At ICER we have introduced a 2D/3D development system. We would like for faculty to make use of the technology we have available when creating lecture and study materials.

Using our digital microscope we can expand and see organisms not visible to the naked eye. The digital microscope we have at ICER supports magnification up to 200 times. The image of the item being magnified can be saved and measurements can be taken from the image.

Using this microscope, you can incorporate things not visible to the human eye, into educational materials you create. Then print what you create so as it is available to many people.

■System structure: High Resolution Image Files(20-200 magnification, 4800(H)x3600(V) resolution, RGB 16 Tone )

This device records a person or objects movement as digital data.

For example, it can save as digital data: a baseball batter's form, or the flight pattern of a radio controlled airplane. To measure movement, we put an infrared marker on the object. To accurately track the movement of these markers, 18 cameras are set up around the object. The data recorded by each camera, is sent to a computer, and once the data from each camera is merged, an accurate position of the object is mapped.

From the viewpoint of a library, measurement of people's motion and object trajectory is very important and should be recorded for future reference.

ICER is developing uses for this in situations where representations of movement, which cannot easily be described through the medium of paper, can be presented to students as an easy to comprehend visual media.

■System structure: Motion data(bvh etc)

This device is can take an actual physical object, scan it and store the shape as digital data.

For example, using a 3D scanner. The shape of an object with historical significance like 'a piece of ancient pottery' can be scanned, measured and it's shape digitally stored. Then as the original object degrades with time the digital representations can be preserved so future generations can see what the object looked like.

At ICER we would like to use this technology to develop digital educational materials, to present 3D CG models of objects that would otherwise be difficult to represent on paper.

We can see such images of 'ancient pottery' etc. in present day traditional 'paper' textbooks, however in these paper texts we are limited to seeing flat 2D representations, so it is difficult to grasp what the object would be like in reality, or to know what areas not shown in the photo look like.

Using the 3D scanner when developing digital educational materials, we can incorporate 3D CG models. Which can increase the effectiveness of the educational material and motivate the learner.

■System structure: 3D point cloud data(STL, rgv, rvm) and 3D shape Data(ply, obj, dxf etc)

This device takes digital shape data created using a computer, and produces a physical copy of it. For example, a digital object created using CAD etc. or digital data taken from a 3D scanner can be input into the 3D printer and the 3D printer will create a real world physical output of the digital object.

Currently at ICER we are working with Professor Sakaue of the Faculty of Humanities to develop physical recreations of ancient Japanese Imperial Court objects for use as educational materials. In this project using CAD models of the Kyoto Imperial Palace Shishinden Hall, we are creating physical models using the 3D printer, and also further creating 3D animations. We expect to inclusion of these these physical models and animations in educational material will see an increase in education benefit and also improve student motivation.

■System structure: Resin model (297 x 210 x 200(mm))

　　
※The model of the Shishinden Hall shown in the image is a prototype.

This device produces slow motion recordings of real life.

The high-speed camera, by taking thousands of images in one second, can produce slow motion video output. For example, the instant a water balloon bursts, the camera shutter will open and close 3000 times recording in one second 3000 images. So we have 3000 images of the balloon bursting. Joining these 3000 images, and playing them back at 30 images per second, produces a movie where we see the the recorded action at a rate 100 times slower than it actually happened.

Using the high-speed camera, we can record for example the movement of an insects wings, or the instant two objects collide together, showing scenes that are impossible to capture with the naked eye.

■System structure: A continuous image file (500-100,000fps, 1696x1710 resolution)

　　
High Speed Camera Demo movie can be seen here

This device monitors the movement of the human eye and measures where a person is looking.

The eye movement detector we have at ICER is equipped with a head mount(the device is used when attached to a subjects head). It incorporates a miniature camera, LED light, and reflective mirror. Using the reflective mirror, light from the LED hits the subject's eye, the camera then records the track of the eye.

The eye movement detector is excellent for use when analyzing the point of gaze(what someone is looking at). The output can show which areas the subject is focusing on, which area they look at longest, and the areas not looked at much.

The results can be shown using a color map for easy comprehension. We would like to see the eye movement detector used in analysis of user interfaces, especially for digital educational material user interface design.

■System structure: Eye movement detector video file (avi, bmp) and eye movement data file(CSV file)