A Review of Evaluation Techniques for Social Dialogue Systems

In contrast with goal-oriented dialogue, social dialogue has no clear measure of task success. Consequently, evaluation of these systems is notoriously hard. In this paper, we review current evaluation methods, focusing on automatic metrics. We conclude that turn-based metrics often ignore the context and do not account for the fact that several replies are valid, while end-of-dialogue rewards are mainly hand-crafted. Both lack grounding in human perceptions.Comment: 2 page

Equalization in hard disk drive read channels

This paper presents a comprehensive non-exhaustive comparative study of hard disk drive read-channel equalization techniques used in the readback process of magnetically stored information. The main read channel architectures: partial-response maximum likelihood (PRML) and decision feedback equalization (DFE) based systems, are compared in power consumption, layout area, data signalling rate and data density. This work focuses on the key component of the read channel, presenting a continuous-time analog solution for the pulse-slimming equalizer capable of reducing power consumption and die area by a factor of ten, whilst showing equivalent response to a FIR filter implementation.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Why We Need New Evaluation Metrics for NLG

The majority of NLG evaluation relies on automatic metrics, such as BLEU . In this paper, we motivate the need for novel, system- and data-independent automatic evaluation methods: We investigate a wide range of metrics, including state-of-the-art word-based and novel grammar-based ones, and demonstrate that they only weakly reflect human judgements of system outputs as generated by data-driven, end-to-end NLG. We also show that metric performance is data- and system-specific. Nevertheless, our results also suggest that automatic metrics perform reliably at system-level and can support system development by finding cases where a system performs poorly.Comment: accepted to EMNLP 201

Assessing accuracy predictors in megatrend qualitative forecasting in the hospitality and tourism industry

Plenty of literature on megatrends escapes the logic of validation. Most publications on forecasting apply quantitative methods and the use of qualitative forecasting is scarce especially in the Hospitality and Tourism (H&T) industry, which is so sensitive to macro level factors. Alongside this, it is surprising that studies that explore the accuracy of such predictions are scarce which hampers the capacity to improve forecasting techniques. With this in consideration, the main goal of this study was to uncover the potential predictors of accuracy in qualitative forecasting sources in H&T. In order to do so, we identified and selected a set of documents that used qualitative forecasting methods to predict trends in H&T for the 1998-2008 period, and devised an empirical study that puts to test the expected trends against the test of time. With a panel of 14 experts in H&T that indicated what occurred in the aforementioned period, we computed a weighted score of accuracy for each document and classified it according to four potential causal variables (Explicit methods, Number of cites, Multisource, and Multimethod, thought of as indicators of forecasting quality). The model was tested with a fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fs/QCA) which indicated that clarifying the qualitative forecasting methods (Explicit) and having multiple sources (Multisource) are the main predictors of the qualitative forecasting sources’ accuracy in H&T.A maioria das publicações sobre previsão usam métodos quantitativos e a previsão de base qualitativa é escassa especialmente no sector da Hospitalidade e Turismo (H&T) que é tão sensível a fatores de nível macro. Em acréscimo, é surpreendente que os estudos que exploram a precisão de tais previsões sejam escassos, o que reduz a capacidade de melhorar as técnicas de previsão. Considerando isto, o principal objetivo deste estudo foi o de descobrir os potenciais preditores de precisão nas fontes de previsão qualitativa em H&T. Para o concretizar, identificámos e selecionámos um conjunto de documentos que usam métodos qualitativos de previsão para as tendências de H&T para o período de 1998-2008 e desenvolvemos um estudo empírico que põe à prova as tendências esperadas em relação ao teste do tempo. Com um painel de 14 peritos em H&T que indicaram o ocorrido no período mencionado calculámos um score ponderado de precisão para cada documento e classificámo-lo de acordo com quatro potenciais variáveis causais (métodos explícitos, número de citações, multi-fonte e multi-método, tidos como indicadores da qualidade da previsão). O modelo foi testado por via da análise comparada qualitativa de conjunto difuso (fs/QCA) que indicou que clarificar os métodos de previsão usados (explícito) e contar com várias fontes de informação (multi-fonte) são os principais preditores da precisão dos documentos que oferecem previsões qualitativas em H&T

