Published Scientific Papers

Japanese researchers downplay super CPU effort
By Vivian Yeo, ZDNet Asia
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 06:40 PM

Summary:
A group of Japanese researchers are collaborating on a software standard for multicore processors to be used in a range of technology products, including mobile phones and in-vehicle navigation systems. The effort could lead to the development of a super CPU, according to the researchers.

The alliance includes big names such as Fujitsu, Toshiba, Panasonic, Renesas Technology, NEC, Hitachi and Canon ( CAJ - news - people ). All have agreed to pool their resources together to create a new, standardized, power-saving central processing units (CPU) which could be used within the entire industry for a wide range of consumer electronics by the end of fiscal 2012, the evening edition of Nikkei Business News reported Thursday. According to the plan, each of the Japanese chip makers will produce their own CPU that is compatible with the energy-saving software invented by Kasahara.A group of engineers will then create a prototype that runs on solar cells that will use less than 70% of the power consumed by normal ones. The new CPU could still be able to function even when there are prolonged periods of power shortage during natural disaster, the Nikkei added.

The super Japanese CPU could be incorporated into different brands of televisions, digital cameras, and other electronic appliances.

Evaluation:
If realized and will be adopted in a broad range of consumer electronics, the dominance of Intel today will be challenge. Having a universal standard and software format that could be used in various appliances may help save companies in research and development costs. The project appears to be aiming to create processers that can draw all the power they need from solar panels and can be used to power a new range of mobile devices that never need a main connection.

Source: http://www.zdnetasia.com/news/hardware/0,39042972,62058168,00.htm


New Information System for Blind and Visually Impaired
Computer Scientists at Freie Universität Berlin Start Field Trials
No. 241 issued on 09/16/2009

Summary:
The artificial intelligence group at Freie Universität Berlin, under the direction of the computer science professor Raúl Rojas, has developed a new type of information system for blind and visually impaired individuals. Field trials are being carried out to optimize the device for future users. During the next six months it will be tested by 25 persons. The artificial intelligence group at Freie Universität is collaborating with a research group at the Telekom Laboratories headed by Dr. Pablo Vidales and the Berlin Association for the Education of the Blind and Visually Impaired e.V. The joint project is called InformA. After completion of the field trials, it will receive funding from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research through its EXIST seed funding program for university-based business start-ups. In addition, IBM Germany is providing funding for further development of the device at Freie Universität.

Evaluation:
If this project will be pursue, the information that will be provided by InformA device can also be the interest of people who doesn’t have previous experience with computers which may not have had a chance to access the information offered in the internet today.
Source: http://www.rehacare.de/cipp/md_rehacare/custom/pub/content,lang,2/oid,22988/ticket,g_u_e_s_t/~/New_Information_System_for_Blind_and_Visually_Impaired_People.html

Continuing Education and Knowledge Retention: A Comparison of Online and Face-to-Face Deliveries
by Connie Schardt and Julie Garrison
Abstract:
A systematic search of the research literature from 1996 through July 2008 identified more than a thousand empirical studies of online learning. Analysts screened these studies to find those that (a) contrasted an online to a face-to-face condition, (b) measured student learning outcomes, (c) used a rigorous research design, and (d) provided adequate information to calculate an effect size. As a result of this screening, 51 independent effects were identified that could be subjected to meta-analysis. The meta-analysis found that, on average, students in online learning conditions performed better than those receiving face-to-face instruction. The difference between student outcomes for online and face-to-face classes—measured as the difference between treatment and control means, divided by the pooled standard deviation—was larger in those studies contrasting conditions that blended elements of online and face-to-face instruction with conditions taught entirely face-to-face. Analysts noted that these blended conditions often included additional learning time and instructional elements not received by students in control conditions. This finding suggests that the positive effects associated with blended learning should not be attributed to the media, per se. An unexpected finding was the small number of rigorous published studies contrasting online and face-to-face learning conditions for K–12 students. In light of this small corpus, caution is required in generalizing to the K–12 population because the results are derived for the most part from studies in other settings (e.g., medical training, higher education).

Evaluation:
This doesn’t mean that we will be saying goodbye to classrooms but research and reports suggest that online education could expand sharply over the next few years. The real promise of online education as experts say is providing learning experiences that are more tailored to individual students than is possible in classrooms. In this way students may find it more engaging since they are enabled to learn by doing.
Source: http://www.eblip4.unc.edu/papers/Schardt.pdf
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