Matching Items (91)
Description
Generating real-world content for VR is challenging in terms of capturing and processing at high resolution and high frame-rates. The content needs to represent a truly immersive experience, where the user can look around in 360-degree view and perceive the depth of the scene. The existing solutions only capture and offload the compute load to the server. But offloading large amounts of raw camera feeds takes longer latencies and poses difficulties for real-time applications. By capturing and computing on the edge, we can closely integrate the systems and optimize for low latency. However, moving the traditional stitching algorithms to battery constrained device needs at least three orders of magnitude reduction in power. We believe that close integration of capture and compute stages will lead to reduced overall system power.
We approach the problem by building a hardware prototype and characterize the end-to-end system bottlenecks of power and performance. The prototype has 6 IMX274 cameras and uses Nvidia Jetson TX2 development board for capture and computation. We found that capturing is bottlenecked by sensor power and data-rates across interfaces, whereas compute is limited by the total number of computations per frame. Our characterization shows that redundant capture and redundant computations lead to high power, huge memory footprint, and high latency. The existing systems lack hardware-software co-design aspects, leading to excessive data transfers across the interfaces and expensive computations within the individual subsystems. Finally, we propose mechanisms to optimize the system for low power and low latency. We emphasize the importance of co-design of different subsystems to reduce and reuse the data. For example, reusing the motion vectors of the ISP stage reduces the memory footprint of the stereo correspondence stage. Our estimates show that pipelining and parallelization on custom FPGA can achieve real time stitching.
We approach the problem by building a hardware prototype and characterize the end-to-end system bottlenecks of power and performance. The prototype has 6 IMX274 cameras and uses Nvidia Jetson TX2 development board for capture and computation. We found that capturing is bottlenecked by sensor power and data-rates across interfaces, whereas compute is limited by the total number of computations per frame. Our characterization shows that redundant capture and redundant computations lead to high power, huge memory footprint, and high latency. The existing systems lack hardware-software co-design aspects, leading to excessive data transfers across the interfaces and expensive computations within the individual subsystems. Finally, we propose mechanisms to optimize the system for low power and low latency. We emphasize the importance of co-design of different subsystems to reduce and reuse the data. For example, reusing the motion vectors of the ISP stage reduces the memory footprint of the stereo correspondence stage. Our estimates show that pipelining and parallelization on custom FPGA can achieve real time stitching.
ContributorsGunnam, Sridhar (Author) / LiKamWa, Robert (Thesis advisor) / Turaga, Pavan (Committee member) / Jayasuriya, Suren (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2018
Description
Vision processing on traditional architectures is inefficient due to energy-expensive off-chip data movements. Many researchers advocate pushing processing close to the sensor to substantially reduce data movements. However, continuous near-sensor processing raises the sensor temperature, impairing the fidelity of imaging/vision tasks.
The work characterizes the thermal implications of using 3D stacked image sensors with near-sensor vision processing units. The characterization reveals that near-sensor processing reduces system power but degrades image quality. For reasonable image fidelity, the sensor temperature needs to stay below a threshold, situationally determined by application needs. Fortunately, the characterization also identifies opportunities -- unique to the needs of near-sensor processing -- to regulate temperature based on dynamic visual task requirements and rapidly increase capture quality on demand.
Based on the characterization, the work proposes and investigate two thermal management strategies -- stop-capture-go and seasonal migration -- for imaging-aware thermal management. The work present parameters that govern the policy decisions and explore the trade-offs between system power and policy overhead. The work's evaluation shows that the novel dynamic thermal management strategies can unlock the energy-efficiency potential of near-sensor processing with minimal performance impact, without compromising image fidelity.
The work characterizes the thermal implications of using 3D stacked image sensors with near-sensor vision processing units. The characterization reveals that near-sensor processing reduces system power but degrades image quality. For reasonable image fidelity, the sensor temperature needs to stay below a threshold, situationally determined by application needs. Fortunately, the characterization also identifies opportunities -- unique to the needs of near-sensor processing -- to regulate temperature based on dynamic visual task requirements and rapidly increase capture quality on demand.
Based on the characterization, the work proposes and investigate two thermal management strategies -- stop-capture-go and seasonal migration -- for imaging-aware thermal management. The work present parameters that govern the policy decisions and explore the trade-offs between system power and policy overhead. The work's evaluation shows that the novel dynamic thermal management strategies can unlock the energy-efficiency potential of near-sensor processing with minimal performance impact, without compromising image fidelity.
ContributorsKodukula, Venkatesh (Author) / LiKamWa, Robert (Thesis advisor) / Chakrabarti, Chaitali (Committee member) / Brunhaver, John (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2019
Description
Mixed reality mobile platforms co-locate virtual objects with physical spaces, creating immersive user experiences. To create visual harmony between virtual and physical spaces, the virtual scene must be accurately illuminated with realistic physical lighting. To this end, a system was designed that Generates Light Estimation Across Mixed-reality (GLEAM) devices to continually sense realistic lighting of a physical scene in all directions. GLEAM optionally operate across multiple mobile mixed-reality devices to leverage collaborative multi-viewpoint sensing for improved estimation. The system implements policies that prioritize resolution, coverage, or update interval of the illumination estimation depending on the situational needs of the virtual scene and physical environment.
