Category: Articles

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Ontologies for Interaction: Enabling serendipitous interoperability in smart environments

by Gerrit Niezen.

connector deviceThe thesis describes the design and development of an ontology and software framework to support user interaction in
ubiquitous computing scenarios. The key goal of ubiquitous
computing is “serendipitous interoperability”, where devices
that were not necessarily designed to work together should be
able to discover each other’s functionality and be able to make
use of it. Future ubiquitous computing scenarios involve hundreds of devices. Therefore, anticipating all the different types
of devices and usage scenarios a priori is an unmanageable
task.

G. Niezen, Ontologies for Interaction: Enabling serendipitous interoperability in smart environments, PhD Thesis, Department of Industrial Design, Einhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, 2012.
FULLTEXT: PDF

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Reality to Virtuality continuum

In their paper [PDF, 200K], “FROM VIRTUALITY TO REALITY AND BACK”, the authors presented an overview of the “reality” concepts in design and related areas, including Milgram and Colquhoun (1999)’s Reality to Virtuality continuum, as well as a classification of reality concepts according to correlation between perception and action and level of interaction.

Order of reality conceptsOrder of reality concepts 2Classification of reality concepts

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Interview by the journal “Creation and Design”

During my sabbatical visit to Jiangnan University last year, I was interviewed by the journal “Creation and Design”. I was asked about my opinion about the topics such as interaction design, design education and training, as well as my impression about industrial design education in China etc. Well, if you read Chinese, here is the article:

J. Hu, “Transformation of Design Education and Personnel Training. Interview by Yi zhang and Biyun Hong,” CREATION AND DESIGN, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 10-12, 2012.
FULLTEXT: PDF REFERENCE: BibTeX EndNote
DOI: 10.3969/J.ISSN.1674-4187.2012.01.002
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Semantic Web for Robots: An Application for Interoperability between virtual worlds and real robots

Robot used in the case study
Robot used in the case study

PhD project done by Alex Juarez.

The topic of this PhD project is in the context of cross-reality, a term that defines mixed reality environments that tunnel dense real-world data acquired through the use of sensor/actuator device networks into virtual worlds. It is part of the ongoing academia and industry efforts to achieve interoperability between virtual and real devices and services.

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Optimizing the added value and usability of the Smartest Home of the Netherlands

Final USI project by Leoni van de Sande. Summary of the report: [PDF, 300K]. Complete report upon request.

2011-LeoniVanDeSande-OptimizingTheAddedValueAndUsability
Entrance screen

The aim of this industrial project at Smart Homes , the Dutch expertise centre on home automation and smart living, was twofold. On the one hand, the level of appreciation of existing (concepts of) smart home applications was examined. In this purpose, (concepts of) smart home applications were first collected through field research, literature, and European and national projects Smart Homes contributes to. Afterwards, the collected (concepts of) smart home applications were filtered based on the smart home classification by Aldrich and its appreciation was tested by means of a questionnaire. Based on the results of this questionnaire, the applications that were most appreciated were visualized. Ideally, these visualizations will be shown in the Smartest Home of the Netherlands, a test and demonstration home located in Eindhoven, to show visitors the added value of home automation (i.e. domotica).

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Surround sound tuning based on location

Final USI Report by Angeliki Angeletou. [PDF, 1.9M]

Location-based Sound
Location-based Sound

Surround Sound Systems are designed to faithfully reproduce a movie soundtrack and provide an immersive sound experience to the user, when the loudspeaker placement and the listening position comply with certain standards. Deviation from these standards can cause a distorted or unnatural sound image. In order to address the impact of the loudspeaker setup on the listening experience, two Philips Surround Sound Systems were integrated with Ultra Wideband (UWB) localization technology for the design of two demonstrators. Each demonstrator is composed of two parts; a localization module, providing user’s and speakers’ coordinates and audio tuning algorithms which use this information for the calculations of the signals that are sent to the speakers. In the present study, the performance evaluation of each component as well as the implementation of the demonstrators are described and discussed.

A. Angeletou, Surround sound tuning based on location, USI Final Report, Department of Industrial Design, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, 2011.
FULLTEXT: PDF
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Semantic Resources: A Study on a Tangible Interaction Approach to Managing Wireless Connections in a Smart Home Environment

By Jeroen Peters [M12 Report, PDF, 200K]

Semantic Resources
Semantic Resources

Technological advances in computational, networking and sensing abilities are leading towards a future in which our daily lives are immersed with interactive devices that are networked and interoperable.

It is imperative that users are able to understand such complex intelligent and interactive environments. Design has an important role in facilitating users in making sense of the many connections between devices in a networked environment.

Two design solutions based on tangible interaction have been developed that allow users to manage wireless connections between devices in a smart living room context.

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Enriching the reading experience with dramatic soundtracks

by Kacper Holenderski. [PDF, 2.5M]

Enriching Reading Experience

The goal of this research was to analyze to what extent applying dramatic soundtracks to a short story enrich the reading experience on an E-reader. This is an opportunity to give reading a new face allowed by the capabilities of the digital nature of eBooks and E-readers. The set up tested for imagery, transportation and attention through a questionnaire. Additionally arousal was measured with the help of GSR sensors. The results did not show a clear enrichment of the experience. The soundtracks were distracting at some points and complementing at others. The opportunity of dramatic soundtracks in eBooks is still a valid proposition which rests on the proper implementation.

K. Holenderski, Enriching the reading experience with dramatic soundtracks, M11 Report, Department of Industrial Design, Eindhoven University of Technology, 2011.
FULLTEXT: PDF
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Semantic Resources: A practice oriented approach: Sustainable services for television

M11 Master Project by Nick Sturkenboom. [PDF, 1.5M]

https://www.drhu.eu/reports/2011-NickSturkenboom-SemanticResources.pdf
Semantic Resources

In the EU, policy makers have been debating over carbon reduction for many years. One of the methods that pursue to reduce our carbon footprints is to raise energy awareness and stimulate energy efficiency through behavioral and attitude change. However, these same policy makers currently overlook the reasons why people consume resources, how these ‘needs’ and ‘wants’ establish themselves and evolve over time in our everyday lives, also known as ‘practices. (E.g.) (Shove E. , 2003) (Hargreaves, 2011) (Chetty, 2008) (Stern, 2000) (Hertwich, 2005)

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