An information assistant system for the prevention of tunnel vision in crisis management

In the crisis management environment, tunnel vision is a set of bias in decision makers’ cognitive process which often leads to incorrect understanding of the real crisis situation, biased perception of information, and improper decisions. The tunnel vision phenomenon is a consequence of both the challenges in the task and the natural limitation in a human being’s cognitive process. An information assistant system is proposed with the purpose of preventing tunnel vision. The system serves as a platform for monitoring the on-going crisis event. All information goes through the system before arrives at the user. The system enhances the data quality, reduces the data quantity and presents the crisis information in a manner that prevents or repairs the user’s cognitive overload. While working with such a system, the users (crisis managers) are expected to be more likely to stay aware of the actual situation, stay open minded to possibilities, and make proper decisions

Hashing for Similarity Search: A Survey

Similarity search (nearest neighbor search) is a problem of pursuing the data items whose distances to a query item are the smallest from a large database. Various methods have been developed to address this problem, and recently a lot of efforts have been devoted to approximate search. In this paper, we present a survey on one of the main solutions, hashing, which has been widely studied since the pioneering work locality sensitive hashing. We divide the hashing algorithms two main categories: locality sensitive hashing, which designs hash functions without exploring the data distribution and learning to hash, which learns hash functions according the data distribution, and review them from various aspects, including hash function design and distance measure and search scheme in the hash coding space

Induced gamma-band activity is related to the time point of object identification

Peer reviewedPostprin

Design of communication systems based on broadband sources for fiber and free space optical links

