The Advanced Institute of Convergence Information Technology (AICIT) organized the 3nd International Conference on Convergence and Hybrid Information Technology in 부산 (Busan, South Korea) on 11-13 November 2008. My talk "Age in Ubiquitous Computing: a Thin Thread" occurred during the New Trends of Information Sciences and Services workshop, which I chaired.
I extended my 15-minutes talk as several speakers were missing, and got numerous general questions about children. Read the post "Publication #22" for details about the publication.
The conference was disappointing because most sessions featured unrelated topics and because numerous speakers were missing; I hope that the organizers will more thoroughly select and group the papers next time. As usual in South Korea, the buffets were excellent; the nearby 해운대 (Haeundae) beach was beautiful and relaxing.
Showing posts with label universal access. Show all posts
Showing posts with label universal access. Show all posts
13 November 2008
29 August 2008
2nd International Conference on Convergence and Hybrid Information Technology in 대전 (Daejeon, South Korea), 28-29 August 2008
The Security Engineering Research Center (SERC) organized the 2nd International Conference on Convergence and Hybrid Information Technology in 대전 (Daejeon, South Korea) on 28-29 August 2008. My talk "Improving Quality of Life from Birth to Old Age with Ubiquitous Computing and Virtual Reality" occurred during the Bio & Health Informatics session.
My 15-minutes talk went well but I was not asked any question at the end. Read the post "Publication #20" for details about the publication.
The conference was a bit disappointing because several speakers were missing, and the audience was not very active; I expect this to improve by 2010, when the conference should attract more diverse attendees. As usual in South Korea, the lunches and dinner were excellent.
My 15-minutes talk went well but I was not asked any question at the end. Read the post "Publication #20" for details about the publication.
The conference was a bit disappointing because several speakers were missing, and the audience was not very active; I expect this to improve by 2010, when the conference should attract more diverse attendees. As usual in South Korea, the lunches and dinner were excellent.
21 September 2007
日本バーチャルリアリティ学会第12回大会 (12th annual conference of the Virtual Reality Society of Japan) in 福岡 (Fukuoka, Japan), 19-21 September 2007
The 日本バーチャルリアリティ学会 (Virtual Reality Society of Japan) organized its 12th annual conference in 福岡 (Fukuoka, Japan) between the 19 and 21 September 2007. My talk "基本欲求を満たすウェアラブル・コンピュータ：子供と高齢者の特徴" ("Fundamental Needs in Wearable Computing: Specificities of Young People and Older Adults") occurred during the session on wearable computing.
After my 10-minutes talk, the chairman asked me to discuss the importance of psychology in wearable computing. This request was pertinent because Japanese research usually focuses on wearable technologies without considering broad issues related to human factors. I indicated that psychology, culture, and age considerations are critical for the creation of wearables suited to the general public, and for the adoption of the technologies. One could ignore this point, develop technologies and wait for somebody else to properly exploit them but this has several drawbacks: (1) nobody may do the proper work because our wearable community is quite small, (2) some features may conflict with human needs and may be difficult to correct afterwards, (3) delays in technological adoption limits potential users' benefits and inventor's financial benefits.
Before finishing, a researcher working on head-mounted displays asked: "How shall we prepare our experiments with children?". I indicated that this is a thorny issue because experiments with children raise ethical problems: our experiments may negatively affect children's health or development due to our ignorance regarding human development from birth to adulthood. Therefore we should at least work with experienced and authorized psychologists and medical doctors.
Read the post "Publication #16" for details about the publication. An overview of my work on young people and older adults was presented two weeks before during a seminar (see related post) at 연세대학교 (Yonsei university) in 서울 (Seoul, South Korea). Details about the specificities of older adults were published in France in April (Publication #12), and details about young people will be presented in South Korea in November (Publication #17).
The conference went on finely and I could benefit from a tour of 九州大学大橋キャンパス (campus Oohashi of Kyushu university). I was particularly impressed by the 環境適応研究実験施設 (research center for human environmental adaptation), which was created to clarify the conditions for healthy and comfortable living environments, with a focus on human environmental adaptability. Its 744m2 building contains: (1) an hyperbaric & hypobaric chamber to simulate deep sea and high altitude air pressure, (2) an illumination chamber to test feelings about light and its impact on e.g. the biological clock, (3) a combined factor chamber with control over air temperature, air humidity and air velocity, (4) a thermal chamber to simulate cold places, (5) a living environment chamber with a bathroom, kitchen and toilets but without windows and clocks, (6) a water immersion chamber, and (7) a thermal radiation chamber. The knowledge gathered by this center as well as the potential for experiments are particularly suited to the development of wearable computers and intelligent environments dedicated to the improvement of the general public's quality of life.
