Lightweight and static verification of UML executable models

Executable models play a key role in many software development methods by facilitating the (semi)automatic implementation/execution of the software system under development. This is possible because executable models promote a complete and fine-grained specification of the system behaviour. In this context, where models are the basis of the whole development process, the quality of the models has a high impact on the final quality of software systems derived from them. Therefore, the existence of methods to verify the correctness of executable models is crucial. Otherwise, the quality of the executable models (and in turn the quality of the final system generated from them) will be compromised. In this paper a lightweight and static verification method to assess the correctness of executable models is proposed. This method allows us to check whether the operations defined as part of the behavioural model are able to be executed without breaking the integrity of the structural model and returns a meaningful feedback that helps repairing the detected inconsistencies.     

The quest for appropriate models of human-likeness: anthropomorphism in media equation research

Nass’ and Reeves’ media equation paradigm within human–computer interaction (HCI) challenges long-held assumptions about how users approach computers. Given a rudimentary set of cues present in the system’s design, users are said to unconsciously treat computers as genuine interactants—extending rules of politeness, biases and human interactive conventions to machines. Since the results have wide-ranging implications for HCI research methods, interface design and user experiences, researchers are hard-pressed to experimentally verify the paradigm. This paper focuses on the methodology of attributing the necessary social cues to the agent, a core aspect of the experimental design of studies dealing with the media equation. A typology of experimental anthropomorphisms is developed, allowing an assessment of how the differing axiomatic assumptions affect the relevance of the results for an evaluation of the paradigm. The paper concludes with a series of arguments in favour of one particular anthropomorphism type for researching the media equation.     

RSF: a formalism for executable requirement specifications

RSF is a formalism for specifying and prototyping systems with time constraints. Specifications are given via a set of transition rules. The application of a transition rule is dependent upon certain events. The occurrence times of the events and the data associated with them must satisfy given properties. As a consequence of the application of a rule, some events are generated and others are scheduled to occur in the future, after given intervals of time. Specifications can be queried, and the computation of answers to queries provides a generalized form of rapid prototyping. Executability is obtained by mapping the RSF rules into logic programming. The rationale, a definition of the formalism, the execution techniques which support the general notion of rapid prototyping and a few examples of its use are presented     

An infrastructure software perspective toward computation offloading between executable specifications and foundation models

<正>Foundation models(FMs) [1] have revolutionized software development and become the core components of large software systems. This paradigm shift, however, demands fundamental re-imagining of software engineering theories and methodologies [2]. Instead of replacing existing software modules implemented by symbolic logic, incorporating FMs' capabilities to build software systems requires entirely new modules that leverage the unique capabilities of FMs.Specifically, while FMs excel at handling uncertainty, recognizing patterns, and processing unstructured data, we need new engineering theories that support the paradigm shift from explicitly programming and maintaining user-defined symbolic logic to creating rich, expressive requirements that FMs can accurately perceive and implement.     

Consciousness and complexity: The cognitive quest

Some implications of the view that the mind is a suitably complex kind of process are investigated in various contexts. The underlying theme is that the behavior of complex systems cannot be adequately judged by that of simple systems. I first present a personal exploration of the mechanistic account of the mind in terms of non-technical considerations; then I present and criticize some ideas of Kripke, Nagel, and Jackson that challenge the mechanistic view. Next, I turn to a brief synopsis of some of Dennett's recent ideas. Finally, I offer some critical comments on Dennett's views and suggest possible modifications.     

Portability of executable service-oriented processes: metrics and validation

A key promise of process languages based on open standards, such as the Web Services Business Process Execution Language, is the avoidance of vendor lock-in through the portability of processes among runtime environments. Despite the fact that today various runtimes claim to support this language, every runtime implements a different subset, thus hampering portability and locking in their users. It is our intention to improve this situation by enabling the measurement of the portability of executable service-oriented processes. This helps developers to assess their implementations and to decide if it is feasible to invest in the effort of porting a process to another runtime. In this paper, we define several software quality metrics that quantify the degree of portability of an executable, service-oriented process from different viewpoints. When integrated into a development environment, such metrics can help to improve the portability of the outcome. We validate the metrics theoretically with respect to measurement theory and construct validity using two validation frameworks. The validation is complemented with an empirical evaluation of the metrics using a large set of processes coming from several process libraries.     

Information visualization,physicality and intuitive use for tangible user interfaces

In the last two decades,tangible user interfaces(TUIs) have emerged as a new interface type that interlinks the digital and physical worlds.TUIs show a potential to enhance the way in which people interact with digital information.First,this paper examines the existing body of work on tangible user interfaces and discusses their application domains,especially information visualization.Then it provides a definition of intuitive use and reviews formerly separated ideas on physicality.As interaction has an impact on the overall product experience,we also discuss whether intuitive use influences the users’ aesthetic judgements of such products.     

The quest for a Quantum Neural Network

With the overwhelming success in the field of quantum information in the last decades, the ‘quest’ for a Quantum Neural Network (QNN) model began in order to combine quantum computing with the striking properties of neural computing. This article presents a systematic approach to QNN research, which so far consists of a conglomeration of ideas and proposals. Concentrating on Hopfield-type networks and the task of associative memory, it outlines the challenge of combining the nonlinear, dissipative dynamics of neural computing and the linear, unitary dynamics of quantum computing. It establishes requirements for a meaningful QNN and reviews existing literature against these requirements. It is found that none of the proposals for a potential QNN model fully exploits both the advantages of quantum physics and computing in neural networks. An outlook on possible ways forward is given, emphasizing the idea of Open Quantum Neural Networks based on dissipative quantum computing.     

Fast and intuitive metamorphosis of 3D polyhedral models using SMCC mesh merging scheme

A very fast and intuitive approach to generate the metamorphosis of two genus 0 3D polyhedral models is presented. There are two levels of correspondence specified by animators to control morphs. The higher level requires the animators to specify scatter features to decompose the input models into several corresponding patches. The lower level optionally allows the animators to specify extra features on each corresponding patch for finer correspondence control. Once these two levels of correspondence are established, the proposed schemes automatically and efficiently establish a complete one-to-one correspondence between two models. We propose a novel technique called SMCC (Structures of Minimal Contour Coverage) to efficiently and robustly merge corresponding embeddings. The SMCC scheme can compute merging in linear time. The performance of the proposed methods is comparable to or better than state-of-the-art 3D polyhedral metamorphosis. We demonstrate several examples of aesthetically pleasing morphs, which can be created very quickly and intuitively.     

可执行代码简化中间表示的设计与实现

为了保证可执行代码分析的简洁性和严密性,设计并实现了一种简化汇编语言中间表示(SAIR).根据汇编指令的特点,给出SAIR的语法并详细描述了SAIR的结构化操作语义.对汇编指令进行分类,设计了中间语言翻译字典以建立汇编指令与SAIR的映射关系.通过中间语言翻译字典实现反汇编代码向SAIR的转化,得到SAIR.最后,给出汇编代码转化SAIR的实例.实验结果表明,设计并实现的SAIR可读性强,易于理解,可有效地提高可执行代码的分析效率.     

-: an executable specification language for solving all problems in NP

In this paper a logic-based specification language, called -, is presented. The language is obtained by extending through allowing a limited use of some second-order predicates of predefined form. - programs specify solutions to problems in a very abstract and concise way, and are executable. In the present prototype they are compiled to code, which is run to construct outputs. Second-order predicates of suitable form allow to limit the size of search spaces in order to obtain reasonably efficient construction of problem solutions. - expressive power is precisely characterized as to express exactly the problems in the class NP. The specification of several combinatorial problems in - is shown, and the efficiency of the generated programs is evaluated.     

Meta-environment and executable meta-language using smalltalk: an experience report

Object-oriented modelling languages such as EMOF are often used to specify domain specific meta-models. However, these modelling languages lack the ability to describe behavior or operational semantics. Several approaches have used a subset of Java mixed with OCL as executable meta-languages. In this experience report we show how we use Smalltalk as an executable meta-language in the context of the Moose reengineering environment. We present how we implemented EMOF and its behavioral aspects. Over the last decade we validated this approach through incrementally building a meta-described reengineering environment. Such an approach bridges the gap between a code-oriented view and a meta-model driven one. It avoids the creation of yet another language and reuses the infrastructure and run-time of the underlying implementation language. It offers an uniform way of letting developers focus on their tasks while at the same time allowing them to meta-describe their domain model. The advantage of our approach is that developers use the same tools and environment they use for their regular tasks. Still the approach is not Smalltalk specific but can be applied to language offering an introspective API such as Ruby, Python, CLOS, Java and C#.

Designing emotional, metaphoric, natural and intuitive interfaces for interactive art, edutainment and mobile communications

We are artists working since 1991 on the creation of interactive computer installations for which we design metaphoric, emotional, natural, intuitive and multi-modal interfaces. The interactive experiences we create are situated between art, design, entertainment and edutainment. When creating our interactive systems we often develop novel interface technologies that match conceptual and metaphoric content with technically novel interface solutions. While our main focus is to design interactive systems for the art context, our interactive or immersive systems also often find use in edutainment and in mobile communications areas. The following article summarizes some of our key concepts for our interface designs and presents some of our interactive technologies in more detail.     

Tagging municipality FAQs: a quest for interoperability

All organisations must be able to answer questions from their respective constituencies. It is not an exaggeration to say that, in this respect, it is a challenge to handle the extremely broad action platform of local government administrations (municipalities). The present paper is a walk-through of questions from the citizens that are managed at Botkyrka municipality, Sweden. It is focussed on the use of an ‘intelligent’ citizen assistant.     

Pace-sync shoes: intuitive walking-pace guidance based on cyclic vibro-tactile stimulation for the foot

We propose a walking guidance method with a sandal-shaped vibration interface and describe two experiments we performed to formulate the design principles of the interface. In the interface, a vibrating motor presents timing information to the foot, and pressure sensors measure walking pace. Our method is a combination of the walking-state monitoring and vibro-tactile feedback to maintain or promote a walking pace. Vibration stimuli with a constant presentation interval are alternately and repeatedly given to the right or left foot of the user according to the measured walking pace, and then the walking pace gradually conforms to the presented interval of the vibration. In the experiments, we specified the effective timing and intervals of the vibration stimuli for efficient inductance of walking pace. The method is applicable for training and coaching in sports and rehabilitation in health care.