TY - GEN
T1 - Experiment Assisting System with Local Augmented Body (EASY-LAB) for Subject Experiments under the COVID-19 Pandemic
AU - Iwasaki, Yukiko
AU - Oh, Joi
AU - Handa, Takumi
AU - Sereidi, Ahmed A.
AU - Vimolmongkolporn, Vitvasin
AU - Kato, Fumihiro
AU - Iwata, Hiroyasu
N1 - Funding Information:
In this study, we proposed EASY-LAB’s concept to enable subject experiments in situations where the experimenter and the subject cannot be in the same place as in the COVID-19 pandemic. We developed a prototype system that enables looking-in observation and pointing instruction using a robot arm, an immersive head mounted display. After that, we conducted a user study using the simple task. As a result, the system achieved satisfying results of being affordable (641 USD) and easy setup (101 s). It received higher subjective ratings than conventional video chat instruction. The main contribution of this work is to propose the simple and low-cost prototype for resuming subject experiments from remote place under the COVID-19 pandemic. For future works, we will soon advance to developing the prototype of level 2. Next challenge is to develop the haptic controller as simple configuration as possible. For example, we try to produce the sense of tightening or texture by small tactile module [Nakatani et al. 2018]. Also, we intend to prepare further dissemination of the system by developing a small 6 DOF robot arm that can mount a personal smartphone or other devices to replace the current camera and release an application that can be installed to it. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This work was supported by JST ERATO Grant Number JPM-JER1701, Japan. This work was also supported by Waseda University Global Robot Academia Institute and Waseda University Green Computing Systems Research Organization. REFERENCES
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 ACM.
PY - 2021/8/5
Y1 - 2021/8/5
N2 - Since it is challenging to perceive space and objects with a video conferencing system, which communicates using only video and audio, there are difficulties in testing subjects in the COVID-19 pandemic. We propose the EASY-LAB system that allows an experimenter to perform observation and physical interaction with the subject even from a remote location actively. The proposed system displays the camera image on a HMD worn by the experimenter, which camera is mounted on a small 6 DOF robot arm end, allowing observation from an easy-to-see perspective. The experimenter can also instruct the subject using another robot arm with a laser pointer. The robot's joint angles are calculated by Inverse Kinematics from the experimenter's head movements, then reflected in the actual robot. Photon Unity Networking component was used for the synchronization process with remote locations. These devices are affordable, effortless to set up, and can be delivered to the subject's home. Finally, the proposed system was evaluated by four subjects, As a preliminary result, the mean pointing error was 1.1 cm, and the operation time was reduced by 60% compared with the conventional video conferencing system. This result indicated the EASY-LAB's capability, at least in tasks that require pointing and observation from various angles. The statistical study with more subjects will be conducted in the follow-up study.
AB - Since it is challenging to perceive space and objects with a video conferencing system, which communicates using only video and audio, there are difficulties in testing subjects in the COVID-19 pandemic. We propose the EASY-LAB system that allows an experimenter to perform observation and physical interaction with the subject even from a remote location actively. The proposed system displays the camera image on a HMD worn by the experimenter, which camera is mounted on a small 6 DOF robot arm end, allowing observation from an easy-to-see perspective. The experimenter can also instruct the subject using another robot arm with a laser pointer. The robot's joint angles are calculated by Inverse Kinematics from the experimenter's head movements, then reflected in the actual robot. Photon Unity Networking component was used for the synchronization process with remote locations. These devices are affordable, effortless to set up, and can be delivered to the subject's home. Finally, the proposed system was evaluated by four subjects, As a preliminary result, the mean pointing error was 1.1 cm, and the operation time was reduced by 60% compared with the conventional video conferencing system. This result indicated the EASY-LAB's capability, at least in tasks that require pointing and observation from various angles. The statistical study with more subjects will be conducted in the follow-up study.
KW - Interaction
KW - UI/Tools
KW - telecommuting work
KW - telepresence
KW - telexistence
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85112830089&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85112830089&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1145/3450550.3465345
DO - 10.1145/3450550.3465345
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:85112830089
T3 - Special Interest Group on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques Conference Emerging Technologies, SIGGRAPH 2021
BT - Special Interest Group on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques Conference Emerging Technologies, SIGGRAPH 2021
PB - Association for Computing Machinery, Inc
T2 - Special Interest Group on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques Conference: Emerging Technologies, SIGGRAPH 2021
Y2 - 9 August 2021 through 13 August 2021
ER -