physical sliders perceptual sliders image navigation physical sliders perceptual sliders image navigation final final final final final final

Summary: We present a device that allows 3-D s~parx pcrccption by sotificarion of tango information obrained via a point laser mngc sensor. The laser range sensor is worn by the user, who scans space by painting th? laser beam in different directions. The hsuhing stream of range measuremeol ~ is rhen converted to an auditory signal whose freqooocy or amplimde varies with the range. Our device differs from exirling navigation aids for rhe visually imp&cd Such devices use sonar ranging whose primary puposz is to detect obstacles for nwigaion, a task to which sonar is well ruired duz to irs wide beam width. In corxms~, dx purpose of our device is to allow use ~ to perceive the details of 3D space tit surrounds them; P task to which sonar is ill suircd, due ro artifacts gamatcd by mukiple reflections. Reliiinary trials demonsrate char the user is able to accumlcly detect corners and depth dhcor&uities wirh ease and to perceive the size of the sul-munding space.

By combining two independent research streams, we examine the strategic value and adoption of electronic commerce (e-commerce) as perceived by top managers in small and medium sized enterprises (SME). We propose a research model that posits three factors that have been found to be influential in previous research in the perception of strategic value of other information technologies. Inspired by the technology acceptance model of Davis [14] and other relevant research in the area, we also identify four factors that we believe will influence e-commerce adoption. We hypothesize a causal link between the perceived strategic value of e-commerce and e-commerce adoption. To validate the research model, we collected data from top managers/owners of SME via an Internet survey. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to test the factors utilized in this study while canonical correlation analysis was employed to validate the causal link between the two main constructs of this study.

A new instrument, the Object-Spatial Imagery Questionnaire (OSIQ), was designed to assess individual differences in visual imagery preferences and experiences. The OSIQ consists of two scales: an object imagery scale that assesses preferences for representing and processing colourful, pictorial, and high-resolution images of individual objects and a spatial imagery scale that assesses preferences for representing and processing schematic images, spatial relations amongst objects, and spatial transformations. Across a series of studies, the object imagery scale was significantly correlated with the performance on object imagery tasks; the spatial imagery scale was significantly correlated with the performance on spatial imagery tasks; but neither correlated with measures of intelligence. Additionally, compared to visual artists and humanities professionals, scientists reported higher spatial imagery ratings; however, compared to scientists and humanities professionals, visual artists reported higher object imagery ratings. Thus, the results from the studies supported the predictive, discriminant, and ecological validity of the OSIQ.

Young children often give the impression that they speak or listen from their own perspective, with little or no recognition of the linguistic information that a discourse partner might be using. In relation to discourse reference, children often demonstrate insensitivity to rules that determine the use of discourse pronouns (Karmiloff-Smith 1981). Frequently, discourse development has been explained by such cognitive notions as egocentricity. However, recent eye-tracking studies have shown that very young children are not exclusively egocentrically oriented (Nadig & Sedivy 2002) and that even adults sometimes begin with an egocentric perspective and only later switch to their partner’s perspective (Keysar, Barr, Balin & Paek 1998). The question in the present study is: if children and adults are capable of cognitively taking either perspective, do both children and adults linguistically take into account their partner’s perspective in discourse? To explore this question, children and adults participated in a production experiment and a comprehension experiment aimed at investigating their sensitivity to discourse topic and topic shift. In Section 1, we discuss the theoretical framework of bidirectional Optimality Theory, which is shown to make linguistic predictions as to expected differences between adults and children when they deal with topic shift during discourse. Adult speakers and hearers are predicted to optimize bidirectionally and, therefore, to use specific referring expressions to maintain or shift topics during discourse. If children optimize unidirectionally, they will demonstrate a different use or interpretation of referring expressions. Section 2 introduces a production experiment and a comprehension experiment, designed to test for possible discourse topic differences between adults and children. For production, the participants are asked to describe six-page picture books and for comprehension they listen to structured stories about which a question must be answered. The results of these two experiments are presented in Section 3. Section 4 discusses the differences between adults ’ and children’s use and interpretation of pronouns and noun phrases as signaling topic and topic shift in ongoing discourse. Conclusions are summarized in Section 5.

Survey data from 2,925 incoming college freshmen at a state university revealed that nearly 40 % of the participants reported that they might like to have a lesbian or gay friend, despite anticipations of discomfort. Perceived barriers were significantly related to gender, diversity orientation, shyness, and religious commitment. Implications for research and intervention are discussed. A considerable body of research has been devoted to exploration of the correlates of attitudes toward lesbians and gay men. Herek (1991) reviewed this literature and identified key correlates of intolerance, including a wide range of experiential variables (e.g., minimal previous

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This work is part of our pursuit of paradigms and technical solutions that will take advantage of the rapid advances in computing power that inexpensive tools for presentation and collaborative work are bringing to the world of education. We have developed an interaction model for the "smart classroom, " (more generally, for rooms in which people interact and learn together). Using our prototype environment we report on preliminary user testing of some novel ways to exploit the common laser pointer, a device most lecturers now possess. In our environment, users report increased usability of complex presentation devices and ability to focus more effectively on delivering a lecture or holding a class.

Previous research has argued that skills acquired explicitly are more likely to fail under stressful conditions than skills that have been learned implicitly. The present study addressed an alternative explanation for the robustness under stress of implicit task performance. As implicit learners acquired the skill of golf putting while generating random letters, it is possible that they became desensitized to self-generated verbalizations and thus immune to the eþ ects of competitive anxiety. We tested this interpretation while controlling for a further rival hypothesis generated by Eysenck’s Processing Eý ciency Theory. We also examined the eþ ect of increased state anxiety on the kinematic processes underlying performance breakdowns. For task performance, we found evidence that partially supported the conscious processing hypothesis, while the results of the kinematic analysis of the putting stroke were equivocal. Analysis of self-reported eþ ort scores provided partial support for processing eý ciency theory.

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