2012-2013
Real-Time Software Architecture Recovery and Consistency: A Multi-Case Study
Nour Ali
University of Brighton
1 May 2013, Watts 504 @ 1pm
Abstract
Architecting software systems is an integral part of the software development lifecycle. However, often the implementation of the resultant software ends up diverging from the designed architecture due to factors such as time pressures on the development team during implementation/evolution, or the lack of architectural awareness on the part of (possibly new) programmers. In such circumstances, the quality requirements addressed by the as-designed architecture are likely to be unaddressed by the as-implemented system.
This talk reports on in-vivo case studies of the JITAAC, a tool which supports real-time Reflexion Modeling for architecture recovery and on-going consistency. It describes our experience conducting architectural recovery sessions on three deployed, commercial software systems in two companies with the tool, as a first step towards ongoing architecture consistency in these systems. Our findings provide the first in-depth characterization of real-time Reflexion-based architectural recovery in practice, highlighting the architectural recovery agendas at play, the modeling approaches employed, the mapping approaches employed and characterizing the inconsistencies encountered. Our findings also discuss the usefulness of the JITAAC for these companies. .
Real-Time Software Architecture Recovery and Consistency: A Multi-Case Study
Nour Ali
University of Brighton
24 April February 2013, Watts 504 @ 1pm
Abstract
Architecting software systems is an integral part of the software development lifecycle. However, often the implementation of the resultant software ends up diverging from the designed architecture due to factors such as time pressures on the development team during implementation/evolution, or the lack of architectural awareness on the part of (possibly new) programmers. In such circumstances, the quality requirements addressed by the as-designed architecture are likely to be unaddressed by the as-implemented system.
This talk reports on in-vivo case studies of the JITAAC, a tool which supports real-time Reflexion Modeling for architecture recovery and on-going consistency. It describes our experience conducting architectural recovery sessions on three deployed, commercial software systems in two companies with the tool, as a first step towards ongoing architecture consistency in these systems. Our findings provide the first in-depth characterization of real-time Reflexion-based architectural recovery in practice, highlighting the architectural recovery agendas at play, the modeling approaches employed, the mapping approaches employed and characterizing the inconsistencies encountered. Our findings also discuss the usefulness of the JITAAC for these companies. .
Enrichment of boundary element and finite element approximations using non-polynomial functions
Jon Trevelyan,
Professor in the Mechanics group at the School of Engineering
Durham University
22 February 2013, Watts 504 @ 1pm
Abstract
The Finite Element Method (FEM) and Boundary Element Method (BEM) are well established computational methods for solving a wide variety of problems in science and engineering. While their use is widespread, there are classes of problems for which the classical approaches based on polynomials are cumbersome, sometimes to the extent that they become inapplicable. Recent advances have been made in "enriched" FEM and BEM approximations that show how efficient and highly accurate solutions can be obtained to many of these more challenging problems. The enrichment comes from injecting other functions into the approximation that are better suited (in one way or another) to the problem at hand. In this seminar, the focus will be on obtaining accurate and efficient solutions to problems in high frequency wave scattering, fracture mechanics and thermal transients.Collaboration among the Academic Research Community in Kenya
Petronilla Muriithi
PhD Student
University of Brighton
13 February 2013, Watts 504 @ 1pm
Abstract
Research in developing countries is faced with many problems, with most institutions of higher learning characterized by low levels of research output. Many scholars are in agreement that collaboration in research yields a number of benefits, and could be seen as a means of promoting research systems and productivity in the developing countries.
Many studies on research collaborations have focused on the developed world, with reference to the issue in developing countries mainly based on assumptions and generalizations that need verification. This presentation focuses on initial findings of an in-depth investigation into the scientific academic research community in Kenya, involving 248 participants within four disciplines across four major Kenyan universities, seeking to understand their organization, collaborative processes and practices, as well as how ICTs are being used to support the activities of their collaborations. I will also discuss the major challenges faced by the group under study in their endeavors to do collaborative research. This study aims at devising strategies for promoting ICT mediated collaboration and communication within the academic research community in Kenya and developing countries as a whole.
