Yu Shibuya

Low TCO and high-speed network infrastructure with virtual technology

In our university, we have updated our network infrastructure from ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) network system to 10-Giga Ethernet system in March, 2009. The new system has 2 major features. One is ring topology with 10GBASE-X Ethernet. This feature enables lower initial cost than star topology because an ordinary star topology requires very expensive core switch system which can contain many 10GBASE-X GBICs (this device is also very expensive). The second is Virtual Chassis technology of Juniper Networks. This feature allows up to 10 switches to be interconnected and managed as a single, logical device. Thus it enables lower management cost than a system with many individual switches. In this paper, we show merits and demerits of our system against ordinary star topology.

Augmented Practice Mirror: A Self-learning Support System of Physical Motion with Real-Time Comparison to Teacher's Model

An effective way to learn some physical motions such as dancing, playing sports, making traditional crafts, and so on, is to mimic teachers motion. In this style of learning, it is important for the learner to recognize the difference between the teachers motion and his/her one. We propose Augmented Practice Mirror (APM) learning support system. APM shows the mirror image of learners motion overlapped teachers one, and the difference between them. These three images are shown simultaneously on a large screen as virtual mirror in real time. As a result of the experimental evaluations, it was found that APM was better in recognizing the difference between the participants motion and the teachers one than two common methods, and that the hybrid interface of voice recognition and gesture was better than the single interface of voice recognition or gesture for operating APM.

Mode analysis of a dielectric-loaded Raman-type free-electron laser

The Raman-type free-electron laser consists of a relativistic electron beam contained in a dielectric-induced parallel plate waveguide and an array of permanent magnets for the wiggler. Under the influence of the periodic magnetostatic field, the coupling between the scattered electromagnetic wave of the TE mode (positive-energy wave) and the electron plasma wave of the TM mode (negative-energy wave) is investigated in detail. The following results are obtained. First, when a dielectric sheet is loaded on the waveguide, the maximum growth rate and the oscillation frequency can be greater than those for the vacuum Raman-type free-electron laser. Second, by choosing proper values for the relative permittivity of the dielectric sheet and the ratio of the beam guide, the beam energy can be greatly lowered without degrading the oscillation characteristics. Third, the growth rate decays exponentially with the oscillation frequency kept almost constant as the beam-dielectric gap increases. >

A web browsing method on handheld touch screen devices for preventing from tapping unintended links

In recent years, it is common thing to browse Web pages with mobile devices, such as smart phones. However, users sometimes tap the wrong link when they scroll or zoom web pages because of the relatively small display area of mobile device and sensitivity of touch screen. In such case, it is necessary to stop of loading the page or back to the previous page after the page changed. It seems that above unintended operation might increase the total browsing time and users frustration. In this study, we aimed to prevent users from tapping unintended links for effectively web browsing with touch-screen mobile devices. The proposed method has two kind of operation mode. They are a tapping mode and non-tapping mode. With the tapping mode, users can tap the link and change the mode only. On the other hand, with the non-tapping mode, users can do swipe, pinch, and mode change operation but they cannot tap any links. Furthermore, mode change operation, we adopt the Bezel Swipe operation, is intuitive and efficient. The results of the experimental evaluation showed that the rate of tapping the unintended links with the proposed method was lower than that with conventional method. However, the task completion time with proposed method is longer than that with conventional method.

Moodle integration of an automated account enabling system and a user status collection system

In this paper, we present a Moodle integrated system that combines an automated account enabling subsystem (AAES) and a user logon status collection subsystem in a computer lab (CULS). The AAES lets each new user learn how to use our computer system and the terms of use. After that the user can enable various computer services such as on-demand printing, network outlet service, and remote access after passing our automated examination in Moodle. The CULS shows information on users in the computer lab through our Moodle system. We have also implemented the capability of setting privacy levels for each role. For example, in the teacher role of a course, a user can get information about course-registered users, while the ordinary student role users can only get the number of free PCs available. The Moodle system content is available in both Japanese and English.

High-speed network infrastructure between KIT's campuses for computer system redundancy

In our university, we have updated our network infrastructure from Cisco-based 1-gigabit Ethernet system to Brocade-based 10-Gigabit Ethernet system in December 2012. We use a Brocade VDX Switch for aggregation Switch. It enables not only IP networking but also provides Fibre Channel and/or Fibre Channel over IP/Ethernet. Moreover, it provides connectivity between the Matsugasaki and Saga campuses (about a 10km distance) with 10GBASE-ZR Ethernet via our regional data center. It enables a campus-wide IP Storage Area Network (SAN), allowing computer systems to be operated with distributed environments, so our computer system will have redundant features against disasters. In this paper, we will discuss the merits and drawbacks of our system.

Visualizing Velocity and Acceleration on Augmented Practice Mirror Self-Learning Support System of Physical Motion

An effective way to learn some physical motions such as dancing, playing sports, making traditional crafts, and so on, is to mimic teachers motion. In this style of learning, it is important for the learner to recognize the difference between the teachers motion and his/her one. Augmented Practice Mirror (APM) is a learning support system which shows the mirror image of learners motion overlapped teachers one, and the difference between them. In addition, the velocity and acceleration of the body movement is also important to understand the teachers motion. In this paper, we propose a visualization method of the velocity and acceleration of the teachers motion for the learner to understand it more easily and clearly.

Introduction of Action Interface and Its Experimental Uses for Device Control, Performing Art, and Menu Selection

Abstract Action Interface is a new type of man-machine interface which uses a users action as an input method. Users are able to control machines or to perform art with their body movement i.e. their action. The system of Action Interface introduced in this paper basically consists of video camera, PC, and display. Some ideas are proposed to improve the response time and accuracy of Action Interface. Action Interface is usable to control dcvice. e.g. to change camera view. To make an interactive games with action interface is also interesting. Furthermore. Action Interface is usable for menu selection with proper menu design.

Effect of Haptic Perception on Remote Human-Pet Interaction

Even when a pet owner is away from his/her pet, he/she often wants to feel closer to the pet. The purpose of this study is to provide a means for the pet owner to feel the presence of his/her pet even when away from it; this is achieved by exchange of haptic feedback. In this paper, we describe such a remote haptic interaction system that consists of haptic devices for remote haptic communication; we also utilize tablets for video chat. A pet owner and his/her pet can feel closer to one another via haptic responses generated by corresponding haptic device. Two experimental evaluations were conducted to compare interactions between a pet owner and his/her pet using our system with another interactions achieved only via video chat. Results showed that these remote haptic interactions increased the pet owner’s feeling of communicating with his/her pet. In general, pet owners reported feeling closer to their pet by using our system.

The model of media conference

Abstract The routine conferences are classified into four types: i.e. 1-message transfer, 2-transaction, 3- coordination, 4- tactic decision type. General conference models of the transaction and coordination type are formulated and experimental analysis of the model are described in this paper