84,470 research outputs found
Todayâs voice-based user interfaces:analysis of six paradoxes
Abstract. This masterâs thesis was about voice-based user interfaces, including the history of voice as an interactive medium, acceptance of the medium among users, and modern implementations of the interfaces. Initial problems of early implementations of voice-based user interfaces were about human-machine communication, as natural language of humans is ambiguous and highly interpretable, causing difficulties to machines when interpreting the given queries. Other topics of interest with the interfaces included implementing human-like cues to machines in order to make them more appealing to users, and how humans see inanimate objects when communicating with them. The problems of machinesâ understanding of humans have been reduced greatly, and modern voice-based conversational virtual assistants emerged in the early 2010s. These assistants were examined: what they are, what they have achieved and what does the future hold for them. To evaluate voice as an interactive medium and the assistants, conceptual framework of six distinct paradoxes was used. Prior research, from history to todayâs issues, was used to reflect against the conducted research
One-Chip Solution to Intelligent Robot Control: Implementing Hexapod Subsumption Architecture Using a Contemporary Microprocessor
This paper introduces a six-legged autonomous robot managed by a single
controller and a software core modeled on subsumption architecture. We begin by
discussing the features and capabilities of IsoPod, a new processor for
robotics which has enabled a streamlined implementation of our project. We
argue that this processor offers a unique set of hardware and software
features, making it a practical development platform for robotics in general
and for subsumption-based control architectures in particular. Next, we
summarize original ideas on subsumption architecture implementation for a
six-legged robot, as presented by its inventor Rodney Brooks in 1980s. A
comparison is then made to a more recent example of a hexapod control
architecture based on subsumption. The merits of both systems are analyzed and
a new subsumption architecture layout is formulated as a response. We conclude
with some remarks regarding the development of this project as a hint at new
potentials for intelligent robot design, opened by a recent development in
embedded controller market
JooFlux: Hijacking Java 7 InvokeDynamic To Support Live Code Modifications
Changing functional and non-functional software implementation at runtime is
useful and even sometimes critical both in development and production
environments. JooFlux is a JVM agent that allows both the dynamic replacement
of method implementations and the application of aspect advices. It works by
doing bytecode transformation to take advantage of the new invokedynamic
instruction added in Java SE 7 to help implementing dynamic languages for the
JVM. JooFlux can be managed using a JMX agent so as to operate dynamic
modifications at runtime, without resorting to a dedicated domain-specific
language. We compared JooFlux with existing AOP platforms and dynamic
languages. Results demonstrate that JooFlux performances are close to the Java
ones --- with most of the time a marginal overhead, and sometimes a gain ---
where AOP platforms and dynamic languages present significant overheads. This
paves the way for interesting future evolutions and applications of JooFlux
CREOLE: a Universal Language for Creating, Requesting, Updating and Deleting Resources
In the context of Service-Oriented Computing, applications can be developed
following the REST (Representation State Transfer) architectural style. This
style corresponds to a resource-oriented model, where resources are manipulated
via CRUD (Create, Request, Update, Delete) interfaces. The diversity of CRUD
languages due to the absence of a standard leads to composition problems
related to adaptation, integration and coordination of services. To overcome
these problems, we propose a pivot architecture built around a universal
language to manipulate resources, called CREOLE, a CRUD Language for Resource
Edition. In this architecture, scripts written in existing CRUD languages, like
SQL, are compiled into Creole and then executed over different CRUD interfaces.
After stating the requirements for a universal language for manipulating
resources, we formally describe the language and informally motivate its
definition with respect to the requirements. We then concretely show how the
architecture solves adaptation, integration and coordination problems in the
case of photo management in Flickr and Picasa, two well-known service-oriented
applications. Finally, we propose a roadmap for future work.Comment: In Proceedings FOCLASA 2010, arXiv:1007.499
VXA: A Virtual Architecture for Durable Compressed Archives
Data compression algorithms change frequently, and obsolete decoders do not
always run on new hardware and operating systems, threatening the long-term
usability of content archived using those algorithms. Re-encoding content into
new formats is cumbersome, and highly undesirable when lossy compression is
involved. Processor architectures, in contrast, have remained comparatively
stable over recent decades. VXA, an archival storage system designed around
this observation, archives executable decoders along with the encoded content
it stores. VXA decoders run in a specialized virtual machine that implements an
OS-independent execution environment based on the standard x86 architecture.
The VXA virtual machine strictly limits access to host system services, making
decoders safe to run even if an archive contains malicious code. VXA's adoption
of a "native" processor architecture instead of type-safe language technology
allows reuse of existing "hand-optimized" decoders in C and assembly language,
and permits decoders access to performance-enhancing architecture features such
as vector processing instructions. The performance cost of VXA's virtualization
is typically less than 15% compared with the same decoders running natively.
The storage cost of archived decoders, typically 30-130KB each, can be
amortized across many archived files sharing the same compression method.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figures, 2 table
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