An internet of old things as an augmented memory system

The interdisciplinary Tales of Things and electronic Memory (TOTeM) project investigates new contexts for augmenting things with stories in the emerging culture of the Internet of Things (IoT). Tales of Things is a tagging system which, based on two-dimensional barcodes (also called Quick Response or QR codes) and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, enables the capturing and sharing of object stories and the physical linking to objects via read and writable tags. Within the context of our study, it has functioned as a technology probe which we employed with the aim to stimulate discussion and identify desire lines that point to novel design opportunities for the engagement with personal and social memories linked to everyday objects. In this paper, we discuss results from fieldwork with different community groups in the course of which seemingly any object could form the basis of a meaningful story and act as entry point into rich inherent ‘networks of meaning’. Such networks of meaning are often solely accessible for the owner of an object and are at risk of getting lost as time goes by. We discuss the different discourses that are inherent in these object stories and provide avenues for making these memories and meaning networks accessible and shareable. This paper critically reflects on Tales of Things as an example of an augmented memory system and discusses possible wider implications for the design of related systems.     

Ubiquitous emotion-aware computing

Emotions are a crucial element for personal and ubiquitous computing. What to sense and how to sense it, however, remain a challenge. This study explores the rare combination of speech, electrocardiogram, and a revised Self-Assessment Mannequin to assess people’s emotions. 40 people watched 30 International Affective Picture System pictures in either an office or a living-room environment. Additionally, their personality traits neuroticism and extroversion and demographic information (i.e., gender, nationality, and level of education) were recorded. The resulting data were analyzed using both basic emotion categories and the valence--arousal model, which enabled a comparison between both representations. The combination of heart rate variability and three speech measures (i.e., variability of the fundamental frequency of pitch (F0), intensity, and energy) explained 90% (p < .001) of the participants’ experienced valence--arousal, with 88% for valence and 99% for arousal (ps < .001). The six basic emotions could also be discriminated (p < .001), although the explained variance was much lower: 18–20%. Environment (or context), the personality trait neuroticism, and gender proved to be useful when a nuanced assessment of people’s emotions was needed. Taken together, this study provides a significant leap toward robust, generic, and ubiquitous emotion-aware computing.     

基于核岭回归方法的定位算法研究

针对无线传感器网络环境下的定位问题,提出了一种基于核岭回归(Kernel ridge regression,KRR)的定位算法。核岭回归算法是在岭回归算法的基础上加入了核函数,该算法在离线阶段采用核岭回归方法提取所有位置指纹数据间的非线性关系,训练出非线性回归定位模型;在线阶段采集目标点的接收信号强度指示（Received signal strength indicator,RSSI）值,利用非线性定位模型估计目标点的物理位置。仿真分析了影响算法性能的各个因素,并在室内典型办公环境下进行了定位实验。实验结果表明,该算法在不同因素的影响下,相比传统加权K近邻算法(Weight K-nearest neighbor,WKNN)算法能达到更好的定位精度,在位置网格间距1.8 m时,WKNN算法平均定位误差为2.53 m,而该算法误差为1.58 m。     

SAPPHIRE: A toolkit for building efficient stream programs for medical video analysis

This paper describes the design and implementation of SAPPHIRE – a novel middleware and software development kit for stream programing on a heterogeneous system of multi-core multi-CPUs with optional hardware accelerators such as graphics processing unit (GPU). A stream program consists of a set of tasks where the same tasks are repeated over multiple iterations of data (e.g., video frames). Examples of such programs are video analysis applications for computer-aided diagnosis and computer-assisted surgeries. Our design goal is to reduce the implementation efforts and ease collaborative software development of stream programs while supporting efficient execution of the programs on the target hardware. To validate the toolkit, we implemented EM-Automated-RT software with the toolkit and reported our experience. EM-Automated-RT performs real-time video analysis for quality of a colonoscopy procedure and provides visual feedback to assist the endoscopist to achieve optimal inspection of the colon during the procedure. The software has been deployed in a hospital setting to conduct a clinical trial.     

Technological and organizational change in the Brazilian computer industry: A case study

Abstract

This article gives an account of the results of a case study undertaken at a pioneer and particularly prominent firm in the Brazilian computer industry: COBRA — Computadores e Sistemas Brasileiros SA.

The study is part of a research project¹ whose main goal is the identification of viable organizational and technological options that could enhance the performance of firms in the Brazilian electro‐electronics industry. Among the more important findings, it was observed that the firm has the potential to evolve to a more flexible structure, in keeping with the new requirements of the probable future market scenarios within its sector.

Everything indicated, however, that the main constraining factors for bringing about such a structure were connected with the firm's culture and beliefs and with the indirect influence of the National Policy of Information Technology upon these. An hypothesis was put forward for an organizational model, and the necessary supportive computerized technology, which could be particularly appropriate in view of the impending deregulation, of the Brazilian computer industry. Also, in the scope of the current discussion on the restructuring of this industry in terms of a greater concentration, an alternative to the prevailing school of thought was proposed, and for whose success the organizational model at issue purports to be particularly relevant.     

Concept maps as the first step in an ontology construction method

A method is proposed to be used as the first step in the ontology acquisition process. This method is based on the use of concept maps as a means of expression for the expert, followed by an application that assists the expert in detailing the structure of the knowledge represented in the map. This application analyses the concept map, taking into account the map topology and key words used by the expert. From this analysis a series of questions are presented to the expert that, when answered, reduce the map ambiguity and identify some common patterns in ontological representations, such as generalizations and mereologic relations. This information can be used by the knowledge engineer during further knowledge acquisition sessions or to direct the expert to a further improvement of the map. The method was tested by a group of volunteers, most of them engineers working at the aerospace sector, and the results suggest that both the use of concept mapping as well as the refining step are acceptable from the point of view of the end user, supporting the claim that this method is viable as an option to reduce some of the difficulties in large scale ontology construction.     

无线传感器网络跳数和通信距离自适应差错控制策略

无线传感器网络(WSNS)的动态信道特性、网络带宽和节点能量受限等特点,使得在无线环境下为数据传输提供可靠性保证面临更大的挑战.本文提出一种适用于WSNS的自适应链路层差错控制策略(AEC-Hops/RSSI),以便改善WSNS的通信性能.首先建立数学模型,分析数据帧被转发所经历的跳数与能效的变化规律,然后分析前向纠错...