[ES] Las comunicaciones ópticas inalámbricas (OWC) constituyen una tecnología muy prometedora para el desarrollo de futuras comunicaciones inalámbricas. De hecho, ha despertado un interés creciente entre los investigadores y varias empresas de todo el mundo trabajan actualmente en el desarrollo de redes inalámbricas de muy alta velocidad. Las comunidades científica e industrial consideran la OWC como una tecnología complementaria en sus diversas formas: comunicaciones ópticas en el espacio libre (FSO), comunicaciones de luz visible (VLC) o fidelidad de la luz (Li-Fi). El espectro óptico ha sido considerado durante muchos años como una gran oportunidad para las comunicaciones inalámbricas, especialmente debido a la saturación del espectro de radiofrecuencia (RF). Esta disertación trata del uso de fuentes de banda ancha en sistemas de transmisión de luz visible (VLC), así como en sistemas de transmisión en el espectro infrarrojo por fibra óptica. En el trabajo de investigación realizado se pueden distinguir tres partes: En la primera parte, se considera el estudio y la simulación de componentes de Diodos Emisores de Luz (LED) con el software WIEN2k centrándose en las propiedades ópticas y eléctricas de los elementos II-VI. La segunda parte trata del diseño, la implementación y las pruebas de diferentes prototipos de comunicación VLC para la transmisión analógica y digital en modo simplex y semidúplex. Hemos demostrado un sistema OWC empleando una fuente de banda ancha (LED) para la transmisión no sólo de datos, sino también para la transmisión inalámbrica de energía. Además, se aborda el problema de la sincronización y la detección del nivel "1" o "0" de un bit en los sistemas de comunicación inalámbrica óptica implementados que surge como consecuencia de la atenuación de la luz a lo largo de la distancia y al problema de la pérdida de línea de visión (NLOS) entre el emisor y el receptor. Para hacer frente a este problema, se ha proporcionado un protocolo de comunicación que garantiza la transmisión fiable de datos digitales con un algoritmo de detección de nivel de bits adaptativo y se ha demostrado su eficacia mediante la transmisión de textos e imágenes. Además, esta tesis aporta una solución para la implementación de transmisores multiplexados en redes con división de longitud de onda (WDM) para formatos de modulación con multiplexación por división de frecuencia ortogonal (OFDM) basados en el uso de fuentes de banda ancha en el espectro infrarrojo para redes de fibra bidireccionales centralizadas. A pesar de las limitaciones impuestas por la dispersión cromática en el uso de este tipo de fuentes ópticas, la inclusión de ciertas estructuras antes de la detección permite la transmisión de señales OFDM en enlaces ópticos. En este trabajo se ha demostrado experimentalmente la reutilización de portadoras, la asignación dinámica de ancho de banda y la transmisión de señales OFDM multibanda mediante el uso de fuentes ópticas de banda ancha en redes WDM. Los principales resultados obtenidos en cada parte de esta tesis doctoral muestran los procedimientos de estudio, la eficacia de las soluciones propuestas y las limitaciones encontradas.[CA] Les comunicacions òptiques sense fils (OWC) constitueixen una tecnologia molt prometedora per al desenvolupament de futures comunicacions sense fils. De fet, ha despertat un interés creixent entre els investigadors i diverses empreses de tot el món treballen actualment en el desenvolupament de xarxes sense fils de molt alta velocitat. Les comunitats científica i industrial consideren la OWC com una tecnologia complementària en les seues diverses formes: comunicacions òptiques en l'espai lliure (FSO), comunicacions de llum visible (VLC) o fidelitat de la llum (Li-Fi). L'espectre òptic ha sigut considerat durant molts anys com una gran oportunitat per a les comunicacions sense fils, especialment a causa de la saturació de l'espectre de radiofreqüència (RF). Aquesta dissertació tracta de l'ús de fonts de banda ampla en sistemes de transmissió de llum visible (VLC), així com en sistemes de transmissió en l'espectre infraroig per fibra òptica. En el treball de recerca realitzat es poden distingir tres parts: ¿ En la primera part, es considera l'estudi i la simulació de components de Díodes Emissors de Llum (LED) amb el software WIEN2k centrant-se en les propietats òptiques i elèctriques dels elements II-VI. ¿ La segona part tracta del disseny, la implementació i les proves de diferents prototips de comunicació VLC per a la transmissió analògica i digital de manera simplex i semidúplex. Hem demostrat un sistema OWC emprant una font de banda ampla (LED) per a la transmissió no sols de dades, sinó també per a la transmissió sense fil d'energia. A més, s'aborda el problema de la sincronització i la detecció del nivell "1" o "0" d'un bit en els sistemes de comunicació sense fil òptica implementats, que sorgeix a conseqüència de l'atenuació de la llum al llarg de la distància i al problema de la pèrdua de línia de visió (NLOS) entre l'emissor i el receptor. Per a fer front a aquest problema, s'ha proporcionat un protocol de comunicació que garanteix la transmissió fiable de dades digitals amb un algorisme de detecció de nivell de bits adaptatiu i s'ha demostrat la seua eficàcia mitjançant la transmissió de textos i imatges. ¿ A més, aquesta tesi aporta una solució per a la implementació de transmissors multiplexats en xarxes amb divisió de longitud d'ona (WDM) per a formats de modulació amb multiplexació per divisió de freqüència ortogonal (OFDM) basats en l'ús de fonts de banda ampla en l'espectre infraroig per a xarxes de fibra bidireccionals centralitzades. Malgrat les limitacions imposades per la dispersió cromàtica en l'ús d'aquest tipus de fonts òptiques, la inclusió d'unes certes estructures abans de la detecció permet la transmissió de senyals OFDM en enllaços òptics. En aquest treball s'ha demostrat experimentalment la reutilització de portadores, l'assignació dinàmica d'amplada de banda i la transmissió de senyals OFDM multibanda mitjançant l'ús de fonts òptiques de banda ampla en xarxes WDM. Els principals resultats obtinguts en cada part d'aquesta tesi doctoral mostren els procediments d'estudi, l'eficàcia de les solucions proposades i les limitacions trobades.[EN] Optical wireless communication (OWC) is a very promising technology for future wireless communications developments. It has attracted increasing interest from researchers and several companies around the world are currently working on the development of very high-speed wireless networks. The scientific and industrial communities believe that OWC will be a complementary technology in its various forms: Free Space Optical communications (FSO), Visible Light Communications (VLC), Light Fidelity (Li-Fi). In fact, the optical spectrum has been considered for many years as a great opportunity for wireless communications especially due to the saturation of the radio frequency (RF) spectrum. This dissertation deals with the use of broadband sources in visible light transmission systems (VLC) as well as fiber optic systems. To carry out the research, three parts can be distinguished: In the first part, we consider the study and simulation of Light Emitting Diode (LED) components with the WIEN2k software by focusing on the optical and electrical properties of elements II-VI. The second part deals with the design, implementation and testing of different VLC communication prototypes for analog and digital transmission in simplex and half-duplex mode. We have demonstrated that an OWC system using a broadband source (i.e. an LED) can be used not only for data transmission, but also for wireless power transmission. Moreover, the synchronization problem and the detection of level "1" or "0" of a bit often arise in the optical wireless communication systems. This is a result of the attenuation nature of the light over the distance and the problem of Non Line-Of-Sight (NLOS) between the emitter and the receiver. To deal with this problem, a communication protocol ensuring reliable digital data transmission with an adaptive bit level detection algorithm has been provided and its effectiveness has been demonstrated by the transmission of texts and images. In addition, this thesis provides a solution for the implementation of wavelength division multiplexed - orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (WDM-OFDM) transmitters based on the use of broadband sources in the infrared spectrum for centralized bidirectional fiber networks. Despite the chromatic dispersion that avoids the use of this type of optical sources, the inclusion of certain structures before detection allows the transmission of OFDM signals in optical links. Carrier reuse, dynamic bandwidth allocation and multiband OFDM signals transmission will be experimentally demonstrated by using optical broadband sources in WDM networks. The main results obtained during this thesis work demonstrate the study procedures, for each part, the effectiveness of the proposed solutions as well as the constraints encountered.Sekkiou, I. (2021). Design of communication systems based on broadband sources for fiber and free space optical links [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/172542TESI

