Virtual Reality

At present, the virtual reality has impact on information organization and management and even changes design principle of information systems, which will make it adapt to application requirements. The book aims to provide a broader perspective of virtual reality on development and application. First part of the book is named as "virtual reality visualization and vision" and includes new developments in virtual reality visualization of 3D scenarios, virtual reality and vision, high fidelity immersive virtual reality included tracking, rendering and display subsystems. The second part named as "virtual reality in robot technology" brings forth applications of virtual reality in remote rehabilitation robot-based rehabilitation evaluation method and multi-legged robot adaptive walking in unstructured terrains. The third part, named as "industrial and construction applications" is about the product design, space industry, building information modeling, construction and maintenance by virtual reality, and so on. And the last part, which is named as "culture and life of human" describes applications of culture life and multimedia-technology

Development of collaborative strategies in joint action

Many tasks in daily life involve coordinating movements between two or more individuals. A couple of dancers, a team of players, two workers carrying a load or a therapist interacting with a patient are just a few examples. Acting in collaboration or joint action is a crucial human ability, and our sensorimotor system is shaped to support this capability efficiently. When two partners have different goals but may benefit from collaborating, they face the challenge of negotiating a joint strategy. To do this, first and foremost both subjects need to know their partner\u2019s state and current strategy. It is unclear how the collaboration would be affected if information about the partner is unreliable or incomplete. This work intends to investigate the development of collaborative strategies in joint action. To this purpose, I developed a dedicated experimental apparatus and task. I also developed a general computational framework \u2013 based on differential game theory \u2013 for the description and implementation of interactive behaviours of two subjects performing a joint motor task. The model allows to simulate any joint sensorimotor action in which the joint dynamics can be represented as a linear dynamical system and each agent\u2019s task is formulated in terms of a quadratic cost functional. The model also accounts for imperfect information about dyad dynamics and partner\u2019s actions, and can predict the development of joint action through repeated performance. A first experimental study, focused on how the development of joint action is affected by incomplete and unreliable information. We found that information about the partner not only affects the speed at which a collaborative strategy is achieved (less information, slower learning) but also optimality of the collaboration. In particular, when information about the partner is reduced, the learned strategy is characterised by the development of alternating patterns of leader-follower roles, whereas greater information leads to a more synchronous behaviour. Simulations with a computational model based on game theory suggest that synchronous behaviours are close to optimal in a game theoretic sense (Nash equilibrium). The emergence of roles is a compensation strategy which minimises the need to estimate partner\u2019s intentions and is, therefore, more robust to incomplete information. A second study addresses how physical interaction develops between adults with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and typically developing subjects. ASD remains mostly a mystery and has therefore generated some theories trying to explain their cognitive disabilities, which involve an impaired ability to interact with other human partners. Although preliminary due to the small number of subjects, our results suggest that ASD subjects display heterogeneity in establishing a collaboration, which can be only partly explained with their ability to perceive haptic force. This work is a first attempt to establish a sensorimotor theory of joint action. It may provide new insights into the development of robots that are capable of establishing optimal collaborations with human partners, for instance in the context of robot-assisted rehabilitation

Spectrum, Volume 26, Issue 4

Highlights include: Rio takes the rings -- Greek life fall rush comes to a halt -- SHU students go nuts for Nutella fundraiser -- Exercising in groups may better mental health -- Trust and Satisfaction with the National News Media -- Yellow Ribbon Program gives back -- \u27Pave paradise, put up a parking lot\u27 -- Student says... Health care debate misguided and misinformed -- Secondlife.com: creepy tool or cool for school? -- GREs, graduate degrees, and additional fees: are they worth it? -- Stay away from the juice! SHU students frown upon steroid use -- He Said / She Said -- Chapel artwork creates buzz outside of SHU -- Orchestra to perform at Edgerton Center for Performing Arts -- Inside the SHUBox: Channel 3 makes fresh start -- Book tops, box office flops -- Phillips exposes truth about \u27Papa\u27 -- Love at first Web site? - The hype of online dating -- Accept relationship request? -- Home, home on the range -- Twitter me timbers -- Celebrity Juice: With Extra Pulp -- Pioneers fall to 0-4; off to worst start in 11 years -- SHU senior to run in Baltimore Marathon -- W. Soccer tops Red Flash, remain above .500 mark -- Expert challenges athletes to make healthy choices -- \u27Midnight Madness\u27 event set for Oct. 16 -- Author Allen Sack speaks to group of SHU students -- M. Soccer shuts out The Mount behind Fredriksson\u27s goal -- Field hockey silenced by Rider at Campus Fiel