Finally, I discussed with 佐藤 誠 (SATO Makoto), who was my supervisor at 東京工業大学 (Tokyo Institute of Technology) in 2002, and who is still developing haptic systems such as the SPIDAR.
After my 10-minutes talk, the chairman asked me to discuss the importance of psychology in wearable computing. This request was pertinent because Japanese research usually focuses on wearable technologies without considering broad issues related to human factors. I indicated that psychology, culture, and age considerations are critical for the creation of wearables suited to the general public, and for the adoption of the technologies. One could ignore this point, develop technologies and wait for somebody else to properly exploit them but this has several drawbacks: (1) nobody may do the proper work because our wearable community is quite small, (2) some features may conflict with human needs and may be difficult to correct afterwards, (3) delays in technological adoption limits potential users' benefits and inventor's financial benefits.
Before finishing, a researcher working on head-mounted displays asked: "How shall we prepare our experiments with children?". I indicated that this is a thorny issue because experiments with children raise ethical problems: our experiments may negatively affect children's health or development due to our ignorance regarding human development from birth to adulthood. Therefore we should at least work with experienced and authorized psychologists and medical doctors.
Read the post "Publication #16" for details about the publication. An overview of my work on young people and older adults was presented two weeks before during a seminar (see related post) at 연세대학교 (Yonsei university) in 서울 (Seoul, South Korea). Details about the specificities of older adults were published in France in April (Publication #12), and details about young people will be presented in South Korea in November (Publication #17).
The conference went on finely and I could benefit from a tour of 九州大学大橋キャンパス (campus Oohashi of Kyushu university). I was particularly impressed by the 環境適応研究実験施設 (research center for human environmental adaptation), which was created to clarify the conditions for healthy and comfortable living environments, with a focus on human environmental adaptability. Its 744m2 building contains: (1) an hyperbaric & hypobaric chamber to simulate deep sea and high altitude air pressure, (2) an illumination chamber to test feelings about light and its impact on e.g. the biological clock, (3) a combined factor chamber with control over air temperature, air humidity and air velocity, (4) a thermal chamber to simulate cold places, (5) a living environment chamber with a bathroom, kitchen and toilets but without windows and clocks, (6) a water immersion chamber, and (7) a thermal radiation chamber. The knowledge gathered by this center as well as the potential for experiments are particularly suited to the development of wearable computers and intelligent environments dedicated to the improvement of the general public's quality of life.
Finally, I discussed with 佐藤 誠 (SATO Makoto), who was my supervisor at 東京工業大学 (Tokyo Institute of Technology) in 2002, and who is still developing haptic systems such as the SPIDAR.
08 September 2007
Publication #15 - Fundamental Needs in Wearable Computing: Constraints on Features & Universal Access
My 6-pages paper "Fundamental Needs in Wearable Computing: Constraints on Features & Universal Access" written with 橋爪宏達 (HASHIZUME Hiromichi) was published at the 10th IFAC symposium on Human-Machine Systems the 4 September 2007 (see post on HMS 2007).
Abstract: The creation of wearable systems should take into account human fundamental needs and diversity as well as ecological settings but they are often neglected in favour of core functions. To guide further research and development, we present and discuss issues related to the variety and evolution of human characteristics, psycho-social needs, fashion, legal frames, interactions between technologies, and physical environments. These elements highlight critical assumptions as well as constraints imposed on the features of wearable computers, and on universal access.
Publication: <http://horizons.free.fr/home/documents/publications/2007-09-04_hms_needs-wearable-constraints-access.pdf>
Co-author: 橋爪宏達 (HASHIZUME Hiromichi) obtained his Ph.D. of engineering in Japan from the electric engineering section of 東京大学 (University of Tokyo). He is currently professor at 国立情報学研究所 (National Institute of Informatics) in 東京 (Tokyo, Japan).
