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The development of appropriate lab-based evaluation techniques for mobile technologies requires continued research attention. In particular, experimental design needs to account for the environmental context in which such technologies will ultimately be used. This requires, in part, that relevant environmental distractions be incorporated into evaluations. This chapter reflects on different techniques that were used in three separate lab-based mobile evaluation experiments to present visual distractions to participants and to measure the participants’ cognizance of the distractions during the course of mobile evaluations of technology. The different techniques met the different needs of the three studies with respect to the fidelity of the data captured, the impact of acknowledging distractions on the evaluation task, and the typical context of use for the technology being evaluated. The results of the studies showed that the introduction of visual distractions did have an impact on the experimental task and indicate that future work is required in this area.

Uncertainty analysis in the Model Web

This thesis provides a set of tools for managing uncertainty in Web-based models and workflows.To support the use of these tools, this thesis firstly provides a framework for exposing models through Web services. An introduction to uncertainty management, Web service interfaces,and workflow standards and technologies is given, with a particular focus on the geospatial domain.An existing specification for exposing geospatial models and processes, theWeb Processing Service (WPS), is critically reviewed. A processing service framework is presented as a solutionto usability issues with the WPS standard. The framework implements support for Simple ObjectAccess Protocol (SOAP), Web Service Description Language (WSDL) and JavaScript Object Notation (JSON), allowing models to be consumed by a variety of tools and software. Strategies for communicating with models from Web service interfaces are discussed, demonstrating the difficultly of exposing existing models on the Web. This thesis then reviews existing mechanisms for uncertainty management, with an emphasis on emulator methods for building efficient statistical surrogate models. A tool is developed to solve accessibility issues with such methods, by providing a Web-based user interface and backend to ease the process of building and integrating emulators. These tools, plus the processing service framework, are applied to a real case study as part of the UncertWeb project. The usability of the framework is proved with the implementation of aWeb-based workflow for predicting future crop yields in the UK, also demonstrating the abilities of the tools for emulator building and integration. Future directions for the development of the tools are discussed.

Did you see that?

The development of appropriate lab-based evaluation techniques for mobile technologies requires continued research attention. In particular, experimental design needs to account for the environmental context in which such technologies will ultimately be used. This requires, in part, that relevant environmental distractions be incorporated into evaluations. This chapter reflects on different techniques that were used in three separate lab-based mobile evaluation experiments to present visual distractions to participants and to measure the participants’ cognizance of the distractions during the course of mobile evaluations of technology. The different techniques met the different needs of the three studies with respect to the fidelity of the data captured, the impact of acknowledging distractions on the evaluation task, and the typical context of use for the technology being evaluated. The results of the studies showed that the introduction of visual distractions did have an impact on the experimental task and indicate that future work is required in this area.

Designing mobile technologies for individuals with disabilities

While mobile devices offer many innovative possibilities to help increase the standard of living for individuals with disabilities and other special needs, the process of developing assistive technology, such that it will be effective across a group of individuals with a particular disability, can be extremely challenging. This chapter discusses key issues and trends related to designing and evaluating mobile assistive technology for individuals with disabilities. Following an overview of general design process issues, we argue (based on current research trends) that individuals with disabilities and domain experts be involved throughout the development process. While this, in itself, presents its own set of challenges, many strategies have successfully been used to overcome the difficulties and maximize the contributions of users and experts alike. Guidelines based on these strategies are discussed and are illustrated with real examples from one of our active research projects.

Case-Based Reasoning Tools from Shells to Object-Oriented Frameworks

A Case-Based Reasoning (CBR) tool is software that can be used to develop several applications that require cased-based reasoning methodology. CBR shells are kind of application generators with graphical user interface. They can be used by non-programmer users but the extension or integration of new components in these tools is not possible. In this paper we analyzed three CBR object-oriented framework development environments CBR*Tools, CAT-CBR, and JColibri. These frameworks work as open software development environment and facilitate the reuse of their design as well as implementations.

