Designing an interactive modelling environment

A number of desirable characteristics and facilities of interactive modelling systems, designed to assist concept learning, are identified. These are discussed, first in general terms and then with reference to one particular system, the aim of which is to assist students' understanding of fundamental concepts in computer architecture.     

Files in an interactive environment

A well designed file system can significantly simplify the design of and increase the reliability of interactive programs. A summary of the specifications of a convenient file system that is substantially independent of the host operating system and some experiences using the system are described.     

Aesthetic geometry evolution in a generic interactive evolutionary design framework

An interactive evolutionary design framework is presented which provides a testbed for the development and exploration of a range of visual aesthetic design spaces. A commercial 3D digital content development software package is used to leverage the strength of existing 3D algorithm implementations and familiar interfaces and tools. The domain of non-representational 3D forms sculpted with a series of non-linear deformers is discussed as the primary example. Additional simple problem domains are shown which are being developed to serve as examples for non-programmer artists and designers who are familiar with digital content authoring in Maya. These examples will enable such individuals to rapidly construct their own interactive evolution systems. Matthew Lewis, Ph.D.: He is a researcher at The Advanced Computing Center for the Arts and Design (ACCAD) at The Ohio State University, where he received his M.S. (1993) and Ph.D. (2001) degrees in Computer Science. His research interests include evolutionary design, generative art, and data remapping for artistic performance and installation. Keith Ruston: He is a student at The Ohio State University where he has earned his B.S. in Computer Science & Engineering (2003) and is currently pursuing his M.S. His major field of study is graphics and animation. His career goals include working in the animated film industry and/or computer game development.     

Holophrasted displays in an interactive environment

This article presents a general algorithm for prettyprinting and holophrasting interactively created objects. It is shown how an environment with knowledge of the entities it manipulates can automatically produce cathode-ray tube displays with more helpful contextual information for the user than a traditional display of contiguous lines from a source file.     

Demonstration of an interactive multimedia environment

The images in this article tell the story of one user's experience with a virtual reality environment that promotes collaboration and learning     

Top-down design within a functional environment

This paper describes a design tool for use within the INTERLISP1 environment. The design tool, DT, is based upon the design methodology described by the general term, top-down design and is novel in that it attempts to apply this design method to a functional programming environment. Also novel is the method whereby the generation of the design can occur in parallel with the implementation of the design. This allows a design process more in accord with the needs of functional programmers.     

Introducing prototype interactive evolutionary systems for ill-defined,multi-objective design environments

The paper introduces experimental prototype software that represents a number of modules within a proposed interactive evolutionary design system (IEDS). The purpose and structure of each module is briefly described and graphical user interfaces are introduced to illustrate the manner in which the prototypes may be utilised both as stand-alone modules and as linked co-operative elements. Results are presented and discussed in the light of perceived practical potential and mode of utilisation. The system under development specifically aims at the support of decision-making processes during the conceptual stages of multi-disciplinary design where the main characteristics relate to uncertainty, ill-definition and multiple objectives. Although co-evolutionary processes provide a search and exploration core, other deterministic and adaptive processes are introduced to support the requirements of the user. These include linguistic preferences, multi-agent approaches and data extraction techniques.     

Multiobjective evolutionary computation for supersonic wing-shapeoptimization

This paper discusses the design optimization of a wing for supersonic transport (SST) using a multiple-objective genetic algorithm (MOGA). Three objective functions are used to minimize the drag for supersonic cruise, the drag for transonic cruise, and the bending moment at the wing root for supersonic cruise. The wing shape is defined by 66 design variables. A Euler flow code is used to evaluate supersonic performance, and a potential flow code is used to evaluate transonic performance. To reduce the total computational time, flow calculations are parallelized on an NEC SX-4 computer using 32 processing elements. The detailed analysis of the resulting Pareto front suggests a renewed interest in the arrow wing planform for the supersonic wing     

A broad and narrow approach to interactive evolutionary design—An aircraft design example

While interactive evolutionary computation (IEC) is starting to penetrate a larger scientific community, only few researchers have applied IEC to the design of complicated artifacts like machines or transportation systems. The present paper introduces a specific approach to interactive evolutionary computation that breaches the two historical categories of user-defined fitness and selection in each generation (narrow) and occasional user-intervention of an automated evolutionary process to correct the fitness function used for (multi-objective) optimization (broad). To highlight the approach, a real world aircraft design problem is employed that demonstrates the relevance and importance of both features for an effective design process.     

