly interactive and hands-on experience. We discuss and compare the two setups based on immersion, engagement, presence, and motivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the recent years, we are increasingly endowing devices and machines with the abilities to “sense”, “understand”, and “interact” with us and the physical world, aided by the rapid advances in natural sensing and perceptual computing technologies. In this article, we describe a new class of intelligent systems and immersive applications based on real-time 3D sensing, including interactive computing devices, autonomous robots and drones, as well as augmented and virtual reality systems, blurring the border between the real and the virtual words. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the results of an experiment that investigated the effects of stereoscopic 3D viewing on knowledge retention with respect to a spatial interactive task within a serious game that was designed for fire safety training. Participants were trained to identify the safe distance to remain from a (virtual) fire in both stereoscopic 3D and non-stereoscopic 3D contexts. After a 24 h period, they were then tested to determine whether they retained the information that they were taught. Contrary to prior work that suggests stereoscopic 3D has an impact on knowledge retention, our results indicate no significant difference between knowledge retention in a stereoscopic 3D versus a non-stereoscopic 3D interactive environment. Although greater work remains to be done and no firm conclusions can be made regarding the use of stereoscopic 3D, our results have shown that stereoscopic 3D does not always lead to greater performance. Our results have implications for designers of serious games; the discussion and decision to use stereoscopic 3D should be incorporated early in the design phase and there should be some consideration placed on individualized calibration of stereoscopic 3D settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decade, many studies have examined the potential benefits of educational virtual environments (EVEs), either by comparing them with other media or by assessing the effects of their features on learning. Paradoxically, very few of them have explored the effects of stereoscopic versus nonstereoscopic displays on learning and/or the subjective experience provided in an EVE. Our study was designed to fill this gap, by comparing the effects of these two virtual reality modes in an interactive mechanics learning task. We collected measures of task effectiveness (success/failure and completion time), learning outcomes and subjective experience (user experience, flow, and immersion). Results showed that (1) users were more successful in the learning tasks in the stereoscopic condition, and (2) perceived affective quality, flow, and immersion were better in this condition. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Problems and questions originally raised by Robert Nozick in his famous thought experiment 'The Experience Machine' are frequently invoked in the current discourse concerning virtual worlds. Having conceptualized his Gedankenexperiment in the early seventies, Nozick could not fully anticipate the numerous and profound ways in which the diffusion of computer simulations and video games came to affect the Western world. This article does not articulate whether or not the virtual worlds of video games, digital simulations, and virtual technologies currently actualize (or will actualize) Nozick's thought experiment. Instead, it proposes a philosophical reflection that focuses on human experiences in the upcoming age of their 'technical reproducibility'. In pursuing that objective, this article integrates and supplements some of the interrogatives proposed in Robert Nozick's thought experiment. More specifically, through the lenses of existentialism and philosophy of technology, this article tackles the technical and cultural heritage of virtual reality, and unpacks its potential to function as a tool for self-discovery and self-construction. Ultimately, it provides an interpretation of virtual technologies as novel existential domains. Virtual worlds will not be understood as the contexts where human beings can find completion and satisfaction, but rather as instruments that enable us to embrace ourselves and negotiate with various aspects of our (individual as well as collective) existence in previously-unexperienced guises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes an augmented reality content authoring system that enables ordinary users who do not have programming capabilities to easily apply interactive features to virtual objects on a marker via gestures. The purpose of this system is to simplify augmented reality (AR) technology usage for ordinary users, especially parents and preschool children who are unfamiliar with AR technology. The system provides an immersive AR environment with a head-mounted display and recognizes users' gestures via an RGB-D camera. Users can freely create the AR content that they will be using without any special programming ability simply by connecting virtual objects stored in a database to the system. Following recognition of the marker via the system's RGB-D camera worn by the user, he/she can apply various interactive features to the marker-based AR content using simple gestures. Interactive features applied to AR content can enlarge, shrink, rotate, and transfer virtual objects with hand gestures. In addition to this gesture-interactive feature, the proposed system also allows for tangible interaction using markers. The AR content that the user edits is stored in a database, and is retrieved whenever the markers are recognized. The results of comparative experiments conducted indicate that the proposed system is