An integrated functional mapping and source localization platform for brain research

The premise of this dissertation is to create a highly integrated platform that combines the most current recording technologies for brain research through the development of new algorithms for three-dimensional (3D) functional mapping and 3D source localization. The recording modalities that were integrated include: Electroencephalography (EEG), Optical Topographic Maps (OTM), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI). This work can be divided into two parts: The first part involves the integration of OTM with MRI, where the topographic maps are mapped to both the skull and cortical surface of the brain. This integration process is made possible through the development of new algorithms that determine the probes location on the MRI head model and warping the 2D topographic maps onto the 3D MRI head/brain model. Dynamic changes of the brain activation can be visualized on the MRI head model through a graphical user interface. The second part of this research involves augmenting a fiber tracking system, by adding the ability to integrate the source localization results generated by commercial software named Curry. This task involved registering the EEG electrodes and the dipole results to the MRI data. Such Integration will allow the visualization of fiber tracts, along with the source of the EEG, in a 3D transparent brain structure. The research findings of this dissertation were tested and validated through the participation of patients from Miami Children Hospital (MCH). Such an integrated platform presented to the medical professionals in the form of a user-friendly graphical interface is viewed as a major contribution of this dissertation. It should be emphasized that there are two main aspects to this research endeavor: (1) if a dipole could be situated in time at its different positions, its trajectory may reveal additional information on the extent and nature of the brain malfunction; (2) situating such a dipole trajectory with respect to the fiber tracks could ensure the preservation of these fiber tracks (axons) during surgical interventions, preserving as a consequence these parts of the brain that are responsible for information transmission.

Management of remote field instrumentation via the Internet

Supervisory Control & Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems are used by many industries because of their ability to manage sensors and control external hardware. The problem with commercially available systems is that they are restricted to a local network of users that use proprietary software. There was no Internet development guide to give remote users out of the network, control and access to SCADA data and external hardware through simple user interfaces. To solve this problem a server/client paradigm was implemented to make SCADAs available via the Internet. Two methods were applied and studied: polling of a text file as a low-end technology solution and implementing a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP/IP) socket connection. Users were allowed to login to a website and control remotely a network of pumps and valves interfaced to a SCADA. This enabled them to sample the water quality of different reservoir wells. The results were based on real time performance, stability and ease of use of the remote interface and its programming. These indicated that the most feasible server to implement is the TCP/IP connection. For the user interface, Java applets and Active X controls provide the same real time access.

Design and construction of a portable force-reflecting manual controller for teleoperation systems

A man-machine system called teleoperator system has been developed to work in hazardous environments such as nuclear reactor plants. Force reflection is a type of force feedback in which forces experienced by the remote manipulator are fed back to the manual controller. In a force-reflecting teleoperation system, the operator uses the manual controller to direct the remote manipulator and receives visual information from a video image and/or graphical animation on the computer screen. This thesis presents the design of a portable Force-Reflecting Manual Controller (FRMC) for the teleoperation of tasks such as hazardous material handling, waste cleanup, and space-related operations. The work consists of the design and construction of a prototype 1-Degree-of-Freedom (DOF) FRMC, the development of the Graphical User Interface (GUI), and system integration. Two control strategies - PID and fuzzy logic controllers are developed and experimentally tested. The system response of each is analyzed and evaluated. In addition, the concept of a telesensation system is introduced, and a variety of design alternatives of a 3-DOF FRMC are proposed for future development.

