Last posts on Positive Technology

Motor imagery

2006-05-24T22:00:39+02:00

Motor imagery.

J Physiol Paris. 2006 May 19.

Authors: Lotze M, Halsband U

We describe general concepts about motor imagery and differences to motor execution. The problem of controlling what the subject actually does during imagery is emphasized. A major part of the chapter is dealing with mental training by imagery and the usage of motor imagination in athletes, musicians and during rehabilitation. Data of altered representations of the body after loss of afferent information and motor representation due to limb amputation or complete spinal cord injury are demonstrated and discussed. Finally we provide an outlook on additional work about motor imagery important for further understanding of the topic.

Lateralization of unimanual and bimanual motor imagery

2006-05-23T22:23:18+02:00

Lateralization of unimanual and bimanual motor imagery.

Brain Res. 2006 May 18;

Authors: Stinear CM, Fleming MK, Byblow WD

Most studies of motor imagery have examined motor cortex function during imagery of dominant hand movement. The aim of this study was to examine the modulation of excitability in the dominant and non-dominant corticomotor pathways during kinesthetic motor imagery of unimanual and bimanual movement. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was applied over the contralateral motor cortex (M1) to elicit motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) in the abductor pollicis brevis (APB) and abductor digiti minimi (ADM) muscles of each hand, in two separate sessions. Transcutaneous electrical stimuli were also delivered to the median nerve at each wrist, to elicit F-waves from APB. Fifteen right-handed volunteers imagined unimanual and bimanual phasic thumb movements, paced with a 1-Hz auditory metronome. Stimuli were delivered at rest, and either 50 ms before (ON phase), or 450 ms after (OFF phase), the metronome beeps. Significant MEP amplitude facilitation occurred only in right APB, during the ON phase of motor imagery of the right hand and both hands. Significant temporal modulation of right APB MEP amplitude was observed during motor imagery of right, left and bimanual performance. F-wave persistence and amplitude were unaffected by imagery. These results demonstrate that the motor imagery is lateralized to the left (dominant) hemisphere, which is engaged by imagery of each hand separately, and bimanual imagery. This finding has implications for the use of motor imagery in rehabilitation.

Limits of brain-computer interface

2006-05-23T22:19:35+02:00

Limits of brain-computer interface. Case report.

Neurosurg Focus. 2006;20(5):e6

Authors: Bakay RA

Most patients who are candidates for brain-computer interface studies have an injury to their central nervous system and therefore may not be ideal for rigorous testing of the full abilities and limits of the interface. This is a report on a quadriplegic patient who appeared to be a reasonable candidate for intracranial implantation of neurotrophic electrodes. He had significant cortical atrophy in both the motor and parietal cortical areas but was able to generate signal changes on functional magnetic resonance images by thinking about hand movements. Only a few low-amplitude action potentials were obtained, however, and he was unable to achieve single-unit control. Despite this failure, the use of field potentials offered an alternative method of control and allowed him some limited computer interactions. There are clearly limits to what can be achieved with brain-computer interfaces, and the presence of cortical atrophy should serve as a warning for future investigators that less invasive techniques may be a more prudent approach for this type of patient.

Emilio Servadio

2006-05-23T18:20:00+02:00

Emilio Servadio has been one of the most important Italian psychologists, along with Cesare Musatti and Roberto Assagioli.

A student of Freud, Servadio was renowned primarily for his contributions to psychoanalysis (he was among the founders of the Italian Psychoanalytic Society), but he was also well known for his work in parapsychology and altered states of consciousness.

In this commemorative article (download the Servadio_SISSC.zip: 2.8 Mb), Pierangelo Garzia, a science writer who had personally known Servadio, describes the main scientific achievements and the phylosophical approach of this great thinker.

3rd International Conference on Enactive Interfaces

2006-05-22T23:15:48+02:00

Via VRoot.org

The 3rd International Conference on Enactive Interfaces, promoted by the European Network of Excellence ENACTIVE INTERFACES, will be held in Montpellier (France) on November 20-21, 2006.

The aim of the conference is to encourage the emergence of a multidisciplinary research community in a new field of research and on a new generation of human-computer interfaces called Enactive Interfaces.

From the website:

Enactive Interfaces are inspired by a fundamental concept of “interaction” that has not been exploited by other approaches to the design of human-computer interface technologies. Mainly, interfaces have been designed to present information via symbols, or icons.

In the symbolic approach, information is stored as words, mathematical symbols or other symbolic systems, while in the iconic approach information is stored in the form of visual images, such as diagrams and illustrations.

ENACTIVE knowledge is information gained through perception-action interactions with the environment. Examples include information gained by grasping an object, by hefting a stone, or by walking around an obstacle that occludes our view. It is gained through intuitive movements, of which we often are not aware. Enactive knowledge is inherently multimodal, because motor actions alter the stimulation of multiple perceptual systems. Enactive knowledge is essential in tasks such as driving a car, dancing, playing a musical instrument, modelling objects from clay, performing sports, and so on.

Enactive knowledge is neither symbolic nor iconic. It is direct, in the sense that it is natural and intuitive, based on experience and the perceptual consequences of motor acts.

ENACTIVE / 06 will highlight convergences between the concept of Enaction and the sciences of complexity. Biological, cognitive, perceptual or technological systems are complex dynamical systems exhibiting (in)stability properties that are consequential for the agent-environment interaction. The conference will provide new insights, through the prism of ENACTIVE COMPLEXITY, about human interaction with multimodal interfaces.

Origami Cell Phone

2006-05-22T23:03:18+02:00

Via Pasta and Vinegar

The Origami Cell Phone is a future cell phone concept, which uses flexible e-paper to create a larger-than-cell display.

The concept was developed at Inventables, a consulting company specialized in "just about possible" applications.

The top10 in cognitive science

2006-05-22T22:51:57+02:00

Via Pasta and Vinegar

According to the Cognitive Science Millennium Project, the top 10 most influential works in cognitive science from the 20th century are the following:

Syntactic Structures Chomsky, N. (1957)
Vision: a computational investigation into the human representation and processing of visual information Marr, D. (1982)
Computing machinery and intelligence Turing, A. M. (1950) Mind, 59, 433-460.
The organization of behavior; a neuropsychological theory Hebb, D.O. (1949)
Parallel distributed processing: Explorations in the microstructure of cognition Rumelhart, D. E., McClelland, J. L. (1986)
Human problem solving Newell, A., & Simon, H. A. (1972)
he modularity of mind: An essay on faculty psychology Fodor, J. (1983)
Remembering: A study in experimental and social psychology Bartlett, F. C. (1932)
The magical number seven, plus or minus two: Some limits on our capacity for processing information Miller, G. A. (1956) Psychological Review, 63, 81-97
Perception and Communication Broadbent, D. (1958)

Neurotechnology market is raising

2006-05-22T22:42:41+02:00

The MIT Technology Review has interviewed Zack Lynch, managing directory of market analysis firm NeuroInsights, about the future of neurotechnology. According to a recent report produced by Lynch's firm, 450 companies participate in the neurotechnology market, producing revenues of $110 billion in 2005.

