User interface design assistance for large-scale software development

The User Interface Design Assistant (UIDA) addresses the specific design problems of style and integration consistency throughout the user interface development process and aids in the automated feedback and evaluation of a system's graphical user interface according to knowledge-based rules and project-specific design examples. The UIDA system is able to quickly identify inconsistent style guide interpretations and UI design decisions resulting from distributed development of multiple UI sub-systems. This case arises when each sub-system conforms to the general style guide rules, but when integrated together, may appear inconsistent.This work was conducted jointly at the University of Southern California's Center for Software Engineering, and the Arcadia Project, University of California Irvine.     

The utility of a virtual reality locomotion interface for studying gait behavior

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of optic flow on gait behavior during treadmill walking using an immersive virtual reality (VR) setup and compare it with conventional treadmill walking (TW) and overground walking (OW). BACKGROUND: Previous research comparing TW with OW speculated that a lack of optic flow (relative visual movement between a walker and the environment) during TW may have led to perceptual cue conflicts, resulting in differences in gait behavior, as compared with OW. METHOD: Participants walked under three locomotion conditions (OW, TW, and TW with VR [TWVR]) under three walking constraint conditions (no constraint, a temporal/pacing constraint, and a spatial/path-following constraint). Presence questionnaires (PQs) were administered at the close of the TWVR trials. Trials were subjected to video analysis to determine spatiotemporal and kinematics variables used for comparison of locomotion conditions. RESULTS: ANOVA revealed gait behavior during TWVR to be between that of OW and TW. Speed and cadence during TWVR were significantly different from those of TW, whereas knee angle was comparable to that of OW. Correlation analysis of PQ scores with gait measures revealed a positive linear association of the distraction subfactor of the PQ with walking speed during TWVR, suggesting an increase in the sense of presence in the virtual environment led to increases in walking speed. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate that providing optic flow during TW through VR has an impact on gait behavior. APPLICATION: This study provides a basis for developing simple VR locomotion interface setups for gait research.     

CirculaFloor [locomotion interface]

The CirculaFloor locomotion interface's movable tiles employ a holonomic mechanism to achieve omnidirectional motion. Users can thus maintain their position while walking in a virtual environment. The CirculaFloor method exploits both the treadmill and footpad, creating an infinite omnidirectional surface using a set of movable tiles. The tiles provide a sufficient area for walking, and thus precision tracing of the foot position is not required. This method has the potential to create an uneven surface by mounting an up-and-down mechanism on each tile. This article is available with a short video documentary on CD-ROM.     

Comparative large-scale evaluation of human and active appearance model based tracking performance of anatomical landmarks in X-ray locomotion sequences

The detailed understanding of animal locomotion is an important part of biology, motion science and robotics. To analyze the motion, high-speed x-ray sequences of walking animals are recorded. The biological evaluation is based on anatomical key points in the images, and the goal is to find these landmarks automatically. Unfortunately, low contrast and occlusions in the images drastically complicate this task. As recently shown, Active Appearance Models (AAMs) can be successfully applied to this problem. However, obtaining reliable quantitative results is a tedious task, as the human error is unknown. In this work, we present the results of a large scale study which allows us to quantify both the tracking performance of humans as well as AAMs. Furthermore, we show that the AAM-based approach provides results which are comparable to those of human experts.     

Experimental evaluation of a tide prediction display based on the ecological interface design framework

This study evaluates whether the approach of ecological interface design (EID) can be applied to natural systems. Whereas the EID has proved its worth in a number of studies done at interfaces for complex artificial systems, its application to natural systems is just emerging. A display was designed for tide predictions. This new tidal display, referred to as the ecological document (ED), was evaluated against a classical table format and a commercially available graphical display, to assess the cognitive contribution of the ED to user performance for maritime novices and experts. The results are that the ED leads to less misreading, shorter response times, and a subjective preference among novices and experts. In particular, response times to questions concerning abstract functions of the domain decrease with the use of the ED. Thus, a document reflecting the domain can significantly improve information retrieval, and in particular cognitive processing on abstract functions.

