M. Rasel Mahmud

Sagor Chandro Bakchy, Md. Rabiul Islam, M. Rasel Mahmud et al.

Gait recognition is one of the most recent emerging techniques of human biometric which can be used for security based purposes having unobtrusive learning method. In comparison with other bio-metrics gait analysis has some special security features. Most of the biometric technique uses sequential template based component analysis for recognition. Comparing with those methods, we proposed a developed technique for gait identification using the feature Gait Energy Image (GEI). GEI representation of gait contains all information of each image in one gait cycle and requires less storage and low processing speed. As only one image is enough to store the necessary information in GEI feature recognition process is very easier than any other feature for gait recognition. Gait recognition has some limitations in recognition process like viewing angle variation, walking speed, clothes, carrying load etc. Our proposed method in the paper compares the recognition performance with template based feature extraction which needs to process each frame in the cycle. We use GEI which gives relatively all information about all the frames in the cycle and results in better performance than other feature of gait analysis.

M. Rasel Mahmud, Michael Stewart, Alberto Cordova et al.

Virtual Reality (VR) users often experience postural instability, i.e., balance problems, which could be a major barrier to universal usability and accessibility for all, especially for persons with balance impairments. Prior research has confirmed the imbalance effect, but minimal research has been conducted to reduce this effect. We recruited 42 participants (with balance impairments: 21, without balance impairments: 21) to investigate the impact of several auditory techniques on balance in VR, specifically spatial audio, static rest frame audio, rhythmic audio, and audio mapped to the center of pressure (CoP). Participants performed two types of tasks - standing visual exploration and standing reach and grasp. Within-subject results showed that each auditory technique improved balance in VR for both persons with and without balance impairments. Spatial and CoP audio improved balance significantly more than other auditory conditions. The techniques presented in this research could be used in future virtual environments to improve standing balance and help push VR closer to universal usability.