Yibo Wang

Current video conferencing technology allows participants to communicate virtually over distance, but users lack the sense of presence due to the absence of physical cues for interaction. We proposes the design of Gesture-Bot, a DIY telepresence robot that performs pan-and-tilt gestures in the presence of a receiver during video chat. It is command via the web by a remote sender. We conducted a workshop to design and evaluate pan-and-tilt movements with 26 participants in two separate communication scenarios to examine the flow of communication in physical-interactions-assisted remote chat. According to the data collected from the questionnaire and the post-experiment interview, the Gesture-Bot system has shown its potential in assisting remote communications while aspects such as the outlook, the method of controlling the robot, the set of gestures are to be improved in the future.

With the development of architectural technology, the use of floor-to-ceiling windows has emerged widely. The ensuing problem is that more and more students and office workers are suffering from direct sunlight while working in specific areas. Based on the pain points of the working process, this study designed a portable product for improving visual comfort through field research and environment simulation. It provided a new personalized design for blocking direct sunlight from the working area using a portable and liftable sunshade curtain, allowing the users to control the height and angle of the sunshade curtain through a mobile phone application. It can also adjust itself according to environmental parameters collected by sensors, so as to block sunlight in certain areas. A simulation based on the design features and the light environment of a library is run, proving the model effective in improving these aspects. The study aimed to provide solutions for indoor visual comfort and suggestions for future indoor household designs.