Contribuições para o processo de verificação de satisfatibilidade módulo teoria em Event-B

Event-B is a formal method for modeling and verification of discrete transition systems. Event-B development yields proof obligations that must be verified (i.e. proved valid) in order to keep the produced models consistent. Satisfiability Modulo Theory solvers are automated theorem provers used to verify the satisfiability of logic formulas considering a background theory (or combination of theories). SMT solvers not only handle large firstorder formulas, but can also generate models and proofs, as well as identify unsatisfiable subsets of hypotheses (unsat-cores). Tool support for Event-B is provided by the Rodin platform: an extensible Eclipse based IDE that combines modeling and proving features. A SMT plug-in for Rodin has been developed intending to integrate alternative, efficient verification techniques to the platform. We implemented a series of complements to the SMT solver plug-in for Rodin, namely improvements to the user interface for when proof obligations are reported as invalid by the plug-in. Additionally, we modified some of the plug-in features, such as support for proof generation and unsat-core extraction, to comply with the SMT-LIB standard for SMT solvers. We undertook tests using applicable proof obligations to demonstrate the new features. The contributions described can potentially affect productivity in a positive manner.

A theory-informed approach to developing visually mediated interventions to change behaviour using an asthma and physical activity intervention exemplar

Funding for this study was received from the Chief Scientist Office for Scotland. We would like to thank Asthma UK and Asthma UK Scotland for facilitating the advertisement of the study pilot and consultative user group. Thanks to Dr Mark Grindle for his helpful discussions concerning narrative. Thanks also to Mr Mark Haldane who designed the characters, backgrounds, and user interface used within the 3D computer animation. Particular thanks to the participants of the consultative user group for their enthusiasm, comments, and suggestions at all stages of the intervention design.

Physiologically based pharmacokinetic modelling in drug delivery

The application of pharmacokinetic modelling within the drug development field essentially allows one to develop a quantitative description of the temporal behaviour of a compound of interest at a tissue/organ level, by identifying and defining relationships between a dose of a drug and dependent variables. In order to understand and characterise the pharmacokinetics of a drug, it is often helpful to employ pharmacokinetic modelling using empirical or mechanistic approaches. Pharmacokinetic models can be developed within mathematical and statistical commercial software such as MATLAB using traditional mathematical and computation coding, or by using the Simbiology Toolbox available within MATLAB for a graphical user interface approach to developing pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models. For formulations dosed orally, a prerequisite for clinical activity is the entry of the drug into the systemic circulation.

CASIMIRO: a robot head for human-computer interaction

The physical appearance and behavior of a robot is an important asset in terms of Human-Computer Interaction. Multimodality is also fundamental, as we humans usually expect to interact in a natural way with voice, gestures, etc. People approach complex interaction devices with stances similar to those used in their interaction with other people. In this paper we describe a robot head, currently under development, that aims to be a multimodal (vision, voice, gestures,...) perceptual user interface.

“Digital Diagnostics and Communication (DDC) system” Redesigning the Emergency Ambulance

During the development of a new treatment space for the UK emergency ambulance participatory observations with front-line clinicians revealed the need for an integrated patient monitoring, communication and navigation system. The research identified the different information touch-points and requirements through modes of use analysis, day-in-the-life study and simulation workshops with clinicians. Emergency scenario and role-play with paramedics identified 5 distinct ambulance modes of use. Information flow diagrams were created and checked by paramedics and digital User Interface (UI) wireframes were developed and evaluated by clinicians during clinical evaluations. Feedback from clinicians defined UI design specification further leading to a final design proposal. This research was a further development from the 2007 EPSRC funded “Smart Pods” project. The resulting interactive prototype was co-designed in collaboration with ambulance crews and provides a vision of what could be achieved by integrating well-proven IT technologies and protocols into a package relevant in the emergency medicine field. The system has been reviewed by over 40 ambulance crews and is part of a newly co-designed ambulance treatment space.

