Mitsuru Minakuchi

Zooming cross-media: a zooming description language coding LOD control and media transition

We propose a “Zooming Cross-Media” concept that uses zooming to achieve both changes in the level of detail and transitions between media, for contents containing varied media. Examples are text, images, video, and sound. As part of the concept, we propose a zooming description language (ZDL) based on XML. Unlike existing zooming interfaces, ZDL codes the zooming operation and behavior on the content side. Because ZDL adopts XML coding, we can locate “zooming” as the third interface in the Web document environment after “scrolling” and “anchor clicking.” The zooming operation and behavior is independently coded from the content structure in ZDL. With ZDL, it is possible to (1) control the zooming of each “zoom object” making up the contents, (2) control the degree of zooming by introducing a “zoom rate” parameter, and (3) relate objects mutually and specify zooming propagation between related objects.

Automatic kinetic typography composer

Animated text, commonly called kinetic typography, is any attractive visual expression used in films, TV programs, video games, etc. Previous studies have developed tools that support the authoring and rendering of kinetic typography. However, authoring kinetic typography is not easy because its methodology is still at an early stage. Hence, we systematize expression elements in kinetic typography and propose an automatic composer that converts raw text into kinetic typography data.

Towards Integration Services for Heterogeneous Resources: An Integrated Search Engine forWeb Content and TV Programs

A search engine that can handle TV programs and Web content in an integrated way is proposed. Conventional search engines can target Web content and/or data stored in desktop PCs. However, in the future, the information to be searched is expected to be stored in various places such as in hard-disk recorders, digital cameras, mobile devices, and even in real space, and a search engine that can search across such heterogeneous resources will become essential. As a first step towards developing such a next-generation search engine, a prototype search system is proposed that can handle Web content as an information source with hyperlinks and TV programs as another without them, that performs integrated searches of those content, and that can subsequently search for content related to each search result. An integrated search is achieved by generating integrated indices based on keywords obtained from TV programs and Web content and by ranking them, and a chain search for related content is done by calculating the similarities of and ranking the content in the integrated indices. A zoom-based display of the results enables information to be acquired efficiently. Testing a prototype of the system validated the approach of the proposed method.

Energy browser: to make exercise enjoyable and interesting

Previously, we developed a Web browser called the EnergyBrowser system that gives people an incentive to exercise. In the EnergyBrowser system, the user wears a motion sensor and walks/runs on a treadmill. Web pages are displayed incrementally in proportion to the rate of walking/running. The user can exercise while browsing the Web. In this paper, we will evaluate the effectiveness of the EnergyBrowser system, which we exhibited at an open house and evaluated using a questionnaire. We will discuss the effectiveness of our system.

Proposal of integrated search engine of web and TV contents

A search engine that can handle TV programs and Web content in an integrated way is proposed. Conventional search engines have been able to handle Web content and/or data stored in a PC desktop as target information. In the future, however, the target information is expected to be stored in various places such as in hard-disk (HD)/DVD recorders, digital cameras, mobile devices, and even in real space as ubiquitous content, and a search engine that can search across such heterogeneous resources will become essential. Therefore, as a first step towards developing such next-generation search engine, a prototype search system for Web and TV programs is developed that performs integrated search of those content, and that allows chain search where related content can be accessed from each search result. The integrated search is achieved by generating integrated indices for Web and TV content based on vector space model and by computing similarity between the query and all the content described by the indices. The chain search of related content is done by computing similarity between the selected result and all other content based on the integrated indices. Also, the zoom-based display of the search results enables to control media transition and level of details of the contents to acquire information efficiently. In this paper, testing of a prototype of the integrated search engine validated the approach taken by the proposed method.

Kinetic typography for ambient displays

We propose the use of kinetic typography for displaying text information on ambient displays. We conducted a preliminary experiment on the readability of kinetic typography in a dual-task situation. The results showed that kinetic typography might be less readable but was effective for catching the users attention and gave an aesthetically pleasing impression. We implemented our AmbientMailer system that notifies the user of e-mail messages in ubiquitous environments using the characteristics of kinetic typography.

Content adaptation for gradual web rendering

We previously proposed a gradual Web rendering system. This system rendered Web content incrementally according to the context of the user and the environment, enabling casual Web browsing. Unfortunately, it had low levels of readability and enjoyment. In this paper, we describe the problems with it and introduce content adaptation mechanisms to solve these problems.

Content browsing by walking in real and cyber spaces

“Walking” style operations for browsing content are described. This style is intuitive and enjoyable and enables the daily use of digital content. We illustrate the concept with two examples. One is EnergyBrowser, a physical walking interface for browsing Web pages. The other is a comparative 3D archive browser, which is for 3D archives. It automatically controls the viewpoint in comparing content based on the users view control in focused content.