Ken Ichi Okada

3D interactive visualization for inter-cell dependencies of spreadsheets

This paper proposes a new technique to visualize dependencies among cells in a spreadsheet. In this way, the system firstly visualizes a spreadsheet on a plane in three-dimensional space, and draws arcs between interrelated cells. By allowing a user to select an arbitrary cell and lift it up with direct manipulation, the system utilizes the third dimension to ameliorate visual occlusion of crossing arcs. As the user lifts a focused cell up, the interrelated cells are lifted up together; thus hidden dataflow networks can be visually intelligible interactively. Because spreadsheets are aimed at calculation itself rather than appearances of outputs, their mechanism is relatively invisible and not obvious for ordinary users. Our visualization helps such users to understand structures and mechanism of spreadsheets.

Learning from TV programs: application of TV presentation to a videoconferencing system

In this paper, we propose to direct the visual image of a videoconferencing system. Pictures of current videoconferencing systems are often boring. We thought presentation of pictures on TV and in movies should be studied to improve videoconferencing. For this purpose, we investigated several debate programs on TV. We classified all the shots into eight classes, and then determined the duration of each shot and the transition probabilities among the classes in order to describe the structure of TV programs. From this, rules to control pictures have been obtained. After that, we made a twopoint multi-party videoconferencing system that utilizes the rules. The system includes automated control of changes in camera focus.

Presentation Technique of Scent to Avoid Olfactory Adaptation

Several tracking techniques for augmented reality have been proposed. In feature point tracking, a pose is computed by minimizing the error between the observed 2D feature points and the back-projected feature points from the 3D scene model. This minimization problem is usually solved by nonlinear optimization. The main advantage of this approach is its accuracy. However, it is difficult to compute the correct pose unless an appropriate initial value is used. In addition, when an observation contains some errors, this approach does not guarantee a correct pose even if it converges to the global minimum. Therefore, once an incorrect pose is computed in a frame, either the tracking in the next frame may fail or the result will deviate from the correct pose. In this paper, we propose a new tracking framework for augmented reality. The proposed method tracks features as multiple local hypotheses based on not just one pose but multiple poses that are computed from pose estimation in the previous frame. Since multiple poses are maintained as global hypotheses, as long as the correct pose is contained in the hypotheses, tracking can be continued even in difficult situations such as a simple iterative scene with high-speed movements.Trials on the transmission of olfactory information together with audio/visual information are currently being conducted in the field of multimedia. However, continuous emission of a scent creates problems of human adaptation to the lingering olfactory stimuli. During long movie scenes, viewers can not detect an emitted scent continuously. To overcome this problem we applied pulse ejection to repeatedly emit scent for short periods of time to ensure the olfactory stimuli do not remain in the air to cause adaptation. This study presents the decision procedure for the ejection interval Deltat required while considering the olfactory characteristics of subjects. The developed method provided the user with an olfactory experience over a long duration, avoiding adaptation.

Effective Presentation Technique of Scent Using Small Ejection Quantities of Odor

Trials on the transmission of olfactory information together with audio/visual information are currently underway. However, a problem exists in that continuous emission of scent leaves scent in the air causing human olfactory adaptation. To resolve this problem, we aimed at minimizing the quantity of scent ejected using an ink-jet olfactory display developed. Following the development of a breath sensor for breath synchronization, we next developed an olfactory ejection system to present scent on each inspiration. We then measured human olfactory characteristics in order to determine the most suitable method for presenting scent on an inspiration. Experiments revealed that the intensity of scent perceived by the user was altered by differences in the presentation method even when the quantity of scent was unchanged. We present here a method of odor presentation that most effectively minimizes the ejection quantities.

Ink jet olfactory display enabling instantaneous switches of scents

Trials on transmitting olfactory information together with audio/visual information are currently being conducted in the field of multimedia. However, continuous emission of scents creates problems of olfactory adaptations and scents lingering in the air. To overcome these problems, we developed an ink-jet olfactory display. This display has high emission control so that it can provide stable pulse emission of scents. Humans detect the scents when they breathe in and inhale scents molecules in the air. Therefore, it is important to synchronize the pulse ejection of scent presentation with the inspiration. With that, by using the pulse ejection of scents, we constructed the pulse ejection pattern what enables instantaneous switch of scents. We first measured the responding time to sense the shift of scents in order to achieve the pulse ejection pattern suited for switching the scents. Then, by using the pattern found in first experiment, we measured the shortest period of scent switching. At last, we measured the limit of switching scents. As a result, we constructed the presenting pattern of scent switching and the limit of scent switching when the scent switching was presented with its shortest period. It is expected that using this developed pattern with movies would raise the realistic sensations.

Interworkflow system: coordination of each workflow system among multiple organizations

Nowadays in many enterprises, for the purpose of efficiency improvement and the automation of the business, the workflow management system of the business process is coming into wide use. However, an individual workflow management system is introduced into each organization so the workflow system is effective as a business support inside a single organization, but it is difficult to apply this management system to coordinate business among more than two organizations. We propose Interworkflow system which coordinates each workflow system among multiple organizations. The Interworkflow system consists of three sub-systems and has a user friendly interface. We report on the fact that we have constructed an actual Interworkflow system that coordinates multiple workflow systems and confirm that it functioned effectively.

A virtual office environment based on a shared room realizing awareness space and transmitting awareness information

‘c’ ,. In t&s paper, we describe a system +at provides a “w&k-at-home” environment based on a &tual shared room built ,on”a 3D graphics w&k

The Multi-Project Support System based on multiplicity of task

ation. We realize ‘chwareness Space” o,n’ the system to avoid a tradeoff bet\veen’ ‘providing facility of informal comniunication and keeping one’s workSpace from &hers: ,a-ware’ness information. Also, this system provides the feeling of the presence at virtual office by using ‘fAround View? and “Sound Effect”. 1

An approach to encounters and interaction in a virtual environment

In an office working environment, it is very unusual that a worker is engaged in a single task until the task is completed. Generally, multitasking is the norm, so workers will belong to several project groups and work on one of the projects and then, before completing that, switch to another. Focusing on how to manage resources effectively and how to support task performance in an environment in which workers belong to multiple projects, this paper examines the provision of appropriate mechanisms to support collaborative work in the environment. We suggest a method for managing resources which uses a 3-level structure consisting of a sharing level, a working level and a personal level, and we describe the implementation of the Multi-Project Support System which is capable of supporting interrelations among workers, resources and projects.<<ETX>>

Integration of face-to-face and video-mediated meetings: HERMES

In this paper, we describe a new concept about a virtual environment on networked computers to support distributed collaborative work. We focus explicitly on tools to enable informal (casual) communications in contrast to most of the existing approaches of groupware applications. The establishment and maintenance of personal relationships is as indispensable in a virtual environment as in a physical environment, because the personal relationships lead the acquirement of new communication channels and the probability of future joints. We describe the concept of interactions in a virtual environment and two experimental tools for the one shared space in this virtual environment. These tools provide the opportunities for spontaneous, informal encounters and interactions with other people who have logged in the same networked computers, in order to support the formation and maintenance of personal relationships.