Diagnóstico de la Vulnerabilidad de los barrios Grupo San Lorenzo y Perpetuo Socorro

Treball Final de Grau en Psicologia. Codi: PS1048. Curs: 2018/2019The present resarch is intended to contextualize and address the concept of vulnerable spaces (Article 25) of Law 3/2019 on Inclusive Social Services, and to introduce the perspective of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), when spoken in the ODS11 of Sustainable Cities and Communities. To do this, we propose to analyze and define if the neighborhoods studied are vulnerable spaces according to the characteristics established by law. For this, a qualitative methodology has been used. Two outlying districts of Castellón have been selected: San Lorenzo Group and Perpetuo Socorro. An "ad hoc" interview script has been designed based on previous studies and Law 3/2019. Three key informants have been selected, among the technical staff working in both areas, the methodology followed is based on the work Caravantes (2018). The techniques interviewed, one is the head of the Community Dynamization negotiation, another social worker and the other is the technique of the San Lorenzo playroom, they are people with experience and work in these neighborhoods and able to draw up a framework of their current affairs, in In total, 4 interviews are carried out, since one of the techniques has intervened in both neighborhoods. The interviews have beenrecorded and transcribed, with the MAXQDA program the contents of the interviews are analyzed. The results obtained indicate the vulnerability factors present in these neighborhoods. We made a summary table consisting of the six dimensions of the interview to see these results clearly. Finally, the conclusions are similar for both neighborhoods. They have vulnerability for all dimensions and share in particular vulnerability in the educational and economic dimensions.Con el presente trabajo se pretende contextualizar y abordar el concepto de espacios vulnerables (art. 25) de la Ley 3/2019 de Servicios Sociales inclusivos , e introducir la perspectiva de los Objetivos del Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS), cuando se habla en el ODS11 de Ciudades y Comunidades Sostenibles. Para ello, nos proponemos analizar y definir si los barrios estudiados son espacios vulnerables de acuerdo a las características establecidas por la ley. Para ello, se ha utilizado una metodología cualitativa. Se han seleccionado dos barrios periféricos de Castellón: Grupo San Lorenzo y Perpetuo Socorro. Se ha diseñado un guión de entrevista “ad hoc” a partir de estudios previos y la Ley 3/2019. Se han seleccionado tres informantes clave, entre el personal técnico que trabaja en ambas zonas, la metodología seguida está basada en el trabajo Caravantes (2018). Las técnicas entrevistadas, una es jefa de negociado de Dinamización Comunitaria, otra trabajadora social y la otra es técnica de la ludoteca de San Lorenzo, son personas con experiencia y trabajo en estos barrios y capaces de elaborar un marco de la actualidad de estos, en total se realizan 4 entrevistas, ya que una de las técnicas ha intervenido en ambos barrios. Las entrevistas se han grabado y transcrito, con el programa MAXQDA se analiza el contenido de las mismas. Los resultados obtenidos nos indican los factores de vulnerabilidad presentes en estos barrios. Realizamos un cuadro-resumen compuesto por las seis dimensiones de la entrevista para poder ver claramente estos resultados. Por último, las conclusiones son similares para ambos barrios. Tienen vulnerabilidad para todas las dimensiones y comparten en especial vulnerabilidad en las dimensiones educativas y económicas

Equalization in hard disk drive read channels

This paper presents a comprehensive non-exhaustive comparative study of hard disk drive read-channel equalization techniques used in the readback process of magnetically stored information. The main read channel architectures: partial-response maximum likelihood (PRML) and decision feedback equalization (DFE) based systems, are compared in power consumption, layout area, data signalling rate and data density. This work focuses on the key component of the read channel, presenting a continuous-time analog solution for the pulse-slimming equalizer capable of reducing power consumption and die area by a factor of ten, whilst showing equivalent response to a FIR filter implementation

