Abstract: In this paper we introduce three watermarking methods that can be used to count the number of times that a user has played some content. The proposed methods are tested with audio content in our experimental system using the most common signal processing attacks. The test results show that the watermarking methods used enable the watermark to be extracted under the most common attacks with a low bit error rate.
Abstract: Interactive public displays give access as an
innovative media to promote enhanced communication between
people and information. However, digital public displays are subject
to a few constraints, such as content presentation. Content
presentation needs to be developed to be more interesting to attract
people’s attention and motivate people to interact with the display. In
this paper, we proposed idea to implement contents with interaction
elements for vision-based digital public display. Vision-based
techniques are applied as a sensor to detect passers-by and theme
contents are suggested to attract their attention for encouraging them
to interact with the announcement content. Virtual object, gesture
detection and projection installation are applied for attracting
attention from passers-by. Preliminary study showed positive
feedback of interactive content designing towards the public display.
This new trend would be a valuable innovation as delivery of
announcement content and information communication through this
media is proven to be more engaging.
Abstract: The use of High Order Statistics (HOS) analysis is
expected to provide so many candidates of features that can be selected for pattern recognition. More candidates of the feature can
be extracted using simple manipulation through a specific mathematical function prior to the HOS analysis. Feature extraction
method using HOS analysis combined with Difference to the Nth-Power manipulation has been examined in application for Automatic
Modulation Recognition (AMR) to perform scheme recognition of three digital modulation signal, i.e. QPSK-16QAM-64QAM in the
AWGN transmission channel. The simulation results is reported
when the analysis of HOS up to order-12 and the manipulation of Difference to the Nth-Power up to N = 4. The obtained accuracy rate
of AMR using the method of Simple Decision obtained 90% in SNR > 10 dB in its classifier, while using the method of Voted Decision is
96% in SNR > 2 dB.
Abstract: In recent years, rapid advances in software and hardware in the field of information technology along with a digital imaging revolution in the medical domain facilitate the generation and storage of large collections of images by hospitals and clinics. To search these large image collections effectively and efficiently poses significant technical challenges, and it raises the necessity of constructing intelligent retrieval systems. Content-based Image Retrieval (CBIR) consists of retrieving the most visually similar images to a given query image from a database of images[5]. Medical CBIR (content-based image retrieval) applications pose unique challenges but at the same time offer many new opportunities. On one hand, while one can easily understand news or sports videos, a medical image is often completely incomprehensible to untrained eyes.
Abstract: In this paper, a robust digital image watermarking
scheme for copyright protection applications using the singular value
decomposition (SVD) is proposed. In this scheme, an entropy
masking model has been applied on the host image for the texture
segmentation. Moreover, the local luminance and textures of the host
image are considered for watermark embedding procedure to
increase the robustness of the watermarking scheme. In contrast to all
existing SVD-based watermarking systems that have been designed
to embed visual watermarks, our system uses a pseudo-random
sequence as a watermark. We have tested the performance of our
method using a wide variety of image processing attacks on different
test images. A comparison is made between the results of our
proposed algorithm with those of a wavelet-based method to
demonstrate the superior performance of our algorithm.
Abstract: Continuous-time delta-sigma analog digital converter (ADC) for radio frequency identification (RFID) complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) biosensor has been reported. This delta-sigma ADC is suitable for digital conversion of biosensor signal because of small process variation, and variable input range. As the input range of continuous-time switched current delta-sigma ADC (Dynamic range : 50 dB) can be limited by using current reference, amplification of biosensor signal is unnecessary. The input range is switched to wide input range mode or narrow input range mode by command of current reference. When the narrow input range mode, the input range becomes ± 0.8 V. The measured power consumption is 5 mW and chip area is 0.31 mm^2 using 1.2 um standard CMOS process. Additionally, automatic input range detecting system is proposed because of RFID biosensor applications.
Abstract: Within the healthcare system, training and continued professional development although essential, can be effected by cost and logistical restraints due to the nature of healthcare provision e.g employee shift patterns, access to expertise, cost factors in releasing staff to attend training etc. The use of multimedia technology for the development of e-learning applications is also a major cost consideration for healthcare management staff, and this type of media whether optical or on line requires careful planning in order to remain inclusive of all staff with potentially varied access to multimedia computing. This paper discusses a project in which the use of DVD authoring technology has been successfully implemented to meet the needs of distance learning and user considerations, and is based on film production techniques and reduced product turnaround deadlines.
Abstract: Electronic Government is one of the special concepts
which has been performed successfully within recent decades.