easier to use and has a higher interaction satisfaction level than AR environments such as fixed-monitor and touch-based interaction on mobile screens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a multimodal interactive system for non-visual (auditory-haptic) exploration of virtual maps. The system is able to display haptically the height profile of a map, through a tactile mouse. Moreover, spatial auditory information is provided in the form of virtual anchor sounds located in specific points of the map, and delivered through headphones using customized Head-Related Transfer Functions (HRTFs). The validity of the proposed approach is investigated through two experiments on non-visual exploration of virtual maps. The first experiment has a preliminary nature and is aimed at assessing the effectiveness and the complementarity of auditory and haptic information in a goal reaching task. The second experiment investigates the potential of the system in providing subjects with spatial knowledge: specifically in helping with the construction of a cognitive map depicting simple geometrical objects. Results from both experiments show that the proposed concept, design, and implementation allow to effectively exploit the complementary natures of the “proximal” haptic modality and the “distal” auditory modality. Implications for orientation & mobility (O&M) protocols for visually impaired subjects are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

EMERGENZA (emergency in Italian) is a 'serious' game, developed in the context of the RIMSI project and designed to improve the training of emergency medicine operators. To achieve this goal, it adopts natural interaction paradigms in immersive environments. Virtual reality systems have been used recently in combination with natural interface systems for enhancing patients' rehabilitation procedures though are proving especially effective in the development of clinical decision support and medical training systems. The use of immersive simulations in medical training is extremely useful to confront emergency operators with scenarios that range from usual (e.g. unconscious person on the ground) to extreme (car accident with several injured people) without exposing the simulation participants in any harm. It is critical to exploit 3D virtual worlds in order to provide as much contextual information as possible to the operators. In fact, each emergency procedure needs to be adapted depending on the environmental threats and the presence of multiple injured people in need of assistance or bystanders. EMERGENZA allows to simulate a first-aid scenario with a configurable virtual environment using interactive 3D graphics. Users can interact through a natural interface for navigation and interaction with the virtual environment. In order to evaluate the prototype, several heuristics have been chosen and tested to measure the overall system usability. Results show that the adoption of natural interaction in immersive virtual environments receives good feedback from users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, authors systematically selected and reviewed articles related to stereoscopic displays and their advances, with a special focus on perception, interaction, and corresponding challenges. The aim was to understand interaction-related problems, provide possible explanations, and identify factors that limit their applications. Despite promising advancements, there are still issues that researchers in the field fail to explain precisely. The two major problems in stereoscopic viewing are, compared with the real world, objects are perceived to be smaller than they actually are and there are discomfort and visual syndromes. Furthermore, there is general agreement that humans underestimate their egocentric distance in a virtual environment (VE). Our analysis revealed that in the real world, distance estimation is about 94% accurate, but in VE, it is only about 80% accurate. This problem could reduce the efficacy of different sensory motor-based applications where interaction is important. Experts from human factors, computing, psychology, and others have studied contributing factors such as types of perception/response method, quality of graphics, associated stereoscopic conditions, experience in virtual reality (VR), and distance signals. This paper discusses the factors requiring further investigation if the VR interaction is to be seamlessly realized. In addition, engineering research directions aiming at improving current interaction performances are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents and reflects upon artistic artworks at the intersection of virtual and physical computer systems with wet (biological) systems, in reference to Roy Ascott's 'moist theory'. It is divided into two sections. The first section offers contextualization by pointing to Darcy Ribeiro's considerations of differentiations among Brazilians, thus leading to an expectation of miscegenation that assimilates and incorporates races and beliefs in a syncretic way. To this background is added a theoretical framework based on semiotics entwined with mathematics and physics from a set of authors. Both aspects are intertwined with visceral sensations and feelings which emerged from immersible field researches. Glimpses of the 1997 Xingu expedition are introduced as an example of such immersible field research to unveil aspects related with moist theory. The second section presents four case studies that illustrate all of the concepts previously mentioned. Here, syncretism is understood as a field for events that engender the artworks. These artworks are created as metaphorical journeys aimed at expressing potential shamantic experiences and configured as a set of symbiotic systems. Two of these artworks explore neural