The future of computing beyond Moore's Law.

Moore's Law is a techno-economic model that has enabled the information technology industry to double the performance and functionality of digital electronics roughly every 2 years within a fixed cost, power and area. Advances in silicon lithography have enabled this exponential miniaturization of electronics, but, as transistors reach atomic scale and fabrication costs continue to rise, the classical technological driver that has underpinned Moore's Law for 50 years is failing and is anticipated to flatten by 2025. This article provides an updated view of what a post-exascale system will look like and the challenges ahead, based on our most recent understanding of technology roadmaps. It also discusses the tapering of historical improvements, and how it affects options available to continue scaling of successors to the first exascale machine. Lastly, this article covers the many different opportunities and strategies available to continue computing performance improvements in the absence of historical technology drivers. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Numerical algorithms for high-performance computational science'

Virtual Reality Methods

ePDF and ePUB available Open Access under CC-BY-NC-ND licence. Since the mid-2010s, virtual reality (VR) technology has advanced rapidly. This book explores the many opportunities that VR can offer for humanities and social sciences researchers. The book provides a user-friendly, non-technical methods guide to using ready-made VR content and 360° video as well as creating custom materials. It examines the advantages and disadvantages of different approaches to using VR, providing helpful, real-world examples of how researchers have used the technology

Virtual-spine: The Collaboration Between Pervasive Environment Based Simulator, Game Engine (Mixed-Reality) and Pervasive Messaging

This paper outlines a project called "Virtual-spine" which aims to convert seated posture data into interactive 3D representations of spine movement. Spine movement information is collected from pressure sensors installed at various locations on the seat. Sensor readings are combined with "chair-id" and user "profile" to obtain contextual hypotheses. The output is delivered via a messaging system developed to help prevent harmful and fixed postures in prolonged sitting. A specific setup for evaluation testing is also outlined

MASELTOV Deliverable D7.1.1: Incidental Learning Framework

This is the first steps towards creating an ‘Incidental learning framework’, and it is a work in progress. It is intended that the Incidental learning framework will facilitate the creation of technology rich learning opportunities for immigrants within cities. The framework will be a descriptive mechanism that permits analysis, a generative tool to support software system design, and it will facilitate the communication of learning design ideas both visually and textually. The framework focuses on incidental learning i.e. learning that is spontaneous and unplanned, in the knowledge domains of interest to the MASELTOV project including health care, culture, and language and information access. However, it provides links and triggers to structured and reflective learning to back up and deepen learning that happens incidentally. This document describes the initial version of the Incidental Learning Framework, presents a few examples of its use, and describes some conclusions and recommendations for work towards the next version of the framework including • Using the framework to develop it, • Extending the literature review, • Gathering evidence about immigrants day-to-day lives, • Running design workshop(s) using the framework

Scaling up: Achieving a breakthrough in adult learning with technology

The first report commissioned by Ufi Charitable Trust. It investigates opportunities for and barriers to the application of digital technology to adult learning. It focuses on possible ways to transform the UK’s vocational education and training system, identifying three main priorities for funding by the Ufi Charitable Trust: * increasing the capability of those involved in running the vocational learning system * exploiting networks to bring together learners, learning content and learning professionals * harnessing computers to support individualised and differentiated learning

Applying simulation techniques to train railway traction drivers

The writer analyses the introduction of a simulator enabled approach to railway traction driver training and assesses whether the transition from a conventional training delivery process has been effective. The evaluation of effectiveness is based on a study of Iarnród Éireann’s simulator system. Evidence is contained within four supporting strands, i.e., the change in relevant operational risk that has been calculated using ex ante and ex post runs of Iarnród Éireann’s risk model, the internal rate of return on the financial investment necessary to effect the change, the results of an operator attitudinal study and the findings of an independent expert audit. The study establishes that simulation is an effective training medium. The attributes of the system and the use cases that resulted in this finding are described. The writer also presents additional value-adding training objectives that could increase the project’s internal rate of return or IRR. The study affirms that the required verisimilitude of a simulator system is a function of the training goals and the nature of the skills under development. Design features and use strategies can mitigate for potential negative effects of simulator operation. The findings have industry-wide relevance for those tasked with providing effective training to the 133,000 train drivers within the European Union

Understanding the challenges of immersive technology use in the architecture and construction industry: A systematic review

Despite the increasing scholarly attention being given to immersive technology applications in the architecture and construction industry, very few studies have explored the key challenges associated with their usage, with no aggregation of findings or knowledge. To bridge this gap and gain a better understanding of the state-of-the-art immersive technology application in the architecture and construction sector, this study reviews and synthesises the existing research evidence through a systematic review. Based on rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria, 51 eligible articles published between 2010 and 2019 (inclusive) were selected for the final review. Predicted upon a wide range of scholarly journals, this study develops a generic taxonomy consisting of various dimensions. The results revealed nine (9) critical challenges which were further ranked in the following order: Infrastructure; Algorithm Development; Interoperability; General Health and Safety; Virtual Content Modelling; Cost; Skills Availability; Multi-Sensory Limitations; and Ethical Issues

The new role for emerging digital technology to facilitate IPD and improve collaboration: A disruptive innovation perspective

© 2020 selection and editorial matter, Derek Walker and Steve Rowlinson. All rights reserved. This chapter focuses on the role of emerging digital technology as a disruptive agent, a role that emerging digital technology can play simply as the catalyst of change. It deals with a consideration of the construction industry and why it is ripe for disruptive innovation. The chapter provides an overview of the emerging digital technologies of particular relevance to the construction industry at this time. It proposes a new role for emerging digital technology in the context of integrated project delivery (IPD), in the role as a catalyst for change. The broader impact of Industry 4.0 has also been discussed elsewhere in terms of collaboration and the integration of knowledge, skills and attributes. In order for new technology innovation to provide the necessary catalyst for the substantive, whole-of-industry changes, required to drive IPD and radically improve the performance of the construction industry, a different perspective is required

Ubiquitous Integration and Temporal Synchronisation (UbilTS) framework : a solution for building complex multimodal data capture and interactive systems

Contemporary Data Capture and Interactive Systems (DCIS) systems are tied in with various technical complexities such as multimodal data types, diverse hardware and software components, time synchronisation issues and distributed deployment configurations. Building these systems is inherently difficult and requires addressing of these complexities before the intended and purposeful functionalities can be attained. The technical issues are often common and similar among diverse applications. This thesis presents the Ubiquitous Integration and Temporal Synchronisation (UbiITS) framework, a generic solution to address the technical complexities in building DCISs. The proposed solution is an abstract software framework that can be extended and customised to any application requirements. UbiITS includes all fundamental software components, techniques, system level layer abstractions and reference architecture as a collection to enable the systematic construction of complex DCISs. This work details four case studies to showcase the versatility and extensibility of UbiITS framework’s functionalities and demonstrate how it was employed to successfully solve a range of technical requirements. In each case UbiITS operated as the core element of each application. Additionally, these case studies are novel systems by themselves in each of their domains. Longstanding technical issues such as flexibly integrating and interoperating multimodal tools, precise time synchronisation, etc., were resolved in each application by employing UbiITS. The framework enabled establishing a functional system infrastructure in these cases, essentially opening up new lines of research in each discipline where these research approaches would not have been possible without the infrastructure provided by the framework. The thesis further presents a sample implementation of the framework on a device firmware exhibiting its capability to be directly implemented on a hardware platform. Summary metrics are also produced to establish the complexity, reusability, extendibility, implementation and maintainability characteristics of the framework.Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) grants - EP/F02553X/1, 114433 and 11394