The electronic patient record in the twenty-first century: the required contributions of information science

Co-authored with Maria Cristiane Barbosa Galvão. Published in InCID: Revista de Ciência da Informação e Documentação, v. 2, n. 2 (2011). In Portuguese.

The electronic health record raises informational and technological issues, including some that can be addressed using knowledge from the information science field and from informational professionals. To explore these issues, this article departs from the scope of electronic health record and establishes possible connections within the scope of information science. In these connections, information from literature reviews was combined with knowledge obtained by observation of contexts of health records production and use, by observation and analysis of health records in different formats and from different institutions, and by contact with health professionals, information professionals, computing professionals, managers, and researchers that work directly with health records. Results describe informational and technological issues of electronic health record that are related to the processes of creation, communication, identification, selection, acquisition, organization and retrieval, storage, preservation, analysis and synthesis, and assessment of information. Conclusions show that in the 21st Century, the electronic health record, when considered in its local, regional, national and international dimensions, resents issues that are adequate to the purposeful activity of information professionals, and constitutes research field for the information science, which can contribute to health improvement and, simultaneously, can expand, test, and refine its theories, hypotheses, and methodologies.

Strategic evaluation to create an authoring tool for the digital television

Co-authored with Nilsa T Azana, Claudia P Schmidt, Sonia M Kutiishi, Daniel M Pataca. 2010. In Portuguese.

This paper presents a methodology based on prospective scenarios which identifies the issues involved in a decision making of fundamental requirements to develop an authoring tool for digital TV. Possible scenarios and risks involved in each of them are identified by understanding and classifying the relevant variables and analyzing the actor's roles. This methodology has identified forty possible scenarios. The strategic analysis, carried out by using the decision tree supported by DecisionPro application, has indicated the terrestrial platform distribution and IPTV, which support vectorial animation and presents interactive contents with average rate to exchange individualized data between the user and the server. Applying the presented methodology systematically allows to understand the problem by classifying the ideas in such a way that it enables its mapping and treatment. It helps indicate the main requirements to create an authoring tool that meets the actor's needs.

Ontologies for the integration of metadata from the multimedia broadcast sector in the context of digital television

Co-authored with Rodrigo C Araujo, 2010. In Portuguese.

The diversity of information, content, and interactive services offered by digital TV and its integration with the Internet involves new challenges for broadcasters and receiver manufacturers, who must face the diversity of existing metadata standards. This paper proposes the integration of existing metadata specifications in an environment of digital TV transmission and reception in terrestrial and satellite open networks. It describes a methodology for integrating broadcast multimedia industry metadata information standards with ontologies oriented to describe knowledge of specific domains existing in Internet repositories.

Technology for collaborative learning environments: a multidisciplinary vision in an engineering graduate program

2010. In Portuguese.

Introduction. Computer-based learning environments are usually adopted to develop collaborative educational activities, using communication and interaction resources from the Web. A course from the program of graduate studies in Electrical Engineering from UNICAMP discusses the role of technology in the use and definition of these collaboration mechanisms. Material and methods. We analyzed the chosen themes and materials produced by students from different areas of knowledge who took the course over its twelve years of offering. Most of this material is still available on the Web. Results. We observed that with the emergence of new Web technologies, particularly the resources of interaction present in the Social Web, students became more critical of the possibilities and uses of technology in education, while most computer-based learning environments still use approaches of the traditional Web model, in which all tools and resources are in a centralized server.
Conclusion. Students who use applications in the Social Web are not satisfied with the traditional model of learning environments. Developers of new computer-based learning environments must seamlessly integrate the existing resources for instant communication and social networks, and not try to reproduce these mechanisms within these environments isolated from the rest of the Web.

Information retrieval with FROM: The fuzzy relational ontological model

Co-authored with Rachel Pereira and Fernando Gomide. International Journal of Intelligent Systems, 2009

This paper presents FROM, the fuzzy relational ontological model, a novel approach to encode knowledge for information retrieval applications based upon a fuzzy set framework that consider more generic concepts differently from specific terms. Besides the model itself, the paper also presents a retrieval algorithm that exploits FROM features through the application of fuzzy operations that uses this knowledge to extend a user's query based on these fuzzy associations. Experimental results have shown that retrieval with FROM presented better overall performance than other fuzzy-based approaches for information retrieval.

Information retrieval using related geographic ontologies

Co-authored with Maria Angelica A Leite, 2009. In Portuguese.

With the World Wide Web popularity growth, more people has access to information and this information volume is expanding over the time. The information access, in a efficient way, is fundamental to knowledge diffusion helping the decision making
process. In this context, the information retrieval area has a new challenge intending to search information, in a more intelligent way, by the documents meaning. A way to retrieve information, by its meaning, is by using a knowledge base that encodes the domain concepts and their relationships. Nowadays, ontologies are being used to model knowledge bases. This work presents a query expansion method that uses a knowledge base comprised of related geographic ontologies to improve the information retrieval process. The query expansion method is tested with the Apache Lucene search engine showing an improvement in the
retrieved information quality.

Extracting semantic relations through the analysis of terms correlation in documents

Co-authored with Sergio W Botero, 2009. In Portuguese.

Ontologies are important to organize and describe information, but are hard to create and maintain, which motivates the development of tools to help in this task. This article presents a strategy to extract, from a corpora of documents in a given domain, semantic elements expressing proximity relations between terms and concepts to help the construction of domain ontologies. The technique presented here, ACT, is based on linguistic processing, machine learning, and biclustering. Results show that concepts obtained by ACT are at least as good as those from similar techniques, such as LSI and NMF. In relation to those techniques, it additionally has the advantage of allowing the supervision by a domain expert.

