Quantifying Quality Aspects of Multimodal Interactive Systems

This book systematically addresses the quantification of quality aspects of multimodal interactive systems. The conceptual structure is based on a schematic view on human-computer interaction where th

Musical robotics is a multi- and trans-disciplinary research area involving a wide range of different domains that contribute to its development, including: computer science, multimodal interfaces and

Exhaustive and empirically validated, this taxonomy of qualitative aspects of multimodal interaction includes an evaluative questionnaire, a breakdown of factors influencing modality choice, models fo

This book presents a different approach to pattern recognition (PR) systems, in which users of a system are involved during the recognition process. This can help to avoid later errors and reduce the

An informative and comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art in natural language generation (NLG) for interactive systems, this guide serves to introduce graduate students and new researchers to the field of natural language processing and artificial intelligence, while inspiring them with ideas for future research. Detailing the techniques and challenges of NLG for interactive applications, it focuses on the research into systems that model collaborativity and uncertainty, are capable of being scaled incrementally, and can engage with the user effectively. A range of real-world case studies is also included. The book and the accompanying website feature a comprehensive bibliography, and refer the reader to corpora, data, software and other resources for pursuing research on natural language generation and interactive systems, including dialog systems, multimodal interfaces and assistive technologies. It is an ideal resource for students and researchers in computational linguistic

This collection of nineteen articles on ubiquitous reliance on digital appliances highlights currents scholarship investigating the use of portable interactive devices in a variety of business, academ

Food Safety and Quality Systems in Developing Countries, Volume One: ExportChallenges and Implementation Strategies considers both the theoretical and practical aspects of food safety and quality syst

Design and Implementation of 3D Graphics Systems covers the computational aspects of geometric modeling and rendering 3D scenes. Special emphasis is given to the architectural aspects of interactive g

This book illustrates how Interactive Systems can help elderly and disabled populations engage with the world around them by finding methods of overcoming the difficulties these communities face when

This revised textbook describes the foundations of visualization techniques, tools, and systems, including mathematical and analytical aspects, human visual perception, algorithms for different types

Design and Implementation of 3D Graphics Systems covers the computational aspects of geometric modeling and rendering 3D scenes. Special emphasis is given to the architectural aspects of interactive g

With the emergence of the Java 3D API, the creation of high quality 3D animated graphics for Java applications and applets becomes a possibility, With numerous aspects of the business, science, medic

The advancement of technological interventions in food quality analysis and safety detection has to be inculcated among these beneficiaries. With a unique blend of both agriculture and animal food segments, this book is expected to occupy a distinct position among the various publications in the post harvest sector. The content of the book is useful both for those looking to begin food science careers and to established specialists. The various chapters define safety and quality aspects of plantation crops, the milling industry, meat, milk, water, fish, bakery, street foods, etc. The book also enlightens readers about the various hazards involved in the food supply chain, pre-requisite programmes, GMP, food safety management systems, and international trading issues. The PRP approach in food safety management systems has been elaborated in a comprehensible manner. Pre-requisite programmes, GAP, GMP and GHP to be implemented before HACCP in meat industry is well detailed in a chapter al

This book reconstructs fundamental aspects of family organization across historical Poland-Lithuania, one of the largest political entities in early modern Europe. Using a plethora of quantitative mea

This edited book includes 12 high quality research papers written by experts in formal aspects of reuse and integration to cover the most recent advances in the field. These papers are extended versio

Ensuring reliable communication is an important concern in short-range wireless communication systems with stringent quality of service requirements. Key characteristics of these systems, including data rate, communication range, channel profiles, network topologies and power efficiency, are very different from those in long-range systems. This comprehensive book classifies short-range wireless technologies as high and low data rate systems. It addresses major factors affecting reliability at different layers of the protocol stack, detailing the best ways to enhance the capacity and performance of short-range wireless systems. Particular emphasis is placed on reliable channel estimation, state-of-the-art interference mitigation techniques and cooperative communications for improved reliability. The book also provides detailed coverage of related international standards including UWB, ZigBee, and 60 GHz communications. With a balanced treatment of theoretical and practical aspects of sh

Risk, Reliability, Uncertainty, and Robustness of Water Resource Systems is based on the Third George Kovacs Colloquium organized by the International Hydrological Programme (UNESCO) and the International Association of Hydrological Sciences. Thirty-five leading scientists with international reputations provide reviews of topical areas of research on water resource systems, including aspects of extreme hydrological events: floods and droughts; water quantity and quality dams; reservoirs and hydraulic structures; evaluating sustainability and climate change impacts. As well as discussing essential challenges and research directions, the book will assist in applying theoretical methods to the solution of practical problems in water resources. The authors are multi-disciplinary, stemming from such areas as: hydrology, geography, civil, environmental and agricultural engineering, forestry, systems sciences, operations research, mathematics, physics and geophysics, ecology and atmospheric s

Over the years, companies have developed independent systems for managing process safety, environment, health, safety, and quality. Many aspects of these management systems are similar. Integrating EH

Expanding on the highly successful previous two editions, this third edition of Proton Therapy Physics has been updated throughout and includes several new chapters on “Adaptive Proton Therapy,” "Imaging for Planning,” “Flash Proton Therapy,” and “Outcome Modeling for Patient Selection.” Suitable for both newcomers in medical physics and more seasoned specialists in radiation oncology, this book provides an in-depth overview of the physics of this radiation therapy modality, eliminating the need to dig through information scattered across medical physics literature. After tracing the history of proton therapy, this book explores the atomic and nuclear physics background necessary for understanding proton interactions with tissue. The text then covers dosimetry, including beam delivery, shielding aspects, computer simulations, detector systems, and measuring techniques for reference dosimetry.Important for daily operations, acceptance testing, commissioning, quality assurance, and monit

Through this study we will look at some of the challenges in providing a quality belay. This will include the physical aspects of rope used in rope access and rescue belay systems, the cause and effec

The study of geometric discrepancy, which provides a framework for quantifying the quality of a distribution of a finite set of points, has experienced significant growth in recent decades. This book provides a self-contained course in number theory, Fourier analysis and geometric discrepancy theory, and the relations between them, at the advanced undergraduate or beginning graduate level. It starts as a traditional course in elementary number theory, and introduces the reader to subsequent material on uniform distribution of infinite sequences, and discrepancy of finite sequences. Both modern and classical aspects of the theory are discussed, such as Weyl's criterion, Benford's law, the Koksma–Hlawka inequality, lattice point problems, and irregularities of distribution for convex bodies. Fourier analysis also features prominently, for which the theory is developed in parallel, including topics such as convergence of Fourier series, one-sided trigonometric approximation, the Poisson s

The study of geometric discrepancy, which provides a framework for quantifying the quality of a distribution of a finite set of points, has experienced significant growth in recent decades. This book provides a self-contained course in number theory, Fourier analysis and geometric discrepancy theory, and the relations between them, at the advanced undergraduate or beginning graduate level. It starts as a traditional course in elementary number theory, and introduces the reader to subsequent material on uniform distribution of infinite sequences, and discrepancy of finite sequences. Both modern and classical aspects of the theory are discussed, such as Weyl's criterion, Benford's law, the Koksma–Hlawka inequality, lattice point problems, and irregularities of distribution for convex bodies. Fourier analysis also features prominently, for which the theory is developed in parallel, including topics such as convergence of Fourier series, one-sided trigonometric approximation, the Poisson s

This comprehensive summary of the state of the art in Ultra Wideband (UWB) system engineering takes you through all aspects of UWB design, from components through the propagation channel to system engineering aspects. Mathematical tools and basics are covered, allowing for a complete characterisation and description of the UWB scenario, in both the time and the frequency domains. UWB MMICs, antennas, antenna arrays, and filters are described, as well as quality measurement parameters and design methods for specific applications. The UWB propagation channel is discussed, including a complete mathematical description together with modeling tools. A system analysis is offered, addressing both radio and radar systems, and techniques for optimization and calibration. Finally, an overview of future applications of UWB technology is presented. Ideal for scientists as well as RF system and component engineers working in short range wireless technologies.

The smart grid will transform the way power is delivered, consumed and accounted for. Adding intelligence through the newly networked grid will increase reliability and power quality, improve responsiveness, increase efficiency and provide a platform for new applications. This one-stop reference covers the state-of-the-art theory, key strategies, protocols, applications, deployment aspects and experimental studies of communication and networking technologies for the smart grid. Through the book's twenty chapters, a team of expert authors cover topics ranging from architectures and models through to integration of plug-in hybrid vehicles and security. Essential information is provided for researchers to make progress in the field and to allow power systems engineers to optimize communication systems for the smart grid.

"This book is filled with original scientific and quality research articles on management information systems, technology diffusion, and business systems application aspects of e-commerce, e-governmen

This book presents an overview of the issues related to the test, diagnosis and fault-tolerance of Network on Chip-based systems. It is the first book dedicated to the quality aspects of NoC-based sys

'Challenging' behaviours are common among people with intellectual disabilities, resulting in significantly reduced quality of life. These may include aggression, self-injury, destructiveness, hyperactivity and inappropriate social conduct. This new edition provides a concise, accessible and contemporary summary of current knowledge about challenging behaviour, drawn from psychology, psychiatry, medicine and public health. Fully updated and revised, it includes comprehensive coverage of the epidemiology and aetiology of challenging behaviours, and evidence of the efficacy and effectiveness of different approaches to intervention. This edition contains significantly expanded sections on the emergence and development of challenging behaviour and strategies for prevention, at the level of both individuals and service systems. Essential reading for students undertaking professional training in health and related aspects of intellectual disabilities, including psychologists, psychiatrists,

In this age of information overload, people use a variety of strategies to make choices about what to buy, how to spend their leisure time, and even whom to date. Recommender systems automate some of these strategies with the goal of providing affordable, personal, and high-quality recommendations. This book offers an overview of approaches to developing state-of-the-art recommender systems. The authors present current algorithmic approaches for generating personalized buying proposals, such as collaborative and content-based filtering, as well as more interactive and knowledge-based approaches. They also discuss how to measure the effectiveness of recommender systems and illustrate the methods with practical case studies. The final chapters cover emerging topics such as recommender systems in the social web and consumer buying behavior theory. Suitable for computer science researchers and students interested in getting an overview of the field, this book will also be useful for profes

When this book was first published, recent aspects of human factors research had led to methodologies that integrated usability into the development of interactive systems. MUSE was one of the pioneering methods for Usability Engineering. It provides an environment in which human factors contributions can realise their full potential. MUSE supports active human factors involvement in both design specification and evaluation, and takes system development from user requirements to user interface design. Its methods describe how design errors can be avoided or rectified throughout system development, as well as showing how errors can be identified and providing support for inter-disciplinary design planning and coordination. It therefore ranks as one of the best developed and most completely structured human factors methods. This book reviews the motivation for developing MUSE, and provides readers with a manual for method application. It will be essential reading for all involved with sy

In 1978, when this book was first published, the provision of water services was a fundamental environmental issue. In England and Wales, organizations were created to protect and enhance the nation's water resources. This book considers the problems involved in achieving those objectives and attempts to assess the potential of the organizational arrangements to assist. Each type of water management problem is presented in the context of an actual example. The conflicts inherent in the need for surface reservoirs are discussed using the Lake District as an example. The Severn Trent river system is used as the basis for an examination of flood damage reduction. The Mersey and Trent river systems are used similarly when effluent disposal and river quality are discussed. Amongst other questions covered are spray irrigation and the control of groundwater resources. A final chapter deals with national aspects of water management including the proposal in 1973 for a 'national water grid'. Th

Successful water management is crucial for the proper operation of natural environmental systems and for the support of human society. These two aspects are interdependent, but decisions about one are often made without regard to effects upon the other. A persistent challenge is to consider them together. This book fully analyzes the relationship between water management, environmental conditions and public policy. It combines a careful review of the character and evolution of water management and evaluates management from the standpoint of the quality of the natural environment. Topics covered include domestic and industrial water supply and waste disposal, groundwater use, river channel and floodplain management, and integrated river basins. The processes of social decision-making are examined against a backdrop of plant-soil-water-ecosystem relationships and ecosystem change. Examples are drawn from around the world, from local watershed management to international river basin plann

Successful water management is crucial for the proper operation of natural environmental systems and for the support of human society. These two aspects are interdependent, but decisions about one are often made without regard to effects upon the other. A persistent challenge is to consider them together. This book fully analyzes the relationship between water management, environmental conditions and public policy. It combines a careful review of the character and evolution of water management and evaluates management from the standpoint of the quality of the natural environment. Topics covered include domestic and industrial water supply and waste disposal, groundwater use, river channel and floodplain management, and integrated river basins. The processes of social decision-making are examined against a backdrop of plant-soil-water-ecosystem relationships and ecosystem change. Examples are drawn from around the world, from local watershed management to international river basin plann

From ancient Greek temples to twentieth-century towers, engineers have learned more about design from failure than success. The concept of error, according to the author, is central to the design process. As a way of explaining the enduring aspects of engineering design, he relates stories of some of the greatest engineering successes and failures of all time. These case studies, drawn from a wide range of times and places, serve as paradigms of error and judgment in engineering design. By showing how errors were introduced in the design process and how they might be avoided, the book suggests how better quality and reliability might be achieved in designed devices, structures, and systems of all kinds. Clearly written, with striking illustrations, the book will appeal to engineering students, practising engineers, historians of science and technology, and all those interested in learning about the process of design.

Introduction to Criminal Justice: Systems, Diversity, and Change offers a brief, accessible approach to Criminal Justice with comprehensive and up-to-date coverage of all aspects of the criminal justi

Companies are now faced with various and separate management systems to manage the different aspects of their business, such as quality (ISO 9001), environment (ISO 14001), health and safety (OHSAS 18