As new input devices are introduced to the technological market and an increasing part of the population are familiar with the usage of digital devices, it may seem difficult to know which input devices to aim for when developing new programs and applications that use graphical interfaces. According to a previous study in this area, the computer mouse was the most preferred and performed best when tested in speed and accuracy when compared to the keyboard and drawing tablet even though the keyboard was the device most were familiar with. This paper attempted to recreate the study with the exception of testing morethings, such as number of miss-clicks, distance travelled, directional changes and time. The keyboard was replaced by a handheld controller as well. The results were that the mouse performed best yet again, and proved to be easy to use efficiently for both new and experienced users. The handheld controller was shown not to be an optimal pointing device, mostly due to it being stuck to a fixed speed and not able to accelerate. It did well in the matter of amount off miss-clicks and directional changes, which can be tied to its slow speed. The drawing tablet was well received by the new users and experienced as more accurate than the handheld device. Its results suggest that the drawing tablet could be an efficient pointing device than proven here in the hands of an experienced user, but for new users it could not perform as well as the mouse device overall. / Eftersom nya inmatningsenheter introduceras på den tekniska marknaden och en större del av befolkningen bekantar sig med användningen av digitala enheter, kan det verka svårt att veta vilka inmatningsenheter man ska rikta sig till när man utvecklar nya program och applikationer som använder grafiskt gränssnitt. Enligt en tidigare studie var datormusen den mest föredragna enheten och fick bäst resultat inom snabbhet och noggrannhet, jämfört med tangentbordet och ritplattan inom detta område, trots att tangentbordet var den enhet som de flesta var bekanta med. Denna undersökning försökte återskapa studien med undantaget att testa flera egenskaper, såsom antal missade klickar, avstånd, byten av färdriktning och tid samt att tangentbordet ersattes av en handhållen kontroller. Resultaten var att musen presterade bäst än en gång och visade sig vara lätt att använda effektivt för både nya och erfarna användare. Den handhållna styrenheten visade sig inte vara en optimal pekdon, främst på grund av att den hade en bestämd hastighet och inte kunde accelerera. Det gick bra i fråga om mängden missade klickar och riktningsförändringar, som kan vara knutna till dess långsamma hastigheten. Ritplattan mottogsväl av de nya användarna och upplevdes som mer exakt än den handhållna enheten. Resultatet tyder på att ritplattan kan vara en effektiv pekdon i händerna på en erfaren användare än bevisat här, men för nya användare kan det inte fungera lika bra som datormusen överlag.

When using graphical user interfaces (GUIs), the main problems that frustrates users are long response times and delays. These problems create a bad impression of the GUI, as well as of the company that created it.When providing a GUI to users it is important to provide intuition, ease of use and simplicity while still delivering good performance. However, some factors that play a major role regarding the performance aspect is outside the developers’ hands, namely the client’s internet connection and hardware. Since every client has a different combination of internet connection and hardware, it can be a hassle to satisfy everyone while still providing an intuitive and responsive GUI.The aim of this study is to find a way to monitor performance of a web GUI, where performance comprises response times and render times, and in doing so, enable the improvement of response times and render times by collecting data that can be analyzed.A framework that monitors the performance of a web GUI was developed as a proof of concept. The framework collects relevant data regarding performance of the web GUI and stores the data in a database. The stored data can then be manually analyzed by developers to find weak points in the system regarding performance. This is achieved without interfering with the GUI or impacting the user experience negatively. / När man använder grafiska gränssnitt upplevs lång responstid och fördröjning som de främsta problemen. Dessa problem är frustrerande och ger användare en negativ syn på både det grafiska gränssnittet och företaget som skapat det.Det är viktigt att grafiska gränssnitt är intuitiva, lättanvända och lättfattliga samtidigt som de levererar hög prestanda. Det finns faktorer som påverkar dessa egenskaper som är utanför programmerarnas händer, t.ex. användarens internetuppkoppling och hårdvara. Eftersom varje användare har olika kombinationer av internetuppkoppling och hårdvara är det svårt att tillfredsställa alla och samtidigt tillhandahålla ett intuitivt och responsivt gränssnitt.Målet med denna studie är att hitta ett sätt att övervaka prestandan av ett grafiskt gränssnitt där begreppet prestanda omfattar responsiviteten och hastigheten av den grafiska renderingen, och genom detta möjliggöra förbättring av responstider och renderingstider.Ett ramverk som övervakar prestandan av ett grafiskt gränssnitt utvecklades. Ramverket samlar in relevant prestandamässig data om det grafiska gränssnittet och sparar datan i en databas. Datan som sparats kan sedan bli manuellt analyserad av utvecklare för att hitta svagheter i systemets prestanda. Detta uppnås utan att störa det grafiska gränssnittet och utan att ha någon negativ påverkan på användarupplevelsen.

