Rumen D. Andreev

New algorithm for two-dimensional line clipping

Abstract Line segment clipping is a basic element of the visualization process in a graphics system. So far there exist two approaches for development of algorithms for clipping a line segment with respect to a rectangular window. According to the first approach the line segment locations with respect to the window are described by a certain generalized model. As a result all line segments are clipped identically. The second approach is based on the observation that the great diversity of line segment locations could by systematized in several basic cases. For each one of them the clipping is performed in a preliminary defined way. The algorithm described in the papers uses the second approach. The basic cases of the line segment locations with respect to the window are selected so that the time consuming computations as division and multiplication are reduced to a minimum. An analytical comparison is made with the other algorithms using this approach that are theoretically and experimentally proved to be more efficient than those developed on base of the first approach.

Decision Control, Management, and Support in Adaptive and Complex Systems: Quantitative Models

Yuri Pavlov is an associate professor in the Institute of Information and Communication Technologies in Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Bulgaria. He has received DUES from Paris VI France, MSc degree in Automation from Technical University of Sofia, and holds a PhDs from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. His research has been published in international journals Proceedings of Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, International online journal Bioautomation, European Journal of OR, E-learning III, and the knowledge society-Belgium, Proceedings in Manufacturing Systems, Romania. He has both research and practical expertise in innovative and creative decision-making, optimal control, and control design of complex systems. He is also a member of International Institute of Informatics and Systemics (IIIS). Yuri P. Pavlov (Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Bulgaria) and Rumen D. Andreev (Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Bulgaria)

Integration of ontology with development of personalized e-learning facilities for dyslexics

The paper describes a framework of adaptable e-learning environment for development of personalized e-learning facilities for dyslexic pupils. One of its basic components is reuse platform that is necessary for effective production and usage of e-learning resources. An ontology-based approach to design of this platform is represented by an open semantic model.

Subjective Probability and Expected Utility, A Stochastic Approximation Evaluation

The topic of this article is stochastic algorithms for evaluation of the utility and subjective probability based on the decision maker’s preferences. The main direction of the presentation is toward development of mathematically grounded algorithms for subjective probability and expected utility evaluation as a function of both the probability and the rank of the alternative. The stochastic assessment is based on mathematically formulated axiomatic principles and stochastic procedures and on the utility theory without additivity. The uncertainty of the human preferences is eliminated as is typical for the stochastic programming. Numerical presentations are shown and discussed. Indian Journ l of Applied Re earch Website: www.theglobaljournals.com (ISSN 2249-555X) INTRODUCTION The representation of complex systems including human decisions as objective function needs mathematical tools for evaluation of qualitative human knowledge. In decision making theory the primitive are preferences relations as description of peoples strategies, guided both by internal expectations about their own capabilities of getting results, and by external feedback of this result (Keeney & Raiffa, 1993). Such modeling addresses theory of measurement (scaling), utility theory and Bayesian approach in decision making. The Bayesian statistical technique in decision making is applicable when the information and uncertainty in respect of problems, hypothesis and parameters can be expressed by probability distribution and functional representation of human preferences (Griffiths & Tenenbaum, 2006). Such an approach needs careful analysis of the terms measurement, formalization and admissible mathematical operations in the modeling. This is a fundamental level that requires the use of basic mathematical terms like sets, relations and operations over them, and their gradual elaboration to more complex and specific terms like value and utility functions, operators on mathematically structured sets and harmonization of these descriptions with set of axioms. In this aspect we enter the theory of measurements and the expected utility theory (Fishburn, 1970). The evaluation of qualitative human knowledge and the mathematical inclusion of the subjective probabilities and utility posed many difficulties and needs a special attention. Generally the human notions and preferences have qualitative or verbal expression. The wisely merge of the qualitative and verbal expression as human preferences and quantitative mathematical description causes many efforts. The violations of transitivity of the preferences lead to declinations in utility and subjective probability assessment (Cohen & al., 1988; Kahneman & Tversky, 1979; Fishburn, 1988; Machina, 2009). Such declinations explain the DM behavior observed in the Allais Paradox (Allais, 1953). A long discussion for the role of the mathematic and the Bayesian theory in the human decision making reality has been started yet. New extensions of axiomatic bases of the developed mathematical theories are considered for further wide developments of von Neumann’s theory. Fruitful directions of researches are development of a nonadditive subjective utility theory. The mathematical results of Schmeidler in respect of subjective probability and utility description make a great impression on this development (Shmeidler, 1989). The paper suggests a reasonable wellfounded mathematical approach and methods for subjective probability and utility evaluation based on the von Neumann’s utility theory and the Kahneman’s and Schmeidler’s findings. We propose and discuss a stochastic programming for subjective probability and utility polynomial evaluation as machine learning based on the human preferences. Numerical presentations are shown and discussed. MATHEMATICAL FORMULATIONS AND BACKGROUND The difficulties that come from the mathematical approach are due to the probability and subjective uncertainty of the DM expression and the cardinal character of the expressed human’s preferences. The mathematical description is the following. Let X be the set of alternatives (X⊆R). From practical point of view the empirical system of human preferences relations is a algebraic system with relations SR (X,(≈),()), where (≈) can be considered as the relation “indifferent or equivalent”, and () is the relation “prefer”. We look for equivalency of the empirical system with the numbered system of relations SR (R-real numbers, (=), (>)). The “indifference” relation (≈) is based on () and is defined by ((x≈y) ¬((xy)∨(xy))). We introduce a set S, which elements are named state of nature, following Schmaidler’s exposition (Shmeidler, 1989). Let Ω be algebra of subset of S. Denote by Do the set of all measurable finite step valued functions from S to P and denote by Dc the constant functions in Do. Let D be a convex subset of P which includes Dc, (Dc ⊆ Do ⊆ D). In the neo-Bayesian nomenclature elements of X are deterministic finite outcome (alternatives), elements of P are random outcomes or lotteries connected with the objective probabilities, and elements of D are acts connected with the uncertainty of human operations described with subjective probabilities. Elements of S

