ABSTRACT
This paper introduces a system designed to support conducting experiments of subjects when the situation does not allow experimenter and subject to be in the same place such as the COVID19 pandemic where everyone relied on video conference applications which has its limitation. Due to the difficulty of directing with a video conferencing system using solely video and voice. The system we developed allows an experimenter to actively watch and interact with the subject. Even if you're operating from a distant area, it is still possible to conduct experiments. Another important aspect this study will focus on is the case of when there are several subjects required and the experimenter must be able to guide both subjects equally well. The system proposed uses a 6 DoF robotic arm with a camera and a laser pointer attached to it on the subject side. The experimenter uses a head-mounted display to control it and it moves corresponding to the head movement allowing for easy instruction and intervention to the subject side. Comparison with other similar research is also covered. The study will focus mainly on which viewing method is the easiest for the experimenter to use, and if teaching one subject at the time gives better results than teaching two subjects simultaneously. © 2022 International Measurement Confederation (IMEKO). All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Since it is challenging to perceive space and objects with a video conferencing system, which communicates using only video and audio, there are difficulties in testing subjects in the COVID-19 pandemic. We propose the EASY-LAB system that allows an experimenter to perform observation and physical interaction with the subject even from a remote location actively. The proposed system displays the camera image on a HMD worn by the experimenter, which camera is mounted on a small 6 DOF robot arm end, allowing observation from an easy-to-see perspective. The experimenter can also instruct the subject using another robot arm with a laser pointer. The robot's joint angles are calculated by Inverse Kinematics from the experimenter's head movements, then reflected in the actual robot. Photon Unity Networking component was used for the synchronization process with remote locations. These devices are affordable, effortless to set up, and can be delivered to the subject's home. Finally, the proposed system was evaluated by four subjects, As a preliminary result, the mean pointing error was 1.1 cm, and the operation time was reduced by 60% compared with the conventional video conferencing system. This result indicated the EASY-LAB's capability, at least in tasks that require pointing and observation from various angles. The statistical study with more subjects will be conducted in the follow-up study. © 2021 ACM.