The Audio Degradation Toolbox and its Application to Robustness Evaluation

We introduce the Audio Degradation Toolbox (ADT) for the controlled degradation of audio signals, and propose its usage as a means of evaluating and comparing the robustness of audio processing algorithms. Music recordings encountered in practical applications are subject to varied, sometimes unpredictable degradation. For example, audio is degraded by low-quality microphones, noisy recording environments, MP3 compression, dynamic compression in broadcasting or vinyl decay. In spite of this, no standard software for the degradation of audio exists, and music processing methods are usually evaluated against clean data. The ADT fills this gap by providing Matlab scripts that emulate a wide range of degradation types. We describe 14 degradation units, and how they can be chained to create more complex, `real-world' degradations. The ADT also provides functionality to adjust existing ground-truth, correcting for temporal distortions introduced by degradation. Using four different music informatics tasks, we show that performance strongly depends on the combination of method and degradation applied. We demonstrate that specific degradations can reduce or even reverse the performance difference between two competing methods. ADT source code, sounds, impulse responses and definitions are freely available for download

Drum Transcription via Classification of Bar-level Rhythmic Patterns

acceptedMatthias Mauch is supported by a Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowshi

Information Policies in Spain: Towards the New “Information Society”

The concept of a society based on information and knowledge is becoming the norm in every country, including Spain. The need to have well-designed information policies that allow us to come to terms with the new upsurge of media, technology and services that has taken place in our society is discussed first. Information policies required by these changes in society have been implemented in Spain and are described in relation to the new challenges of the “Society of Knowledge.” Similarly, the background and past efforts made in the field of information policy in Spain are analysed, along with the latest government projects that comprise an attempt to get this country to form part of the “Information Society” with the help of the supra-national information policy of the European Union

Political Dimensions of an Information Society: A General Overview

One of the most dramatic phenomena of the contemporary world is the explosion of technology upon society. Science and technology have made such great advances in recent years that some people consider that we are undergoing a technological revolution. The significance of this revolution is measure by the perceived impact it has both on natural and social systems. Technological innovation is bringing about profound changes in our lives by solving many of our problems and creating others, therefore presenting us with new dangers, challenges and opportunities

Information Era. Conscience Society. Creativity

ttendees will learn about the research and development which will be effected by scientists in the branch of Conscience Society creation in next decades of XXI century. Conscience is usually seen as linked to a morality inherent in all humans, to a beneficent universe and/or to divinity. It is increasingly conceived of as applying to the world as a whole and as a main feature of conscience society. It has motivated its numerous models, characteristics and functions of Conscience for creation the societal intelligent adaptable information systems in Conscience Society. The moral life is a vital part for the world to maintain a Conscience (civilized) Society, so always keep in mind to: accept differences in others; respond promptly to others; leave some "free" time; care about others as if they were you; treat everyone similarly; never engage in violent acts; have an inner sense of thankfulness; have a sense of commitment. Creativity is a result of brain activity which differentiates individuals and could ensure an important competitive advantage for persons, for companies, for Society in general, and for Conscience Society in special. Very innovative branches – like software industry, computer industry, car industry – consider creativity as the key of business success. Natural Intelligence’ Creativity can develop basic creative activities, but Artificial Intelligence’ Creativity, and, especially, Conscience Intelligence’ Creativity should be developed and they could be enhanced over the level of Natural Intelligence. The basic idea for present communication represent the research results communicated at the last two annual AESM conferences [1] [2].Conscience, Adaptability, Creativity, Intelligence, Conscience Society

Society as an information and communication technology

“We explore the hypothesis that the social system (society) is not composed of human beings, but by their interactions and communications (Luhmann, 1984). Social order can then be considered as the complex dynamics of the expectations exchanges among us.” (SISN syntegration outcome resolve - Light Blue group, 2001) Notes on rapportage: This report attempts to capture the ideas presented and discussed during the Light Blue group’s Spring Seminar presented by Dr. Loet Leydesdorff (15Feb2002). They are not intended as a chronological summary of the presentation, but rather aim to (re)present key themes identified by the rapporteur and felt to be of transferable general interest to the whole Systems and Information Society Network. This reporting process may in fact be seen as another example of the communication process as suggested by Luhmann; consisting of information, utterance and understanding. My notes here reflect my utterance of a personal understanding of the meanings intended within our February seminar. I hope that Loet and the other attendees will find some resonance with their own interpretations , and that where this is not the case the difference itself may create some useful further discussion