Machiko Sannomiya

The Modality Effect on Text Processing as a Function of Organization

The effect of presentation modality on text memory was reexamined. It was different from that on memory for semantical ly unrelated materials: (1) The effect was obtained only for material difficult to comprehend. (2) Audiovisual presentation was not superior to visual presentation. (3) The effect was not restricted to the recency part of the material. The findings can be accounted for by the assumption of capacity shortage due to automatic translation of visually presented verbal stimuli into an auditory form. They would not be predicted from the assumption of separate precategorical stores with different retention times for auditory and visual input.

Development and evaluation of the flower identification database for mobile with a geo-tagged picture map

We developed a system for creating geo-tagged observational picture maps that makes use of a GPS logger that is equipped with a database of flowers that can be used for the identification of these flowers. This database includes 961 color photographs of 220 varieties of flowers that are commonly found in Japan. The system has the following functionalities: the ability to search and identify flowers by season, color, and name; the ability to view high-resolution video clips showing scenes that are difficult to observe, such as the dispersal of seeds; detailed explanations on the method of identifying similar flowers that are hard to distinguish; and the ability to assist in the creation of an observational picture map by automatically showing photographs together with observational comments on a Google Maps based on GPS signal data. The system was trialed with 208 sophomore university students as part of a fieldwork involving the observation of wild flowers. As a result of the trial, the effectiveness of the system was validated in the following four domains: (1) interest, motivation, and attitude; (2) thinking and decision making; (3) technique and expression; and (4) knowledge and understanding.

PSYCHOLOGY OF COMPUTER USE: XIII. SOME FACTORS ABOUT AN INFORMATION-SENDING DEVICE WHICH SENDERS FEEL IS INCONVENIENT

The present study examined three factors and their interactions which make us feel a voice-recognition system is inconvenient as a device for sending information: sending unit, accuracy of recognition per unit, and response time per unit. The main results were as follows: (1) All three factors influenced feelings of the inconvenience of a voice recognition system. (2) Sending tasks even with the smallest unit such as monosyllable do not cause feelings of inconvenience when recognition accuracy is high (95% or 100%) and response occurs almost in real time. (3) Recognition accuracy and response time cannot compensate for each other to reduce feelings of inconvenience.