Spectrum, Volume 26, Issue 4

Highlights include: Rio takes the rings -- Greek life fall rush comes to a halt -- SHU students go nuts for Nutella fundraiser -- Exercising in groups may better mental health -- Trust and Satisfaction with the National News Media -- Yellow Ribbon Program gives back -- \u27Pave paradise, put up a parking lot\u27 -- Student says... Health care debate misguided and misinformed -- Secondlife.com: creepy tool or cool for school? -- GREs, graduate degrees, and additional fees: are they worth it? -- Stay away from the juice! SHU students frown upon steroid use -- He Said / She Said -- Chapel artwork creates buzz outside of SHU -- Orchestra to perform at Edgerton Center for Performing Arts -- Inside the SHUBox: Channel 3 makes fresh start -- Book tops, box office flops -- Phillips exposes truth about \u27Papa\u27 -- Love at first Web site? - The hype of online dating -- Accept relationship request? -- Home, home on the range -- Twitter me timbers -- Celebrity Juice: With Extra Pulp -- Pioneers fall to 0-4; off to worst start in 11 years -- SHU senior to run in Baltimore Marathon -- W. Soccer tops Red Flash, remain above .500 mark -- Expert challenges athletes to make healthy choices -- \u27Midnight Madness\u27 event set for Oct. 16 -- Author Allen Sack speaks to group of SHU students -- M. Soccer shuts out The Mount behind Fredriksson\u27s goal -- Field hockey silenced by Rider at Campus Fiel

Using MapReduce Streaming for Distributed Life Simulation on the Cloud

Distributed software simulations are indispensable in the study of large-scale life models but often require the use of technically complex lower-level distributed computing frameworks, such as MPI. We propose to overcome the complexity challenge by applying the emerging MapReduce (MR) model to distributed life simulations and by running such simulations on the cloud. Technically, we design optimized MR streaming algorithms for discrete and continuous versions of Conway’s life according to a general MR streaming pattern. We chose life because it is simple enough as a testbed for MR’s applicability to a-life simulations and general enough to make our results applicable to various lattice-based a-life models. We implement and empirically evaluate our algorithms’ performance on Amazon’s Elastic MR cloud. Our experiments demonstrate that a single MR optimization technique called strip partitioning can reduce the execution time of continuous life simulations by 64%. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to propose and evaluate MR streaming algorithms for lattice-based simulations. Our algorithms can serve as prototypes in the development of novel MR simulation algorithms for large-scale lattice-based a-life models.https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/scs_books/1014/thumbnail.jp

Computational Intelligence in Electromyography Analysis

Electromyography (EMG) is a technique for evaluating and recording the electrical activity produced by skeletal muscles. EMG may be used clinically for the diagnosis of neuromuscular problems and for assessing biomechanical and motor control deficits and other functional disorders. Furthermore, it can be used as a control signal for interfacing with orthotic and/or prosthetic devices or other rehabilitation assists. This book presents an updated overview of signal processing applications and recent developments in EMG from a number of diverse aspects and various applications in clinical and experimental research. It will provide readers with a detailed introduction to EMG signal processing techniques and applications, while presenting several new results and explanation of existing algorithms. This book is organized into 18 chapters, covering the current theoretical and practical approaches of EMG research

