Rational's experience using Ada for very large systems

The experience using the Rational Environment has confirmed the advantages forseen when the project was started. Interactive syntatic and semantic information makes a tremendous difference in the ease of constructing programs and making changes to them. The ability to follow semantic references makes it easier to understand exisiting programs and the impact of changes. The integrated debugger makes it much easier to find bugs and test fixes quickly. Taken together, these facilites have helped greatly in reducing the impact of ongoing maintenance of the ability to produce a new code. Similar improvements are anticipated as the same level of integration and interactivity are achieved for configuration management and version control. The environment has also proven useful in introducing personnel to the project and existing personnel to new parts of the system. Personnel benefit from the assistance with syntax and semantics; everyone benefits from the ability to traverse and understand the structure of unfamiliar software. It is often possible for someone completely unfamiliar with a body of code to use these facilities, to understand it well enough to successfully with a body of code to use these facilities to understand it well enough to successfully diagnose and fix bugs in a matter of minutes

Nonprocedural Communication between Users and Application Software

This report is a survey of nonprocedural communication between users and application software in interactive data-processing systems. It includes a description of the main features of interactive systems, a classification of the potential users of application software, and a definition of the nonprocedural interface. Nonprocedural languages are classified into a number of broad groups and illustrated with examples. Finally, future trends in user-computer interfaces and possible developments in manager-oriented languages are discussed

Technology assessment of advanced automation for space missions

Six general classes of technology requirements derived during the mission definition phase of the study were identified as having maximum importance and urgency, including autonomous world model based information systems, learning and hypothesis formation, natural language and other man-machine communication, space manufacturing, teleoperators and robot systems, and computer science and technology

On the engineering of crucial software

The various aspects of the conventional software development cycle are examined. This cycle was the basis of the augmented approach contained in the original grant proposal. This cycle was found inadequate for crucial software development, and the justification for this opinion is presented. Several possible enhancements to the conventional software cycle are discussed. Software fault tolerance, a possible enhancement of major importance, is discussed separately. Formal verification using mathematical proof is considered. Automatic programming is a radical alternative to the conventional cycle and is discussed. Recommendations for a comprehensive approach are presented, and various experiments which could be conducted in AIRLAB are described

The design and development of motion detection edutainment maths for use with slow learners’ children

This research is aimed to examine game-based motion detection technology in helping slow learners’ children to improve and enhance their levels of attention and concentration while learning mathematics. The study also aims to explore that game-based motion detection engage slow learners’ children while learning mathematics. Additionally, the current study examined the role of game-based motion detection in improving the attention and concentration of slow learners’ children as compared to normal healthy students, in terms of learning mathematics and the educational outcomes of such classes Slow learners are considering a wide different range of students who are not performing well in their study. These group could be including ADHD, Autism, impulsive students, inattention and many more. In this research, I have designed and developed a motion-based mathematic game using Kinect Xbox to test and check the effectiveness and efficiency of slow learners’ students in compare with normal students. For the above purpose, the game has been designed based on several learning theories such as Mayer Principles of learning, Kolb’s Learning style and Piaget Theory for K5 and grade 6-8 years old. In experiment design, I have used System Usability Scale (SUS) to rate the features and PACES, Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale have been used for experimentation of the participants. For testing, both qualitative and quantitative model have been accomplished. Qualitative model was based on the feedback from expert teachers who are observing the students and quantitative model was based on demographic analysis, normality test, reliability analysis and validity test. The outcome illustrates the value of game-based instruction, in specific physical activities and their impact on children's mathematics. The current study findings highlighted the suitability, needfulness, attention, and enhanced learning through game based instructional design for slow learners. The study answers the advantages of using game based instructional design for the slow learner students

IIASA Reports, 4(2):199-388 (Completing Volume 4) (October-December 1981)

This issue, which completes Volume 2, contains five papers dealing with various aspects of IIASA's research, as well as abstracts of other IIASA publications, and biographies of the authors. The papers included are: -- R.J. Anderson, Jr., "An Economic Analysis of Supplementary Irrigation in Sweden;" -- A. Rogers and L.J. Castro, "Model Migration Schedules;" -- A.M. Khan, "The Possible Share of Soft/Decentralized Renewables in Meeting the Future Energy Demands of Developing Regions;" -- B. Melichar, "Nonprocedural Communication between Users and Application Software;" -- L. Schrattenholzer, "The Energy Supply Model MESSAGE.