Here is an excerpt of the interview:

Technology Review: Why neurotechnology?

Zack Lynch: Neuroscience is now moving from a science to an industry. What we're really looking at is an evolution: researchers are now going beyond basic science and developing more effective therapeutics for brain-related illnesses.

The need is huge. One in four people worldwide suffer from a brain-related illness, which costs a trillion dollars a year in indirect and direct economic costs. We all know someone who is affected. That burden will continue to grow with the aging population. We have more people, and more people living longer -- it's a multiplier effect.

TR: We're also starting to see a new kind of therapy for brain-related illnesses -- electrical stimulation. Various types of stimulation devices are now on the market to treat epilepsy, depression, and Parkinson's disease. What are some of the near- and far-term technologies we'll see with this kind of device?

ZL: We're seeing explosive growth in this area because scientists are overcoming many of the hurdles in this area. One example is longer battery life, so devices don't have to be surgically implanted every five years. Researchers are also developing much smaller devices. Advanced Bionics, for example, has a next-generation stimulator in trials for migraines.

In the neurodevice space, the obesity market is coming on strong. Several companies are working on this, including Medtronics and Leptos Biomedical. In obesity, even a small benefit is a breakthrough, because gastric bypass surgery [one of the most common treatments for morbid obesity] is so invasive.

In the next 10 years, I think we'll start to see a combination of technologies, like maybe a brain stimulator that releases L-dopa [a treatment for Parkinson's disease]. Whether that's viable is a whole other question, but that possibility is there because of the microelectronics revolution.

The real breakthrough will come from work on new electrodes. This will transform neurostimulator applications. With these technologies, you can create noninvasive devices and target very specific parts of the brain. It's like going from a Model T to a Ferrari. Those technologies will present the real competition for drugs.

Foundation and Practice of Neurofeedback for the Treatment of Epilepsy

2006-05-21T23:51:42+02:00

Foundation and Practice of Neurofeedback for the Treatment of Epilepsy.

Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback. 2006 Apr 14;

Authors: Sterman MB, Egner T

This review provides an updated overview of the neurophysiological rationale, basic and clinical research literature, and current methods of practice pertaining to clinical neurofeedback. It is based on documented findings, rational theory, and the research and clinical experience of the authors. While considering general issues of physiology, learning principles, and methodology, it focuses on the treatment of epilepsy with sensorimotor rhythm (SMR) training, arguably the best established clinical application of EEG operant conditioning. The basic research literature provides ample data to support a very detailed model of the neural generation of SMR, as well as the most likely candidate mechanism underlying its efficacy in clinical treatment. Further, while more controlled clinical trials would be desirable, a respectable literature supports the clinical utility of this alternative treatment for epilepsy. However, the skilled practice of clinical neurofeedback requires a solid understanding of the neurophysiology underlying EEG oscillation, operant learning principles and mechanisms, as well as an in-depth appreciation of the ins and outs of the various hardware/software equipment options open to the practitioner. It is suggested that the best clinical practice includes the systematic mapping of quantitative multi-electrode EEG measures against a normative database before and after treatment to guide the choice of treatment strategy and document progress towards EEG normalization. We conclude that the research literature reviewed in this article justifies the assertion that neurofeedback treatment of epilepsy/seizure disorders constitutes a well-founded and viable alternative to anticonvulsant pharmacotherapy.

Towards adaptive classification for BCI

2006-05-21T23:50:11+02:00

Towards adaptive classification for BCI.

J Neural Eng. 2006 Mar;3(1):R13-23

Authors: Shenoy P, Krauledat M, Blankertz B, Rao RP, Müller KR

Non-stationarities are ubiquitous in EEG signals. They are especially apparent in the use of EEG-based brain-computer interfaces (BCIs): (a) in the differences between the initial calibration measurement and the online operation of a BCI, or (b) caused by changes in the subject's brain processes during an experiment (e.g. due to fatigue, change of task involvement, etc). In this paper, we quantify for the first time such systematic evidence of statistical differences in data recorded during offline and online sessions. Furthermore, we propose novel techniques of investigating and visualizing data distributions, which are particularly useful for the analysis of (non-)stationarities. Our study shows that the brain signals used for control can change substantially from the offline calibration sessions to online control, and also within a single session. In addition to this general characterization of the signals, we propose several adaptive classification schemes and study their performance on data recorded during online experiments. An encouraging result of our study is that surprisingly simple adaptive methods in combination with an offline feature selection scheme can significantly increase BCI performance.

Towards adaptive classification for BCI

2006-05-21T23:49:23+02:00

Towards adaptive classification for BCI.

J Neural Eng. 2006 Mar;3(1):R13-23

Authors: Shenoy P, Krauledat M, Blankertz B, Rao RP, Müller KR

The NEW TIES project

2006-05-20T12:57:58+02:00

Via Cognews

With funding from the European Commission's Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) initiative of the IST programme, five European research institutes are collaborating on the NEW TIES project to create a thoroughly 21st-century brave new world - one populated by randomly generated software beings, capable of developing their own language and culture.

From the project's website

The project is concerned with emergence and complexity in socially-inspired artificial systems. We will study large systems consisting of an environment and an inhabitant population. The main goal of the project is to realize an evolving artificial society capable of exploring the environment and developing its own image of this environment and the society through cooperation and interaction. We will work with virtual grid worlds and will set up environments that are sufficiently complex and demanding that communication and cooperation are necessary to adapt to the given tasks. The population's weaponry to develop advanced skills bottom-up consists of individual learning, evolutionary learning, and social learning. One of the main innovations of this project is social learning interpreted as passing knowledge explicitly via a language to others in the same generation. This has a synergetic effect on the learning processes and enables the society to rapidly develop an "understanding" of the world collectively. If the learning process stabilises, the collective must have formed an appropriate world map. Then we will probe the collective mind to learn how the agents perceive the environment, including themselves, and what skills and procedures they have developed to adapt successfully. This could yield new knowledge and surprising perspectives about the environment and the survival task. The project represents a significant scale-up beyond the state-of-the-art in two dimensions: the inner complexity of inhabitants and the size of the population. To achieve and explore highly complex organisms and behaviours, very large populations will be studied. This will make the system at the macro level complex enough to allow significant behaviours (cultures etc) to emerge in separate parts of the system and to interact. To enable this we will set up a large distributed computing infrastructure, and a shared platform to allow very large scale experiments in a p2p fashion.

Special issue of CyberPsychology & Behavior on Virtual Rehabilitation

2006-05-18T15:50:00+02:00

CyberPsychology & Behavior
Volume 9, Number 2, Apr 2006
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The above issue is now available online from Liebert Online at:
http://www.liebertonline.com/toc/cpb/9/2

The table of contents for this issue is listed below. Click on the links below to view the abstract for each article, or click on the link above to read the table of contents online.

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State of the Art in Virtual Rehabilitation

Albert "Skip" Rizzo
CyberPsychology & Behavior, Vol. 9, No. 2: 113-113.