嵌入式以太网接口的研究与设计

本文使用微处理器和以太网协议芯片,组成嵌入式以太网接口,用软件实现简化的TCP/IP协议,解决了仪器仪表与以太网的连接问题。使用该接口,通过现有计算机网络,实现了对仪器仪表的远程控制和访问。     

The Rotorcraft Pilot''s Associate: design and evaluation of an intelligent user interface for cockpit information management

The US Army's Rotorcraft Pilot's Associate (RPA) program is developing an advanced, intelligent “associate” system for flight demonstration in a future attack/scout helicopter. A significant RPA component is the intelligent user interface known as the Cockpit Information Manager (CIM). This paper describes the high-level architecture of the CIM, with emphasis on its pilot-perceptible behaviors: Crew Intent Estimation, Page Selection, Symbol Selection/Declutter, Intelligent Window Location, Automated Pan and Zoom, and Task Allocation. We then present the subjective results of recent full mission simulation studies using the CIM to illustrate pilots' attitudes toward these behaviors and their perceived effectiveness.     

The design of the user interface for a large physics experiment

The paper describes the experience in developing and supporting the user interface of RFX, one of the large nuclear fusion experiments of the co-ordinated nuclear fusion experiment programme of the European Community. The aim of this work is to present the problems and some possible solutions when developing user interfaces in a scientific environment, especially in large physics experiments. An overview of the current state of interface technology in such an environment is first provided. The control and data acquisition system of the RFX experiment is then introduced and its user interface described in greater detail. Finally, our experience both in maintaining the system interface and in training its users is described.     

Platform design for large-scale artificial market simulation and preliminary evaluation on the K computer

Artificial market simulations have the potential to be a strong tool for studying rapid and large market fluctuations and designing financial regulations. High-frequency traders, that exchange multiple assets simultaneously within a millisecond, are said to be a cause of rapid and large market fluctuations. For such a large-scale problem, this paper proposes a software or computing platform for large-scale and high-frequency artificial market simulations (Plham: /pl\(\Lambda\)m). The computing platform, Plham, enables modeling financial markets composed of various brands of assets and a large number of agents trading on a short timescale. The design feature of Plham is the separation of artificial market models (simulation models) from their execution (execution models). This allows users to define their simulation models without parallel computing expertise and to choose one of the execution models they need. This computing platform provides a prototype execution model for parallel simulations, which exploits the variety in trading frequency among traders, that is, the fact that some traders do not require up-to-date information of markets changing in millisecond order. We evaluated a prototype implementation on the K computer using up to 256 computing nodes.     

税库行横向联网系统接口处理平台的设计与实现

文章介绍了湖南省国税局横向联网系统接口处理平台的设计方案，对应用接口的体系结构、业务流程、接口数据结构和数据传输等进行了讨论，建立了基于javasocket和java多线程等主要技术的系统基本框架，重点阐述了系统的业务流程实现方式。该方案实现了异构系统间的数据交换，很好地解决了税务、国库和银行之间“信息孤岛”的问题，确保了横向联网系统安全稳定运行。     

Interactive search and browsing interface for large-scale visual repositories

Due to the rapid proliferation of both user-generated and broadcasted content, the interfaces for search and browsing of visual media have become increasingly important. This paper presents a novel intuitive interactive interface for browsing of large-scale image and video collections. It visualises underlying structure of the dataset by the size and spatial relations of displayed images. In order to achieve this, images or video key-frames are initially clustered using an unsupervised graph-based clustering algorithm. By selecting images that are hierarchically laid out on the screen, user can intuitively navigate through the collection or search for specific content. The extensive experimental results based on user evaluation of photo search, browsing and selection as well as interactive video search demonstrate good usability of the presented system and improvement when compared to the standard methods for interaction with large-scale image and video collections.     

