OpenRaiser/Intern-Atlas huggingface dataset:
Designing as Construction of Representations: A Dynamic Viewpoint in Cognitive Design Research
Venue: arXiv cs.HC 2007
Year: 2007

This article presents a cognitively oriented viewpoint on design. It focuses on cognitive, dynamic aspects of real design, i.e., the actual cognitive activity implemented by designers during their work on professional design projects. Rather than conceiving de-signing as problem solving - Simon's symbolic information processing (SIP) approach - or as a reflective practice or some other form of situated activity - the situativity (SIT) approach - we consider that, from a cognitive viewpoint, designing is most appropriately characterised as a construction of representations. After a critical discussion of the SIP and SIT approaches to design, we present our view-point. This presentation concerns the evolving nature of representations regarding levels of abstraction and degrees of precision, the function of external representations, and specific qualities of representation in collective design. Designing is described at three levels: the organisation of the activity, its strategies, and its design-representation construction activities (different ways to generate, trans-form, and evaluate representations). Even if we adopt a "generic design" stance, we claim that design can take different forms depending on the nature of the artefact, and we propose some candidates for dimensions that allow a distinction to be made between these forms of design. We discuss the potential specificity of HCI design, and the lack of cognitive design research occupied with the quality of design. We close our discussion of representational structures and activities by an outline of some directions regarding their functional linkages.
Conception individuelle et collective. Approche de l'ergonomie cognitive [Individual and Collective Design. The Cognitive-Ergonomics Approach]
Venue: arXiv cs.OH 2007
Year: 2007

This text presents the cognitive-ergonomics approach to design, in both its individual and collective form. It focuses on collective design with respect to individual design. The theoretical framework adopted is that of information processing, specified for design problems. The cognitive characteristics of design problems are presented: the effects of their ill-defined character and of the different types of representation implemented in solving these problems, amongst others the more or less "satisficing" character of the different possible solutions. The text first describes the cognitive activities implemented in both individual and collective design: different types of control activities and of the executive activities of solution development and evaluation. Specific collective-design characteristics are then presented: co-design and distributed-design activities, temporo-operative and cognitive synchronisation, and different types of argumentation, of co-designers' intervention modes in the design process, of solution-proposals evaluation. The paper concludes by a confrontation between the two types of design, individual and collective.
Empirical Evaluation of Four Tensor Decomposition Algorithms
Venue: arXiv cs.LG 2007
Year: 2007

Higher-order tensor decompositions are analogous to the familiar Singular Value Decomposition (SVD), but they transcend the limitations of matrices (second-order tensors). SVD is a powerful tool that has achieved impressive results in information retrieval, collaborative filtering, computational linguistics, computational vision, and other fields. However, SVD is limited to two-dimensional arrays of data (two modes), and many potential applications have three or more modes, which require higher-order tensor decompositions. This paper evaluates four algorithms for higher-order tensor decomposition: Higher-Order Singular Value Decomposition (HO-SVD), Higher-Order Orthogonal Iteration (HOOI), Slice Projection (SP), and Multislice Projection (MP). We measure the time (elapsed run time), space (RAM and disk space requirements), and fit (tensor reconstruction accuracy) of the four algorithms, under a variety of conditions. We find that standard implementations of HO-SVD and HOOI do not scale up to larger tensors, due to increasing RAM requirements. We recommend HOOI for tensors that are small enough for the available RAM and MP for larger tensors.
A numerical approach for 3D manufacturing tolerances synthesis
Venue: arXiv cs.CE 2007
Year: 2007

Making a product conform to the functional requirements indicated by the customer suppose to be able to manage the manufacturing process chosen to realise the parts. A simulation step is generally performed to verify that the expected generated deviations fit with these requirements. It is then necessary to assess the actual deviations of the process in progress. This is usually done by the verification of the conformity of the workpiece to manufacturing tolerances at the end of each set-up. It is thus necessary to determine these manufacturing tolerances. This step is called "manufacturing tolerance synthesis". In this paper, a numerical method is proposed to perform 3D manufacturing tolerances synthesis. This method uses the result of the numerical analysis of tolerances to determine influent mall displacement of surfaces. These displacements are described by small displacements torsors. An algorithm is then proposed to determine suitable ISO manufacturing tolerances.
Can a Computer Laugh ?
Venue: arXiv cs.CL 2007
Year: 2007

A computer model of "a sense of humour" suggested previously [arXiv:0711.2058,0711.2061], relating the humorous effect with a specific malfunction in information processing, is given in somewhat different exposition. Psychological aspects of humour are elaborated more thoroughly. The mechanism of laughter is formulated on the more general level. Detailed discussion is presented for the higher levels of information processing, which are responsible for a perception of complex samples of humour. Development of a sense of humour in the process of evolution is discussed.
Decoding the Golden Code: a VLSI design
Venue: arXiv cs.AR 2007
Year: 2007

