A Research for a User Interface to Assess User's 3-D Spatial Cognitive Ability

认知空间和建构能力的评估是诊断和监测脑疾病或损伤的重要临床工具。它在认知脑功能的科学研究中也是不可或缺的。评估技术包括要求患者或参与者执行纯粹的认知任务，如心理旋转，以及涉及将积木和拼图排列成目标配置的构造任务。这些建构性任务的优势不仅在于探索纯粹的空间能力，还在于探索对世界的感知、计划和行动能力。研究表明，对这些任务进行三维（3D）农场评估可能是最苛刻和最敏感的。然而，在评估中使用3D任务受到其固有复杂性的限制，这需要大量的考官培训，努力和时间，如果评分一致和可靠。为了克服现有三维空间认知评估的局限性，我们设计了一个三维空间认知能力测试的自动化工具。作为这个用户界面的原型，我们使用ActiveCube来实现。在评估中，用户尝试构建一个目标三维形状，而他们所做的每一次形状变化都会被自动记录和评分以供评估。为了评估这个原型系统，我们进行了几个实验。因此，它有足够的灵敏度来区分受试者的认知能力和建构能力。此外，我们还获得了知识来改进我们的原型系统。

The assessment of cognitive spatial and constructional ability is an important clinical tool in the diagnosis and monitoring of brain disease or injury. It is also indispensable in scientific study of cognitive brain function. Techniques for assessment include asking patients or participants to perform purely cognitive tasks such as mental rotation, as well as constructional tasks involving arrangement of blocks and puzzle pieces into a target configuration. These constructional tasks have the advantage of probing not only pure spatial ability, but also the ability to perceive, plan, and act in the world. Studies suggest that assessment with three-dimensional (3D) farms of these tasks may be most demanding and sensitive. However, use of 3D tasks in assessment has been limited by their inherent complexity, which requires considerable examiner training, effort and time if scoring is to consistent and reliable.To overcome the limitations of existing 3D spatial cognitive assessments, we designed an automated tool for examination of 3D spatial cognitive ability. As a prototype of this user interface, we implemented by use of ActiveCube. In the evaluation, users attempt to construct a target 3D shape, while each change of shape they make is automatically recorded and scored for assessment. In order to evaluate this prototype system, we conducted several experiments. As a result, it is enough sensitive to distinguish subjects' cognitive and constructional abilities. Moreover, we have acquired knowledge to improve our prototype system.