Papers by Mikael Fernstrom
Sound, Media, Ecology, 2019
This paper discusses the emergence of a creative approach for sound art and acoustic ecology, dev... more This paper discusses the emergence of a creative approach for sound art and acoustic ecology, developed over a seventeen-year timeframe within the collaborative art/ science practice of Softday1. Initially, we worked with sonification algorithms to create musical mappings from environmentally related data, performed by classically trained musicians. The sonifications were complemented by field recordings of soundscapes from the contexts of the data sets. We have increasingly been using soundwalking to inform our work, normally conducted with a group of participants that create a collaborative sound map of an area of interest. The participants then use the sound map as a graphical score and perform the soundmap. A collectively experienced, internalised and re-represented soundscape being expressed as a collaborative performance can help to communicate both context and affective aspects of the work.
Leonardo, 2012
Marbh Crhios (Dead Zone) is a multimedia artwork, part of the Lovely Weather Donegal Residencies ... more Marbh Crhios (Dead Zone) is a multimedia artwork, part of the Lovely Weather Donegal Residencies Project, that reflects upon climate change in the context of a local community in Killybegs in County Donegal, Ireland. The work was based on scientific data about contested marine ‘dead zones’ that the authors represented with algorithmically generated music, sonifications and visualizations in a live performance in Mooney's Boatyard in Killybegs, involving three local ensembles.
virtual environments, and information display applications need dynamic sound models rather than ... more virtual environments, and information display applications need dynamic sound models rather than faithful audio reproductions. This implies three levels of research: auditory perception, physics-based sound modeling, and expressive parametric control. Parallel progress along these three lines leads to effective auditory displays that can complement or substitute visual displays. W hen designing a visual widget we attempt to understand the users' needs. Based on initial requirements, we can sketch the idea on paper and start to test it. We can ask potential users for advice and they might tell us that, for example, " it should be like a rectangular button, with a red border, in the upper left hand corner, with a frame around it. " As testing and new sketches evolve, we can then code the widget and do further tests. Designing auditory-enhanced interfaces immediately poses a number of problems that aren't present in the visual case. First, the vocabulary for sound is ...
This paper describes a series of experiments with blind and sighted people in a "thinkin... more This paper describes a series of experiments with blind and sighted people in a "thinking-aloud" study, attempting to identify our ability to describe the properties and their own location in two different rooms and the properties and locations of three different objects based on auditory cues generated by the participants themselves.
international conference on auditory display, Nov 1, 1998
The effectiveness of providing multiple-stream audio to support browsing on a computer was invest... more The effectiveness of providing multiple-stream audio to support browsing on a computer was investigated through the iterative development and evaluation of a series of sonic browser prototypes. The data set used was a database containing music. Interactive sonification 1 was provided in conjunction with simplified human-computer interaction sequences. It was investigated to what extent interactive sonification with multiple-stream audio could enhance browsing tasks, compared to interactive sonification with single-stream audio support. With ten users it was found that with interactive multiple-stream audio the users could accurately complete the browsing tasks significantly faster than those who had single-stream audio support.
In this paper we describe the development of a novel sensor design and computational architecture... more In this paper we describe the development of a novel sensor design and computational architecture for an interactive floorspace. The Z-Tiles project was initiated almost twelve months ago with an agenda dedicated to the design, development and implementation of a device that would facilitate the exploration of gesture, particularly the "effort" expended in certain gestures. A force sensitive surface allows us to detect, interpret and interface the subtle but integral element of physical "effort". Essentially, the Z-Tiles sensor could be used in any control surface where force or pressure might be exploited as a control parameter.
Through an interdisciplinary design process we have created a haptic simulator to mimic the physi... more Through an interdisciplinary design process we have created a haptic simulator to mimic the physical and sensory environment surrounding the performance of spinal anaesthesia. Our simulator utilises existing haptic toolkits to reproduce tissues and surfaces in a realistic way. It simulates needle insertion with audio and visual (2D/3D) feedback occurring during the actual procedure. The overall simulation system is designed for being an integral part of an existing curriculum and offers excellent potentials in assessing procedural skills in a safe and controlled environment.
The literature review conducted for this paper offers an in-depth review of the recent advances i... more The literature review conducted for this paper offers an in-depth review of the recent advances in sensing and communication technology concerning parking systems. In addition, this paper presents a survey and analysis of an academic, qualitative literature review. It includes an in-depth study of the selected topics and provides a step by step implementation process. It reviews different smart parking systems used for parking guidance and parking facility management and gives an insight into the technical aspects and specifications analysis of such systems that have been published in academia during the last 15 years
To take advantage of modern wireless connectivity, we designed and developed a new parking system... more To take advantage of modern wireless connectivity, we designed and developed a new parking system based on (USP CCTV camera) which provides drivers with a simple parking service. This design solution for any car park in any busy city does not require extensive, if any, infrastructural adjustments. Our approach is based on User Centered Design (UCD); The prototype design process started by involving the stakeholders. Several approaches were planned, with in-depth interviews and diaries to collect data from stakeholders. As the participants (stakeholders) where 15 people, each five represent as category as mentioned above, staff, students and visitors worked together to develop the prototype. The investigation sheds light on users’ challenges and issues experienced in everyday parking in practice. It offers a description and reflection on methods to better understand their role and the role of the participant in developing IT tools. Also, it provides discussion on the practical aspect...