Abstract: The creation of wearable systems should take into account human fundamental needs and diversity as well as ecological settings but they are often neglected in favour of core functions. To guide further research and development, we present and discuss issues related to the variety and evolution of human characteristics, psycho-social needs, fashion, legal frames, interactions between technologies, and physical environments. These elements highlight critical assumptions as well as constraints imposed on the features of wearable computers, and on universal access.
Publication: <http://horizons.free.fr/home/documents/publications/2007-09-04_hms_needs-wearable-constraints-access.pdf>
Co-author: 橋爪宏達 (HASHIZUME Hiromichi) obtained his Ph.D. of engineering in Japan from the electric engineering section of 東京大学 (University of Tokyo). He is currently professor at 国立情報学研究所 (National Institute of Informatics) in 東京 (Tokyo, Japan).
10th IFAC symposium on Human-Machine Systems in 서울 (Seoul, South Korea), 4-6 September 2007
The International Federation of Automatic Control (IFAC) successfully organized the 10th international symposium on Analysis, Design, and Evaluation of Human-Machine Systems in 서울 (Seoul, South Korea) between the 4 and 6 September 2007. My talk "Fundamental Needs in Wearable Computing: Constraints on Features & Universal Access" occurred during the first session on interface design.
My 15-minutes talk went well and I was just asked one question at the end: "Are you developing a system based on this work?". The answer was yes: we are developing a system for bonding and support within the family. This system should deepen our understanding of human needs in ubiquitous computing, and hopefully validate more strongly the work done so far. Read the post "Publication #15" for details about the publication.
The conference was well-managed every day: the talks were properly selected, most speakers were present, excellent lunches and dinners were included, and a Korean-style show with music and songs gave a charming touch to the banquet.
I met a few interesting people including a South Korean psychologist working for 웅진코웨이 (WoongJin Coway), who was interested in the implications of my research for the design of robots for the general public. We may discuss this more deeply during my next visit.
My 15-minutes talk went well and I was just asked one question at the end: "Are you developing a system based on this work?". The answer was yes: we are developing a system for bonding and support within the family. This system should deepen our understanding of human needs in ubiquitous computing, and hopefully validate more strongly the work done so far. Read the post "Publication #15" for details about the publication.
The conference was well-managed every day: the talks were properly selected, most speakers were present, excellent lunches and dinners were included, and a Korean-style show with music and songs gave a charming touch to the banquet.
I met a few interesting people including a South Korean psychologist working for 웅진코웨이 (WoongJin Coway), who was interested in the implications of my research for the design of robots for the general public. We may discuss this more deeply during my next visit.
19 April 2007
Publication #12 - Fundamental Needs in Wearable Computing: Specificities for the Third Age
My 4-pages paper "Fundamental Needs in Wearable Computing: Specificities for the Third Age" written with 橋爪宏達 (HASHIZUME Hiromichi) was published at the 9th Virtual Reality International Conference (aka Laval Virtual) the 19 April 2007.
Abstract: Older adults have specific needs reflected by their everyday activities and use of technology. We briefly present elders' cognitive, physical, and sensory characteristics, then describe their impact on fundamental needs. Based on this information, we discuss dedicated services that exploit wearable computers, and the proper design of such systems. Our most significant contribution is to provide the first overview of third age persons' specific needs in wearable computing.
Publication: <http://horizons.free.fr/home/documents/publications/2007-04-19_vric_wearable-third-age.pdf>
Co-author: 橋爪宏達 (HASHIZUME Hiromichi) obtained his Ph.D. of engineering in Japan from the electric engineering section of 東京大学 (University of Tokyo). He is currently professor at 国立情報学研究所 (National Institute of Informatics) in 東京 (Tokyo, Japan).
Abstract: Older adults have specific needs reflected by their everyday activities and use of technology. We briefly present elders' cognitive, physical, and sensory characteristics, then describe their impact on fundamental needs. Based on this information, we discuss dedicated services that exploit wearable computers, and the proper design of such systems. Our most significant contribution is to provide the first overview of third age persons' specific needs in wearable computing.
Publication: <http://horizons.free.fr/home/documents/publications/2007-04-19_vric_wearable-third-age.pdf>
Co-author: 橋爪宏達 (HASHIZUME Hiromichi) obtained his Ph.D. of engineering in Japan from the electric engineering section of 東京大学 (University of Tokyo). He is currently professor at 国立情報学研究所 (National Institute of Informatics) in 東京 (Tokyo, Japan).
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