Next Issue
Volume 6, December
Previous Issue
Volume 6, June
 
 

Computers, Volume 6, Issue 3 (September 2017) – 6 articles

  • Issues are regarded as officially published after their release is announced to the table of contents alert mailing list.
  • You may sign up for e-mail alerts to receive table of contents of newly released issues.
  • PDF is the official format for papers published in both, html and pdf forms. To view the papers in pdf format, click on the "PDF Full-text" link, and use the free Adobe Reader to open them.
Order results
Result details
Section
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
2704 KiB  
Article
Promoting the Quality Level of Signaling in Railway Transportation System Taking Advantage from Wireless Sensor Networks Technology
by Maryam Taherian, Mehrdad Maeen and Majid Haghparast
Computers 2017, 6(3), 26; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/computers6030026 - 15 Aug 2017
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 7339
Abstract
Given the importance of using the railway networks for the reliable and safe transportation of goods and passengers, which plays an important role in the economy of rail transport of the country, it is necessary to use wireless sensor network techniques to raise [...] Read more.
Given the importance of using the railway networks for the reliable and safe transportation of goods and passengers, which plays an important role in the economy of rail transport of the country, it is necessary to use wireless sensor network techniques to raise the quality and quantity and also maintain the application of these facilities for better control and optimal use of relevant technologies in this regard. Regarding the development of wireless sensor networks for collecting and processing environmental information, we intended to employ them in order to maintain railways, and also prevent defects that might occur in mobile machines and parts, as well as to avoid probable events and reduce human errors. Considering the limited capacity of batteries for sensor nodes in a wireless sensor network, energy efficiency is an important issue; thus mobile sinks are presented as a possible solution. In this study, the proposed routing uses Ring Routing and an optimization gravitational search algorithm for the primary selection of the ring causes an increase in a sensor network’s lifespan. In this study, by applying the proposed method in the railway transportation system, it is improved to reduce the existing errors by creating a system with a higher safety factor and high quality and efficiency, together with maximum efficiency and good speed. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

5718 KiB  
Review
Architectural and Integration Options for 3D NAND Flash Memories
by Rino Micheloni, Luca Crippa, Cristian Zambelli and Piero Olivo
Computers 2017, 6(3), 27; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/computers6030027 - 10 Aug 2017
Cited by 52 | Viewed by 21751
Abstract
Nowadays, NAND Flash technology is everywhere, since it is the core of the code and data storage in mobile and embedded applications; moreover, its market share is exploding with Solid-State-Drives (SSDs), which are replacing Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) in consumer and enterprise scenarios. [...] Read more.
Nowadays, NAND Flash technology is everywhere, since it is the core of the code and data storage in mobile and embedded applications; moreover, its market share is exploding with Solid-State-Drives (SSDs), which are replacing Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) in consumer and enterprise scenarios. To keep the evolutionary pace of the technology, NAND Flash must scale aggressively in terms of bit cost. When approaching ultra-scaled technologies, planar NAND is hitting a wall: both academia researchers and industry worked to cope with this issue for several decades. Then, the 3D integration approach turned out to be the definitive alternative by eventually reaching mass production. This review paper exposes several 3D NAND Flash memory technologies, along with their related integration challenges, by showing their different layouts, scaling trends and performance/reliability features. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 3D Flash Memories)
Show Figures

Figure 1

2854 KiB  
Article
Conceiving Human Interaction by Visualising Depth Data of Head Pose Changes and Emotion Recognition via Facial Expressions
by Grigorios Kalliatakis, Alexandros Stergiou and Nikolaos Vidakis
Computers 2017, 6(3), 25; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/computers6030025 - 23 Jul 2017
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 9033
Abstract
Affective computing in general and human activity and intention analysis in particular comprise a rapidly-growing field of research. Head pose and emotion changes present serious challenges when applied to player’s training and ludology experience in serious games, or analysis of customer satisfaction regarding [...] Read more.
Affective computing in general and human activity and intention analysis in particular comprise a rapidly-growing field of research. Head pose and emotion changes present serious challenges when applied to player’s training and ludology experience in serious games, or analysis of customer satisfaction regarding broadcast and web services, or monitoring a driver’s attention. Given the increasing prominence and utility of depth sensors, it is now feasible to perform large-scale collection of three-dimensional (3D) data for subsequent analysis. Discriminative random regression forests were selected in order to rapidly and accurately estimate head pose changes in an unconstrained environment. In order to complete the secondary process of recognising four universal dominant facial expressions (happiness, anger, sadness and surprise), emotion recognition via facial expressions (ERFE) was adopted. After that, a lightweight data exchange format (JavaScript Object Notation (JSON)) is employed, in order to manipulate the data extracted from the two aforementioned settings. Motivated by the need to generate comprehensible visual representations from different sets of data, in this paper, we introduce a system capable of monitoring human activity through head pose and emotion changes, utilising an affordable 3D sensing technology (Microsoft Kinect sensor). Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

401 KiB  
Article
BICM-ID with Physical Layer Network Coding in TWR Free Space Optical Communication Links
by Alaa A. Saeed Al-Rubaie, Zina M. Hassan Abu Almaalie and Zabih Ghassemlooy
Computers 2017, 6(3), 24; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/computers6030024 - 21 Jul 2017
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 7262
Abstract
Physical layer network coding (PNC) is a promising technique to improve the network throughput in a two-way relay (TWR) channel for two users to exchange messages across a wireless network. The PNC technique incorporating a TWR channel is embraced by a free space [...] Read more.
Physical layer network coding (PNC) is a promising technique to improve the network throughput in a two-way relay (TWR) channel for two users to exchange messages across a wireless network. The PNC technique incorporating a TWR channel is embraced by a free space optical (FSO) communication link for full utilization of network resources, namely TWR-FSO PNC. In this paper, bit interleaved coded modulation with iterative decoding (BICM-ID) is adopted to combat the deleterious effect of the turbulence channel by saving the message being transmitted to increase the reliability of the system. Moreover, based on this technique, comparative studies between end-to-end BICM-ID code, non-iterative convolutional coded and uncoded systems are carried out. Furthermore, this paper presents the extrinsic information transfer (ExIT) charts to evaluate the performance of BICM-ID code combined with the TWR-FSO PNC system. The simulation results show that the proposed scheme can achieve a significant bit error rate (BER) performance improvement through the introduction of an iterative process between a soft demapper and decoder. Similarly, Monte Carlo simulation results are provided to support the findings. Subsequently, the ExIT functions of the two receiver components are thoroughly analysed for a variety of parameters under the influence of a turbulence-induced channel fading, demonstrating the convergence behaviour of BICM-ID to enable the TWR-FSO PNC system, effectively mitigating the impact of the fading turbulence channel. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

1813 KiB  
Article
Data Partitioning Technique for Improved Video Prioritization
by Ismail Amin Ali, Sandro Moiron, Martin Fleury and Mohammed Ghanbari
Computers 2017, 6(3), 23; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/computers6030023 - 06 Jul 2017
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 8259
Abstract
A compressed video bitstream can be partitioned according to the coding priority of the data, allowing prioritized wireless communication or selective dropping in a congested channel. Known as data partitioning in the H.264/Advanced Video Coding (AVC) codec, this paper introduces a further sub-partition [...] Read more.
A compressed video bitstream can be partitioned according to the coding priority of the data, allowing prioritized wireless communication or selective dropping in a congested channel. Known as data partitioning in the H.264/Advanced Video Coding (AVC) codec, this paper introduces a further sub-partition of one of the H.264/AVC codec’s three data-partitions. Results show a 5 dB improvement in Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR) through this innovation. In particular, the data partition containing intra-coded residuals is sub-divided into data from: those macroblocks (MBs) naturally intra-coded, and those MBs forcibly inserted for non-periodic intra-refresh. Interactive user-to-user video streaming can benefit, as then HTTP adaptive streaming is inappropriate and the High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) codec is too energy demanding. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

2751 KiB  
Article
Towards Recognising Learning Evidence in Collaborative Virtual Environments: A Mixed Agents Approach
by Samah Felemban, Michael Gardner and Victor Callaghan
Computers 2017, 6(3), 22; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/computers6030022 - 26 Jun 2017
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 6376
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) virtual environments bring people together in real time irrespective of their geographical location to facilitate collaborative learning and working together in an engaging and fulfilling way. However, it can be difficult to amass suitable data to gauge how well students perform [...] Read more.
Three-dimensional (3D) virtual environments bring people together in real time irrespective of their geographical location to facilitate collaborative learning and working together in an engaging and fulfilling way. However, it can be difficult to amass suitable data to gauge how well students perform in these environments. With this in mind, the current study proposes a methodology for monitoring students’ learning experiences in 3D virtual worlds (VWs). It integrates a computer-based mechanism that mixes software agents with natural agents (users) in conjunction with a fuzzy logic model to reveal evidence of learning in collaborative pursuits to replicate the sort of observation that would normally be made in a conventional classroom setting. Software agents are used to infer the extent of interaction based on the number of clicks, the actions of users, and other events. Meanwhile, natural agents are employed in order to evaluate the students and the way in which they perform. This is beneficial because such an approach offers an effective method for assessing learning activities in 3D virtual environments. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Previous Issue
Next Issue
Back to TopTop