Advances in Science, Technology and Engineering Systems Journal, 2017
Using smart parking systems has become very important, and particularly so for metropolitan areas... more Using smart parking systems has become very important, and particularly so for metropolitan areas, because of the benefits for drivers in many aspects, such as time, frustration, stress, and anger, in addition to the increased consumption of fuel while searching for a vacant parking space. This paper proposes a review of recent advances in sensing and communication technology concerning smart parking systems. It includes a brief study of the selected topics and provides an implementation process of those selected systems. Moreover, this work proposes a design approach for a smart car parking system prototype based on utilizing CCTVs (nodes), it is also illustrates the algorithms used for computer vision detection through simulation and real environments, as the system has been deployed in both these environments. Furthermore, the system has been tested and evaluated by stakeholders via a user-centred design process by applying a qualitative research; the promising results demonstrate the effectiveness of our prototype. Finally, this paper discusses the benefits of engaging the stakeholders to develop the prototype.
IEEE 3rd World Forum on Internet of Things (WF-IoT), 2016
The use of smart parking systems has become very important especially for metropolitan areas, due... more The use of smart parking systems has become very important especially for metropolitan areas, due to its benefits for the users regarding time, fuel consumption, and frustration when searching for a vacant parking space. This paper offers a review of recent advances in sensing and communication technology concerning smart parking systems. It includes a brief study of the selected topics and provides an implementation process of those selected systems. Moreover, this work proposes a design approach for a smart car parking system prototype based on utilizing Closed Circuit Television (CCTV), and also an algorithm for computer vision detection through simulation environment. The system has been deployed in a simulation environment. Furthermore, the system evaluation demonstrates the effectiveness of our design and implementation of the system and shows promising results. This paper discusses possible issues that might arise when using the system Also, problems and challenges are outlined.
Date Added to IEEE Xplore: 09 February 2017, Feb 9, 2017
the use of smart parking systems has become very important especially for metropolitan areas, due... more the use of smart parking systems has become very important especially for metropolitan areas, due to its benefits for the users regarding time, fuel consumption, and frustration when searching for a vacant parking space. This paper offers a review of recent advances in sensing and communication technology concerning smart parking systems. It includes a brief study of the selected topics and provides an implementation process of those selected systems. Moreover, this work proposes a design approach for a smart car parking system prototype based on utilizing Closed Circuit Television (CCTV), and also an algorithm for computer vision detection through simulation environment. The system has been deployed in a simulation environment. Furthermore, the system evaluation demonstrates the effectiveness of our design and implementation of the system and shows promising results. This paper discusses possible issues that might arise when using the system Also, problems and challenges are outlined.
Intel Ireland Research Conference , 2014
This paper proposes a design approach for a smart car parking system. Problems and challenges are... more This paper proposes a design approach for a smart car parking system. Problems and challenges are outlined. Recent published solutions are critically reviewed. As a main research focus, it is proposed to design a car parking mobile app as a key component of the system. Through the app, various levels of car parking information and services can be delivered to the user in a functional and user-friendly way, relevant to the user's present goals and location, and according to the user's dynamic profile.
In this paper we investigate if it is possible to create entertaining computer games that use onl... more In this paper we investigate if it is possible to create entertaining computer games that use only non-speech aural feedback and if such games could be used for skills acquisition or in therapeutic applications. To answer these questions we developed two computer games, Os & Xs (Tic Tac Toe) and Mastermind, representing all necessary information through auditory display. User testing confirmed that the games were playable and early indications are that the games can be entertaining, particularly for the blind community. Testing also suggested that playing audio games could assist in increasing both memory and ability to concentrate, thus showing potential for both skills acquisition and therapeutic applications. 1.
The literature review conducted for this paper offers an in-depth review of the recent advances i... more The literature review conducted for this paper offers an in-depth review of the recent advances in sensing and communication technology concerning parking systems. In addition, this paper presents a survey and analysis of an academic, qualitative literature review. It includes an in-depth study of the selected topics and provides a step by step implementation process. It reviews different smart parking systems used for parking guidance and parking facility management and gives an insight into the technical aspects and specifications analysis of such systems that have been published in academia during the last 15 years
Uploads
Papers by Mikael Fernstrom
Marbh Chrios (Dead Zone) is a multimedia artwork by the authors, that reflects upon climate change in the context of a local community in Killybegs in County Donegal in Ireland. The work was based on scientific data about contested marine ‘dead zones’ in Donegal Bay in the north west of Ireland, that Softday represented with algorithmically generated music, field recordings and visualizations, in a live performance in Mooney’s Boatyard in Killybegs, in 2010.