Fuzzy Information Retrieval Model Based on Multiple Related Ontologies (Short paper)

Co-authored with Angelica Leite. Published in EADCA'2009

With the World Wide Web popularity the information retrieval area has a new challenge intending to retrieve information resources by their meaning by using a knowledge base. Nowadays ontologies are being used to model knowledge bases. To deal with knowledge subjectivity and uncertainty fuzzy set theory techniques are employed. Preceding works encode a knowledge base using just one ontology. But a document collection can deal
with different domain themes, expressed by distinct ontologies. In this work a way of knowledge organization and representation as multiple related ontologies was investigated and a method of query expansion was developed. The knowledge organization and the query expansion method were integrated in the fuzzy model for information retrieval based on mutiple related ontologies. The model performance was compared with another fuzzy-based approach for information retrieval and with the Apache Lucene search engine. In both cases the proposed model improves the
precision and recall measures.

Computer-based learning systems: A technological perspective

2008

Educators always have discussed how technology could impact on learning. In the last half century, this discussion focused mainly on computer-based technology and, more recently, on learning supported by the World Wide Web. A look at the past shows how guessing how future learners will use technology is futile. However, there are some few concrete steps already paving the way in the direction of the future of learning systems

Fuzzy Information Retrieval Model Based on Multiple Related Ontologies

Co-authored with Maria Angelica A Leite. ICTAI'2008.

With the semantic web progress, encoding of knowledge bases as ontologies has increased. Information retrieval applications are employing this knowledge organization to enhance quality of results by returning documents semantically related and relevant to initial user's query. The proposed fuzzy information retrieval model retrieves information providing a framework to encode a knowledge base composed of multiple related ontologies whose relationships are expressed as fuzzy relations. This knowledge organization is used in a novel method to expand the user initial query and to index the documents in the collection. The model allows the ontologies, as well as the relationships among their concepts, to be represented independently. Experimental results show that the proposed model presents better overall performance when compared with another classical fuzzy-based approach for information retrieval.

Document retrieval using fuzzy related geographic ontologies

Co-authored with Maria Angelica A Leite, 2008

Many documents stored in digital libraries and document database include geographic references within their texts typically by means of place names. These geographic references can be associated to knowledge to help improve related retrieved documents. For example, in a meteorological document collection the climate knowledge can be associated to the geographic references allowing the retrieval of relevant climate or geographic related documents to an initial user query. In order to explore these issues this work describes a framework to encode a geographic knowledge base composed of multiple related ontologies whose relationships are expressed as fuzzy relations. Each ontology represents a distinct area of the knowledge domain related to geographic references. This knowledge organization is used in a fuzzy method to expand the user initial query. Each ontology can be represented independently as well as their relationships. The fuzzy query expansion method is tested with the Apache Lucene search engine improving the precision measure.

Designing digital annotation with metaphor entailments

Co-authored with Christian Adriano, Matthias Brust, and Steffen Rothkugel. Published in ICETE'2008

We investigate educational technology design by means of porting metaphors from different usage scenarios. Even though such approach is common for usability engineering, it is novel to domain-driven design. The metaphor adopted is the annotation on documents. We surveyed metaphors in current digital annotation systems and analyzed metaphorical implications (defined as entailments). It was possible to extract essential and accidental features. We probed the rationale by porting metaphors to an educational software engineering scenario supported by Eclipse IDE. We concluded that entailments should play a role as domain-driven pattern. Questions for further research are offered.

A framework for information retrieval based on fuzzy relations and multiple ontologies

Co-authored with Maria Angelica A Leite, 2008

The use of knowledge in the information retrieval process allows the return of documents semantically related to the initial user’s query. This knowledge can be encoded in a knowledge base to be used in information retrieval systems. The framework for information retrieval based on fuzzy relations and multiple ontologies is a proposal to retrieve information using a knowledge base composed of multiple related ontologies whose relationships are expressed as fuzzy relations. Using this knowledge organization a new method to expand the user query is proposed. The framework provides a way that each ontology can be represented independently as well as their relationships. The proposed framework performance is compared with another fuzzy-based approach for information retrieval. Also the query expansion method is tested with the Apache Lucene search engine. In both cases the proposed framework improves the obtained results.

Using Multiple Related Ontologies in a Fuzzy Information Retrieval Model

Co-authored with Angelica Leite. Published in WONTO'2008.

With the Semantic Web progress many independently developed distinct domain ontologies have to be shared and reused by a variety of applications. The use of ontologies in information retrieval applications allows the retrieval of semantically related documents to an initial users’ query. This work presents a fuzzy information retrieval model for improving the document retrieval process considering a knowledge base composed of multiple domain ontologies that are fuzzy related. Each ontology can be represented independently as well as their relationships. This knowledge organization is used in a novel method to expand the user initial query and to index the documents in the collection. Experimental results show that the proposed model presents better overall performance when compared with another fuzzy-based approach for information retrieval.

Cooperative, Geographically Distributed Development of Open Educational Modules

Co-authored with Ellen Barbosa, Elisa Nakagawa, Fabio Kon, Marcelo Turine, Débora Paiva. Published in CHARLA'2008.

Several initiatives on using computing technologies have been investigated in order to facilitate the learning process
in general. The idea is to provide ways to establish quality educational products, capable of motivating the students and
effectively contribute to their knowledge construction processes in active learning environments.

Methodology to identify the requirements of embedded software for digital television receivers

Co-authored with Nilsa T Azana, Daniel M Pataca. 2007

One of the biggest challenge of the transition process from analogue to digital television is the adoption of the new technology. This article shows, through the application of prospective scenarios methodology, the importance of the interactive applications and the users influence in the adoption of digital television by Brazilian society.

Redesigning Computer-Based Learning Environments: Evaluation as Communication

Co-authored with Matthias Brust and Christian Adriano. Published in ICEIS'2007.

