Octavio Rivera

A Method of EOG Signal Processing to Detect the Direction of Eye Movements

In this paper, a signal processing algorithm to detect eye movements is developed. The algorithm works with two kinds of inputs: derivative and amplitude level of electrooculographic signal. Derivative is used to detect signal edges and the amplitude level is used to filter noise. Depending of movement direction, different kinds of events are generated. Events are associated with a movement and its route. A hit rate equal to 94% is reached. This algorithm has been used to implement an application that allows computer control using ocular movement.

Using Internet Protocols to Implement IEC 60870-5 Telecontrol Functions

The telecommunication networks of telecontrol systems in electric utilities have undergone an innovation process. This has removed many of their technical restrictions and made it possible to consider carrying out telecontrol tasks with general standard protocols instead of the specific ones that are used currently. These are defined in the standards 60870-5, 60870-6, and 61850 from the International Electrotechnical Commission, among others. This paper is about the implementation, using the services of general standard protocols, of the telecontrol application functions defined by the standard IEC 60870-5-104. The general protocols used to carry out telecontrol tasks are those used in the Internet: the telecommunication network-management protocol SNMPv3 (simple network management protocol version 3), the clock synchronization protocol network time protocol and Secure SHell. With this new implementation, we have achieved, among others, two important aims: 1) to improve performance and, above all, 2) to solve the serious security problems present in the telecontrol protocols currently being used. These problems were presented by IEEE in an article published in the website of the IEEE Standards Association. In this paper, the use of general standard protocols to perform the telecontrol of electrical networks is justified. The development of this paper-its achievements and conclusions and the tools used-is detailed.

One way of bringing final year computer science student world to the world of children with cerebral palsy: a case study

In this paper, a learning project is explained which is being carried out at the school of computer science at the University of Seville. The aim is that students receive knowledge of assistive technologies when in fact there is no this discipline in our curricula. So the best way, it is programming final studies projects in this field. We want to make the projects have a real application and can solve difficulties that children with Cerebral Palsy have in their daily activities in the school.

Gamification and Behavioral Change: Techniques for Health Social Media

Abstract Although the use of games and gamification for health is a novel field, and more research is needed, there are a new series of publications with promising results in which it is shown that these tools can be beneficial for health. Scientific research, case studies, and the facilitator’s observations show that games and gamification have an effect on health, and it should be considered as essential component of the serious games in the health domain. Gamification, when employed in group of people with face-to-face interaction (even not during the gameplay), encourages the human’s intrinsic need for competition. Serious games succeed in user adherence increase. They aim to engage users by either proposing competitive or cooperative challenges. However, further studies measuring latent psychological variables should be conducted to attain more accurate linkages between game mechanics, psychological effects, and behavioral outcomes.

Open and Flexible Embedded System Applied to Positioning and Telecontrol

This paper presents the development and testing of an open and flexible embedded system applied to positioning and telecontrol (OFESAPO) for outdoor applications. The system is composed of a control center (CC) and a set of remote terminal units (RTUs); the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 60870-5 series has been chosen for communication among them. This is a standard protocol of real-time telecontrol applications. The CC is a personal computer, and the RTUs are based on open hardware and software. The RTU hardware is an embedded system, i.e., a system-on-chip-type design using field-programmable gate array that has been programmed with the open-core LEON running Linux operating system. For prototyping, the GR-XC3S-1500 board has been used. As there is no open source code available for the IEC standard protocols, an open source code has also been implemented. Hence, both the hardware and the software are open source in OFESAPO. Several tests have been made to show the systems limitations and the suitability for real-time applications. A prototype has also been tested in a real environment, where the real position of two moving RTUs was shown by a CC using Google Map.

Customizable software interface for monitoring applications

In this paper we propose an application based on virtual keyboard and automatic scanning to communicate with a PC and the others people. The aim users are the people with disabilities. A high degree of customization is possible in the software. So the user can selected the color of buttons, position of system on screen, the kind of scanning, timer, the interface of communication, etc. Five people without disabilities tested our system. The results of the tests show the application reduce the fatigue of user and increased the text entry rate.

Integration of multimedia contents in the teaching of electronics: A practical test case in the teaching of digital circuits at the University of Seville

In this paper we present the integration of multimedia contents in the teaching of Digital Electronic Circuits and Computer Structure, of the first course of Computer Engineering at the University of Seville. Different tools for screenshot and video recording have been used for the preparation of audiovisual material, integrated in the learning platform currently used at the University of Seville. Feedback on the prepared material was collected in a survey, showing the interest and utility found by students in the preparation of theoretical and experimental classes with the videos. Successful results have been obtained in the evaluation of students. Suggestions of improvement and further work to be carried out are also described in the paper.

Upgrading of Traditional Electric Meter into Wireless Electric Meter Using ZigBee Technology

Since the electric generating, distributing and marketing has been possible; the Electric Meter was introduced and developed along the years, but never like this time. The digital technology, the wireless communication, and the computer systems have dramatically changed the Electric meter generation from Traditional Meter to Automatic Meter and now to Smart Meter. Their differences lie in how to collect and process information, and the amount of information they can provide. Even so the traditional meter reading has been long used, and it is still one of the most common ways for meter reading. This method, however, has their disadvantages which are the result of human basis reading method that uses. If the reading problem is solved by adding a simple circuit, which makes it automatic it will be still useful method of reading. In this paper it is described a prototype for Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) system that uses a Traditional meter, ZigBee modules, and Mesh network. As result the system gives, full capability of automatic meter even some features of smart meter too. This experiment has an important result for developing country like Ethiopia, which almost 99% its meters are the Traditional meters.

Fingerprint indoor location simulator for AAL

In AAL environments, a key issue is to know the location of a user in order to provide the required services quickly and efficiently. A good location system is the one that is able to locate an individual in the shortest time, with acceptable accuracy and spending the least resources as possible. In this context, it seems interesting to analyze in depth the existing location systems in order to optimize both their location procedures and the cost due to deployment. There are many ways to locate an individual indoors. This research is focused on Fingerprint based location procedure, making a comprehensive analysis of it, generating a broad and diverse set of assumptions and issues related to all the elements of the location process based on it. A tool called PosSimulator has been developed to help designers and AAL system evaluators choose the best deployment for a specific environment, taking into account the economic and installation cost and the position accuracy. PosSimulator has been designed regardless the technology used to acquire the information required to locate. It has been used in a test environment. There has been carried out an extensive battery of tests to extract answers or approaches to all the issues raised and research hypotheses, looking for clear trends in the accuracy of the location and observable connections among the various parameters in which the fingerprint based localization process is divided. For the test environment, it has been determined the best combination of all parameters.