Contextual information presentation for optimal learning: initial study

Russell Bealerussell@russellbeale.com

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

Thanks to...

• Project supported by B & G– EPSRC– University of Birmingham– RT Sailing

• and the testers– 2001: Mad Hatters– 2002/2003: Xcentric Crew