Framework For Rapid Prototyping Research Articles

Adaptable dialog architecture and runtime engine (AdaRTE): A framework for rapid prototyping of health dialog systems

Spoken dialog systems have been increasingly employed to provide ubiquitous access via telephone to information and services for the non-Internet-connected public. They have been successfully applied in the health care context; however, speech technology requires a considerable development investment. The advent of VoiceXML reduced the proliferation of incompatible dialog formalisms, at the expense of adding even more complexity. This paper introduces a novel architecture for dialogue representation and interpretation, AdaRTE, which allows developers to lay out dialog interactions through a high-level formalism, offering both declarative and procedural features. AdaRTE's aim is to provide a ground for deploying complex and adaptable dialogs whilst allowing experimentation and incremental adoption of innovative speech technologies. It enhances augmented transition networks with dynamic behavior, and drives multiple back-end realizers, including VoiceXML. It has been especially targeted to the health care context, because of the great scale and the need for reducing the barrier to a widespread adoption of dialog systems.

Detail-Preserving Variational Surface Design With Multiresolution Constraints

Abstract We present a variational framework for rapid shape prototyping. The modeled shape is represented as a Catmull-Clark multiresolution subdivision surface which is interactively deformed by direct user input. Free-form design goals are formulated as constraints on the shape and the modeling problem is cast into a constrained optimization one. The focus of this paper is on handling multiresolution constraints of different kinds and on preserving surface details throughout the deformation process. Our approach eliminates the need for an explicit decomposition of the input model into frequency bands and the overhead associated with saving and restoring high-frequency detail after global shape fairing. Instead, we define a deformation vector field over the model and we optimize its energy. Surface details are considered as part of the rest shape and are preserved during free-form model editing. We explore approximating the solution of the optimization problem to various degrees to balance trade-offs between interactivity and accuracy of the results.

Rapid software prototyping in molecular modeling using the biochemical algorithms library (BALL)

In the next century, virtual laboratories will play a key role in biotechnology. Computer experiments will not only replace some of the time-consuming and expensive real-world experiments, but they will also provide insights that cannot be obtained using "wet" experiments. The field that deals with the modeling of atoms, molecules, and their reactions is called Molecular Modeling. The advent of Life Sciences gave rise to numerous new developments in this area. However, the implementation of new simulation tools is extremely time-consuming. This is mainly due to the large amount of supporting code that is required in addition to the code necessary to implement the new idea. The only way to reduce the development time is to reuse reliable code, preferably using object-oriented approaches. We have designed and implemented BALL, the first object-oriented application framework for rapid prototyping in Molecular Modeling. By the use of the composite design pattern and polymorphism we were able to model the multitude of complex biochemical concepts in a well-structured and comprehensible class hierarchy, the BALL kernel classes. The isomorphism between the biochemical structures and the kernel classes leads to an intuitive interface. Since BALL was designed for rapid software prototyping, ease of use, extensibility, and robustness were our principal design goals. Besides the kernel classes, BALL provides fundamental components for import/export of data in various file formats, Molecular Mechanics simulations, three-dimensional visualization, and more complex ones like a numerical solver for the Poisson-Boltzmann equation.

A Rapid Prototyping Framework for the Development of Virtual Environments in Mental Health

Virtual Environments (VEs) can be used as a tool for the analysis of mental parameters as well as for therapy of special mental disorders. The framework allows the rapid development of virtual environments for scientific psychological experiments. It consists of configurable modules for any type of visualization device, including head mounted display, stereo wall projection, and CAVE. Other modules provide basic interaction methods such as navigation and object selection. The interaction methods are not dependent on specific hardware devices. For the postanalysis of experiments, the framework includes a database that stores all movements and interactions of the users. A playback function shows all parameters of a session including the resulting changes in the VE. Additionally, all interactions can be transmitted via serial connection or internet to external analysis equipment. Because medical measurement tools provide the same protocols, the interaction data can be easily co-related with heart rate, blood pressure, EEG, or other variables. The design of specific applications is supported by an interpreted scripting language (TCL). Using the object oriented extension [incrTcl], typical applications can be described in a very compact form. Beyond 3D interaction methods, the framework supports the fast-application, specific development of graphical user interfaces (GUI). The GUIs are used to enable the psychiatrist to control all parameters of the application. The GUI and the VE are independent applications and communicate via an internet protocol.

Multi-agent simulation of complex heterogeneous models in scientific computing

Electronic protoyping is becoming a part of every scientific inquiry and product design, and is the focus of research in the new scientific field of Computational Science and Engineering. The new grand challenge here is the rapid prototyping of manufactured artifacts and the rapid solution to problems with numerous interrelated elements. This, in turn, requires the fast, accurate simulation of physical processes and design optimization using knowledge and computational models from multiple disciplines in science and engineering. In this paper, we formulate a mathematical and software framework for complex rapid prototyping. Its design utilizes the current computer network infrastructures and high performance computation technologies. Its functionality includes adaptability and intelligence with respect to end-users and hardware platforms. We present the architecture of this framework, named SciAgents, using a multi-agent software model encapsulating a collaborating mathematical method. We also briefly discuss some issues related to legacy software reuse that we faced in the implementation. The design of SciAgents allows wholesale reuse of scientific software and provides a natural approach to parallel and distributed problem solving.

Correction to "Thermal Sensitivity Analysis for the 119 PBGA-A Framework for Rapid Prototyping"

Correction to "Thermal Sensitivity Analysis for the 119 PBGA-A Framework for Rapid Prototyping"

SIERA: a unified framework for rapid-prototyping of system-level hardware and software

Modern electronic systems contain a mix of software running on general-purpose programmable processors, algorithms hardwired into dedicated hardware such as custom boards and chips, electromechanical components, and mechanical interconnect and packaging. Far more time Is spent in designing the boards, writing the software to drive, and integrate the hardware, and other such system level issues, than is spent in designing any application-specific ICs that may be needed. Therefore a systems perspective of the design process is essential, as opposed to the conventional "chip-focused" approach. A design framework, called SIERA, for application-specific systems is described in which higher level aspects of system design, including software, multichip design issues present at the board level, and hardware-software integration are addressed, in addition to the design of individual custom chips. A high-level description of the system as a network of processes is mapped to a system architecture template consisting of multiple boards using dedicated hardware modules and ASIC's as well as software processes running on programmable hardware modules. Application of SIERA's design methodology to a multisensory robot control system is also presented.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>