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revision 1.150 by hemppah, Wed May 14 13:41:45 2003 UTC revision 1.151 by hemppah, Thu May 15 10:37:34 2003 UTC
# Line 2  Line 2 
2  Research Plan: Theoretical issues in Fenfire  Research Plan: Theoretical issues in Fenfire
3  ============================================  ============================================
4    
 .. JVK, HH, TJL = locks (tjl on train)  
   
5  Abstract  Abstract
6  ========  ========
7    
# Line 58  torn viewports, Line 56  torn viewports,
56  texture filtering for rendering text,  texture filtering for rendering text,
57  and new types of controllers.  and new types of controllers.
58    
59  The questions whose answers would benefit the project currently include ...  .. The questions whose answers would benefit the project currently include ...
60    
61  .. (abstract no longer than one page)  .. (abstract no longer than one page)
62    
63  .. raw:: latex  .. raw:: latex
64            
65      \setlength{\parindent}{\fooparindent}      \setlength{\parindent}{\fooparindent}    
66        \clearpage    
67    
68  Table of contents  Table of contents
69  =================  =================
# Line 72  Table of contents Line 71  Table of contents
71  .. contents::  .. contents::
72    
73  .. raw:: latex  .. raw:: latex
74      
75     \tableofcontents     \tableofcontents
76    
77  Background  Background
# Line 121  Novel focus+context user interfaces Line 120  Novel focus+context user interfaces
120      as the central item and peripherally the connected locations.      as the central item and peripherally the connected locations.
121      Several of the new technologies in fenfire are related to user interfaces,      Several of the new technologies in fenfire are related to user interfaces,
122      in particular to showing the context visibly yet nonintrusively.      in particular to showing the context visibly yet nonintrusively.
123        Some of the ideas aiming to maintain continuity in the Fenfire user        
124        interface (such as focus-context) have already been proved to be efficient by        
125        earlier researchers. Several ideas presented in this research plan are, however,
126        genuinely new and thus need to be subjected to rigorous experimenting and testing.
127    
128  Permanent data and peer-to-peer (P2P) information sharing  Permanent data and peer-to-peer (P2P) information sharing
129      Collaboration with even only      Collaboration with even only
# Line 238  are relevant to the modeling problems in Line 241  are relevant to the modeling problems in
241  In addition, several manuscripts about various aspects of Fenfire are in preparation.  In addition, several manuscripts about various aspects of Fenfire are in preparation.
242    
243    
244  - postgraduate studies performed in the research team  .. - postgraduate studies performed in the research team
245    
246    Janne Kujala  .. Janne Kujala
247    Marketta Niemelä  .. Marketta Niemelä
248        
249    
250  Significance of the research  Significance of the research
# Line 320  Objectives and methods Line 323  Objectives and methods
323  Objectives, hypotheses, and methods per sub-project  Objectives, hypotheses, and methods per sub-project
324  ---------------------------------------------------  ---------------------------------------------------
325    
 TJL  
   