This paper is based on Amouzad Mahdiraji’s research about an agent-based ambulance dispatchment simulator. A simulator which is currently not focused on visual user interfaces and usability. In this study, we implemented design science to structure our research for creating a user-friendly Graphical User Interface (GUI) prototype for an ambulance dispatchment system. We used theories concerning usability and human cognition to support the development of the prototype which was later evaluated through interviews. Cognitive overload or confusion concerning a GUI can cause stress and problems which results in various errors and costs, affecting businesses and users in multiple ways. Our study resulted in a second version of the prototype in which interview analysis and theories, mainly the Gestalt principles and heuristics, were applied. Design decisions for the second version were made to improve the usability and minimize risks of confusion. Usability in a graphical user interface can be achieved in different approaches, this study shows one of them. However, to create a suitable interface for an ambulance dispatchment system, more research is required.

This study investigates different design choices for graphical user interfaces meant to improve depth perception in remote crane operation through measuring efficiency and user experience. To achieve this, three different graphical user interface designs were created and implemented into a cargo port simulator within the game engine Unity. These GUIs consists of a top-down shadow overlay, a guideline overlay and one overlay that would display held containers as see-through, called X-ray overlay. The three GUIs were then tested in a user study along a blank interface which had no overlay, in order to compare task efficiency, accuracy and usability among the four interfaces. In total, 15 participants took part in the user study in which none had any previous experience in using heavy machinery such as cargo cranes. These 15 participants were of various ages between 22-59 and of various genders. The results from the user study shows that the shadow overlay and the guideline overlay were more favoured among the participants who took part in the experiment, as well as more usable in comparison towards the X-ray overlay and having no overlay. The participants were also more accurate and efficient in placing containers while using the shadow overlay and the guideline overlay.

No description available.

Sign language has largely been dismissed in gesture interface research on grounds of being a natural language. This essay argues that this has been premature. We begin with an overview of relevant literature in the fields of both gesture interface design and sign language, followed by a discussion of other graphical and text-based user interfaces in the context of language - effectively a short essay on language and metaphors in interface design, going into more detail why I believe dismissing sign languages based on their linguistic nature is a mistake. This is further explored in an example user interface that was designed by taking an insight from sign language as a starting point to replace the desktop metaphor and combining it with the discussed text-based interfaces to extend the WIMP paradigm. This experimental design was used as a way to pose questions to users about potential uses of gesture interfaces.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 26-29, 1998 / Town & Country Resort Hotel and Convention Center, San Diego, California / The necessity to acquire and analyze data dates back to the beginning of science itself. Long ago, a scientist may have run experiments and noted the results on a piece of paper. These notes became the data. The method was crude, but effective. As experiments got more complex, the need for better methodologies arose. Scientists began using computers to gather, analyze, and store the data. This method worked well for most types of data acquisition. As the amount of data being collected increased, larger computers, faster processors, and faster storage devices were used in order to keep up with the demand. This method was more refined, but still did not meet the needs of the scientific community. Requirements began to change in the data acquisition arena. More people wanted access to the data in real time. Companies producing large data acquisition systems began to move toward a network-based solution. This architecture featured a specialized computer called the server, which contained all of the data acquisition hardware. The server handled requests from multiple clients and handled the data flow to the network, data displays, and the archive medium. While this solution worked well to satisfy most requirements, it fell short in meeting others. The ability to have multiple computers working together across a local or wide area network (LAN or WAN) was not addressed. In addition, this architecture inherently had a single point of failure. If the server machine went down, all data from all sources was lost. Today, we see that the requirements for data acquisition systems include features only dreamed of five years ago. These new systems are linked around the world by wide area networks. They may include code to command satellites or handle 250 Mbps download rates. They must produce data for dozens of users at once, be customizable by the end user, and they must run on personal computers (PCs)! Systems like these cannot work using the traditional client/server model of the past. The data acquisition industry demands systems with far more features than were traditionally available. These systems must provide more reliability and interoperability, and be available at a fraction of the cost. To this end, we must use commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) computers that operate faster than the mainframe computers of only a decade ago. These computers must run software that is smart, reliable, scalable, and easy to use. All of these requirements can be met by a network of PCs running the Windows NT operating system.

本研究欲瞭解在資訊時代裡、超媒體的形式特性所中介出來的媒介經驗，即網站介面上的符號展演可能對使用者傳遞出怎樣的訊息？網站介面上的符號編排方式及超文本的結構內容會如何型塑出不同於其他媒介的使用經驗？由於隱喻運用於圖形使用者介面上已有二十多年歷史，且在傳播學門裡有著豐富的討論，因此本研究以介面上的隱喻運用作為探究超媒體經驗特性的問路石。 在回顧人機互動領域及傳播學門裡對隱喻的討論後，本研究以Fauconnier & Turner所提出的概念合成理論（conceptual blending theory）為理論工具，並選取數個網站介面的設計進行探究。透過個案分析發現，隱喻在網站介面的應用上，會透過介面媒材、超文本結構及互動功能設計綜合展現出來，而在作用層面上，介面隱喻為建構使用者瀏覽經驗的認知中介物，將真實世界概念與系統功能相互融合、構作出一組相對容易吸收與學習的經驗知識，在這之中並可能彰顯與網站定位相關的特定訊息。 本研究以為，概念合成理論能幫助我們解釋網際網路中的瀏覽經驗，是如何從媒介的物質基礎與人類的肢體與幻想中誘發出來。由介面隱喻所勾勒出的情境會激化了心智空間內豐富而複雜的互動過程，再加上電腦即時的互動性，使得使用者對該網站的概念結構與肢體動作皆會融合在一個整合的行動空間內。另外，在網站設計策略裡常見的場所隱喻及空間隱喻則是立基於「網站即空間」的概念隱喻裡，網路的空間性藉由隱喻語彙的描述、隱喻設計的增生而不斷地建構、累積、再建構，最後成為網路文化的一部份。

Os dispositivos de assistência ventricular (DAVs) podem ser utilizados para a estabilização hemodinâmica de pacientes à espera do transplante cardíaco. Os avanços nas tecnologias e a utilização de materiais biocompatíveis vem contribuindo para o desenvolvimento de dispositivos com dimensões reduzidas e menor trauma ao sangue. A avaliação do desempenho desses dispositivos demanda a utilização de simuladores hidráulicos do sistema circulatório que reproduzam as pressões e fluxos existentes nas condições fisiológicas de interesse. Este trabalho tem como objetivo o desenvolvimento de um simulador da circulação pediátrica com ajustes automatizados de pressões. O simulador é composto por um circuito hidráulico modelando os laços sistêmico e pulmonar e um sistema microcontrolado com uma interface de usuário para medição e visualização dos fluxos e pressões ventriculares e automatização dos ajustes das pressões arteriais aórtica e pulmonar (PAo, PAP) e das pressões atriais esquerda e direita (PAE, PAD). Duas bombas pulsáteis com 15 ml de volume de ejeção são utilizadas para modelar os comportamentos mecânicos dos ventrículos esquerdo e direito. As complacências da aorta e da artéria pulmonar e as pré-cargas dos ventrículos são simuladas por câmaras com volumes ajustáveis de ar e líquido (análogo sanguíneo) utilizando uma bomba de ar. As resistências hidráulicas dos laços são ajustadas por oclusores motorizados. Os sinais instantâneos dos fluxos de entrada e saída dos DAVs e das pressões arteriais, atriais e ventriculares são obtidos por transdutores e digitalizados em um microcontrolador que comanda os oclusores e a bomba de ar. Foram desenvolvidos algoritmos para ajustes das resistências, complacências e pré-cargas. Uma interface gráfica de usuário apresenta os sinais em tempo real (ou gravados) permitindo a escolha dos parâmetros e condições de simulação. O desempenho do sistema de automatização foi avaliado nas simulações de: 1) condições definidas pelo aplicativo da interface e 2) condições fisiológicas (normal e redução na contratilidade do miocárdio). No modelo hidráulico sistêmico as pressões foram ajustadas em ambas as situações com erro máximo de 0,5% para a PAo e 5% para a PAE em aproximadamente 80 segundos. No modelo completo da circulação o erro máximo para as simulações de condições fisiológicas foi de 4% para as pressões arteriais e 5% para as atriais. Os