Sara Paiva

Semantic Query Validation in Guided-Based Systems: Assuring the Construction of Queries that Make Sense

Semantic search importance is growing each day as millions of people around the world need to obtain objective and concrete information. Guided-based systems are an alternative to natural language systems regarding the query construction method. However, current guided-based systems perform query validation only at a syntactical level. In this paper we address the semantic validation of queries in order to avoid redundancy and incoherency, therefore preventing the formulation of queries that do not make sense.

Automatic Query Generation in Guided Systems: Natural Language Generation from Graphically Built Query

Guided-based systems are an alternative to natural language systems regarding the query construction method. We present a new solution that bridges the gap between these two types of systems by providing a hybrid interface which combines a graphical query interface for query construction with the correspondent natural language expression automatically generated by the system.

Modern Software Engineering Methodologies for Mobile and Cloud Environments

Model: The abstract syntax of a model representing its essence: entities, relations, and properties that conform to a metamodel. Always-Online: A system where users are connected to the cloud all the time, as opposed to offline. Domain-Specific Language: A modeling language that is adapted to a particular application domain, where models are described using a notation fit exactly to the domain. Metamodel: A model that defines the abstract syntax of a modeling language. Multi-View Modeling: Modeling activities that users can perform through one or more views. Node: A computation resource, such as a computer machine, a CPU, or a process. View: A projection of an abstract model, showing parts or all elements of the model in a specific concrete syntax representation.

Preventing Alzheimer's Wandering: The Potential of Involving Communities

With increased life expectancy, the incidence of age-related cognitive impairments, faced by the elderly and older generations, is growing. Among the population with cognitive impairments, those that suffer from Alzheimers disease are the most common. The Alzheimers disease is a chronic degenerative brain disorder that is characterised by a failure of memory and, in some instances, by disorders in language, perception and planning. As a consequence of the progressive damages imposed by the illness, patients will increasingly seek and need assistance. This paper presents a tool to aid the development and managing of caregiving communities, comprising immediate family members, relatives, neighbours and healthcare professionals, to assist patients with Alzheimers disease. Such communities could have a strong impact on the quality of care provided to the patients. At the same time, it is hoped that involving communities will significantly improve the quality of life of Alzheimers patients and their families while reducing the costs related to the care provided.

Smartphone-Based Solution for Pedestrian Detection and Communication with a Driver Assistance System

This paper presents an on-going project that consists of a smartphone-based solution for detecting pedestrians in crosswalks and communicating that information for a driver assistance system. The solution assumes a pedestrian using a smartphone, beacons in traffic lights and a driver with an android app, both apps communicating with a central database. The pedestrian app warns the user of crosswalks nearby and notify drivers if crosswalks are approaching and also if there are people in it. We also present the on-going tests that are being carried out to conclude the usefulness of the system in a real.

Urban Transport System Enhanced Through IoT Infrastructure and Mobile Services Provided to Citizens

In this paper, we present an on-going project that aims to promote transport sustainability, urban mobility and citizens accessibility in Viana do Castelo. We contextualize and describe the current transport system and identity the improvements that could be made with an IoT infrastructure on it, namely the services that could be provided to citizens and their benefits. We also present the designed solution and implementation details as well as the tests that are being carried out with the developed prototype.

Mobile solutions for visually impaired people: Case study in Viana do Castelo Historical Center

Promoting social inclusion is a field of active research and an emergent topic relates to blind and visually impaired people. Among the difficulties they face, we address two which are related to the use of public transports and performing pedestrian routes between points of reference. Regarding the use of public transports, we address the difficulty blind people feel of knowing where they are along the way preventing them to ring the bell for the driver to stop, in an independent way. Regarding pedestrian walks, we developed a mobile application that allows users to walk to reference points such as the City Hall, Finances, Health Center, etc. In this paper, we present a case study that targets the two mentioned problems, developed in the Historical Center of Viana do Castelo, a city on the north of Portugal, made in cooperation with a Visually Impaired Association.