connections; their research involves computer devices that allow human interferences in the behaviours of autonomous agents in virtual reality simulations. The resultant systems are artificially alive organisms in flux with the rhythms of the autonomous programmed processes; these change each time they run within the computer, allowing the user to symbiotically interfere in the algorithmic nature of artificial 'seeds'. These poetic realms are metaphors of the flow of life itself. Summing up, they are technoetic artworks that could only arise from the Brazilian melting pot of cultural, racial and theoretical mixtures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to provide a simple and efficient approach to perform the real-time interactive motion control of virtual human in virtual maintenance environment (VME), the motion control method of virtual human based on limited input information is proposed. With the space position tracking system with only one sensor the action sequences and motion models of virtual human, the human motions and hand actions in VME are driven by the sensor data in stages and in real time through the transmission condition control in the process of maintenance operation. And the input data and information is processed based on the method of Kalman filtering and wavelet transforming to improve the control effects. An experimental VME is also established to validate the control efficiency, and the experiment results show that the space motion control of virtual human in VME can be performed based on limited information with proposed control strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Latency of interactive computer systems is a product of the processing, transport and synchronisation delays inherent to the components that create them. In a virtual environment (VE) system, latency is known to be detrimental to a user's sense of immersion, physical performance and comfort level. Accurately measuring the latency of a VE system for study or optimisation, is not straightforward. A number of authors have developed techniques for characterising latency, which have become progressively more accessible and easier to use. In this paper, we characterise these techniques. We describe a simple mechanical simulator designed to simulate a VE with various amounts of latency that can be finely controlled (to within 3ms). We develop a new latency measurement technique called Automated Frame Counting to assist in assessing latency using high speed video (to within 1ms). We use the mechanical simulator to measure the accuracy of Steed's and Di Luca's measurement techniques, proposing improvements where they may be made. We use the methods to measure latency of a number of interactive systems that may be of interest to the VE engineer, with a significant level of confidence. All techniques were found to be highly capable however Steed's Method is both accurate and easy to use without requiring specialised hardware. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The article presents a framework for interactive virtual environments’ development for simulation and modeling of complex systems. The framework uses system's structural model as a core concept forcomposition and control of simulation-based scientific experiments not in terms of technological processes or workflows but in terms of domain-specific objects and their interconnection within the investigated system. The proposed framework enables integration and management of resources available within a cloud computing environment in order to support automatic simulation management and to provide the user with an interactive visual domain-specific interface to the system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: A user-interface using the human body to navigate in a virtual environment in the context of urban planning is developed.A developed user-interface is non-demanding and easy to use and better in relation to mouse/keyboard interaction.The user-interface supports on-demand switching between different proposals, affecting learning, understanding positively.Human body navigation during spatial reasoning enhances understanding of virtual space. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The studies presented in this article explore a human-centered conceptualization of agents and agency based on the observation that people attribute agency to sufficiently complex interactive systems. Although agency attribution appears to be an unconscious human response, findings from social psychology, affective computing, and perceptual-motor studies suggest agency attribution influences human–computer interaction (HCI). Three studies are presented that examine whether recent findings on agency attribution in physical environments also apply in the virtual environments characteristic of HCI. Results of the studies indicate that agency effects operate in desktop computing environments. Agency effects, however, appear to be influenced by learning effects that preserve a previously observed relationship between perception and action but alter how this effect is expressed. Results suggest that there are both bottom-up and top-down contributions to agency effects in HCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When procedural models based on implicit functions are used for defining complex shapes, the final model may become slow for rendering. We propose an algorithm for accelerating such rendering for free-form shape modeling where some initial shape is gradually modified by other implicitly-defined shapes with relatively smaller sizes compared to the final shape. The algorithm then adds additional functions to the final function script, which makes the rendering of the whole shape faster. The resulting accelerated function scripts can be then rendered on any suitable rendering platform that we illustrate by using function-based extension of VRML/X3D and POV-Ray. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whilst some philosophical progress has been made on the ethical evaluation of playing video games, the exact subject matter of this enquiry remains surprisingly opaque. 'Virtual murder', simulation, representation and more are found in a literature yet to settle into a tested and cohesive terminology. Querying the language of the virtual in particular, I suggest that it is at once inexplicit and laden with presuppositions potentially liable to hinder anyone aiming to construct general philosophical claims about an ethics of gameplay, for whom assumptions about the existence of 'virtual' counterparts to morally salient phenomena may prove untrustworthy. Ambiguously straddling the pictorial and the performative aspects of video gaming, the virtual leaves obscure the ways in which we become involved in gameplay, and particularly the natures of our intentions and attitudes whilst grappling with a game; furthermore, it remains unclear how we are to generalise across encounters with the virtual. I conclude by briefly noting one potential avenue of further enquiry into our modes of participation in games: into the differences which a moral examination of playfulness might make to ethical evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this article is to discuss how user experience (UX) evaluation can benefit from the use of virtual reality (VR). Background: UX is usually evaluated in laboratory settings. However, considering that UX occurs as a consequence of the interaction between the product, the user, and the context of use, the assessment of UX can benefit from a more ecological test setting. VR provides the means to develop realistic-looking virtual environments with the advantage of allowing greater control of the experimental conditions while granting good ecological validity. Method: The methods used to evaluate UX, as well as their main limitations, are identified. The current VR equipment and its potential applications (as well as its limitations and drawbacks) to overcome some of the limitations in the assessment of UX are highlighted. Results: The relevance of VR for UX studies is discussed, and a VR-based framework for evaluating UX is presented. Conclusion: UX research may benefit from a VRbased methodology in the scopes of user research (e.g., assessment of users’ expectations derived from their lifestyles) and human–product interaction (e.g., assessment of users’ emotions since the first moment of contact with the product and then during the interaction). Application: This article provides knowledge to researchers and professionals engaged in the design of technological interfaces about the usefulness of VR in the evaluation of UX. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to solve complex scientific problems is regarded as one of the key competencies in science education. Until now, research on problem solving focused on the relationship between analytical and complex problem solving, but rarely took into account the structure of problem-solving processes and metacognitive aspects. This paper, therefore, presents a theoretical framework, which describes the relationship between the components of problem solving and strategy knowledge. In order to assess the constructs, we developed a virtual environment which allows students to solve interactive and static problems. 162 students of grade 10 and the upper secondary level completed the tests within a cross-sectional survey. In order to investigate the structure of problem-solving competency, we established measurement models representing different theoretical assumptions, and evaluated model fit statistics by using confirmatory factor analyses. Results show that problem-solving competency in virtual environments comprises to three correlated abilities: achieving a goal state, systematical handling of variables, and solving analytical tasks. Furthermore, our study provides empirical evidence on the distinction between analytical and complex problem solving. Additionally, we found significant differences between students of grades 10 and 12 within the problem-solving subscales, which could be explained by gaming experience and prior knowledge. These findings are discussed from a measurement perspective. Implications for assessing complex problem solving are given. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study combined discursive and imagery processing streams of research to propose an integrated model of virtual experience as it relates to the strength of brand attitude. The model assumes that both cognitive elaboration (representing the discursive process) and imagery vividness (reflecting the imagery process) are responsible for the effectiveness of virtual experience in the form of 3-D product visualization regarding attitude accessibility and attitude confidence. The results indicate that a brand attitude formed via an interactive 3-D product interface was more accessible and confident than via a static 2-D presentation. Imagery vividness contributed to creating a strong brand attitude. However, effects transmitted via cognitive elaboration were either negative (for accessibility) or nonsignificant (for confidence). Findings suggest that although the two processes are compensatory rather than complementary in the context of virtual experience, the imagery process dominates the discursive process. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The new generation of Internet has notoriously been a decisive factor in direction-making of society through using interactive tools, which enables (re)build the knowledge. Here, everything becomes more dynamic and the interaction is increasingly more natural, both in visual terms and programming language. Thus, the Information and Communication Technologies, especially the Web 2.0, have been incorporated into educational processes. This article deals with the representation of scientific models using computer applications. Thus, it was planned and developed a technology product (interactive portal - Ealuno), using the resources of the Web 2.0, considering its use as an action tool for Physics teaching and learning. We discuss about how this way of presentation is inserted in Science/Physics class and described its functions. This is an investigation characterized as a participant research. In this case, we assume two positions, since we represent the Science teachers who teach for a technological society and the members of this technological society, that is, we represent the Physics classroom conditioned by new ways of communication from defined and legitimized positions in this social structure. Our results indicate that the student configuration allows different ways of record and representation of the reality that promotes to it a utility in the mediated action, being this utility in the interactivity power and in the access to virtual environments, permitting to provide to users interaction and motivation for the Physics teaching and learning process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Well-designed virtual home objects and human-computer interactions (HCIs) can provide convenient ways to easily make use of home services for home inhabitants in smart homes. This work tries to design the virtual home objects with the ability of playing the music and implement a particular HCI interface accomplishing the music interaction with virtual home objects for deploying virtual home music services in smart homes. Each virtual home object is connected to a list of songs. When a home inhabitant holds a virtual home object and moves it as operating gestures upon the implemented HCI interface, the virtual home music service will be activated and the smart home will automatically play the favorite songs for its inhabitant. In this way, a highly interactive home music service for home inhabitants can be realized through the convenient operating interactions between the virtual home objects and the implemented HCI interface in smart homes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Rehabilitation researchers who investigate complex interventions are challenged to describe the “active ingredients” of their interventions: the reason(s) why a treatment is expected to be effective. Interactive Computer Play (ICP) is an emerging complex intervention in rehabilitation practice and research. The purpose of this scoping review is to identify the active ingredients of ICP interventions that are designed to improve motor outcomes in children with neuromotor impairments. Eleven potential active ingredients were identified with the following foci: ICP system or game properties; intervention effects on the user; and therapist roles. However, few studies explicitly evaluate the impact of particular ingredients on outcomes. Identification of active ingredients in ICP interventions can inform trial design and clinical decision-making. Research and clinical practice will benefit from studies that utilize a framework such as motor learning theory to guide hypotheses and measurement of the active ingredients of complex interventions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Currently, aerial working platforms are commonly used in the heavy industrial and construction fields. However, their increased use is leading to a gradual raise in critical incidents caused by unskilled operators; thus, effective operator training is essential. Training with actual platforms is difficult to cover such demands because of the cost, dependence on weather conditions. This article proposes a framework for a virtual reality based training simulator to provide aerial working platform operator training. This simulator can be applied relatively inexpensively and safely, regardless of the weather conditions. The proposed simulator is developed to be flexible to the assessment level of the trainee and generally applicable to heavy equipment training simulator. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 19: 733-738, 2011 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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pplications with intelligent conversational virtual humans, called Embodied Conversational Agents (ECAs), seek to bring human-like abilities into machines and establish natural human-computer interaction. In this paper we discuss realization of ECA multimodal behaviors which include speech and nonverbal behaviors. We devise RealActor, an open-source, multi-platform animation system for real-time multimodal behavior realization for ECAs. The system employs a novel solution for synchronizing gestures and speech using neural networks. It also employs an adaptive face animation model based on Facial Action Coding System (FACS) to synthesize face expressions. Our aim is to provide a generic animation system which can help researchers create believable and expressive ECAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When interacting in a virtual environment, users are confronted with a number of interaction techniques. These interaction techniques may complement each other, but in some circumstances can be used interchangeably. Because of this situation, it is difficult for the user to determine which interaction technique to use. Furthermore, the use of multimodal feedback, such as haptics and sound, has proven beneficial for some, but not all, users. This complicates the development of such a virtual environment, as designers are not sure about the implications of the addition of interaction techniques and