119 research outputs found
Conceptual modeling - an epistemological foundation
No full textThe success of contemporary organizations depends on their ability to make appropriate decisions. Making appropriate decisions is inevitably bound to the availability and provision of relevant information. Information systems should be able to provide information in an efficient way. Thus, within information systems development a detailed analysis of information supply and information demands has to prevail. Based on Syperski’s information set and subset-model we will give an epistemological foundation of information modeling in general and show, why conceptual modeling in particular is capable of specifying effective and efficient information systems. Furthermore, we derive conceptual modeling requirements based on our findings. A short example illustrates the usefulness of a conceptual data modeling technique for the specification of information systems
Adaptive And Statistical Approaches In
No full textContents Preface 1 1 Adaptive and Statistical Approaches to Conceptual Modeling 3 Timo Honkela, Krista Lagus and Jaakko Sarela . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Emergence of Structure and Relations in Conceptual Representations 7 Krista Lagus, Aarno Lehtola, Mikko Maatta and Sakari Virkki . . . . . . . 2.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 2.1.1 What is structure? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 2.1.2 Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 2.1.3 Structure of the remaining chapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 2.2 Conceptual Structure in Psychology, Philosophy and Linguistics . . . . . . . 11 2.2.1 Concepts, Structure and Relations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 2.2.2 Theories of the Internal Structure of Concepts (Ri) . . . . . . . . . . 13 2.2.3 Formation of Conceptual Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 2.2.4 Relations in the Co
A Formal Framework for Strategic Representations and Conceptual Reorganization
No full textIn this paper, we introduce a formal language for modeling the structure of strategic representations and operations that conceptualize change on basis of them. Strategic representations are lower dimensional representations of the world, that underlie the understanding of what business environments are, how they may change, and attempts to shape them. We start from discussing known strategic representations like Porter's five forces model or the strategy canvas. We elicit the conceptual structure underlying these representations by capturing them in our formal language. We demonstrate that our formal language can express operations of conceptual change of strategies such as stretching (the extension of value ranges), lifting (deleting dimensions), extending (adding dimensions), amalgamation (enabling new combinations of features by amalgamating different domains), and transferring structure (exploring analogies). These operations can be the basis for strategizing: for seeing possible reorganizations of strategies and even to become aware of new opportunities. We apply these operations to explain classical business cases, including a detailed study of the conceptual structure underling Steve Jobs' digital hub concept. Our formal language is, to our knowledge, the first attempt to capture the variety of conceptual operations underlying strategic change using one comprehensive mode
A Conceptual Modelling Approach to Software Variability
No full textVariability is the ability of a system to be efficiently extended, changed, customised or configured for use in a particular context. Increasing amounts of variability are required of software systems. The number of possible variants of a software system may become very large, essentially infinite. Efficient methods for modelling and reasoning about software variability are needed and numerous such languages have been developed. Most of these languages either lack a solid conceptual foundation or a rigorous formal semantics, or both.
In this dissertation, three novel software variability modelling languages, KOALISH, FORFAMEL and KUMBANG, which synthesises KOALISH and FORFAMEL, are developed. The languages are based on concepts found relevant to modelling software variability in scientific literature and practice, namely features and software architecture. They synthesise and clarify the concepts defined in a number of previous languages. Ideas first developed in product configuration research for modelling variability in non-software products are elaborated and integrated into the languages. A formal semantics is given for the languages by translation to weight constraint rule language (WCRL).
One of the goals of this dissertation is to enable the representation of software variability knowledge at different levels of abstraction in a uniform manner, preferably using an existing conceptual modelling language with a formal semantics. Unfortunately, it turns out that no existing language meets these requirements. Consequently, a novel conceptual modelling language, NIVEL, with the necessary capabilities is developed in this dissertation. The modelling concepts of NIVEL are not based on software variability. Consequently, NIVEL can be applied in domains other than software variability and is hence generic and contributes to the theory of conceptual modelling. A formal semantics enabling automated, decidable reasoning is given for NIVEL by translation to WCRL.
