Category: 2020

2020, Publication

v-IoT : Construction of Virtual IoT Infrastructure by AR and Selection Method of Appropriate Information-giving Objects Using Associative Concept, Kentaro Taninaka, Kazunori Takashio, The IEICE Transactions on Information and Systems

The miniaturization and decreasing cost of networking computers, along with the advancement of cloud infrastructure has eased the implementation of it in commercial products. However, it is difficult to give such function to the simple products like daily necessities, thus having devices such as
Smart Speakers providing wide variety of information. In this research, we propose v-IoT system, the
approach which add information-giving functions to consumables such as plastic bottles using augmented
reality technology. This system will determine the information and the action suggested the user to take
based on the verb and function of the object. The closest associable pairs of suggested action and object will be determined with reference to the Associative Concept Dictionary, enabling v-IoT to offer a notification system that is apparent and intelligible. The result showed proposed system can select objects which is easy to associate action for users.

2020, Publication

Telepresence Robot Blended with a Real Landscape and Its Impact on User Experiences, Yuki Furuya, Kazunori Takashio, 2020 29th IEEE International Conference on Robot and Human Interactive Communication (RO-MAN 2020), Aug to Sept, 2020

Telepresence robots using traditional video chats do not yet fully represent the presence of a remote user. To enhance that presence, we propose a novel approach that replaces the background of the remote user with a real-time captured image of the area behind the robot. We assumed that the background of the remote user, which was visible on the telepresence robot’s display, was one reason for the reduction in presence because it might remind local viewers that the remote user is in another place. We found that our approach effectively enhanced the presence of remote user and reduced the negative impression of a delay. In this paper, we describe the new approach, its implementation, and an evaluation of the system. We evaluated the subjective impressions of communication through the proposed system. This approach also protects the privacy of the remote user and makes it more acceptable to people using telepresence robots from private places, e.g., a sickroom in a hospital.