This research details the development of a large-scale, computer vision-based touch screen capable of supporting a large number of simultaneous hand interactions. The system features a novel lightweight multi-point tracking algorithm to improve real-time responsiveness. This system was trialled for six months in an exhibition installation at World Expo 2005 in Aichi, Japan, providing a robust, fault-tolerant interface. A pilot study was then conducted to directly compare the system against other, more established input methods (a single-touch case, a two-mouse case and a physical prototype) to determine the effectiveness and affordances of the multi-touch technology for arranging information on a large-scale wall space in a paired collaborative task. To assist in this study, a separate visualisation and interaction classification tool was developed, allowing the replay of XML log data in real time to assist in the video analysis required for observation and hypothesis testing.

Land use change has an impact on regional sustainability which can be assessed using social, economic and environmental indicators. Stakeholder engagement tools provide a platform that can demonstrate the possible future impacts land use change may have to better inform stakeholder groups of the impact of policy changes or plausible climatic variations. To date some engagement tools are difficult to use or understand and lack user interaction whilst other tools demonstrate model environments with a tightly coupled user interface, resulting in poor performance. The research and development described herein relates to the development and testing of a visualisation engine for rendering the output of an Agent Based Model (ABM) as a 3D Virtual Environment via a loosely-coupled data driven communications protocol called Protocol Buffers. The tool, named Rural Sustainability Visualisation Tool (R.S.V.T) is primarily aimed to enhance nonexpert knowledge and understanding of the effects of land use change, driven by farmer decision making, on the sustainability of a region. Communication protocols are evaluated and Protocol Buffers, a binarybased communications protocol is selected, based on speed of object serialization and data transfer, to pass message from the ABM to the 3D Virtual Environment. Early comparative testing of R.S.V.T and its 2D counterpart RepastS shows R.S.V.T and its loosely-coupled approach offers an increase in performance when rendering land use scenes. The flexibility of Protocol Buffer’s and MongoDB are also shown to have positive performance implications for storing and running of loosely-coupled model simulations. A 3D graphics Application Programming Interface (API), commonly used in the development of computer games technology is selected to develop the Virtual Environment. Multiple visualisation methods, designed to enhance stakeholder engagement and understanding, are developed and tested to determine their suitability in both user preference and information retrieval. The application of a prototype is demonstrated using a case study based in the Lunan catchment in Scotland, which has water quality and biodiversity issues due to intense agriculture. The region is modelled using three scenario storylines that broadly describe plausible futures. Business as Might Be Usual (BAMBU), Growth Applied Strategy (GRAS) and the Sustainable European Development Goal (SEDG) are the applied scenarios. The performance of the tool is assessed and it is found that R.S.V.T can run faster than its 2D equivalent when loosely coupled with a 3D Virtual Environment. The 3D Virtual Environment and its associated visualisation methods are assessed using non-expert stakeholder groups and it is shown that 3D ABM output is generally preferred to 2D ABM output. Insights are also gained into the most appropriate visualisation techniques for agricultural landscapes. Finally, the benefit of taking a loosely-coupled approach to the visualisation of model data is demonstrated through the performance of Protocol Buffers during testing, showing it is capable of transferring large amounts of model data to a bespoke visual front-end.

Technology entrepreneurs and managers aim to navigate emerging technology ventures and innovations towards successful commercialisation and business development, often over long periods of time. However, this is challenging due to high uncertainties associated with planning and navigating relevant market and business drivers, technological resources and capabilities, and applications. Failure to understand and manage these uncertainties appropriately can lead to undesired consequences and poor outcomes in the realisation of value creation and capture. This research firstly built a knowledge base of technology ventures by conducting a literature review, enabling the development of a conceptual retrospective roadmapping framework as the basis for characterising the emergence of technology ventures. This leads to an analysis of 13 case studies, characterising phases, transitions, patterns, enablers and barriers associated with the emergence of technology ventures. A conceptual model, the so-called ‘emergence archetypes’, was then developed by conducting an in-depth analysis with a further 19 case studies. The concept provides practical insights regarding how emerging technology ventures can be exposed to different levels of technological and market uncertainties along the journey of technology commercialisation and business development. Finally, a strategy visualisation tool and process have been designed based on the research outputs, and a focus group was then conducted with industrial practitioners to review and evaluate the research outputs for practical use in industry. In total, 32 case studies and a focus group have been conducted in the United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Japan, Australia and the United States. Overall, this research demonstrates that characterising technology venture emergence, by applying roadmapping principles, provides significant implications for both researchers and practitioners of strategy and innovation. Success or failure of emerging technology ventures, in terms of value creation and capture, is not only directly related to products or services, but more broadly to the innovation systems in which the technology ventures operate. By demonstrating the characterisation of technology venture emergence, the conceptualisation of emergence archetypes and the strategy visualisation tool and process development, this research shows that applying roadmapping is an appropriate method to characterise and improve emerging technology venturing practices, supporting value creation and capture.