Akifumi Inoue

A CSCW system for distributed search/collection tasks using wearable computers

In this paper, we define the cooperative activities using wearable computers outdoors as WCSCW: wearable computer supported cooperative work, and assess the value of a WCSCW system for search/collection tasks. The system provides history information as well as real-time communication support. The workers searched and reconstructed the scattered (geographically distributed) puzzle pieces in three conditions; WCSCW system, share map combined with realtime communication, and audio communication only. The task completion times were the shortest in the audio communication condition, and worst in the WCSCW system condition. But workers rated their work efficiency highest in WCSCW system condition, and worst when using audio communication condition.

ToGather: Linguistic Knowledge Extraction/Sharing System from Paper Documents

We usually annotate unknown words and useful expressions with a pen while reading documents written in foreign languages. Although such annotations include a great deal of linguistic knowledge that is required for future reading and writing, these annotations are seldom reused. We propose a system that generates Web-based content using the annotations collected from paper documents written in a foreign language. This system provides a paper-and-pen interface, which is acceptable to most of us. The generated content is specialized for language study, which helps us to internalize the linguistic knowledge in it. The experimental results with a prototype revealed that the system could detect most of the correct annotations with some failures. The system could also visualize the intellectual activity of individuals and a group.

Distributed Secure Virtual File System Using FUSE

In this paper, we describe the implementation and evaluation of the distributed secure file system based on FUSE. A tremendous amount of content is now saved on file servers. File servers and network storage can also easily be installed in small organizations by using operating systems such as Linux. However, the storage capacity of PCs that are generally used is also increasing due to low-priced hard disks. The surplus disk capacity of these PCs is also increasing rapidly especially for work and research. Therefore, we need to use these surplus disks effectively by using distributed preservation of files. Furthermore, administrators may also inadvertently contribute to information leakage and falsification. Therefore, it has recently become necessary to ensure not only user authentication and communication pathways but security within the medium used for storage. Therefore, we implemented and evaluated a system we called JIGFS, which accomplishes secure file management based on a public key for all users. It also distributes and saves file using common PCs, and efficiently uses surplus disk capacity and the communication band. As it is implemented using Filesystem in USErspace (FUSE), users can use it like a conventional file system.