In the second lecture of the MIX204 - Design for Media Use course, Professor Duc Tien Dang Nguyen announced an exciting opportunity: the chance to participate in the Lifelog Search Challenge at the ACM ICMR'24 conference in Phuket, Thailand. Everyone’s interest in the class peaked upon hearing about the exciting opportunity to travel to Thailand. Despite not knowing much about the conference or the concept of lifelogging, everyone expressed a desire to participate. The allure of Thailand was likely a factor, along with a curiosity about lifelogging and the chance to create their own system. Among the eager participants, the upcoming core of the VitaChronicle team, consisting of Eirik Pagani Vavik, Michela Wilhelmsen, and Jenny Dal Østensen, quickly seized the opportunity when it arose
A Journey of Innovation and Passion
The VitaChronicle team formed after individually expressing their interest in the project. As second-year bachelor students and first-time attendees to the competition, we began an adventure filled with learning and innovation. Our introduction to lifelogging was eye-opening. We were fascinated by the idea of capturing and preserving life's moments through digital devices. This curiosity quickly transformed into a drive to create something completely new.
Inspired by Professor Nguyen's lecture, we aimed to develop a lifelogging system that was not only efficient but also intuitive and accessible to users of all backgrounds. Thus, VitaChronicle was born.
Understanding the Lifelog Search Challenge ACM ICMR24 and Lifelogging
The Lifelog Search Challenge (LSC) is an annual competition aimed at encouraging international teams to develop interactive content retrieval systems capable of searching large lifelog databases. It is conducted as a live event co-located with the ACM International Conference on Multimedia Retrieval (ICMR). The challenge consists of two rounds issued: an expert round and a novice user round, each with 15 tasks within three themes: finding a specific photo, finding as many photos as possible, and question answering.
Lifelogging involves the use of digital devices to capture and record various aspects of daily life, preserving these moments in a searchable database. The ACM International Conference on Multimedia Retrieval (ICMR) is a premier event that brings together researchers and practitioners from multimedia retrieval and related fields. It provides a platform for sharing the latest advancements and fostering collaborations.
Seizing the Opportunity
As second-year bachelor students, participating in this international conference was an extraordinary opportunity. It allowed us to contribute meaningfully to our field and demonstrated the significant impact that undergraduate research can have. This experience has not only boosted our confidence but also highlighted the importance of networking and collaboration. We are thankful to Teklab for providing this invaluable opportunity.
Global Collaboration
In creating VitaChronicle, we collaborated with Dublin City University and the Ho Chi Minh City University of Science. This international partnership brought diverse perspectives and expertise, enhancing the quality and innovation of our lifelogging system. Together, we crafted a system that stood out in the competition for its user-centric design and robust functionality.
VitaChronicle is designed to set new standards in the field of lifelogging by applying UX/UI principles to enhance lifelog retrieval systems. Our system focuses on user interaction and accessibility with an adaptable and consistent design. Key features of VitaChronicle include:
Central Search Bar: Positioned at the top center, it allows for image-based queries by uploading an image directly through the integrated image-icon.
Optional Search Parameters: Time, Location, Optical Character Recognition (OCR), and Concept Search, each visually distinguished by unique colors and icons.
Metadata Display: Each search result is accompanied by GPS location and timestamp, organized with ample spacing and readable typography.
Interactive Elements: Hovering over an image activates features like feedback functions and buttons for image enlargement and information.
The system also integrates expert search commands, allowing for precise and advanced searches using direct commands, enhancing the user experience by making powerful functionality directly accessible.
Technical Hurdles and Triumphs
On the night before the competition and on the day of it, we faced unexpected technical difficulties. Bugs and issues arose, such as not being able to multi-select images, view them in a larger format to look for important details, utilize the filtering options, or properly use the relevance, timeline, and location tabs. Despite these hurdles, we managed to adapt and find workarounds to ensure our participation and placement in the competition.
Competition Rounds
The expert round was performed by the VitaChronicle team, leveraging our in-depth knowledge of the system. The novice round was conducted by an individual unfamiliar with image retrieval systems. Due to VitaChronicle’s simplicity and user-friendly design, the novice had no problem performing and submitting correct answers, highlighting the system's accessibility for all users.
Discovering Phuket
During our time in Thailand, we had the opportunity to connect with teams from various parts of the world at the gala dinner. Sharing experiences and insights with other lifelogging enthusiasts was incredibly enriching. Outside the conference, we explored the beauty of Thailand, visiting the Phi Phi Islands and different cities in Phuket. We encountered exotic wildlife, savored local cuisine, and marveled at stunning temples. These experiences added a cultural depth to our journey, making it not only educational but also unforgettable.
Looking Ahead
With a successful showing in Phuket, where we placed 10th out of 21 teams, the VitaChronicle team is now looking to the future. We plan to enhance our system further by adding new features for various data types such as audio and biometric data, and by continuously exploring lifelog retrieval systems to address more UX/UI challenges. Our ultimate goal is to contribute meaningful research to the field of lifelogging.
As we prepare for next year's conference and competition in Chicago, we are committed to refining our system based on the feedback and experiences we gained in Phuket. We're just getting started; there's so much more we want to achieve, and we're excited about the journey ahead.
As we continue to develop VitaChronicle, we remain grateful for the support and encouragement we have received from our university, mentors, and peers. Our story is a testament to the power of innovation, teamwork, and perseverance.
For those eager to learn more about VitaChronicle and the exciting field of lifelogging, we invite you to explore our research paper "VitaChronicle: Applying UX/UI Principles and Guidelines to Enhance Lifelog Retrieval System Design" [here].
Want to collaborate? Join us in shaping the future of VitaChronicle!
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