In the field of evaluation research, computer scientists live constantly upon dilemmas and conflicting theories. As evaluation is differently perceived and modeled among educational areas, it is not difficult to become trapped in dilemmas, which reflects an epistemological weakness. Additionally, designing and developing a computer-based learning scenario is not an easy task. Advancing further, with end-users probing the system in realistic settings, is even harder. Computer science research in evaluation faces an immense challenge, having to cope with contributions from several conflicting and controversial research fields. We believe that deep changes must be made in our field if we are to advance beyond the CBT (computer-based training) learning model and to build an adequate epistemology for this challenge. The first task is to relocate our field by building upon recent results from philosophy, psychology, social sciences, and engineering. In this article we locate evaluation in respect to communication studies. Evaluation presupposes a definition of goals to be reached, and we suggest that it is, by many means, a silent communication between teacher and student, peers, and institutional entities. If we accept that evaluation can be viewed as set of invisible rules known by nobody, but somehow understood by everybody, we should add anthropological inquiries to our research toolkit. The paper is organized around some elements of the social communication and how they convey new insights to evaluation research for computer and related scientists. We found some technical limitations and offer discussions on how we relate to technology at same time we establish expectancies and perceive others work.

A methodology to identify variables and scenarios that impact on embedded software for digital television receivers

Co-authored with Nilsa T Azana, Daniel M Pataca. 2007. In Portuguese.

One of the major challenges in the transition from analogue to digital television is the adoption of new technology. This article shows, through the application of prospective scenarios methodology, the identification of 22 potential scenarios to introduce interactive digital television. These scenarios were identified considering the importance of the interactive applications and the user's influence in the adoption of digital television by the Brazilian society.

Fuzzy relational ontological model in information search systems

Co-authored with Rachel Pereira and Fernando Gomide, 2006

Ontology is an essential ingredient to improve information search efficiency and success. Ontology can be used to provide semantic-based access to the Web documents and extract meaningful information from texts. This chapter presents an information search model based on ontology encoded by fuzzy relations. The model uses the principles of fuzzy set theory and approximate reasoning for knowledge representation and information search. Two query algorithms are developed emphasizing, without loss of generality, document search. Experimental results show that the fuzzy relational ontological model performs better when compared with two alternative approaches based on thesauri and fuzzy conceptual network.

Web Design Dimensions and Adaptation

Co-authored with Carlos M Tobar and Ricardo L de Freitas, 2006

Recent developments in the World Wide Web infrastructure enabled the development of highly interactive hypermedia systems for e-commerce, e-government, and mobile commerce. Such applications have much to gain exploring adaptation, through the use of adaptable and adaptive mechanisms to customize services and interfaces.

Searching for a more effective use of Educational Metadata in a Brazilian educational context

Co-authored with JL Otsuka, TM Fernandes, HV Rocha, FMP Freire, MC Martins. 2005

This paper presents e-Labora Laboratory ongoing developments and researches to provide support to a more effective use of educational metadata in a Brazilian educational context. This work is based on the IEEE LOM Application Profile defined to the
TIDIA-Ae Project.

The Extended Abstract Categorization Map (E-ACM)

Co-authored with Carlos M Tobar, 2005

This chapter presents the Extended Abstract Categorisation Map, which provides a conceptual tool to evaluate the coverage of adaptive hypermedia methods, concerning their modelling mechanisms. The design of modern hypermedia systems requires an integrated approach contemplating modelling principles, evaluation frameworks, and reference models. Several approaches and methods exist, but it is difficult to comprehend how they complement or interfere among themselves during a design effort. The E-ACM considers the relationship among four complementary modelling perspectives related to adaptive hypermedia design: services, traditional concerns, abstraction levels, and goal conditions. In this chapter, the E-ACM is used to compare modelling mechanisms of two adaptive authoring systems. It could also be used to support the application of designing methods and mechanisms. The proposed map is a step towards the integration of modelling perspectives that are not usually combined.

Literacy in the digital era: constructing meaning through interactions with hypertext

Co-authored with Denise B Braga. Anpoll, 2005. In Portuguese.

The paper discusses digital literacy with focus on specific questions related to producing and reading hypertext. Considering that the hypertext is the result of a new linguistic modality, the authors discuss the distinct steps involved in transforming a printed text to hypertext. With respect to hypertext reading, new reading strategies are needed, as well as a clearer view regarding the role assumed by technological mediation, invisible to the reader but affecting how meaning is built in the practices of digital literacy .

Ontologia relacional fuzzy em sistemas de recuperação de informação

Co-authored with Rachel Pereira and Fernando Gomide, 2005. In Portuguese.

Currently, document search in information retrieval systems is a
common task performed daily. The considerable growth of documents in databases increases the need of better information retrieval models and algorithms using n ew techniques of artificial intelligence. This paper presents an information retrieval model based on ontologies encoded by fuzzy relations. The model uses the principles of fuzzy set theory and approximate reasoning for knowledge representation and information search. Two query algorithms are suggested. Experimental results show that the fuzzy relational ontological model achieves better performance when compared with two alternative approaches based on thesauri and fuzzy conceptual network.

The TIDIA-Ae Portfolio Tool: a case study of its development following a component-based layered architecture

Co-authored with Delano Beder and others. Published in TIDIA Workshop, 2005.

The objective of the present case study is the validation of the Architecture and Development Process definitions used within the TIDIA-Ae Project, as exemplified in the development of the Portfolio tool. In this way, the main results obtained in the
development process of the Portfolio tool, the solutions adopted for the open issues encountered in this process, and the main lessons to be learned are presented.

On the Fuzzy Spatio-temporal Specification of Multimedia Synchronisation Scenarios

Co-authored with Andre L V Coelho, 2004

In this paper, we present an authoring language for the high-level specification of temporal and spatial interrelations between multimedia document objects. This work follows a synchronisation methodology based upon concepts of fuzzy sets and software components. As result, the designer is endowed with a more expressive and flexible modelling tool for creating multimedia scenarios, which is done by means of hierarchical fuzzy descriptive plans. As well, such approach gives support to the representation of inaccurate relationships and unpredictable situations. After discussing the semantics behind the language directives, an illustrative scenario is presented.

Knowledge management applied to education.

