Sisl: Several Interfaces, Single Logic

Modern interactive services such as information and e-commerce services are becoming increasingly more flexible in the types of user interfaces they support. These interfaces incorporate automatic speech recognition and natural language understanding and include graphical user interfaces on the desktop and web-based interfaces using applets and HTML forms. To what extent can the user interface software be decoupled from the service logic software (the code that defines the essential function of a service)? Decoupling of user interface from service logic directly impacts the flexibility of services, or how easy they are to modify and extend. To explore these issues, we have developed Sisl, an architecture and domain-specific language for designing and implementing interactive services with multiple user interfaces. A key principle underlying Sisl is that all user interfaces to a service share the same service logic. Sisl provides a clean separation between the service logic and the software for a variety of interfaces, including Java applets, HTML pages, speech-based natural language dialogue, and telephone-based voice access. Sisl uses an event-based model of services that allows service providers to support interchangeable user interfaces (or add new ones) to a single consistent source of service logic and data. As part of a collaboration between research and development, Sisl is being used to prototype a new generation of call processing services for a Lucent Technologies switching product.     

Distributed call rerouting in multiclass broadband networks

Broadband integrated services digital networks (B-ISDN) must handle multiclass traffic with diverse quality of service requirements. We consider a multiclass routing model in which routes are calculated in a distributed fashion by the call originating nodes. Within this general context, we address the problem of rerouting a set of previously routed calls to avoid a failed link. Under the approach we propose, a single node executes an aggregate, global rerouting of all affected calls and then converts the set of aggregate routes into an allocation of bandwidth on each link to call origination nodes for the purpose of rerouting. The bandwidth allocation is distributed to each origination node, which in turn then calculates routes for the individual calls. The problem faced by each call origination node is a variant of the socalled bandwidth packing problem. We develop and analyze an approximate algorithm for solving this problem in the specific context that arises in our setting.The research was supported by IBM Corporation and by NSF Grant No. CDR-8803012.On personal leave from IBM RTP.     

Interconnection of nonlinear causal systems

For nonlinear systems it is not a mathematically obvious fact that the simplest feedback system yields equations which are solvable, even when the gain in the loop is ⩽1. The authors treat this and more general issues. For example, it is not known (for a continuous-time system) if unity feedback for a plant C with gain <1 produces a well-posed system. It is shown that if the gain of C is <1 and C also loses sufficient efficiency at high frequency, then indeed the feedback system is well posed. The hypothesis that the gain of C is <1 can be replaced by the reasonable assumption that C saturates on large enough signals, and well posedness is still obtained. This approach also applies directly to electrical circuit connections. It is proved that rather general connections of amplifiers are well posed under the assumption that the amplifiers saturate and that they lose efficiency at high frequency     

Video game training to improve selective visual attention in older adults

The current study investigated the effect of video game training on older adult’s useful field of view performance (the UFOV® test). Fifty-eight older adult participants were randomized to receive practice with the target action game (Medal of Honor), a placebo control arcade game (Tetris), a clinically validated UFOV training program, or into a no contact control group. Examining pretest–posttest change in selective visual attention, the UFOV improved significantly more than the game groups; all three intervention groups improved significantly more than no-contact controls. There was a lack of difference between the two game conditions, differing from findings with younger adults. Discussion considers whether games posing less challenge might still be effective interventions for elders, and whether optimal training dosages should be higher.     

The 3D Chinese head and face modeling

Perfect fit for people has always been a target for product design. Designers commonly use traditional anthropometric dimensions for 3D product design thus creating a lot of fitting problems when dealing with the complexities of human body shapes. The development of recent 3D anthropometric survey has created an opportunity for complex shape analysis on human model by collecting 3D scan data. Using 3D point cloud data from the SizeChina survey, a methodology of creating a homologous 3D head and face model was demonstrated in this study. Anatomical and virtual landmarks, and surface modeling algorithm based on point cloud data were applied in building the model. The head and face models for all scans had the same amount of vertices with consistent features. The average Chinese models showed obvious differences between male and female. The variations of head and face shapes were analyzed using Principal Component Analysis and the results showed that the largest variations among people were general size, especially for width and depth. However face height, forehead, back of the head, chin and jaw area were also important when describing the 3D shape. The results from this study may be useful in the design of head and facial products.     

Characterization of solid state array cameras for the mid-IR

We present a characterization of some processes affecting the performance of solid state array cameras designed for ground based astronomical imaging in the 8–13μm atmospheric window. Our discussion includes a novel model for electron-hole generationrecombination noise based on the probable pathlength of an electron in a photoconductor. We use the Berkeley mid-IR Array Camera as an example. For this camera, the results show that the total optical system composed of the camera, a 3m telescope, and the atmosphere has an efficiency of about 3%, a 1σ noise equivalent flux density of 25 mJy min^?1/2arcsec^?2 measured over a Δλ/λ=10% band width, and a noise equivalent expressed as the ambient temperature thermal black body noise of 23%.     

The validity of an alternative five-factor measure of personality in cocaine abusers.

The validity of an alternative 5-factor measure of personality, the Zuckerman-Kuhlman Personality Questionnaire (ZKPQ), was assessed in 450 cocaine abusers seeking outpatient treatment. As predicted, the ZKPQ Impulsive Sensation Seeking (ImpSS), Neuroticism-Anxiety (N-Anx), and Aggression-Hostility (Agg-Hos) scales were associated with greater drug abuse and psychiatric severity and symptoms and worse outcome (p?