Unbiased Model-Agnostic Metalearning Algorithm for Learning Target-Driven Visual Navigation Policy

As deep reinforcement learning methods have made great progress in the visual navigation field, metalearning-based algorithms are gaining more attention since they greatly improve the expansibility of moving agents. According to metatraining mechanism, typically an initial model is trained as a metalearner by existing navigation tasks and becomes well performed in new scenes through relatively few recursive trials. However, if a metalearner is overtrained on the former tasks, it may hardly achieve generalization on navigating in unfamiliar environments as the initial model turns out to be quite biased towards former ambient configuration. In order to train an impartial navigation model and enhance its generalization capability, we propose an Unbiased Model-Agnostic Metalearning (UMAML) algorithm towards target-driven visual navigation. Inspired by entropy-based methods, maximizing the uncertainty over output labels in classification tasks, we adopt inequality measures used in Economics as a concise metric to calculate the loss deviation across unfamiliar tasks. With succinctly minimizing the inequality of task losses, an unbiased navigation model without overperforming in particular scene types can be learnt based on Model-Agnostic Metalearning mechanism. The exploring agent complies with a more balanced update rule, able to gather navigation experience from training environments. Several experiments have been conducted, and results demonstrate that our approach outperforms other state-of-the-art metalearning navigation methods in generalization ability.

Driving and navigation habits of Austrian drivers

A proper navigation experience is essential while driving. A navigation device has not only to provide the driver with the right amount of information to find the ideal route (shortest, most spectacular, fastest), but also has to make driving safer. Since the driver looks at the user interface of navigation devices only for a few seconds, it is essential that the appropriate amount of information is in the right place. There are many options for drivers to navigate with: mobile phone app, PDA (Personal Digital Assistant)/PNA (Portable Navigation Assistant) or a built-in GPS Navigation System. The presented research examined the driving and navigation habits of 116 Austrian drivers by considering the differences between the devices they use.

Dimensions

Dimensions is a combined analytical, search & discovery, and information management database which has developed API tools to control and organize its holdings. The Digital Science philosophy has been that metrics and indicators belong to the scholars generating the research, not to a vendor, hence the majority of its articles and bibliographic indicators are Open Access, and free to the research community. Charges are assessed, however, for Dimensions Plus subscriptions which provide links among policy papers, grant information, clinical trials, and other information of interest to academic administrators, institutions, publishers, and librarians. Dimensions offers the ability to generate new knowledge: its data may be used, and a new information artefact created, without having to leave its platform. Featuring a full text index that enables deep discovery and machine-learning based research classification, the search and navigation experience is smooth and intuitive. Offering many additional features that set it aside from traditional bibliometric databases, Dimensions is a tool that is designed primarily for expert users with knowledge of the various facets and research processes of the disciplines in which they search information.

Can Virtual Customer Service Agents Improve Consumers' Online Experiences?

This chapter focuses on the navigation experience in ecommerce. The authors address the impact of a number of hedonic dimensions, specifically perceived visual attractiveness, perceived enjoyment, and sociability, in consumers' online experiences. They develop and test a research model explaining how these factors affect trust, satisfaction, and ultimately, website loyalty. Findings from a survey carried out with 132 users of an airline's website, which displays a virtual customer service agent, support the model proposed. Specifically, results confirm that enriching consumers' sensory experiences online through aesthetics, an enjoyable experience, and a social interaction interface positively affects trust, satisfaction, and subsequently, loyalty.

Effect of Internet Services on Customer’s Online Purchase Intention (Case Study: Behpahksh Pharmaceutical Company)

This study aimed at examining the effect of internet services on online purchase intention of customers in Behpakhsh Company. Variables of this study included transaction services, pre-purchase services, Navigation experience, Attitude to the web, online purchase intention. Descriptive-survey method was used to examine hypotheses and respond to the questions. Statistical population consisted of customers of Behpakhsh Company. Statistical sample size obtained to 384 members. This study was implemented in Behpakhsh Company. To collect required data, researcher-made questionnaire was used. Moreover, regression analysis was applied in this research. Data analysis and hypothesis testing were done through SPSS Software. Findings obtained from this study indicated effect of internet services on customers’ online purchase intention in case of Behpakhsh Company.

TWO NEW PEDESTRIAN NAVIGATION PATH OPTIONS BASED ON SEMI-INDOOR SPACE

Navigation is very critical for our daily life, especially when we have to go through the unfamiliar areas where the spaces are very complex, such as completely bounded (indoor), partially bounded (semi-indoor and/or semi-outdoor), entirely open (outdoor), or combined. Current navigation systems commonly offer the shortest distance/time path, but it is not always appropriate for some situations. For instance, on a rainy day, a path with as many places that are covered by roofs/shelters is more attractive. However, current navigation systems cannot provide such kinds of navigation paths, which can be explained by that they lack information about such roofed/sheltered-covered spaces. This paper proposes two roofed/sheltered navigation path options by employing semi-indoor spaces in the navigation map: (i) the Most-Top-Covered path (MTC-path) and (ii) path to the Nearest sI-space from departure (NSI-path). A path selection strategy is introduced to help pedestrians in making choices between the two new path options and the traditional shortest path. We demonstrate and validate the research with path planning on two navigation cases. The results show the two path options and the path selection strategy bring in new navigation experience for humans.

Walking among Mammoths. Remote Sensing and Virtual Reality Supporting the Study and Dissemination of Pleistocene Archaeological Sites: The Case of Fuente Nueva 3 in Orce, Spain

Remote sensing is a useful tool for the documentation of archaeological sites. The products derived from a photogrammetric project applied to archaeology such as orthophotos and three-dimensional virtual reconstruction (3DVR), allow for detailed study of the Fuente Nueva 3 site in Orce. In our study of the Fuente Nueva 3 site in Orce, we used 3DVR intensively to map out the morphometric features of mammoth tusks exposed on the surface and a geological fault affecting the site’s deposits. To do so, we used imagery captured since 2017 in order to follow the evolution of ongoing excavations during each subsequent field season. We also integrated the 3DVR model in a videogame environment, to create a virtual reality (VR) that allows a VR navigation experience around the scenario using a head mounted display like Oculus Rift. The main features of this VR experience are: (1) It is ideal for the diffusion of archaeological contents since it permits an attractive presentation mode thanks to stereo visualization and realistic immersion sensations; (2) it provides a high level of detail all along the navigation experience, without incurring any damage to the archaeological remains; (3) it allows users to observe more details than they would in an in situ visit to the site; (4) it makes it possible to convert an archaeological site into portable heritage, opening up the possibility to extend visits to vulnerable groups: specifically those with reduced mobility. Our results show that using VR should permit enhancements to a visitor’s experience and contribute to the socio-economic development of the town of Orce, one of the Spanish municipalities with the lowest income.