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Live video streaming is becoming increasingly popular as a form of interaction in social applications. One of its main advantages is an ability to immediately create and connect a community of remote users on the spot. In this paper we discuss how this feature can be used for crowdsourced completion of simple visual search tasks (such as finding specific objects in libraries and stores, or navigating around live events) and social interactions through mobile mixed reality telepresence interfaces. We present a prototype application that allows users to create a mixed reality space with a photospherical imagery as a background and interact with other connected users through viewpoint, audio, and video sharing, as well as realtime annotations in mixed reality space. Believing in the novelty of our system, we conducted a short series of interviews with industry professionals on the possible applications of our system. We discuss proposed use-cases for user evaluation, as well as outline future extensions of our system.
Markerless talent tracking is widely used for interactions and animations within virtual environments. In a virtual (tv) studio talents could be overburden by interaction tasks because camera and text require extensive attention. We take a look into animations and inter- actions within a studio, which do not require any special attention or learning. We show the generation of an artificial shadow from a talent, which ease the keying process, where separation of real shadows from the background is a difficult task. We also demonstrate animations of footsteps and dust. Furthermore, capturing talents’ height can also be used to adjust the parameters of elements in the virtual environment, like the position and scaling of a virtual display. In addition to the talents, a rigid body was tracked as placeholder for graphics, easing the interaction tasks for a talent. Two test productions show the possibilities, which subtle animations offer. In the second production, the rendering was improved (shadows, filtering, normal maps, ...) and instead of using the rigid body to move an object (a flag), the animation was only controlled by the hand’s position.
The late immersion of multi-touch sensitive displays enables the use of tangibles on multi-touch screens. There a several wide spread and/or sophisticated solutions to fulfill this need but they seem to have some flaws. One popular system at the time of writing is an overlay frame that can be placed on a normal display with the corresponding size. The frame creates a grid with infrared light emitting diodes. The disruption of this grid can be detected and messages with the positions are sent via usb to a connected computer. This system is quite robust in matters of ambient light insensitivity and also fast to calibrate. Unfortunately it is not created with the recognition of tangibles in mind and printed patterns can not be resolved. This article summarizes an attempt to create fiducials that are recognized by an infrared multi-touch frame as fingers. Those false fingers are checked by a software for known patterns. Once a known pattern (= fiducial) has been recognized its position and orientation are send with the finger positions towards the interactive software. The usability is tested with an example application where tangibles and finger touches are used in combination.
This article presents a new approach of integrating tangible user feedback in todays virtual TV studio productions. We describe a tangible multitouch planning system, enabling multiple users to prepare and customize scene flow and settings. Users can collaboratively view and interact with virtual objects by using a tangible user interface on a shared multitouch surface. The in a 2D setting created TV scenes are simultaneously rendered on an external monitor, using a production/target renderer in 3D. Thereby the user experiences a closer reproduction of a final production. Subsequently, users are able to join together the scenes into one complex plot. Within the developing process, a video prototype of the system shows the user interaction and enables early reviews and evaluations. The requirement analysis is based on expert interviews.
Shadows in computer graphics are an important rendering aspect for spatial objects. For realtime computer applications such as games, it is essential to represent shadows as accurate as possible. Also, various tv stations work with virtual studio systems instead of real studio sets. Especially for those systems, a realistic impression of the rendered and mixed scene is important. One challenge, hence, is the creation of a natural shadow impression. This paper presents the results of an empirical study to compare the performance and quality of different shadow mapping methods. For this test, a prototype studio renderer was developed. A percentage closer filter (pcf) with a number of specific resolutions is used to minimize the aliasing issue. More advanced algorithms which generate smooth shadows like the percentage closer soft shadow (pcss) method as well as the variance shadow maps (vsm) method are analysed. Different open source apis are used to develop the virtual studio renderer, giving the benefit of permanent enhancement. The Ogre 3D graphic engine is used to implement the rendering system, benefiting from various functions and plugins. The transmission of the tracking data is accomplished with the vrpn server/client and the Intersense api. The different shadow algorithms are compared in a virtual studio environment which also casts real shadows and thus gives a chance for a direct comparison throughout the empirical user study. The performance is measured in frames per secon
For this study, an experimental vibrotactile feedback system was developed to help actors with the task of moving their arm to a certain place in a virtual tv studio under live conditions. Our intention is to improve interaction with virtual objects in a virtual set, which are usually not directly visible to the actor, but only on distant displays. Vibrotactile feedback might improve the appearance on tv because an actor is able to look in any desired direction (camera or virtual object) or to read text on a teleprompter while interacting with a virtual object. Visual feedback in a virtual studio lacks spatial relation to the actor, which impedes the adjustment of the desired interaction. The five tactors of the implemented system which are mounted on the tracked arm give additional information like collision, navigation and activation. The user study for the developed system shows that the duration for reaching a certain target is much longer in case no visual feedback is given, but the accuracy is similar. In this study, subjects reported that an activation signal indicating the arrival at the target of a drag & drop task was helpful. In this paper, we discuss the problems we encountered while developing such a vibrotactile display. Keeping these pitfalls in mind could lead to better feedback systems for actors in virtual studio environments.