The recently proposed Golden code is an optimal space-time block code for 2 X 2 multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems. The aim of this work is the design of a VLSI decoder for a MIMO system coded with the Golden code. The architecture is based on a rearrangement of the sphere decoding algorithm that achieves maximum-likelihood (ML) decoding performance. Compared to other approaces, the proposed solution exhibits an inherent flexibility in terms of modulation schemes QAM modulation size and this makes our architecture particularly suitable for adaptive modulation schemes.
An annotation based approach to support design communication
Venue: arXiv cs.HC 2007
Year: 2007

The aim of this paper is to propose an approach based on the concept of annotation for supporting design communication. In this paper, we describe a co-operative design case study where we analyse some annotation practices, mainly focused on design minutes recorded during project reviews. We point out specific requirements concerning annotation needs. Based on these requirements, we propose an annotation model, inspired from the Speech Act Theory (SAT) to support communication in a 3D digital environment. We define two types of annotations in the engineering design context, locutionary and illocutionary annotations. The annotations we describe in this paper are materialised by a set of digital artefacts, which have a semantic dimension allowing express/record elements of technical justifications, traces of contradictory debates, etc. In this paper, we first clarify the semantic annotation concept, and we define general properties of annotations in the engineering design context, and the role of annotations in different design project situations. After the description of the case study, where we observe and analyse annotations usage during the design reviews and minute making, the last section is dedicated to present our approach. We then describe the SAT concept, and define the concept of annotation acts. We conclude with a description of basic annotation functionalities that are actually implemented in a software, based on our approach.
Computer Supported Collaborative Research
Venue: arXiv cs.HC 2007
Year: 2007

It is suggested that a new area of CSCR (Computer Supported Collaborative Research) is distinguished from CSCW (Computer Supported Collaborative Work) and CSCL (Computer Supported Collaborative Learning) and that the demarcation between the three areas could do with greater clarification and prescription. Although the areas of Human Computer Interaction (HCI), CSCW, and CSCL are now relatively well established, the related field of Computer Supported Collaborative Research (CSCR) is new and little understood. An analysis of the principles and issues behind CSCR is undertaken with a view to determining precisely its nature and scope and to delineate it clearly from CSCW and CSCL. This determination is such that it is generally applicable to the building, design and evaluation of collaborative research environments. A particular instance of the CSCR domain is then examined in order to determine the requirements of a collaborative research environment for students and supervisors (CRESS).
Epcast: Controlled Dissemination in Human-based Wireless Networks by means of Epidemic Spreading Models
Venue: arXiv cs.NI 2007
Year: 2007

Epidemics-inspired techniques have received huge attention in recent years from the distributed systems and networking communities. These algorithms and protocols rely on probabilistic message replication and redundancy to ensure reliable communication. Moreover, they have been successfully exploited to support group communication in distributed systems, broadcasting, multicasting and information dissemination in fixed and mobile networks. However, in most of the existing work, the probability of infection is determined heuristically, without relying on any analytical model. This often leads to unnecessarily high transmission overheads. In this paper we show that models of epidemic spreading in complex networks can be applied to the problem of tuning and controlling the dissemination of information in wireless ad hoc networks composed of devices carried by individuals, i.e., human-based networks. The novelty of our idea resides in the evaluation and exploitation of the structure of the underlying human network for the automatic tuning of the dissemination process in order to improve the protocol performance. We evaluate the results using synthetic mobility models and real human contacts traces.
Trellis Computations
Venue: arXiv cs.IT 2007
Year: 2007

For a certain class of functions, the distribution of the function values can be calculated in the trellis or a sub-trellis. The forward/backward recursion known from the BCJR algorithm is generalized to compute the moments of these distributions. In analogy to the symbol probabilities, by introducing a constraint at a certain depth in the trellis we obtain symbol moments. These moments are required for an efficient implementation of the discriminated belief propagation algorithm in [2], and can furthermore be utilized to compute conditional entropies in the trellis. The moment computation algorithm has the same asymptotic complexity as the BCJR algorithm. It is applicable to any commutative semi-ring, thus actually providing a generalization of the Viterbi algorithm.
A Game-Theoretic Analysis of Updating Sets of Probabilities
Venue: arXiv cs.AI 2007
Year: 2007

