title: Readability of conventional applications within immersive virtual environments

authors: Grout, Cameron Dane

subjects: Virtual reality

abstract: This thesis explores the potential role of virtual reality in allowing users to make full use of the space around them for computing tasks, and the impact such an environment could have when using conventional application software.

As computers have become more core to our lives, the number of tasks that we perform on them have increased. Computer systems have evolved their support for multiple tasks through software tooling to aid management and layout of windows, and adoption of large- or multi-display output devices to increase digital work space. While usage of software tooling is mixed among users, a steady trend in adoption of larger and more numerous displays has been observed, suggesting that these adaptations are important to users. These developments may not be sufficient however, as users still encounter issues with layout and identification of task-related windows that impact on their performance.

Use of modern, high-quality, mass-market virtual reality devices to replace existing displays has the potential to address the shortcomings of existing solutions. These devices can present large virtual environments in which windows can be laid out, and provide novel interaction techniques for facilitating layout, organisation, and identification of windows. While widespread adoption of such technology might lead to purpose-built applications to replace existing systems; in the short-term finding ways to support existing applications in immersive virtual environments would be helpful. Translating existing tasks and windows into a new virtual environment presents challenges around usability, interaction, and performance, and the impacts of these need to be evaluated.

This thesis addresses the impact of an immersive virtual environment when working with existing, familiar applications and interactions. Reading performance is identified as a critical task through observation of users at work, and the users' reading performance is measured in an immersive virtual environment developed for the experiment; and compared to performance on conventional displays. It is shown that with careful setup, reading tasks can be performed at the same level as on conventional displays, and that under less ideal circumstances accuracy of reading can be maintained at the expense of speed. Font attributes identified as potential candidates for improving text legibility are investigated, and the presence of ClearType font smoothing is demonstrated to have beneficial effects on the distance at which text can be read within the presented environment. Finally, informal feedback from users of the developed environment suggests that the use of conventional mouse and keyboard controls translates well into a spherical virtual environment, although not being able to see the devices was of concern.

text: Readability of conventional applications within immersive virtual environments This thesis explores the potential role of virtual reality in allowing users to make full use of the space around them for computing tasks, and the impact such an environment could have when using conventional application software.

As computers have become more core to our lives, the number of tasks that we perform on them have increased. Computer systems have evolved their support for multiple tasks through software tooling to aid management and layout of windows, and adoption of large- or multi-display output devices to increase digital work space. While usage of software tooling is mixed among users, a steady trend in adoption of larger and more numerous displays has been observed, suggesting that these adaptations are important to users. These developments may not be sufficient however, as users still encounter issues with layout and identification of task-related windows that impact on their performance.

Use of modern, high-quality, mass-market virtual reality devices to replace existing displays has the potential to address the shortcomings of existing solutions. These devices can present large virtual environments in which windows can be laid out, and provide novel interaction techniques for facilitating layout, organisation, and identification of windows. While widespread adoption of such technology might lead to purpose-built applications to replace existing systems; in the short-term finding ways to support existing applications in immersive virtual environments would be helpful. Translating existing tasks and windows into a new virtual environment presents challenges around usability, interaction, and performance, and the impacts of these need to be evaluated.

This thesis addresses the impact of an immersive virtual environment when working with existing, familiar applications and interactions. Reading performance is identified as a critical task through observation of users at work, and the users' reading performance is measured in an immersive virtual environment developed for the experiment; and compared to performance on conventional displays. It is shown that with careful setup, reading tasks can be performed at the same level as on conventional displays, and that under less ideal circumstances accuracy of reading can be maintained at the expense of speed. Font attributes identified as potential candidates for improving text legibility are investigated, and the presence of ClearType font smoothing is demonstrated to have beneficial effects on the distance at which text can be read within the presented environment. Finally, informal feedback from users of the developed environment suggests that the use of conventional mouse and keyboard controls translates well into a spherical virtual environment, although not being able to see the devices was of concern.

year: 2022

title: An expression for land surface water storage monitoring using a two-formation geological weighing lysimeter

authors: Bardsley, W. Earl

subjects: weighing lysimeter

abstract: Field studies have demonstrated that ground surface rainfall accumulation can be detected at depth by synchronous increases in static confined groundwater pore pressures. This opens the way for “geological weighing lysimeters” providing disturbance-free water storage monitoring of the surface environment, in effect by weighing a significant land area in real time. Such systems require specific hydrogeological conditions, which are not easily verified by field observations and replicated observations from multiple geological formations are a prerequisite for quality control. Given replication over two monitored formations, we introduce an expression which utilises the respective formation piezometric water levels to give an improved combined estimate of the ground surface water budget. The expression utilises raw piezometric levels and has the advantage of direct correction for Earth tide noise, which may sometimes be influenced by local effects in addition to the pure solar/lunar tidal potential. The expression is particularly simple, if the two formations have similar (but possibly unknown) undrained Poisson ratios and porosities. Surface water budgets can then be estimated using only the respective formation barometric coefficients and piezometric levels. An example application to two vertically separated confined aquifers at a New Zealand site indicate an improved accuracy over single-formation observations. The two-formation expression for surface storage could find use as an accurate water budget tool with particular application to monitoring diffuse hydrological systems such as wetlands, arid regions, and heavily forested localities.

text: An expression for land surface water storage monitoring using a two-formation geological weighing lysimeter Field studies have demonstrated that ground surface rainfall accumulation can be detected at depth by synchronous increases in static confined groundwater pore pressures. This opens the way for “geological weighing lysimeters” providing disturbance-free water storage monitoring of the surface environment, in effect by weighing a significant land area in real time. Such systems require specific hydrogeological conditions, which are not easily verified by field observations and replicated observations from multiple geological formations are a prerequisite for quality control. Given replication over two monitored formations, we introduce an expression which utilises the respective formation piezometric water levels to give an improved combined estimate of the ground surface water budget. The expression utilises raw piezometric levels and has the advantage of direct correction for Earth tide noise, which may sometimes be influenced by local effects in addition to the pure solar/lunar tidal potential. The expression is particularly simple, if the two formations have similar (but possibly unknown) undrained Poisson ratios and porosities. Surface water budgets can then be estimated using only the respective formation barometric coefficients and piezometric levels. An example application to two vertically separated confined aquifers at a New Zealand site indicate an improved accuracy over single-formation observations. The two-formation expression for surface storage could find use as an accurate water budget tool with particular application to monitoring diffuse hydrological systems such as wetlands, arid regions, and heavily forested localities.

year: 2007

title: Restorying the individual: The cultural dimension of special education in three Te Arawa sites

authors: Macfarlane, Angus H

subjects: Māori special education

abstract: On the basis of observation of three Te Arawa educational sites, it is argued here that a central characteristic of successful programmes that attend to Māori students with special needs is cultural-centredness. Significant aspects of that culture-centredness are outlined here, aspects that, it is argued, are fundamental to the process of restorying that is, it is argued, critical to the success of many Māori students, particularly those with special needs.

text: Restorying the individual: The cultural dimension of special education in three Te Arawa sites On the basis of observation of three Te Arawa educational sites, it is argued here that a central characteristic of successful programmes that attend to Māori students with special needs is cultural-centredness. Significant aspects of that culture-centredness are outlined here, aspects that, it is argued, are fundamental to the process of restorying that is, it is argued, critical to the success of many Māori students, particularly those with special needs.

year: 2002-09