Contextual information presentation for optimal learning: initial study
Russell [email protected]
School of Computer Science, University of Birmingham
&
RT Sailing
A typical race crew of eight people
• bow - responsible for setting new sails on the front of the boat, and sorting out any tangles that occur at that end of the yacht
• mast - helps bow with sail setting, and hoists the new sails as required
• pit - controls all the ropes in the cockpit, particularly the controls that allow the sails to be lowered, and the rope clutches that hold sails up once they've been hoisted
• trimmer - responsible for setting the front sails correctly
• grinder - provides the muscle power to winch in the sails
• mainsheet - sets and trims the mainsail (the largest sail)
• helm - steers the boat
• navigator/tactician - decides which way to sail the boat
1 1 1helm
Mainsheettrimmer
Genoa trimmer
Genoa grinder
Keyboards
mast bow
Navigator/tactician
2
4
3
5
6
2
3
4
5,6
2
3 Roles and how theychange sides upwind
Boat-based displays
Information taxonomyLevel 0: No instruments
Personal feel, intuition, etc. Common in dinghy sailing, can be very effective if well trained
Level 1: DirectDirect readings of boat speed (spd), apparent wind speed (aws), apparent wind angle (awa), magnetic heading (magnetic
compass)
Level 2: Process level 1 data with level 1 datato give true wind speed and true wind angle (aws, awa, spd, dir) plus vmg (vel + awa)
Level 3: Add electronic fluxgate compassProvides usable direction data – combine to give true wind direction (twa + dir)
Level 4: Add GPSProvides cmg, sog, vmg to waypoint
Level 5: Process data with GPSTide/current vel (speed and direction) from boat through water c.f. over ground.
Level 6: Computer storing/presentation of dataProvides polars, maximum performance figures, GPS/chartplotting
Level 7: VPP/polarsgive target speeds/angles
Tidal and weather prediction-based routing
Level 8: Trim/re-representationRepresent technical information in more usable form (% off optimum), trim or point/bear off
Add graphics – history information – allows level 0 predictions/understanding
Level 9:TacticalAdd interpretation – current wind shift information, trend
Level 10: Predictionwhen to tack, duration of shift, routing via windshifts
trim advice
Strategic – longer-term stuff for race
System architectureWind speed/angle
Depth/speed through water
Magnetic heading
Basic processor(to Level 4)
Advanced processor(Levels 5 - 7)
GPS (speed/heading over ground)
Cockpit display Mast display
Laptop(higher levels)
Wireless Lan
Wireless display
inputs
outputs
processing
Tethered display
Re-representations
Bluetooth
Wireless display
Architecture II
• Standard instrumentation used
• B&G Hydra and Hercules processors
• Seatrack software
• Custom re-representation software (Java, C++)
• Custom prediction software
• IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN
• Standard bluetooth
Output devices
• Hercules displays (digital)
• Mast displays - large digits
• Wireless screen
• Compaq IPAQs (wireless and bluetooth-enabled)
• Laptop screen (below deck)
Why yacht racing as a test platform?
• Stressful environment– close-quarter racing demands high levels of
concentration– physically hard - racing often occurs in difficult
conditions
• Limited information display capability– shortage of accessible places to show information– participants are often short of time to process
information
• Different roles require different informationDifferent roles require different information– some have time to understand complexitiessome have time to understand complexities– some need critical information immediatelysome need critical information immediately– some have ongoing background needssome have ongoing background needs
• Participants react differentlyParticipants react differently– some sailors naturally use data effectivelysome sailors naturally use data effectively– some tend to ignore itsome tend to ignore it– provides varied user baseprovides varied user base
• Pertinent information presented appropriately Pertinent information presented appropriately – need access to the right information in order to learn need access to the right information in order to learn
and improveand improve