Co-authored with Leandro C Ledel. WCETE 2004. In Portuguese

This paper describes a software architecture to support knowledge management in academic contexts, with an example application developed in a research laboratory.

IAH: adaptive Web system to support flexible and cohesive hypertext reading

Co-authored with AD Figueira, DB Braga. WCETE 2004. In Portuguese

This paper presents a Web application that guides the reader through a hypertext using metadata, encoded in RDF, representing the structure of the hypertext as planned by the authors to provide alternative readings for the same text.

A Reference Software Model for Intelligent Information Search

Co-authored with Fernando Gomide. Book chapter: Enhancing the power of Internet, 2004

This chapter provides a tutorial review of the current state of the art in the area of Web search and addresses information retrieval models that induce a reference software model for intelligent search systems. For these purposes, we review current information Web search models and methods from the point of view of information retrieval systems. Next, we present a reference software model which abstracts the search and retrieval process. This abstraction is important to identify the points of adaptation to integrate soft computing techniques into the information search and retrieval. We discuss the contributions that machine learning, artificial and computational intelligence brought to improve information retrieval models to enhance information search effectiveness, and to develop intelligent information search. The purpose of the model is to capture the relationships between computational intelligence and information search systems as a means to promote development and implementation of innovative, intelligent information search systems.

Activity Coordination in Collaborative Learning Environments

Co-authored with Carlos José Olguin and Alberto Raposo. Published in CSAC'2004.

In the context of computer-supported collaborative learning, discussions are essential to increase the knowledge level of the members of a group. This work proposes the modeling of the discussion activities of a study group using an activities coordination model. Starting from the formal modeling of the system, and using coordination mechanisms based on Petri Nets, the behavior of the environment can be simulated and analyzed. These simulations allow anticipating possible problems and help to turn interactions among students more efficient.

Exploring Learning Objects under Conceptual, Instructional and Didactic Perspectives

Co-authored with Ellen Barbosa and José Carlos Maldonado. Published in PGL Database Research, 2003.

The idea of Learning Objects – “any digital resource that can be reused to support learning” – is emerging as a way to reuse learning materials in different settings and contexts. Standardization efforts have also been conducted, especially related to the establishment of learning object metadata, describing the relevant characteristics that a learning object should present. This work aims at exploring learning objects according to the conceptual, instructional and didactic perspectives, which have been investigated in the context of domain modeling for the development of learning materials. Our goal is to investigate the impact of these perspectives into the set of characteristics specified by the standards for Learning Objects Metadata under development.

Providing customized goods through an e-commerce system for printshops

Co-authored with Carlos E Witte. 2003.

This article presents the steps behind the construction of a printshop e-commerce system aimed to provide customizable goods for its customers. The workflow of a printshop is analyzed to identify points that can be automated and rationalized. The requirements, goals, and critical aspects of this kind of system are raised – those of which the success or failure of the implementation define the viability of the system itself. Technological options for the development of such applications in the Web are discussed and justified. The adopted development method, requirements modeling, and system architecture are also presented. To evaluate the outlined proposal and chosen technology, a self-service printshop prototype has been built. With it, a customer can design and evaluate online, using the visualization of print proofs generated on the fly, the service that is going to be acquired. This functionality offers a great improvement to services provided by printshops through the Web.

Extending adaptation frontiers for learning sets

Co-authored with Carlos Tobar. Published in FIE'2003.

Several models and frameworks have been proposed for adaptive hypermedia systems, but when it comes to the integration with application models these proposals lack expressiveness, blurring combinations of functional components or information categories, sometimes with abstractions layers. This is very clear for educational applications, where matters such as collaboration and cognitive styles are not cleanly integrated to hypermedia modeling issues. The Extended Abstract Categorization Map is being proposed as a comprehensive framework, considering educational applications, where complementary modeling perspectives are adequately separated but still integrated. The resulting separation of concerns yields a clearer understanding of how adaptation issues can be affected by educational goals.

Devising Adaptive Migration Policies for Cooperative Distributed Genetic Algorithms

Co-authored with Edgar Noda, André Coelho, and others. Published in IEEE MSC'2002.

Distributed Genetic Algorithms (DGAs) constitute an interesting approach to undertake the premature convergence problem in evolutionary optimization. This is done by spatial partitioning a huge panmitic population into several semi-isolated groups, called demes, each evolving in parallel by its own pace, and possibly exploring different regions of the search space. At the center of such approach lies the migratory process that simulates the swapping of individuals belonging to different demes, in such a way to ensure the sharing of good genetic material. In this paper, we model the migration step in DGAs as an explicit means to promote cooperation among genetic agents, autonomous entities encapsulating GA instances for possibly tackling different sub-problems of a complicated task. The focus is on the characterization of adaptive migration policies in which the choice of what individuals to migrate and/or replace is not defined a priori but according to a more knowledge-oriented rule. Comparative results obtained for a data-mining task were conducted, in order to assess the performance of adaptive migration according to efficiency/effectiveness criteria.

A Fuzzy Authoring Language for the High-level Specification of Component-based Multimedia Documents

Co-authored with Andre LV Coelho. 2002.

In this paper, we present an authoring language for the high-level specification of temporal and spatial interrelations between multimedia document objects. This work follows a synchronisation methodology based upon concepts of fuzzy sets and software components. As result, the designer is endowed with a more expressive and flexible modelling tool for creating multimedia scenarios, which is done by means of hierarchical fuzzy descriptive plans. As well, such approach gives support to the representation of inaccurate relationships and unpredictable situations. After discussing the semantics behind the language directives, an illustrative scenario is presented.

Learning materials: towards the establishment of guidelines for domain modeling

Co-authored with Ellen F Barbosa, José C Maldonado. 2002.

