Employing Virtual Humans for Interaction, Assistance and Information Provision in Ambient Intelligence Environments

Birliraki, C., Grammenos, D., & Stephanidis, C. (2015) Employing Virtual Humans for Interaction, Assistance and Information Provision in Ambient Intelligence Environments In N. Streitz & P. Markopoulos (Eds.), Distributed, Ambient, and Pervasive Interactions – Volume 21 of the combined Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction (HCI International 2015), Los Angeles, CA, USA, 2-7 August, pp. 249-261. Berlin Heidelberg: Lecture Notes in Computer Science Series of Springer

Abstract

This paper reports on the design, development and evaluation of a framework which implements virtual humans for information provision. The framework can be used to create interactive multimedia information visualizations (e.g., images, text, audio, videos, 3D models) and provides a dynamic data modeling mechanism for storage and retrieval and implements communication through multimodal interaction techniques. The interaction may involve human-to-agent, agent-to-environment or agent-to-agent communication. The framework supports alternative roles for the virtual agents who may act as assistants for existing systems, standalone “applications” or even as integral parts of emerging smart environments. Finally, an evaluation study was conducted with the participation of 10 people to study the developed system in terms of usability and effectiveness, when it is employed as an assisting mechanism for another application. The evaluation results were highly positive and promising, confirming the system’s usability and encouraging further research in this area.

Enabling Programmability of Smart Learning Environments by Teachers

Leonidis, A., Antona, M., & Stephanidis, C. (2015) Enabling Programmability of Smart Learning Environments by Teachers In N. Streitz & P. Markopoulos (Eds.), Distributed, Ambient, and Pervasive Interactions – Volume 21 of the combined Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction (HCI International 2015), Los Angeles, CA, USA, 2-7 August, pp. 62-73. Berlin Heidelberg: Lecture Notes in Computer Science Series of Springer

Abstract

The evolution of Information Technology (IT) and the emergence of the Ambient Intelligence paradigm have drastically affected the way users live and learn. Ambient Intelligence is a vision of the future that offers great opportunities to enrich everyday activities (e.g., on the road, at home, at work, etc.) and has been proven to play an important role in education. In smart learning environments, learning activities are enhanced with the use of pervasive and mobile computing. This paper presents an extensible software infrastructure that empowers teachers to design and program purposeful and engaging learning activities for formal and informal learning environments, by combining and orchestrating cloud-based, ambient and pervasive facilities and services.

Enhancing education through natural interaction with physical paper

G. Margetis, X. Zabulis, S. Ntoa, P. Koutlemanis, E. Papadaki, M. Antona, C. Stephanidis (2015) Enhancing education through natural interaction with physical paper Universal Access in the Information Society, Special Issue on “User Experience and Access using Augmented and Multimedia Technologies”, (pp. 427-447)

Abstract

Pervasive computing environments have permeated current research and practice, unobtrusively augmenting existing environments with digital content. The present work, following a pervasive computing approach, proposes a framework to augment an educational environment, being a typical classroom or any studying environment. In this context, the work presented in this paper investigates unobtrusive interaction and support of active educational or studying activities through appropriate context-sensitive information. To this end, passive visual sensing is employed in order to unobtrusively perceive the current context and users’ actions, thus providing novel ways to implement natural interaction. The suitability of the proposed interaction technologies and overall approach has been demonstrated through three interactive applications integrated in the framework, each one supporting different interaction techniques and addressing different educational activities. Finally, a user experience evaluation of the three test-bed applications has been carried out, aiming to assess the applicability of the approach and the suitability of each of the proposed technologies to the educational tasks in hand.

Immersing Users in Landscapes Using Large Scale Displays in Public Spaces

Drossis, G., Ntelidakis, A., Grammenos, D., Zabulis, X., & Stephanidis, C. (2015) Immersing Users in Landscapes Using Large Scale Displays in Public Spaces In N. Streitz & P. Markopoulos (Eds.), Distributed, Ambient, and Pervasive Interactions – Volume 21 of the combined Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction (HCI International 2015), Los Angeles, CA, USA, 2-7 August, pp. 152-162. Berlin Heidelberg: Lecture Notes in Computer Science Series of Springer

Abstract

This paper reports on the design and implementation of BeThereNow, a public interactive information system where users are depicted immersed in various sceneries. The work is focused on the domain of info-tainment in public spaces using large displays and aims on short-time usage. The implemented system employs a mixed reality application through which users are informed about different sceneries and also create personalized digital postcards. This process is accomplished using computer vision algorithms in order to depict users and objects, while removing the background of the scene. Finally, the lessons learned from the long-term deployment of the system out-in-the-wild are presented, providing an insight on the users’ actions and reactions and feedback on future research directions.