We consider how an agent should update her uncertainty when it is represented by a set $¶$ of probability distributions and the agent observes that a random variable $X$ takes on value $x$, given that the agent makes decisions using the minimax criterion, perhaps the best-studied and most commonly-used criterion in the literature. We adopt a game-theoretic framework, where the agent plays against a bookie, who chooses some distribution from $¶$. We consider two reasonable games that differ in what the bookie knows when he makes his choice. Anomalies that have been observed before, like time inconsistency, can be understood as arising important because different games are being played, against bookies with different information. We characterize the important special cases in which the optimal decision rules according to the minimax criterion amount to either conditioning or simply ignoring the information. Finally, we consider the relationship between conditioning and calibration when uncertainty is described by sets of probabilities.
Microsystem Product Development
Venue: arXiv cs.OH 2007
Year: 2007

Over the last decade the successful design and fabrication of complex MEMS (MicroElectroMechanical Systems), optical circuits and ASICs have been demonstrated. Packaging and integration processes have lagged behind MEMS research but are rapidly maturing. As packaging processes evolve, a new challenge presents itself, microsystem product development. Product development entails the maturation of the design and all the processes needed to successfully produce a product. Elements such as tooling design, fixtures, gages, testers, inspection, work instructions, process planning, etc., are often overlooked as MEMS engineers concentrate on design, fabrication and packaging processes. Thorough, up-front planning of product development efforts is crucial to the success of any project.
Influence of the Feedback Filter on the Response of the Pulsed Digital Oscillator
Venue: arXiv cs.OH 2007
Year: 2007

This paper introduces a new feedback topology for the Pulsed Digital Oscillator (PDO) and compares it to the classical topology. The `classic' or single feedback topology, introduced in previous works, shows a strong behavior dependence on the damping losses in the MEMS resonator. A new double feedback topology is introduced here in order to help solving this problem. Comparative discrete-time simulations and preliminary experimental measurements have been carried out for both topologies, showing how the new double feedback topology may increase PDO performance for some frequency ranges.
Electrostatically-Driven Resonator on Soi with Improved Temperature Stability
Venue: arXiv cs.OH 2007
Year: 2007

This paper deals with a single-crystal-silicon (SCS) MEMS resonator with improved temperature stability. While simulations have shown that the temperature coefficient of resonant frequency can be down to 1 ppm/degrees C, preliminary measurements on non-optimised structures gave evidence of a temperature coefficient of 29 ppm/degrees C. Design, optimisation, experimental results with post process simulation and prospective work are presented.
Energy Conversion Using New Thermoelectric Generator
Venue: arXiv cs.OH 2007
Year: 2007

During recent years, microelectronics helped to develop complex and varied technologies. It appears that many of these technologies can be applied successfully to realize Seebeck micro generators: photolithography and deposition methods allow to elaborate thin thermoelectric structures at the micro-scale level. Our goal is to scavenge energy by developing a miniature power source for operating electronic components. First Bi and Sb micro-devices on silicon glass substrate have been manufactured with an area of 1cm2 including more than one hundred junctions. Each step of process fabrication has been optimized: photolithography, deposition process, anneals conditions and metallic connections. Different device structures have been realized with different micro-line dimensions. Each devices performance will be reviewed and discussed in function of their design structure.
Recent Developments in Mems-Based Micro Fuel Cells
Venue: arXiv cs.OH 2007
Year: 2007

Micro fuel cells ($μ$-FC) represent promising power sources for portable applications. Today, one of the technological ways to make $μ$-FC is to have recourse to standard microfabrication techniques used in the fabrication of micro electromechanical systems (MEMS). This paper shows an overview on the applications of MEMS techniques on miniature FC by presenting several solutions developed throughout the world. It also describes the latest developments of a new porous silicon-based miniature fuel cell. Using a silane grafted on an inorganic porous media as the proton-exchange membrane instead of a common ionomer such as Nafion, the fuel cell achieved a maximum power density of 58 mW cm-2 at room temperature with hydrogen as fuel.
Design and Fabrication of a Micro Electrostatic Vibration-to-Electricity Energy Converter
Venue: arXiv cs.OH 2007
Year: 2007

This paper presents a micro electrostatic vibration-toelectricity energy converter. For the 3.3 V supply voltage and 1cm2 chip area constraints, optimal design parameters were found from theoretical calculation and Simulink simulation. In the current design, the output power is 200 $μ$W/cm2 for the optimal load of 8 MΩ. The device was fabricated in a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer. Mechanical and electrical measurements were conducted. Residual particles caused shortage of the variable capacitor and the output power could not be measured. Device design and fabrication processes are being refined.
Reduced-Order Modelling of the Bending of an Array of Torsional Micromirrors
Venue: arXiv cs.OH 2007
Year: 2007

Reduced-Order Modelling of the Bending of an Array of An array of micromirrors for beam steering optical switching has been designed in a thick polysilicon technology. A novel semi-analytical method to calculate the static characteristics of the micromirrors by taking into account the flexural deformation of the structure is presented. The results are compared with 3D coupled-field FEM simulation.
Fabrication of Switches on Polymer-Based by Hot Embossing
Venue: arXiv cs.OH 2007
Year: 2007