Domain modeling plays a fundamental role in the educational process, especially regarding to the development of learning materials. Despite its relevance, there are few approaches specifically designed for the educational content modeling task. Moreover, there is not a consensus on the features that a domain model should present and on the mechanisms that the underlying modeling approach should provide in order to facilitate the development of learning materials. In this work, we investigate the characteristics of a domain modeling approach as well as the possible types of information it should handle for establishing an initial set of guidelines to model educational contents. In addition, three approaches to the development of educational hypermedia applications are analyzed according to the proposed guidelines.

Tasks interdependencies in collaborative learning activities: Specification and modeling

Co-authored with Alberto Raposo. Published in CATE'2002.

In collaborative environments, coordination is an essential matter to the specification of activities, which are described as sets of  interdependent tasks. An extensible framework encompassing coordination mechanisms to specify tasks interdependencies is initially presented. These mechanisms are formally modeled using Petri nets and, along with a Petri net representation for the tasks to be performed, can be used to create a model to evaluate the environment. The use of this framework is illustrated in the context of a learning environment based on collaborative Web document construction.

Coordination of Collaborative Activities: A Framework for the Definition of Tasks Interdependencies

Co-authored with Alberto Raposo, Léo Magalhães and Hugo Fuks. Published in the Seventh International Workshop on Groupware, 2001

The coordination of interdependencies between tasks in collaborative environments is a very important and difficult endeavor. The separation between tasks and interdependencies allows for the use of different coordination policies in the same collaborative environment by changing only the coordination mechanisms that control the interdependencies. This paper presents a framework for the definition of interdependencies that frequently occur in collaborative activities. By means of a clear characterization of interdependencies, it is possible to identify coordination mechanisms to manage them, opening the way toward a powerful coordination tool capable of encompassing a wide range of collaborative applications. An implementation of the coordination model of a collaborative virtual environment based on the proposed framework is given as example.

Monitoring learners activities in a collaborative environment

Co-authored with Armando NL Delgado, Carlos JM Olguin. CRWIG 2001.

Collaborative learning supported through computers seems to be very promising due to advances in computer mediated communication tools. Howevel; it is not clear which approach for on-line learning - individual or collaborative - is more effective for the students. This paper is a continuation of previous work from authors, that combine both approaches, taking in account that some advantages related to individual learning, such as the self-pacing and the establishment of learning goals by the learner, imply in diflculties to establish collaborative settings. In this article it is proposed a framework for the management of study groups of distributed learners sharing on-line material. A model is presented to capture the essences of group activities. These information allow further analysis of group and individual performances.

A reference model for intelligent information search

Co-authored with Fernando Gomide. FLINT 2001

The paper aims a tutorial review of the current state of the art in the area of Web search to address information retrieval models and a reference model for intelligent information search. We first review current information Web search models and methods, followed by contributions brought by machine learning, artificial and computational intelligence. As a result, a reference model is sketched. Its purpose is to summarize the main relationships between computational intelligence and information search systems as a means to promote innovative, intelligent information search systems development.

Using Fuzzy Petri Nets to Coordinate Collaborative Activities

Co-authored with Alberto Raposo, André Coelho, and Léo Magalhães. Published in IFSA/NAFIPS World Congress, 2001.

This paper presents a fuzzy Petri net based approach suitable for the modeling of flexible coordination mechanisms to deal with temporal interdependencies between collaborative tasks. Such approach is based on an extension of the Generalized Fuzzy Petri Net model, including the notion of time for the execution and synchronization of these tasks. A scenario of study is described, indicating the suitability of the proposal.

Bringing Flexibility to the Specification and Coordination of Temporal Dependencies among Multimedia Components

Co-authored with André Coelho and Alberto Raposo. Published in SBMIDIA'2001.

We introduce a methodology for the high-level specification and decentralized coordination of temporal interdependencies among multimedia document objects. Such methodology encompasses a three-step process comprising (i) the design of multimedia  presentation scenes by means of a fuzzy descriptive plan; (ii) the parsing of such layout to classify the multimedia entities that compose the scenes and to check the consistency of temporal relationships among them; and (iii) the generation of event-driven time and action managers as distributed mechanisms for the  orchestration of the elements presentation. This approach centers around a novel multimedia synchronization model based on fuzzy sets and software components concepts.

Emergence of multiagent spatial coordination strategies through artificial coevolution

Co-authored with André Coelho, Daniel Weingaertner and Ricardo Gudwin. Published in Computer and Graphics, 2001.

This paper describes research investigating the evolution of coordination strategies in robot soccer teams. Each player (viewed as an agent) is provided with a common set of skills and is assigned to perform over a delimited area inside a soccer field. The idea is to optimize the whole team behavior by means of a spatial coadaptation process in which new players are selected in such a way to comply with the already existing ones. The main results show that, through coevolution, we progressively create teams whose members act on complementary areas of the playing field, being capable of prevailing over a standard opponent team with a fixed formation.

Petri nets based coordination mechanisms for multi-workflow environments

Co-authored with Alberto Raposo and Léo Magalhães. Published in the International Journal of Computer Systems Science and Engineering, 2000

The coordination of cooperative workflows occurs in parallel to the definition of a common communications infrastructure among organizations. In this paper, we present a library of coordination mechanisms modeled with Petri Nets. These mechanisms specify and control the interaction between workflow processes. The separation between activities and dependencies, managed by the coordination mechanisms, allows the reuse of these mechanisms in other environments and also the use of different coordination policies in the same environment.

Toward mobility interoperability through a domain-independent ontology

Co-authored with Armando NL Delgado. OMAS 2002.

This article focuses the mobility interoperability among heterogeneous agent platforms.

An Agent Infrastructure to Set Collaborative Environments

Co-authored with Armando Delgado and Carlos José Olguin. Published in Educational Technology and Society, 2000.

