49 research outputs found
Estudio teórico y evidencia empírica en la aplicación de técnicas de análisis y modelado al proceso de produccción multimedia
La tesis analiza el proceso de producción multimedia con el fin de obtener un modelo que permita mejorar la calidad y la productividad en las empresas y organizaciones dedicadas al desarrollo de aplicaciones multimedia.Para realizar este análisis se parte, por un lado, de un estudio teórico sobre las técnicas de producción informática y sus métodos de análisis, y, por otro lado, de las técnicas de documentación y organización de la producción en la industria multimedia.Estas técnicas se han ido aplicando a diversas producciones multimedia realizadas durante los años que ha durado esta investigación. La tesis recoge los documentos más significativos de estas producciones, siendo esta recopilación en sí misma una aportación a la industria multimedia.Estos trabajos empíricos han permitido definir un modelo que se adapte a las necesidades reales de la producción, aportando los métodos necesarios para incidir adecuadamente en los factores que pueden producir mayores desviaciones presupuestarias y mejorar la organización de las estructuras de producción multimedia.Entre estos factores se destacan:- La necesidad de adaptación a las estructuras de producción concretas de las empresas u organizaciones. Para ello el modelo distingue entre perfiles profesionales y las tareas concretas que se le deben asignar a cada persona. Este hecho le permite al modelo independizar la estructura de producción real de la teórica e ideal permitiendo obtener los ajustes necesarios.- La necesidad de contemplar diferentes procesos productivos en función de las tipologías de las aplicaciones o de las herramientas de desarrollo. En la tesis se aportan algoritmos que permiten la utilización del modelo con estos fines.- La necesidad de responder a las necesidades formativas de los equipos de desarrollo, tanto propios como subcontratados, estructurándose el modelo como una base del conocimiento, documentos necesarios y su estructura, especificaciones para la realización de tareas, etc.- La capacidad del modelo de integrar todos estos factores con los procesos de planificación y control de la producción, costes por persona, por perfil profesional, por tarea, infraestructuras y fungibles.Debido al tratamiento de estos factores, el modelo se convierte en una herramienta válida para ser el soporte de estructuras de producción distribuidas en la red, permitiendo a las empresas explotar eficazmente recursos humanos basados en el teletrabajo.Dada la amplitud de los campos tratados, el modelo permite ser el soporte de futuras investigaciones realizadas en el entorno de la producción multimedia. En las conclusiones de la tesis se proponen varias de estas posibles investigaciones.The thesis discusses the multimedia production process in order to obtain a model to improve quality and productivity at companies and organizations dedicated to the development of multimedia applications. To perform this analysis, on the one hand, a desk study on production techniques and methods of computer analysis, and, secondly, the techniques of documentation and organization of production in the multimedia industry. These techniques have been applied to various multimedia productions over the years he has gone on this investigation. The thesis contains documents most significant of these productions, this collection is in itself a contribution to the multimedia industry. These empirical work made it possible to define a model which suits the real needs of the production, bringing the methods needed to adequately influence on the factors that can cause deviations greater budgetary and improve organizational structures of multimedia production. Among these factors are: - The need to adapt the structures of production of specific companies or organizations. This model distinguishes between professional profiles and specific tasks that should be allocated to each person. This allows the model structure independent of actual production of the theoretical and ideal allowing obtain the necessary adjustments. - The need to look at the different production processes in terms of the types of applications or development tools. The thesis provides algorithms that allow the use of the model for these purposes. - The need to respond to the training needs of development teams, stuff like outsourced, structured model as a basis of knowledge necessary documents and their structure, specifications for tasks, and so on. - The ability of the model to integrate all these factors with the planning and control of production costs per person per professional profile, by task, infrastructure and consumables. Because of the treatment of these factors, the model becomes a valid tool to support production structures distributed in the network, enabling businesses to operate effectively human resources based on teleworking. Given the breadth of fields treaty, the model allows it to support future research in the environment of multimedia production. The conclusions of the thesis proposes several of these possible investigations.Postprint (published version
Virtual reality application applied to biomedical models reconstructed from CT scanning
Postprint (published version
Robotic arm controlled through vision and biomechanical sensors
The project aims to design the control of a robotic arm capable of following the movements of a real hand. In order to do that, a number of different technologies were implemented: manufacture by adding material (3D printing), Arduino board programming and implementing and programming of vision and biomechanics sensors.
The project was developed in 3 stages:
First, making a 3D printing of a robotic arm, which has been acquired with CAD software, for subsequent assembly of all parts.
Second, programming of an Arduino Uno, capable of operating actuators (servomotors), to perform the movement of the hand built.