Electronic government is a digital, wall-free government with a
virtual organization for presenting of online governmental services
and further cooperation in different political/social activities. In order
to have a successful implementation of electronic government
strategy and benefiting from its complete potential and benefits and
generally for establishment and applying of electronic government, it
is necessary to have different infrastructures as the basics of
electronic government with lack of which it is impossible to benefit
from mentioned services. For this purpose, in this paper we have
managed to recognize relevant obstacles for establishment of
electronic government in Iran. All required data for recognition of
obstacles were collected from statistical society of involved
specialists of Ministry of Communications & Information
Technology of Iran and Information Technology Organization of
Tehran Municipality through questionnaire. Then by considering of
five-point Likert scope and μ =3 as the index of relevant factors of
proposed model, we could specify current obstacles against
electronic government in Iran along with some guidelines and
proposal in this regard. According to the results, mentioned obstacles
for applying of electronic government in Iran are as follows:
Technical & technological problems, Legal, judicial & safety
problems, Economic problems and Humanistic Problems.
Abstract: The new concept of two–dimensional (2D) image
processing implementation for auto-guiding system is shown in this
paper. It is dedicated to astrophotography and operates with
astronomy CCD guide cameras or with self-guided dual-detector
CCD cameras and ST4 compatible equatorial mounts. This idea was
verified by MATLAB model, which was used to test all procedures
and data conversions. Next the circuit prototype was implemented at
Altera MAX II CPLD device and tested for real astronomical object
images. The digital processing speed of CPLD prototype board was
sufficient for correct equatorial mount guiding in real-time system.
Abstract: The ITE Project is a project that has 1800 km length
and across the Turkey's land through east to west. The project of
pipeline enters geographically from Iran to Doğubayazit (Turkey) in
the east, exits to Greece from Ipsala province of Turkey in the west.
This project is the one of the international projects in such scale that
provides the natural gas of Iran and Caspian Sea through the
European continent. In this investigation, some information will be
given about the methods used to verify the direction of the pipeline
and the technical properties of the results obtained. The cost of
project itself entirely depends on the direction of the pipeline which
would be as short as possible and the specifications of the land cover.
Production standards of 1/2000 scaled digital orthophoto and vectoral
maps as a results of the use of map production materials and methods
(such as high resolution satellite images, and digital aerial images
captured from digital aerial cameras), will also be given in this report.
According to Turkish national map production standards, TM
((Transversal Mercator, 3 degree) projection is used for large scale
map and UTM (Universal Transversal Mercator, 6 degree) is used for
small scale map production standards. Some information is also given
about the projection used in the ITE natural gas pipeline project.
Abstract: Car accident is one of the major causes of death in many countries. Many researchers have attempted to design and develop techniques to increase car safety in the past recent years. In spite of all the efforts, it is still challenging to design a system adaptive to the driver rather than the automotive characteristics. In this paper, the adaptive car safety system is explained which attempts to find a balance.
Abstract: This paper presents initiatives of Knowledge
Management (KM) applied to Forensic Sciences field, especially
developed at the Forensic Science Institute of the Brazilian Federal
Police. Successful projects, related to knowledge sharing, drugs
analysis and environmental crimes, are reported in the KM
perspective. The described results are related to: a) the importance of
having an information repository, like a digital library, in such a
multidisciplinary organization; b) the fight against drug dealing and
environmental crimes, enabling the possibility to map the evolution
of crimes, drug trafficking flows, and the advance of deforestation in
Amazon rain forest. Perspectives of new KM projects under
development and studies are also presented, tracing an evolution line
of the KM view at the Forensic Science Institute.
Abstract: This paper introduces a technique of distortion
estimation in image watermarking using Genetic Programming (GP).
The distortion is estimated by considering the problem of obtaining a
distorted watermarked signal from the original watermarked signal as
a function regression problem. This function regression problem is
solved using GP, where the original watermarked signal is
considered as an independent variable. GP-based distortion
estimation scheme is checked for Gaussian attack and Jpeg
compression attack. We have used Gaussian attacks of different
strengths by changing the standard deviation. JPEG compression
attack is also varied by adding various distortions. Experimental
results demonstrate that the proposed technique is able to detect the
watermark even in the case of strong distortions and is more robust
against attacks.
Abstract: Background noise is particularly damaging to speech
intelligibility for people with hearing loss especially for sensorineural
loss patients. Several investigations on speech intelligibility have
demonstrated sensorineural loss patients need 5-15 dB higher SNR
than the normal hearing subjects. This paper describes Discrete
Cosine Transform Power Normalized Least Mean Square algorithm
to improve the SNR and to reduce the convergence rate of the LMS
for Sensory neural loss patients. Since it requires only real arithmetic,
it establishes the faster convergence rate as compare to time domain
LMS and also this transformation improves the eigenvalue
distribution of the input autocorrelation matrix of the LMS filter.
The DCT has good ortho-normal, separable, and energy compaction
property. Although the DCT does not separate frequencies, it is a
powerful signal decorrelator. It is a real valued function and thus
can be effectively used in real-time operation. The advantages of
DCT-LMS as compared to standard LMS algorithm are shown via
SNR and eigenvalue ratio computations. . Exploiting the symmetry
of the basis functions, the DCT transform matrix [AN] can be
factored into a series of ±1 butterflies and rotation angles. This
factorization results in one of the fastest DCT implementation. There
are different ways to obtain factorizations. This work uses the fast
factored DCT algorithm developed by Chen and company. The
computer simulations results show superior convergence
characteristics of the proposed algorithm by improving the SNR at
least 10 dB for input SNR less than and equal to 0 dB, faster
convergence speed and better time and frequency characteristics.