The incorporation of smart production in future factories within the fourth industrial revolution towards 2030

Industry 4.0 is impressively creating a lasting impact on the manufacturing industry and on the industry outlook on the benefits of the implementation of new technology. The concept currently trending entails merging cyber systems, the Internet of Things, and the Internet of Systems all together to construct the revolutionary ‘Smart Factories’. The use of advanced technologies brings about new methodologies to improve the results of manufacturing. Complex activities will be performed by machines equipped in using intelligent information systems and new technology to improve productivity, enhance quality, and reduce costs of manufacturing products. South Africa is at the height of the ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution’ (4IR) which will essentially change the way we work. This innovative rubric of high-tech modernisation is characterised by a merging of technologies from the physical, digital, biological, and neuro-technological spheres. The hesitation over jobs being substituted with co-bots, a robot envisioned to actually cooperate with humans in a communal workplace, is profound. Skills volatility is estimated to affect all industries. There are uncertainties that the underprivileged and non-skilled would be thrust into an even profounder deficiency with the upsurge of the digital age. Organisations regard robotics and modern technology as strategic corporate tools that are utilised to enhance short- and long-term profitability and achieve operating goals. In dissimilarity, the application of robotics and modern technology in the place of work increases labour stability concerns, anxiety of downsizings and terminations within the workforce. The purpose of this research was to heighten the comprehension of smart factories in the manufacturing industry by conclusively embracing a methodical examination of the factors which influence the outlook of those involved concerning smart factory implementation and also of assessing the readiness of the South African manufacturing industry for 4IR towards 2030. The ‘golden thread’ running through the study is the significance of the impact of the 4IR on the workforce and the creation of new jobs for the future, the reskilling of the workforce and the enhancement of capabilities of future factories in embracing the implementation and the incorporation of advanced manufacturing principles in production processes. This must form a substantial consideration in the preparation of the vision of the “Incorporation of smart production in future factories within the fourth industrial revolution towards 2030”. The results of the in-depth analysis of future studies practice and theory in this research study give credibility to the argument that the way in which planning for the future of the 4IR in the South African context is taking place requires insightful adaptation by all stakeholders. The development of new insights through the application of futures studies is vital to this planning process, as is progressively demonstrated in the propensity for present-day business to enable collaborative decisions and strategies that are established on, and informed by, futures studies. This research has attempted to gain insight into the possible future of the implementation of 4IR elements within the future manufacturing factories in South Africa through the creation of four scenarios towards 2030. These are defined as follows: The Fifth Element, which is the ‘best case’ scenario, and to which the country aspires; the ‘worst case’ scenario, in which everything goes badly; the outlier future founded on a surprising, disruptive, emerging matter; and ‘business as usual’ in which no change takes place. The research additionally made efforts to determine the preferred future for the 4IR from a South African perspective, as a base for the Future Vision of the 4IR in the South African manufacturing industry towards 2030. Throughout this study, Inayatullah’s (2008) pillars of futures studies were implemented as a guide in mapping the present and future, further deepening and widening the future through the development of scenarios and, lastly, by transforming the future by narrowing it down to the preferred future. The South African manufacturing sector must select which path to follow in the decisions surrounding the acceptance of the 4IR as the country progresses towards aligning itself with the global players in technology acceptance. Through a unique and innovative approach, the establishment of an atmosphere of trust and the sharing of purpose, values and benefits, a collective Future Vision of the implementing of 4IR elements such as smart production in future factories within South Africa towards 2030, is achievable. All stakeholders must be committed to operating in collaborative partnerships, with government, society, local communities and the workforce all treading boldly together into a sphere of technological, commercial, environmental and social innovation

To make the world smarter and safer

Матеріали ІХ міжвузівської науково-практичної конференції лінгвістичного навчально-методичного центру кафедри іноземних мов, м. Суми, 26 березня 2015 р