Collaborative learning supported through computers seems to be very promising, since advances in computational technology enable the widespread use of tools such as bulletin boards, chats, whiteboards and even video-conference. However, it is not clear which approach for on-line learning – individual or collaborative – is more effective for the students. This paper addresses a proposal to combine both approaches, taking in account that some advantages related to individual learning, such as self-pacing and
establishment of learning goals by the learner, imply in difficulties to establish collaborative settings. This proposal is based upon the dynamic creation and management of study groups of distributed learners sharing on-line material. A model is proposed to set collaboration profiles that would enable to identify potential collaborators, and an agent-based infrastructure is presented to support this model in an on-line learning environment. Finally, an example of use of this infrastructure is presented using CALM, a learning environment developed on top of the Web architecture.

Changing Interaction Paradigms in Annotation Environments

Co-authored with Christian Adriano, Alberto Raposo, and Léo Magalhães. Published in EDMEDIA'2000.

Implementation of novel learning scenarios frequently implies the adoption of new interaction paradigms provided by new media. Changes on media bring several issues to educational metaphors, such as deciding which characteristics should be maintained, removed and improved. This paper discusses these issues by means of a case study comparing evolving scenarios for the annotation metaphor: from paper-based to hypertext and virtual reality.

Benchmarking Issues of a Distributed Multimedia Database Management Service

Co-authored with Andre L V Coelho, 2000

One of the most compelling yet still not properly accomplished tasks inside the distributed multimedia database arena is that of suitably fulfilling the disparate temporal requirements commonly imposed by the different types of persistent multimedia information. In such regard, an object-based multimedia management layer has already been conceived and implemented as a CORBA service towards the seamless integration of multimedia databases with net-hidden media dedicated storage repositories. The goal of this paper is to present some quantitative results obtained through measurement sessions over a developed prototype of this distributed service in order to qualitatively assess the adequacy of its architectural proposal.

Coordinating Activities in Collaborative Environments: A High Level Petri Nets Based Approach

Co-authored with Alberto Raposo and Léo Magalhães. Published in SCI'2000.

The coordination of interdependencies among activities in collaborative environments is a very important and difficult task. In this paper we present a set of coordination mechanisms for the specification and control of interaction among collaborative activities. To model these mechanisms, we use high level Petri nets, which have proven to be an adequate approach to evaluate the behavior of a computer supported collaborative system before its implementation.

Fostering Theoretical, Empirical and Tool Specific Knowledge in a Software Testing Learning Scenario

Co-authored with Ellen Barbosa, Christian Adriano, José Carlos Maldonado, and Mario Jino. Published in ICECE'2000.

Teaching some subjects, as for example Computer Science, concerns the support for a learning process that involves cooperation of theoretical and empirical knowledge with related software tools. The underlying hypothesis is that there is a lack of appropriate support, to students and instructors, to the apprenticeship of specific theories and skills. The current research aims at a more specific learning scenario – Software Testing – addressing of what would be these specific theories and skills. A Software Testing Lab requires three cooperating types of knowledge – theoretical, empirical and tool specific, which together compose the learning and the evaluation process. To investigate such hypothesis, a specific learning scenario is implemented within a platform named CALM. This learning
scenario comprises a unit testing activity and the support of an integrated testing tool – PokeTool. With the implemented learning scenario we hope to be in a position to suggest more specific guidelines to be integrated into the platform CALM. It is expected that this experience can also be extended to other software engineering courses.

Coordination Mechanisms for Collaborative Virtual Environments

Co-authored with Alberto Raposo and Léo Magalhães. Published in WRV'2000.

In order to be effectively used as collaborative work tools, developers of virtual environments should invest, among other aspects, in the coordination of users’ activities. The goal of this work is to present coordination mechanisms that may be reused in different implementations of collaborative virtual environments (CVEs).

A collaboration framework for on-line learning environments

Co-authored with Carlos José Olguin and Armando Delgado. Published in RIBIE'2000.

Collaborative learning supported through computers seems to be very promising, since advances in computational technology enable the widespread use of tools such as bulletin boards, chats, whiteboards and even video-conference. However, it is not clear which approach for on-line learning – individual or collaborative – is more effective for the students. This paper addresses a proposal to combine both approaches, taking in account that some advantages related to individual learning, such as self-pacing and establishment of learning goals by the learner, imply in difficulties to establish collaborative settings. This proposal is based upon the dynamic creation and management of study groups of distributed learners sharing on-line material. A model is proposed to set collaboration profiles that would enable to identify potential collaborators, and an agent-based infrastructure is presented to support this model in an on-line learning environment. Finally, an example of use of this infrastructure is presented using CALM, a learning environment developed on top of the Web architecture.

A CORBA-based distributed multimedia database management layer: design and implementation aspects

Co-authored with Andre L V Coelho, 2000

Multimedia applications executing on distributed environments lack a seamless approach to handle their components' persistent contents. A persistence middleware layer that allows the integration of multimedia databases with media-dedicated storage servers is presented. The design of SGPOM follows the philosophy of RM-ODP and CORBA persistent object service, thus enabling a clean integration with this distributed object platform. The main aspects related to the service implementation using the Java programming language are also described.

Distributed multimedia persistence support for educational activities

Co-authored with André Coelho. Published in SCI'2000.

Under most of the new technological-focusing learning approaches, one of the primal objectives is that of the incremental design and construction of an instructional environment more centered upon the learners’ particular necessities and profiles. In such respect, multimedia tools and services have already been proposed and customized as the underpinnings to a broader range of more adequate educational and training software applications. In order to augment and extend this support over larger domains, there is now such a tendency to integrate these mechanisms with those obtained within the Distributed Systems arena. In this paper, a distributed multimedia persistence layer, which enables the seamless integration of multimedia databases with media dedicated storage servers, is evaluated as such an underlying service bringing support to customary educational activities. With this purpose, some computational requirements commonly associated with the handling of learning materials are first presented, assessing their impact on the assisting middleware systems. Finally, three scenarios of study are investigated emphasizing the new service functionalities.

SGPOM: A multimedia object persistence management service under a distributed environment

Co-authored with Andre LV Coelho. SBMEDIA 2000.

This paper presents a well-dimensioned distributed framework for supporting persistent multimedia data management.