Partially interactive evolutionary artists

User fatigue is probably the most pressing problem in current Interactive Evolutionary Computation systems. To address it we propose the use of automatic seeding procedure, phenotype filters, and partial automation fitness assignment. We test this approaches in the visual arts domain. To further enhance interactive evolution applications in aesthetic domains, we propose the use of artificial art critics—systems that perform stylistic and aesthetic valuations of art—presenting experimental results. Penousal Machado: He is a researcher at Centre for Informatics and Systems of the University of Coimbra (CISUC). He is the author of more than 20 journals and conference papers, and chair of several international workshops. His main research interest is the study and development of evolutionary approaches to creativity and artificial art. Juan Romero, Ph.D.: He is the founder of the “Creative Computer Group” of the RNASA Lab. His present research focuses on (i) Hybrid Society, which consists of an egalitarian society composed of creative computers and human beings (ii) Artificial Art, using artificial art critics and creators based on connectionist and evolutionary techniques. Amílcar Cardoso, Ph.D.: He is an Associate Professor at the Department of Informatics Engineering of the University of Coimbra. He is the leader of the CISUC AILab, and founder of the Creative Systems Group. His main research interest is the study and implementation of computer models of creativity. He has background as professional musician and composer. Antonino Santos, Ph.D.: He is the author/editor of more than 25 articles and 7 books. He participated as researcher in 7 funded research proposals concerning to Artificial Intelligence, Neural Networks and Internet Security. His present research focuses in hybrid systems, creative systems, computer security, artificial neural networks and evolutionary computation.     

Generation,analysis and comparison of multiple structural design alternatives in an interactive real-time environment

Current methods of analyzing multiple design configurations can be labor intensive and typically require engineers to make relatively indirect comparisons between structural models. This paper presents an approach designed to support convenient management and analysis of multiple design configurations, and to provide a high degree of spatial and temporal congruence for model visualization, thereby allowing more direct comparisons to be made. This ultimately can allow for a more thorough evaluation of design alternatives, while decreasing the workload needed to perform these analyses.     

Multiobjective optimization and evolutionary algorithms for the application mapping problem in multiprocessor system-on-chip design

Sesame is a software framework that aims at developing a modeling and simulation environment for the efficient design space exploration of heterogeneous embedded systems. Since Sesame recognizes separate application and architecture models within a single system simulation, it needs an explicit mapping step to relate these models for cosimulation. The design tradeoffs during the mapping stage, namely, the processing time, power consumption, and architecture cost, are captured by a multiobjective nonlinear mixed integer program. This paper aims at investigating the performance of multiobjective evolutionary algorithms (MOEAs) on solving large instances of the mapping problem. With two comparative case studies, it is shown that MOEAs provide the designer with a highly accurate set of solutions in a reasonable amount of time. Additionally, analyses for different crossover types, mutation usage, and repair strategies for the purpose of constraints handling are carried out. Finally, a number of multiobjective optimization results are simulated for verification.     

EVA: an interactive Web-based collaborative learning environment

In this paper, a Web-based learning environment developed within the project called Virtual Learning Spaces (EVA, in Spanish) is described. The environment is composed of knowledge, collaboration, consulting and experimentation spaces as a collection of agents and conventional software components working over the knowledge domains. All user interfaces are Web pages, generated dynamically by servlets, applets and agents. The article describes theoretical underpinnings, EVA's architecture, implementation of particular software modules and agents, and the application results.     