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/cpb.2006.9.113

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TIES that BIND: An Introduction to Domain Mapping as a Visualization Tool for Virtual Rehabilitation

Patrice L. (Tamar) Weiss, Rochelle Kedar, Meir Shahar CyberPsychology & Behavior, Vol. 9, No. 2: 114-122.

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/cpb.2006.9.114

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Feasibility, Motivation, and Selective Motor Control: Virtual Reality Compared to Conventional Home Exercise in Children with Cerebral Palsy

C. Bryanton, J. Bosse, M. Brien, J. Mclean, A. McCormick, H. Sveistrup
CyberPsychology & Behavior, Vol. 9, No. 2: 123-128.

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/cpb.2006.9.123

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Integrating Haptic-Tactile Feedback into a Video-Capture-Based Virtual Environment for Rehabilitation

Uri Feintuch, Liat Raz, Jane Hwang, Naomi Josman, Noomi Katz, Rachel Kizony, Debbie Rand, Albert "Skip" Rizzo, Meir Shahar, Jang Yongseok, Patrice L. (Tamar) Weiss
CyberPsychology & Behavior, Vol. 9, No. 2: 129-132.

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/cpb.2006.9.129

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Reaching within Video-Capture Virtual Reality: Using Virtual Reality as a Motor Control Paradigm

Assaf Y. Dvorkin, Meir Shahar, Patrice L. (Tamar) Weiss
CyberPsychology & Behavior, Vol. 9, No. 2: 133-136.

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/cpb.2006.9.133

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Virtual Reality in the Rehabilitation of the Upper Limb after Stroke: The User?s Perspective

J.H. Crosbie, S. Lennon, M.D.J. McNeill, S.M. McDonough
CyberPsychology & Behavior, Vol. 9, No. 2: 137-141.

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/cpb.2006.9.137

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Usability of the Remote Console for Virtual Reality Telerehabilitation: Formative Evaluation

Jeffrey A. Lewis, Judith E. Deutsch, Grigore Burdea
CyberPsychology & Behavior, Vol. 9, No. 2: 142-147.

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/cpb.2006.9.142

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The Rutgers Arm, a Rehabilitation System in Virtual Reality: A Pilot Study

Manjuladevi Kuttuva, Rares Boian, Alma Merians, Grigore Burdea, Mourad Bouzit, Jeffrey Lewis, Devin Fensterheim
CyberPsychology & Behavior, Vol. 9, No. 2: 148-152.

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/cpb.2006.9.148

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Responses to a Virtual Reality Grocery Store in Persons with and without Vestibular Dysfunction

Susan L. Whitney, Patrick J. Sparto, Larry F. Hodges, Sabarish V. Babu, Joseph M. Furman, Mark S. Redfern
CyberPsychology & Behavior, Vol. 9, No. 2: 152-156.

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/cpb.2006.9.152

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A Treadmill and Motion Coupled Virtual Reality System for Gait Training Post-Stroke

Joyce Fung, Carol L. Richards, Francine Malouin, Bradford J. McFadyen, Anouk Lamontagne
CyberPsychology & Behavior, Vol. 9, No. 2: 157-162.

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/cpb.2006.9.157

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Influences of the Perception of Self-Motion on Postural Parameters

E.A. Keshner, K. Dokka, R.V. Kenyon
CyberPsychology & Behavior, Vol. 9, No. 2: 163-166.

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/cpb.2006.9.163

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Immersive Virtual Reality as a Rehabilitative Technology for Phantom Limb Experience: A Protocol

Craig D. Murray, Emma Patchick, Stephen Pettifer, Fabrice Caillette, Toby Howard
CyberPsychology & Behavior, Vol. 9, No. 2: 167-170.

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/cpb.2006.9.167

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Motor Training in the Manipulation of Flexible Objects in Haptic Environments

I. Goncharenko, M. Svinin, Y. Kanou, S. Hosoe
CyberPsychology & Behavior, Vol. 9, No. 2: 171-174.

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/cpb.2006.9.171

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Using Virtual Environment to Improve Spatial Perception by People Who Are Blind

Orly Lahav
CyberPsychology & Behavior, Vol. 9, No. 2: 174-177.

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/cpb.2006.9.174

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The Jerusalem TeleRehabilitation System, a New Low-Cost, Haptic Rehabilitation Approach

Heidi Sugarman, Ehud Dayan, Aviva Weisel-Eichler, Joseph Tiran
CyberPsychology & Behavior, Vol. 9, No. 2: 178-182.

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/cpb.2006.9.178

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Human Experience Modeler: Context-Driven Cognitive Retraining to Facilitate Transfer of Learning

C.M. Fidopiastis, C.B. Stapleton, J.D. Whiteside, C.E. Hughes, S.M. Fiore, G.A. Martin, J.P. Rolland, E.M. Smith
CyberPsychology & Behavior, Vol. 9, No. 2: 183-187.

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/cpb.2006.9.183

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Application of Virtual Reality Graphics in Assessment of Concussion

Semyon Slobounov, Elena Slobounov, Karl Newell
CyberPsychology & Behavior, Vol. 9, No. 2: 188-191.

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/cpb.2006.9.188

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Virtual Reality Pencil and Paper Tests for Neglect: AProtocol

Kenji Baheux, Makoto Yoshizawa, Kazunori Seki, Yasunobu Handa
CyberPsychology & Behavior, Vol. 9, No. 2: 192-195.

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/cpb.2006.9.192

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Virtual and Physical Toys: Open-Ended Features for Non-Formal Learning

Eva Petersson, Anthony Brooks
CyberPsychology & Behavior, Vol. 9, No. 2: 196-199.

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/cpb.2006.9.196

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Three-Dimensional Virtual Environments for Blind Children

Jaime Sanchez, Mauricio Saenz
CyberPsychology & Behavior, Vol. 9, No. 2: 200-206.

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/cpb.2006.9.200

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Effectiveness of Virtual Reality for Pediatric Pain Distraction during IV Placement

Jeffrey I. Gold, Seok Hyeon Kim, Alexis J. Kant, Michael H. Joseph, Albert "Skip" Rizzo
CyberPsychology & Behavior, Vol. 9, No. 2: 207-212.

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/cpb.2006.9.207

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Simulating Social Interaction to Address Deficits of Autistic Spectrum Disorder in Children

Cheryl Y. Trepagnier, Marc M. Sebrechts, Andreas Finkelmeyer, Willie Stewart, Jordana Woodford, Maya Coleman
CyberPsychology & Behavior, Vol. 9, No. 2: 213-217.

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/cpb.2006.9.213

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Starting Research in Interaction Design with Visuals for Low-Functioning Children in the Autistic Spectrum: A Protocol

Narcis Pares, Anna Carreras, Jaume Durany, Jaume Ferrer, Pere Freixa, David Gomez, Orit Kruglanski, Roc Pares, J. Ignasi Ribas, Miquel Soler, Alex Sanjurjo
CyberPsychology & Behavior, Vol. 9, No. 2: 218-223.

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/cpb.2006.9.218

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Virtual Reality Assessment of Medication Compliance in Patients with Schizophrenia

Elizabeth K. Baker, Matthew M. Kurtz, Robert S. Astur
CyberPsychology & Behavior, Vol. 9, No. 2: 224-229.

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/cpb.2006.9.224

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Reality Check: The Role of Realism in Stress Reduction Using Media Technology

Y.A.W. de Kort, W.A. Ijsselsteijn
CyberPsychology & Behavior, Vol. 9, No. 2: 230-233.

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/cpb.2006.9.230

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Hippocampus Function Predicts Severity of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Robert S. Astur, Sarah A. St. Germain, David Tolin, Julian Ford, David Russell, Mike Stevens
CyberPsychology & Behavior, Vol. 9, No. 2: 234-240.

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/cpb.2006.9.234

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BusWorld: Designing a Virtual Environment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Israel: A Protocol

Naomi Josman, Eli Somer, Ayelet Reisberg, Patrice L. (Tamar) Weiss, Azucena Garcia-Palacios, Hunter Hoffman
CyberPsychology & Behavior, Vol. 9, No. 2: 241-244.

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/cpb.2006.9.241

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Simulation and Virtual Reality in Medical Education and Therapy: A Protocol

Michael J. Roy, Deborah L. Sticha, Patricia L. Kraus, Dale E. Olsen
CyberPsychology & Behavior, Vol. 9, No. 2: 245-247.

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/cpb.2006.9.245

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Virtual Reality Applications to Agoraphobia: A Protocol

Georgina Cardenas, Sandra Munoz, Maribel Gonzalez, Guillermo Uribarren
CyberPsychology & Behavior, Vol. 9, No. 2: 248-250.

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/cpb.2006.9.248

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CyberSightings

Albert "Skip" Rizzo
CyberPsychology & Behavior, Vol. 9, No. 2: 251-257.

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/cpb.2006.9.251

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CyberEurope

Giuseppe Riva, Alessandra Preziosa
CyberPsychology & Behavior, Vol. 9, No. 2: 258-260.

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/cpb.2006.9.258

Impaired allocentric spatial memory underlying topographical disorientation

2006-05-18T15:46:12+02:00

Impaired allocentric spatial memory underlying topographical disorientation.

Rev Neurosci. 2006;17(1-2):239-51

Authors: Burgess N, Trinkler I, King J, Kennedy A, Cipolotti L

The cognitive processes supporting spatial navigation are considered in the context of a patient (CF) with possible very early Alzheimer's disease who presents with topographical disorientation. Her verbal memory and her recognition memory for unknown buildings, landmarks and outdoor scenes was intact, although she showed an impairment in face processing. By contrast, her navigational ability, quantitatively assessed within a small virtual reality (VR) town, was significantly impaired. Interestingly, she showed a selective impairment in a VR object-location memory test whenever her viewpoint was shifted between presentation and test, but not when tested from the same viewpoint. We suggest that a specific impairment in locating objects relative to the environment rather than relative to the perceived viewpoint (i.e. allocentric rather than egocentric spatial memory) underlies her topographical disorientation. We discuss the likely neural bases of this deficit in the light of related studies in humans and animals, focusing on the hippocampus and related areas. The specificity of our test indicates a new way of assessing topographical disorientation, with possible application to the assessment of progressive dementias such as Alzheimer's disease.

Robot of the year award

2006-05-17T19:43:53+02:00

Via Pink Tentacle (source: Yomiuri Shimbun)

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) plans to establish an annual Robot of the Year Award to recognize outstanding robots developed and put into practical use each year. In addition to the grand prize, prizes will be awarded to robots in the following categories: (1) industrial robots, such as those used in painting and welding, (2) service robots, such as those used in cleaning and security, (3) robots for use in special environments, such as rescue robots, and (4) robots developed by small to medium sized venture firms.

Air display

2006-05-17T19:22:22+02:00

The company IO2 has developed a new display technology, the Heliodisplay, which allows to project into the air still or moving images that can be manipulated with a fingertip. The Heliodisplay works by creating a cloud of microscopic particles that make the air a display medium.

From the company's website:

Heliodisplay images are not holographic although they are free-space, employing a rear projection system in which images are captured onto a nearly invisible plane of transformed air. What the viewer sees is floating mid-air image or video. These projected images and video are two-dimensional space (i.e. planar) but appear 3D since there is no physical depth reference. While conventional displays have the benefit of being attached to a physical substrate, Heliodisplay projections are located in air, so you will notice some waviness to the quality of Heliodisplay images.

Watch the video here

Building a Playground of Light

2006-05-16T10:25:06+02:00

Via Wired

Innovations from NYU's technology program include a digital projector that turns the walls and floor of a therapist's office into an interactive game space. The goal: keeps kids engaged.

Read the full story

Daegu to Launch 'Ubiquitous' Health Monitoring

2006-05-15T22:22:44+02:00

From Smart Mobs

Daegu in South Korea "will be the first city in the country to provide a “ubiquitous” healthcare service in which so-called wearable computers will be used to monitor the health of elderly people living alone and patients with chronic diseases,"this article says."The devices,in the form of shirts,alert medical staff in real time when an emergency occurs.Daegu City said Thursday that it will launch its groundbreaking “U-Healthcare Service” in cooperation with the Ministry of Information and Communication.The city will distribute the bio-shirts to some 100 elderly people and patients with chronic diseases later this year.The shirts have embedded sensors that register vital signs and send the information to medical centers through the network. They also permit self-diagnosis, distance monitoring, emergency care and medical consultation for users in an environment of ubiquitous connectivity"

Daegu to Launch 'Ubiquitous' Health Monitoring

Powered Shoes

2006-05-15T22:05:00+02:00

Via Pasta and Vinegar

The project Powered Shoes, developed by Hiroo Iwata, is a locomotion interface that allow users to walk in arbitrary directions in virtual environments while maintaining their positions:

It has often been suggested that the best locomotion mechanism for virtual worlds would be walking, and it is well known that the sense of distance or orientation while walking is much better than while riding in a vehicle. However, the proprioceptive feedback of walking is not provided in most virtual environments. Powered Shoes is a revolutionary advance for entertainment and simulation applications, because it provides this proprioceptive feedback.

The system follows another fashinating walking-based interface that Iwata presented at Siggraph 2004 called "CirculaFloor":

CirculaFloor is a locomotion interface using a group of movable floors. The movable floors employ a holonomic mechanism that achieves omni-directional motion. Circulation of the floors enables users to walk in arbitrary directions in a virtual environment while their positions are maintained

Group Cognition

2006-05-15T21:50:00+02:00

From amazon

Innovative uses of global and local networks of linked computers make new ways of collaborative working, learning, and acting possible. In Group Cognition Gerry Stahl explores the technological and social reconfigurations that are needed to achieve computer-supported collaborative knowledge building--group cognition that transcends the limits of individual cognition. Computers can provide active media for social group cognition where ideas grow through the interactions within groups of people; software functionality can manage group discourse that results in shared understandings, new meanings, and collaborative learning. Stahl offers software design prototypes, analyzes empirical instances of collaboration, and elaborates a theory of collaboration that takes the group, rather than the individual, as the unit of analysis.

