BOLLOCKS!! Designing pervasive games that play with the social rules of built environments

We propose that pervasive games designed with mechanics that are specifically in opposition with, or disruptive of, social rules of the environment in which they are played, have unique potential to provide interesting, provocative experiences for players. We explore this concept through the design and evaluation of an experimental game prototype, Shhh!, inspired by the juvenile game Bollocks, and implemented on Android mobile devices, which challenges players to make loud noises in libraries. Six participants played the game before engaging in semi-structured interviews, explored through inductive thematic analysis. Results suggest that the game provoked in players a heightened awareness of social rules, as well as a complex social dilemma of whether or not to act. We conclude by presenting a model for designing games that play with the social, as well as physical, rules of the environments in which they are set

Indirect angle estimation in switched reluctance motor drives using fuzzy logic based motor model

Copyright © 2000 IEEEIn this paper, a novel rotor position estimation scheme is described that was developed to overcome the drawbacks of the previous sensorless techniques, which were proposed for switched reluctance (SR) motor drives. It is based on fuzzy-logic, and does not require complex mathematical models or large look up tables. The scheme was implemented by using a digital signal processor. The real-time experimental results given in this paper show that the position estimation method proposed can provide accurate and continual position data over a wide range of speeds (zero/low/high), and can also function accurately at different operating conditions (chopping/single pulse mode and steady state/transient operation).Nesimi Ertugrul and Adrian D. Cheo

High robustness and reliability of fuzzy logic based position estimation for sensorless switched reluctance motor drives

Copyright © 2000 IEEEIn many applications where motor drives are used, concern. Thus, a major consideration is the reliability of position estimation schemes when sensor less SR motor drive control is employed. Hence, in this paper, the robust of a fuzzy logic based angle estimation algorithm for the switched reluctance motor (SR) motor is described. It is shown using theoretical analysis and experimental results, that by using logic, the angle estimation scheme gains a high level of robustness and reliability. A theoretical and quantitative analysis of the noise and error commonly found in practical motor drives is given, and how this can affect SR motor position estimation. An analysis is also given on the concepts of robustness and reliability. It is shown that the fuzzy logic based scheme is robust to erroneous and noisy signals commonly found in motor drives.Adrian David Cheok and Nesimi Ertugru

Computer-based automated test measurement system for determining magnetization characteristics of switched reluctance motors

©2001 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. However, permission to reprint/republish this material for advertising or promotional purposes or for creating new collective works for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or to reuse any copyrighted component of this work in other works must be obtained from the IEEE.This paper describes a fully automated method of measuring the magnetization characteristics (flux linkage versus current and position) of switched-reluctance (SR) motors. The measuring scheme was developed using a graphical programming environment (LabVIEW), a data acquisition card, and external interface hardware. The graphical programming method allows a high degree of software modularity and provides the features needed for sensor zero adjustment, data acquisition and analysis, and automated presentation of results. Furthermore, the experimental setup described in this paper can be used to obtain the magnetization characteristics of other electromechanical devices. Experimentally measured results from a test SR motor using the scheme are presented in the paper.Adrian David Cheok and Nesimi Ertugru

Welcome to MTI—A New Open Access Journal Dealing with Blue Sky Research and Future Trends in Multimodal Technologies and Interaction

In this era of massive use of computers and other computational devices (e.g., low-cost wearable sensors, smartphones, other smart devices, etc.), the nature of digital data is becoming more complex and heterogeneous

Perceptions and Responsiveness to Intimacy with Robots; A User Evaluation

In human-robot interactions research it is significant to question what measures humans will take to contest the challenges and what will become of them. Levy hypothesizes that robots will stimulate human senses with their many capabilities and humans will accept them as intimate companions because the human perception of intimacy will transform to accommodate various nuances. However, the question remains, how much humans understand and accept intimacies with robots. We argue that perceptions of human-robot interactions (HRI) and intimate interactions with robots have a certain impact on how individuals comprehend intimacies with robots. Long term contact with robots, in terms of robotic technology and conversations, will change our views and practices regarding intimacy with robots. Our study revealed that lack of awareness of the potentials of future AI robots has created a fear; fear of losing both tangible, intangible, and the sense of dominance. Yet, our participants’ intimate interactions with robots produced varying degree of responses that, we believe are revealing another scope of human-robot interactions

Lovotics: Human - Robot Love and Sex Relationships

Intimate relationships, such as love and sex, between human and machines, especially robots, has been one of the topics in science fiction. However, this topic has never been treated in the academic area until recently. The topic was first raised and discussed by David Levy in his book titled “Love and Sex with Robotics” published in 2007. As a result, the subject of human-robot romantic and intimate relationships rapidly developed into an academic research discipline in its own right. Since then, researchers have come up with many implementations of robot companions like sex robots, emotional robots, humanoid robots, and artificial intelligent systems that can simulate human emotions. This book chapter presents a summary of significant activity in this field during the recent years, predicts how the field is likely to develop, and its ethical and legal background. We also discuss our research in physical devices for human-robot love and sex communication

Thermal Sweet Taste Machine for Multisensory Internet

This paper presents a new taste interface for multisensory communication called "Thermal Sweet Taste Machine". We developed this interface in order to create sweet sensations, by manipulating the temperature on the tongue, without using chemicals. This device device changes the temperature on the surface of the tongue (from 20°C to 40°C) within a short period of time using a computer controlled circuit. Our preliminary user studies suggested that this device would be effective in two ways; producing the sweet sensations without the aid of chemicals, and enhancing the sweetness of the food and drinks. Here we discuss our concept, development of the interface, and some preliminary studies that has been carried out. We believe our technology would enhance the experiences and capabilities in future multisensory communication in different disciplines such as Human-Computer Interaction, human robot interactions, gaming and interacting with artificial agents

Open-domain neural conversational agents: The step towards artificial general intelligence

Development of conversational agents started half century ago and since then it has transformed into a technology that is accessible in various aspects in everyday life. This paper presents a survey current state-of-the-art in the open domain neural conversational agent research and future research directions towards Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) creation. In order to create a conversational agent which is able to pass the Turing Test, numerous research efforts are focused on open-domain dialogue system. This paper will present latest research in domain of Neural Network reasoning and logical association, sentiment analysis and real-time learning approaches applied to open domain neural conversational agents. As an effort to provide future research directions, current cuttingedge approaches applied to open domain neural conversational agents, current cutting-edge approaches in rationale generation and the state-of-the-art research directions in alternative training methods will be discussed in this paper

Depression after cardiac hospitalisation: the identifying depression as a comorbid condition (IDACC) study

Copyright © 2005 Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Copyright to Australian Family Physician. Reproduced with permission. Permission to reproduce must be sought from the publisher, The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.Background: The Identifying Depression as a Comorbid Condition (IDACC) study aimed to identify depressive symptoms in hospitalised cardiac patients and support management of depression in general practice. Objective: This post hoc analysis of the IDACC trial examines the effectiveness and practicality of different forms of communication between hospital psychiatric services and general practitioners. Methods: We randomised 669 cardiac inpatients with depressive symptoms, identified with the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), to an intervention or usual care control group. Individual depression scores and depression management guidelines were sent to GPs of all intervention patients. Where possible, psychiatric advice was provided to the GP either by multidisciplinary enhanced primary care case conference or one-to-one telephone advice. Results: Multidisciplinary case conferences were implemented for only 24% of intervention patients. General practitioners received individual telephone advice in 40% of cases, and 36% received written information only. The psychiatrist telephone advice resulted in a significant reduction in the proportion of patients with moderate to severe depression 12 months after cardiac hospitalisation (19% vs. 35%). Discussion: Screening, combined with psychiatrist telephone advice to GPs, was simple to organise and effective in reducing depression severity after cardiac admission.Victoria Wade, Frida Cheok, Geoff Schrader, Ann-Louise Hordacre and Julie Marke