Finally, developing a programming code capable of receiving, interpreting and manipulating the data obtained by a mocap device (motion capture), communicating with other devices and sending commands to the Arduino Uno controller chip.Postprint (author's final draft
Exploring virtual reality to improve engineering students' spatial abilities pilot study
A Virtual Reality pilot study is conducted to improve the spatial ability of engineering students based on solid geometry scenarios.
The investigation focused on the Graphic Expression and Computer-Aided Design (GECAD) course, specifically on the study of the spatial abilities developed and the assessment of the academic results in the solid geometry module.
A total of 20 participants completed three activities (6 h) in an immersive virtual learning environment (IVLE), using head-mounted display (HMD) glasses.
Modeling exercises of three-dimensional geometric shapes are proposed, based on concepts of solid geometry.
The scenarios are built step by step and the students can regulate the progress between stages while observing the geometric components at the scale and in the point of view they wish.
Beyond academic results, the assessment of student improvement is based on spatial abilities tests: the Differential Aptitude Test: Spatial Relations Subset DAT-SR, Purdue Spatial Visualisation Test: Rotations PSVT:R and Mental Cutting Test MCT. Those tests are applied for evaluating different skills: mental folding, mental rotation and section by a plane.
In summary, a methodology is proposed developing activities in an (IVLE) with 3D modelling software applied in solid geometry, in order to promote the development of spatial ability (SA). Spatial abilities are measured before and after the classroom activities and looking for correlations between the spatial perception tests (DAT:SR, PSVT:R and MCT) and academic results in solid geometry. In addition, we also wish to determine the students' opinion with regard to the proposed activities.
The results obtained confirm the interest in using IVLE to develop spatial abilities in engineering students. Substantial increases of 10,9% in DAT:SR, 8,8 % in PSVT:R and 9,5% in MCT between pre- and post-tests were found. Moreover, the students' opinion of IVLE/HMD activities is positive.
The methodology can be summarized in the following steps:
1. Students take the DAT:SR , PSVT:R and MCT prior to the activities. They also answer the survey on other variables that can affect SA (1 h).
2. The students individually complete the exercises with the 3D modelling software SolidWorks (10 h).
3. The IVLE activities consist of the guided reading by the professor of the completed exercise. The professor addresses the concepts of solid geometry used in each step. The students have a few minutes to view with HMD the animation showing the construction of the geometric shape, and once the representation is finished, they can move freely throughout the scenario, using the keyboard options (6 h).
4. Students solve the (DAT:SR, PSVT:R and MCT after the IVLE activities. At the end, the groups answer the satisfaction survey (1 h).
5. All the students are evaluated on their knowledge of the solid geometry contents by means of a test and 3D modelling exercises similar to those done in class and those described in the IVRL (1h).
6. Finally, the analysis of the spatial abilities test data, the controlled variables survey, satisfaction surveys and the academic results obtained in the solid geometry module enable us to examine the correlations and the strongest determining factors in order to obtain good academic results and propose IVLE activities to improve the levels of spatial ability obtained on the tests.
This paper describes the exploratory methodology used and its results.Postprint (published version
Análisis de la sensibilidad a las condiciones meteorológicas de los innovadores vuelos parabólicos de la aeronave CAP10B
En estudios previos, utilizamos un software de diseño mecánico CAD Solidworks Motion® para simular el movimiento en el entrenamiento de pilotos acrobáticos. Específicamente, se simuló la maniobra de un vuelo parabólico para un pequeño avión con el objetivo de mejorar diferentes aspectos de la maniobra. El simulador se validó con datos experimentales a partir de test de vuelo y se realizó un periodo inicial de entrenamiento con la ayuda de los datos del simulador. Después de esta formación inicial asistida con la simulación, obtuvimos una mejora significativa en la calidad de la gravedad reducida desde 0,1g0 a 0,05g0.
En este artículo, simulamos los efectos de las condiciones atmosféricas en el vuelo parabólico, con el
fin de encontrar el efecto de los vientos transversales en la calidad de la micro-gravedad obtenida. Para conseguirlo, se utiliza un sistema de dinámica de fluidos computacional (CFD) SolidWorks Flow Simulation ®
The design and development of a mobile workflow learning application
The aim of this research is the implementation of a Software Reference Architecture for WfLMS (Workflow Learning Management Systems) with Mobile, Cloud and Collaborative functionalities in order to develop a WFLMS as a native application for the iOS platform.
Workflow Learning is the adaptation of WfMS (Workflow Management Systems) from the business domain in the learning domain. Cesarini et al. (2004) support the e-learning process with a WfMS and makes a perfect adaptation of the learning process as a Workflow, explains in a simple way that a Workflow which is made by participants, actions, documents and a set of procedural rules, can be adapted in a learning environment, the actors involved in the learning process are the participants, the learning activities are the actions, the artifacts students can produce are the documents and the relationship among the learning topics are the procedural rules.