To evaluate the runtime performance and perceptual efficacy of the system, GLEAM was implemented on the Unity 3D Game Engine. The implementation was deployed on Android and iOS devices. On these implementations, GLEAM can prioritize dynamic estimation with update intervals as low as 15 ms or prioritize high spatial quality with update intervals of 200 ms. User studies across 99 participants and 26 scene comparisons reported a preference towards GLEAM over other lighting techniques in 66.67% of the presented augmented scenes and indifference in 12.57% of the scenes. A controlled lighting user study on 18 participants revealed a general preference for policies that strike a balance between resolution and update rate.
To evaluate the runtime performance and perceptual efficacy of the system, GLEAM was implemented on the Unity 3D Game Engine. The implementation was deployed on Android and iOS devices. On these implementations, GLEAM can prioritize dynamic estimation with update intervals as low as 15 ms or prioritize high spatial quality with update intervals of 200 ms. User studies across 99 participants and 26 scene comparisons reported a preference towards GLEAM over other lighting techniques in 66.67% of the presented augmented scenes and indifference in 12.57% of the scenes. A controlled lighting user study on 18 participants revealed a general preference for policies that strike a balance between resolution and update rate.
ContributorsPrakash, Siddhant (Author) / LiKamWa, Robert (Thesis advisor) / Yang, Yezhou (Thesis advisor) / Hansford, Dianne (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2018
Description
Visualizations are an integral component for communicating and evaluating modern networks. As data becomes more complex, info-graphics require a balance between visual noise and effective storytelling that is often restricted by layouts unsuitable for scalability. The challenge then rests upon researchers to effectively structure their information in a way that allows for flexible, transparent illustration. We propose network graphing as an operative alternative for demonstrating community behavior over traditional charts which are unable to look past numeric data. In this paper, we explore methods for manipulating, processing, cleaning, and aggregating data in Python; a programming language tailored for handling structured data, which can then be formatted for analysis and modeling of social network tendencies in Gephi. We implement this data by applying an algorithm known as the Fruchterman-Reingold force-directed layout to datasets of Arizona State University’s research and collaboration network. The result is a visualization that analyzes the university’s infrastructure by providing insight about community behaviors between colleges. Furthermore, we highlight how the flexibility of this visualization provides a foundation for specific use cases by demonstrating centrality measures to find important liaisons that connect distant communities.
ContributorsMcMichael, Jacob Andrew (Author) / LiKamWa, Robert (Thesis director) / Anderson, Derrick (Committee member) / Goshert, Maxwell (Committee member) / Arts, Media and Engineering Sch T (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
Description
Emerging technologies, such as augmented reality (AR), are growing in popularity and accessibility at a fast pace. Developers are building more and more games and applications with this technology but few have stopped to think about what the best practices are for creating a good user experience (UX). Currently, there are no universally accepted human-computer interaction guidelines for augmented reality because it is still relatively new. This paper examines three features - virtual content scale, indirect selection, and virtual buttons - in an attempt to discover their impact on the user experience in augmented reality. A Battleship game was developed using the Unity game engine with Vuforia, an augmented reality platform, and built as an iOS application to test these features. The hypothesis was that both virtual content scale and indirect selection would result in a more enjoyable and engaging user experience whereas the virtual button would be too confusing for users to fully appreciate the feature. Usability testing was conducted to gauge participants' responses to these features. After playing a base version of the game with no additional features and then a second version with one of the three features, participants rated their experiences and provided feedback in a four-part survey. It was observed during testing that people did not inherently move their devices around the augmented space and needed guidance to navigate the game. Most users were fascinated with the visuals of the game and two of the tested features. It was found that movement around the augmented space and feedback from the virtual content were critical aspects in creating a good user experience in augmented reality.
ContributorsBauman, Kirsten (Co-author) / Benson, Meera (Co-author) / Olson, Loren (Thesis director) / LiKamWa, Robert (Committee member) / School of the Arts, Media and Engineering (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-05
DescriptionAcoustic Ecology is an undervalued field of study of the relationship between the environment and sound. This project aims to educate people on this topic and show people the importance by immersing them in virtual reality scenes. The scenes were created using VR180 content as well as 360° spatial audio.