Stahl's design studies concentrate on mechanisms to support group formation, multiple interpretive perspectives, and the negotiation of group knowledge in applications as varied as collaborative curriculum development by teachers, writing summaries by students, and designing space voyages by NASA engineers. His empirical analysis shows how, in small-group collaborations, the group constructs intersubjective knowledge that emerges from and appears in the discourse itself. This discovery of group meaning becomes the springboard for Stahl's outline of a social theory of collaborative knowing. Stahl also discusses such related issues as the distinction between meaning making at the group level and interpretation at the individual level, appropriate research methodology, philosophical directions for group cognition theory, and suggestions for further empirical work.

Aesthetic Computing

2006-05-15T21:45:00+02:00

From Amazon

In Aesthetic Computing, key scholars and practitioners from art, design, computer science, and mathematics lay the foundations for a discipline that applies the theory and practice of art to computing. Aesthetic computing explores the way art and aesthetics can play a role in different areas of computer science. One of its goals is to modify computer science by the application of the wide range of definitions and categories normally associated with making art. For example, structures in computing might be represented using the style of Gaudi or the Bauhaus school. This goes beyond the usual definition of aesthetics in computing, which most often refers to the formal, abstract qualities of such structures--a beautiful proof, or an elegant diagram. The contributors to this book discuss the broader spectrum of aesthetics--from abstract qualities of symmetry and form to ideas of creative expression and pleasure--in the context of computer science. The assumption behind aesthetic computing is that the field of computing will be enriched if it embraces all of aesthetics. Human-computer interaction will benefit--"usability," for example, could refer to improving a user's emotional state--and new models of learning will emerge.

Aesthetic Computing approaches its subject from a variety of perspectives. After defining the field and placing it in its historical context, the book looks at art and design, mathematics and computing, and interface and interaction. Contributions range from essays on the art of visualization and "the poesy of programming" to discussions of the aesthetics of mathematics throughout history and transparency and reflectivity in interface design.

South Korea develops next wave of virtual reality goggles

2006-05-14T14:45:00+02:00

Via VRoot

A South Korean semiconductor maker announced it had developed the world's lightest virtual reality goggles which will usher in a new wave of digital innovation.

Kowon Technology said the product would provide consumers with crystal clear video images alongside high-quality audio sounds that would be enjoyed privately through two liquid crystal display panels (LCD).

Read the full story on Yahoo! News

Neurotech-art

2006-05-14T14:40:02+02:00

Re-blogged from: Neurofuture

Philippe Van Nedervelde's E-spaces 3D Art Studio created Nanobots replacing neurons (nerve cells). This a still image of HD animation, depicting robots in the brain, from the transhumanist documentary Beyond Man (2005).

Although imaginary, current developments like MIT's nano neuro knitting experiment in which peptide nanofiber scaffolding was used to repair brain tissue in a hamster (article in PNAS) make it prescient.

Van Nedervelde's art is part of NANO, a virtual exhibit curated by transhumanist visionary Natasha Vita-More to showcase nanotech art by artists from a number of disciplines, including the multitalented Anders Sandberg. He's a computational neuroscientist and research associate at Oxford's Future of Humanity Institute.

Listen to a recent interview on the subject with Natasha Vita-More by RU Sirius from The MondoGlobo Network, as well as a podcast called Global Design and Nanotechnology from the (podcast archive alert!) Futures Podcast on Culture and Technology series.

Spontaneous mentalizing during an interactive real world task: An fMRI study

2006-05-13T20:07:25+02:00

Spontaneous mentalizing during an interactive real world task: An fMRI study.

Neuropsychologia. 2006 May 8;

Authors: Spiers HJ, Maguire EA

There are moments in everyday life when we need to consider the thoughts and intentions of other individuals in order to act in a socially appropriate manner. Most of this mentalizing occurs spontaneously as we go about our business in the complexity of the real world. As such, studying the neural basis of spontaneous mentalizing has been virtually impossible. Here we devised a means to achieve this by employing a unique combination of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), a detailed and interactive virtual reality simulation of a bustling familiar city, and a retrospective verbal report protocol. We were able to provide insights into the content of spontaneous mentalizing events and identify the brain regions that underlie them. We found increased activity in a number of regions, namely the right posterior superior temporal sulcus, the medial prefrontal cortex and the right temporal pole associated with spontaneous mentalizing. Furthermore, we observed the right posterior superior temporal sulcus to be consistently active during several different subtypes of mentalizing events. By contrast, medial prefrontal cortex seemed to be particularly involved in thinking about agents that were visible in the environment. Our findings show that it is possible to investigate the neural basis of mentalizing in a manner closer to its true context, the real world, opening up intriguing possibilities for making comparisons with those who have mentalizing problems.

Virtual Reality in Google Trends

2006-05-13T20:02:35+02:00

Visualizing the usage of the term "Virtual Reality" with the new Google Trends

(click here for larger image)

MoBeeline

2006-05-13T19:54:08+02:00

Via WMMNA

Chang Soo LEE and HyeJoo Lee have developed MoBeeline, a system that allows people to send data about a user's emotions to another's clothes via SMS.

From the project's web site:

MoBeeline is a compound word - Mobile + Beeline.
Our mobile service makes a straight line between two or more places.

This project is an emotional mobile service based on wearable technology. The basic focus of this project is to stimulate people's emotions with an interaction between mobile and wearable technology, and to develop a social network service between friends.
The main goal is to create a wearable Bluetooth accessory that can receive data from a mobile phone. For example, let us assume that there are two mobile phone users. One user can send operative directions to the other's clothes as the user wants. Without the two users having to meet, they can share their feelings and emotions by sending signals to each other's clothes. Using our service, they will be changed the colors of each others garments, certain patterns or they can send emoticons to LEDs on the garment.

Watch the Video

World's Largest 3D-Display

2006-05-13T19:48:37+02:00

From Networked Performance:

"Electrical engineering students at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands have created the world's largest 3D-display. The display consists of 8,000 suspended ping pong balls that each contain a red LED light. It play games of 3D snake, 3D pong, and 3D duckhunt, as wll as displaying SMS messages and simple animations"

Female android developed by japanese team

2006-05-13T19:45:47+02:00

Japanese scientists have unveiled the most human-looking robot yet - a "female" android named Repliee Q1Expo.

Watch the video of the android woman

Nanotubes used for first time to send signals to nerve cells

2006-05-13T19:40:00+02:00

Via Medgadget

Researchers from the University of Texas Medical Branch and Rice University have succesfully tested the ability of carbon nanotubes to carry electrical signals to nerve cells. From the press release:

The group employed two different types of cells in their experiments, neuroblastoma cells commonly used in test-tube experiments and neurons cultured from experimental rats. Both cell types were placed on ten-layer-thick "mats" of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) deposited on transparent plastic. This enabled the researchers to use a microscope to position a tiny electrode next to individual cells and record their responses to electrical pulses transmitted through the SWNTs.
In addition to their electrical stimulation experiments, the scientists also studied how different kinds of SWNTs affected the growth and development of neuroblastoma cells. They compared cells placed on mats made of "functionalized" SWNTs, carbon nanotubes with additional molecules attached to their surfaces that may be used to guide cell growth or customize nanotube electrical properties, to cells cultured on unmodified "native" carbon nanotubes and conventional tissue culture plastic.

