ch02 - merge 2.2 and 2.3

thesis/chapters/02_background.tex

@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ Moreover, few platforms directly address the methodological concerns raised by s
 
 \section{Requirements for Modern WoZ Infrastructure}
 
-Based on the analysis of existing platforms and identified methodological gaps, I derived requirements for a modern WoZ research infrastructure. Through our preliminary work \cite{OConnor2024}, we identified six critical capabilities that a comprehensive platform should provide:
+This thesis represents the culmination of a multi-year research effort to develop infrastructure that addresses the challenges identified in the WoZ platform landscape. Based on the analysis of existing platforms and identified methodological gaps, I derived requirements for a modern WoZ research infrastructure. Through our preliminary work \cite{OConnor2024}, we identified six critical capabilities that a comprehensive platform should provide:
 
 \begin{enumerate}
 \item[R1:] \textbf{Integrated workflow.} All phases of the experimental workflow--design, execution, and analysis--should be integrated within a single unified environment to minimize context switching and tool fragmentation.
@@ -36,19 +36,12 @@ Based on the analysis of existing platforms and identified methodological gaps,
 
 To the best of my knowledge, no existing platform satisfies all six requirements. Most critically, the trade-off between accessibility and flexibility remains unresolved, and few tools embed methodological best practices directly into their design--like training wheels on a bicycle, guiding experimenters to follow sound methodology by default.
 
-\section{Prior Work}
+The ideas presented here build upon prior work established in two peer-reviewed publications. We first introduced the concept for HRIStudio as a Late-Breaking Report at the 2024 IEEE International Conference on Robot and Human Interactive Communication (RO-MAN) \cite{OConnor2024}. In that position paper, we identified the lack of accessible tooling as a primary barrier to entry in HRI and proposed the high-level vision of a web-based, collaborative platform. We established the core requirements listed above and argued for a web-based approach to achieve them.
-
-This thesis represents the culmination of a multi-year research effort to develop infrastructure that meets these requirements. The ideas presented here build upon prior work established in two peer-reviewed publications.
-
-We first introduced the concept for HRIStudio as a Late-Breaking Report at the 2024 IEEE International Conference on Robot and Human Interactive Communication (RO-MAN) \cite{OConnor2024}. In that position paper, we identified the lack of accessible tooling as a primary barrier to entry in HRI and proposed the high-level vision of a web-based, collaborative platform. We established the core requirements listed above and argued for a web-based approach to achieve them.
 
 Following the initial proposal, we published the detailed system architecture and preliminary prototype as a full paper at RO-MAN 2025 \cite{OConnor2025}. That publication validated the technical feasibility of our approach, detailing the communication protocols, data models, and plugin architecture necessary to support real-time robot control using standard web technologies while maintaining platform independence.
 
 While those prior publications established the conceptual framework and technical architecture, this thesis focuses on the realization and empirical validation of the platform. I extend that research in two key ways. First, I implement a functional software system that addresses engineering challenges related to stability, latency, and deployment, providing a minimum viable product for evaluation. Second, I provide a rigorous user study comparing the proposed framework against a representative baseline tool. This empirical evaluation provides evidence to support the claim that thoughtful infrastructure design can improve both accessibility and reproducibility in HRI research.
 
-% Chapter notes:
-% I am wondering if you should give a short description of what the Wizard of Oz was. I know that now people are into Wicked, but for many years, I didn't know the story. Of course, it should appear early in this document. ChatGPT Generated: The Wizard’s supposed magic is an illusion sustained by spectacle and belief. His authority depends not on real power, but on people’s willingness to accept appearances without questioning them. When the curtain is pulled back, we learn that power can be constructed--and that fear and reverence often rest on performance rather than substance.
-
 \section{Chapter Summary}
 
 This chapter has established the technical and methodological context for this thesis. Existing WoZ platforms fall into two categories: general-purpose tools like Polonius and OpenWoZ that offer flexibility but high technical barriers, and platform-specific systems like WoZ4U and Choregraphe that prioritize usability at the cost of cross-platform generality. Recent approaches such as VR-based frameworks attempt to bridge this gap, yet to the best of my knowledge, no existing tool successfully combines accessibility, flexibility, and embedded methodological rigor. Based on this landscape analysis, I identified six critical requirements for modern WoZ infrastructure (R1-R6): integrated workflows, low technical barriers, real-time control across platforms, automated logging, platform-agnostic design, and collaborative support. These requirements form the foundation for evaluating how the proposed framework advances the state of WoZ research infrastructure. The next chapter examines the broader reproducibility challenges that justify why these requirements are essential.