resultados obtidos demonstram que o simulador desenvolvido permite reproduzir adequadamente as características da circulação pediátrica essenciais para a avaliação do desempenho de dispositivos de assistência mecânica. O simulador é portátil, de fácil utilização e pode ser utilizado como ferramenta didática ou para o treinamento de profissionais da saúde envolvidos em assistência a pacientes com suporte circulatório. / Ventricular assist devices (VADs) can be used for the hemodynamic stabilization of patients waiting for heart transplantation. Advances in the technologies and the use of biocompatible materials have contributed to the development of devices with reduced dimensions and blood trauma. Evaluation of the performance of these devices demands the use of hydraulic simulators of the circulatory system that reproduce pressures and flows existing in physiological conditions of interest. This work aims to develop a simulator of the pediatric circulation with automated adjustments of pressures. The simulator consists of a hydraulic circuit modeling the systemic and pulmonary branches and a microcontrolled system with a user interface for monitoring flows and ventricular pressures, and automating adjustments of aortic and pulmonary arterial pressures (AoP, PAP) and left and right atrial pressures (LAP, RAP). Two pulsatile pumps with 15 ml ejection volume are used to model the mechanical behavior of the left and right ventricles. Aortic and pulmonary arterial compliances and preloads of the ventricles are simulated by chambers with adjustable volumes of air and fluid (blood analog) using an air pump. Motorized clamps adjust the hydraulic resistances of the loops. Instantaneous signals of VAD input and output flows and of arterial, atrial and ventricular pressures are obtained by transducers and digitalized in a microcontroller that commands the clamps and the air pump. Algorithms were developed to adjust the resistances, compliances and preloads. A graphical user interface displays signals in real time (or recorded) and allows selection of simulation parameters. The performance of the automation system was tested setting pressures in two situations: 1) simulations of random conditions defined by the interface software and 2) simulations of physiological conditions (normal and low myocardial contractility). In the systemic model, the pressures were adjusted in both cases (maximum error of 0.5% for AoP and 5% for LAP) in approximately 80 seconds. In the complete model, the maximum error for simulations of physiological conditions was 4% for arterial pressures and 5% for atrial pressures. The results obtained demonstrate that the simulator developed allows mimicking the relevant features of the systemic and pulmonary branches of the circulation needed to assess the performance of mechanical circulatory assist devices. The simulator is portable, easy to operate and can be applied in teaching and training of health professionals working with mechanical circulatory support of patients.

