Toward overcoming culture, skill and situation hurdles in Human-Computer Interaction

This paper proposes a new effective strategy for designing and implementing interactive systems overcoming culture, skill and situation hurdles in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). The strategy to identify and reduce these hurdles is developed in the framework of a methodology based on a recently introduced model of HCI, and exploits the technological innovations of XML (Extensible Markup Language). HCI is modelled as a cyclic process in which the user and the interactive system communicate by materializing and interpreting a sequence of messages. The interaction process is formalized by specifying both the physical message appearance and the computational aspect of the interaction. This formalization allows the adoption of notation traditionally adopted by users in their workplaces as the starting point of the interactive system design. In this way, the human–system interaction language takes into account the users’ culture. Moreover, the methodology permits user representatives to build a hierarchy of systems progressively adapted to users’ situations, skills and habits, according to the work organization in the domain considered. The strategy is proved to be effective by describing how to implement it using BANCO (Browsing Adaptive Network for Changing user Operativity), a feasibility prototype based on XML, which allows the hierarchy implementation and system adaptations. Several examples from an environmental case under study are used throughout the paper to illustrate the methodology and the effectiveness of the technology adopted. Published online: 4 June 2002     

On control of adaptation in parallel mesh generation

A black-box methodology of a parallel generation of adaptive anisotropic meshes is described. A control of mesh adaptation, important for robustness and flexibility, may effect parallel properties of the methodology. This is demonstrated with a 3D example.     

A comprehensive approach to model and use context for adapting applications in pervasive environments

With an increasing diversity of pervasive computing devices integrated in our surroundings and an increasing mobility of users, it will be important for computer systems and applications to be context-aware. Lots of works have already been done in this direction on how to capture context data and how to carry it to the application. Among the remaining challenges are to create the intelligence to analyze the context information and deduce the meaning out of it, and to integrate it into adaptable applications. Our work focuses on these challenges by defining generic context storage and processing model and by studying its impact on the application core. We propose a reusable context ontology model that is based on two levels: a generic level and a domain specific level. We propose a generic adaptation framework to guarantee adaptation of applications to the context in a pervasive computing environment. We also introduce a comprehensive adaptation approach that involves content adaptation and presentation adaptation inline with the adaptation of the core services of applications. Our case study shows that the context model and the application adaptation strategies provide promising service architecture.     

Genetic programming incorporating biased mutation for evolution and adaptation of Snakebot

In this work we propose an approach for incorporating learning probabilistic context-sensitive grammar (LPCSG) in genetic programming (GP), employed for evolution and adaptation of locomotion gaits of a simulated snake-like robot (Snakebot). Our approach is derived from the original context-free grammar which usually expresses the syntax of genetic programs in canonical GP. Empirically obtained results verify that employing LPCSG contributes to the improvement of computational effort of both (i) the evolution of the fastest possible locomotion gaits for various fitness conditions and (ii) adaptation of these locomotion gaits to challenging environment and degraded mechanical abilities of the Snakebot.     

Agent-based simulation of electricity markets: a survey of tools

Agent-based simulation has been a popular technique in modeling and analyzing electricity markets in recent years. The main objective of this paper is to study existing agent-based simulation packages for electricity markets. We first provide an overview of electricity markets and briefly introduce the agent-based simulation technique. We then investigate several general-purpose agent-based simulation tools. Next, we review four popular agent-based simulation packages developed for electricity markets and several agent-based simulation models reported in the literature. We compare all the reviewed packages and models and identify their common features and design issues. Based on the study, we describe an agent-based simulation framework for electricity markets to facilitate the development of future models for electricity markets.     

一种基于用户的自适应类选择算法

针对QoS管理模型中的自适应处理模块进行了深入研究,提出了基于用户的自适应类选择算法,该算法不仅能够提高用户的满意度,而且能够均衡各个服务类别在网络中的负荷,保证应用的服务质量,实现QoS管理的自适应性.算法采用了基于下一时刻的预测方法进行估算,从而优化了参数取值,使用户选择的服务类别更加精确.     