The Reference Architecture has been adapted in order to provide the best WfLMS solution, taking advantage of the cloud, mobile and collaborative functionalities for the learning environment. The Notification Tools module in the Reference Architecture contains the notification tools for keeping the user updated about the state of the Workflow Learning instances, tasks and activities where the user is collaborating. Push notifications and Twitter were used as the principal notification tools.
The Collaboration and Storage Applications in the Cloud module is the repository of the cloud collaborative applications and the storage management applications in the cloud. Google Drive, Dropbox and Evernote are the mobile cloud applications for supporting the collaboration in the WfLMS.
The Mobile Services Tool module contains the API’s for accessing the mobile services available in the cloud, in that way the mobile workflow learning application can extend its functionalities. The functionalities that social media services offer are key for the collaboration in the WfLMS.
Cloud Content Management System Tool module contains the API’s for connecting with the storage services in the cloud (Dropbox, Drive and Evernote), in order to provide the functionality of a content management system (CMS) in the WfLMS
The implementation of the software architecture was the development of a native application for the iOS platform. The application was published in the Apple Store with the name of WOLF (Work Linear Flow). In the WOLF application, the users can create projects and associate Workflows to them, a Twitter hashtag is created for each project so in that way the users can post tweets about the learning activities that are related to the Workflows, the project and communicate with other users for collaboration. The users can open Twitter inside WOLF in order to see the list of tweets related to the hashtags of the projects.Postprint (published version
Realidad virtual inmersiva aplicada al aprendizaje de geometría del espacio
Proponemos investigar las posibilidades de utilizar entornos virtuales inmersivos para mejorar la habilidad espacial de los estudiantes de ingeniería a partir del estudio de la geometría del espacio (solid geometry). La hipótesis que se quiere contrastar es que los estudiantes que utilizan el entorno IVLE (Immersive Virtual Learning Environment) presentan una mejora significativa de las habilidades espaciales así como los resultados académicos respecto de aquellos que no lo utilizan. Esto nos permitirá en el futuro prescribir el uso de IVLE para mejorar las habilidades espaciales.Peer Reviewe
Estrategias en la generación de contenidos para formación Presencial – On-line, aplicado al diseño asistido por ordenador
Postprint (published version
Can frozen sperm samples withstand being sent to space? Considering the creation of a sperm bank outside Earth
The aim of the research is to investigate the effects of microgravity exposure on the motility and vitality of human sperm. The likelihood of human reproduction in space relies heavily on the conditions in which human sperm may act under altered gravity conditions. A first step before longer duration experiments in microgravity conditions are conducted is to model the alterations that frozen human sperm may suffer, and their validation in short-term parabolic flights. It is unknown if microgravity has a negative effect on frozen sperm samples. Our hypothesis is that frozen samples can withstand different gravity conditions without significant alterations.
In order to test this hypothesis, 15 sperm samples from healthy donors were divided in two fractions (microgravity vs ground conditions) and frozen and stored in liquid nitrogen until the day of the experiment. A specific container as payload carrying the frozen sperm samples in vapors of liquid nitrogen was located in the aircraft cockpit, with no manual operation during the parabolas. A total of three parabolic flights (5 samples/flight) were completed during 2018-19 with 20 parabolas conducted in each flight. The parabolic flights allowed for 5 to 8 seconds of microgravity periods, using a CAP10B aerobatic plane operated by Barcelona-Sabadell Aeroclub, with UPC BarcelonaTech and Women’s Health Dexeus, a leading center in human assisted reproduction, in charge of the research. The CAP10B aircraft has successfully proven in the last decade to perform optimal parabolas for both education and research purposes.
After thawing, sperm motility was evaluated by using a Makler® counting chamber and SCA®CASA System as a computerized semen motility analyzer. Sperm vitality was also evaluated by using Eosin-nigrosin staining. The study was approved by the Ethical Board of Hospital Universitari Dexeus, Barcelona (Spain).
Comparing mean values between control group (Earth) and the study group (microgravity) no significant statistical differences were found, in any of the parameters analyzed: motile sperm concentration (106/ml); progressive a+b motility (%), velocity (µm/s), straight line velocity (µm/s), linearity index (%) and vitality (%). Limitations of this parabolic flight are a short period of microgravity and hypergravity peaks before and after the parabolas.
In conclusion, these are the first experimental results published while exposing human frozen sperm to microgravity in a controlled parabolic flight experiment. More in-flight short-term and long-term studies are needed to verify the viability of transporting human sperm samples outside Earth, and to continue advancing the possibility of human reproduction in space.Postprint (published version