Discovering Dialog Rules by means of an Evolutionary Approach

Designing the rules for the dialog management process is oneof the most resources-consuming tasks when developing a dialog system. Although statistical approaches to dialog management are becoming mainstream in research and industrial contexts, still many systems are being developed following the rule-based or hybrid paradigms. For example, when developers require deterministic system responses to keep total control on the decisions made by the system, or because the infrastructure employed is designed for rule-based systems using technologies currently used in commercial platforms. In this paper, we propose the use of evolutionary algorithms to automatically obtain the dialog rules that are implicit in a dialog corpus. Our proposal makes it possible to exploit the benefits of statistical approaches to build rule-based systems. Our proposal has been evaluated with a practical spoken dialog system, for which we have automatically obtained a set of fuzzy rules to successfully manage the dialog.The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 823907 (MENHIR project:https://menhir-project.eu

An approach to develop intelligent learning environments by means of immersive virtual worlds

Merging Immersive Virtual Environments, Natural Language Processing and Artificial Intelligence techniques provides a number of advantages to develop Intelligent Environments for multiple applications. This paper is focused on the application of these technologies to develop intelligent learning environments. Education is one of the most interesting applications of immersive virtual environments, as their flexibility can be exploited in order to create heterogeneous groups from all over the world who can collaborate synchronously in different virtual spaces. We highlight the potential of virtual worlds as an educative tool and propose a model to create learning environments within Second Life or OpenSimulator combining the Moodle learning management system, embodied conversational metabots, and programmable 3D objects. Our proposal has been applied in several subjects of the Computer Science degree in the Carlos III University of Madrid. The results of the evaluation show that developed learning environment fosters engagement and collaboration and helps students to better understand complex concepts.Spanish Government TEC2012-37832-C02-01Consejo Interinstitucional de Ciencia y Tecnologia (CICYT) TEC2011-28626-C02-02Project CAM CONTEXTS S2009/TIC-148

A Neural Network Approach to Intention Modeling forUser-Adapted Conversational Agents

Spoken dialogue systems have been proposed to enable a more natural and intuitive interaction with the environment andhuman-computer interfaces. In this contribution, we present a framework based on neural networks that allows modeling of theuser’s intention during the dialogue and uses this prediction todynamically adapt the dialoguemodel of the system taking intoconsideration the user’s needs and preferences. We have evaluated our proposal to develop a user-adapted spoken dialogue systemthat facilitates tourist information and services and provide a detailed discussion of the positive influence of our proposal in thesuccess of the interaction, the information and services provided, and the quality perceived by the users

Bringing together commercial and academic perspectives for the development of intelligent AmI interfaces

The users of Ambient Intelligence systems expect an intelligent behavior from their environment, receiving adapted and easily accessible services and functionality. This can only be possible if the communication between the user and the system is carried out through an interface that is simple (i.e. which does not have a steep learning curve), fluid (i.e. the communication takes place rapidly and effectively), and robust (i.e. the system understands the user correctly). Natural language interfaces such as dialog systems combine the previous three requisites, as they are based on a spoken conversation between the user and the system that resembles human communication. The current industrial development of commercial dialog systems deploys robust interfaces in strictly defined application domains. However, commercial systems have not yet adopted the new perspective proposed in the academic settings, which would allow straightforward adaptation of these interfaces to various application domains. This would be highly beneficial for their use in AmI settings as the same interface could be used in varying environments. In this paper, we propose a new approach to bridge the gap between the academic and industrial perspectives in order to develop dialog systems using an academic paradigm while employing the industrial standards, which makes it possible to obtain new generation interfaces without the need for changing the already existing commercial infrastructures. Our proposal has been evaluated with the successful development of a real dialog system that follows our proposed approach to manage dialog and generates code compliant with the industry-wide standard VoiceXML.Research funded by projects CICYT TIN2011-28620-C02-01, CICYT TEC2011-28626-C02-02, CAM CONTEXTS (S2009/TIC-1485), and DPS2008- 07029-C02-02.Publicad

An approach to develop intelligent learning environments by means of immersive virtual worlds

Merging Immersive Virtual Environments, Natural Language Processing and Artificial Intelligence techniques provides a number of advantages to develop Intelligent Environments for multiple applications. This paper is focused on the application of these technologies to develop intelligent learning environments. Education is one of the most interesting applications of immersive virtual environments, as their flexibility can be exploited in order to create heterogeneous groups from all over the world who can collaborate synchronously in different virtual spaces. We highlight the potential of virtual worlds as an educative tool and propose a model to create learning environments within Second Life or OpenSimulator combining the Moodle learning management system, embodied conversational metabots, and programmable 3D objects. Our proposal has been applied in several subjects of the Computer Science degree in the Carlos III University of Madrid. The results of the evaluation show that developed learning environment fosters engagement and collaboration and helps students to better understand complex concepts.This work was supported in part by Projects MINECO TEC2012-37832-C02-01, CICYT TEC2011-28626-C02-02, CAM CONTEXTS (S2009/TIC-1485).Publicad

Providing personalized Internet services by means of context-aware spoken dialogue systems

The widespread use of new mobile technology implementing wireless communications enables a new type of advanced applications to access information services on the Internet. In order to provide services which meet the user needs through intelligent information retrieval, the system must sense and interpret the user environment and the communication context. Though context-awareness is vital to provide services adapted to the user preferences, it cannot be useful if such services are difficult to access. The development of spoken dialogue systems for these applications facilitates interaction in natural language with the environment which is also benefited from contextual information. In this paper, we propose a framework to develop context-aware dialogue systems that dynamically incorporate user specific requirements and preferences as well as characteristics about the interaction environment, in order to improve and personalize web information and services. We have identified the major components for context-aware dialogue systems and placed them within a general-purpose architecture. The framework also describes a representation mode based on a dialogue register in order to share information between the elements of the architecture, and incorporates statistical methodologies for dialogue management in order to reduce the effort required for both the implementation of a new system and the adaptation to a new task. We have evaluated our proposal developing a travel-planning system, and provide a detailed discussion of its positive influence in the quality of the interaction and the information and services provided.Research funded by projects CICYT TIN2011- 28620-C02-01, CICYT TEC2011-28626-C02-02, CAM CONTEXTS (S2009/TIC-1485), and DPS2008- 07029-C02-02.Publicad

Assessment of Genetic Diversity in Five Nicaraguan Populations of Cedrela odorata L. (Meliaceae) using RAPD Markers

The goal of this study was to assess the genetic diversity of Nicaraguan populations of Cedrela odorata using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. Thus, genomic DNA was isolated from leaf samples collected from ninety-two trees belonging to five Nicaraguan natural populations of C. odorata. The mean number of alleles per locus, effective number of alleles per locus, percentage of polymorphic loci, genetic diversity (He ) of Nei and diversity index (Ho ) of Shannon were estimated for each population assuming that the populations were in HardyWeinberg equilibrium. Total genetic diversity was partitioned in intrapopulational and interpopulational diversity using Nei’s genetic differentiation (GST) and through an Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA). The ΦST matrix was used to construct a dendrogram by the neighbor-joining method. According to values of both He and Ho , Esquipulas (Deparment of Matagalpa) presented the lowest diversity level; while La Trinidad (Department of Estelí) showed the highest diversity level. Genetic differentiation was calculated obtaining a GST value of 13.36%. AMOVA also showed a similar differentiation value ΦST =13.81%). Neighbour-joining dendrogram clustered the five populations in two groups, where the group formed by La Trinidad and El Refugio (Department of Granada) presented the biggest differentiation. Correlation between genetic and geographical distances was not found

Diseño de una red full mesh para zonas no interconectadas (ZNI)

In Colombia, in spite of technological and social advances, NIZ still exists in the national power grid; in adition that, in the third quarter of 2018, Internet penetration in the country was only 62%. In addition, it is institutionally found that the Mining and Energy Planning Unit -UPME- (by its acronym in Spanish) and the Institute of Planning and Promotion of Energy Solutions for the NIZ -IPSE- (by its acronym in Spanish) both entities attached to the Ministry of Mines and Energy, had to redirect their functions in order to identify, promote, foster, develop and implement effective energy solutions. The above motivated the present investigation -whose results are described in this paper - with the fundamental objective of mitigating two shortcomings: electrical interconnection and internet connection in villages and municipalities of NIZ located in Caquetá department. Consequently, a full mesh network connected to Internet is designed and simulated at one of its points, together with a photovoltaic system to supply these electrical energy nodes. The measurement results of the parameters on the nodes allow the proper selection of high throughput radio links, providing Internet access for training purposes, education and trade opening, in rural NIZ.En Colombia, a pesar de los avances tecnológicos y sociales, aún existen ZNI a la red eléctrica nacional; a esto se adiciona que, en el tercer trimestre del año 2018, la penetración del internet en el país fue de apenas del 62%. Además, institucionalmente se encuentra que la Unidad de Planeación Minero Energética –UPME- y el Instituto de Planificación y Promoción de Soluciones Energéticas para las ZNI –IPSE- ambas entidades adscritas al Ministerio de Minas y Energía, debieron reorientar sus funciones con el objeto de identificar, promover, fomentar, desarrollar e implementar soluciones energéticas efectivas. Lo anterior motivó la presente investigación -cuyos resultados se describen en este artículo- con el objetivo fundamental de mitigar dos falencias: interconexión eléctrica y conexión a internet en veredas y cabeceras municipales de ZNI ubicadas en el departamento de Caquetá. En consecuencia, se diseña y simula una red full mesh conectada a internet en uno de sus puntos, junto con un sistema fotovoltaico para abastecer estos nodos de energía eléctrica. Los resultados de la medición de los parámetros sobre los nodos permiten seleccionar adecuadamente radio enlaces de alto throughput, proporcionando acceso a internet para propósitos de capacitación, educación y apertura de comercio, en ZNI rurales

Planificación y periodización del entrenamiento de fuerza en base los patrones de movimiento y ligadas al desarrollo motor en Fútbol

Traballo fin de grao (UDC.FCDEF). Ciencias da actividade física e do deporte. Curso 2018/201

Utilización de los sistemas de diálogo hablado para el acceso a la información en diferentes dominios

Ponencias de la Segunda Conferencia internacional sobre brecha digital e inclusión social, celebrada del 28 al 30 de octubre de 2009 en la Universidad Carlos III de MadridLa acción de conversar es el modo más natural para resolver un gran número de acciones cotidianas entre los seres humanos. Por este motivo, un interés histórico dentro del campo de las Tecnologías del Habla ha sido utilizar estas tecnologías en aplicaciones reales, especialmente en aplicaciones que permitan a una persona utilizar su voz para obtener información mediante la interacción directa con una máquina o para controlar un determinado sistema. El objetivo es disponer de sistemas que faciliten la comunicación persona-máquina del modo más natural posible, es decir, a través de la conversación. En esta comunicación se resumen los resultados de la aplicación de estas tecnologías para el desarrollo de diferentes sistemas de diálogo en los que la interacción entre el usuario y el sistema se lleva a cabo mediante habla espontánea en castellano. Para su implementación se ha primado la utilización de diferentes herramientas de software libre para el reconocimiento automático del habla, compresión del lenguaje natural, gestión del diálogo y síntesis de texto a voz. De este modo, el objetivo principal de la comunicación es presentar las principales ventajas que proporcionan los sistemas de diálogo para facilitar el acceso a diferentes servicios dentro de dominios semánticos restringidos, qué posibilidades brinda el uso de herramientas de software libre para su implementación y su evaluación en diferentes casos concretos de aplicación