LINK2U

Connecting Social Network

Users through Mobile Interfaces

Davide De Chiara, Luca Paolino, Marco Romano, Monica Sebillo,

Genoveffa Tortora, and Giuliana Vitiello
DMI, Università di Salerno, Italy

Idowu Samuel (samido@student.ltu.se)

 OUTLINE
 Background
 Introduction
 Related work
 Multimodal Interaction Paradigm
 Basic interaction tasks
 grouping methods
 Scenario
 software framework/architecture
 conclusion
 BACKGROUND
 Increased Modern mobile devices capability via technologies like
camera, GPS, 3D graphics and permanent Internet connection.

 Integration of these technologies provides ability to run complex

apps – Augmented Reality & Social Network.

 GOAL : An Integrated solution that Supports mobile users’ daily

activities, by developing advance solutions which takes principle of
HCI and usability into account  LINK2U.
 INTRODUCTION
 LINK2U combines potential of mobile devices with augmented
reality features that allows SNU [Social Network Users] to invoke
functions such as:
◦ Traditional functions (e.g. messaging)
◦ Calculation of route on a map
◦ Identification of other SNUs
◦ Point of interest through the support of augmented reality.
 Two recently developed applications which provides intuitive and
light navigation systems for mobile devices
◦ Google Latitude and Enkin  {Related works}

 Latitude: It displays the position of SNUs on a map. It also allows

users to invoke calculation of the fastest route to reach other users
(Google latitude is freely distributed on the latest version of Google
maps for mobile devices).
 INTRODUCTION[E
 Enkin: An augmented reality app which offers a new concept of
pedestrian navigation [handheld navigation concept]. Enkin displays
maps on screen superimposed to video image, it affords users to
see the POI represented in 3D.
 LINK2U combines the benefits from “Google Latitude” and “Enkin”
approaches.
 It is based on geo-localization technique which integrates GPS and
Wi-Fi Positioning System (WPS).

 LINK2U exploit modern devices that combines an integrated camera

for image-video capture, a GPS device to detect position, a compass
and a motion sensor to detect user’s point of view.

 Prototype is being tested and it allows SNUs to determine individual

indoor/outdoor positions and calculate path between POI.
MULTIMODAL INTERACTION PARADIGM
 Link2U uses the paradigm common with social network [e.g.
contact lists].

 Provides two visualizing modes:

◦ Map Mode: Classic 2D map view, SNUs and POIs are drawn on the
map.
◦ Live Mode: exploits augmented reality to improve users’ sensory
perception about SNUs and POIs located inside the camera visual
field.

 Both SNUs and POIs inside the visual field are visualized in 3D
environment and are superimposed on image captured by the
camera – [Live Mode].

 Users can switch between the map mode and live mode by laying
down the device or by raising it into vertical position.
 TWO BASIC INTERACTION TASKS
Context-Related Visualization Route Calculation
1) Establishing the Goal
User is willing to receive visual The user wants to reach one of the
information about physical/virtual env. identified POIs or SNUs.
2) Executing the action
User lays down down device – Map View, Lays down device and select target on
raises device into vertical position and map, Invokes the route calculation
turns to explore surrounding – Live Mode. function, raises device to vertical position.
3) Perceiving the system state
Map – captures location of POIs in 2D Map-route drawn as 2D poly-line along
view, Live – observes POIs/SNUs in 3D with label on target icon, Live – set of
augmented reality space. waypoints with radar view displaying
closest waypoint.
4) Evaluation in respect to goals and intensions
Users evaluate whether the localization, identification and visualized route of SNUs
and POIs coming from LINK2U allows him/her to effectively interact with the
 GROUP METHODS
 Grouping metaphors is used to avoid the confusion due to SNUs
crush on the screen.
 Two grouping methods are used to avoid ‘sensorial overload’ due
to visualization of multiple elements [Framy and Cartography]
 Framy Visualization Technique:
 Basic idea is to divide the world around the user into sections.
 The green triangle shows camera visual field.
 Color intensity of each portion is proportional to the number of
(a) Sector division of the
SNUs in around
region sector.the
user

(b) an example of the

visual representation
 GROUP METHODS
 Basic Cartography:
 Main idea Is to map meeting places on basic cartography such as
library & classrooms where SNUs are used to gather.

 Such places can be detected as “Area of SNU Aggregation” - (ASA)

through an icon.

 When the SNU number/ASA surface ratio is bigger than a threshold

value, the icon evokes the presence of a SNUs as shown by the
associated label.
 SCENARIO
 (a) Map mode visualization of user’s position. (b) Live mode representation of user’s
position

 Live mode: Framy and aggregates by ASA visualization

SOFTWARE FRAMEWORK/ARCHITECTURE
 The System Network:
 The architecture of the system is client-server based, server is
responsible for coordinating and updating the positions of various
clients.
 The localization of a client is obtained through GPS standard and
triangulation of the Wi-Fi hotspot signals.
SOFTWARE FRAMEWORK/ARCHITECTURE
 The client:
 The client application has been developed on a G1 HTC DREAM
that incorporates the needed hardware along with Android
platform.

 Android provides applications with access to the location services

supported by the device through the classes in the
android.location package.
 The access of a map is provided by Map View that displays a
map with data obtained from the Google Maps service.

 Typically mobile devices have some computational limits that can

slow down the application performances. To overcome such
limits we exploit some Web Services.
 CONCLUSION
 The goal of the research we are carrying out is meant to realize
advanced solutions to support users in their daily activities,
ranging from usual services to extraordinary facilities, from
mobility to entertainment.

 There is a future plan to improve the prototype in order to

both automate its behavior in reply to some stimuli, such
as user’s mobility and screen shape, and better satisfy users’
requirements on the basis of feedback obtained through a
usability study meant to improve the application embedding
Link2U.