3. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - All submissions

Permanent URI for this communityhttps://wiredspace.wits.ac.za/handle/10539/45

Browse

Subject: search.filters.subject.Human-computer interaction

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Evaluation of the Suchey-Brooks and Enhanced Computational methods of pubic symphyseal age estimation in a white South African population
    (2019) Joubert, Laurette
    Adult age estimation is of value when creating a biological profile for an unknown set of human remains. Two age estimation methods, the well-known Suchey-Brooks method and the newly introduced Enhanced Computational methods were investigated. Differences between males and females as well as between populations necessitate further research to ascertain whether these methods were accurate enough to be used within a white South African population. A total of 184 well-preserved os coxae were sampled from white South African individuals with known age and sex. The selected os coxae represented male (n=99) and female (n=85) individuals aged 15 to 84 years. The os coxae were subjected to phase analysis, during which the symphyseal surface of the pubis was assigned a phase according to descriptions and pubic symphyseal casts. Following phase analysis, the pubic symphyses were scanned using an Artec Spider 3D scanner. After processing, the laser scans were uploaded into two versions of the forAge program to obtain seven different point estimates for the age-at-death of an individual. The Suchey-Brooks method performed well in a white South African population with statistically significant moderate positive correlations and relatively low biases in both males and females. In contrast, the Enhanced Computational methods performed poorly with weak correlations and higher biases than that observed for the Suchey-Brooks method. The Enhanced Computational methods, however, show a decrease in the intra and inter-observer error typically associated with phase-based methods. Currently, the Suchey-Brooks method can be used in a white South African population, although room for improvement exists. On the other hand, population specific formulae need to be developed for the Enhanced Computational methods before they can used in a white South African population.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Fluid and crystallised intelligence in elderly people: design guidelines to improve web usability
    (2017) Ravi, Shubapradha
    There is a steady growth in the elderly demographic. These older people have various informational needs, and the internet plays an influential role in catering to their needs. Given the advantages that the internet offers the number of elderly adults adopting technology has not risen significantly. Understanding how age affects technological use and determining how to design technical products will assist in improving technology ratification and usage among elderly people. Cognitive ability plays a significant role in information retrieval on web interfaces. The aim of the research is to understand the theories around fluid and crystallised intelligence in relation to information retrieval when using technology. The study intends to discuss the implications of information organisation on information retrieval when elderly adults use web interfaces. The research then proposes an information architecture aimed at older adults. This research is qualitative. The theoretical framework which formed the basis for understanding the theory of fluid and crystallised intelligence in relation to information retrieval from web interfaces helped in understanding the two information organisations namely hierarchical and tag-based. The proposed alphabetically arranged combination of tag-based and hierarchical system formed the basis for conducting semi-structured interviews and tracking user interactions with elderly users. The research used National Institute of Health-Senior health (NIH) and South African Tourism (SAT) websites for semistructured interviews with elderly people. The interview data was analysed using thematic content analysis. The observation of the users and the analysis of interview data proved that an alphabetically arranged combination of tag-based and hierarchical system was simple to use for elderly users. Design guidelines were then formulated for web interfaces featuring Crystallised Intelligence enhancing the process of information retrieval by elderly adults.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Mixed reality simulators
    (2017) Ausmeier, Natalie Jean
    Virtual Reality (VR) is widely used in training simulators of dangerous or expensive vehicles such as aircraft or heavy mining machinery. The vehicles often have very complicated controls that users need to master before attempting to operate a real world version of the machine. VR allows users to safely train in a simulated environment without the risk of injury or damaging expensive equipment in the field. VR however visually cuts off the user from the real environment,whichmayobtainobstructions. Usersareunabletosafelymoveorgesturewhilewearing aVRheadset. Additionallyusersareunabletousestandardinputdevicessuchasmiceandkeyboards. Bymixinginaliveviewofthetherealworld,theusercanstillseeandinteractwiththe physical environment. The contribution of this research is presenting ways of using Mixed RealitytoenhancetheuserexperienceoftraditionalVRbasedsimulators. MixedRealityimproves on traditional VR simulators by allowing the user the safety and freedom of not being cut off from the real world, allowing interaction and the tactile feedback of interacting with complex physical controls, while still allowing simultaneous use of virtual controls and by adding a real world reference point to aid in diminishing simulator sickness caused by visual motion
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    The design and application of wayfinding in physically and virtual immersive environnments
    (2016) Haarhoff, Chané
    The focus of this research paper is on the relationship between wayfinding and interactive, immersive environments. Wayfinding systems inherently exist to assist people on a journey to a desired destination. Interactive immersive environments have introduced a new paradigm, in which users are becoming active participants within both physical and virtual environments. The merging of wayfinding with immersive environments could thus present potential to propel wayfinding to a new level. The effectiveness and applications of wayfinding systems within three immersive environments is therefore determined by looking at the design of informational wayfinding, the ease of navigability within immersive environments and the adaptation and use of wayfinding techniques within four case studies. The three immersive environments chosen to be examined within this paper are: physically immersive environments, digital physically immersive environments and virtual immersive environments. These environments are represented by four case studies which include Menlyn Park Shopping Centre's newly updated wayfinding system, Find Your Way Essex, a virtual wayfinding mobile application, StreetMuseum: Museum of London a purely digital mobile application and Honeywell - Virtual Museum Tour, a virtual wayfinding experience that relies fully on the GoogleCardboard device.
Copyright Ownership Is Guided By The University's

Intellectual Property policy

Students submitting a Thesis or Dissertation must be aware of current copyright issues. Both for the protection of your original work as well as the protection of another's copyrighted work, you should follow all current copyright law.