Imola: A decentralised learning-driven protocol for multi-hop White-Fi

In this paper we tackle the digital exclusion problem in developing and remote locations by proposing Imola, an inexpensive learning-driven access mechanism for multi-hop wireless networks that operate across TV white-spaces (TVWS). Stations running Imola only rely on passively acquired neighbourhood information to achieve scheduled-like operation in a decentralised way, without explicit synchronisation. Our design overcomes pathological circumstances such as hidden and exposed terminals that arise due to carrier sensing and are exceptionally problematic in low frequency bands. We present a prototype implementation of our proposal and conduct experiments in a real test bed, which confirms the practical feasibility of deploying our solution in mesh networks that build upon the IEEE 802.11af standard. Finally, the extensive system level simulations we perform demonstrate that Imola achieves up to 4x\u97 more throughput than the channel access protocol defined by the standard and reduces frame loss rate by up to 100%

Language, ideology, and the human: New interventions

Language, Ideology, and the Human: New Interventions redefines the critical picture of language as a system of signs and ideological tropes inextricably linked to human existence. Offering reflections on the status, discursive possibilities, and political, ideological and practical uses of oral or written word in both contemporary society and the work of previous thinkers, this book traverses South African courts, British clinics, language schools in East Timor, prison cells, cinemas, literary criticism textbooks and philosophical treatises in order to forge a new, diversified perspective on language, ideology, and what it means to be human. This truly international and interdisciplinary collection explores the implications that language, always materialising in the form of a historically and ideologically identifiable discourse, as well as the concept of ideology itself, have for the construction, definition and ways of speaking about 'the human'. Thematically arranged and drawing together the latest research from experts around the world, Language, Ideology, and the Human offers a view of language, ideology and the human subject that eschews simplifications and binary definitions. With contributions from across the social sciences and humanities, this book will appeal to scholars from a range of disciplines, including sociology, cultural studies, anthropology, law, linguistics, literary studies, philosophy and political science. © Sanja Bahun, Dušan Radunović and the contributors 2012. All rights reserved

A Concept for an Evaluation Framework for Reconfigurable Systems

. The design of reconfigurable systems is a hard task due to a huge amount of optimization trade-offs and constraints. Deficiencies at the higher level of conceptual decisions may result in critical bottlenecks of the system implementation. This paper explores the design space and performance evaluation criteria of reconfigurable systems and introduces a concept for an evaluation framework based on these explorations helping to avoid such deficiencies. 1 Motivation The developments in reconfigurable logic over the last decade result in fascinating achievements both in device architecture and software environment. Highdensity million-gates devices, partially reconfigurable logic and multiple-context FPGAs raise new challenges to system developers and researchers. The success of a particular project always depends on the experience and skills of the design team which has to find a suitable solution driven by optimization trade-offs and design space constraints. This process usually resu..