2495230
Timbre interfaces using adjectives and adverbs
How can we provide interfaces to synthesis algorithms that will allow us to manipulate timbre directly, using the same timbre-words that are used by human musicians to communicate about timbre? This paper describes ongoing work that uses machine learning methods (principally genetic algorithms and neural networks) to learn (1) to recognise timbral characteristics of sound and (2) to adjust timbral characteristics of existing synthesized sounds.
15050037
Journeys in non-classical computation I: A grand challenge for computing research
1. The challengeA gateway event [35] is a change to a system that leads to the possibility of huge increases inkinds and levels of complexity. It opens up a whole new kind of phase space to the system’sdynamics.Gatewayeventsduringevolutionoflifeonearthincludetheappearanceofeukaryotes(organisms with a cell nucleus), an oxygen atmosphere, multi-cellular organisms and grass.Gatewayeventsduringthedevelopmentofmathematicsincludeeachinventionofanewclassofnumbers (negative, irrational, imaginary, ...), and dropping Euclid’s parallel postulate.A gateway event produces a profound and fundamental change to the system: Oncethrough the gateway, life is never the same again. We are currently poised on the threshold ofa signiﬁcant gateway event in computation: That of breaking free from many of our current“classical computational” assumptions. Our Grand Challenge for computer science isto journey through the gateway event obtained by breaking our current classicalcomputational assumptions, and thereby develop a mature science of Non-ClassicalComputation2. Journeys versus goals
17446260
Genetic Programming with Fitness Based on Model Checking
Model checking is a way of analysing programs and program-like structures to decide whether they satisfy a list of temporal logic statements describing desired behaviour. In this paper we apply this to the fitness checking stage in an evolution strategy for learning finite state machines. We give experimental results consisting of learning the control program for a vending machine.
8792186
Artificial Immune Systems and the Grand Challenge for Non-classical Computation
The UK Grand Challenges for Computing Research is an initiative to map out certain key areas that could be used to help drive research over the next 10–15 years. One of the identified Grand Challenges is Non-Classical Computation, which examines many of the fundamental assumptions of Computer Science, and asks what would result if they were systematically broken. In this discussion paper, we explain how the sub-discipline of Artificial Immune Systems sits squarely in the province of this particular Grand Challenge, and we identify certain key questions.
30236643
Towards a Prehistory of Evolutionary and Adaptive Computation in Music
A number of systems have been created which apply genetic algorithms, cellular automata, artificial life, agents, and other evolutionary and adaptive computation ideas in the creation of music. The aim of this paper is to examine the context in which such systems arose by looking for features of experimental music which prefigure the ideas used in such systems. A number of ideas are explored: the use of randomness in music, the view of compositions as parameterized systems, the idea of emergent structure in music and the idea of musicians performing the role of reactive agents.
846602
Incident and Accident Investigation Techniques to Inform Model-Based Design of Safety-Critical Interactive Systems
The quality of the design of an interactive safety-critical system can be enhanced by embedding data and knowledge from past experiences. Traditionally, this involves applying scenarios, usability analysis, or the use of metrics for risk analysis. In this paper, we present an approach that uses the information from incident investigations to inform the development of safety-cases that can, in turn, be used to inform a formal system model, represented using Petri nets and the ICO formalism. The foundations of the approach are first detailed and then exemplified using a fatal mining accident case study.
10157262
Topology-Preserving Smoothing of Vector Fields
Proposes a technique for topology-preserving smoothing of sampled vector fields. The vector field data is first converted into a scalar representation in which time surfaces implicitly exist as level sets. We then locally analyze the dynamic behavior of the level sets by placing geometric primitives in the scalar field and by subsequently distorting these primitives with respect to local variations in this field. From the distorted primitives, we calculate the curvature normal and we use the normal magnitude and its direction to separate distinct flow features. Geometrical and topological considerations are then combined to successively smooth dense flow fields, at the same time retaining their topological structure.
18914756
The Impact of Time and Place on the Operation of Mobile Computing Devices
Recent improvements in the quality and reliability of wireless communications has led to the development of a range of mobile computing devices. Many portable computers now offer modem connections through cellular and satellite telephone networks. Taxi services, emergency vehicles, domestic repair teams all now rely upon mobile links to central computing systems. In spite of these advances, a number of technical problems still affect the quality of interaction with mobile applications. Electromagnetic interference blocks radio signals. Obstacles in the line of sight can interrupt microwave and infra-red transmissions. Tracking problems frustrate the use of low-level satellites. Transmission delays affect the service provided by higher, geostationary satellites. From the users’ point of view, these problems manifest themselves as geographical constraints upon the usability of their ‘mobile’ device. This lead to delays in the transmission of critical information. These, in turn, lead to the frustration and error that often complicates the operation of mobile computer systems. In the short term, it seems unlikely that the technical limitations will be resolved. The following pages, therefore, argue that interface designers must consider means of reducing the impact of geographic allocation upon the operation of mobile computing devices.
59685614
Supporting Error-Driven Design
This paper argues that two limitations restrict the utility of interface specification languages. Firstly, they provide no means of capturing the cognitive conditions that lead to operator ‘error’. This makes it difficult to distinguish between the normal behaviour of an expert and the mistakes that often lead to problems for novices. The second weakness is that interface notations cannot easily be used to represent and reason about asynchronous failures. This prevents designers from identifying solutions to failures that could occur at many different points during interaction. These are significant limitations because they reflect a pre-occupation with normative behaviour. Unless we have some means of analysing system failure and operator error then we will continue to have interfaces that are designed to support perfect users in perfect environments.
10158972
On the Problems of Validating DesktopVR
For the last twenty years, human-computer interfaces have been dominated by two-dimensional interaction techniques. Things are changing. Techniques that were previously restricted to specialized CAD/CAM tools and immersive VR systems are now being extended to the mass market. The photo-realistic facilities offered by QuicktimeVR and the model based renderings of VRML (Virtual Reality Mark-up Language) provide sophisticated tools for interface design. As a result, three dimensional visualization techniques are being widely exploited in the financial services industry, airports and even off-shore oil production. In January 1997, there were some 2,000 VRML models on the web. By January 1998, this number had grown to over 20,000. Research in human-computer interaction has, however, lagged behind these developments. Few guidelines can be applied to support the design of desktopVR. This paper, therefore, describes three criteria that can be applied to assess the usability of these interfaces. We then go on to validate these criteria against a number of case studies. Unfortunately, it is concluded that standard measures of task performance, successful navigation and subjective satisfaction cannot easily be applied to assess the utility of 3D systems.