CMP

Cognitive Map Probe

Ehud Sharlin and I are creating a system for the assessment of wayfinding ability, a skill that enables you to move through the world. Users view a virtual environment, then recreate the environment they viewed using physical models on an interactive tabletop. The interface is sensitive to age-based differences in wayfinding ability; we are currently comparing this highly spatial interface to a traditional windowed interface. The CMP is based on a pioneering tangible user interface first developed in 1983, the Segal Model from John Frazer.

Project members: Ehud Sharlin (U Osaka), Ben Watson (NU), Lili Liu (U Alberta), Steve Sutphen (U Alberta) & John Frazer (Hong Kong Poly).

Publications

E. Sharlin, B.A. Watson, L. Liu, S. Sutphen, J. Frazer, R. Lederer (2003). A tangible user interface for assessing cognitive mapping ability (pdf). Technical report NWU-CS-02-14.

L. Liu, E. Sharlin, B.A. Watson & S. Sutphen (2003). Assessing wayfinding ability using virtual reality. Canadian Assoc. of Occupational Therapists National Conference.

A. Cho, R. Lederer, E. Sharlin, B.A. Watson, L. Liu & S. Sutphen (2002).  Designing virtual worlds � the Cognitive Map Probe (pdf).  Proc. 13th Western Canadian Computer Graphics Symposium (Silver Star, Canada, March).

E. Sharlin, B.A. Watson, S. Sutphen, R. Lederer, P. Figueroa & J. Frazer (2001).  3D Computer interaction using physical objects: exploration of tangible user interfaces (pdf). Leonardo Electronic Almanac, 9, 7 (Aug 8 2001).

E. Sharlin, B.A. Watson, L. Liu, S. Sutphen, R. Lederer, P. Figueroa & J. Frazer (2001).  Printing virtual reality interfaces: the Cognitive Map Probe (pdf).  In  The Future of VR and AR Interfaces: multi-modal, humanoid, adaptive and  intelligent.  Proc. Workshop IEEE Virtual Reality 2001 (July), 40-42.  Edited by W. Broll and L. Schafer. GMD Report 138, ISSN 1435-2702, ISBN  3-88457-975-4.  Published by GMD - German National Research  Center for Information Technology.

S. Sutphen, E. Sharlin, B.A. Watson & John Frazer (2000).  Reviving a tangible interface affording 3D spatial interaction (pdf).  Proc. 11th Western Canadian Computer Graphics Symposium, (Panorama, Canada, March), 155-166.

Imagery

	Interface closeup The interaction elements are 3D printouts of corresponding virtual models.  These have identifying signatures that plug into the Segal Model board, locating the elements for the host PC.
	Interface overview  Users arrange the elements on the Segal model to describe their cognitive map.