Flexible Sensor for Wearable Vital Sign Monitoring System

In modern society, the body health is a very important issue to everyone. With the development of the science and technology, the new and developed body health monitoring device and technology will play the key role in the daily medical activities. This paper focus on making progress in the design of the wearable vital sign system. A vital sign monitoring system has been proposed and designed. The whole detection system is composed of signal collecting subsystem, signal processing subsystem, short-range wireless communication subsystem and user interface subsystem. The signal collecting subsystem is composed of light source and photo diode, after emiting light of two different wavelength, the photo diode collects the light signal reflected by human body tissue. The signal processing subsystem is based on the analog front end AFE4490 and peripheral circuits, the collected analog signal would be filtered and converted into digital signal in this stage. After a series of processing, the signal would be transmitted to the short-range wireless communication subsystem through SPI, this subsystem is mainly based on Bluetooth 4.0 protocol and ultra-low power System on Chip(SoC) nRF51822. Finally, the signal would be transmitted to the user end. After proposing and building the system, this paper focus on the research of the key component in the system, that is, the photo detector. Based on the study of the perovskite materials, a low temperature processed photo detector has been proposed, designed and researched. The device is made up of light absorbing layer, electron transporting and hole blocking layer, hole transporting and electron blocking layer, conductive substrate layer and metal electrode layer. The light absorbing layer is the important part of whole device, and it is fabricated by perovskite materials. After accepting the light, the electron-hole pair would be produced in this layer, and due to the energy level difference, the electron and hole produced would be transmitted to metal electrode and conductive substrate electrode through electron transporting layer and hole transporting layer respectively. In this way the response current would be produced. Based on this structure, the specific fabrication procedure including substrate cleaning; PEDOT:PSS layer preparation; pervoskite layer preparation; PCBM layer preparation; C60, BCP, and Ag electrode layer preparation. After the device fabrication, a series of morphological characterization and performance testing has been done. The testing procedure including film-forming quality inspection, response current and light wavelength analysis, linearity and response time and other optical and electrical properties testing. The testing result shows that the membrane has been fabricated uniformly; the device can produce obvious response current to the incident light with the wavelength from 350nm to 800nm, and the response current could be changed along with the light wavelength. When the light wavelength keeps constant, there exists a good linear relationship between the intensity of the response current and the power of the incident light, based on which the device could be used as the photo detector to collect the light information. During the changing period of the light signal, the response time of the device is several microseconds, which is acceptable working as a photo detector in our system. The testing results show that the device has good electronic and optical properties, and the fabrication procedure is also repeatable, the properties of the devices has good uniformity, which illustrates the fabrication method and procedure could be used to build the photo detector in our wearable system. Based on a series of testing results, the paper has drawn the conclusion that the photo detector fabricated could be integrated on the flexible substrate and is also suitable for the monitoring system proposed, thus made some progress on the research of the wearable monitoring system and device. Finally, some future prospect in system design aspect and device design and fabrication aspect are proposed.

A Stationless Bikeshare Proof of Concept for College Campuses

Bikeshares promote healthy lifestyles and sustainability among commuters, casual riders, and tourists. However, the central pillar of modern systems, the bike station, cannot be easily integrated into a compact college campus. Fixed stations lack the flexibility to meet the needs of college students who make quick, short-distance trips. Additionally, the necessary cost of implementing and maintaining each station prohibits increasing the number of stations for user convenience. Therefore, the team developed a stationless bikeshare based on a smartlock permanently attached to bicycles in the system. The smartlock system design incorporates several innovative approaches to provide usability, security, and reliability that overcome the limitations of a station centered design. A focus group discussion allowed the team to receive feedback on the early lock, system, and website designs, identify improvements and craft a pleasant user experience. The team designed a unique, two-step lock system that is intuitive to operate while mitigating user error. To ensure security, user access is limited through near field ii communications (NFC) technology connected to a mechatronic release system. The said system relied on a NFC module and a servo working through an Arduino microcontroller coded in the Arduino IDE. To track rentals and maintain the system, each bike is fitted with an XBee module to communicate with a scalable ZigBee mesh network. The network allows for bidirectional, real-time communication with a Meteor.js web application, which enables user and administrator functions through an intuitive user interface available on mobile and desktop. The development of an independent smartlock to replace bike stations is essential to meet the needs of the modern college student. With the goal of creating a bikeshare that better serves college students, Team BIKES has laid the framework for a system that is affordable, easily adaptable, and implementable on any university expressing an interest in bringing a bikeshare to its campus.