Mapping Sea Level Rise Behavior in an Estuarine Delta System: A Case Study along the Shanghai Coast

Sea level rise (SLR) is a major projected threat of climate change that is expected to affect developing coastal cities located in estuarine delta regions. Shanghai is one such city, being located in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD). It is difficult, however, for decision-makers to implement adaptation due to the uncertain causes, magnitudes, and timings of SLR behaviors. This paper attempts to map the causes and magnitudes of SLR behaviors on a decadal scale. We analyze the tidal level records from 11 tidal gauge stations and the corresponding bathymetry measurements around these stations since 1921. We identify three new SLR behaviors along the Shanghai coast due to anthropogenic geomorphologic changes (AGCs), besides the well-known eustatic sea level rise (ESLR), tectonic subsidence (TS), and urban land subsidence (ULS). The first new behavior is regional sea level rise (RSLR), which occurs as a result of land reclamation and deep waterway regulation. The second is regional sea level fall (RSLF), which occurs because the channel bed is eroded due to sediment supply decline in the river catchment. The last SLR behavior is local tidal datum rise (LTDR). Thus, we project that the magnitude of SLR for the Shanghai coast ranges from 10 cm to 16 cm from 2011 to 2030. Clarifying SLR behaviors is important to aid local decision-makers in planning structural and non-structural measures to combat escalating flood damage costs in an estuarine delta system; this field is full of future challenges.     

A reflective infrastructure for workflow adaptability

We present a flexible framework that enables workflow systems to adapt to changing conditions. The model is designed to reveal key aspects of the tasks involved in representing and enacting business processes. These fundamental characteristics are identified as state, behaviour, distribution, coordination and enactment. By isolating such core concepts in a way that allows them to be varied, we open up the general process of task coordination and execution, allowing for extensions in a planned way. By suitable manipulation of each of these aspects, at the appropriate level, a workflow system may be extensively modified in a way that minimises the effect of such change upon other aspects of the system.     

城市高温灾害的规划应对研究进展

随着全球气候不断升温,城市高温 灾害越来越严重,严重影响城市人居环境。 通过CNKI和Web of Science检索城市高温 灾害相关文献,采用Met a-a na lysis方法和 CiteSpace工具,分析近年来城市规划应对高 温灾害的研究进展。结果发现,城市高温灾 害的规划应对研究起源于城市热岛方面,在 气候变化方面得到发展,最后形成城市高温 灾害的研究。在减缓性策略与适应性策略两 大主题下,主要应对途径是土地利用、空间 结构、道路交通、绿化景观以及建筑等,每种 途径又分为多种具体策略。目前在规划体系、 针对性规划以及效益评估等方面存在明显不 足。在理论上应加强构建规划体系,以及效 益评估系统的研究;在实践中制定应对高温 灾害的规划编制标准,探索气候友好型城市 规划设计方法,为韧性城市建设提供参考。     

Thermal sensation of Hong Kong people with increased air speed,temperature and humidity in air-conditioned environment

In the warm and humid climate zone, air-conditioning (AC) is usually provided at working places to enhance human thermal comfort and work productivity. From the building sustainability point of view, to achieve acceptable thermal sensation with the minimum use of energy can be desirable. A new AC design tactic is then to increase the air movement so that the summer temperature setting can be raised. A laboratory-based thermal comfort survey was conducted in Hong Kong with around 300 educated Chinese subjects. Their thermal sensation votes were gathered for a range of controlled thermal environment. The result analysis shows that, like in many other Asian cities, the thermal sensation of the Hong Kong people is sensitive to air temperature and speed, but not much to humidity. With bodily air speed at 0.1–0.2 m/s, clothing level 0.55 clo and metabolic rate 1 met, the neutral temperature was found around 25.4 °C for sedentary working environment. Then recommendations are given to the appropriate controlled AC environment in Hong Kong with higher airflow speeds.