8,455 research outputs found
What May Visualization Processes Optimize?
In this paper, we present an abstract model of visualization and inference
processes and describe an information-theoretic measure for optimizing such
processes. In order to obtain such an abstraction, we first examined six
classes of workflows in data analysis and visualization, and identified four
levels of typical visualization components, namely disseminative,
observational, analytical and model-developmental visualization. We noticed a
common phenomenon at different levels of visualization, that is, the
transformation of data spaces (referred to as alphabets) usually corresponds to
the reduction of maximal entropy along a workflow. Based on this observation,
we establish an information-theoretic measure of cost-benefit ratio that may be
used as a cost function for optimizing a data visualization process. To
demonstrate the validity of this measure, we examined a number of successful
visualization processes in the literature, and showed that the
information-theoretic measure can mathematically explain the advantages of such
processes over possible alternatives.Comment: 10 page
The Iray Light Transport Simulation and Rendering System
While ray tracing has become increasingly common and path tracing is well
understood by now, a major challenge lies in crafting an easy-to-use and
efficient system implementing these technologies. Following a purely
physically-based paradigm while still allowing for artistic workflows, the Iray
light transport simulation and rendering system allows for rendering complex
scenes by the push of a button and thus makes accurate light transport
simulation widely available. In this document we discuss the challenges and
implementation choices that follow from our primary design decisions,
demonstrating that such a rendering system can be made a practical, scalable,
and efficient real-world application that has been adopted by various companies
across many fields and is in use by many industry professionals today
Use of process modelling in product development integration within manufacturing environment
The impact of supply chain on new product development (NPD) and product introduction is particularly important in a time when (i) there are pressures for growing product proliferation in order to meet varied demands and constraints, (ii) the research and development pipeline is a key focus in companies, and (iii) technology life cycles have shortened so much that obsolete inventories and time to market are crucial for companies’ margin performance. This research focuses on the early stages of the collaborative product development process in the extended enterprise and shows it is a contribution to the business world. The output of the research includes the functional requirements of a framework and a developed prototype methodology with tools and technologies that are tested with case studies in the industrial environment. The study also focuses on using modern modelling tools to represent the product development processes of an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and its suppliers
The Evolution Of U.S. Corporate Logos A Semiotic Analysis
The purpose of this study is to examine the evolution of six U.S. corporate logos – Apple, McDonald‟s, Nike, Pepsi, Shell, and Starbucks – from each logo‟s inception until the newest version of the graphic emblem today. The objective is to determine the meanings that logos have for a corporation‟s identity, mission, and relationships, as well as the messages that logos convey to viewers (i.e., mostly customers). By “evolution” of logos here, the researcher means “ongoing transformation” of logos. The semiotic model used in this analysis is Charles Sanders Peirce‟s (1958 [1931]) semiotic framework. Peircean semiotics is made up of a three-part paradigm of signification: the representamen (or the sign itself), the object (or “referent” – what the sign refers to), and the interpretant (the effect on the viewer, or the viewer‟s interpretation). Based on the semiotic data on logo evolution, the researcher found six main themes that emerged across the analyses of U.S. corporate logos. These themes are (1) Direction toward the Future, (2) Identity with Viewers, (3) Instant Recognition and Distinctiveness, (4) Consistency throughout Evolution, (5) Invocation of Change, and (6) True Representation of Corporate Identity. The ultimate conclusion of this analysis is that the communicative intent of a company, through its logo, tends to take a long time to develop. A successful logo is one that portrays the true objectives and principles of a company. For this reason, the ideal identity of a corporation tends to be built over a long period of time, which makes logo improvement “evolutionary” in nature. In all six cases, communication plays a major part in logo improvement
Development of an integrated product information management system
This thesis reports on a research project undertaken over a four year period investigating
and developing a software framework and application for integrating and managing
building product information for construction engineering. The research involved
extensive literature research, observation of the industry practices and interviews with
construction industry practitioners and systems implementers to determine how best to
represent and present product information to support the construction process.
Applicable product models for information representation were reviewed and evaluated
to determine present suitability. The IFC product model was found to be the most
applicable. Investigations of technologies supporting the product model led to the
development of a software tool, the IFC Assembly Viewer, which aided further
investigations into the suitability of the product model (in its current state) for the
exchange and sharing of product information. A software framework, or reusable
software design and application, called PROduct Information Management System
(PROMIS), was developed based on a non-standard product model but with flexibility
to work with the IFC product model when sufficiently mature. The software comprises
three subsystems namely: ProductWeb, ModelManager.NET and Product/Project
Service (or P2Service). The key features of this system were shared project databases,
parametric product specification, integration of product information sources, and
application interaction and integration through interface components. PROMIS was
applied to and tested with a modular construction business for the management of
product information and for integration of product and project information through the
design and construction (production) process
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