Reflections on interdisciplinary team development for the design of a platform for computer supported collaborative play

The Constructed Narratives project has been designed for use in public spaces where there is the opportunity for individuals and groups of people, who are not acquainted with each other, to encounter the game and subsequently each other. The goal is to provide a platform that supports discourse in environments where ‘keeping comfortable distance’ between oneself and others is the norm. The system framework developed for this project can be applied for use in computer supported collaborative learning (CSCL), and collaborative design activities in the tradition of computer supported collaborative work (CSCW). The current domain explored in the Constructed Narratives project is computer systems designed to enable shared experience through play, or computer supported collaborative play (CSCP). This paper examines the learner-centred design methodologies used for the development of the physical artifacts and underlying software and hardware system architecture for the Constructed Narratives project. The design methodology demonstrates how an interdisciplinary team of artists, designers, and technologists can exploit the opportunities inherent in this ‘symmetry of ignorance’ to find solutions for multiple wicked design problems that can arise during the development of an integrated software and hardware system.     

基于高可靠性的经济型工控系统

在一些工程领域,安全可靠是超过效率的重要考虑因素,因此对计算机控制系统的可靠性与安全性要求很高.针对这种情况,在硬件设计中,采用单一微机一级分布控制方式的双机热备系统;相应的软件编程,采用多线程的编程方法.并从软硬件两方面介绍了双机热备切换控制的设计原理.     

A function-to-task process model for adaptive automation system design

Adaptive automation systems allow the user to complete a task seamlessly with a computer performing tasks at which the human operator struggles. Unlike traditional systems that allocate functions to either the human or the machine, adaptive automation varies the allocation of functions during system operation. Creating these systems requires designers to consider issues not present during static system development. To assist in adaptive automation system design, this paper presents the concept of inherent tasks and takes advantage of this concept to create the function-to-task design process model. This process model helps the designer determine how to allocate functions to the human, machine, or dynamically between the two. An illustration of the process demonstrates the potential complexity within adaptive automation systems and how the process model aids in understanding this complexity during early stage design.     

某通讯监控系统可靠性分配与验证

本文在探讨各种软件可靠性分析方法的基础上,利用基于软件复杂性因子的分配方法对某通讯监控系统进行了可靠性指标分配与验证,详细介绍了特定系统可靠性分配的一般分析方法与其实现过程,其它类似系统亦可参照使用。     

基于Python的sigmoid函数FPGA实现

sigmoid函数是人工神经网络中通常采用的传递函数,采用基于Python的软硬件协同设计方法,在FPGA上实现了定点sigmoid函数。实验结果表明采用基于Python的软硬件协同设计方法,可以利用Python上大量的包和模块从而大幅度提高系统设计、仿真和校验的效率,并且能将软件算法快速有效地转换为硬件实现,在整个软硬件设计过程中仅采用Python语言,解决了当前系统设计中软硬件设计者分别采用不同设计语言存在的沟通问题。     

Distributed manufacturing control with extended CNP interaction of intelligent products

This paper describes two heterarchical architectures which use distributed intelligence for the control (operation scheduling, resource allocation and product routing) of a manufacturing cell. In these architectures intelligence is put respectively at the product and through the network of workstation computers. The cost of embedded specialized hardware required for the first option is still very high. The second option needs the utilization of Automatic Identification and Data Capture technology close to the product to permit its identification and tracking by the computer system. These technologies enable the automated identification of objects, the collection of data about them, and the storage of that data directly into computer systems. Through this network, the computer system can access or update information in databases about the products and connect with software agents that represent production orders and resources and take in common decisions through negotiation and contract-based rules. The theory of the proposed solutions is based on the holonic manufacturing and product-driven automation concepts. The implementation methodology along with experimental results is presented, emphasizing the advantages of each solution.     

