Towards Applicable 3D User Interfaces for Everyday Working Environments

In this paper we propose vrLib, a toolkit which aims to make 3D graphical user interface and interaction very easy to design in virtual environments. This project provides well known and new interaction techniques and ready to use widgets, which are totally hardware independent. The main contribution allows to elaborate complex 3D user interfaces in same way it is done in 2D. This toolkit provides adaptive interaction, which means interaction techniques can automatically adapt their behavior to 2D and 3D widgets. This short paper describes the vrLib architecture for construction of 3D interactive applications.

The thesis presents the research of inventing a novel and natural spatial human-system interface – MagicPad that is to be used in a fully immersive virtual environment. With the advance in Virtual Reality (VR) technology, modern computer systems are capable of immersing users into a synthetic environment. Instead of sitting in front of the monitor, virtual objects are surrounding the users in an immersive VR system and therefore the traditional human-computer interfaces such as mouse and keyboard are no longer appropriate / fit for such purpose. Since then, researchers have been actively seeking new means of human-computer interaction in the three-dimensional space. The objective of this research is to innovate, design and build a novel spatial user interface for immersive VR systems by investigating and identifying the core elements of an intuitive and effective spatial user interface. The research methodology adopted is based on the quantitative research methods where the perception and interaction of human subjects with a synthetic virtual environment such user interfaces are collected to investigate the performance and effectiveness of the spatial user interface. The key elements of an intuitive and effective spatial user interface are first identified and the design concept of the MagicPad user interface prototype is then established. In order to realize the overall design and study the concept of the spatial human-system interface, an immersive Virtual Reality system imseCAVE, which serves as the test bed of the MagicPad user interface is designed and built from scratch. In this research, the MagicPad interface is implemented and quantitative user evaluations with the imseCAVE are carried out to draw conclusion and future research directions in the field of Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces.

An appropriate user interface to collect human demonstration data for deformable object manipulation has been mostly overlooked in the literature. We present an inter-action design for demonstrating cloth folding to robots. Users choose pick and place points on the cloth and can preview a visualization of a simulated cloth before real-robot execution. Two interfaces are proposed: A 2D display-and-mouse interface where points are placed by clicking on an image of the cloth, and a 3D Augmented Reality interface where the chosen points are placed by hand gestures. We conduct a user study with 18 participants, in which each user completed two sequential folds to achieve a cloth goal shape. Results show that while both interfaces were acceptable, the 3D interface was more suitable for understanding the task, and the 2D interface was suitable for repetition. Results also found that fold previews improve three key metrics: task efficiency, the ability to predict the final shape of the cloth, and overall user satisfaction.

Virtual environments and other applications of computer-generated scenes are emerging. This increases the demand for tools for efficient creation of the virtual worlds and interaction with the components in the virtual world. Introduction of immersiveness in the modeling process seems promising, but a number of issues related to immersive modeling still have to be investigated. The authors present a framework for an immersive modeling system with a hybrid 2D/3D user interface. The designer is immersed in the design space, which improves his awareness of the design objects under consideration. 2D and 3D human-computer interaction techniques are combined in the user interface to improve the efficiency of the modeler. While 3D interaction is natural for a number of design tasks, 2D interaction is particularly helpful for interaction with menus and dialog boxes, for precise manipulations and for editing operations that are subject to constraints.

