Golam Sorwar

Texture classification based on DCT and soft computing

We present a classification method based on the discrete cosine transform (DCT) coefficients of texture image. Since the DCT works on gray level images, the color scheme of each image is transformed into gray levels. For classifying the images with DCT, we used two popular soft computing techniques, namely neurocomputing and neuro-fuzzy computing. We used a feedforward neural network trained by backpropagation algorithm and an evolving fuzzy neural network to classify the textures. The soft computing models were trained using 80% of the texture data and remaining was used for testing and validation purposes. A performance comparison was made among the soft computing models for the texture classification problem. We also analyzed the effects of prolonged training of neural networks. It was observed that the proposed neuro-fuzzy model performed better than neural network.

Fast global motion estimation using iterative least-square estimation technique

Global motion estimation is an important task in a variety of video processing applications, such as coding, segmentation, classification/indexing, and mosaicing. The main difficulty in global motion parameter estimation resides in the disturbances due to the independently moving objects. The iterative least-square estimation (ILSE) technique [G. B. Rath and A. Makur, 1999] is commonly used in estimating a four-parameter model of global motion. In this paper, a modified ILSE (MILSE) technique is developed, which is capable of estimating the parameters with any number of macroblocks without considering them in order of rows and columns. The performance of the MILSE algorithm is analyzed and quantitatively and qualitatively compared with the ILSE technique. Experimental results show that the proposed technique is not only computationally fast but also robust to the disturbance caused by independently moving objects.

A Fully Adaptive Distance-Dependent Thresholding Search (FADTS) Algorithm for Performance-Management Motion Estimation

Trading off computational complexity and quality is an important performance constraint for real time application of motion estimation algorithm. Previously, the novel concept of a distance-dependent thresholding search (DTS) was introduced for performance scalable motion estimation in video coding applications. This encompassed the full search as well as other fast searching techniques, such as the three-step search, with different threshold settings providing various quality-of-service levels in terms of processing speed and predicted image quality. The main drawback of the DTS was that the threshold values had to be manually defined. In this paper, the DTS algorithm has been extended to a fast and fully adaptive DTS (FADTS), a key feature of which is the automatic adaptation of the threshold using a desired target and the content from the actual video sequence, to achieve either a guaranteed level of quality or processing complexity. Experimental results confirm the performance of the FADTS algorithm in achieving this objective by demonstrating either comparable or improved search speed over existing fast algorithms including the diamond search, hexagon-based search, and enhanced hexagon-based search, while maintaining similar error performance

Investigating factors influencing the adoption of e-Health in developing countries: A patient's perspective

ABSTRACT Purpose: The aim of the study was to investigate factors that influence the adoption and use of e-Health applications in Bangladesh from citizens’ (patients’) perspectives by extending the technology acceptance model (TAM) to include privacy and trust. Methods: A structured questionnaire survey was used to collect data from more than 350 participants in various private and public hospitals in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh. The data were analyzed using the partial least-squares (PLS) method, a statistical analysis technique based on structural equation modeling (SEM). Results: The study determined that perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness and trust (p < 0.05) were significant factors influencing the intention to adopt e-Health. Privacy (p > 0.05) was identified as a less significant factor in the context of e-Health in Bangladesh. The findings also revealed that gender was strongly associated with the adoption and use of e-Health services. Conclusions: The findings of the present study contribute to the development of strategies and policies to enhance e-Health services in Bangladesh. Furthermore, as a result of the generic approach used in this study, the acceptance model developed can be easily modified to investigate the adoption of e-Health in other developing countries.

Current Status, Challenges, and Outlook of E-Health Record Systems in Australia

Australia is among a few countries that have developed national electronic health (e-health) record systems. From July 1, 2012, Australians can register with the Personally Controlled Electronic Health Records (PCEHR) system. Development of e-health systems is supported by stakeholders in Australia, however, the PCEHR system has been widely criticized. For the establishment of a matured e-health record system, this paper examines current status of Australia’s development of e-health record systems, identifies the challenges encountered by the development, and analyses the outlook of the PCEHR system.

Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) based Event Notification System Architecture for Telemedicine Applications

Mobility service for hospital technicians involved in telemedicine applications is one of the key issues in providing more flexible and efficient in-house or remote health care services. Today, the Internet based communication has widened the opportunity of event monitoring systems in the medical field. The session initiation protocol (SIP) can work on a variety of devices and can be used to create a medical event notification system. Its adoption as the protocol of choice for third generation wireless networks allows for a robust and scalable environment. One of the advantages of SIP is that it supports personal mobility through the separation of user addressing and device addressing. In this paper, the authors propose a possible solution framework for telemedicine alert notification system based SIP-specific event notification

ICT Based e-Government Services for Rural Development: A Study of Union Information and Service Center (UISC) in Bangladesh

Access to Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) has become increasingly important for economic, social and political aspects of any countries. However, the “digital divide” between urban and rural areas has introduced a significant gap in equally accessing information, mass communication and ICT, especially in developing countries like Bangladesh. This inequitable access has strong implication on productivity and economic growth of a country. Government of Bangladesh has introduced various ICT interventions to its rural and regional areas aiming at bridging the information access gap. Union Information and Service Centre (UISC) is one of those initiatives to bring opportunity for rural underprivileged communities to better access to ICT and information. However, no studies have been conducted to investigate UISCs potentiality to offering access to ICT and information. The aim of this study was to investigate potential effect of UISC in the development of various socio‐economic sectors in the vicinity of countryside of Bangladesh from actual beneficiary perspective. This study found that UISCs have opened a new window of opportunity for rural citizens in Bangladesh. It has the potential to empower rural communities to access information in various fields including agriculture, education, healthcare, and law. This study also found that most participants held positive view about the effectiveness and usability of various services available through the UISCs.

Modified full-search block-based motion estimation algorithm with distance dependent thresholds

A modified full-search (MFS) algorithm is presented for block-based motion estimation applications, which introduces the novel concept of variable distance dependent thresholds. The performance of the MFS algorithm is analyzed and quantitatively compared with both the traditional and exhaustive full-search (FS) technique, and the computationally faster, non-exhaustive three-step-search (TSS) algorithm. Experimental results show that by applying an appropriate threshold function, the MFS algorithm not only matches the speed of the TSS algorithm, but both retains a block distortion error comparable to the global minimum produced by the FS algorithm, and avoids the problem of identifying large numbers of spurious motion vectors in the search process.

Distance dependent thresholding search for fast motion estimation in real world video coding application

This paper presents a distance dependent thresholding search (DTS) block motion estimation algorithm that employs the novel concept of distance dependent thresholds. The key feature of this algorithm is its flexibility, trading-off quality and complexity with threshold variation. Whereas the performance of the existing algorithms is fixed in terms of prediction quality as well as complexity, DTS can be used as full search (FS), where high quality video entertainments require motion estimation with small prediction error, as well as fast motion estimation such as three-step search (TSS), new-three-step search (NTSS) etc. while real-time video applications, such as the speed-oriented video conferencing require fast motion estimation with sacrificing quality. Experimental results show that this DTS algorithm also achieves better peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), as well as lower search times in comparison to both the TSS and NTSS algorithms.

Advanced Telemedicine System Using 3G Cellular Networks and Agent Technology

The world’s ageing population and prevalence of chronic diseases have lead to high demand for healthcare services. Telemedicine systems based on modern information and communication technology are expected to play a pivotal role in alleviating the pressure on health care services. Fortunately there have been a rapid advanced in technologies including wireless communication especially the third generation network (3G), Internet, software agent and health care devices in terms of mobility, speed and communication. However the current systems are limited in terms of mobility, flexibility and privacy issues. More over the existing solution does not provide any seamless integration of various healthcare providers to provide an effective and efficient team-based continuous care services for patients with chronic illness who prefer to stay in a community based setting. In this paper, we present a generic mobile health monitoring system based on 3G mobile network and software-agent which involves a set of intelligent agents. These software agents will work as human agents in collaborating among different health care professionals for offering team-based medical services. The proposed system can be implemented in a number of situations in a mobile environment.