Os dispositivos de assistência ventricular (DAVs) podem ser utilizados para a estabilização hemodinâmica de pacientes à espera do transplante cardíaco. Os avanços nas tecnologias e a utilização de materiais biocompatíveis vem contribuindo para o desenvolvimento de dispositivos com dimensões reduzidas e menor trauma ao sangue. A avaliação do desempenho desses dispositivos demanda a utilização de simuladores hidráulicos do sistema circulatório que reproduzam as pressões e fluxos existentes nas condições fisiológicas de interesse. Este trabalho tem como objetivo o desenvolvimento de um simulador da circulação pediátrica com ajustes automatizados de pressões. O simulador é composto por um circuito hidráulico modelando os laços sistêmico e pulmonar e um sistema microcontrolado com uma interface de usuário para medição e visualização dos fluxos e pressões ventriculares e automatização dos ajustes das pressões arteriais aórtica e pulmonar (PAo, PAP) e das pressões atriais esquerda e direita (PAE, PAD). Duas bombas pulsáteis com 15 ml de volume de ejeção são utilizadas para modelar os comportamentos mecânicos dos ventrículos esquerdo e direito. As complacências da aorta e da artéria pulmonar e as pré-cargas dos ventrículos são simuladas por câmaras com volumes ajustáveis de ar e líquido (análogo sanguíneo) utilizando uma bomba de ar. As resistências hidráulicas dos laços são ajustadas por oclusores motorizados. Os sinais instantâneos dos fluxos de entrada e saída dos DAVs e das pressões arteriais, atriais e ventriculares são obtidos por transdutores e digitalizados em um microcontrolador que comanda os oclusores e a bomba de ar. Foram desenvolvidos algoritmos para ajustes das resistências, complacências e pré-cargas. Uma interface gráfica de usuário apresenta os sinais em tempo real (ou gravados) permitindo a escolha dos parâmetros e condições de simulação. O desempenho do sistema de automatização foi avaliado nas simulações de: 1) condições definidas pelo aplicativo da interface e 2) condições fisiológicas (normal e redução na contratilidade do miocárdio). No modelo hidráulico sistêmico as pressões foram ajustadas em ambas as situações com erro máximo de 0,5% para a PAo e 5% para a PAE em aproximadamente 80 segundos. No modelo completo da circulação o erro máximo para as simulações de condições fisiológicas foi de 4% para as pressões arteriais e 5% para as atriais. Os resultados obtidos demonstram que o simulador desenvolvido permite reproduzir adequadamente as características da circulação pediátrica essenciais para a avaliação do desempenho de dispositivos de assistência mecânica. O simulador é portátil, de fácil utilização e pode ser utilizado como ferramenta didática ou para o treinamento de profissionais da saúde envolvidos em assistência a pacientes com suporte circulatório. / Ventricular assist devices (VADs) can be used for the hemodynamic stabilization of patients waiting for heart transplantation. Advances in the technologies and the use of biocompatible materials have contributed to the development of devices with reduced dimensions and blood trauma. Evaluation of the performance of these devices demands the use of hydraulic simulators of the circulatory system that reproduce pressures and flows existing in physiological conditions of interest. This work aims to develop a simulator of the pediatric circulation with automated adjustments of pressures. The simulator consists of a hydraulic circuit modeling the systemic and pulmonary branches and a microcontrolled system with a user interface for monitoring flows and ventricular pressures, and automating adjustments of aortic and pulmonary arterial pressures (AoP, PAP) and left and right atrial pressures (LAP, RAP). Two pulsatile pumps with 15 ml ejection volume are used to model the mechanical behavior of the left and right ventricles. Aortic and pulmonary arterial compliances and preloads of the ventricles are simulated by chambers with adjustable volumes of air and fluid (blood analog) using an air pump. Motorized clamps adjust the hydraulic resistances of the loops. Instantaneous signals of VAD input and output flows and of arterial, atrial and ventricular pressures are obtained by transducers and digitalized in a microcontroller that commands the clamps and the air pump. Algorithms were developed to adjust the resistances, compliances and preloads. A graphical user interface displays signals in real time (or recorded) and allows selection of simulation parameters. The performance of the automation system was tested setting pressures in two situations: 1) simulations of random conditions defined by the interface software and 2) simulations of physiological conditions (normal and low myocardial contractility). In the systemic model, the pressures were adjusted in both cases (maximum error of 0.5% for AoP and 5% for LAP) in approximately 80 seconds. In the complete model, the maximum error for simulations of physiological conditions was 4% for arterial pressures and 5% for atrial pressures. The results obtained demonstrate that the simulator developed allows mimicking the relevant features of the systemic and pulmonary branches of the circulation needed to assess the performance of mechanical circulatory assist devices. The simulator is portable, easy to operate and can be applied in teaching and training of health professionals working with mechanical circulatory support of patients.