12706002
Computer-Assisted Discrepancy Management - A Case Study in Research Transfer to Industry
This paper reports on the “repackaging” and transfer to industry of research results in ViewpointBased Requirements Engineering (VBRE). Our experience, as indicated here, is a particular case of the problems and solutions that small research groups can find in their transfer from theoretical work to practical application. In particular, starting with a formal approach for discrepancy management, we first developed a “light-weight version” of VBRE and empirically validated their most important claims. Then we developed a software tool (discRman) that encapsulates the main points of the approach and, finally, partner organizations used it in small projects. We think that this “theoretical-empirical-light-weight-tool” sequence can be applied in similar situations, especially by small research groups seeking for transfer of their results to industry. ACM Classification: D.2.1 (Software Engineering – Requirements/Specifications – Methodologies, Tools), D.2.8 (Software Engineering – Metrics – Performance measures), D.2.9 (Software Engineering – Management – Productivity)
1133493
A methodological framework for generic conceptualisation: problem-sensitivity in software engineering
Abstract The first step towards developing quality software is to conceptually model the problem raised in its own context. Software engineering, however, has traditionally focused on implementation concepts, and has paid little or no attention to the problem domain. This paper presents a generic methodological framework to guide conceptual modelling, focusing on the problem within its domain. This framework is defined considering aspects related to a generic conceptualisation, and its application to software engineering—illustrated using the IFIP Case—achieves the called-for problem-sensitivity.
38034228
On the Power of P Systems with DNA-Worm-Objects
We introduce a variant of P systems with string-objects - called worm-objects - inspired in the DNA computing area. These systems work with multisets of string-objects processed by splitting, mutation, replication and recombination. This model is simpler (we eliminate the replication operation) and more realistic (the recombination operation is changed by the simpler one of suffix-prefix or head-tail concatenation developed in the DNA computing framework) than the previous one. The result of a computation is the set of strings sent out of the system. We work with multisets of strings but we generate languages instead of sets of numbers. We prove that, without priority among rules or other control mechanisms, (1) these P systems with at most three membranes can generate all recursively enumerable languages, (2) with non-decreasing length mutation and splitting rules, three membranes are enough to generate the family of context-sensitive languages, and (3) with these restricted types of splitting and mutation rules, four membranes can generate the family of recursively enumerable languages.
7623756
Knowledge Management Systems Development: A Roadmap
This paper approaches the Knowledge Management Systems study, focusing not only in the establishment of essential development activities, but also in techniques, technologies, and tools for their support. Despite of the wide range of existing proposals for the development of this type of systems, none of them has achieved a level detailed enough to allow a direct application. This study is intended to be a palliative for the above-mentioned lack of detail by means of a development guide for Knowledge Management Systems. In this way, the proposed solution offers a clear definition concerning what has to be done and which type of mechanisms should be used for its development.
203567
Separating replication from distributed communication: problems and solutions
Replication and distributed communication are usually tightly coupled. This code tangling forbids their independent reuse and adaptation. In this position paper, the problems resulting from coupling replication with distributed communication are discussed. In addition, a solution based on separation of concerns is proposed. The abstractions for each concern are presented, as well as their composition.
14281129
An abstraction for awareness management in collaborative virtual environments
This paper describes an object-oriented abstraction for the problem of awareness management in Collaborative Virtual Environments (CVEs). The described abstraction allows for different types of awareness information and awareness management policies to be used. It is also described how the defined abstraction was used to support the awareness management policies of two demo CVEs application.
6828563
A Particle Swarm Data Miner
This paper describes the implementation of Data Mining tasks using Particle Swarm Optimisers. The object of our research has been to apply such algorithms to classification rule discovery. Results, concerning accuracy and speed performance, were empirically compared with another evolutionary algorithm, namely a Genetic Algorithm and with J48 – a Java implementation of C4.5. The data sets used for experimental testing have already been widely used and proven reliable for testing other Data Mining algorithms. The obtained results seem to indicate that Particle Swarm Optimisers are competitive with other evolutionary techniques, and could come to be successfully applied to more demanding problem domains.
9321144
Using separation and composition of concerns to build multiuser virtual environments
Developing multiuser virtual environments (MUVE) is a very complex task since it involves several engineering domain aspects such as virtual reality, cooperative work and distributed systems. Furthermore, existing technologies like graphics capabilities, processing power and network bandwidth, are permanently evolving. For MUVE systems to be successfully developed, they must not only deal with all the different aspects that are inherent to these systems but also have the ability to deal with the continuous technology and requirements evolution. To cope with these problems, a software engineering separation of concerns approach is proposed. Concerns are identified for each of the different aspects of MUVEs. To obtain the necessary flexibility, each one of the concerns should abstract its possible variations in order to support the future system evolution. Moreover it is shown how concerns composition has the necessary expressive power to build multiuser virtual environments.
2626702
A Particle Swarm Model of Organizational Adaptation
This study introduces the particle swarm metaphor to the domain of organizational adaptation. A simulation model (OrgSwarm) is constructed to examine the impact of strategic inertia, in the presence of errorful assessments of future payoffs to potential strategies, on the adaptation of the strategic fitness of a population of organizations. The results indicate that agent (organization) uncertainty as to the payoffs of potential strategies has the affect of lowering average payoffs obtained by a population of organizations. The results also indicate that a degree of strategic inertia, in the presence of an election mechanism, assists rather than hampers adaptive efforts in static and slowly changing strategic environments.