Lateral touch detection and localization for interactive, augmented planar surfaces

A. Ntelidakis, X. Zabulis, D. Grammenos and P. Koutlemanis (2015) Lateral touch detection and localization for interactive, augmented planar surfaces International Symposium on Visual Computing, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A., 2015.

Abstract

This work regards fingertip contact detection and localization upon planar surfaces to provide interactivity in augmented displays implemented upon these surfaces, by projector-camera systems. In contrast to the widely employed approach where user hands are observed from above, lateral camera placement avails increased sensitivity to touch detection. An algorithmic approach for the treatment of the laterally acquired visual input is proposed and is comparatively evaluated against the conventional.

Modeling and Assessing Young Children Abilities and Development in Ambient Intelligence

Zidianakis, E., Ioannidi, D., Antona, M., & Stephanidis, C. (2015) Modeling and Assessing Young Children Abilities and Development in Ambient Intelligence In European Conference on Ambient Intelligence (pp. 17-33). Springer International Publishing.

Traditional Painting Revised: The Ambient Intelligence Approach to Creativity

Nikolaos Partarakis, Margherita Antona, Emmanouel Zidianakis, Panagiotis Koutlemanis, Constantine Stephanidis (2015) Traditional Painting Revised: The Ambient Intelligence Approach to Creativity In A. L. Brooks, E. Ayiter & O. Yazicigil (Eds.), Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Arts and Technology (ArtsIT 2014), Istanbul, Turkey, 10-12 November (pp. 45-53). Switzerland: Springer

Abstract

Today, many forms of art are influenced by the emergence of interactive technologies, including the mixing of physical media with digital technology for forming new hybrid works of art and the usage of mobile phones to create art projected on public spaces. Many artists and painters use digital technology to augment their work technically and creatively. In the same context many believe that the time of transition from traditional analogue art to postmodern digital art, that is, to an art grounded in codes rather than images has arrived. The research work described in this paper contributes towards supporting, through the use of Ambient Intelligence technologies, traditional painters’ creativity, as well as methods and techniques of art masters. The paper presents the design and implementation of an intelligent environment and its software infrastructure, to form a digitally augmented Art Workshop. Its practical exploitation was conducted in an Ambient Intelligence (AmI) simulation space and four feasibility studies were conducted. In each of these studies an oil painting was created following an alternative, yet accredited by artists, approach.

A cross-platform, remotely-controlled mobile avatar simulation framework for AmI environments

Zidianakis, E., Papagiannakis, G., & Stephanidis, C. (2014) A cross-platform, remotely-controlled mobile avatar simulation framework for AmI environments In SIGGRAPH Asia 2014 Mobile Graphics and Interactive Applications (p. 12). ACM.

Building a sensory infrastructure to support interaction and monitoring in ambient intelligence environments

Zidianakis, E., Partarakis, N., Antona, M., & Stephanidis, C. (2014) Building a sensory infrastructure to support interaction and monitoring in ambient intelligence environments In International Conference on Distributed, Ambient, and Pervasive Interactions (pp. 519-529). Springer International Publishing.

A Museum Guide Application for Deployment on User-Owned Mobile Devices

Kapnas, G., Leonidis, A., Korozi, M., Ntoa, S., Margetis, G., & Stephanidis, C (2013) A Museum Guide Application for Deployment on User-Owned Mobile Devices In C. Stephanidis (Ed.), HCI International 2013 - Posters' Extended Abstracts, Part II - Volume 29 of the combined Proceedings of HCI International 2013 (15th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction), Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, 21-26 July, pp. 253-257. Berlin Heidelberg: Communications in Computer and Information Science (CCIS 374, ISBN: 978-3-642-39475-1).

Abstract

This poster describes the design and development of a comprehensive Museum Tour Guide mobile application that can be installed on user-owned devices. The purpose of the application is to provide museum visitors with a device that can improve their experience through optimised planning of their visit and an always-available stream of information regarding the museum and its exhibits. The main goals, the design, as well as the implementation of the application are described and the main functions of the application are presented. Finally, conclusions are drawn and further development ideas are discussed.

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