In MEMS technology, most of the devices are fabricated on glass or silicon substrate. However, this research presents a novel manufacture method that is derived from conventional hot embossing technology to fabricate the electrostatic switches on polymer material. The procedures of fabrication involve the metal deposition, photolithography, electroplating, hot embossing and hot embed techniques. The fundamental concept of the hot embed technology is that the temperature should be increased above Tg of polymer, and the polymer becomes plastic and viscous and could be molded. According to the fundamental concept, the metal layer on the silicon/glass substrate could be embedded into polymer material during the hot embossing process. Afterward, the metal layer is bonded together with the polymer after removing the substrate in the de-embossing step. Finally, the electrostatic switch is fabricated on polymethylmethacrylate(PMMA) material to demonstrate the novel method.
Graphes paramétrés et outils de lexicalisation
Venue: arXiv cs.CL 2007
Year: 2007

Shifting to a lexicalized grammar reduces the number of parsing errors and improves application results. However, such an operation affects a syntactic parser in all its aspects. One of our research objectives is to design a realistic model for grammar lexicalization. We carried out experiments for which we used a grammar with a very simple content and formalism, and a very informative syntactic lexicon, the lexicon-grammar of French elaborated by the LADL. Lexicalization was performed by applying the parameterized-graph approach. Our results tend to show that most information in the lexicon-grammar can be transferred into a grammar and exploited successfully for the syntactic parsing of sentences.
Maximum directed cuts in digraphs with degree restriction
Venue: arXiv cs.DM 2007
Year: 2007

For integers m,k >= 1, we investigate the maximum size of a directed cut in directed graphs in which there are m edges and each vertex has either indegree at most k or outdegree at most k.
Exploiting Multi-Antennas for Opportunistic Spectrum Sharing in Cognitive Radio Networks
Venue: arXiv cs.IT 2007
Year: 2007

In cognitive radio (CR) networks, there are scenarios where the secondary (lower priority) users intend to communicate with each other by opportunistically utilizing the transmit spectrum originally allocated to the existing primary (higher priority) users. For such a scenario, a secondary user usually has to trade off between two conflicting goals at the same time: one is to maximize its own transmit throughput; and the other is to minimize the amount of interference it produces at each primary receiver. In this paper, we study this fundamental tradeoff from an information-theoretic perspective by characterizing the secondary user's channel capacity under both its own transmit-power constraint as well as a set of interference-power constraints each imposed at one of the primary receivers. In particular, this paper exploits multi-antennas at the secondary transmitter to effectively balance between spatial multiplexing for the secondary transmission and interference avoidance at the primary receivers. Convex optimization techniques are used to design algorithms for the optimal secondary transmit spatial spectrum that achieves the capacity of the secondary transmission. Suboptimal solutions for ease of implementation are also presented and their performances are compared with the optimal solution. Furthermore, algorithms developed for the single-channel transmission are also extended to the case of multi-channel transmission whereby the secondary user is able to achieve opportunistic spectrum sharing via transmit adaptations not only in space, but in time and frequency domains as well.
On the Capacity of a Class of MIMO Cognitive Radios
Venue: arXiv cs.IT 2007
Year: 2007

Cognitive radios have been studied recently as a means to utilize spectrum in a more efficient manner. This paper focuses on the fundamental limits of operation of a MIMO cognitive radio network with a single licensed user and a single cognitive user. The channel setting is equivalent to an interference channel with degraded message sets (with the cognitive user having access to the licensed user's message). An achievable region and an outer bound is derived for such a network setting. It is shown that under certain conditions, the achievable region is optimal for a portion of the capacity region that includes sum capacity.
Nonuniform Bribery
Venue: arXiv cs.GT 2007
Year: 2007

We study the concept of bribery in the situation where voters are willing to change their votes as we ask them, but where their prices depend on the nature of the change we request. Our model is an extension of the one of Faliszewski et al. [FHH06], where each voter has a single price for any change we may ask for. We show polynomial-time algorithms for our version of bribery for a broad range of voting protocols, including plurality, veto, approval, and utility based voting. In addition to our polynomial-time algorithms we provide NP-completeness results for a couple of our nonuniform bribery problems for weighted voters, and a couple of approximation algorithms for NP-complete bribery problems defined in [FHH06] (in particular, an FPTAS for plurality-weighted-$bribery problem).
Efficient Binary and Run Length Morphology and its Application to Document Image Processing
Venue: arXiv cs.GR 2007
Year: 2007

This paper describes the implementation and evaluation of an open source library for mathematical morphology based on packed binary and run-length compressed images for document imaging applications. Abstractions and patterns useful in the implementation of the interval operations are described. A number of benchmarks and comparisons to bit-blit based implementations on standard document images are provided.