ContributorsNeel, Jordan Tanner (Author) / LiKamWa, Robert (Thesis director) / Feisst, Sabine (Committee member) / Arts, Media and Engineering Sch T (Contributor) / Department of Psychology (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
Dale and Edna is a hybrid animated film and videogame experienced in virtual reality with dual storylines that increases in potential meanings through player interaction. Developed and played within Unreal Engine 4 using the HTC Vive, Oculus, or PlayStation VR, Dale and Edna allows for players to passively enjoy the film element of the project or partake in the active videogame portion. Exploration of the virtual story world yields more information about that world, which may or may not alter the audience’s perception of the world. The film portion of the project is a static narrative with a plot that cannot be altered by players within the virtual world. In the static plot, the characters Dale and Edna discover and subsequently combat an alien invasion that appears to have the objective of demolishing Dale’s prize pumpkin. However, the aliens in the film plot are merely projections created by AR headsets that are reflecting Jimmy’s gameplay on his tablet. The audience is thus invited to question their perception of reality through combined use of VR and AR. The game element is a dynamic narrative scaffold that does not unfold as a traditional narrative might. Instead, what a player observes and interacts with within the sandbox level will determine the meaning those players come away from this project with. Both elements of the project feature modular code construction so developers can return to both the film and game portions of the project and make additions. This paper will analyze the chronological development of the project along with the guiding philosophy that was revealed in the result.
Keywords: virtual reality, film, videogame, sandbox
Keywords: virtual reality, film, videogame, sandbox
ContributorsKemp, Adam Lee (Co-author) / Kemp, Bradley (Co-author) / Kemp, Claire (Co-author) / LiKamWa, Robert (Thesis director) / Gilfillan, Daniel (Committee member) / Arts, Media and Engineering Sch T (Contributor) / Thunderbird School of Global Management (Contributor) / School of Film, Dance and Theatre (Contributor) / School of International Letters and Cultures (Contributor, Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
The LeapMax Gestural Interaction System is a project which utilizes the Leap Motion controller and visual programming language Max to extract complex and accurate skeletal hand tracking data from a performer in a global 3-D context. The goal of this project was to develop a simple and efficient architecture for designing dynamic and compelling digital gestural interfaces. At the core of this work is a Max external object which uses a custom API to extract data from the Leap Motion service and retrieve it in Max. From this data, a library of Max objects for determining more complex gesture and posture information was generated and refined. These objects can be are highly flexible and modular and can be used to create complex control schemes for a variety of systems. To demonstrate the use of this system in a performance context, an experimental musical instrument was designed in which the Leap is combined with an absolute orientation sensor and mounted on the head of a performer. This setup leverages the head mounted Leap Motion paradigm used in VR systems to construct an interactive sonic environment within the context of the user's environment. The user's gestures are mapped to the controls of a synthesis engine which utilizes several forms of synthesis including granular synthesis, frequency modulation, and delay modulation.
ContributorsJones, George Cooper (Author) / Hayes, Lauren (Thesis director) / Byron, Lahey (Committee member) / Arts, Media and Engineering Sch T (Contributor) / Computing and Informatics Program (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-12
Description
This study explores the results of an event hosted for undergraduate students in the Arts, Media and Engineering (AME) department at Arizona State University. 18 students were asked to sit and eat lunch with one another and share their opinions on personal and school-related topics. A follow-up survey consisting of eight questions was sent out to gauge how effective this event was in getting students to build stronger relationships with each other. Statistical analysis showed that 89% of students who attended would participate again and consider collaborating with another student at the event in future projects. From these results, a series of future interventions like the one mentioned in this paper could promote stronger relationships among students and add value to the department. A positive response from the students who participated could imply that students might be more inclined to reach out to classmates when in a setting made for that purpose.
ContributorsWheeler, Hannah M (Author) / Tinapple, David (Thesis director) / Olson, Loren (Committee member) / Arts, Media and Engineering Sch T (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
Physical activity is something that everyone engages in at varying levels. It has been linked to positively impacting general wellbeing, as well as preparing the mind and body to learn new skills. However, the significance of physical activity remains under-explored in some areas. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between physical activity levels and emotional intelligence, navigation and planning skills, motor skills, memory capacity, and one’s perception of the ‘value’ of an object or an experience. During sessions, participants were equipped with two physiological sensors: the EEG B-Alert X10 or X24 headset, and the Shimmer GSR3. In addition to these, two external sensors were used: a web camera for recording and evaluating facial expressions, and the Tobii X2-30, X2-60, or Tobii T60XL eye tracking systems, used to monitor visual attention. These sensors were used to collect data while participants completed a series of tasks: the Self-Report of Emotional Intelligence Test, the Tower of London Test, the Motor Speed Test, the Working Memory Capacity Battery, watching product-centered videos, and watching experience-centered videos. Multiple surveys were also conducted, including a demographic survey, a nutritional and health survey, and a sports preference survey. Utilizing these metrics, this study found that those who exercise more experience and express higher levels of emotion, including joy, sadness, contempt, disgust, confusion, frustration, surprise, anger, and fear. This implies a difference in emotional response modulation between those who exercise more and those who exercise less, which in turn implies a difference in perception between the two groups. There were no significant findings related to navigation and planning skills, motor skills, or memory capacity from this analysis.
ContributorsFalls, Tarryn (Author) / Atkinson, Robert (Thesis director) / Chavez-Echeagaray, Maria Elena (Committee member) / Arts, Media and Engineering Sch T (Contributor) / Computer Science and Engineering Program (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05