2012-2013
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.