The effects of topology and task complexity on digital‐speech‐desktop interface design and evaluation

Abstract— This study investigated user task performance in terms of three interface proposals (linear, hierarchical, and network type) and task complexities (single‐layered, double‐layered, and triple‐layered). Forty‐two participants (all male), aged 19–23 years, were recruited for the experiment. The results generated from this study reveal that the different degrees of task complexity interacted with the topological structures of the user interfaces. No difference was found among the three topological structures in the single‐layered task. A linear structure resulted in better user performance than network or hierarchical structures in the double‐layered task, while in the triple‐layered task both network and hierarchical structures resulted in better user performance than a linear topological structure. This study provides an example of the application of topological structures in interface design and evaluation. From a practical perspective, the results imply the necessity of alternative or parallel control systems (linear and hybrid topologies) so that the user can shift between structures according to task complexity.     

PCI雷达中断接口板的设计

某型号雷达的内网是基于分时传输体制的。原有的数据中断接口板是基于ISA总线标准,但是该总线标准数据传输实时性和吞吐能力有限且很难实现改造升级。为了提高雷达数据的实时响应,避免数据冲突,实现定时信号的可靠传输,利用PCI9052芯片设计了PCI的中断接口板,具有良好的即插即用和实时响应的特性。     

Knowledge acquisition and interface design

Describes tools, techniques, and concepts to optimize user interfaces. The best way to ensure that a software system is friendly and works is to base it on the intended users' mental models (how they view the world), knowledge structures (what they know and how they have organized it), and work processes. The author uses a team of engineers to systematically acquire and analyze user and domain knowledge and to translate that knowledge into user-interface design decisions. This front-end analysis method, combined with knowledge-acquisition techniques, lets one build user-centered systems     

The multi-disciplinary design of a large-scale civil aircraft wing taking account of manufacturing costs

This paper presents results from a major research programme funded by the European Union and involving 14 partners from across the Union. It shows how a complex tool set was assembled which was able to optimise a large civil airliner wing for weight, drag and cost. A multi-level MDO process was constructed and implemented through a hierarchical system in which cost comprised the top level. Conventional structural sizing parameters were employed to optimise structural weight but the upper-level optimisation used 6 overall design variables representing major design parameters. The paper concludes by presenting results from a case study which included all the components of the total design system.     

The design of a collaborative interface for narration to support reconciliation in a conflict

This paper is about the development of a face-to-face collaborative technology to support shifting attitudes of participants in conflict via a narration task. The work is based on two cultural elements: conflict resolution theory and the design of a collaboration enforcing interface designed specifically for the task. The general claim is that participants may achieve a greater understanding of and appreciation for the other’s viewpoint under conditions that support partaking in a tangible joint task and creating a shared narration. Specifically, a co-located interface for producing a joint narration as a tool for favoring reconciliation is presented and discussed. The process based on this technology implicitly includes classical steps in conflict resolution approaches, such as escalation and de-escalation. Our goal is to show that this interface is effective and constitutes an alternative to a typical face-to-face moderated discussion.     

计算机与松下PLC之间通讯接口软件设计

本文运用一控制模型重点控制计算机与松下PLC之间通讯接口软件设计和实现。     

Genetic algorithm for control design of biped locomotion

Dynamic biped walking is a difficult control problem. The design involves that of the controller as well as the gait. A typical design procedure involves tedious analysis, careful planning, and testing. The procedure is time consuming and the analysis is often based on some linearized model. Selection of control parameters and nominal trajectory determines the quality of control and in typical designs, some or all of the parameters are selected intuitively. The result is often not the best. If some special goal (such as to walk as fast as possible) is desirable, the design may become even harder. While the analytical approach is not easy, one possible alternative is to obtain the optimal or near-optimal design through parameter search. This study explores this approach. The design of the biped controller and gait is formulated as a parameter search problem, and a genetic algorithm is applied to help obtain the optimal design. Designs to achieve different goals, such as being able to walk on an inclined surface, walk at a high speed, or walk with a specified step size have been evolved with the use of the genetic algorithm. Simulation results show that the genetic algorithm (GA) is capable of finding good solutions. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.