Kuen-Meau Chen

Development and comparison of a full-scale car display and communication system by applying Augmented Reality

By adopting augmented reality (AR) and integrating the functions of wireless communication of a personal digital assistant (PDA) and a head-mounted displays (HMD), we built a design evaluation environment that combines a full-scale car display and a visual evaluation system. The image of a car is transmitted via wireless communication onto the PDA, which provides functions for measuring distances and changing parameters of the virtual car using graphical user interfaces (GUI). The updated car image is constructed on the fly on a PC server and sent back to the HMD and the PDA. Multiple users can look at a virtual car simultaneously and discuss its various aspects, enabling better evaluation of the car design.

Chinese web browser design utilising cultural icons

This study investigates the appropriateness and effectiveness of the design of icons for a Chinese web browser. Web browser developments are outlined, together with the future potential growth of Chinese internet users. The findings of the study show that the subjects shown icons and text, had higher recognition rates, and had higher satisfaction ratings. Furthermore, some evidence points to a gender bias in favour of males in terms of recognition and females in terms of satisfaction. Future work is suggested in terms of refining the web browser icons and exploring the usability of colour and 3D effects.

A Solution to Revisitation Using Organic Bookmark Management

This research paper presents the design and user evaluation of an add-in software program referred to as Organic Bookmark Management (OBM). This system will complement the Bookmark and History functions by enabling users to navigate more efficiently using organic visual graphical cues. The findings from formative user studies conducted by this research have defined web usage and analysis of web browsing in terms of navigation patterns. Evaluation of the OBM alternative to the normal “hub and spoke” navigation structure of traditional Bookmarks and History functions will be conducted. The main difference between this schema and conventional designs is that it maintains a complete and consistent visual display of previously bookmarked and visited pages based on an organic metaphor. Implementation decisions and present results of usability studies in which we deploy the prototype are discussed. The results show that OBM brings qualitative improvement to the browsing experience of users.

Testing of a Novel Web Browser Interface for the Chinese Market

This paper compares the perspicacity, appropriateness and preference of web browser icons from leading software providers with those of a culture-specific design. This online study was conducted in Taiwan and involved 103 participants, who were given three sets of web browser icons to review, namely Microsoft Internet Explorer, Macintosh Safari, and culturally specific icons created using the Culture-Centred Design methodology. The findings of the study show that all three sets have generally high recognition rates, but that some icon functions (e.g. Go/Visit and Favourite) in all three sets have poor recognition rates and are considered inappropriate.

Using music and motion analysis to construct 3D animations and visualisations

Abstract This paper presents a study into music analysis, motion analysis and the integration of music and motion to form creative natural human motion in a virtual environment. Motion capture data is extracted to generate a motion library, this places the digital motion model at a fixed posture. The first step in this process is to configure the motion path curve for the database and calculate the possibility that two motions were sequential through the use of a computational algorithm. Every motion is then analysed for the next possible smooth movement to connect to, and at the same time, an interpolation method is used to create the transitions between motions to enable the digital motion models to move fluently. Lastly, a searching algorithm sifts for possible successive motions from the motion path curve according to the music tempo. It was concluded that the higher ratio of rescaling a transition, the lower the degree of natural motion.

The provision of digital information in the seat comfort of the seat design

A great number of factors affect the uncomfortable of seats. Apart from external appearance, the most important is the comfort for users in designing an un-adjustable seat. A system or suggested principles which assist designers in designing the comfort of the seats to testees will benefit waist of users, and hence prevent them from potential discomfort and injuries. This study attempts to develop digital design platforms, and allows designers to measure the design scale of the comfort. We expect to find the association between seat parameter interaction and comfort. For example, when the seat height is much lower than the knee of testees, they can stretch calf forward if the space allows, so that their thighs contact the surface of the seat to share sciatic pressure in greater comfort. We believe to have changes of comfort in opposition to different seat parameter combinations. The final results will help effective reference parameters of comfort in seat design.

Comparing the perspicacity, appropriateness and preference of web browser icons with Chinese users

This paper compares the perspicacity, appropriateness and preference of web browser icons from leading software providers with those of a culture-specific design. This online study was conducted in Taiwan and involved 103 participants, who were given three sets of web browser icons to review, namely Microsoft Internet Explorer, Macintosh Safari and culturally specific icons created using the Culture-Centred Design methodology. The findings of the study show that all three sets have generally high recognition rates in the region of 80%, but that some icon functions (e.g. Go/Visit and Favourite) in all three sets have poor recognition rates in the region of 60% and are considered inappropriate and below the ISO threshold of success.

Color Imagery of Skin Tone and Eyeglass Frames

This study aimed to explore the colour imagery of skin tone and eyeglass frames, and whether this affects the preferences of consumers. Glasses are a focal point on the face and we wished to understand whether the frame colour along with skin tone affects the entire facial image. Many businesses provide suggestions on choosing frames that complement one’s skin tone, but what is the basis of these recommendations? We conducted a questionnaire survey and analysed the results using two-way ANOVA and regression analysis. Results were as follows: (1) skin tone significantly influences preference; (2) the colour of eyeglass frames significantly influences preference; (3) the interaction of skin tone and frame colour does not significantly affect preference; (4) consumers with lighter skin tone tend to prefer black frames; (5) elegant, simple, fresh imagery significantly and positively influences preference. Our results showed that when consumers are choosing glasses, the colour relationship between skin tone and glasses frames does not significantly influence their decisions; however, when it comes to choosing the frames, consumers place more emphasis on their skin tone or colour preferences.

Gesture-Based Human-Machine Interface: A Case Study Comparing the Realism of Furniture Products in E-Commerce

This paper presents a gesture-based augmented reality system, which enables users to adjust the size, coordinates, rotation angles, and other parameters via hand gestures. The proposed approach significantly enhances accuracy in identifying hand gestures and labels. To assess the accuracy of product representation, we compared the presentation of products in the forms of internet pictures (IP), augmented reality (AR), full-sized augmented reality (FSAR), and physical product (PP) demonstration. It was found that, in the example of furniture evaluation, augmented reality provided more three-dimensional information than internet pictures; however, internet pictures proved superior in terms of ease of operation and manufacturing. Despite 3D rendering integrated within a real-world environment, augmented reality failed to match the demonstration of physical products with regard to the accuracy of representation.

A case study of design imagination in product design

This research was conducted through a literature review, case studies, and interviews with experts on award-winning works in international design competitions. Through qualitative analysis of these design projects, the author identified several paths leading from imaginative constructs to conceptual development in the design process: thematic relationships, conjunctive interpretation, the transfer of attributes, inherited attributes, causal relationships, analogical relationships, multi-level inclusive relationships, and the interpretation of contrasting meaning. Lastly, statistical analysis was used to determine the weight of each conceptual development mode in the design process. Results show that the most significant mode of conceptual development in the overall design process is causal relationships, followed in decreasing order by multi-level inclusive relationships, the interpretation of contrasting meaning, and lastly, the interpretation failure. It is hoped that the results of this study will serve as a useful reference in design education, particularly with regard to the development of imaginative and creative capacity.