This paper analyzes and evaluates different types of interactions in educational software that uses three-dimensional (3D) interactions and visualization technologies, with a focus on accessibility in such environments. To determine the accessibility parameters based on 3D user interactions, a two-phase pilot study was conducted. In the first phase, the GeometryGame research instrument was tested, in which objective metrics were collected. In the second phase, subjective metrics were collected in the form of participants’ opinions on certain aspects of accessibility and interactions implemented in the GeometryGame. The most important interaction parameters were evaluated, including the size of the objects, the presence of distractions, the intuitiveness of the user interface, and the size and distance of the interaction elements from the virtual hand. The results provide insight into user preferences and highlight the importance of customizing the user interface to ensure effective and accessible 3D interactions. Based on objective measurements and subjective user feedback, recommendations were developed to improve the accessibility of educational software that supports 3D interactions; to increase usability, reliability, and user comfort; and to enhance future research in this area.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a prototype pluggable service‐oriented virtual learning environment, enabling teachers to create an integrated teaching environment using tools that have been chosen to best meet their academic requirements.Design/methodology/approachThis is an implementation of a WAFFLE Bus. A microkernel software design pattern is used to enable tools to be added and removed from the system. An enterprise service bus is used to provide workflow and message transformation functionality. Tools are managed through web service interfaces and Shibboleth is used to effect interoperability at the web application user interface. The initial services for the prototype were chosen to implement a simple web service teaching workflow.FindingsFirst, Shibboleth is shown to provide a solution to the virtual learning environment tools' interoperability problem. Second, the service‐oriented virtual learning environment naturally leads to the ability to operate with many different types of information channels in and out of the system. This leads to a multiplicity of possible types of context‐dependent user interface. Third, immersive 3D, possibly the most interesting interface, will provide a context amenable to even the smallest development teams for the introduction of artificial intelligence into teaching. Finally, web service workflow is shown to provide a viable option for the implementation of learning designs with advantages and disadvantages compared to existing approaches.Research limitations/implicationsDifferent types of information channels are associated with different security problems. It will be important to determine what the best ways are of establishing secure channels to student personal learning environments. The present web service workflow design tools are of the highest quality and usability, but the design process is still a job for a specialist. It might be possible, however, to modify these open source tools to bring the design process within the grasp of non‐specialists.Originality/valueThe software system presented herein represents one possible path leading away from VLE monolithy using a service‐oriented approach. A new solution to the tools' interoperability problem is presented along with a multi‐faceted approach to the user interface. The enterprise service bus creates a flexible platform for the delivery of web service teaching and learning workflows. It is posited that the use of an immersive 3D user interface will create a context that facilitates the introduction of an artificial intelligence layer into the virtual learning environment that can serve robot teaching avatars.

In recent years, a platform providing a Visual Programming development environment capable of 3D editing and interaction editing in an In-VR environment to quickly prototype VR/AR contents for education of VR and AR for general users and children. In the past, VR contents were mostly viewed by users. However, thanks to the rapid development of recent computing technologies, VR contents interacting with users have emerged as a device capable of tracking user behavior in a small size It was able to appear. In addition, because VR is extended to AR and MR, it can be used in all three virtual environments and requires efficient user interface (UI). In this paper, we propose UI based on eye tracking. Eye-tracking-based UI not only reduces the amount of time the user directly manipulates the controller, but also dramatically lowers the time spent on simple operations, while reducing the need for a dedicated controller by allowing multiple types of controllers to be used in combination.

The subject of the study is the features of the organization of virtual reality interfaces. The author examines in detail such aspects of the topic as user involvement in the virtual environment, various ways and scenarios of user interaction with virtual reality, user security in the virtual environment, as well as such a phenomenon as cyberbullying and ways to prevent it. The study also considers the use of voice control as an alternative to manual. Particular attention in this study is paid to the classification of virtual reality interfaces, among which sensory interfaces, interfaces based on user motor skills, sensorimotor interfaces, interfaces for modeling and developing virtual reality are distinguished and considered in detail. The main conclusion of the study is that the virtual reality interface should be designed taking into account the ergonomics of users to prevent muscle fatigue and cyber-pain. In addition, it is very important to ensure the user's safety when designing virtual environment interfaces: using the virtual reality interface should not lead to injury to the user. To create an ergonomic and secure virtual reality interface, a combination of different types of interfaces is often required, through which the user can access an alternative control method or improved navigation. A special contribution of the author to the study of the topic is the description of the classification of virtual reality interfaces.

