Nael Hirzallah

Notes extraction algorithm from traditional presentations without the use of e-boards

One of the devices that may help in content development for eLearning services is an Electronic Copyboard (e-board). Once it is available in every classroom, it helps in extracting the lecturer notes in an electronic as-in-class format. This paper introduces an alternative solution to e-boards. The presented solution is much cheaper and much simpler to install if compared to that of the e-boards. It could be implemented using a web camera and a video processing algorithm to extract notes that were added or removed by the lecturer. The notes extracted along with the slides presented and the recorded lecturer voice may compose a complete as-in-class electronic form of the lecture. The paper focuses on the proposed algorithm illustrating the results under both scenarios: one, when the lecturer adds soft notes on the slides he is presenting through the projector screen and two when the notes are added on a traditional white board mounted next to the projector screen. The algorithm takes into consideration the brightness variations of the video in detecting the notes especially since this is normal to occur due to slide transitioning in the first scenario and the lecturer movements in front of the white board in the second scenario.

Data reordering in Discrete Trigonometric Transforms (DTT) using scalable interconnect networks implemented for FFT and DCT

Scalable interconnect network for both global and local for data reordering and its implementation are presented in this paper. These networks were implemented for Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) and Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT). The number of processing elements (PE) can be reduced significantly using partial column structure to compute the transforms. This makes it suitable for usage in handheld devices. Data reordering is required between stages (columns). The structure will reorder data on the fly without the need for storage elements. Scalability of the network is based on the transform size and the number of processing elements (PE) in each processing column. The structure can be used as a tool to evaluate throughput vs. complexity (cost and area) of the overall system prior to design commit. A first order of hardware cost analysis is also presented.

A simple algorithm to enrich eLectures with instructor notes

One of the devices that may help in content development for eLearning services is an Electronic Copyboard (e-board). Once it is available in every classroom, it helps in extracting the lecturer notes in an electronic as-in-class format. This paper introduces an alternative solution to e-boards. The presented solution is much cheaper and much simpler to install if compared to that of the e-boards. It could be implemented using a web camera and a video processing algorithm to extract notes that were added or removed by the lecturer. The notes extracted along with the slides presented and the recorded lecturer voice may compose a complete as-in-class electronic form of the lecture (eLecture). This paper presents first the proposed Notes Extraction Algorithm and runs few experiments when the notes are added on a traditional white board under various scenarios. The algorithm takes into consideration the brightness variations of the video in detecting the notes especially since this is normal to occur due to for instant to the lecturer movements in front of the white board. Second, the paper presents an authoring tool that includes the proposed algorithm to extract notes and combines them along with video and slides, if exist, before generating eLectures that could be viewed using popular players.

Issues with Various Security Threats on Mobile Phones

The number of Mobile phones, mainly smart phones, being sold has increased dramatically in recent years. They are becoming more preferred companions to users than desktops or notebooks. This has led to more and more sensitive data being stored on these mobile devices. Unfortunately, applications and data stored on mobile phones are less protected from unauthorized access than on most desktop and mobile computers. In this paper, we will discuss the various security threats that are specific to mobile phones. These threats mainly come from the ports that open the phone to the external world, such as Bluetooth, WiFi and MicroSD memory slots. The paper then concludes that more investigations and innovative techniques are needed to secure the data stored on the removable memory cards, yet creates no further burdensome or bothersome to the users.

Condensing the semantic (ontological concepts) of modeling diagrams: Is it possible?

Ontology can make modeling diagrams more efficient, adaptive, and smarter by explicitly specifying their concepts. This paper is an effort to extract concepts for modeling diagrams and condense them into small numbers. This paper claims that many modeling diagrams (56 diagrams) shared a small number of concepts. An experiment has been conducted to extract concepts for 56 diagrams. The result shows that a small number of concepts are frequently used to describe these diagrams. Condensing the semantic of these diagrams into those concepts and standardizing their definitions will achieve a common understanding for any modeling diagrams.

A University e-learning and Service Providing System: A Case Study

This paper lists a number of essential services and information requests that are expected to be offered in any e-system intended to assist the educational process of any educational institute. The way the list is presented is through a system that has actually been developed and tested in some university. The goal of such a system is to utilize the latest practice in responding to the needs of technological teachers and trainers with a focus in providing quality services to its students and staff. The services and requests are categorized into a number of modules: e-courses, grading, assignments, communications, and supervision. The paper will summarize most of the services listed, but with some level of details, it will focus on the e-learning part. With a view of the future, the paper will also include review of the challenges and opportunities that continue to exist in technological teacher development.