The German banking system and the global financial crisis: causes, developments and policy responses
(2009)
Germany’s banking sector has been severely hit by the global financial crisis. In a German context as of February, 2009, this paper reviews briefly the structure of the banking industry, quantifies effects of the crisis on banks and surveys responses of economic policy. It is argued that policy design needs to enhance transparency and enforce the liability principle. In addition, economic policy should not eclipse principles of competition policy.
The construction of a basis of a certain lattice of interest is a basic tool in many fields of algorithmic number theory. All too often we can not compute with the original lattices because of irrational numbers involved but have to work with approximations of them. While helpful bounds were shown about the reduction of lattice bases in cite{buchmann94reducing}, here we introduce the notion of a $(epsilon,delta)$-constructable basis of a lattice and determine the precision of vectors that is necessary to extend a set to a $(epsilon,delta)$-constructable basis.
Vibrotactile feedback via body-worn vibrating belts is a common means of direction signalization - e.g. for navigational tasks. Consequently such feedback devices are used to guide blind or visually impaired people but can also be used to support other wayfinding tasks - for instance, guiding actors in virtual studio productions. Recent effort has been made to simplify this task by integrating vibrotactile feedback into virtual studio applications. In this work we evaluate the accuracy of an improved direction signalization technique, utilizing a body-worn vibrotactile belt with a limited number of tactors, and compare it to other work. The results from our user study indicate that it is possible to signalize different directions accurately, even with a small number of tactors spaced by 90°.
Virtual TV studios use actor tracking systems for resolving the occlusion of computer graphics and studio camera image. The actor tracking delivers the distance between actor and studio camera. We deploy a photonic mixing device, which captures a depth map and a luminance image at low resolution. The renderer engines gets one depth value per actor using the OSC protocol. We describe the actor recognition algorithm based on the luminance image and the depth value calculation. We discuss technical issues like noise and calibration.
Actors in virtual studio productions are faced with the challenge that they have to interact with invisible virtual objects because these elements are rendered separately and combined with the real image later in the production process. Virtual sets typically use static virtual elements or animated objects with predefined behavior so that actors can practice their performance and errors can be corrected in the post production. With the demand for inexpensive live recording and interactive TV productions, virtual objects will be dynamically rendered at arbitrary positions that cannot be predicted by the actor. Perceptive aids have to be employed to support a natural interaction with these objects. In our work we study the effect of haptic feedback for a simple form of interaction. Actors are equipped with a custom built haptic belt and get vibrotactile feedback during a small navigational task (path following). We present a prototype of a wireless vibrotactile feedback device and a small framework for evaluating haptic feedback in a virtual set environment. Results from an initial pilot study indicate that vibrotactile feedback is a suitable non-visual aid for interaction that is at least comparable to audio-visual alternatives used in virtual set productions.
