Search Results (76)

Virtual reality interaction design and story co-creation design for multiple users is an interdisciplinary research field that merges human–computer interaction, creative design, and virtual reality technologies. Story co-creation design enables multiple users to collectively generate and share narratives, allowing them to contribute to the storyline, modify plot trajectories, and craft characters, thereby facilitating a dynamic storytelling experience. Through advanced virtual reality interaction design, collaboration and social engagement can be further enriched to encourage active participation. This study investigates the facilitation of narrative creation and enhancement of storytelling skills in virtual reality by leveraging existing research on story co-creation design and virtual reality technology. Subsequently, we developed and evaluated the virtual reality card-based collaborative storytelling platform Co-Relay. By analyzing interaction data and user feedback obtained from user testing and experimental trials, we observed substantial enhancements in user engagement, immersion, creativity, and fulfillment of emotional and social needs compared to a conventional web-based storytelling platform. The primary contribution of this study lies in demonstrating how the incorporation of story co-creation can elevate storytelling proficiency, plot development, and social interaction within the virtual reality environment. Our novel methodology offers a fresh outlook on the design of collaborative narrative creation in virtual reality, particularly by integrating participatory multi-user storytelling platforms that blur the traditional boundaries between creators and audiences, as well as between fiction and reality. Full article

This research presents the development of a type-2 fuzzy-controlled autonomous mobile robot specifically designed for monitoring and actively maintaining indoor air quality. The core of this system is the proposed type-2 fuzzy PID dual-mode controller used for stably patrolling rooms along the walls of the environment. The design method ingeniously merges the fast error correction capability of PID control with the robust adaptability of type-2 fuzzy logic control, which utilizes interval type-2 fuzzy sets. Furthermore, the type-2 fuzzy rule table of the right wall-following controller can be extended from the first designed fuzzy left wall-following controller in a symmetrical design manner. As a result, this study eliminates the drawbacks of excessive oscillations arising from PID control and sluggish response to large initial errors in typical traditional fuzzy control. The following of the stable wall and obstacle is facilitated with ensured accuracy and easy implementation so that effective air quality monitoring and active PM2.5 filtering are achieved in a movable manner. Furthermore, the augmented reality (AR) interface overlays real-time PM2.5 data directly onto a user’s visual field, enhancing situational awareness and enabling an immediate and intuitive assessment of air quality. As this type of control is different from that used in traditional fixed sensor networks, both broader area coverage and efficient air filtering are achieved. Finally, the experimental results demonstrate the controller’s superior performance and its potential to significantly improve indoor air quality. Full article

Urban regeneration is pivotal to sustainable development, requiring innovative strategies that align social dynamics with spatial configurations. Traditional paradigms increasingly fail to tackle systemic challenges—neighborhood alienation, social fragmentation, and resource inequality—due to their inability to integrate human-centered spatial governance. This study addresses these shortcomings with a novel multidimensional framework that merges social perception (life satisfaction) analytics with spatial quality (GIS-based) assessment. At its core, we utilize geospatial and machine learning models, deploying an ensemble of Gradient Boosted Decision Trees (GBDT), Random Forest (RF), and multiscale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) to decode nonlinear socio-spatial interactions within Suzhou’s community environmental matrix. Our findings reveal critical intersections where residential density thresholds interact with commercial accessibility patterns and transport network configurations. Notably, we highlight the scale-dependent influence of educational proximity and healthcare distribution on community satisfaction, challenging conventional planning doctrines that rely on static buffer-zone models. Through rigorous spatial econometric modeling, this research uncovers three transformative insights: (1) Urban environment exerts a dominant influence on life satisfaction, accounting for 52.61% of the variance. Air quality emerges as a critical determinant, while factors such as proximity to educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and public landmarks exhibit nonlinear effects across spatial scales. (2) Housing price growth in Suzhou displays significant spatial clustering, with a Moran’s I of 0.130. Green space coverage positively correlates with price appreciation (β = 21.6919 ***), whereas floor area ratio exerts a negative impact (β = −4.1197 ***), highlighting the trade-offs between density and property value. (3) The MGWR model outperforms OLS in explaining housing price dynamics, achieving an R² of 0.5564 and an AICc of 11,601.1674. This suggests that MGWR captures 55.64% of pre- and post-pandemic price variations while better reflecting spatial heterogeneity. By merging community-expressed sentiment mapping with morphometric urban analysis, this interdisciplinary research pioneers a protocol for socio-spatial integrated urban transitions—one where algorithmic urbanism meets human-scale needs, not technological determinism. These findings recalibrate urban regeneration paradigms, demonstrating that data-driven socio-spatial integration is not a theoretical aspiration but an achievable governance reality. Full article

