Quantifying epistemic actions in human-computer interaction

As digital systems move away from traditional desktop setups, new interaction paradigms are emerging that better integrate with users’ realworld surroundings, and better support users’ individual needs. While promising, these modern interaction paradigms also present new challenges, such as a lack of paradigm-specific tools to systematically evaluate and fully understand their use. This dissertation tackles this issue by framing empirical studies of three novel digital systems in embodied cognition – an exciting new perspective in cognitive science where the body and its interactions with the physical world take a central role in human cognition. This is achieved by first, focusing the design of all these systems on a contemporary interaction paradigm that emphasizes physical interaction on tangible interaction, a contemporary interaction paradigm; and second, by comprehensively studying user performance in these systems through a set of novel performance metrics grounded on epistemic actions, a relatively well established and studied construct in the literature on embodied cognition. The first system presented in this dissertation is an augmented Four-in-a-row board game. Three different versions of the game were developed, based on three different interaction paradigms (tangible, touch and mouse), and a repeated measures study involving 36 participants measured the occurrence of three simple epistemic actions across these three interfaces. The results highlight the relevance of epistemic actions in such a task and suggest that the different interaction paradigms afford instantiation of these actions in different ways. Additionally, the tangible version of the system supports the most rapid execution of these actions, providing novel quantitative insights into the real benefits of tangible systems. The second system presented in this dissertation is a tangible tabletop scheduling application. Two studies with single and paired users provide several insights into the impact of epistemic actions on the user experience when these are performed outside of a system’s sensing boundaries. These insights are clustered by the form, size and location of ideal interface areas for such offline epistemic actions to occur, as well as how can physical tokens be designed to better support them. Finally, and based on the results obtained to this point, the last study presented in this dissertation directly addresses the lack of empirical tools to formally evaluate tangible interaction. It presents a video-coding framework grounded on a systematic literature review of 78 papers, and evaluates its value as metric through a 60 participant study performed across three different research laboratories. The results highlight the usefulness and power of epistemic actions as a performance metric for tangible systems. In sum, through the use of such novel metrics in each of the three studies presented, this dissertation provides a better understanding of the real impact and benefits of designing and developing systems that feature tangible interaction.

Fault development and interaction in distributed strike-slip shear zones: an experimental approach

Analogue model experiments using both brittle and viscous materials were performed to investigate the development and interaction of strike-slip faults in zones of distributed shear deformation. At low strain, bulk dextral shear deformation of an initial rectangular model is dominantly accommodated by left-stepping, en echelon strike-slip faults (Riedel shears, R) that form in response to the regional (bulk) stress field. Push-up zones form in the area of interaction between adjacent left-stepping Riedel shears. In cross sections, faults bounding push-up zones have an arcuate shape or merge at depth. Adjacent left-stepping R shears merge by sideways propagation or link by short synthetic shears that strike subparallel to the bulk shear direction. Coalescence of en echelon R shears results in major, through-going faults zones (master faults). Several parallel master faults develop due to the distributed nature of deformation. Spacing between master faults is related to the thickness of the brittle layers overlying the basal viscous layer. Master faults control to a large extent the subsequent fault pattern. With increasing strain, relatively short antithetic and synthetic faults develop mostly between old, but still active master faults. The orientation and evolution of the new faults indicate local modifications of the stress field. In experiments lacking lateral borders, closely spaced parallel antithetic faults (cross faults) define blocks that undergo clockwise rotation about a vertical axis with continuing deformation. Fault development and fault interaction at different stages of shear strain in our models show similarities with natural examples that have undergone distributed shear.