CFX 11.0 is a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) program for simulating the behavior of systems involving fluid flow, heat transfer, and other related physical processes. It works by solving the equations of fluid flow (in a special form) over a region of interest, with specified (known) conditions on the boundary of that region. This tool is used here to analyse the straw cutter which is used to comminute the straw which is left standing in the field after stripper header has stripped the grains from the crops. Stripper Header is a new technique different to conventional harvester machines and it is still under development and testing. It works on the principle in which grains are first stripped off from the head of the standing crop which helps in much reduced intake freeing up the separation systems to handle a larger volume of grains. But with this, the new problem of the disposal of the long, uncut straw left after stripping of grains arose. So a straw cutter is used after the stripper header stage in this Combine Harvester, where the rotor is equipped with pressed steel blades and rotates towards the crop, i.e., it cuts and lifts the straw over the top. This technique is environment friendly because previously farmers would have to burn the long, uncut straw standing in the fields while in this case mulched straw can be used for min-till systems. This rotor based straw cutting machine is analysed here which helps us in increasing power efficiency and comminution rate and quality of cut straw particles. Here fluid flow simulation has been preferred over particle simulation: - CFX 10.0 tool is not very effective for particle simulation techniques and computation time is increased considerably. - It’s very hard to realize particle simulation in CFX 10.0 because we have to define size and properties of each particle and besides this wall conditions would have to be defined differently for every boundary. - Besides this, it’s hard to realize cutting effect with straw particles in CFX 10.0 which otherwise would be comminuted in real life conditions. - The results obtained from fluid simulation are validated using experimental results and found to be nearly the same which clearly contradicts any need of performing particle simulation.
Using spatial audio successfully for augmented reality (AR) applications is a challenge, but is awarded with an improved user experience. Thus, we have extended the AR/VR framework \sc Morgan with spatial audio to improve users orientation in an AR application. In this paper, we investigate the users’ capability to localize and memorize spatial sounds (registered with virtual or real objects). We discuss two scenarios. In the first scenario, the user localizes only sound sources and in the second scenario the user memorizes the location of audio-visual objects. Our results reflect spatial audio performance within the application domain and show which technology pitfalls still exist. Finally, we provide design recommendations for spatial audio AR environments.
Two high dynamic range HDR environments maps based on video streams from fish-eye lens cameras are used for generating virtual lights in a virtual set renderer. The task of realistic virtual light setup of scenes using captured environment maps might be eased as well as visual quality improves. We discuss the light setting problem for virtual studio tv productions which have mixed scenes of real objects, actors, virtual objects and virtual backgrounds. Benefits of hdr interactive light control are that the real light in the studio does not have to be remodeled and the artistic impression by using the light in the studio is also captured. An analysis of system requirements identifies technical challenges. We discuss the properties of a prototype system including test production.
The presentation of virtual environments in real time has always been a demanding task. Specially designed graphics hardware is necessary to deal with the large amounts of data these applications typically produce. For several years the chipsets that were used allowed only simple lighting models and fixed algorithms. But recent development has produced new graphics processing units (GPUs) that are much faster and more programmable than their predecessors. This paper presents an approach to take advantage of these new features. It uses a video texture as part of the lighting calculations for the passenger compartment of a virtual train and was run on the GPU of a recent PC graphics card. The task was to map the varying illumination of a filmed landscape onto the virtual objects and also onto another video texture (showing two passengers), thereby enhancing the realism of the scene.
With the virtual environment developed here, the characteristic
sound radiation patterns of musical instruments can be experienced
in real-time. The user may freely move around a musical instrument, thereby receiving acoustic and visual feedback in real-time. The perception of auditory and visual effects is intensified by the combination of acoustic and visual elements, as well as the option of user interaction. The simulation of characteristic sound radiation patterns is based on interpolating the intensities of a multichannel recording and offers a near-natural mapping of the sound radiation patterns. Additionally, a simple filter has been developed, enabling the qualitative simulation of an instrument’s characteristic sound radiation patterns to be easily implemented within real-time 3D applications. Both methods of simulating sound radiation patterns have been evaluated for a saxophone with respect to their functionality and validity by means of spectral analysis and an auditory experiment.
In today’s market research mechanisms multi modal technologies are significant tools to perform flexible and price efficient studies for not only consumer products but also consumer goods. Current appraisal mechanisms in combination with applied computer graphics can improve the assessment of a product’s launch in the very early design phase or an innovation process. The combination of online questionnaires, Virtual Reality (VR) applications and a database management system offers a powerful tool to let a consumer judge products as well as innovated goods even without having produced a single article. In this paper we present an approach of consumer good studies consisting of common as well as interactive VR product presentations and online questionnaires bases on a bidirectional database management solution to configure and manage numerous studies, virtual sets, goods and participants in an effective way to support the estimation of the received data. Non-programmers can create their test environment including a VR scenario very quickly without any effort. Within the extensive knowledge of consumer goods, marketing instruments can be defined to shorten and improve the rollout process in the early product stages.