When is an Interactive Learning Scenario a Matter of Interface Design?

Co-authored with Christian M Adriano and Adriane M Adriano, 2000

Interaction is an important feature a learning activity must promote. Parker (1999) outlines benefits pro-vided by interaction: "Understanding and long-term internalization can only be acquired by communication, recon-struction and reconciliation of information; interaction enables socialization, promotes motivation, and learning commitment; interactive processes foster comprehension and consensus on universal truths". In previous research (Adriano et al.1999), we implemented a computer supported learning scenario by producing content, modeling evaluation, and choosing a proper pedagogical orientation. Our effort resulted in the first version of the CALM platform, which implements a learning scenario inspired by the Goal Based Scenario approach, provides an intelligent tutor, and hosts material for learning Java. In order to guide further effort on in-teraction, the following problem was posed: When is an interactive learning scenario a matter of interface design? We propose two situations in which developing interactive learning scenarios incurs in interface design. First, when concern fits on one of the items proposed by Marcus (1994): Mental and Navigation Models, Appearance, Interaction, or Metaphor. Second, when the learning scenario, implemented by the resulting interface design, must accomplish complementary definitions for the concept of "interaction".

Inquiring the Course Paradigm with CALM

Co-authored with Christian Adriano, Armando Delgado, Luiz Silveira, Raquel Bosnardo, and Léo Magalhães. Published in ICECE'1999.

The configuration of theoretical courses complemented by "hands on" laboratories has been shown effective to internalize theory, give concrete context and enhance skills. However, learning the "hands on" tools dispenses usually unaffordable time; that is particularly true for computer programming, since the amount of programming language taught during theory does not suffice to the lab practice. To lessen such problem by supporting extra-course apprenticeship, a collaborative learning system was discussed and developed. CALM–Computer Aided Learning Material is the resulting proposal with an underlying philosophy of complementing the traditional course paradigm with a goal directed learning strategy.

Towards a categorization of hypermedia data models

Co-authored with Carlos Tobar. Published in MMM'1999.

Several hypermedia data models have been proposed in order to face hypermedia as a paradigm to develop information-oriented systems. However, hypermedia modeling introduces very specific requirements not found within conventional database modeling due to several issues must be considered during a design effort, such as modeling of data navigation, data perception, and human-machine interaction. Most of present data models oriented to hypermedia present differences on abstraction level, modeling issues, and considered data aspects. An Abstract Categorization Map is proposed as a graphical tool through which it is possible to assess and compare existing specification mechanisms of data models oriented to hypermedia. The map allows an analysis of existing models as an exercise to relate them and therefore derive strengths, weaknesses, overlaps, or omissions. It also allows observing existing gaps between the modeling of data considering different levels of abstraction.

A Framework for Assessing and Comparing Multimedia and Hypermedia Authoring Methodologies

Co-authored with Carlos Tobar. Published in MSE'1998.

The importance of data perception by the user has demanded data models oriented to individuals, whose emphasis is information description at high levels of abstraction. Altogether new data modeling requirements have arisen, mainly because of information technology improvements such as multimedia and hypermedia incorporation to documents. These and others considerations have produced new brands of evolving data models. Model-based approaches to hypermedia design are authoring methodologies that make use of some of the newest data models in order to begin from high level abstractions a step-by-step process directed to low level specifications trying to cope with multimedia and hypermedia in a user oriented fashion. A development approach ofmultimedia and hypermedia oriented datamodels is proposed, named hook approach, that basically establishes the need for facilitator mechanisms to allow mappings between data models of different abstraction levels. In order to point out the broadness of authoring methodologies and even to allow their comparison an Abstract CategorizationMap is also proposed. This map can be used to present data model adherence to the hook approach and also can be used as a reference framework for the development of data models oriented to support multimedia and hypermedia information applications.

Animation modeling with Petri Nets

Co-authoring with Alberto Raposo and Léo Magalhães. Published in Computer and Graphics, 1998

This paper introduces the use of Petri Nets as a modeling and analysis tool for animation environments. First of all the original formulation for Petri Nets is applied in two animation situations. The first one is modeled as a state machine and the second one explores interdependent transitions. Increasing the complexity level, some modeling extensions are discussed and a more sophisticated animation example is presented.

Building Interactive Animations using VRML and Java

Co-authored with Fabiana Tamiosso, Alberto Raposo, and Léo Magalhães. Published in SIBGRAPI, 1997

This paper exploits the combination of VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language) and Java for the construction of highly interactive animations, whose behavior is defined in real-time by user’s actions. The animations are modeled in VRML, which allows the definition of a Java program to process and generate events that determine the behavior of scene elements. An application for the generation of Java graphical interfaces was developed, aiming to establish the communication between the user and the VRML environment, sending parameters to the program that controls the animation.

Efficient Visualization in a mobile WWW environment

Co-authored with Alberto B. Raposo, Luc Neumann, and Léo P. Magalhães, 1997

The facility of access to information in theWorld-WideWeb (WWW), the expanding availability of information technology, and the recent developments in the handling of multimedia data are all important steps towards a Global Information Infrastructure accessible to anyone, anywhere in the world. However, in order to achieve this accessible infrastructure, one should consider the aspects related to efficient communication. Some of these aspects are addressed in this work. A mobileWWW rendering application using VRML is introduced, the related problems are pinpointed, and approaches to overcome them are proposed. As a first result we have developed an application that filters VRML
scenes to render only parts selected by the user.

Working with Remote VRML Scenes through Low-Bandwidth Connections

Co-authored with Alberto Raposo and Léo Magalhães. Published in SIBGRAPI 1997.

We have developed a Web-based application to accelerate the visualization of VRML scenes located in a remote server. This application enables the user to extract only the parts of a scene that are of actual interest. The extracted parts represent one or more sub-trees of the hierarchical structure of the VRML scene, and only these parts will be rendered and visualized in the local computer. By reducing the complexity (size) of the remote scene, less data are transmitted from the remote server and the rendering process becomes faster in the local computer. The application is written in Java and is executed as an applet embedded in an HTML page.