Sample descriptions, d-spacing and geochemistry at DSDP Holes 68-501 and 69-504B

Mössbauer analyses were conducted on a sample of saponite selected from DSDP Leg 69 basalt core. The sample was initially placed within a nitrogen-purged container on-board Glomar Challenger approximately three hours after recovery, where it remained until analysis. The Mössbauer data revealed an original, in situ Fe2O3/FeO ratio of 0.46, with both Fe**2+ and Fe**3+ in octahedral coordination. With controlled exposure to air under ambient laboratory storage conditions, the proportion of Fe**3+ increased from an original 30% to 51% over a period of about 11.5 months. The Fe**3+ thus produced remained in octahedral coordination, and no observable changes occurred in the physical appearance of the sample.

Remarks on the life and death of the fam'd Mr. Blood : giving an account [brace]of his plot in Ireland, to surprize Dublin Castle; several transactions in his head-quarters in the city; rescue of Captain Mason at Doncaster; attempt on the person of his Grace the Duke of Ormond; seizing on the crown and scepter in the Tower; coming into favour with his Prince; concern about his Grace the Duke of Buckingham; sickness, death, and twice interment : published for publick information.

Leaf A₂ mis-signed as A₁.

The Burlington Fine Arts Club : 17, Savile Row, W., rules, regulations, and bye-laws with list of members.

Mode of access: Internet.

Visibility and spacing of lane control signals for freeway traffic management.

Texas Department of Transportation, Austin

The complete confectioner, or, Housekeeper's guide to a simple and speedy method of understanding the whole art of confectionary : the various ways of preserving and candying, dry and liquid, all kinds of fruit, nuts, flowers, herbs, &c. And the method of keeping them fresh and fine all the year round; the different ways of clarifying sugar; with directions for making fruit pastes, bomboons, pastils, compotes, fruit ices, cream ices, marmalades, jellies, jams, cakes, puffs, biscuits, tarts, custards, cheesecakes, sweetmeats, fritters, creams, syllabubs, blanc-mange, flummeries, ornaments for grand entertainments, dragees, syrups of all kinds, nicknacks and trifles for desserts, strong cordials, oils, simple waters, milk punch that will keep 20 years, and all sorts of English wines. Also, the art of making artificial fruit, with the stalks in it, so as to resemble the natural fruit. To which are added, some bills of fare for desserts for private families /

Originally published under title: The compleat confectioner. Cf. Bitting, K.G. Gastronomic bib., p. 190.

Religious communism : a lecture by F.W. Evans (Shaker) of Mount Lebanon, Columbia Co., New York, U.S.A. : delivered in St. George's Hall, London, Sunday evening, August 6th, 1871 : with introductory remarks by the chairman of the meeting, Mr. Hepworth Dixon : also some account of the extent of the Shaker communities, and a narrative of the visit of Elder Evans to England ; an abstract of a lecture by Rev. J.M. Peebles, and his testimony in regard to the Shakers.

"Can any good come out of Nazareth? Abstract of J. M. Peeble's lecture on Sunday evening, July 30, in Cleveland Hall, London.": p. 30-32.

Memoirs relative to Egypt : written in that country during the campaigns of General Bonaparte, in the years 1798 and 1799, by the learned and scientific men who accompanied the French Expedition : published in Paris by authority.

Signatures: [A]⁴ B-2F⁸ 2G⁶ [2H]².

Book trade bibliography in the United States in the nineteenth century,

A reproduction of "subscriber's copy," no.7 of an edition of 50 copies printed for non-members of the Dibdin Club (including original t.p. with imprint: New York : Printed for the Dibdin Club and for sale by Sampson Low, Marston & Company, London, Eng., 1898)

The Basilewsky Situla, top row, Christ washing the Disciples' Feet, and The Betrayal of Christ; bottom row, Christ appearing to the Women and Christ appearing to the Apostles

4 17/32 in.x 1 ft. 3 55/64 in.x 6 19/64 in.; carved ivory

The Basilewsky Situla, top row, Crucifixion, and Judas the money to the High Priest. bottom row, Christ appearing to the Apostles, and the Incredulity of St Thomas

4 17/32 in.x 1 ft. 3 55/64 in.x 6 19/64 in.; carved ivory