"Native carbon nanotubes support neuron attachment and growth well - as we expected, better than the two types of functionalized nanotubes we tested," Pappas said. [Todd Pappas, director of sensory and molecular neuroengineering at UTMB's Center for Biomedical Engineering -ed.] "Next we want to find a way to functionalize the nanotubes to make neuron attachment and communication better and make these surfaces more biocompatible."

Read the full press release

Emotion's Defibrillator

2006-05-13T19:35:33+02:00

Via WMMNA

Tobias Grewenig's new installation Emotion's Defibrillator aims to explore how media affect our physiology:

The user of the installation, wearing an oxygen mask and a pincer on his left forefinger that will measure his/her pulse, puts his head into a big sphere. By placing the hands on two metalic spheres, the equipment is set in motion. First, bio data such as respiration, pulse and skin resistance are measured by the sensors and sent to the software to define the starting parameters. There are various sources of audio and a screen within the sphere. In relation to the data picked up from the body, the audio resonates, tiny electric shocks are delivered via the metallic spheres while the screen shows a flickering image of the user which is being interrupted by "subliminals". When the user takes the hands off the spheres, the installation stops.
Grewenig says that it's fascinating to observe how the electronic equipment, although basically off-the-shelf material, starts frightening its user and turns into something profoundly unpredictable. This already happens when the sensoric input is roughly at the level of everyday city-life. (Well, plus electric shocks, that is.)

Phone shui

2006-05-13T19:27:33+02:00

Via IFTF's future now

According to Unwired View, Motorola has recently put forth a patent for the Feng Shui Phone, which has the following functionalities:

Three-dimensional Hall-effect sensor for measuring the strength of electromagnetic fields and to form a compass to determine the geographic direction in which the main wall of the house faces.
Digital camera to determine color saturation, order and balance of the surroundings.
GPS receiver to determine geographic location of the phone.
The coordinates are then sent to the GIS databse through wireless network to to get the information about the surroundings of the location, e.g. the distance from the undesirable sites such as major airports, landfills, and factories.
Cellphone microphone is used to measure noise level of the location.
AM/FM radio to measure the AM and FM transmission strength and the distance form nearest AM/FM towers.
The table with the chi values of each parameter is stored in phones memory and is used for calculation of chi values of different parameters.

Toward direct biocontrol using surface EMG signals

2006-05-10T22:54:27+02:00

Toward direct biocontrol using surface EMG signals: Control of finger and wrist joint models.

Med Eng Phys. 2006 May 6;

Authors: Reddy NP, Gupta V

Increased interest in virtual reality (VR) and telemanipulation has created a growing need for the development of new interfacing devices for measuring controlling actions of the human hand. The objective of the present study was to determine if surface electromyography signals (SEMG) from the flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS), and flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU) generated during flexion-extension of the human index finger and wrist can be used for controlling the flexion-extension of the finger and wrist of a simple geometric computer model. A simple geometric computer model of finger and wrist joints was developed. Eighteen subjects controlled the computer model using the SEMG signals from their FDS and FCU. The results indicate that the SEMG signals from the FDS and FCU muscles can be used as a direct biocontrol technique for controlling the finger and wrist models. This study establishes the proof of concept for direct biological control of the dynamic motion of the finger and wrist models for use in virtual reality environments and telemanipulation.

Neural substrates for motor imagery in severe hemiparesis

2006-05-10T22:53:07+02:00

Neural substrates for motor imagery in severe hemiparesis.

Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2006 Jun;20(2):268-77

Authors: Kimberley TJ, Khandekar G, Skraba LL, Spencer JA, Van Gorp EA, Walker SR

BACKGROUND: . The beneficial effects of imagined movements on motor learning and performance suggest that motor imagery is functionally close to preparatory and executive motor processes. OBJECTIVE: . The purpose of this study was to examine the cortical processes associated with imagery of movement of the wrist in subjects with severe hemiparesis. METHODS: . During fMRI, subjects with stroke performed alternating blocks of imagining wrist-tracking movements with the hemiparetic hand, active wrist-tracking movements with the unaffected hand, and resting. Control subjects performed the same tasks using an assigned hand. Cortical activation in the primary motor (M1), primary sensory (S1), supplementary motor area (SMA), and pre-SMA regions was determined through a laterality index of active voxels and signal intensity. Ability to imagine was assessed with an Imagery Rating Scale. RESULTS: .All subjects displayed primarily contralateral control during the track condition. Healthy subjects demonstrated contralateral control in all areas during the imagine condition, whereas subjects with stroke displayed primarily contralateral activation in S1 but ipsilateral in M1 and SMA. The percentage change in signal intensity was greater in the ipsilateral hemisphere in subjects with stroke than in the ipsilateral hemisphere in healthy subjects during the imagine condition. Additionally, subjects with self-reported low ability to imagine displayed no difference in activation compared to those with high imagery ability. CONCLUSIONS: . These findings are consistent with other works demonstrating primarily ipsilateral control of the hemiparetic hand in subjects with functional movement and lay the groundwork for further investigation into the ability of mental imagery to affect functionally relevant cortical control in subjects recovering from stroke.

VR-based schizophrenia training program

2006-05-10T22:44:26+02:00

Via VRoot.org

Janssen Pharmaceutical, a manufacturer of prescription medications for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar mania, has developed a schizophrenia training program based on virtual reality technology.

In the program, the participant chooses a virtual experience and is led through a range of visual and auditory hallucinations during a ride on a bus, a trip to the doctor's office or a trip to a pharmacy located in the back of grocery store.

In the virtual program simulating a trip to the pharmacy, the participant hears voices popping in and out of their head. Some are soft, some loud -- even yelling -- and many of them are paranoid. People stare at you from every aisle, some seem to be able to read your mind, others are afraid of you. A person in a television monitor screams at you. As you get to the pharmacy counter you can hear the pharmacists whispering and laughing and then they hand you a prescription of what looks like "poison," with a big scull and cross bones on the bottle's label.

PaPeRo

2006-05-10T22:36:30+02:00

Via Pink Tentacle

NEC has recently announced a technology that allows PaPeRo household robot to connect with a variety of personal devices. The technology provides PaPeRo with a digital avatar that “follows” you to the device of your choice, where it appears on the screen and interacts with you.

VIDEO of PaPeRo QuickTime, 1.24 MB

Enhanced humans

2006-05-10T22:29:02+02:00

From New Scientist

People with enhanced senses, superhuman bodies and sharpened minds are already walking among us. Are you ready for your upgrade?
They're here and walking among us: people with technologically enhanced senses, superhuman bodies and artificially sharpened minds. The first humans to reach a happy, healthy 150th birthday may already have been born. And that's just the start of it. Are you ready for your upgrade, asks Graham Lawton

IT IS 2050, and Peter Schwartz is deciding what to do with the rest of his life. He has already had two successful careers and he wants another one before he dies, which he expects to happen in around 50 years. By then he'll be about 150, which isn't bad for a baby boomer, but he expects his son, now 60, to live a lot longer than that.

The world that Schwartz lives in is radically different from the one he grew up in. The industrial and information age has passed into history, overtaken by a revolution in bioscience that began around

Link to the complete article

Cognitive Development Research Assistant

2006-05-10T22:20:46+02:00

Via Neurodudes

Applications are invited for the post of a Cognitive Neuroscience Research Assistant in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences. The RA will participate in several ongoing research studies of cognitive development and cognitive disorders (Alzheimer’s disease in particular).

Responsibilities include: assembling assessment instruments; screening and recruiting subjects; obtaining informed consent; scheduling subjects for testing; tracking progress of the study; designing fMRI and EEG experiments; acquiring, archiving and analyzing fMRI, MRI, DTI, EEG and behavioral data; verifying data and entering pertinent information into database for statistical analysis; and assistance with manuscript preparation. For creative and highly motivated candidates, the position offers plenty of opportunities to co-author publications.

QUALIFICATIONS:

*Requires a BS/BA degree in psychology, human biology, neuroscience, symbolic systems or related fields.

*One to two years of work experience is required.

*A strong academic record is essential; past research experience with fMRI and children and/ or elderly subjects is desirable.

*Experience with any of the following would be an added advantage: EEG, computer programming, statistical analysis, and neuropsychological assessment.

*The candidate must have strong organizational and interpersonal skills; the ability to work well with children and elderly subjects; a willingness to tackle complex tasks in an independent manner; and a strong sense of responsibility towards work.

Please call 650.736.0128 if interested. More information will be given (limited info here to avoid spam bots).

We Feel Fine

2006-05-10T22:18:33+02:00

From We Feel Fine project's website

Since August 2005, We Feel Fine, An Exploration of Human Emotion, in Six Movements, has been harvesting human feelings from a large number of weblogs. Every few minutes, the system searches the world's newly posted blog entries for occurrences of the phrases "I feel" and "I am feeling". When it finds such a phrase, it records the full sentence, up to the period, and identifies the "feeling" expressed in that sentence (e.g. sad, happy, depressed, etc.). Because blogs are structured in largely standard ways, the age, gender, and geographical location of the author can often be extracted and saved along with the sentence, as can the local weather conditions at the time the sentence was written. All of this information is saved.
The result is a database of several million human feelings, increasing by 15,000 - 20,000 new feelings per day. At its core, We Feel Fine - by Jonathan Harris & Sepandar Kamvar - is an artwork authored by everyone. It will grow and change as we grow and change, reflecting what's on our blogs, what's in our hearts, what's in our minds. We hope it makes the world seem a little smaller, and we hope it helps people see beauty in the everyday ups and downs of life.

Inside the Autistic Mind

2006-05-10T22:08:04+02:00

Via Mind Hacks

The upcoming edition of Time Magazine has a cover story about autism. The story, entitled "Inside the Autistic Mind", is available online and discusses the recent developments in the psychology and neuroscience of autism.

Motiva

2006-05-10T22:00:59+02:00

Via Medical Connectivity

Philips has announced the launch of the remote monitoring system Motiva for the U.S. market (press release). The system is an interactive healthcare platform which uses broadband television, along with home vital sign measurement devices, to connect patients to their healthcare providers and medical support system.

Motiva was the winner of a Medical Design Excellence Award and named one of the "Top 5 Disease Management Ideas of 2005"

Smartshirt

2006-05-10T21:53:40+02:00

The company Sensatex is looking for beta testers for its SmartShirt System, a wearable physiological information management platform based on technology developed at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

From the website:

the SmartShirt is made using any type of fiber. It is woven or knitted incorporating a patented conductive fiber/sensor system designed specifically for the intended biometric information requirements. Heart rate, respiration, and body temperature are all calibrated and relayed in real time for analysis.

According to Sensatex, the shirt can be used to remotely monitor home-based patients, first responders, hazardous materials workers and soldiers. It also can be used to monitor signs of fatigue in truck drivers and to support athletic training.

Promoting Innovation in Electromyography

2006-05-09T19:49:13+02:00

The Delsys Prize was established in 2003 by Professor Carlo J. De Luca to promote innovation in the field of Electromyography.

The competition is open to everyone with an interest in the field of Electromyography. Participants must summarize their innovative work to win a complete Bagnoli 8-Channel EMG System, EMGworks Signal Acquisition and Analysis Software and a National Instruments Data Acquisition card for desktop computers. The Prize is valued at $11,500 USD.

The deadline for submitting entries is September 29, 2006.

The winner will be selected by a 5-member panel consisting of experts from scientific, engineering, and medical disciplines.

Past winners of the prize include: Ms. Kim Sherman of Sandalwood, Inc; Dr. F.C.T. van der Helm of Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands; and Dr. A.L. Hof of University of Groningen, the Netherlands.

To learn more about the prize, go to the company's website

Videogame Duke Nukem used to investigate how sleep affects long-term memory

2006-05-07T14:00:00+02:00

Via news.bbc.co.uk

A Belgian team of researchers monitored brain activity of subjects during navigation in the videogame Duke Nukem, to see how volunteers stored spatial information from the game, and investigate how sleep affects long-term memory.

Results showed that sleep-deprived gamers recalled information from a different part of the brain to those who slept.

Writing in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), the team said its work also shed light on how we navigate in the real world.

See the full story

Living with three arms

2006-05-07T13:51:26+02:00

Via VRoot

(From Virtual Worldlets)

Virtual Reality is just beginning to head down the full body sensation reproduction path. We are at the very early stages of being able to recreate parts of the physical form, entirely in the virtual. This is a concept which is likely to have very a profound effect upon how we deal with the world around us.

At the moment, VR technology in reproducing virtual limbs is limited to a single limb at a time. This is done by mimicking the movements of the user's physical limb by reading the signals sent down the brainstem, translating and implementing them, as opposed to monitoring the movement of the arm and duplicating that. This is both faster than mimicking the movement observationally, and also allows the technique to work if the user has no physical arm to mimic, so long as the brain is capable of controlling one - e.g., quadriplegics, limb amputees.

HCI Research Assistant - London

2006-05-07T13:45:04+02:00

Via Usability News

Deadine: 15 May 2006

Amberlight is a user-centred design consultancy. We conduct research into the experience of using our client’s product, then deliver insights to help them design a better experience which will achieve their business goals. We work closely with clients put users at the heart of their design process. We have been working across multiple platforms with some of the most exciting brands in the world for six years, including MSN, AOL, BBC, Sony, Orange and O2.

We currently have 17 employees, and are continuing to grow steadily. We are now looking for a Research Assistant to join our friendly and enthusiastic team. This is a great opportunity for a future usability / UCD consultant to gain the experience they need while playing a very important role in a successful company.

The responsibilities for this role include:
- Providing support to consultants during user research – this will mainly consist of viewing usability tests remotely and taking notes in a fieldsheet template about the users behaviour, including marking issues and responses to particular questions of interest.
- Assisting with analysis – following testing, helping the consultant to process the information gathered during user research. This may involve completing a findings log with observed issues, holding an analysis workshop with the consultant, or processing results from the user research e.g. card sorting analysis.
- Set-up of technical equipment – helping the consultant to get ready for the research. This may involve setting up rooms and equipment for testing or configuring our recording software.
- Video editing – identifying suitable illustrative video clips with the consultant and making the clips. May also involve making full-session recordings for the client.
- Supporting the research process in other ways as required – may include helping with the user recruitment process, for example contacting users to arrange research sessions; and any small tasks required to help the consultant on the project e.g. proof reading, printing and binding reports, burning CDs etc.

You need to have:
- UCD/HCI knowledge – you need to have a good understanding of the HCI field of knowledge, preferably with a formal qualification in this area such as an MSc. Perhaps you are a recent grad looking to gain experience in the world of usability.
- Note-taking abilities – you need to be able to take notes rapidly using a computer (good typing speed essential) + be confident using Word and Excel.
- Strong analytical skills to help develop insights out of the data gathered.
- Methodological skills are an advantage e.g. experience of performing usability tests, expert walkthroughs, card sorting etc
- Interpersonal skills - you need to be able to communicate in a clear and confident professional manner. This is not primarily a client-facing role, but you may come into contact with clients while viewing, and you need to behave appropriately at all times.
- Technical competence – you are broadly confident using technology, and willing to learn about equipment configurations and software used in user research. Experience with TechSmith Morae a big plus.
- Can-do spirit - we are a smallish company and you need to work with the team – to be willing to pitch in to help with anything and to contribute positively to the culture.
- Accountability – you care about your work being brilliant quality, delivered on time and useful for the consultant, and end client.
- Ambition – our aim with this role is to help you develop, and over time we will give you more responsibilities and expose you to more of the project cycle.
- Passion – You are genuinely excited at the prospect of UCD principles being applied to everything in the world, for evermore.
What we can give you
- Great experience in a leading UCD consultancy
- An opportunity to progress to a Consultant position with time and support
- Brilliant people to work with
- A chance to work with the best client list on the most interesting projects in the business
- Flexibility to pursue your own HCI interests and build your name in the community.

Please send your CV and why you think you are right for this position to Pippa Gawley at pippa@amber-light.co.uk, as soon as possible and by Monday 15th May at the latest. Please note that we can only consider people who are already eligible to work in the UK for this position. No agencies please.

Kung-fu computer game delivers real kicks

2006-05-07T13:45:00+02:00

Via Videogame Workout

New Scientist reports about a new Kung-fu computer game that allows the user to deliver real kicks:

Kick Ass Kung Fu lets players fight onscreen enemies using real kicks, punches, head-butts or by wielding any improvised weapon they choose. A video camera captures their movements from one side and superimposes a two-dimensional silhouette of them onto a computer screen. A computer then translates the silhouette's moves into real-time computerised kicks and punches, enabling a player to take on virtual opponents.

Read the full article and check out the video

Existing Technologies Combine to Make Automated Home

2006-05-07T13:42:55+02:00

Via Smart Mobs

The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (Japan), Ymatic Ltd., and Biometrica Systems Asia Co. Ltd. have jointly developed a novel automated home. The home combines robots guided by IC tags, a biometric face authentication system, and a wireless network.

Source: Physorg

Motorola Cell Phone Automatically Adjusts to the Elderly

2006-05-07T13:35:00+02:00

Via Textually.org

Motorola has patented a new phone technology adaptable for the hearing impaired.

"By automatically detecting speech patterns of the elderly, the technology automatically boosts incoming and outgoing audio while simplifying menu structure and increasing font size.

The special needs of the elderly can often be in conflict with other users, such as the youth which often desire the smallest, most feature rich devices possible. Hence, the technology allows one device to adapt and accommodate to both market segments."

Telecommunication devices that adjust audio characteristics for elderly communicators - United States Patent Application 20060088154

Virtual reality immersion method of distraction to control experimental ischemic pain

2006-05-07T13:33:28+02:00

Virtual reality immersion method of distraction to control experimental ischemic pain.

Isr Med Assoc J. 2006 Apr;8(4):261-5

Authors: Magora F, Cohen S, Shochina M, Dayan E

BACKGROUND: Virtual reality immersion has been advocated as a new effective adjunct to drugs for pain control. The attenuation of pain perception and unpleasantness has been attributed to the patient's attention being diverted from the real, external environment through immersion in a virtual environment transmitted by an interactive 3-D software computer program via a VR helmet. OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether VR immersion can extend the amount of time subjects can tolerate ischemic tourniquet pain. METHODS: The study group comprised 20 healthy adult volunteers. The pain was induced by an inflated blood pressure cuff during two separate, counterbalanced, randomized experimental conditions for each subject: one with VR and the control without VR exposure. The VR equipment consisted of a standard computer, a lightweight helmet and an interactive software game. RESULTS: Tolerance time to ischemia was significantly longer for VR conditions than for those without (P < 0.001). Visual Analogue Scale (0-10) ratings were recorded for pain intensity, pain unpleasantness, and the time spent thinking about pain. Affective distress ratings of unpleasantness and of time spent thinking about pain were significantly lower during VR as compared with the control condition (P< 0.003 and 0.001 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The VR method in pain control was shown to be beneficial. The relatively inexpensive equipment will facilitate the use of VR immersion in clinical situations. Future research is necessary to establish the optimal selection of clinical patients appropriate for VR pain therapy and the type of software required according to age, gender, personality, and cultural factors.

Is there ”feedback” during visual imagery?

2006-05-07T13:31:59+02:00

Is there "feedback" during visual imagery? Evidence from a specificity of practice paradigm.

Can J Exp Psychol. 2006 Mar;60(1):24-32

Authors: Krigolson O, Van Gyn G, Tremblay L, Heath M

The specificity of practice hypothesis predicts the development of a sensorimotor representation specific to the afferent feedback available during skill acquisition (Proteau, 1992; Proteau, Marteniuk, Girouard, & Dugas, 1987). In the present investigation, we used the specificity of practice hypothesis to test whether skill acquisition through visual imagery would lead to the development of a sensory-specific movement representation similar to one resulting from actual practice. To accomplish this objective, participants practiced walking a 12-m linear path in one of three practice conditions, full-vision (FV), no-vision (NV), or visual imagery (VI), for either 10 or 100 trials. Knowledge of spatial and/or temporal results (KR) was provided to participants following each trial during this phase. Following acquisition, participants completed 10 NV trials without KR. An analysis of root-mean-squared-error (RMSE) indicated NV participants were more accurate than both FV and VI participants in the transfer condition. We believe the equivalence in transfer RMSE between FV and VI suggests that there are similarities between the movement representations attained by FV and VI practice.