Abstract: Teaching and learning about sustainability is a pedagogical endeavour with various innate difficulties and increased demands. Higher education has a dual role to play in addressing this challenge: to identify and explore innovative approaches and tools for addressing the complex and value-laden nature of sustainability in more meaningful ways, and to help teachers to integrate these approaches into their practice through appropriate professional development programs. The study reported here was designed and carried out within the context of a Masters course in Environmental Education. Eight teachers were collaboratively engaged in reconstructing a digital game microworld which was deliberately designed by the researchers to be questioned and evoke critical discussion on the idea of ‘sustainable city’. The study was based on the design-based research method. The findings indicate that the teachers’ involvement in processes of co-constructing the microworld initiated discussion and reflection upon the concepts of sustainability and sustainable lifestyles.
Abstract: The emergence of networked information and communication has transformed the accessibility and delivery of scholarly information and fundamentally impacted on the processes of research and scholarly communication. The purpose of this study is to investigate disciplinary differences in the use of networked information for research and scholarly communication at Sultan Qaboos University, Oman. This study has produced quantitative data about how and why academics within different disciplines utilize networked information that is made available either internally through the university library, or externally through networked services accessed by the Internet. The results indicate some significant differences between the attitudes and practice of academics in the science disciplines when compared to those from the social sciences and humanities. While respondents from science disciplines show overall longer and more frequent use of networked information, respondents from humanities and social sciences indicated more positive attitudes and a greater degree of satisfaction toward library networked services.
Abstract: Film, as an art form playing a vital role and is a powerful tool in documenting, influencing and shaping the society. Films are the collective creation of a large number of separate individuals, each contributing with creative input, unique talents, and technical expertise to the project. Recently, the Malaysian Independent (or “Indie") filmmakers have made their presence felt by winning awards at various international film festivals. Working in the digital video (DV) format, a number of independent filmmakers really hit their stride with a range of remarkably strong titles and international recognition has been quick in coming and their works are now regularly in exhibition or in competition, winning many top prizes at prestigious festivals around the world. The interaction factors among crewmembers are emphasized as imperative for group success. An in-depth interview is conducted to analyze the social interactions and exchanges between filmmakers through Social Exchanges Theory (SET). Certainly the new millennium that was marked as the digital technology revolution has changed the face of filmmaking in Malaysia. There is a clear need to study the Malaysian independent cinema especially from the perspective of understanding what causes the independent filmmakers to work so well given all of the difficulties and constraints.
Abstract: As the development of digital technology is increasing,
Digital cinema is getting more spread.
However, content copy and attack against the digital cinema becomes
a serious problem. To solve the above security problem, we propose
“Additional Watermarking" for digital cinema delivery system. With
this proposed “Additional watermarking" method, we protect content
copyrights at encoder and user side information at decoder. It realizes
the traceability of the watermark embedded at encoder.
The watermark is embedded into the random-selected frames using
Hash function. Using it, the embedding position is distributed by Hash
Function so that third parties do not break off the watermarking
algorithm.
Finally, our experimental results show that proposed method is much
better than the convenient watermarking techniques in terms of
robustness, image quality and its simple but unbreakable algorithm.
Abstract: METIS is the Multi Element Telescope for Imaging
and Spectroscopy, a Coronagraph aboard the European Space
Agency-s Solar Orbiter Mission aimed at the observation of the solar
corona via both VIS and UV/EUV narrow-band imaging and spectroscopy. METIS, with its multi-wavelength capabilities, will
study in detail the physical processes responsible for the corona heating and the origin and properties of the slow and fast solar wind.
METIS electronics will collect and process scientific data thanks to its detectors proximity electronics, the digital front-end subsystem
electronics and the MPPU, the Main Power and Processing Unit,
hosting a space-qualified processor, memories and some rad-hard
FPGAs acting as digital controllers.This paper reports on the overall
METIS electronics architecture and data processing capabilities
conceived to address all the scientific issues as a trade-off solution between requirements and allocated resources, just before the
Preliminary Design Review as an ESA milestone in April 2012.
Abstract: In this paper, we consider the design of pulse shaping
filter using orthogonal Hermite-Rodriguez basis functions. The pulse
shaping filter design problem has been formulated and solved as a
quadratic programming problem with linear inequality constraints.
Compared with the existing approaches reported in the literature, the
use of Hermite-Rodriguez functions offers an effective alternative to
solve the constrained filter synthesis problem. This is demonstrated
through a numerical example which is concerned with the design of
an equalization filter for a digital transmission channel.