326  Because of the nature of this project, there are a number  Because of the nature of this project, there are a number
327  of essentially separate subprojects with distinct objectives and  of essentially separate subprojects with distinct objectives and
328  results, but with some underlying themes. The separate subprojects are  results, but with some underlying themes. The separate subprojects are
# Line 330  described in the sections below. Line 331  described in the sections below.
331  Fillets  Fillets
332  '''''''  '''''''
333    
334  TJL  One of the basic principles of the Fenfire user interface is continuity.  
335    Continuity helps the user to perceive the interface as cognitively
336    coherent - things are related to each other, not disconnected. This reduces
337    load in the user's working memory.
338    
339  Fillets[lukka02fillets] for graph rendering were invented  Fillets[lukka02fillets] for graph rendering were invented
340  in the Fenfire project at the time when we were  in the Fenfire project at the time when we were
341  still working with Ted Nelson's ZigZag structure.  still working with Ted Nelson's ZigZag structure.
342    
343    Originally the term filleting is used in mechanical engineering    
344    to denote or rounding corners of surfaces in order to improve
345    the properties of cast objects.
346    
 Filleting, or rounding corners of surfaces, is  
 used in mechanical engineering to improve  
 the properties of cast objects.  
347  Our use of the filleting for connections in graph-like diagrams  Our use of the filleting for connections in graph-like diagrams
348  is motivated by the Gestalt principle of good  is motivated by the Gestalt principle of good
349  continuation. Smoothly changing contours enable more efficient perceptual  continuation. Smoothly changing contours enable more efficient perceptual
350  grouping of visual elements, in this case,  grouping of visual elements, in this case,
351  grouping of the node and the connection.  grouping of the node and the connection.
352    
353  In situations where the graph layout is constrained,  Especially in situations where the graph layout is constrained
354  e.g.~Focus+Context views or views where the coordinates of the nodes  e.g.~Focus+Context views or views where the coordinates of the nodes
355  are informative, fillets can clarify the relationships considerably without  are informative, fillets can clarify the relationships considerably without
356  altering the layout.  altering the layout.
357    
358    Fillets are already in use in the Fenfire project, but our earlier
359    research [lukka02fillets]_ has only scratched the surface; the idea has
360    opened several new possible directions for basic research.  
361    There are several possible extensions of the basic idea: for example,
362    using some texturing to express the stretching of the filleted
363    connection to the user, or lighting and shadows to provide a sense
364    3D shape of the smooth surface.
365    
366  One of the basic principles of the Fenfire user interface is continuity.  One of the basic principles of the Fenfire user interface is continuity.
367  Continuity helps the user to perceive the interface as cognitively  Continuity helps the user to perceive the interface as cognitively
368  coherent - things are related to each other, not disconnected. This  coherent - things are related to each other, not disconnected. This
369  reduces load in the user's working memory.  reduces load in the user's working memory.
370    
371  Some of the ideas aiming to maintain continuity in the Fenfire user  We plan to test the usability of the ideas first in basic cognitive tasks
372  interface (such as focus-context) have been proved to be efficient by  before implementing and testing them in a larger context.
 earlier researchers. Several ideas presented here are, however, genuinely  
 new and thus need to be subjected to rigor experimenting and testing. We  
 plan to test the usability of the ideas first in basic cognitive tasks  
 before implementing and testing them in a larger context.  
   
373  The first-phase experiments include tasks varying from very simple  The first-phase experiments include tasks varying from very simple
374  perceptual tasks (such as visual search and recognition) to more complex  perceptual tasks (such as visual search and recognition) to more complex
375  problem-solving tasks. The experiments will be conducted with about ten  problem-solving tasks. The experiments will be conducted with about ten
# Line 379  interconnections, compared to more commo Line 386  interconnections, compared to more commo
386  phase, fillets will be tested in a more realistic situation requiring the  phase, fillets will be tested in a more realistic situation requiring the
387  user to trace visual connections between information items.  user to trace visual connections between information items.
388    
 Textured backgrounds implement continuity by providing unique, permanent  
 visual context for interface elements to facilitate search and recognition  
 of the elements in prolonged use. Textures will be tested to show that the  
 user can implicitly memorize textures during interaction with the  
 interface elements and use this information to recognize the elements  
 faster and more accurately. We will also conduct readibility tests on  
 textures to show that a textured background of text does not necessarily  
 impair either the legibility or the readability of the text.  
   
389  Finally, we will carry usability tests on a simulated interface, in which  Finally, we will carry usability tests on a simulated interface, in which
390  several ideas are implemented simultaneously. The users will be observed  several ideas are implemented simultaneously. The users will be observed
391  in realistic use situations. Behavioral data will be gathered in verbal  in realistic use situations. Behavioral data will be gathered in verbal
392  protocols, videotaping, and surveys.  protocols, videotaping, and surveys.
393    
394    
395  Our earlier reseach has shown that filleting significantly  .. Generalizing filleting to three dimensions ...
396  improves the perceivability of certain graph layouts.  .. - quantitative experimental results from general graphs layout
 We plan to obtain experimental justification and  
 to formulate principles of filleting  
 in more general layouts including curved connections  
 and smooth animation.  
 Generalizing filleting to three dimensions ...  
   
     - quantitative experimental results from general graphs layout  
   
 Goals???  
397    
398    
399  Buoys  Buoys
# Line 467  Break lines Line 456  Break lines
456    
457  .. make sure about the concrete stuff  .. make sure about the concrete stuff
458    
459  *Break lines* are a technique used in technical drawing  Break lines are another one of Fenfire's user interface techniques  
460  for indicating  that have been influenced by technical drawing. In technical drawing, break
461  where an object extends beyond what is drawn in the current  lines are used for indicating where an object extends beyond what
462  diagram. It is visually clear since it uses a shape that  is drawn in the current diagram. It is visually clear since it uses a shape that
463  is obviously not a part of the object's own shape  is obviously not a part of the object's own shape
464  (wiggly freehand line, see Fig. [ref-fignasa]_).  (wiggly freehand line, see Fig. [ref-fignasa]_).
465  We apply this technique by drawing the buoys as  We apply this technique by drawing the buoys as
466  non-photorealistical pieces torn off the target document.  non-photorealistic pieces torn off the target document.
467    In the software engineering part of the Fenfire project, we have
468  To allow for fluid animation,  just accepted that this type of animation  
469  the shapes of the break lines need to be carefully designed.  seems to work and moved on; however, this has opened a number of
470  For example, animating a fragment to a full document  interesting questions for basic research.
471    
472    An important part of the design of break lines in Fenfire
473    is the fluid animation:
474    for example, animating a fragment to a full document
475  should not look like the edge just gliding  should not look like the edge just gliding
476  over the document, but rather as if larger and  over the document, but rather as if larger and
477  larger parts were magically torn off the original document.  larger parts were magically torn off the original document.
478    In the software engineering part of the Fenfire project, we
479    have just accepted that this type of animation seems to work and moved on;
480    however, this has opened a number of interesting questions for basic research.
481    
482  .. figure:: ../../manuscripts/xupdf/mercury5part2  .. figure:: ../../manuscripts/xupdf/mercury5part2
483     :width: 8.45cm     :width: 8.45cm
# Line 496  larger parts were magically torn off the Line 492  larger parts were magically torn off the
492  The concrete research goals are to evaluate the practical value of  The concrete research goals are to evaluate the practical value of
493  break lines as implemented in the Fenfire project and  break lines as implemented in the Fenfire project and
494  to study more formally the perceptual properties  to study more formally the perceptual properties
495  of different types of torn edges.  of different types of break lines.
496  Especially the properties of the animation are interesting,  Especially the properties of the animation are interesting,
497  because it looks quite natural even though  because the motion appears quite natural even though
498  there is no real-world analogue.  there is no real-world analogue.
499    
500    
# Line 527  possible to run small *fragment programs Line 523  possible to run small *fragment programs
523  This flexibility allows us to overcome the restrictions in the  This flexibility allows us to overcome the restrictions in the
524  texture filtering.  texture filtering.
525    
526    ---
527    However, designing such filters in an *ad hoc* fashion is
528    extremely cumbersome and error-prone; a more
529    formal approach for evaluating the results of
530    different filtering methods is needed.
531    
532    The goals in this area are the development of a mathematical framework
533    for modeling the *perceptual* qualities of rendered text
534    as well as experimental evaluation of the models.
535    
536    As one theoretical approach for the readability modeling
537    we plan to use the correlation function of the rendered text.
538    There have not been much research on this approach in
539    graphics context.
540    However, we hope to be able to apply our earlier experience
541    on Bayesian methods and similar models.
542    ---
543    
544  However, designing such filters in an *ad hoc* fashion is  However, designing such filters in an *ad hoc* fashion is
545  extremely cumbersome and error-prone. What is needed is a suitable  extremely cumbersome and error-prone. What is needed is a suitable
546  mathematical framework for modeling the  mathematical framework for modeling the
# Line 691  Professor Lea Pulkkinen) and the departm Line 705  Professor Lea Pulkkinen) and the departm
705  include TEKES, COMAS postgraduate school, Sonera and Nokia.  include TEKES, COMAS postgraduate school, Sonera and Nokia.
706    
707        
708  - other projects of the research leader and their funding (also other  .. - other projects of the research leader and their funding (also other
709    than Academy projects)    than Academy projects)
710        
   ?  
711        
712  - researcher training, including arrangements for postgraduate    
713    .. - researcher training, including arrangements for postgraduate
714    instruction and supervision    instruction and supervision
715        
716  Currently, there are three COMAS postgraduate students in  Currently, there are three COMAS postgraduate students in
# Line 709  the research group: Line 723  the research group:
723  More detailed information about the research trainees' postgraduate studies  More detailed information about the research trainees' postgraduate studies
724  can be found from their personal postgraduate research plan.      can be found from their personal postgraduate research plan.    
725        
726  - Finnish and foreign co-operation within the project  .. - Finnish and foreign co-operation within the project
   
   ?  
   
727    
728      
729  Research environment  Research environment
730  --------------------  --------------------
731    
# Line 758  Research budget Line 770  Research budget
770    
771    
772    
773  - financial plan for the project, including also funding other than  .. - financial plan for the project, including also funding other than
774    Academy funding       Academy funding
     
775        
   Funding from industry companies  
           
         To get funding, show off what we do etc, we need to make  
         showy demos every once in a while.  
776        
777  - detailed grounds for Academy funding applied for (in particular the    
778    item "other costs")  .. - detailed grounds for Academy funding applied for (in particular the
779         item "other costs")
780    
781  Results  Results
782  =======  =======

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