NIVEL is used to give an alternative definition of KUMBANG. The alternative definition is more compact and easily understandable than the original one. Major parts of the semantics of KUMBANG are captured by the semantics of NIVEL. The definition of KUMBANG in terms of a generic modelling language also brings software variability modelling closer to other forms of modelling, thus making software variability modelling less of an isolated discipline
Evaluation and Optimisation of Incremental Processors
No full textBaumann T, Buß O, Schlangen D. Evaluation and Optimisation of Incremental Processors. Dialogue and Discourse. 2011;2(1):113-141
Modeling Multivariate Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity with the Double Smooth Transition Conditional Correlation GARCH Model
No full textIn this paper, we propose a multivariate GARCH model with a time-varying conditional correlation structure. The new double smooth transition conditional correlation (DSTCC) GARCH model extends the smooth transition conditional correlation (STCC) GARCH model of Silvennoinen and Teräsvirta (2005) by including another variable according to which the correlations change smoothly between states of constant correlations. A Lagrange multiplier test is derived to test the constancy of correlations against the DSTCC-GARCH model, and another one to test for another transition in the STCC-GARCH framework. In addition, other specification tests, with the aim of aiding the model building procedure, are considered. Analytical expressions for the test statistics and the required derivatives are provided. Applying the model to the stock and bond futures data, we discover that the correlation pattern between them has dramatically changed around the turn of the century. The model is also applied to a selection of world stock indices, and we find evidence for an increasing degree of integration in the capital markets. Copyright The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: [email protected]., Oxford University Press.
BRiM: A Modular Bicycle-Rider Modeling Framework
No full textBicycles have been studied extensively over the past 200 years, with mathematical models providing valuable insights into various aspects of bicycle dynamics and rider control. However, the lack of a common framework for creating and sharing bicycle-rider models hinders the development of advanced models, research reproducibility, and dissemination. This thesis addresses this gap by introducing BRiM: an open-source modular and extensible framework for creating Bicycle-Rider Models.The modular setup of BRiM relies on a systematic approach to define a model and form the analytical equations of motion. For the involved analytical computations BRiM utilizes SymPy, a Computer Algebra System. The systematic approach consists of four stages. The first stage defines the objects in the system, such as symbols and bodies. Secondly, the kinematic relationships between the objects, such as angular velocities between reference frames, are established. The third and the fourth stages, which are order-independent, specify the loads and constraints acting upon the system. The decoupling BRiM required to achieve modularity is enabled through this systematic approach, because computations within a stage are mostly order-independent.The core of BRiM employs the systematic approach within a unified framework for modeling mechanical systems in general. It describes a model using a tree representation, in which a model is defined as an aggregation of smaller submodels. The relationships between submodels are established by parent models, using interchangeable connections to accommodate complex relations, such as tyre models between the ground and a wheel. This application of submodels enables swapping and adding submodels, making the overarching model both modular and extensible. Actuation within BRiM can either be specified by attaching prespecified groups of loads to models and connections, or by utilizing the interface provided by the mechanics module in SymPy, which offers the flexibility to even manipulate equations in detail.BRiM applies this generalized framework to create modular bicycle-rider models. Both a stationary bicycle and a modular bicycle based on Moore's convention of the Carvallo-Whipple bicycle have been constructed. These bicycle models are extensible to bicycle-rider models by including an upper and/or lower body. Within the rider models each joint can be actuated by a linear torsional spring-damper. BRiM integrates parametrization of models, which provides mappings between symbolic quantities used in equations and experimentally determined values, using the existing open-source BicycleParameters library. Additionally, SymMePlot, a visualization package for symbolically defined mechanical systems, has been developed and integrated within BRiM to visualize the created bicycle-rider models.The effectiveness of BRiM is demonstrated through optimization and simulation tasks. Firstly, a real-time forward simulation of a torque-driven upper body bicycle-rider is performed. Secondly, an optimization problem is solved, involving the tracking of a rolling disc along a sinusoidal trajectory while minimizing the control torques. These demonstrations highlight the seamless integration of BRiM with other scientific tools and BRiM's potential for practical applications.In conclusion, BRiM fills the gap in bicycle dynamics research by providing a modular and extensible framework for creating and sharing bicycle-rider models. Its systematic approach, unified framework, and integration capabilities enable efficient model development, research reproducibility, and further advancement in bicycle research.Mechanical Engineering | BioMechanical Desig
Incremental spoken dialogue processing : architecture and lower-level components
No full textBaumann T. Incremental spoken dialogue processing : architecture and lower-level components. Bielefeld: Bielefeld University; 2013.Diese Arbeit befasst sich mit Sprachdialogsystemen, also Mensch-Maschine-Schnittstellen die (primär) über gesprochene Sprache genutzt werden. Sprachdialogsysteme sind vor allem deshalb attraktiv, weil Sprache eine besonders natürliche und intuitive Interaktionsform darstellt.
Der Nutzen von Sprachdialogsystemen ergibt sich jedoch bisher daraus, dass sie helfen, relativ einfache Aufgaben sinnvoll zu erfüllen – denn tatsächlich ist die Natürlichkeit bisheriger Sprachdialogsysteme stark durch das vereinfachende Verarbeitungsschema der Ping-Pong-Interaktion eingeschränkt: Übliche Dialogsysteme erwarten einen vollständigen und abgeschlossenen Redebeitrag, auf den das System (nach einer gewissen Verarbeitungszeit) mit einem gleichfalls vollständigen, oft ununterbrechbaren Redebeitrag antwortet. Die Redebeiträge von System und Nutzer sind also überlappungsfrei, was nicht den tatsächlichen Gegebenheiten natürlichsprachlicher Interaktion entspricht, die von einem beiderseitigen Geben und Nehmen lebt, und bei der auch der jeweilige Zuhörer hilft, den Redebeitrag des jeweiligen Sprechers durch Mimik, kurze Einwürfe, und dergleichen mitzugestalten.
Schritthaltende Verarbeitung ist ein Konzept, bei der die Verarbeitung bereits während der Eingabephase abläuft und Zwischenergebnisse bereits erzeugt werden bevor die Eingabe abgeschlossen ist. Einem Dialogsystem erlaubt schritthaltende Verarbeitung Reaktionen zu erzeugen die zeitgleich zur noch laufenden Eingabe erfolgen, oder entgegengebrachte Nutzerrückmeldungen in laufende Systemausgaben zu integrieren.
Dadurch erlaubt schritthaltende Verarbeitung eine schnellere Rückkopplung zwischen Nutzer und System, was zu höherer Interaktivität und besserem gegenseitigen Verständnis führen kann. Das Ziel dieser Arbeit ist, den Nutzen schritthaltender Verarbeitung auf die Interaktionsqualität von Sprachdialogsystemen zu untersuchen. Dabei beschränkt sich die detaillierte Analyse auf signalnahe Komponenten (Spracherkennung und -synthese); Module übergeordneter Abstraktionsgrade sind in den Beispielsystemen teilweise weniger ausgefeilt, oder nur simuliert.
Die Leitfrage der Arbeit ist, inwieweit feingliedrig schritthaltende Verarbeitung technisch realisierbar ist und auf natürlichere Weise interagierende Sprachdialogsysteme ermöglicht. Darüber hinaus wird argumentiert, dass Dialog proaktives Handeln verlangt, also nicht rein auf Basis bereits vorliegender Erkenntnis, sondern außerdem auf Grundlage von Schätzungen über die (nähere) Zukunft.
Bei schritthaltender Verarbeitung werden sehr viele Zwischenergebnisse erzeugt und da diese jeweils nur aus einem begrenzten Kontext heraus erzeugt werden, ergibt sich die Erfordernis, sie auch verwerfen zu können; dies erfordert Anpassungen der Systemarchitektur gegenüber bisherigen Systemen.
Kapitel 2 gibt einen Überblick über Fragen der gesprochensprachlichen Interaktion, des Dialogs und Dialogsystemen.
Kapitel 3 vertieft dann die Thematik der schritthaltenden (inkrementellen) Verarbeitung und führt einen Formalismus für die Darstellung von Hypothesen ein, anhand dessen Qualitätsmaße schritthaltender Verarbeitung definiert werden, die ausführlich diskutiert werden.
Kapitel 4 stellt die Architektur des im Rahmen der Arbeit entwickelten Softwaretoolkits für schritthaltende Verarbeitung (engl. incremental processing), InproTK vor und diskutiert Daten- und Verarbeitungsschemata.
Kapitel 5 betrachtet inkrementelle Spracherkennung. Die ‚inkrementelle Qualität’ der Spracherkennung wird intensiv auf mehreren Korpora und für unterschiedliche Varianten in all ihren Aspekten untersucht. Schließlich werden Optimierungsmethoden vorgestellt, welche Qualitätsaspekte gegeneinander abwägen. Der Nutzen inkrementeller Spracherkennung wird beispielhaft in einer Spielanwendung gezeigt.
Kapitel 6 geht den Schritt von möglichst reaktiver zu proaktiver Verarbeitung, welche erlaubt, den Dialogverlauf aktiv zu steuern. Eine Beispielanwendung zeigt, wie durch schritthaltende Verarbeitung die Rückkopplung zwischen Nutzer und System beschleunigt und dadurch Nutzeräußerungen gemeinschaftlich gestaltet werden können. Schließlich wird ein System gezeigt, welches Nutzeräußerungen synchron mitspricht. Dieses System zeigt, dass inkrementelle und proaktive Verarbeitung synchrone Interaktionsfähigkeiten in Echtzeit ermöglichen, indem alle Systemverzögerungen an anderer Stelle durch Prädiktion ausgeglichen werden.
Kapitel 7 betrachtet inkrementelle Sprachsynthese, bei der die Spezifikation der Äußerung noch während der Synthese erweitert oder abgeändert werden kann. Der Nutzen dieser Fähigkeit wird in einer hochdynamischen Umgebung demonstriert, in der Inkrementalität Reaktionen ermöglicht die als deutlich natürlicher im Vergleich zu einem nicht-inkrementellen System eingeschätzt werden. Schließlich wird die Integration inkrementeller Sprachsynthese mit einem Sprachgenerierungsmodul demonstriert, und der Einfluss auf die resultierende Prosodiequalität des Systems bewertet.
Kapitel 8 fasst die Ergebnisse der Arbeit zusammen: feingliedrig schritthaltende Verarbeitung ist technisch möglich und so erfolgreich, dass dadurch für Sprachdialogsysteme vormals unerreichbare Interaktionsmodi ermöglicht werden (u. a. gemeinschaftliche Äußerungsgestaltung, synchrones Sprechen, Berücksichtigung von Änderungen während Systemäußerungen). Schritthaltende Verarbeitung sollte deshalb die Basis für zukünftige Sprachdialogsysteme bilden
Simulating processes of concept formation and communication
No full textWe propose a theoretical framework for modeling communication between agents that have different conceptual models of their current context. We describe how the emergence of subjective models of the world can be simulated and what the role of language and communication in that process is. We consider, in particular, the role of unsupervised learning in the formation of agents' conceptual models, the relative subjectivity of these models, and the communication and learning processes that lead into intersubjective sharing of concepts. We also discuss some implications of the subjectivity of conceptual learning in the area of economics.epistemology, linguistics, conceptual modeling, interaction, unsupervised learning,
PaSyMo: Gamifying Communicative Urban Planning With Participatory Systems Modeling
No full textUrban planning increasingly requires navigating complex socio‐spatial dynamics and uncertainties, particularly when addressing social challenges where stakeholders hold diverse perspectives and knowledge. This article introduces PaSyMo (Participatory Systems Modeling), a gamified communication support system designed to assist urban planners in communicative and deliberative planning. PaSyMo integrates three conceptual pillars that guided its design: stakeholder engagement, participatory agent‐based modeling (ABM), and visualization on tangible interfaces. The system combines a simulation environment grounded in geodata and ABM with discursive elements from scenario workshops and role‐playing games, bridging digital and non‐digital formats. PaSyMo contributes to the growing field of GAM research (Games and Agent‐based Modeling; Szczepanska et al., 2022) by providing a framework that explores the integration of gaming mechanics with urban simulation tools, highlighting their potential to support sustainable urban planning. The approach draws from participatory modeling (Sterling et al., 2019; Voinov & Bousquet, 2010) while leveraging state‐of‐the‐art geospatial simulation and interactive interfaces to facilitate communication and co‐production of knowledge among diverse stakeholders. Exploratory findings suggest that combining gaming experience with geospatial data visualization and ABM offers a promising approach to communicate the potential implications and trade‐offs of urban planning initiatives. This integration enhances stakeholder engagement, promotes shared understanding, and supports consensus building. By making urban planning processes more interactive, PaSyMo can extend the impact of planning research beyond academic settings. Preliminary insights indicate that PaSyMo can enhance stakeholder understanding, knowledge integration, consensus‐building, and proactive planning, especially in contexts of decision‐making in complex and uncertain situations; however, these findings need to be substantiated in future studies.1
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