Multimediale Technologien werden in der Marktforschung immer stärker eingesetzt, um flexible und kostengünstige Studien durchzuführen. Im Innovationsprozess kann dabei auf die langjährigen Erfahrungen zurückgegriffen werden, die durch den Einsatz der Computersimulation in der technischen Produktentwicklung zustande gekommen sind. In sehr frühen Phasen des Innovationsprozesses können durch Einsatz der neuen Technologien die Markteinführungskonzepte für neue Produkte getestet werden. Die Applikationen der virtuellen Realität bieten ein einzigartiges Potential, neue Produkte einschlieï‚lich des Marketingkonzeptes zu testen, ohne dass dieses Produkt bereits physisch vorhanden sein muss. Am Beispiel eines Elementes des Marketingkonzeptes, der Preispolitik, zeigt die vorliegende Studie auf, welches Potential die virtuelle Kaufsituation von Produkten bietet. Der Fokus des Projektes liegt auf der interaktiven Produktpräsentation in einer virtuellen Umgebung, die in eine Online-Befragung mit zusätzlichen Werbefilmen eingebettet ist. Visuell hochwertige 3D-Produktpräsentationen versetzen den Probanden in eine virtuelle Einkaufsumgebung, die einem realen Szenario entspricht. Die virtuellen Produkte werden in mehreren Kaufentscheidungsrunden zu unterschiedlichen Preisen angeboten. Der Preisuntersuchung geht eine Präsentation ausgewählter Werbespots sowie eine produktbezogene Befragung voraus. Im Anschluss an die virtuellen Preisentscheidungen werden die Eindrücke sowie einige Kontrollgröen abgefragt. In weitergehenden Studien dieser Art können die Wirkungen mehrerer Marketing-Instrumente zu einem Zeitpunkt untersucht werden, in dem sich die Produkte noch im Entwicklungsprozess befinden. Auf diesem Weg lassen sich auch Wettbewerbsvorteile bestehender Produkte effizienter erkennen und nutzen. Mit den hoch entwickelten Computer- und Visualisierungstechnologien ist ein mächtiges Werkzeug entstanden, das bereits für kommerzielle Präsentationen und Produktstudien eingesetzt wird. Zukünftig kann es auch in Kombination mit Internetanwendungen und klassischen Methoden der Marktforschung zu einem sehr frühen Zeitpunkt umfassende Erkenntnisse über ein Produkt liefern.
Virtual set environments for broadcasting become more sophisticated as well as the visual quality improves. Realtime interaction and production-specific visualization implemented through plugin mechanism enhance the existing systems like the 3DK. This work presents the integration of the Intersense IS-900 SCT camera tracking and 3D interaction into the 3DK virtual studio environment. The main goal of this work is the design of a virtual studio environment for post productions, which includes video output as well as media streaming formats such as MPEG-4. The systems allows high quality offline rendering during post production and 3D interaction by the moderator during the recording.
This dissertation, written for the course Master of European Social Policy Analysis – National University of Ireland Maynooth - , shows the context or so-called framework within which the medical social work service in two different welfare states: Ireland and Germany operates. This means the societal context as a whole, the health system in general (macro-level) and the hospital setting (mezzo-level) in particular. The idea of this publication is to give a short overview of the historic development of medical social work (micro-level) in Ireland and Germany and some background information about what medical social work is. The time frame examined starts from the 1980s up to present. The main questions to be answered are: What are the interdependencies between the macro-, mezzo- and micro-level? Have changes in the health system in general and the hospitals in particular influenced medical social work and if so how? What are the similarities and differences in the two countries?
Education at the University of Aizu is focussed upon computer science. Besides being the subject matter of many courses, however, the computer also plays a vital role in the educational process itself, both in the distribution of instructional media, and in providing students with valuable practical experience. All students have unlimited access (24-hours-a-day) to individual networked workstations, most of which are multimedia-capable (even video capture is possible in two exercise rooms). Without software and content tailored for computer-aided instruction, the hardware becomes an expensive decoration. In any case, there is a need to better educate the instructors and students in the use of the equipment. In the interest of facilitating effective, collaborative use of network-based computers in teaching, this article explores the impact that a network environment can have on such activities. First, as a general overview, and to examine the motivation for the use of a network environment in teaching, this article reviews a range of different styles of collaboration. Then the article shows what kind of tools are available for use, within the context of what has come to be called Computer-Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW).