Hiroki Takada

Visual ergonomics of 3D stereoscopic images: Augmented reality using smart glasses

R binocular see-through smart glasses have become available. These glasses stereoscopically overlay a virtual image on a real world image and are used as a form of augmented reality (AR). People can utilize these devices in many ways, including in industrial environments. We aimed to quantitatively estimate the efficiency of information seeking when using these smart glasses. We employed a uniquely developed “Route Tracking Test (RTT)” using 3D imaging and AR technologies. With the help of 143 volunteers participating, we evaluated the ease and accuracy of an information seeking task. A comparison was made between using and not using the smart glasses. Also, we measured their accommodation when they watched 2 targets of real and virtual images. We found that the smart glasses significantly increased the ease and accuracy of the task. Finally, we confirmed the advantage of the smart glasses compared with conventional operational work based on paper instructions. We propose the following guideline for good visual recognition with binocular see-through 3D smart glasses. 1. In AR work guidance, these glasses stereoscopically overlay a virtual image so that the workers can see the operating field and the guidance simultaneously. The viewing distance of the virtual guidance should be the same as or a little closer than the operating objects. Otherwise, the glasses cannot superimpose the guidance and working field. 2. The inter-pupillary distance (IPD) of the smart glasses should be suitable for most users and controllable. If the IPD setting of the glasses is wider than that of users, the users will not be able to recognize the virtual guidance. The IPD setting should be controllable between 57 mm to 69 mm for the 95 percentile of Japanese of both sexes. 3. The luminance of the virtual guidance images and real operating fields should be similar.Patients and Methods: 70 patients were included in this prospective non randomized non intervention study. The patients were divided into 3 groups: Group (A): 25 eyes of patients diagnosed with proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Group (B): 25 eyes with non proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Group (C): 20 control eyes in non diabetic patients. To be able to take an aqueous sample all patients were diagnosed with surgically indicated cataract. Aqueous humor sample collection was done for all groups before they underwent their cataract extraction surgery. Patients with previous intra vitreal injection were excluded. Collection of 0.1 0.2 ml aqueous humor fluid was conducted in the operating theater just prior to intraocular surgery by way of limbal anterior chamber puncture. Serum samples were collected prior to cataract surgery, for measuring serum, HDL, LDL, Fasting blood glucose, HbA1c and ESR levels. ELISA was used for VEGF concentration in samples. Statistical methods included mean value, Pearson correlations/ p-value, linear regression, and ROC curve analysis

Forms in Economics and Business Administration

From November 15th to 17th, 2013, the 76th Symposium of the Science on Form was held at Aoyama Gakuin University in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan. The theme of the symposium was “Forms recognized in Economics and Business Administration” (The Society for Science on Form, Japan, 2013). Due to their abstract nature, Economics and Business Administration have not received much attention academically in the field of science of form. Therefore, on this occasion, we found it necessary to take up this theme again to contribute to the advancement of the “Science of Form”. At the symposium, oral presentations were given on subjects related to “Economics or Business Administration and form”, in which the topics were not limited only to a tangible form, but also included form as an abstract concept. On the first day of the symposium, Professor Akiko Kamesaka from Aoyama Gakuin University School of Business Administration gave a presentation as an invited lecturer (Kamesaka, 2013). On the second day, Professor Takeshi Yoshida from Aoyama Gakuin University School of Business Administration also gave a presentation as a guest lecturer (Yoshida, 2013), and Professor Hiroki Takada from Fukui University Graduate School of Engineering gave a presentation as a special lecturer (Takada, 2013). In addition, some society members also gave insightful reports during general presentation sessions (Suzuki et al., 2013; Takaki, 2013). To commemorate these achievements, the editorial board of this journal FORMA of the Society of Science on Form planned to publish an issue specific to this symposium.

Development of Train Simulator for Evaluation of Human-Machine Interface

Development of Train Simulator for Evaluation of Human-Machine Interface Kouichi YANAGAWA, Hitoshi TSUNASHIMA and Takashi KOJIMA 1 はじめに 列車の運転は,自動車と比較して運転が単調になり やすい特徴を有しており,ヒューマンエラーの原因の 一つに運転士の覚醒度低下が挙げられる.ヒューマン エラー事故の防止方策として,鉄道会社では乗務員の 教育・訓練が行われている.また,バックアップとし て自動列車停止装置(Automatic Train Stop: ATS)な どを採用してきた.一部の鉄道では,自動列車運転装 置(Automatic Train Operation: ATO)を導入し,運転 を自動化させている事例もある.しかし,自動化を進 めることにより運転士は監視作業が中心となり,覚醒 度低下が懸念される.自動車分野では,ドライバの生 体情報や運転挙動から居眠りを検知し,警告を与える 居眠り運転警報装置が研究されている 1) 2).鉄道にお いては,ヒューマンファクタに関する基礎的研究が行 われているが3),積極的な運転支援にまで至っていな いのが現状である.そこで,列車運転におけるヒュー マンエラーを事前に防止するために,人間の特性を考 慮した運転支援システムの開発が必要であると考えら れる.このようなシステムを開発するためには,運転 士がどのような情報認知を行い,それにもとづいてど のような判断を行い,行動をとるのかを把握すること が重要となる.このような運転行動を解析するために は,運転士の生体計測などを様々な条件のもとで行え る運転シミュレータが必要となる.そこで,本研究で は,人間 -機械系評価用列車運転シミュレータを開発 し 4) 5) ,運転士の生態計測を行っている.本稿では, 本装置の概要と立体視への展開について述べる. 2 シミュレータの構成 ヒューマンファクタに関する研究の実験手法として 運転シミュレータを用いるためには,実験の目的に即 した環境が柔軟に構築可能であることが有効である. この観点から,システムは,通常の運転操作が違和感 なく行える程度とし,研究目的からの必要性に応じて 機能を強化する方針で,最小の構成とした.また,ソ フトウェアを独自に作成することで,車両特性の変更 や路線の作成,また,運転支援システムの組み込み等 を可能にした.構成が簡単でかつ臨場感を与えるため に,ソフトウェアによる模擬を多く取り入れた. 本装置のシステム構成を図2に示す.車両制御コン ピュータ,運転台,計器盤表示モニタ,スピーカの車 両再現部と,視界生成コンピュータ,プロジェクタ, スクリーンの視界再現部,指令コンピュータから構成 される.運転士が操作する運転台のハンドル位置が車 両制御コンピュータに入力され,車両特性にもとづい て車両運動計算や音響の生成,計器盤画像の生成等を 行う.計算した車両位置は視界生成コンピュータに送 られる.この情報に視差を付加し,コンピュータグラ フィクスの視界画像を生成し,プロジェクタから前方 の 70インチスクリーンに投影する.計器の変更や運 転支援の表示システムの評価等が行えるように,計 器盤を計器盤表示モニタ上に表示した.また,指令コ ンピュータからは,事故の発生や駅の移動,運転デー タの記録等の操作が行える. 軌道不整と車両運動モデルによって車両の振動を計 算し,スクリーンの視界画像を揺らすことにより,