Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Reverse Engineering Of Computer-Based Navy Systems, Lonnie R. Welch, Guohui Yu, Binoy Ravindran, Franz J. Kurfess, Jorge Henriques, Mark Wilson, Antonio L. Samuel, Michael W. Masters

Computer Science and Software Engineering

The financial pressure to meet the need for change in computer-based systems through evolution rather than through revolution has spawned the discipline of reengineering. One driving factor of reengineering is that it is increasingly becoming the case that enhanced requirements placed on computer-based systems are overstressing the processing resources of the systems. Thus, the distribution of processing load over highly parallel and distributed hardware architectures has become part of the reengineering process for computer-based Navy systems.

This paper presents an intermediate representation (IR) for capturing features of computer-based systems to enable reengineering for concurrency. A novel feature of the IR …

Re-Engineering Technical Education In Industry Through Interactive Multimedia Computer-Based Training, Yolanda Kennedy, Erika Rogers

Computer Science and Software Engineering

This paper describes current work on re-engineering a short technical course in the area of Non-Destructive Evaluation/Inspection (NDE/I) sponsored by Boeing’s Defense and Space Group. The subject of the course is Eddy Current Testing, and is currently taught over a period of two days using traditional view foils and hand-built artifacts. An overview of some of the course material is presented together with how techniques such as task analysis and storyboarding are being used to design interactive multimedia training modules to support this course.

Interactive Student Support For Introductory Computer Science Courses, Barb Ericson, Erika Rogers

Computer Science and Software Engineering

This paper describes the development of interactive multimedia modules which provide supplementary tutorials on basic topics covered in introductory computer science classes. Two such modules were implemented on the topics of number conversions and basic operating system information. The first versions of the tutorials were evaluated in a study using protocol collection and a post-test with a number of student participants. Results from this study led to the re-design of several portions of the tutorials, which now have a greater level of interaction and progressive assistance for problem-solving.

Koala: An Object-Agent Design System, Kym J. Pohl, Jens G. Pohl

Collaborative Agent Design (CAD) Research Center

This paper describes KOALA, a design system with primary focus on the predesign stage of architectural design. KOALA combines object-agent technology with high level representation to form a partnership between the human designer and the computer-based design environment. A diverse taxonomy of agents including Domain agents. Space agents, and Monitor agents work in a collaborative fashion to provide the human designer with expert evaluation and assistance in developing a design solution. Spaces, in their roles as agents attempt to formulate various design solutions based on individual perspectives through negotiation with other agents. The result is a highly interactive design environment …

Categorization Of Programs Using Neural Networks, Franz J. Kurfess, Lonnie R. Welch

Computer Science and Software Engineering

This paper describes some experiments based on the use of neural networks for assistance in the quality assessment of programs, especially in connection with the reengineering of legacy systems. We use Kohonen networks, or self-organizing maps, for the categorization of programs: programs with similar features are grouped together in a two-dimensional neighbourhood, whereas dissimilar programs are located far apart. Backpropagation networks are used for generalization purposes: based on a set of example programs whose relevant aspects have already been assessed, we would like to obtain an extrapolation of these assessments to new programs. The basis for these investigation is an …

Cooperative Assistance For Remote Robot Supervision, Robin R. Murphy, Erika Rogers

Computer Science and Software Engineering

This paper describes current work on a cooperative tele-assistance system for semi-autonomous control of mobile robots. This system combines a robot architecture for limited autonomous perceptual and motor control with a knowledge-based operator assistant which provides strategic selection and enhancement of relevant data. It extends recent developments in artificial intelligence in modeling the role of visual interactions in problem solving for application to an interface permitting the human and remote to cooperate in cognitively demanding tasks such as recovering from execution failures, mission planning, and learning. The design of the system is presented, together with a number of exception-handling scenarios …

A Study Of Visual Reasoning In Medical Diagnosis, Erika Rogers

Computer Science and Software Engineering

The purpose of this paper is to describe experimental work conducted in the area of diagnostic radiology,with an emphasis on how perception and problem solving interact in this type of task. This work was part of a larger project whose goals included the development of an information-processing model of visual interaction,and the subsequent design of an intelligent cooperative assistant for this domain.

Verbal protocol data was collected from eight radiologists (six residents and two experts) while they examined seven different computer-displayed chest x-rays. A brief overview of the methodology and analysis techniques is presented, together with specific results from one …