To address the key challenges of poor real-time interaction, insufficient integration of operating rules, and limited virtual–physical synergy in current carrier-based aircraft scheduling simulations, this study proposes an immersive digital twin platform that integrates a two-layer genetic algorithm (GA) with hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) semi-physical validation. The platform architecture combines high-fidelity 3D visualization-based modeling (of aircraft, carrier deck, and auxiliary equipment) with real-time data exchange via TCP/IP, establishing a collaborative virtual–physical simulation environment. Three key innovations are presented: (1) a two-tier genetic algorithm (GA)-based scheduling model is proposed to coordinate global planning and dynamic execution optimization for carrier-based aircraft operations; (2) a systematic constraint integration framework incorporating aircraft taxiing dynamics, deck spatial constraints, and safety clearance requirements into the scheduling system, significantly enhancing tactical feasibility compared to conventional approaches that oversimplify multidimensional operational rules; (3) an integrated virtual–physical simulation architecture merging virtual reality interaction with HIL verification, establishing a collaborative digital twin–physical device platform for immersive visualization of full-process operations and dynamic spatiotemporal evolution characterization. Experimental results indicate that this work bridges the gap between theoretical scheduling algorithms and practical naval aviation requirements, offering a standardized testing platform for intelligent carrier-based aircraft operations. Full article

The present study investigates the extent to which the use of Merge Cubes as haptic AR tools in the classroom—realized in construction technology lessons at a vocational college as an exemplary case—influences the cognitive load and motivation of learners. A quasi-experimental field study was conducted using a questionnaire in a pre-post design including a control group at a vocational college in Germany (North Rhine-Westphalia). During the intervention phase, the students in the experimental group worked with materials such as textbooks and worksheets that were specifically expanded to include the Merge Cube AR learning tool, while the students in the control group only used conventional learning materials. In both the pre- and post-test, the cognitive load and motivation of the learners were recorded using questionnaires. The results indicate that the use of Merge Cubes can reduce cognitive load: the extraneous cognitive load of the experimental group decreased over the course of the intervention, whereas that for the control group increased significantly in comparison. In addition, the germane cognitive load increased slightly in the experimental group, whereas that for the control group decreased. With regard to the intrinsic motivation of the learners, both groups recorded an increase, although the difference between the two groups was not significant. Based on these results, further factors influencing the effect on learning and implications for the practical use of the Merge Cube in the classroom are discussed, the concrete validation of which requires further research. Full article

The teaching of human anatomy is experiencing significant transformation. Particularly in recent years, incorporating new digital technologies has drastically changed the approach to education. Our bibliometric study aims to investigate trends and issues from 2004 to 2024 related to digital technology in human anatomy teaching. The publication trend in the field has steadily increased over the years, peaking in 2022 and declining in 2023. Despite the limited statistics for 2024, we do not project an exponential increase in publications. Co-citation analysis identified notable references that significantly influenced the field, emphasizing modernization through innovative methodologies. Leading a significant portion of global collaboration, the United States promoted robust multilateral partnerships. Co-occurrence word analysis highlighted the merging of current technology with student-centered learning approaches, reflecting a shift towards more interactive and immersive learning experiences. Thematic map analysis identified distinct research areas with emerging or declining themes. The analysis of topic trends over the last five years revealed a persistent interest in terms like “palmar” and “carpal”, as well as innovative technologies like “cone beam computed tomography”, “augmented reality”, and “virtual reality”. Our bibliometric study revealed a sector in constant transformation, presenting a scenario where integrating technology with traditional teaching methods could enhance medical students’ comprehension of human anatomy. On the other hand, it also highlighted the anticipated challenges of ensuring equal access to cutting-edge technology, providing sufficient training for academic staff, and addressing emerging ethical issues. Full article

Precision depth estimation plays a key role in many applications, including 3D scene reconstruction, virtual reality, autonomous driving and human–computer interaction. Through recent advancements in deep learning technologies, monocular depth estimation, with its simplicity, has surpassed the traditional stereo camera systems, bringing new possibilities in 3D sensing. In this paper, by using a single camera, we propose an end-to-end supervised monocular depth estimation autoencoder, which contains an encoder with a structure with a mixed convolution neural network and vision transformers and an effective adaptive fusion decoder to obtain high-precision depth maps. In the encoder, we construct a multi-scale feature extractor by mixing residual configurations of vision transformers to enhance both local and global information. In the adaptive fusion decoder, we introduce adaptive fusion modules to effectively merge the features of the encoder and the decoder together. Lastly, the model is trained using a loss function that aligns with human perception to enable it to focus on the depth values of foreground objects. The experimental results demonstrate the effective prediction of the depth map from a single-view color image by the proposed autoencoder, which increases the first accuracy rate about 28% and reduces the root mean square error about 27% compared to an existing method in the NYU dataset. Full article

Mobility digital twins (MDTs), which utilize multi-modal microscopic (micro) traffic simulations and an activity-based demand generation, are envisioned as flexible and reliable planning tools for addressing today’s increasingly complex and diverse transport scenarios. Hybrid models may become a resource-efficient solution for building MDTs by creating large-scale, mesoscopic (meso) traffic simulations, using simplified, queue-based network-link models, in combination with more detailed local micro-traffic simulations focused on areas of interest. The overall objective of this paper is to develop an efficient toolchain capable of automatically generating, calibrating, and validating hybrid scenarios, with the following specific goals: (i) an automated and seamless merge of the meso- and micro-networks and demand; (ii) a validation procedure that incorporates real-world data into the hybrid model, enabling the meso- and micro-sub-models to be validated separately and compared to determine which simulation, micro- or meso-, more accurately reflects reality. The developed toolchain is implemented and applied to a case study of Munich, Germany, with the micro-simulation focusing on the city quarter of Schwabing, using real-word traffic flow and floating car data for validation. When validating the simulated flows with the detected flows, the regression curve shows acceptable values. The speed validation with floating car data reveals significant differences; however, it demonstrates that the micro-simulation achieves considerably better agreement with real speeds compared to the meso-model, as expected. Full article

The metaverse represents a post-reality universe that seamlessly merges physical reality with digital virtuality. It provides a continuous and immersive social networking environment, enabling multi-user engagement and interaction through Extended Reality (XR) technologies, which include Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR). As a novel solution distinct from traditional methods such as mobile-based applications, the technical affordance of XR technologies in shaping multi-user social experiences remains a complex, multifaceted, and multivariate issue that has not yet been thoroughly explored. Additionally, there is a notable absence of mature frameworks and guidelines for designing and developing these multi-user socio-technical systems. Enhancing multi-user social engagement through these technologies remains a significant research challenge. This systematic review aims to address this gap by establishing an analytical framework guided by the PRISMA protocol. It analyzes 88 studies from various disciplines, including computer science, social science, psychology, and the arts, to define the mechanisms and effectiveness of XR technologies in multi-user social engagement. Quantitative methods such as descriptive statistics, correlation statistics, and text mining are used to examine the manifestation of mechanisms, potential system factors, and their effectiveness. Meanwhile, qualitative case studies identify specific measures by which system factors enhance multi-user social engagement. The study provides a pioneering framework for theoretical research and offers practical insights for developing cross-spatiotemporal co-present activities in the metaverse. It also promotes critical reflection on the evolving relationship between humans and this emerging digital universe. Full article

First-person VR- and MR-based Action Observation research has thus far yielded both positive and negative findings in studies observing such tools’ potential to teach motor skills. Teaching drumming, particularly polyrhythms, is a challenging motor skill to learn and has remained largely unexplored in the field of Action Observation. In this contribution, a multimodal tool designed to teach rudimental and polyrhythmic drumming was developed and tested in a 20-subject study. The tool presented subjects with a first-person MR perspective via a head-mounted display to provide users with visual exposure to both virtual content and their physical surroundings simultaneously. When compared against a control group practicing via video demonstrations, results showed increased rhythmic accuracy across four exercises. Specifically, a difference of 239 ms (z-ratio = 3.520, p < 0.001) was found between the timing errors of subjects who practiced with our multimodal mixed reality development compared to subjects who practiced with video, demonstrating the potential of such affordances. This research contributes to ongoing work in the fields of Action Observation and Mixed Reality, providing evidence that Action Observation techniques can be an effective practice method for drumming. Full article

This study aims to investigate left- and right-side merging sections on urban underground roads based on virtual reality driving simulator experiments. The behaviors investigated were changed by acceleration lane in the merging section, including 100, 120, and 140 m, considering current design guidelines. Typically, lane changing behavior was studied based on experiments using speed and lateral placement on driving. The behavior of more speed reduction in merging sections occurred in left-side merging than in right-side merging sections. In the left-side merging sections, speed reduction and acceleration rate decreased with the length of the acceleration lane. In the cases with relatively long acceleration lanes, lane changing locations for left-side merging sections were more sensitive than those of right-side merging sections. Some results from the driving simulator experiments show that road geometric design based on left-side merging sections might have more risk situations due to driver expectation and behaviors. This article provides technical knowledge to be applied to the acceleration lanes of left-side merging sections that extend 1.4 times longer than the usual road designs. Full article

Point cloud acquisition systems now enable the capture of geometric models enriched with additional attribute data, providing a deeper semantic understanding of the measured environments. However, visualizing complex spatiotemporal point clouds remains computationally challenging. This paper presents a fusion methodology that aggregates points from different instants into unified clouds with reduced redundancy while preserving time-varying information. The static 3D structure is condensed using a voxel approach, while temporal attributes are propagated across the merged data. The resulting point cloud is optimized and rendered interactively in a virtual reality (VR) application. This platform allows for intuitive exploration, visualization, and analysis of the merged clouds. Users can examine thermographic properties using color maps and study graphical temperature trends. The potential of VR for insightful interrogation of point clouds enriched with multiple properties is highlighted by the system. Full article

This paper analyses sexual crimes within the Metaverse to develop an effective legal framework. The aim is to enhance safety in virtual realities, ensuring the Metaverse remains a secure, respectful, and liberating environment for all users. As the Metaverse continues to evolve, merging augmented physical reality with digital existence, it introduces new opportunities for socialisation, commerce, education, and entertainment. However, this digital realm also faces significant challenges, particularly the increase in sexual violence. This article evaluates the development of the Metaverse and its impact on sexual offences. It provides an overview of the Metaverse, followed by an in-depth exploration of the nature of sexual violence in this virtual space, its effects on victims, and the resulting legal and ethical issues. Additionally, this article examines the complexities of combating sexual violence within the Metaverse, reviewing the legal frameworks in various jurisdictions, including the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and South Korea. These examinations reveal a range of legal viewpoints and possible solutions. This article outlines a proposed legal framework, highlighting key strategic areas for mitigating sexual violence in the Metaverse. The primary objective is to enrich the discourse on the Metaverse, pushing for strong, flexible, and holistic legal measures. Through this research, we aim to contribute to the creation of protective mechanisms against sexual violence in these emerging virtual landscapes. Full article

In order to merge continuous and discrete analyses, a number of dynamic derivative equations have been put out in the process of developing a time-scale calculus. The investigations that incorporated combined dynamic derivatives have led to the proposal of improved approximation expressions for computational application. One such expression is the diamond alpha (${\diamond }_{\alpha }$) derivative, which is defined as a linear combination of delta and nabla derivatives. Several dynamic equations and inequalities, as well as hybrid dynamic behavior—which does not occur in the real line or on discrete time scales—are analyzed using this combined concept. In this study, we consider a ${\diamond }_{\alpha }$ Dirac system under boundary conditions on a uniform time scale. We examined some basic spectral properties of the problem we are considering, such as the simplicity, the reality of eigenvalues, orthogonality of eigenfunctions, and self adjointness of the operator. Finally, we construct an expression for the eigenfunction of the ${\diamond }_{\alpha }$ Dirac boundary value problem (BVP) on a uniform time scale. Full article

The transfacet minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) is a novel approach available for the management of lumbar spondylolisthesis. It avoids the need to manipulate either of the exiting or traversing nerve roots, both protected by the bony boundaries of the approach. With the advancement in operative technologies such as navigation, mapping, segmentation, and augmented reality (AR), surgeons are prompted to utilize these technologies to enhance their surgical outcomes. A 36-year-old male patient was complaining of chronic progressive lower back pain. He was found to have grade 2 L4/5 spondylolisthesis. We studied the feasibility of a trans-Kambin or a transfacet MIS-TLIF, and decided to proceed with the latter given the wider corridor it provides. Preoperative trajectory planning and level segmentation in addition to intraoperative navigation and image merging were all utilized to provide an AR model to guide us through the surgery. The use of AR can build on the safety and learning of novel surgical approaches to spine pathologies. However, larger high-quality studies are needed to further objectively analyze its impact on surgical outcomes and to expand on its application. Full article