multimodal feedback. A promising approach for solving this problem lies in the use of adaptation and personalization. By incorporating knowledge of a user's preferences and habits, the user interface should adapt to the current context of use. This could mean that only a subset of all possible interaction techniques is presented to the user. Alternatively, the interaction techniques themselves could be adapted, e.g. by changing the sensitivity or the nature of the feedback. In this paper, we propose a conceptual framework for realizing adaptive personalized interaction in virtual environments. We also discuss how to establish, verify and apply a user model, which forms the first and important step in implementing the proposed conceptual framework. This study results in general and individual user models, which are then verified to benefit users interacting in virtual environments. Furthermore, we conduct an investigation to examine how users react to a specific type of adaptation in virtual environments (i.e. switching between interaction techniques). When an adaptation is integrated in a virtual environment, users positively respond to this adaptation as their performance significantly improve and their level of frustration decrease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper discusses issues arising from the use of an interactive digital software tool to analyse multimodal communication. The focus is on the ways in which such technical resources and associated techniques enable the analyst of social semiosis to apply different types of analysis, and provide the site for critical reflection upon the results of such analyses. The aim is to present an argument for the use of an interactive digital software application as a meta-semiotic tool. Three major challenges for scholars engaged in multimodal social semiotics are addressed in pursuing this aim, specifically with reference to the development of digital interactive analytical resources. Firstly, scholars are faced with the task of not only accounting for an increasing range of semiotic resources, but also for the way different semiotic phenomena interact to produce meaning. Secondly, the multimodal semiotician has a broad range of analytical approaches potentially relevant to any task to draw upon. Thirdly, the nature of contemporary media forms offer challenges themselves in terms of access, analysis and presentation of analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents two mixed-reality (MR) environments that provide alternative mediums that allow groups of people to share the same work and communication space in face-to-face and remote manners. Two experiments were executed to test the capabilities of the two MR systems in realistic environment and collaborative tasks against prevalent methods. Results indicated that the two MR systems significantly reduced the performance time for the collaborative design error detection task. Results also indicated less mental effort for the MR systems, suggesting that some of the mental interpretation for the error detection task is offloaded to the MR systems. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Availability of commodity physics engines such as PhysX's nVidia has significantly reduced the effort required for developing interactive applications concerning the simulation of the physical world. However, it becomes a problem when force feedback is needed since the addition of haptic rendering into these applications is non-trivial. The issues include the high haptic update rate and the inaccessibility of force data in the physics engine. In the paper, we tackle the first issue by mediating the update-rate disparity between haptic rendering and other processes by data buffering, and the second issue by calculating the force feedback indirectly using the engine's collision geometry data. The major benefit of these techniques is that they enable a homogeneous development environment where the same engine can be used for both the physics and haptic simulation. Furthermore, integration of force feedback into physics-engine based applications would not introduce significant changes into developer's codebase. The proposed techniques have potential to streamline the development of demanding applications such as virtual surgical simulation and immersive computer gaming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The use of animation and multimedia for learning is now further extended by the provision of entire Virtual Reality Learning Environments (VRLE). This highlights a shift in Web-based learning from a conventional multimedia to a more immersive, interactive, intuitive and exciting VR learning environment. VRLEs simulate the real world through the application of 3D models that initiates interaction, immersion and trigger the imagination of the learner. The question of good pedagogy and use of technology innovations comes into focus once again. Educators attempt to find theoretical guidelines or instructional principles that could assist them in developing and applying a novel VR learning environment intelligently. This paper introduces the educational use of Web-based 3D technologies and highlights in particular VR features. It then identifies constructivist learning as the pedagogical engine driving the construction of VRLE and discusses five constructivist learning approaches. Furthermore, the authors provide two case studies to investigate VRLEs for learning purposes. The authors conclude with formulating some guidelines for the effective use of VRLEs, including discussion of the limitations and implications for the future study of VRLEs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