3D mapping of an interactive synthetic environment

Traditional geospatial information systems (GIS) use geographically referenced data to produce highly accurate digital maps. These two-dimensional maps include well-recognized symbols that represent features such as mountains, forests, buildings, and transportation networks. Although this flat view provides an excellent means of orienting the user to the general nature and location of the geographic features for a given area, it does not provide the full experiential value that comes from immersion within a 3D environment. The authors, working in conjunction with the University of New Orleans' Computer Science Department, developed a 3D-GIS to assist the US Marine Corps with mission preparation and rehearsal. It also provides on-site awareness during actual field operations in urban areas. Going beyond presenting stereoscopic views of an area or merely applying photo textures to highly simplified geometric shapes, they created an environment that replicates its real-world counterpart by including detailed 3D objects. The article details the design considerations they faced as well as the implementation and structural overview for the entire system     

Multiobjective evolutionary algorithms: analyzing the state-of-the-art

Solving optimization problems with multiple (often conflicting) objectives is, generally, a very difficult goal. Evolutionary algorithms (EAs) were initially extended and applied during the mid-eighties in an attempt to stochastically solve problems of this generic class. During the past decade, a variety, of multiobjective EA (MOEA) techniques have been proposed and applied to many scientific and engineering applications. Our discussion's intent is to rigorously define multiobjective optimization problems and certain related concepts, present an MOEA classification scheme, and evaluate the variety of contemporary MOEAs. Current MOEA theoretical developments are evaluated; specific topics addressed include fitness functions, Pareto ranking, niching, fitness sharing, mating restriction, and secondary populations. Since the development and application of MOEAs is a dynamic and rapidly growing activity, we focus on key analytical insights based upon critical MOEA evaluation of current research and applications. Recommended MOEA designs are presented, along with conclusions and recommendations for future work.     

交互式进化计算研究进展

针对交互式进化计算的研究进展进行综述.首先对其求解模式及特点进行描述;然后对其理论、应用与改进研究进行系统分析,并深入讨论了交互式进化计算中的不确定性;最后指出了今后需要进一步研究的问题.     

面向知识重用和智能创新的交互界面进化设计研究

为了让交互界面脱离依赖设计师个人经验和主观认知的传统设计方式,将设计知识加以重用,并为人工设计提供自动智能的创新启发.基于交互产品中常见的交互界面构建重用知识规则和边界,构建了交互界面进化基因模型,并利用遗传算法,通过构建针对交互界面编码的遗传算子、重用知识约束规则库和交互式评价等进化模块,形成了面向知识重用和自动化智...     

SHAPA: an interactive software environment for protocol analysis

This paper briefly reviews work on verbal report and describes SHAPA, an interactive program for performing both verbal and non-verbal protocol analysis. To a certain extent, SHAPA is to protocol data what a spreadsheet program is to numerical data or what a word processor is to text it is intelligent about the sorts of things a researcher might want to do with verbal or non-verbal protocols, while being blind to particular domains, contexts, or theories. It has been developed with the idea of affording the researcher the closest possible degree of engagement with protocol data. The researcher can configure SHAPA to encode protocols using a wide variety of theoretical frameworks or vocabularies. SHAPA allows protocol analysis to be performed at any level of analysis, and it supplies many tools for data aggregation, manipulation and analysis. Some of these tools have been imported from a tradition of work on non-verbal protocol analysis that has developed very strong analytical tools. The output generated by SHAPA can be used alone or in combination with other performance variables to get a rich picture of the influences on sequences of verbal or non-verbal behaviour.     

MOLVIE: an interactive visualization environment for molecular structures

A Molecular visualization interactive environment (MOLVIE), is designed to display three-dimensional (3D) structures of molecules and support the structural analysis and research on proteins. The paper presents the features, design considerations and applications of MOLVIE, especially the new functions used to compare the structures of two molecules and view the partial fragment of a molecule. Being developed in JAVA, MOLVIE is platform-independent. Moreover, it may run on a webpage as an applet for remote users. MOLVIE is available at http://www.cs.ucsb.edu/~mli/Bioinf/software/index.html.     

Algebraic model of an interactive man—Machine environment

An algebraic model of the interactive man—machine environment is developed in the language of the theory of many-base universal algebra. The features of this approach are demonstrated by some examples from the theory of data types. Some directions of further research are suggested.Deceased.Translated from Kibernetika, No. 2, pp. 23–25, March–April, 1990.