Architecture for management and fusion of context information

Information in a context-aware system has diverse natures. Raw data coming from sensors are aggregated and filtered to create more abstract information, which can be processed by context-aware application components to decide what actions should be performed. This process involves several activities: finding the available sources of information and their types, gathering the data from these sources, facilitating the fusion (aggregation and interpretation) of the different pieces of data, and updating the representation of the context to be used by applications. The reverse path also appears in context-aware systems, from changes in the context representation to trigger actions in certain actuators. FAERIE (Framework for AmI: Extensible Resources for Intelligent Environments) is a framework that facilitates management and fusion of context information at different levels. It is implemented as a distributed blackboard model. Each node of the system has a private blackboard to manage pieces of information that can be accessed by observer components, either locally or remotely (from other nodes) in a transparent way. The use of the framework is illustrated with a case study of an application for guiding people to meetings in a university building.     

The impact of tablecloth on consumers’ food perception in real-life eating situation

It has been known that contextual factors, such as atmospherics, can influence consumers’ perception of food and the overall consumption experience. This study aimed to investigate the influence of table linen on food perception. A total of 247 participants were provided meals with different table linens, either fabric or paper linen, in a real restaurant setting. The results demonstrated a fabric table linen contributed to a significant higher preference of the appetiser, first course consumed upon arrival, and of the meal quality in general. The fabric linen had no significant impact on the liking of the main dish and dessert, which were preferred similarly to that of paper table linen. However, a better service, ambiance and overall experience at the restaurant were attributed to the fabric table linen. Regarding the meal environmental elements, three quarters of the participants considered the table linen as an important element when they were eating at the restaurant. These results therefore demonstrate the importance of the table linen on consumers’ perception of food.     

Self-adaptation of mobile systems driven by the Common Variability Language

The execution context in which pervasive systems or mobile computing run changes continually. Hence, applications for these systems require support for self-adaptation to the continual context changes. Most of the approaches for self-adaptive systems implement a reconfiguration service that receives as input the list of all possible configurations and the plans to switch between them. In this paper we present an alternative approach for the automatic generation of application configurations and the reconfiguration plans at runtime. With our approach, the generated configurations are optimal as regards different criteria, such as functionality or resource consumption (e.g. battery or memory). This is achieved by: (1) modelling architectural variability at design-time using the Common Variability Language (CVL), and (2) using a genetic algorithm that finds nearly-optimal configurations at run-time using the information provided by the variability model. We also specify a case study and we use it to evaluate our approach, showing that it is efficient and suitable for devices with scarce resources.     

A method to infer the need to update situations in business process adaptation

Contextual knowledge is an essential resource for adapting business processes in order to keep them aligned with its goals. A context-based adaptation environment should learn from the dynamism of the context as well as the decisions made, and continuously identify new unforeseen situations. Data mining is a possibility to maintain the analysis of the processes updated. This paper presents a method that infers the need to learn new situations that influence a business process execution. The method is based on the results of the Apriori algorithm application. Case studies were conducted to evaluate the proposal. We observed evidences of context changes over time and the potential to learn with this dynamics through the method proposed.     

Sensory acceptability and personality traits both determine which contexts are preferred for consumption of alcoholic cocktails

Alcoholic cocktails are consumed in very different situations and then consumers may differ in their favorite context to drink a cocktail. Diversity in the preferred context of cocktail consumption may reflect individual differences in taste responsiveness and personality traits as well as cocktail liking. This study aims at: 1) extending the efficacy of a coupled semiotic and statistical methodology for text analysis in uncovering aspects of preferred contexts of cocktail consumption; 2) testing if specific preferred contexts of cocktail consumption are related to individual differences; 3) investigating the relationships between preferred context to have cocktails and patterns of liking for cocktails. 159 cocktails consumers were characterized by personality traits, cocktail involvement, alcoholic beverages intake and PROP taster status and were asked to describe their preferred context to consume an alcoholic cocktail. Consumers were then asked to taste in blind conditions and rate their liking of six alcoholic aperitif cocktails. Three thematic clusters were identified (relax, sociability, aperitif). The relax lovers preferred a comforting context to have a cocktail; these consumers expressed a lower liking for the six evaluated samples than aperitif lovers but resulted more involved with cocktails as compared to the cluster sociability. This latter group of consumers focused on social aspects and novelty; they reported a higher intake of spirits than the cluster aperitif and showed higher scores in sensation seeking and disinhibition than the other clusters. The cluster aperitif described their favorite context as a “before dinner” situation; they were more involved with cocktails than the sociability cluster. Finally, the three clusters did not differ in PROP taster status distribution. The approach has proven to be useful to collect information and to segment consumers on the preferred aspects of cocktail experience. The study showed that consumer clusters with different preferred context for cocktail consumption differ in liking for the cocktails, personality traits, attitudes and alcohol intake.     

The Localization of “Imported” Urban Form in Northeast China: The Case Study on Circular–Radial Space in Dalian City

After the “imported” urban forms, which originated from foreign cultures, were transplanted into Chinese cities, they generate brand-new urbanscape but suffer from a lack of cultural roots and a disconnection with the mainstream of contemporary urban planning. Thus, their current value and potential in urban renewal are questioned. The study takes the circular–radial space from the Baroque cities as an example to clarify the motivation of its import from the west to northeast China. It further clarifies their adaptive changes in form and function in the local urban context, through a case study on Dalian City. The study finds that different geometric patterns of existing circular–radial space were influenced by European, American, and Japanese urban planning theories to varying degrees, but with equal emphasis on symbolism and functionality. Their implementation in Dalian has a continuity in time and space. But due to the changes in topography, traffic, and planning concepts, their forms and functions tend to be independent, their connection weakens, and their importance recedes after the street network. The circular–radial space in Dalian led to distinctive urbanscape. But during their inheritance and transformation, the rationality of new forms and functions, as well as the necessity of continuing the initial ones need to be dialectically considered, so as to avoid dogmatic revival and antique reproduction. Finally, the study reconsiders the concept of “localization” of “imported” urban form, and constructs a general research pattern to provide a new perspective for understanding the transformation of similar types of urban forms.     

现代居住小区文化承传与风格创新——"锦绣江南家园"住宅小区简析

该文从建筑思潮、文化理念入手,全面分析介绍“锦绣江南家园”住宅小区在规划、建筑、景观、室内装饰等方面的特色,突出本小区弘扬民族文化精髓,注重文脉承传,同时,又尊重地域风情,结合现代生活方式进行风格创新的特征。     

中国式住宅项目一览(2002～2005)

文章的目的是通过对2002年至2005 年中国大陆地区主要城市的中式住宅进行拉网式的搜索,寻找在媒体中曝光率较高的代表项目,并进行简要的介绍,抛砖引玉,为有兴趣进行进一步考察的读者提供线索。     

发挥地块特色提升风景价值--常熟亮山工程设计体会

常熟山水古城的选址及布局体现了城市生态的科学理念,其特有的历史文化及经济地位很大程度上与其地理位置有关.亮山工程在恢复城市文化积淀,充分利用其原有的水资源、自然条件及其良好的城市生态位方面做了很好的探索,使其成为城市持续发展的动力.