Alan Curcino Pedreira da Silva

Applications of ontologies in requirements engineering: a systematic review of the literature

There is an increase use of ontology-driven approaches to support requirements engineering (RE) activities, such as elicitation, analysis, specification, validation and management of requirements. However, the RE community still lacks a comprehensive understanding of how ontologies are used in RE process. Thus, the main objective of this work is to investigate and better understand how ontologies support RE as well as identify to what extent they have been applied to this field. In order to meet our goal, we conducted a systematic literature review (SLR) to identify the primary studies on the use of ontologies in RE, following a predefined review protocol. We then identified the main RE phases addressed, the requirements modelling styles that have been used in conjunction with ontologies, the types of requirements that have been supported by the use of ontologies and the ontology languages that have been adopted. We also examined the types of contributions reported and looked for evidences of the benefits of ontology-driven RE. In summary, the main findings of this work are: (1) there are empirical evidences of the benefits of using ontologies in RE activities both in industry and academy, specially for reducing ambiguity, inconsistency and incompleteness of requirements; (2) the majority of studies only partially address the RE process; (3) there is a great diversity of RE modelling styles supported by ontologies; (4) most studies addressed only functional requirements; (5) several studies describe the use/development of tools to support different types of ontology-driven RE approaches; (6) about half of the studies followed W3C recommendations on ontology-related languages; and (7) a great variety of RE ontologies were identified; nevertheless, none of them has been broadly adopted by the community. Finally, we conclude this work by showing several promising research opportunities that are quite important and interesting but underexplored in current research and practice.

Steps, techniques, and technologies for the development of intelligent applications based on Semantic Web Services: A case study in e-learning systems

Semantic Web Services domain has gained special attention in academia and industry. It has been adopted as a promise to enable automation of all aspects of Web Services provision and uses, such as service creation, selection, discovery, composition, and invocation. However, the development of intelligent systems based on Semantic Web Services (SWS) is still a complex and time-consuming task, mainly with respect to the choice and integration of technologies. In this paper, we discuss some empirical issues associated with the development process for such systems and propose a systematic way for building intelligent applications based on SWS by providing the development process with steps, techniques and technologies. In addition, one experiment concerning the implementation of a real e-learning system using the proposed approach is described. The evaluation results from this experiment showed that our approach has been effective and relevant in terms of improvements in the development process of intelligent applications based on SWS.

A computation environment for automated negotiation: a case study in electronic tourism

The automated negotiation topic plays an important role in e-commerce research. However, despite considerable work on automated negotiation, few research efforts have aimed at software engineering facilities such a reuse and flexibility. To address this issue, we propose a novel computation environment for building agents with flexible negotiation strategies to function in various virtual business domains. Regarding the negotiation strategies, some decision taking assistance techniques may be used in group, e.g. rule-based reasoning and techniques to machine learning. Considering the flexibility of acting in various business domains, a specific agent can be programmed to work in as many business domains as necessary, and essentially, it will also be possible to reconfigure the agents business domains at execution time. All the experiments in this work were idealized in the terms of a tourism negotiation package. Results from these experiments demonstrate effectiveness of our proposal.

Ontology-based feature modeling

We compare two ontology-based feature modeling styles by conducting an experiment.The results show that ontology factor has statistical significance in all metrics.The results show that the ontology based on instances is more flexible.The results show that the ontology based on instances demands less time to change. A software product line (SPL) is a set of software systems that have a particular set of common features and that satisfy the needs of a particular market segment or mission. Feature modeling is one of the key activities involved in the design of SPLs. The feature diagram produced in this activity captures the commonalities and variabilities of SPLs. In some complex domains (e.g., ubiquitous computing, autonomic systems and context-aware computing), it is difficult to foresee all functionalities and variabilities a specific SPL may require. Thus, Dynamic Software Product Lines (DSPLs) bind variation points at runtime to adapt to fluctuations in user needs as well as to adapt to changes in the environment. In this context, relying on formal representations of feature models is important to allow them to be automatically analyzed during system execution. Among the mechanisms used for representing and analyzing feature models, description logic (DL) based approaches demand to be better investigated in DSPLs since it provides capabilities, such as automated inconsistency detection, reasoning efficiency, scalability and expressivity. Ontology is the most common way to represent feature models knowledge based on DL reasoners. Previous works conceived ontologies for feature modeling either based on OWL classes and properties or based on OWL individuals. However, considering change or evolution scenarios of feature models, we need to compare whether a class-based or an individual-based feature modeling style is recommended to describe feature models to support SPLs, and especially its capabilities to deal with changes in feature models, as required by DSPLs. In this paper, we conduct a controlled experiment to empirically compare two approaches based on each one of these modeling styles in several changing scenarios (e.g., add/remove mandatory feature, add/remove optional feature and so on). We measure time to perform changes, structural impact of changes (flexibility) and correctness for performing changes in our experiment. Our results indicate that using OWL individuals requires less time to change and is more flexible than using OWL classes and properties. These results provide insightful assumptions towards the definition of an approach relying on reasoning capabilities of ontologies that can effectively support products reconfiguration in the context of DSPL.

Semantic Web-Based Software Product Line for Building Inteligent Tutoring Systems

This research describes an approach for design and development of Intelligent Tutoring Systems under the Semantic Web perspective, considering aspects of both effectiveness and large scale. It deals with a clearly interdisciplinary theme which combines characteristics of Artificial Intelligence, Semantic Web and Software Engineering, applied to this kind of educational system. Thus, this work proposes a study for the rapid development of Intelligent Tutoring Systems as part of Virtual Learning Environments for presencial or distance education, taking into account characteristics such as reuse and large scale development. In this sense, an assessment of the adequateness of current ITS approaches has been done, as well as the definition of an architecture containing the Intelligent Tutoring Systems essential components. The proposed architecture has been used to specify a product line that takes into consideration (i) the different user profiles, (ii) the nonpossession of advanced computing knowledge by the users (iii) the heterogeneity of knowledge domains that kind of systems will handle and (v) the constant change and evolution of the knowledge manipulated of this kind of systems. This way, satisfying the four mentioned considerations, a software product line based on the Semantic Web was developed and tested. The experiments carried out to evaluate the proposed approach, in two different domains, demonstrating its is effectivenees in terms of large scale, adaptivity and evolution.

Modelando um Sistema Educacional de MMC sob a perspectiva da Web Semântica

In the presence of the actual world context, the importance of knowing the technological resources and making use of them to improve the performance of human activities is realized. Educat ion cannot be laid aside of this reality, on the contrary, it has to be allied and seek for resources to improve even more the process of teaching and learn ing through Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Thus, the dof Araucaria/PR, through the Educational Technology Project, has pro vided access to these resources establishing informatics laboratories, ev aluating and reorganizing the used method, as an example, the accomplishment of the Leader-Teacher function related to the laboratory monitor one. Resumo. Diante do contexto do mundo atual, percebe-se a imp ortância de conhecer os recursos tecnologicos e fazer uso deste s para melhorar o desempenho das atividades humanas. A educacao nao pficar a margem desta realidade, ao contrario, deve buscar meios de aprimorar o processo de ensino e aprendizagem por meio das Tecnologias da I nformacao e Comunicacao (TICs). Assim, o municipio de Araucari a/PR, atraves do Projeto de Tecnologia Educacional, tem viabilizado o acesso a estes recursos com a implantacao de laboratorios de informatica, ae reorganizando os metodos empregados, como por exemplo, a implemen tacao da funcao de Professor-orientador em detrimento a funcao do moni tor de laboratorio.

Sistema de Recomendação Híbrido para Bibliotecas Digitais que Suportam o Protocolo OAI-PMH

A educacao a distancia tem ganhado significativa atencao tanto na academia quanto nas iniciativas governamentais. Neste contexto, cresce tambem a preocupacao com a avaliacao da qualidade dos diversos aspectos destes cursos mediados pelas tecnologias da informacao e comunicacao. Apesar de muitos trabalhos discutirem diversos aspectos da avaliacao em Ead, a literatura carece de relatos de experiencia que, especialmente, abordem os cursos tecnicos a distancia que possuem especificidades relevantes. Assim, este trabalho relata uma experiencia onde se avalia e adapta uma das propostas existentes na literatura de avaliacao mediada por foruns, ao contexto dos cursos tecnicos a distancia, constituindo-se esta adaptacao e sua discussao as principais contribuicoes do mesmo.Em Educacao a Distância mediada por meio de Ambientes Virtuais de Aprendizagem, foruns de discussao sao um instrumento importante e amplamente utilizado na articulacao de debates e discussoes entre os atores envolvidos no processo de ensino e aprendizagem. Com a ampla utilizacao dos foruns muitas mensagens sao trocadas e isso, por vezes, excede a capacidade de monitoramento por parte dos professores e tutores. O presente trabalho apresenta a concepcao de um classificador de mensagens de foruns que classifica as mensagens em positivas ou negativas, a fim de identificar mensagens que necessitam de maior atencao. Este trabalho aplica conceitos de mineracao de textos, com o algoritmo SVM obtendo taxas de acerto satisfatorias.Este artigo apresenta o framework Contagious, cujo proposito e estabelecer diretrizes que norteiem a construcao de redes sociais online orientadas a Difusao de Inovacoes. Compreendo-se o fenomeno das redes sociais online como consequencia natural do carater social do ser humano, vislumbrou-se esse meio tecnologico de comunicacao e interacao social como potencial ferramenta para a extensao de praticas educativas, com vistas a formacao do carater integral do cidadao. Para isso, foi adotada a teoria de Difusao de Inovacoes, propria das ciencias sociais. As contribuicoes deste trabalho, portanto, compreendem duas vertentes: a) o mapeamento de principios de uma teoria social na forma de recursos computacionais e; b) um enfoque orientado a educacao sobre as redes sociais online.A proposta do trabalho consiste em desenvolver um sistema para ser usado no celular como ferramenta de auxilio para alfabetizacao, utilizando-se de imagens e sons como forma de facilitar o aprendizado. Como metodo de desenvolvimento utiliza-se o processo P@PSEduc (Processo Agil para Software Educativo) e a ferramenta JME (Java Micro Edition).O crescente uso e difusao de tecnologias Web, a ubiquidade de ferramentas educacionais vem proporcionado verdadeiras revolucoes nos ambientes de ensino. Atualmente, sabe-se que nao mais se deve tratar alunos de forma homogenea, como se assim os fossem. Em face disso, este artigo apresenta um sistema adaptativo de apoio a aprendizagem colaborativa, cujo tema e a construcao e representacao do conhecimento por meio de mapas mentais multimidia. Tal sistema, baseia-se na Teoria da Carga Cognitiva, cuja preocupacao primaria e a facilidade com a qual as informacoes sao processadas pelos individuos.

Para além dos estudos de uso da informação arquivística: a questão da acessibilidade

Este artigo objetiva discutir a questao da acessibilidade no âmbito dos estudos de uso da informacao arquivistica. Apontando os arquivos como importantes unidades de informacao e o papel da arquivologia na contemporaneidade, aborda a concepcao dos estudos hibridos de uso da informacao no contexto arquivistico a partir da definicao dos estudos de usuarios. Neste contexto, discute a acessibilidade quanto a informacao em unidades de informacao arquivistica por meio do direito a informacao; do acesso fisico; do acesso as tecnologias da informacao e comunicacao; e do acesso intelectual. Destaca a iniciativa de arquivos acessiveis na internet. Conclui com a proposta de promocao dos estudos hibridos de uso da informacao voltados a questao da inclusao e da acessibilidade, ampliando a abordagem “arquivos direcionados para os usuarios”, tratando o acesso a informacao arquivistica a partir do seu direito instituido.

THE SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL PERSPECTIVAS EM GESTO & CONHECIMENTO (PG&C): HISTORY OF IDEALIZATION AND EXPERIENCE OF EDITORIAL MANAGEMENT

This paper describes the experience of editorial management of the electronic scientific journal Perspectivas em Gestao e Conhecimento - PG&C. Features the PG&C about its general data and key issues identified through the published frequency of keywords in the articles. Among the main results, shows that, given the profusion of published topics, subjects with the highest frequency are Knowledge Management, Information Management, Information Science, Learning and Information Systems. This part of the results, already denote the relevance to the trends of converging studies between the Administration and Information Science. Concludes that the scientific journal PG&C has established itself as a vehicle for national reference for various areas dealing with the management and knowledge as inter-relational object of study, not failing to recognize where the visibility and international interest. Full Paper PDF: http://www.contecsi.fea.usp.br/envio/11contecsi-files/papers/674/submission/director/674-2435-1-DR.pdf

EFICIÊNCIA DE USO E SATISFAÇÃO DO USUÁRIO: DELINEANDO A USABILIDADE DO PORTAL DA UFPB

Trata-se de pesquisa que objetiva investigar a usabilidade do Portal da Universidade Federal da Paraiba (UFPB) sob a percepcao dos estudantes pre-concluintes dos Cursos de Graduacao em Ciencia da Computacao e Biblioteconomia desta instituicao. Aporta-se em nos atributos de usabilidade: eficiencia de uso e satisfacao subjetiva. Apresenta a relacao de interdisciplinaridade entre as areas da Ciencia da Informacao e Ciencia da Computacao, estabelecendo dialogo com os Estudos de usuarios e Estudos de usabilidade. A pesquisa e do tipo descritiva, sob abordagens metodologicas qualitativa e quantitativa. Tem como sujeitos da pesquisa os estudantes pre-concluintes dos Cursos de Graduacao em Ciencia da Computacao e Biblioteconomia da UFPB. Utiliza, para a coleta de dados, a pesquisa bibliografica impressa e on line , questionario e entrevista. Como metodo de analise de dados, utiliza a analise descritiva por categorias gerais e especificas. Como resultados, caracteriza o perfil dos estudantes investigados, mediante categorias como genero; faixa etaria, tempo de uso de sistemas informacionais; experiencia no uso de sistemas informacionais; Locais de acesso a internet ; frequencia de acesso a internet e proposito de utilizacao da internet . No que se refere aos resultados sobre a usabilidade do Portal da UFPB, evidencia que o mesmo apresenta certa qualidade de uso, permitindo que os usuarios tenham niveis de produtividade na realizacao de suas tarefas e que o grupo investigado demonstra-se satisfeito com o Portal, contudo, se demonstram conscientes de que este necesita rever a sua interface e funcionalidades. Conclui apontando que ao se elaborar qualquer projeto de site , e essencial levar em consideracao a percepcao/experiencia do usuario vislumbrando-o como parte fundamental no desenvolvimento de um projeto de interface.