Recupera algunos de los elementos menos estudiados y reconocidos en el ensayo latinoamericano: su profunda vocación de reflexión, diálogo y mediación intelectual; su plasticidad y apertura a la búsqueda del sentido; su vínculo con la sociabilidad, la conversación y la generación de un espacio simbólico de encuentro; su capa cidad de establecer una nueva retroalimentación entre lectura y escritura.

The frequency and severity of obstetric lawsuits make the perinatal area a risk management priority. Risk management deals with the probability that a given risk will result in an adverse outcome and attempts to mitigate the consequences of adverse events. Perinatal care providers cannot escape risk in their everyday work environment. The article explores perinatal risk issues and offers recommendations and risk management strategies that may help minimize perinatal liability in the antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum areas.

Until recently the vocational rehabilitation of chronic mentally ill often resulted in employment in the framework of sheltered workshops. There are an increased number of workshops and day clinics but in this context the patient does not come in contact with the everyday working environment. However, several multicenter studies demonstrated that "Individual Placement Support" (IPS) is more effective than vocational services. The aim of our project is to show that this concept is applicable even to patients with chronic and severe psychiatric diseases. We created "One-Euro-Jobs" for patients with chronic mental illnesses within regular employments in the confinements of our clinic. The choice of workplace was carried out according to the individual experience and knowledge and included the library, central buying and post office. Until now 15 mentally ill patients with an average disease duration of 11 years were included in the project. 1 patient discontinued within the first 3 weeks. The others were occupied on average for 9 months. Our project shows that integration of chronically mental ill patients in regular employment environments is possible. Concerns that the pressure and stress would be too extreme were proved to be unfounded.

ObjectivesIn-situ simulation (ISS) is widely recognised to improve team working and to identify patient safety threats.1 2 Anecdotally, the greatest barrier to overcome in delivery of ISS is workload and...

Healthcare providers in hospital emergency departments (EDs) work under high uncertainty and pressure to manage a variety of patients efficiently. Whereas much existing research has examined communicative implications of uncertainty from patients’ perspectives, we explored ED physicians’ experiences of uncertainty in their everyday work environment. Through an ethnographic fieldwork in an ED, we identified three main sources of uncertainty routinely faced by physicians: (a) patients’ incorrect expectation about the role of ED; (b); patient variability and ED physicians’ breadth of expertise; and (c) emerging and unexpected changes in patient cases after handoffs. We also found how ED physicians managed these uncertainties, including: (1) direct admission of scientific uncertainty to patients; (2) lowering epistemic uncertainty through swift Internet searches; and (3) maintenance of situational uncertainty. We discuss implications of these findings for researchers, providers, and hospital organizations.

<p>This paper explores the perceptions of Serbian IT professionals regarding the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) tools on individual productivity in the context of IT business. As AI technologies become increasingly integrated into everyday work environments, particularly in knowledge-intensive industries, understanding user attitudes and experiences is essential. The research is based on a quantitative study conducted through an online questionnaire, which gathered responses from IT professionals working in various roles across Serbia. The questionnaire assessed the frequency of AI tool usage, perceived benefits and challenges, and self-reported changes in work efficiency. The results indicate a generally positive perception of AI tools, especially in relation to time-saving and task automation. This study contributes to a better understanding of how AI adoption is shaping modern IT workflows and provides insights relevant to business leaders and digital entrepreneurs in the tech industry.</p>

Computers are an essential part of our everyday work environment. Engineering, manufacturing, banking, health, education, aviation, defense, and the government all depend on a myriad of functions performed by computers. It is essential for the smooth functioning of these activities that computer systems provide the service on demand, without interruption, day in and day out, and under all kinds of operating environments. Some of these service demands are critical, such as in a hospital, or may involve the national security where computers maintain a 24-hour watch for enemy intrusions. Regardless of the functions performed, a high degree of confidence in a computer’s operation is required.