Computers are from Mars, organisms are from Venus

Biology and computer science share a natural affinity. Physicist Erwin Schrodinger envisioned life as an aperiodic crystal, observing that the organizing structure of life is neither completely regular, like a pure crystal, nor completely chaotic and without structure, like dust in the wind. Perhaps this is why biological information has never satisfactorily yielded to classical mathematical analysis. Machine computations combine elegant algorithms with brute-force calculations, which seems a reasonable approach to this aperiodic structure. Likewise, computing seeks to create a machine that can flexibly solve diverse problems. In nature, such plastic problem solving resides uniquely in the domain of organic matter. Thus, examining how organisms solve problems can lead to new computation and algorithm development approaches that devour the problems that are so easy to approach using a computer, yet so difficult to tackle in the laboratory. The paper discusses the two most successful uses of computers in biology, comparative sequence analysis and in silico cloning. It considers DNA computing and genetic algorithms     

算法工程的思想、方法与工具——以SAT算法为研究实例

The recently emerging idea of Algorithm Engineering in the community of Computer Science is about how to engineer computer algorithms by integrating the design, analysis, implementation, experimental testing, refine-ment, etc. of them, aiming at improving their runtime performance.In this paper, we try to develop the main idea of the theory and methodology of algorithm engineering, and givean introduction to some useful tools. In order to concretize our discussion and illustrate the effectiveness of algorithm engineering, we will base our study on the engineering of SAT algorithms. According to the rules and methodologies of algorithm engineering we have learned, we implement a simple but efficient SAT solver, Quick SAT, as a testbed.Although we haven‘t utilized most of the advanced techniques used in modern SAT solvers, the result of experimental comparison shows that Quick SAT is close in performance to zChaff, one of the leading SAT solvers in the world to-day.     

高校非计算机专业《大学计算机基础》的教学探讨

《大学计算机基础》作为非计算机专业学生掌握计算机理论知识、培养实践操作能力的一门工具性必修课程,已经成为学生掌握计算机工具、获取计算机知识的重要渠道。在计算机技术飞速发展、社会对学生计算机能力要求不断提高的今天,如何能够提高《大学计算机基础》教学的效果,使其更好地服务于社会,对学生计算机知识和技能的要求,已经成为一项需要研究的课题。从教学思想、教学内容、教学方法等方面探讨如何提高该课程的教学效果。     

Expert or assistant: Supporting power engineers in the management of electricity distribution

A case study is presented of the development of computer-based support tools for power engineers in the electricity supply industry. The objective was to develop an expert system to support witching schedule production. A user-centred approach was followed which led the user community to conclude that a switching schedule production assistant (SSPA) was required which would leave control with the power engineer. Prototype systems were developed and evaluated in user trials which revealed that a significant and more general purpose tool would be a computer generated electricity network display that the engineers could manipulate. The paper concludes that the process of enabling users to evaluate alternative forms of technology can facilitate the development systems that are useful, acceptable and usable.     

Metrics for evaluating human information interaction systems

Society today has a wealth of information available due to information technology. The challenge facing researchers working in information access is how to help users easily locate the information needed. Evaluation methodologies and metrics are important tools to assess progress in human information interaction (HII). To properly evaluate these systems, evaluations need to consider the performance of the various components, the usability of the system, and the impact of the system on the end user. Current usability metrics are adequate for evaluating the efficiency, effectiveness, and user satisfaction of such systems. Performance measures for new intelligent technologies will have to be developed. Regardless of how well the systems are and how usable the systems are, it is critical that impact measures are developed. For HII systems to be useful, we need to assess how well information analysts work with the systems. This evaluation needs to go beyond technical performance metrics and usability metrics. What are the metrics for evaluating utility? This paper describes research efforts focused on developing metrics for the intelligence community that measure the impact of new software to facilitate information interaction.     

Proactive Fuzzy Control and Adaptation Methods for Smart Homes

Proactive, context-aware computing isn't new. In 2000, David Tennenhouse called for a change in the boundary between the physical and virtual worlds. He identified proactive computing as an alternative to interactive computing and defined how future systems should become more involved with the real world. He also considered context-aware control systems with online adaptation especially promising. Today, ambient-intelligence researchers show increasing interest in both proactive applications and context-aware applications. Using different context-recognition methods, researchers can easily gather application-specific information from the environment and enable context-triggered actions. According to Hee Eon Byun and Keith Cheverst, a context-aware home can serve its inhabitants more flexibly and adaptively than an ordinary home. They also claim that proactive systems can be built using machine-learning algorithms with context recognition. In addition to context recognition, adaptivity is essential in intelligent environments. In terms of computing systems, the environment can adjust itself using adaptation mechanisms to comply with user preferences; it can become unobtrusive and better support user activities. A home adapting to its inhabitants' living style is much more convenient than a user adapting to the home's behavior. In this article, we show how to develop a proactive, adaptive, fuzzy home-control system, present the algorithm we used for adaptation, and evaluate the test results we obtained.     

量子算法模拟系统研究现状

The Quantum Computer has immense power,exceeds the capabilities of a classical computer,but the hardware of such machine is still in research. If we want to develop quantum algorithms,wemust simulate them on classical computer. In this paper ,we first introduce the principle and model usedin quantum computing,and compare the simulators in tile world. At last ,based on the problems in simu-lation,we give a new architecture of quantum algorithm simulator.     

A network multi-processor for experiments in parallelism

Although both shared memory and loosely coupled parallel computing systems are now common, many still do not offer an easy way to design, implement, and test parallel algorithms. Our system provides software tools that make possible a variety of connection structures between processes. These structures are said to form a 'Network Multi-Processor', which is implemented on a local area network of heterogeneous UNIX-based timesharing computers, plus a set of processor boards dedicated to an application so that accurate timing measurements can be made. We explain how these tools have been used both to aid parallel algorithm development and to explore the properties of different computer interconnection methods.     

Next-generation wearable networks

Increased research in microelectronics, wireless communications, and human-computer interaction, particularly augmented-reality applications, has made a symbiotic system technically feasible. Wearable computing, or wearware, focuses on making this technology useful in everyday life, particularly for integrating contextual data with the Internet to automate mundane tasks. The availability of portable, energy-efficient computing devices that can be easily integrated with clothing has renewed interest in the possibilities of wearware. The notion of a wearable network of interactive devices aiding users in their day-to-day activities is extremely appealing, but for it to become a reality researchers must develop interesting and useful applications. Consumers are not interested in the technology per se but in how it could enrich their lives.     

An integrated environment for teaching computer architecture

A major problem in teaching computer architecture and organization courses is how to help students make the cognitive leap that connects their theoretical knowledge with practical experience. Numerous researchers involved in computer architecture and organization education have tackled this problem, resulting in a variety of educational tools for computer system simulation. The tools differ greatly in scope, target architecture complexity, simulation level, and user interface. The available educational systems vary in how they handle digital system simulation. They usually offer tools for creating hardware component libraries, viewing simulation results, and conducting statistical analysis of system performance. Available systems range from sophisticated ones, for complex analysis, to simpler ones that are more readily understood by users, both instructors and students. Beyond system simulation, an educational system should support three key objectives. First, it must cover an extensive range of computer architecture and organization topics. Second, it should graphically depict a computer system, from the block level to the register-transfer level. Third, it must provide the means to follow system functions at the program, instruction, and clock cycle levels     

一种基于局部信息的社区发现方法

针对复杂网络中难以发现小社区的问题,在CNM算法的基础上,提出一种利用局部信息进行社区挖掘的方法。定义节点的强度及节点对社区的贡献,改进模块度使该方法能适用于带权网络。利用社区局部信息得到小社区集合,将小社区集合作为CNM算法的输入,计算小社区间的模块度增量,凝聚模块度增量小的小社区,并得到最终结果。实验结果表明,该方法具有较高的社区模块度和算法执行 效率。     

Information fusion in the immune system

Biologically-inspired methods such as evolutionary algorithms and neural networks are proving useful in the field of information fusion. Artificial immune systems (AISs) are a biologically-inspired approach which take inspiration from the biological immune system. Interestingly, recent research has shown how AISs which use multi-level information sources as input data can be used to build effective algorithms for realtime computer intrusion detection. This research is based on biological information fusion mechanisms used by the human immune system and as such might be of interest to the information fusion community. The aim of this paper is to present a summary of some of the biological information fusion mechanisms seen in the human immune system, and of how these mechanisms have been implemented as AISs.     

A transatlantic research and development environment [3D virtualgraphics]

Distributed 3D virtual environments can help researchers conduct experiments globally with remotely located participants. We discuss challenges and opportunities for the shared work environment. Our world is entering an age where our current understanding of telecommunications and graphics computing is constantly challenged. With the availability of global information highways, 3D graphical intercontinental collaboration will become a part of our daily work routine. Already, world class auto makers are attempting to reduce car development time to two-year cycles, enlisting global engineering teams. However, this process requires new tools such as shared 3D CAD and distributed product data management systems. The Fraunhofer Center for Research in Computer Graphics (CRCG) in the United States and the Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics (IGD) in Germany, are looking ahead into this new age by establishing a transcontinental computer graphics research effort and a proposed G-7 testbed. We are studying how 3D computer graphics and virtual environments can aid global collaborative work. We have focused our research efforts on determining how computer networks can transform the distributed workplace into a shared environment, allowing real time interaction among people and processes without regard to their location     

实时系统中的非定期任务调度算法综述

非定期任务调度是实时系统中的一个重要研究内容，综述了实时系统中非定期任务调度算法的研究与进展，按照这些算法的特征分为基于服务器的算法与基于空闲时间的算法两大类别，并着重对每个类别中的不同算法的特征与性能进行了分析，通过对这些算法的比较与分析，希望为实时系统的研究与开发者提供有意义的参考，最后还给出了非定期任务调度进一步研究的思路与建议。     

SAT-Solving in Practice, with a Tutorial Example from Supervisory Control

Satisfiability solving, the problem of deciding whether the variables of a propositional formula can be assigned in such a way that the formula evaluates to true, is one of the classic problems in computer science. It is of theoretical interest because it is the canonical NP-complete problem. It is of practical interest because modern SAT-solvers can be used to solve many important and practical problems. In this tutorial paper, we show briefly how such SAT-solvers are implemented, and point to some typical applications of them. Our aim is to provide sufficient information (much of it through the reference list) to kick-start researchers from new fields wishing to apply SAT-solvers to their problems. Supervisory control theory originated within the control community and is a framework for reasoning about a plant to be controlled and a specification that the closed-loop system must fulfil. This paper aims to bridge the gap between the computer science community and the control community by illustrating how SAT-based techniques can be used to solve some supervisory control related problems.     

Internet (WWW) based system of ultrasonic image processing tools for remote image analysis

Ultrasonic Doppler color imaging can provide anatomic information and simultaneously render flow information within blood vessels for diagnostic purpose. Many researchers are currently developing ultrasound image processing algorithms in order to provide physicians with accurate clinical parameters from the images. Because researchers use a variety of computer languages and work on different computer platforms to implement their algorithms, it is difficult for other researchers and physicians to access those programs. A system has been developed using World Wide Web (WWW) technologies and HTTP communication protocols to publish our ultrasonic Angle Independent Doppler Color Image (AIDCI) processing algorithm and several general measurement tools on the Internet, where authorized researchers and physicians can easily access the program using web browsers to carry out remote analysis of their local ultrasonic images or images provided from the database. In order to overcome potential incompatibility between programs and users' computer platforms, ActiveX technology was used in this project. The technique developed may also be used for other research fields.     

时间依赖的网络中最小时间路径算法

时间依赖的网络与传统网络模型相比更具有现实意义，具有广泛的应用领域，交通网络和通信网络可以抽象为时间依赖的网络模型，当模型中弧的工度是时间依赖的变量，最短路径问题的求解变得非常困难，早期的研究者通过具体的网络实例认识到传统最短路径算法在这种情况下是不正确的，因此给出限制性条件使得传统最短路径算法是有效的。该文从最短路径算法的理论基础入手，从理论上证明了传统最短路径算法，如Dijkstra算法和标号设置算法，在时间依赖的网络上不能有效地求解最短路径问题，并且，在没有任何限制性条件下，给出了时间依赖的网络模型，理论基础，求解最小时间路径的优化条件和SPTDN算法，从理论上证明了SPTDN算法的正确性，算法的实验结果是正确的，最后给出了时间依赖的网络应用实例。     

Unlocking human potential through technical innovation.

Future innovations in computing technologies are just as likely to be driven by the outside demands for these technologies than by improvements driven from within the computer science community. In this regard, I define "computing" as the union of concerns including traditional computer science (such as systems, architecture, networking), human-computer interaction (HCI), graphics and animation, robotics, and theoretical foundations across the board. Alongside the formation of the College of Computing at Georgia Tech 15 years ago, the GVU Center for research was created to study, predict, and design future innovations in computing based on then unseen uses of computing technologies by enterprises not associated with computer science. Many research pundits at the time predicted that innovation would arise only from a technical agenda driven by rapid technology advances while people, evolutionarily speaking, would remain relatively unchanged. On the contrary, GVU's research agenda has evolved rapidly as people's capacity and desire for innovation has been almost without limits. In this article, I reflect on the evolving mission of this interdisciplinary research center, describing GVU's agenda going forward and how this agenda mirrors changes in the computing industry.