A Model of Self-Organizing Collaboration

Collaboration joins together persons (active objects) in some activity. The paper concentrates on the activity, since it is the collaboration basis. The basic theory used in computer science for activity analysis is the activity theory that considers activity as a substantial part of the human interaction with the objective reality (environment). In conformance with this theory, the action presents activity substance and operation — activity (action) realization. It is analyzed cooperation as collaboration realized in operation context.

A linguistic approach to user interface design

Abstract This paper considers user interface design world (UIDW) as a system of communication lines. It necessitates the adoption of a UI design method, centered on language application. For that reason, this approach to UI design is called linguistic approach. The basic characteristics of communication require the presence of a balanced model of UIDW. The integration approach applied to the proposed balanced model submits for analyzing the following issues: the possibilities of object-oriented (OO) approach for providing a homogeneous platform for UI designing; the potential of OO approach for language implementation. The use of formal description provides a basis for the consideration of these issues. As a result of these considerations, the following conclusions are drawn. A technology can be used for language implementation if it ensures all abstract forms reflected to the language structure: concept – this is the essence of the word; forms based on individual abstraction reflect static relations of one description; forms based on group abstraction provide context description. At present, the OO technology covers a part of the language structure. It ensures the forms of concept and the forms based on individual abstraction. The OO paradigm can be regarded as a foundation of a linguistic approach to UI design when new OO forms are developed. They have to cover the forms of group abstraction.

Model-Driven Design of eMedia: Virtual Technology Transfer Office

Establishing a technology transfer office (TTO) is no trivial matter. The goal is to fulfil the gap between research and innovation by involving different kinds of organizational structures aiming to assist public research organizations in managing their intellectual properties that facilitate their transformation into benefits for society. Taking into account the specifics of the transfer of technology as an innovative process described by appropriate business model, the information system is the right choice to help make the appropriate decisions. This article describes an approach to develop of a new e-media based on the proposed business model of TTO. The described model is used for development of an information system. The proposed virtual agents are used as fundamental element of developed e-media to describe some information processing functions which are performed usually by some of media users. The design of described e-media is driven by constructed business model of the office of technology transfer.

Preferences, Utility Function, and Control Design of Complex Cultivation Process

This chapter demonstrates the flexibility and the diversity of the potential functions method and its conjunction with the utility theory when it describes completely analytically the complex system “decision maker-dynamical process.” The utility analytical descriptions have been built concerning the attitude of the technologist toward the dynamic process. Using these approach factors as ecology, financial perspective, social effect can be taken into account. They are included in the expert preferences via the expert attitude towards them. The analytic construction of the utility function is an iterative “machine-learning” process. This interactivity allows a new strategy in the process of control design and in the control of the system with human participation in the final solution. The first and the most important effect of this strategy is the possibility for the analytical description of such complex systems. This has been achieved for the first time in scientific practice. The second effect is the introduction of the iterativity in the process of forming the control as is used naturally and harmonically computer and analytical mathematical techniques. The third effect is the fact that the process of training can be reversed towards the trainer technology expert with the aim of additional analysis and corrections. In the control design are overcome restrictions connected with the observability of the Monod kinetics and with the singularities of the optimal control of Monod kinetic models. DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-2967-7.ch009

A Multi-agent Approach to Development of E-Learning Facilities

Individuals with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia have below-average learning performance. The state regulations require such learners to be integrated in public schools, but they need specific teaching methods, additional lessons with specially trained teachers, etc. We present a conceptual model of environment for facilities development that serves teachers in providing personalized e-teaching (Fig. 1). The model of Subject Domain (SD) defines a framework for educational process in two aspects – psychologists’ and educators’. The teacher’s representation of SD is goal-oriented. It determines basic requirements to e-learning facilities. The model Cognitive Ability shows the specific cognitive abilities necessary for achievement of main educational objectives in a concrete subject. They are fixed through mapping SD description on the basic human cognitive abilities. In that way a learner’s cognitive profile is determined by adequate to this SD learning characteristics. Model Pedagogical Room designs suitable methodology for learning activities in interaction with the models Teaching Methods and Pedagogical Instruments. The model Teaching − Learning Goals, which depends on the corresponding SD educational goals, influences on the aforesaid two models. The models are context-independent (global), so the learning facilities’ production requires contextualization. The model Learner serves for personalization.