Hot chips and soggy software

The author discusses the bottlenecks that impair performance of a computer system and discusses the success of the RISC (reduced-instruction-set computer) approach. He attributes it, at least in part, to the fact that all the seminal work on the RISC chips was carried out in close conjunction with a strong compiler team. He discusses issues that designers of computer systems must consider and examines trends that will affect the optimum design points for future systems. The author then addresses what he refers to as `soggy software', i.e. the slow pace of progress in software development as compared to hardware, identifying standardization and reuse as necessary components of any solution to the problem     

A structured methodology for comparative evaluation of user interface designs using usability criteria and measures

Previous research in software ergonomics has indicated the importance of evaluating the usability of computer user interfaces. This paper presents a quantitative basis for selecting from among multiple alternative interfaces relative to multiple criteria of usability concern. The proposed model consists of two main phases: the prescreening phase and the evaluation phase. The prescreening phase involves expert judgment-based assessment with qualitative criteria. The first phase uses absolute measurement analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to filter possible alternative interfaces to a reasonable subset. The evaluation phase involves user-based assessment such as user testing, with quantitative criteria. The objective of the second phase is to evaluate a subset of alternatives using objective measures and to select the best alternative. A set of criteria and measures for evaluating the usability of computer software designs is presented. The proposed methodology is demonstrated in the interface design of a database system used to analyze trip cases information of nuclear power plant.Relevance to industry

There is currently a focus on the usability of interactive computer software. Software developers, interface designers or human factors engineers often confront the task of comparative evaluation among systems, versions or interface designs. The proposed methodology provides practitioners with a structured approach to select the best interface based on usability criteria and measures.     

Adaptation algorithm for improvement of effectiveness of distributed computer systems

The adaptation of distributed computer systems to changes in their parameters is investigated. The concept of adaptation is based on the correspondence between the control algorithm and the operating system task allocation algorithm on the one hand and the controlled process parameters and those of the distributed computer system hardware and the load on the other. The adaptation to changing parameters and its optimization may be obtained by using the task allocation algorithm. This algorithm, like optimization control programs in multilayer computer control systems, should be activated in discrete moments of time. The problem of trade-off between the cost (overhead) of allocation algorithm computation and the improvement of system effectiveness is discussed. Examples point out the feasibility of this approach.     

一种可靠的微机实时监控系统

主要探讨一种用于工业流水生产线的实时微机监控系统的硬件结构和软件的设计方法。在合成纤维生产计算机控制系统中,采用集散计算机控制系统结构,将管理功能与控制功能分开,上位机管理软件采用结构化设计方法,使用Visual Basic语言编程,具有操作方便,易于维护、全新界面和功能强等特点。     

Codesign from cospecification

Describes an object-oriented codesign specification approach designed to eliminate the bias introduced from using more commonplace software or hardware specification languages. The goal is to investigate automated partitioning of behavior into hardware and software. The design methodology allows gradual, continuous repartitioning of codesign operations during design. For instance, designers might start with an all-software implementation and check the implementation's functionality: they might then refine the implementation over time to a mixed hardware-software implementation. At the system level, the authors use an object-oriented approach to identify the basic objects and associated functions of a system. They divide them into three groups: hardware, software, and codesign . They represent the codesign group's objects and functions using a prototype codesign specification language, Object-Oriented Functional Specifications (OOFS), which lets one describe system state in objects and write object methods as pure functions. Thus, the authors can describe complex systems without biasing the implementation toward hardware or software     

软件程序模拟执行系统的智能化应用

软件是计算机主要构成之一,软件系统功能决定着整个计算机的操作性能,也是用户完成指令任务的主要操作工具。本文根据计算机智能化改造背景,总结了软件程序运行存在的问题,分析了软件模拟执行系统的智能化应用方法。     

Software protection: security's last stand?

Given that application software protection is necessary, what form and function should it take? There are three principal forms of protection: watermarking, obfuscation, and application performance degradation. These techniques perform three main functions: detection of attempts to pirate, misuse, or tamper with software, protection of software against those attempts, and alteration of the software to ensure that its functionality degrades in an undetectable manner if protection fails. These defenses are required on hardware ranging from single processors to small computer clusters to traditional supercomputers to wide-area distributed computing.     

Stochastic allocation and scheduling for conditional task graphs in multi-processor systems-on-chip

Embedded systems designers are turning to multicore architectures to satisfy the ever-growing computational needs of applications within a reasonable power envelope. One of the most daunting challenges for MultiProcessor System-on-Chip (MPSoC) platforms is the development of tools for efficient mapping multi-task applications onto hardware platforms. Software mapping can be formulated as an optimal allocation and scheduling problem, where the application is modeled as a task graph, the target hardware is modeled as a set of heterogeneous resources, and the objective function represents a design goal α (e.g. minimum execution time, minimum usage of communication resources, etc.). Conditional task graphs, where inter-task edges represent data as well as control dependencies, are a well-known computational model to describe complex real-life applications where alternative execution paths, guarded by conditionals, can be specified. Each condition has a probability associated with each possible outcome.     

Higher Order Software—A Methodology for Defining Software

The key to software reliability is to design, develop, and manage software with a formalized methodology which can be used by computer scientists and applications engineers to describe and communicate interfaces between systems. These interfaces include: software to software; software to other systems; software to management; as well as discipline to discipline within the complete software development process. The formal methodology of Higher Order Software (HOS), specifically aimed toward large-scale multiprogrammed/multiprocessor systems, is dedicated to systems reliability. With six axioms as the basis, a given system and all of its interfaces is defined as if it were one complete and consistent computable system. Some of the derived theorems provide for: reconfiguration of real-time multiprogrammed processes, communication between functions, and prevention of data and timing conflicts.     

神经元计算机操作系统的资源分配方法

神经形态计算硬件是专为运行脉冲神经网络（spiking neural network, SNN）应用而设计的专用计算机系统. 随着硬件资源规模的增大,神经元计算机能够支持更多数量的SNN应用并发运行,如何有效地为SNN应用分配神经形态计算硬件资源变得极具挑战性. 首先提出一种神经元计算机操作系统的资源分配框架,在加载SNN应用到神经形态计算硬件时分配硬件资源以及建立对应的输入输出路由,实现了资源分配过程与编译器间的解耦. 其次,创新性地引入了最大空矩形（maximum empty rectangle, MER）算法来处理神经形态计算硬件资源的动态分配问题;针对SNN应用的脉冲输入输出特性,提出了一种最小化脉冲输入输出通信代价的资源分配算法,旨在降低脉冲输入输出能耗、延迟和资源碎片. 实验结果显示,所提算法比现有算法表现出较好的性能,其中脉冲输入输出平均延迟最高降低了81%,碎片率降低了92%.

     

Computer system development with standardization

Opportunity for computer development among developing and small, developed countries has been limited so far. Recent trends in the standardization of both hardware and software components make computer development feasible among these countries, too. The driving force is the microelectronics revolution led by current microprocessors and their large software assets. Now computer development can be highly modularized. This paper attempts to establish a modularized development methodology using standardization. Basic building blocks are described and a case study on a Computer National Project in the Republic of Korea is included in this paper.     

Modular Design of Real-Time Systems Using Hierarchical Communicating Real-time State Machines

This paper proposes a methodology for the development of distributed real-time systems. The methodology consists of the Hierarchical Communicating Real-Time State Machines (H-CRSM) modelling language, and the Violin toolset. H-CRSM combines Statecharts constructs with CSP-like timed communications. Violin provides a visual environment supporting in a seamless way all the life-cycle development phases of an H-CRSM system. Temporal validation rests on assertion checking during system simulation. Code generation is based on Java and a customizable runtime. The practical use of H-CRSM/Violin is shown by an example. A preliminary version of this paper appears in Proc. of Joint Modular Languages Conference (JMLC'2003), Klagenfurt, Austria, August 2003, LNCS 2789, Springer, pp. 110–121. Angelo Furfaro, Phd, is a computer science assistant professor at Unical, DEIS, teaching object-oriented programming. His research interests include: multiagent systems, Petri nets, parallel simulation, verification of time-dependent systems, distributed measurement systems. He is a member of ACM. Libero Nigro is a full professor of computer science at Unical, DEIS, where he teaches object-oriented programming, software engineering and real-time systems courses. He is the responsible of Software Engineering Laboratory (www.lis.deis.unical.it). His current research interests include: software engineering of time-dependent and distributed systems, real-time systems, Petri nets, modeling and parallel simulation of complex systems, distributed measurement systems. Prof. Nigro is a member of ACM and IEEE. Francesco Pupo, Phd, is a computer science assistant professor at Unical, DEIS, teaching introductory programming and computer architecture courses. His research interests include: Petri nets, discrete-event simulation, real-time systems, distributed measurement systems.