A challenge in presenting augmenting information in outdoor augmented reality (AR) settings lies in the broad range of uncontrollable environmental conditions that may be present, specifically large-scale fluctuations in natural lighting and wide variations in likely backgrounds or objects in the scene. In this paper, we present a user-based study which examined the effects of outdoor background textures, changing outdoor illuminance values, and text drawing styles on user performance of a text identification task with an optical, see-through augmented reality system. We report significant effects for all of these variables, and discuss design guidelines and ideas for future work.

Localization is an essential service for many wireless sensor network applications. While several localization schemes rely on anchor nodes and range measurements to achieve fine-grained positioning, we propose a range-free, anchorfree solution that works using connectivity information only. The approach, suitable for deployments with strict cost constraints, is based on the neural network paradigm of SelfOrganizing Maps (SOM). We present a lightweight SOMbased algorithm to compute virtual coordinates that are effective for location-aided routing. This algorithm can also exploit the location information, if available, of few anchor nodes to compute absolute positions. Results of extensive simulations show improvements over the popular MultiDimensional Scaling (MDS) scheme, especially for networks with low connectivity, which are intrinsically harder to localize, and in presence of irregular radio pattern or anisotropic deployment. We analytically demonstrate that the proposed scheme has low computation and communication overheads; hence, making it suitable for resource-constrained networks.

The increased advancement in nanosciences in recent times has led to fascinating innovations. It has potential applications for altering the structural, surface, and physicochemical properties of nano-ranged metamaterials. The adaptable optical, structural, and surface characteristics of the nanoscopic regimes enhance the quality of integrated nanodevices and sensors. These are further used in optoelectronics, biomedicines, and catalysis. The use of nanomaterials for constructing nano-biosensors and various other organic and inorganic functional nanomaterials is quite promising. They have excellent electronic and surface-to-volume reactivity. Their various applications include metal and metal-oxides-based nanoparticles, clusters, wires, and 2D nanosheets as carbon nanotubes. More recently, hybrid nanomaterials are being developed to regulate sensing functionalities in the field of nanomedicine and the pharmaceutical industry. They are used as nano-markers, templates, and targeted agents. Moreover, the mechanical strength, chemical stability, durability, and flexibility of the hybrid nanomaterials make them appropriate for developing a healthy life for humans. This consists of a variety of applications, such as drug delivery, antimicrobial impacts, nutrition, orthopedics, dentistry, and fluorescence fabrics. This review article caters to the essential importance of nanoscience for biomedical applications and information for health science and research. The fundamental characteristics and functionalities of nanomaterials for particular biomedical uses are specifically addressed here.

No abstract

No abstract