To look back and reflect upon past field diaries, field encounters and events is the invitation of this paper, constructed both as a research note and as a personal research story. The invitation is addressed especially to young anthropologists. The paper recalls and re-analyses data from three past online fields - one interactive website calling itself the "Romanian online community in Vancouver", one online forum entitled the "Indian online community in Germany", and the real-time communication portal Yahoo Messenger. It highlights the out-of-the-ordinary events recorded on each field, which illustrate complex relationships between the online and offline worlds. Further interpreting the fields as what contemporary American anthropologist Timothy Simpson, following Richard Sennett, calls "narrative spaces", I hope to reveal more of the social construction of these virtual spaces. The main hypothesis to be explored and proposed for further debate are 1) that interactive virtual spaces develop as narrative spaces, around the frame-story offered by their initiators and 2) that narratives are continuously transcending different online and offline spaces, connecting them, while being continuously re-negotiated and re-told. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information about interactive virtual environments, such as games, is perceived by users through a virtual camera. While most interactive applications let users control the camera, in complex navigation tasks within 3D environments users often get frustrated with the interaction. In this paper, we propose inclusion of camera control as a vital component of affective adaptive interaction in games. We investigate the impact of camera viewpoints on psychophysiology of players through preference surveys collected from a test game. Data is collected from players of a 3D prey/predator game in which player experience is directly linked to camera settings. Computational models of discrete affective states of fun, challenge, boredom, frustration, excitement, anxiety and relaxation are built on biosignal (heart rate, blood volume pulse and skin conductance) features to predict the pairwise self-reported emotional preferences of the players. For this purpose, automatic feature selection and neuro-evolutionary preference learning are combined providing highly accurate affective models. The performance of the artificial neural network models on unseen data reveals accuracies of above 80% for the majority of discrete affective states examined. The generality of the obtained models is tested in different test-bed game environments and the use of the generated models for creating adaptive affect-driven camera control in games is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe an application to interactively create and manipulate digital fault maps, either by tracing existing (paper) fault maps created from geological surveys, or by directly observing fault expressions and earthquake hypocenters in remote sensing data such as high-resolution (&ges;100k × 100k elevation postings) digital elevation models with draped color imagery. Such fault maps serve as input data to finite-element-method simulations of fault interactions, and are crucial to understand regional tectonic processes causing earthquakes, and have tentatively been used to forecast future seismic events or to predict the shaking from likely future earthquakes. This fault editor is designed for immersive virtual reality environments such as CAVEs, and presents users with visualizations of scanned 2D fault maps and textured 3D terrain models, and a set of 3D editing tools to create or manipulate faults. We close with a case study performed by one of our geologist co-authors (Yikilmaz), which evaluates the use of our fault editor in creating a detailed digital fault model of the North Anatolian Fault in Turkey, one of the largest, seismically active strike-slip faults in the world. Yikilmaz, who was directly involved in program development, used our fault editor both in a CAVE and on a desktop computer, and compares it to the industry-standard software package ArcGIS. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the work of a group of artists in Australia who used real-time motion capture and 3D stereo projection to create a large-scale performance environment in which dancers seemed to "touch" the volume. This project re-versions Suzanne Langer's 1950s philosophy of dance as "virtual force" to realize the idea of a "virtual haptics" of dance that extends the dancer's physical agency literally across and through the surrounding spatial volume. The project presents a vision of interactive dance performance that "touches" space by visualizing kinematics as intentionality and agency. In doing so, we suggest the possibility of new kinds of human-computer interfaces that emphasize touch as embodied, nuanced agency that is mediated by the subtle qualities of whole-body movement, in addition to more goal-oriented, task-based gestures such as pointing or clicking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper aims to develop a novel scheme for interactively deformable simulation with haptic feedback. All design modules are packaged and implemented, and the experiments are conducted to study the effects of interactive deformation. The study compares the experimental results of haptic feedback by different force propagation methods, according to the Hounsfield unit (HU) of volume data. Additionally, the estimation of optimal propagation depth is illustrated by using a mass–spring model. Finally, by using the proposed scheme, a haptic-based medical simulation system for brain surgery is investigated. The integration test results with haptic feedback scenarios show that the proposed development scheme can certainly comply with the design modules, and the deformable simulation and haptic force reach a good agreement. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]