A Flexible Shallow Approach to Text Generation

In order to support the efficient development of NL generation systems, two orthogonal methods are currently pursued with emphasis: (1) reusable, general, and linguistically motivated surface realization components, and (2) simple, task-oriented template-based techniques. In this paper we argue that, from an application-oriented perspective, the benefits of both are still limited. In order to improve this situation, we suggest and evaluate shallow generation methods associated with increased flexibility. We advise a close connection between domain-motivated and linguistic ontologies that supports the quick adaptation to new tasks and domains, rather than the reuse of general resources. Our method is especially designed for generating reports with limited linguistic variations.Comment: LaTeX, 10 page

AN EXTENDABLE VISUALIZATION AND USER INTERFACE DESIGN FOR TIME-VARYING MULTIVARIATE GEOSCIENCE DATA

Geoscience data has unique and complex data structures, and its visualization has been challenging due to a lack of effective data models and visual representations to tackle the heterogeneity of geoscience data. In today’s big data era, the needs of visualizing geoscience data become urgent, especially driven by its potential value to human societies, such as environmental disaster prediction, urban growth simulation, and so on. In this thesis, I created a novel geoscience data visualization framework and applied interface automata theory to geoscience data visualization tasks. The framework can support heterogeneous geoscience data and facilitate data operations. The interface automata can generate a series of interactions that can efficiently impress users, which also provides an intuitive method for visualizing and analysis geoscience data. Except clearly guided users to the specific visualization, interface automata can also enhance user experience by eliminating automation surprising, and the maintenance overhead is also reduced. The new framework was applied to INSIGHT, a scientific hydrology visualization and analysis system that was developed by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources (NDNR). Compared to the existing INSIGHT solution, the new framework has brought many advantages that do not exist in the existing solution, which proved that the framework is efficient and extendable for visualizing geoscience data. Adviser: Hongfeng Y

AN EXTENDABLE VISUALIZATION AND USER INTERFACE DESIGN FOR TIME-VARYING MULTIVARIATE GEOSCIENCE DATA

Geoscience data has unique and complex data structures, and its visualization has been challenging due to a lack of effective data models and visual representations to tackle the heterogeneity of geoscience data. In today’s big data era, the needs of visualizing geoscience data become urgent, especially driven by its potential value to human societies, such as environmental disaster prediction, urban growth simulation, and so on. In this thesis, I created a novel geoscience data visualization framework and applied interface automata theory to geoscience data visualization tasks. The framework can support heterogeneous geoscience data and facilitate data operations. The interface automata can generate a series of interactions that can efficiently impress users, which also provides an intuitive method for visualizing and analysis geoscience data. Except clearly guided users to the specific visualization, interface automata can also enhance user experience by eliminating automation surprising, and the maintenance overhead is also reduced. The new framework was applied to INSIGHT, a scientific hydrology visualization and analysis system that was developed by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources (NDNR). Compared to the existing INSIGHT solution, the new framework has brought many advantages that do not exist in the existing solution, which proved that the framework is efficient and extendable for visualizing geoscience data. Adviser: Hongfeng Y

Design of the software development and verification system (SWDVS) for shuttle NASA study task 35

An overview of the Software Development and Verification System (SWDVS) for the space shuttle is presented. The design considerations, goals, assumptions, and major features of the design are examined. A scenario that shows three persons involved in flight software development using the SWDVS in response to a program change request is developed. The SWDVS is described from the standpoint of different groups of people with different responsibilities in the shuttle program to show the functional requirements that influenced the SWDVS design. The software elements of the SWDVS that satisfy the requirements of the different groups are identified

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

Automated Java Challenges\u27 Security Assessment for Training in Industry - Preliminary Results

Secure software development is a crucial topic that companies need to address to develop high-quality software. However, it has been shown that software developers lack secure coding awareness. In this work, we use a serious game approach that presents players with Java challenges to raise Java programmers' secure coding awareness. Towards this, we adapted an existing platform, embedded in a serious game, to assess Java secure coding exercises and performed an empirical study. Our preliminary results provide a positive indication of our solution's viability as a means of secure software development training. Our contribution can be used by practitioners and researchers alike through an overview on the implementation of automatic security assessment of Java CyberSecurity Challenges and their evaluation in an industrial context.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A methodology for producing reliable software, volume 1

An investigation into the areas having an impact on producing reliable software including automated verification tools, software modeling, testing techniques, structured programming, and management techniques is presented. This final report contains the results of this investigation, analysis of each technique, and the definition of a methodology for producing reliable software

Towards a new generation of Learning Management Systems

Vogten, H., & Koper, R. (2014) Towards a new generation of Learning Management Systems. Paper presented at the Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Computer Supported Education, Barcelona, Spain.In this paper we argue that a centrally governed Learning Management System (LMS) still has ample legitimacy in an information society that is ever more adopting cloud computing services in daily life. We argued that control over services and produced data is essential from the perspective of an educational institute for reasons of accountability, quality control, legislation, privacy and reliability. However, the current generation learning management systems are primarily geared to provide ‘additional’ online learning. In ‘real’ online learning teachers and students almost never need to meet face-to-face. All instruction, tests, communication and collaboration is organised using internet and mobile technologies. We propose a paradigm shift for the next generation LMS, discarding the course as key concept in favour of the social learning network concept. We argue that a generic social collaborative portal platform is a good foundation for the development of this next generation LMS. We support our arguments by presenting a real world case and we conclude that we can reuse 80% of the standard code

Automated Java challenges' security assessment for training in industry: Preliminary results

Secure software development is a crucial topic that companies need to address to develop high-quality software. However, it has been shown that software developers lack secure coding awareness. In this work, we use a serious game approach that presents players with Java challenges to raise Java programmers' secure coding awareness. Towards this, we adapted an existing platform, embedded in a serious game, to assess Java secure coding exercises and performed an empirical study. Our preliminary results provide a positive indication of our solution's viability as a means of secure software development training. Our contribution can be used by practitioners and researchers alike through an overview on the implementation of automatic security assessment of Java CyberSecurity Challenges and their evaluation in an industrial context.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio