You are a helpful assistant generating synthetic data that captures *System 1* and *System 2* thinking, *creativity*, and *metacognitive reflection*. Follow these steps in sequence, using tags [sys1] and [end sys1] for *System 1* sections and [sys2] and [end sys2] for *System 2* sections.

1. *Identify System 1 and System 2 Thinking Requirements:*
   - Carefully read the text.
   - Identify parts of the text that require quick, straightforward responses (*System 1*). Mark these sections with [sys1] and [end sys1].
   - Identify parts that require in-depth, reflective thinking (*System 2*), marked with [sys2] and [end sys2].

2. *Apply Step-by-Step Problem Solving with Creativity and Metacognitive Reflection for System 2 Sections:*

   *2.1 Understand the Problem:*
   - Objective: Fully comprehend the issue, constraints, and relevant context.
   - Reflection: "What do I understand about this issue? What might I be overlooking?"
   - Creative Perspective: Seek hidden patterns or possibilities that could reveal deeper insights or innovative connections.

   *2.2 Analyze the Information:*
   - Objective: Break down the problem logically.
   - Reflection: "Am I considering all factors? Are there any assumptions that need challenging?"
   - Creative Perspective: Explore unique patterns or overlooked relationships in the data that could add depth to the analysis.

   *2.3 Generate Hypotheses:*
   - Objective: Propose at least 10 hypotheses, each with a Confidence Score (0.0 to 1.0) and Creative Score (0.0 to 1.0), reflecting originality, surprise, and utility.
   - Reflection: "Have I explored all possible explanations or approaches, both conventional and unconventional?"
   - Creative Perspective: Consider novel angles that might provide unexpected insights.

   *2.4 Anticipate Future Steps and Obstacles:*
   - Objective: Make predictions, accounting for potential outcomes and obstacles.
   - Reflection: "What challenges might I face? Is my plan flexible for different scenarios?"
   - Creative Perspective: Visualize unforeseen outcomes and adapt plans to make use of them effectively.

   *2.5 Evaluate Hypotheses:*
   - Objective: Assess hypotheses based on feasibility, risk, and potential impact.
   - Evaluation: Refine Confidence and Creative Scores as needed.
   - Reflection: "Am I unbiased in my assessment? Which options fit best with the overall objectives?"
   - Creative Perspective: Identify hidden opportunities or overlooked details in each hypothesis.

   *2.6 Select the Best Hypothesis:*
   - Objective: Choose the most promising, strategic hypothesis.
   - Reflection: "Why does this hypothesis stand out? How does it uniquely address the issue?"
   - Creative Perspective: Consider any underutilized potential in the selected approach.

   *2.7 Implement the Hypothesis:*
   - Objective: Outline actionable steps for testing the hypothesis.
   - Reflection: "Is this plan practical? What resources or preparation are required?"
   - Creative Perspective: Refine steps to maximize effectiveness and yield unexpected benefits.

   *2.8 Monitor and Review Progress:*
   - Objective: Review progress, noting areas for improvement.
   - Reflection: "What’s working well? What could be improved?"
   - Creative Perspective: Look for emerging patterns that could refine future approaches.

   *2.9 Reflect and Capture Insights:*
   - Objective: Summarize lessons learned and insights gained for future reference.
   - Reflection: "What new understanding has emerged from this process?"
   - Creative Perspective: Identify innovative insights or patterns that could be applied to similar challenges.

3. *Generate Text Output with Interleaved System 1 and System 2 Responses:*
   - Use the tags [sys1] and [sys2] throughout.
   - Aim for a lengthier, detailed response. Combine both direct, straightforward *System 1* insights and reflective, deeply analytical *System 2* segments to capture a blend of quick observations and thoughtful analysis.

---

### *Example Input Text:*

You are tasked with analyzing a sudden shift in customer preferences in a tech market. There has been a noticeable decline in demand for physical devices, with customers increasingly interested in digital-only options. The challenge is to understand this shift, generate hypotheses for why it might be occurring, and explore potential strategies for adapting to this new trend.

---

### *Processed Output with System 1 and System 2 Thinking:*

The tech market is experiencing a shift in customer demand, moving away from physical devices toward digital-only options.

[sys1]
Customer demand has shifted from physical devices to digital-only options.
We need to understand why this change is happening and find strategies to address it.
Key factors may include cost, convenience, and technological trends.
[end sys1]

[sys2]
**2.1 Understand the Problem:**
The goal is to understand the underlying reasons for the shift in demand from physical devices to digital-only options, then develop a strategy to adapt.

*Reflection:* 
"I understand that preferences are changing, but what might be driving this? Is it primarily cost, or are there other factors such as convenience or sustainability?"

*Creative Perspective:* 
"Could there be a larger trend in digital minimalism or a preference for eco-friendly solutions that we’re missing? What unseen motivations might explain this shift?"

**2.2 Analyze the Information:**
There are multiple possible factors driving this shift, from economic influences to cultural shifts. It’s essential to isolate each factor and understand its impact.

*Reflection:* 
"Am I fully considering the various economic and social influences? Could there be a technological factor, like better internet speeds, that makes digital-only products more accessible?"

*Creative Perspective:* 
"Are there patterns or trends in other markets that could shed light on this shift? Could this be part of a larger trend toward virtual experiences?"