Change blindness: eradication of gestalt strategies

Arrays of eight, texture-defined rectangles were used as stimuli in a one-shot change blindness (CB) task where there was a 50% chance that one rectangle would change orientation between two successive presentations separated by an interval. CB was eliminated by cueing the target rectangle in the first stimulus, reduced by cueing in the interval and unaffected by cueing in the second presentation. This supports the idea that a representation was formed that persisted through the interval before being 'overwritten' by the second presentation (Landman et al, 2003 Vision Research 43149–164]. Another possibility is that participants used some kind of grouping or Gestalt strategy. To test this we changed the spatial position of the rectangles in the second presentation by shifting them along imaginary spokes (by ±1 degree) emanating from the central fixation point. There was no significant difference seen in performance between this and the standard task [F(1,4)=2.565, p=0.185]. This may suggest two things: (i) Gestalt grouping is not used as a strategy in these tasks, and (ii) it gives further weight to the argument that objects may be stored and retrieved from a pre-attentional store during this task

Proceedings of the 35th WIC Symposium on Information Theory in the Benelux and the 4th joint WIC/IEEE Symposium on Information Theory and Signal Processing in the Benelux, Eindhoven, the Netherlands May 12-13, 2014

Compressive sensing (CS) as an approach for data acquisition has recently received much attention. In CS, the signal recovery problem from the observed data requires the solution of a sparse vector from an underdetermined system of equations. The underlying sparse signal recovery problem is quite general with many applications and is the focus of this talk. The main emphasis will be on Bayesian approaches for sparse signal recovery. We will examine sparse priors such as the super-Gaussian and student-t priors and appropriate MAP estimation methods. In particular, re-weighted l2 and re-weighted l1 methods developed to solve the optimization problem will be discussed. The talk will also examine a hierarchical Bayesian framework and then study in detail an empirical Bayesian method, the Sparse Bayesian Learning (SBL) method. If time permits, we will also discuss Bayesian methods for sparse recovery problems with structure; Intra-vector correlation in the context of the block sparse model and inter-vector correlation in the context of the multiple measurement vector problem

Basic research planning in mathematical pattern recognition and image analysis

Fundamental problems encountered while attempting to develop automated techniques for applications of remote sensing are discussed under the following categories: (1) geometric and radiometric preprocessing; (2) spatial, spectral, temporal, syntactic, and ancillary digital image representation; (3) image partitioning, proportion estimation, and error models in object scene interference; (4) parallel processing and image data structures; and (5) continuing studies in polarization; computer architectures and parallel processing; and the applicability of "expert systems" to interactive analysis

JPEG-like Image Compression using Neural-network-based Block Classification and Adaptive Reordering of Transform Coefficients

The research described in this thesis addresses aspects of coding of discrete-cosinetransform (DCT) coefficients, that are present in a variety of transform-based digital-image-compression schemes such as JPEG. Coefficient reordering; that directly affects the symbol statistics for entropy coding, and therefore the effectiveness of entropy coding; is investigated. Adaptive zigzag reordering, a novel versatile technique that achieves efficient reordering by processing variable-size rectangular sub-blocks of coefficients, is developed. Classification of blocks of DCT coefficients using an artificial neural network (ANN) prior to adaptive zigzag reordering is also considered. Some established digital-image-compression techniques are reviewed, and the JPEG standard for the DCT-based method is studied in more detail. An introduction to artificial neural networks is provided. Lossless conversion of blocks of coefficients using adaptive zigzag reordering is investigated, and experimental results are presented. A versatile algorithm, that generates zigzag scan paths for sub-blocks of any dimensions using a binary decision tree, is developed. An implementation of the algorithm based on programmable logic devices (PLDs) is described demonstrating the feasibility of hardware implementations. Coding of the sub-block dimensions, that need to be retained in order to reconstruct a sub-block during decoding, based on the scan-path length is developed. Lossy conversion of blocks of coefficients is also considered, and experimental results are presented. A two-layer feedforward artificial neural network trained using an error-backpropagation algorithm, that determines the sub-block dimensions, is described. Isolated nonzero coefficients of small significance are discarded in some blocks, and therefore smaller sub-blocks are generated