A Categorization Map for Hypermedia Data Models

Co-authored with Carlos M Tobar, 1997

The richness and diversity of hypermedia information have recently raised many hypermedia data models, standards, and development methodologies. However, there are so many aspects to be captured by a hypermediamodel that in general it is difficult to comprehend how these models are related to each other.
In this paper, we propose the Abstract Categorization Map, a tool that enables the classification of hypermedia models within a framework representing features related to hypermedia information in distinct abstraction levels. The applicability of this map is illustrated through the analysis of some well known hypermedia models, such as the Dexter reference model and the
HyTime standard.

Database requirements for distributed multimedia systems

Co-authored with Carlos M Tobar, 1996

This paper presents a set of requirements that must be provided by a database system in order to support the representation, storage, and manipulation of multimedia documents. These requirements provide guidelines to evaluate the adequacy of database systems for supporting multimedia applications. The main focus is on distributed systems, which reflects the trend towards the future of multimedia systems, whose needs could hardly be provided by stand-alone systems.

Visualization in a mobile WWW environment

Co-authored with Alberto B Raposo, Luc Neumann, Léo P Magalhães. Webnet 1997

The facility of access to information in the World-Wide Web (WWW), the expanding availability of information technology, and the recent developments in the handling of multimedia data are all important steps towards a Global Information Infrastructure (GII) accessible to anyone, anywhere in the world. However, in order to achieve this accessible infrastructure, one should consider the aspects related to efficient communication. These aspects are addressed by this paper. A mobile WWW rendering application using VRML 2.0 (Virtual Reality Modeling Language) is introduced, the related problems are pinpointed and approaches to overcome them are proposed. We have developed an application that filters VRML scenes to render only parts selected by the user. It improves the interactive visualization within a mobile environment and is a further small step towards the GII.

Categorization and Multidimensional Vision for Hypermedia Data Models

Co-authored with Carlos M Tobar, 1995

Hypermedia technology is demanding for the creation of new data models, with many efforts in this direction addressing different aspects of this technology, such as document structure and temporal modeling. In order to allow the comparison of capabilities supported by a diversity of hypermedia data models, an Abstract Categorization Map is proposed. The abstract categorization map is based, among others, on a four-dimensional vision for the specification of abstract data, named T-vision, which establishes better data characterization than supported by current hypermedia models.
As a sample of the power and flexibility of future hypermedia data models, the kernel for a navigation oriented data model based on the T-vision is shown, with some powerful mechanisms to navigate and to help navigation, implemented as prototypes on top of World Wide Web (WWW) browsers. This example also serves as an empirical experiment and orientation for the development of information systems according to the abstract
categorization map and T-vision.

Towards an architecture for distributed multimedia databases

Co-authored with Carlos Tobar. Published in ICIIS'1996.

The widespread use of multimedia resources has been demanding the reengineering of a broad class of supporting software in order to ease the implementation of multimedia applications. In this paper, we address the features a database system should provide in order to support multimedia applications, with emphasis on its integration to distributed platforms. The architecture of a prototype multimedia database, the Multiware Database, is presented.

Muliware database: A distributed object database system for multimedia support

Co-authored with Carlos Tobar. Published in ICODP'1995.

This paper describes the Multiware Database, a database capable to store and manage complex multimedia documents using the features of both object management systems and open distributed systems.

Performance and scalability of parallel database systems

PhD dissertation, 1994

Analysis of pipelined external sorting on a reconfigurable message-passing multicomputer

Co-authored with Bernard Menezes and Ramki Thurimella. Published in Parallel Computing, 1993.

External sorting is a frequent operation in relational database systems, sometimes as a step in important operations such as joins. Therefore, external sorting on a parallel system is a key index of system performance for database applications. However, the problem of external sorting on multicomputers is not as well understood as parallel internal sorting, when keys reside in main memory. In many case, analysis is performed under assumptions such as unlimited resources (number of processors, amount of memory, network bandwidth) and full overlapped use of resources, limiting its applicability in practice. [...]

External sorting on a reconfigurable message-passing multicomputer: Experimental results and analysis

Co-authored with Bernard Menezes and Ramki Thurimella. Published in MWSCS'1992

In this paper, we report on an actual implememtation of the external sorting problem on a multicomputer with careful attention  paid to the overlap bewteen computation and I/O in order to minimize total execution time. The problem is divided into two steps - the first involves creation of multiple sorted runs (Step 1), the second involves merging the runs (Step 2). Step 1 was accomplished using pipelined sort; Step 2 was implemented on a tree of processors. We also present an analytical model for Step 1; the execution time predicted by the proposed analytical model is compared with the experimental results.

MOODS: A Modular, Object-Oriented Design Database System

Published in CAPE'1989

MOODS is a database management system that can control multiple physical databases integrated through the object oriented paradigm. In addition to enabling the representation of design data, this system can represent data associated to the
design process and to integrate designers’ supporting tools in a uniform way. Hence, MOODS can support a multimedia database, with adequate features not only for engineering design but also for a broader class of non-conventional applications.

System optimization with artificial neural networks: parallel implementation using transputers

Co-authored with Roseli Francelin and Fernando Gomide, 1992

A neural network with a three-layer feedback topology for solving continuous optimization problems has been proposed. A parallel implementation of the proposed neural network is presented. The implementation described here uses a transputer system, which enables solving problems with several variables. Results from this implementation and comparisons with sequential implementation results are also presented

Supporting design environments through the entity-relationship model

Co-authored with Armando Delgado and Léo Magalhães. Published in WCSC'1988.

Design environments are characterized by two kinds of processes, one related with design control and other with the design itself. This article presents an extension of the entity-relationship model which on one hand supports both processes - defining the called micro and macro aspects, and on the other hand offers a semantical modelling tool based on rules.