Koji Tsukada

ActiveBelt: Belt-Type Wearable Tactile Display for Directional Navigation

In this paper we propose a novel wearable interface called “ActiveBelt” that enables users to obtain multiple directional information with the tactile sense. Since the information provided by the tactile sense is relatively unobtrusive, it is suited for daily use in mobile environments. However, many existing systems don’t transmit complex information via the tactile sense. Most of them send only simple signals, such as vibration in cellular phones. ActiveBelt is a novel belt-type wearable tactile display that can transmit directional information. We have developed prototype systems and applications, evaluated system performance and usability, and demonstrated the possibility of practical use.

MouseField: A Simple and Versatile Input Device for Ubiquitous Computing

Although various interaction technologies for handling information in the ubiquitous computing environment have been proposed, some techniques are too simple for performing rich interaction, and others require special expensive equipments to be installed everywhere, and cannot soon be available in our everyday environment. We propose a new simple and versatile input device called the MouseField that enables users to control various information appliances easily without huge amount of cost.

Sensing fork: eating behavior detection utensil and mobile persuasive game

We propose a fork-type sensing device, Sensing Fork, which detects childrens eating behavior (eating actions and chosen food) and a smartphone game to address childrens eating problems. This paper describes the design and implementation of the Sensing Fork prototype and the play-based eating game called Hungry Panda.

The Multi-Project Support System based on multiplicity of task

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>>

CalMate: communication support system for couples using a calm avatar

Many people find that communication between men and women is difficult regardless of their efforts to understand their partners. Especially, negative feelings cause troubles on communication of couple members. In this paper, we proposed a novel communication support system for couples that helps couple members share their negative feelings and heal over them smoothly using a physical avatar.

Ubiquitous Earthquake Observation System Using Wireless Sensor Devices

Japan suffers from a high number of earthquakes, so the technology for an earthquake observation is highly demanded. One of information on an earthquake is seismic intensity information which is measured with seismic intensity meters and is announced by the media such as TV. The seismic intensity is a value observed at a location where a seismic intensity meter is placed. This means that the seismic intensity shows wide area information such as administrative districts, e.g., city, town or village. However sites where equal seismic intensity was observed would not necessarily suffer the same damage, because damage depends on the type of construction and on the nature of the seismic motion. Therefore, it is difficult to estimate the individual damage in personal area. In order to measure all the locations, it is necessary to place huge number of seismic intensity meters. In the paper, we develop the system which can observe an earthquake by using wireless sensor network technology. We use wireless nodes equipped with acceleration sensors. The system can provide useful information to predict the individual damage.

CookTab: smart cutting board for creating recipe with real-time feedback

Although many cooking recipes have been shared in the world, there are still many homemade meals that are never written down as recipes. The difficulty to create recipes of such homemade meals lies on (1) experienced cookers might not have accurate information of ingredients (e.g., weight and timing) since they often decide the amount of ingredients just by intuition, (2) they often have trouble to record such accurate information while cooking. To solve these problems, we propose a smart cutting board, CookTab, which allows a user to easily record his/her cooking activities (e.g., the names and quantities of ingredients) while provides real-time feedback to motivate him/her.

Creating texture pattern applying statistical analysis

There are considerable research projects on statistical analyses in human creation such as language, music and visual art [1][2]. We applied statistical analyses to Impressionist paintings, and found colour distributions in these paintings follow Zipfs law [3].

InCom: Support System for Informal Communication in 3D Virtual Worlds Generated from HTML Documents

The importance of informal communication on the Internet has been increasing in recent years. Several systems for informal communication have been developed. These systems, however, require a particular server and/or specialized 3D contents. In this paper, we propose a system, named InCom, for informal communication in a 3D virtual environment. Browsers which are component of InCom generate 3D virtual worlds from existing common 2D HTML documents. Browsers communicate in a peer-to-peer manner. Using avatars makes gaze awareness smooth. Our results show that users shared interests by gaze awareness.

Support system for informal communication in 3D Web world

The importance of informal communication on the Internet has been increasing in recent years. Several systems for informal communication are currently available to the public. These systems, however, require a particular server and/or specialized 3D content. In this paper, we propose a system for informal communication in a 3D virtual environment. The system makes 3D virtual worlds from existing common 2D HTML documents. Browsers communicate in a peer-to-peer manner. Construction and management of the system can be achieved with ease and at low cost in contrast with existing 3D virtual communication systems. Our results show that users shared interests by gaze awareness.