Downloadable, low-cost tangible user interfaces
Dr Enrico Costanza,
University of Southampton
23 January 2013, Watts 504 @ 1pm
Abstract
Audio d-touch is a collection of tangible user interfaces (TUIs) for real-time musical composition and performance. The collection includes a drum machine and a sampling sequencer, both are controlled by spatially arranging physical objects on an interactive table surface. Each object represents a sound, and its position with respect to the surface is mapped to certain playback parameters. For example, the horizontal position of an object represents the timing of the sound. The system is extremely low cost and now it can be freely and fully downloaded from http://www.d-touch.org/audio. All is needed to get audio d-touch to work is a standard computer (PC or Mac) with a webcam and a printer.The extremely low-cost nature of the system makes it a convenient research tool for Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), in particular to study how people adopt TUIs in everyday environments, an area that is to date under investigated. In this talk I will present initial results from a remote observation of audio d-touch, the visual recognition technology that made its implementation and distribution possible. I will discuss challenges and opportunities related to large-scale deployment of TUIs.
Making the most out of the Higher Education Academy (HEA)
Dr Mark Ratcliffe,
Higher Education Academy
5 December 2012, Watts 504 @ 1pm
Abstract
Mark Ratcliffe is Discipline Lead for Computing in the Higher Education Academy. He has extensive experience of academia having been a lecturer, senior lecturer and Director of Teaching in Computer Science at Aberystwyth University for over 25 years. For three years Mark was Director of University Engagement at e-skills UK, the sector skills council for Business and IT. Mark will give an overview of HEA activities and in particular discuss the various funding opportunities that are available for Brighton.Graph Drawings: as created by users (or 'Is one experiment enough?')
Helen Purchase
Senior Lecturer in the School of Computing Science at the University of Glasgow
21 November 2012, Watts 504 @ 1pm
Abstract
Much effort has been spent on designing algorithms for the automatic layout of graphs. Typically, the worth of these algorithms has been determined by their computational efficiency and by the extent to which the graph drawings they produce conform to pre-defined "aesthetics" (for example, minimising the number of edge crosses and edge bends, or maximising symmetry).
Prior experimental work has focussed on the extent to which the layout of a graph drawing assists with the comprehension of the embodied relational information. This seminar presents an alternate approach to determining the relative worth of graph layout aesthetics, based on how users create their own graph drawings. The seminar will present the results of both the published research experiments, as well as two follow-up studies.
Dr Helen Purchase is Senior Lecturer in the School of Computing Science at the University of Glasgow. She has worked in the area of empirical studies of graph layout for several years, and also has research interests in visual aesthetics, task-based empirical design, collaborative learning in higher education, and sketch tools for design. She has recently written a book on Empirical methods for HCI research.
A fleet of smart e-bikes in Brighton
Dr F Behrendt and Dr C Kiefer
University of Brighton
31 October 2012, Watts 504 @ 1pm
Abstract
This talk explains the development of a fleet of 20 'smart e-bikes' that are currently out in a trial with commuters of a Brighton-based insurance company. It will particularly focus on the modular monitoring toolkit that has been developed to collect data about the usage of the bikes. It combines GPS tracking, ioio boards, sensors, android phones, custom-made electronics and a server to collect a variety of data. The collected data can be used both for analysis and for providing feedback to the trial participants using the e-bikes.The smart e-bike fleet is at the heart of the 3-year EPSRC-funded project titled 'Understanding how commuters and communities engage with electrically-assisted cycling'. This project aims to understand the issues for policy, design/product development and research that could lead to a higher uptake of e-bikes in the UK, and thereby potentially reduce carbon emissions. Electrically-assisted bicycles – also known as pedelecs and e-bikes –have a small electric motor powered by a rechargeable battery that can be switched on to assist pedaling.
Perspectives on Source-Code Plagiarism
Mike Joy
Associate Professor, Dept. of Computer Science, University of Warwick
24 October 2012, Watts 504 @ 1pm
Abstract
Prevention and detection of plagiarism have formed the basis for many research projects, but student perceptions on plagiarism are arguably not well understood, and this is particularly true in the computing disciplines. Two recent studies have focused on aspects of the student experience, (i) a specific understanding of what source-code plagiarism means for students, and (ii) the types of plagiaristic activity that students engage in. We look at the results of the studies and reflect on the implications for educating computing students about how they should avoid source-code plagiarism.