One-dimensional layout optimization, with applications to graph drawing by axis separation

AbstractIn this paper we discuss a useful family of graph drawing algorithms, characterized by their ability to draw graphs in one dimension. We define the special requirements from such algorithms and show how several graph drawing techniques can be extended to handle this task. In particular, we suggest a novel optimization algorithm that facilitates using the Kamada and Kawai model [Inform. Process. Lett. 31 (1989) 7–15] for producing one-dimensional layouts. The most important application of the algorithms seems to be in achieving graph drawing by axis separation, where each axis of the drawing addresses different aspects of aesthetics

Music Technology Education and a Plugin-Based Platform as a Tool to Enhance Creativity, Multidisciplinarity, Creative Design, and Collaboration Skills

Music technology is known to have the ability to enhance creativity and creative development among students. A high level of engagement has been shown among students who studied and developed musical projects, and among students who were intellectually involved in the process of meaningful exploration. When students develop a music technology project, they use their software design skills to build and combine different artistic and computational components. Here we present a creative education method for computer science and software engineering students, it uses Muzilator, a plugin-based web platform that enables developers to develop a project as a set of independent web applications (plugins). Students can share their plugins with others or use plugins developed by others. We examined 75 projects of teams of computer science students who participated in a Computer Music course. We studied the characteristics of these projects and Muzilator’s effectiveness as a creative education and collaboration tool. Some of our results show that Muzilator-based projects received higher creativity and multidisciplinarity ratings than did other projects, and that high-risk projects were more creative and artistic than low-risk ones. We also found a gender-dependency: women tended more than men to develop interactive applications, while men tended to choose more theoretic (algorithmic), non-interactive projects. Keywords: educational method, creativity, music education, software design, multidisciplinarity. DOI: 10.7176/JEP/12-11-01 Publication date: April 30th 202

Autonomics: In Search of a Foundation for Next Generation Autonomous Systems

The potential benefits of autonomous systems have been driving intensive development of such systems, and of supporting tools and methodologies. However, there are still major issues to be dealt with before such development becomes commonplace engineering practice, with accepted and trustworthy deliverables. We argue that a solid, evolving, publicly available, community-controlled foundation for developing next generation autonomous systems is a must. We discuss what is needed for such a foundation, identify a central aspect thereof, namely, decision-making, and focus on three main challenges: (i) how to specify autonomous system behavior and the associated decisions in the face of unpredictability of future events and conditions and the inadequacy of current languages for describing these; (ii) how to carry out faithful simulation and analysis of system behavior with respect to rich environments that include humans, physical artifacts, and other systems,; and (iii) how to engineer systems that combine executable model-driven techniques and data-driven machine learning techniques. We argue that autonomics, i.e., the study of unique challenges presented by next generation autonomous systems, and research towards resolving them, can introduce substantial contributions and innovations in system engineering and computer science