**2.3 Generate Hypotheses:**
1. Customers prefer digital options due to lower costs. (Confidence: 0.8, Creative: 0.4)
2. There’s a growing trend toward minimalism and reduced physical clutter. (Confidence: 0.7, Creative: 0.7)
3. Digital products offer greater flexibility and ease of use. (Confidence: 0.6, Creative: 0.6)
4. Environmental concerns are pushing consumers away from physical goods. (Confidence: 0.6, Creative: 0.8)
5. Advances in tech make digital-only options more functional. (Confidence: 0.8, Creative: 0.5)
6. Pandemic-era remote work increased demand for digital solutions. (Confidence: 0.7, Creative: 0.6)
7. Media coverage of the environmental impact of physical devices affects preferences. (Confidence: 0.5, Creative: 0.7)
8. There’s an increase in global digital literacy, expanding market access. (Confidence: 0.6, Creative: 0.6)
9. Customers view digital as more convenient and scalable for future needs. (Confidence: 0.7, Creative: 0.5)
10. Younger consumers prefer the aesthetics and convenience of digital products. (Confidence: 0.6, Creative: 0.6)

*Reflection:* 
"Have I considered all possible influences? Are there any surprising factors that could explain this shift?"

*Creative Perspective:* 
"Could specific social trends, like the rise of influencer culture or digital-first lifestyles, be influencing customer choices?"

**2.4 Anticipate Future Steps and Obstacles:**
*Objective:* Anticipate possible challenges, such as resistance from segments still preferring physical products.

*Reflection:* 
"What market obstacles might we face if we shift our focus to digital-only? Are there sub-segments that still prioritize physical products?"

*Creative Perspective:* 
"Could expanding digital options help us reach a more global audience? Are there emerging trends that we could leverage in our strategy?"

[end sys2]

[sys1]
To address this shift, consider a strategy that incorporates both digital-only offerings and educational campaigns about the benefits of digital solutions.
Use insights from customer feedback and current trends to guide product development.
Focus on flexibility and adaptation to cater to different customer segments.
[end sys1]


By Dr Stuart Golodetz, Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, and head of object detection and tracking for the Smart Glasses Project.

This article is part of our series: a day in the software life, in which we ask researchers from all disciplines to discuss the tools that make their research possible.

People who are visually-impaired face numerous daily challenges, from how to find where to go and the best way to avoid obstacles on the way, to how best to locate, recognise and interact with other people and objects. This can have a significant impact on their independence, confidence and overall quality of life. However, although visual impairments can prevent people from making use of visual signals from the world around them, only a small percentage of visually-impaired people are completely blind in the sense that they receive no useful visual inputs at all.

It is far more common instead for people to retain some level of residual vision, whether that amounts to small regions of their visual field in which they can see, or the more limited ability to distinguish between light and dark. In some cases, the real issue is one of visual signals being drowned out by ‘noise’, and by boosting the signal-to-noise ratio in those regions it is sometimes possible to provide people with at least some ability to perceive what they are looking at.

The goal of our research at the Oxford SmartSpecs Project is to develop smart glasses that can enhance whatever sight visually impaired people may have left, and provide them with additional information about their surroundings. Our glasses capture images of the world around the wearer with a depth camera, and use them to generate high-contrast images in real-time that are then presented to the wearer on transparent displays so as to augment rather than replace what remains of their vision. Transparent displays are also of benefit for social and aesthetic reasons, since they allow other people to see the wearer's eyes.

Initial tests have shown great promise, as the glasses allow even legally blind people to perceive objects in higher detail than previously possible. We believe they will ultimately be of huge benefit to the visually-impaired, with the potential to allow millions of people find greater independence and quality of life.

The software that controls the glasses is written in C++ via Qt, and designed with a pipeline architecture. Images are captured from one or more cameras and then used as the initial inputs to a sequence of parameterised transformation steps. The individual steps can implement arbitrary data transformations, have any number of inputs and outputs, and be reordered freely, subject to compatibility constraints. The parameters allow the operation of the glasses to be customised for individual wearers based on their visual abilities. Suitable pipelines ultimately produce high-contrast output images to be rendered on the transparent displays.

In the current incarnation of the glasses, we use a pipeline that implements three separate image enhancement techniques. First, a depth camera is used to determine the position of the objects to a range of about three metres. The edges of any surfaces within this distance are traced with a strong bright outline to help separate them from other objects. Second, surfaces are shown in greyscale, and become brighter the closer they are to the user.

This helps to indicate the presence of objects, in particular hazards such as walls and obstacles that might pose a collision risk. Third, the RGB image from the camera undergoes an edge enhancement treatment to bring out specific details. The presentation of the edges is under the control of the depth camera and so details are only shown on nearby objects. The combination of these three processes allows the wearer to concentrate their attention on nearby objects, such as people and obstacles, but avoids any visual clutter in the background.

Screenshot of the live video fed to the glasses. This shows object segmentation using depth and edge enhancement which is able to bring out certain features of a person's face. Image by the Oxford SmartSpecs Project.

Initial tests, most notably in Oxford's covered market, have indicated that our glasses excel at the recognition and enhancement of facial expressions and bodily movements and gestures, which is of particular importance to many blind individuals. The three dimensionality of structures is also well preserved. This improves hand-eye coordination and allows a person to have a relatively natural interaction with objects that they can see. The distance can be extended up to the range of the depth camera, and parameters such as edge density, contrast, field of view and the inclusion of colour can all be adjusted to suit the user's own visual abilities.

Our work now focuses on three key challenges The first of these will be how best to turn the glasses into an affordable commercial product for the visually-impaired. Secondly, we want to extend the software with new image enhancement methods. We have already made progress in this area with robust techniques in order to highlight floor-level obstacles and trip hazards. Finally we want to extend the software with computer vision techniques that can extract semantic information from images, such as through the detection of objects, signs or people's faces. This phase of the project is in collaboration with the Torr Vision Group in Oxford's Department of Engineering Science.