Design and implementation of an IoT gateway to create smart environments

The paper presents a proposal of a practical implementation for an IoT gateway dedicated to real-time monitoring and remote control of a swimming pool. Based on a Raspberry Pi, the gateway allows bidirectional communication and data exchange between the user and the sensor network implemented on the environment using an Arduino.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Realização de um ZX spectrum em FPGA

Dissertação de natureza científica para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia Informática e de ComputadoresO ZX Spectrum era um computador doméstico popular de 8 bits da Sinclair Research dos anos 80. Os periféricos utilizados pelo ZX Spectrum, como a televisão analógica e as cassetes de áudio, hoje em dia estão desactualizados. Assim, estes computadores não são facilmente utilizáveis hoje em dia. Tendo isto em conta, uma atualização para o ZX Spectrum 48k poderia permitir o suporte de periféricos modernos, mantendo a compatibilidade com o ZX Spectrum 48k original. Neste projeto de investigação, foi escolhida uma placa FPGA Terasic DE2-115 como plataforma alvo para implementar o ZX Spectrum 48k com o seu suporte de novos periféricos. Esta placa inclui uma FPGA Intel Cyclone IV, uma porta VGA, uma porta PS/2, uma I/O de áudio analógica, uma ranhura para cartões SD e uma expansão de I/O para ligar joysticks. O trabalho desta dissertação envolveu a implementação do sistema original completo em hardware reconfigurável, bem como de todos os controladores para os novos periféricos, em VHDL. Para além do hardware, foi também desenvolvido software em assembly para o CPU Z80. Um processador de software NIOS II foi incluído e programado para fornecer novas funcionalidades a um sistema informático antigo que este não poderia suportar de outra forma. Este trabalho demonstra a possibilidade de reutilizar arquitecturas, como a proposta, para atualizar sistemas antigos. Os resultados mostram que a arquitetura modernizada funciona como a original. O projeto completo do ZX Spectrum modernizado está disponível publicamente no Git Hub como código aberto.The ZX Spectrum was a popular 8-bit home computer by Sinclair Research from the 80s. The peripherals used by the ZX Spectrum, such as analog television and audio cassette tapes, nowadays are outdated. Thus, these computers are not easily usable today. With this in mind, an upgrade to the ZX Spectrum 48k could allow support for modern peripherals while keeping compatibility with the original ZX Spectrum 48k. In this research project, a Terasic DE2-115 FPGA board was chosen as the target plataform to implement the ZX Spectrum with its novel peripheral support. This board includes an Intel Cyclone IV FPGA, a VGA port, a PS/2 port, an analog audio I/O, an SD card slot, and an I/O expansion for connecting joysticks. The work in this dissertation involved the implementation of the complete original system in reconfigurable hardware, as well as all the controllers for the new peripherals, in VHDL. Besides the hardware, software was also developed in assembly for the Z80 CPU. A NIOS II soft processor was included and programmed to provide novel functionality to an old computer system that it could not support otherwise. This work demonstrates the possibility of reutilizing architectures like the proposed one to update old systems. Results show that the modernized architecture functions like the original one. The complete modernized ZX Spectrum project is publicly available on Git Hub as open-source.N/

Iterative receiver combining IB-DFE with MRC for massive MIMO schemes

Once we are moving to the 5G system it is imperative to reduce the complexity of massive MIMO (Multiple-Input, Multiple Output) receivers. This paper considers the uplink transmission using massive MIMO combined with SC-FDE (Single-Carrier with Frequency-Domain Equalization). We propose an iterative frequency-domain receiver merging IB-DFE (Iterative Block Decision-Feedback Equalizer) with MRC (Maximal Ratio Combining). We propose a novel approach to reduce the complexity of the receiver by avoiding matrix inversions while maintaining a level of performance very close to the Matched Filter Bound (MFB), which makes it an excellent option for 5G systems.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio