Emanuele Panizzi

MADCOW: a multimedia digital annotation system

Digital annotation of multimedia documents adds information to a document (e.g. a web page) or parts of it (a multimedia object such as an image or a video stream contained in the document). Digital annotations can be kept private or shared among different users over the internet, allowing discussions and cooperative work. We study the possibility of annotating multimedia documents with objects which are in turn of multimedial nature. Annotations can refer to whole documents or single portions thereof, as usual, but also to multi-objects, i.e. groups of objects contained in a single document. We designed and developed a new digital annotation system organized in a client-server architecture, where the client is a plug-in for a standard web browser and the servers are repositories of annotations to which different clients can login. Annotations can be retrieved and filtered, and one can choose different annotation servers for a document. We present a platform-independent design for such a system, and illustrate a specific implementation for Microsoft Internet Explorer on the client side and on JSP/MySQL for the server side.

Lattice calculation of D- and B-meson semileptonic decays, using the clover action at β = 6.0 on APE

Abstract We present the results of a high statistics lattice calculation of hadronic form factors relevant for D - and B -meson semi-leptonic decays into light pseudoscalar and vector mesons. The results have been obtained by averaging over 170 gauge field configurations, generated in the quenched approximation, at β = 6.0, on a 18 3 × 64 lattice, using the O ( α )-improved SW-Clover action. From the study of the matrix element 〈 K − |J μ |D 0 〉, we obtain f + (0) = 0.78 ± 0.08 and from the matrix element 〈 K ∗0 |J μ |D + 〉 we obtain V (0) = 1.08 ± 0.22, A i (0) = 0.67 ± 0.11 and A 2 (0) = 0.49 ± 0.34. We also obtain the ratios V(0) A 1 (0) = 1.6 ± 0.3 and A 2 (0) A 1 (0) = 0.7 ± 0.4 . Our predictions for the different form factors are in good agreement with the experimental data, although, in the case of A 2 (0), the errors are still too large to draw any firm conclusion. With the help of the Heavy Quark Effective Theory (HQET) we have also extrapolated the lattice results to B -meson decays. The form factors follow a behaviour compatible with the HQET predictions. Our results are in agreement with a previous lattice calculation, performed at β = 6.4, using the standard Wilson action.

Levels of automation and user participation in usability testing

This paper identifies a number of factors involved in current practices of usability testing and presents profiles for three prototype methods: think-aloud, subjective ratings, and history files. We then identify ideal levels to generate the profile for new methods. These methods involve either a human observer or a self-administration of the test by the user. We propose methods of automating the evaluation form by dynamically adding items and modifying the form and the tasks in the process of the usability test. For self-administration of testing, we propose similar ideas of dynamically automating the forms and the tasks. Furthermore, we propose methods of eliciting the users goals and focus of attention. Finally, we propose that user testing methods and interfaces should be subjected to usability testing.

A HARDWARE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE APE100 ARCHITECTURE

APE100 processors are based on a simple Single Instruction Multiple Data architecture optimized for the simulation of Lattice Field Theories or other complex physical systems. This paper describes the hardware implementation of the first APE100 machine.

The Software Of The Ape100 Processor

We describe the software environment available for the APE100 parallel processor. We discuss the parallel programming language that we have defined for APE100 and its optimizing compiler. We then describe the operating system that allows to control APE100 from a host computer.

Storing and retrieving multimedia web notes

Digital annotation of multimedia documents adds personal information to a document (e.g. a web page) or parts of it (a multimedia object such as an image or a video stream contained in the document). Digital annotations can be kept private or shared among different users over the internet, allowing discussions and cooperative work. We discuss some architectural solutions and storage schemas, to the problem of annotating multimedia documents with objects which are in turn of multimedial nature. Annotations can refer to whole documents or single portions thereof, as usual, but also to multi-objects, i.e. groups of objects contained in a single document. We present a new digital annotation system organized in a client-server architecture, where the client is a plug-in for a standard web browser and the servers are repositories of annotations to which different clients can login. Annotations can be retrieved and filtered, based on their metadata descriptors, and possibly on their content, and one can choose different annotation servers for a document. An implementation integrated in a widely used Web browser is discussed.

Communication Control and Driving Assistance to a Platoon of Vehicles in Heavy Traffic and Scarce Visibility

A decentralized communication and control system is presented for driving assistance and automation along designated highway segments. This paper is based on a hybrid dynamical model describing vehicular motion, and the structure of a safe controller is presented. A ranging and communication system provides information for a vehicle and its nearest neighbors. The system is capable of handling sudden changes of regime, overtakes, reentries, as well as a number of maneuvers dictated by safety requirements under partially unpredicted events. A user-friendly interface, based on a palmtop computer, is developed to assist drivers visually and acoustically

Annotation as a support to user interaction for content enhancement in digital libraries

This work describes the interface design and interaction of a generic annotation service for Digital Library Management Systems (DLMSs), called Digital Library Annotation Service (DiLAS), that has been designed and is currently undergoing development and user test in the framework of the DELOS European Network of Excellence. The objective of DiLAS is to design and develop an architecture and a framework able to support and evaluate a generic annotation service, i. e. a service that can be easily used into different DLMSs enhancing their User Interfaces (UIs) in order to offer to Digital Library (DL) users a set of uniform, user-tested (under certain required conditions), and recognizable functionalities.

A lattice study of the exclusive B->K*gamma decay amplitude, using the Clover action at beta=6.0

Abstract We present the results of a numerical calculation of the B → K ∗ γ form factors. The results have been obtained by studying the relevant correlation functions at β = 6.0, on an 18 3 × 64 lattice, using the O ( a )-improved fermion action, in the quenched approximation. From the study of the matrix element 〈K ∗ | s σ μν b|B〉 we have obtained the form factor T 1 (0) which controls the exclusive decay rate. The results are compared with the recent results from CLEO. We also discuss the compatibility between the scaling laws predicted by the Heavy Quark Effective Theory (HQET) and pole dominance, by studying the mass- and q 2 -dependence of the form factors. From our analysis, it appears that the form factors follow a mass behaviour compatible with the predictions of the HQET and that the q 2 -dependence of T 2 is weaker than would be predicted by pole dominance.

MADCOW: a visual interface for annotating web pages

The use of the Web and the diffusion of knowledge management systems makes it possible to base discussions upon a vast set of documents, many of which also include links to multimedia material, such as images or videos. This perspective could be exploited by allowing a team to collaborate by exchanging and retrieving annotated multimedia documents (text, images, audio and video). We designed and developed a digital annotation system, MADCOW, to assist users in constructing, disseminating, and retrieving multimedia annotations of documents, supporting collaborative activities to build a web of decision-related documents. We made a strong effort in designing the user interface and we tested it with 24 users. We describe a scenario in which annotation plays a crucial role, where the object of the collaboration is a politically and artistically important palace of Rome, for which the availability of images and historical documentation is fundamental in order to take informed decisions. We demonstrate the MADCOW interface and its use in the restoration team. The annotations can be used to support teamwork as well as to offer the public some reasoned integration and guide to the available material.