Robots can't really be intelligent can they?

The whole concept of just what is and what is not, intelligence is a vitally important one. As humans interact more with machines, so the similarities and differences between human and machine intelligence need to be looked at in a sensible, scientific way. This paper considers human and machine intelligence and links them closely to physical characteristics, as exhibited by robots. Potential interfaces between humans and machines are also considered, as is the state of the art in direct physical links between humans and machines.

Design of delay-tolerant linear dispersion codes

In cooperative communication networks, owing to the nodes' arbitrary geographical locations and individual oscillators, the system is fundamentally asynchronous. This will damage some of the key properties of the space-time codes and can lead to substantial performance degradation. In this paper, we study the design of linear dispersion codes (LDCs) for such asynchronous cooperative communication networks. Firstly, the concept of conventional LDCs is extended to the delay-tolerant version and new design criteria are discussed. Then we propose a new design method to yield delay-tolerant LDCs that reach the optimal Jensen's upper bound on ergodic capacity as well as minimum average pairwise error probability. The proposed design employs stochastic gradient algorithm to approach a local optimum. Moreover, it is improved by using simulated annealing type optimization to increase the likelihood of the global optimum. The proposed method allows for flexible number of nodes, receive antennas, modulated symbols and flexible length of codewords. Simulation results confirm the performance of the newly-proposed delay-tolerant LDCs.

Design of delay-tolerant space–time codes with limited feedback

In cooperative communication networks, owing to the nodes' arbitrary geographical locations and individual oscillators, the system is fundamentally asynchronous. Such a timing mismatch may cause rank deficiency of the conventional space-time codes and, thus, performance degradation. One efficient way to overcome such an issue is the delay-tolerant space-time codes (DT-STCs). The existing DT-STCs are designed assuming that the transmitter has no knowledge about the channels. In this paper, we show how the performance of DT-STCs can be improved by utilizing some feedback information. A general framework for designing DT-STC with limited feedback is first proposed, allowing for flexible system parameters such as the number of transmit/receive antennas, modulated symbols, and the length of codewords. Then, a new design method is proposed by combining Lloyd's algorithm and the stochastic gradient-descent algorithm to obtain optimal codebook of STCs, particularly for systems with linear minimum-mean-square-error receiver. Finally, simulation results confirm the performance of the newly designed DT-STCs with limited feedback.

Oportunidades de negócios na internet: um novo paradigma para as organizações

Pode-se observar na mídia a explosão dos assuntos ligados às novas redes de comunicação, as "Highway Information" ou ainda Infovias. Este assunto está em grande evidência no momento e a proposta deste trabalho é mostrar no que a Internet pode ser útil para as organizações, como elas podem utilizar-se deste novo ferramental para desenvolver novos produtos e novos nichos de mercados: - O que já existe hoje e já é possível explorar na rede, inclusive mostrando exemplos de empresas que estão utilizando esse novo conceito. - Um breve exercício de imaginação descrevendo oportunidades de negócios ainda não-exploradas. - O que se diz já ser possível, mas que ainda não está definido como praticável. Este trabalho visa a contribuir no debate sobre a compreensão do fenômeno Internet, de modo a tentar estabelecer as reais implicações de seu desenvolvimento tanto nas organizações quanto na sociedade. Em suma, o objetivo deste trabalho é determinar as reais possibilidades de uso da Internet, como é utilizada hoje e como pode vir a ser utilizada no futuro.

A tecnologia da informação como agente de transformação do modelo de gestão: o caso DETRAN-RJ

The aim of this dissertation is to study the relation between information technology (IT) and organizational management models by defining the manner in which IT can contribute to their transformation. This study is based on a theoretical reference framework which describes the evolution of the extent and functionality of the use of information technology as a tool for business management, with especial emphasis on the development of the capacity of data and Internet communication networks to establish connections among people, companies and communities. The theoretical reference framework also presents different approaches on how to enhance alignment between information technology and organizational management models, taking into account formal aspects related to the detailing of organizational and technical requisites and social implications concerning the introduction of innovations in previously established cultural environments. The study also contains an empirical section based on a case study on the State of Rio de Janeiro Traffic Department (DETRAN-RJ) in which some of the concepts and methods of approach described in the theoretical reference framework were employed. Keywords: Logistic Services Chain, E-Government, Management Model, Organizational Network, Information Technology

O comércio eletrônico e sua aplicação no planejamento e gestão do processo de compras da cadeia de suprimentos: um estudo na indústria química

Após endereçar questões relativas à integração de suas funções internas, a empresa está se voltando para a criação de um ambiente externo interconectado com seus parceiros de negócio. Torna-se imperativo o aperfeiçoamento do relacionamento com estes parceiros, por meio de processos automatizados, que gerenciam as Cadeias de Suprimento e Distribuição formadas. A Tecnologia de Informação, ao permitir a conexão de processos e a interoperação de sistemas, passa a ser um instrumento essencial nesta transformação. Especificamente, o ambiente digital de negócio construído sobre a Infovia, formada principalmente pela Internet e seus serviços, como a WWW, confere avanços consideráveis ao relacionamento dentro da organização, entre organizações e entre estas e seus clientes. A esta transformação do negócio, baseada na Tecnologia de Informação, conectado às redes de comunicação, chama-se Comércio Eletrônico. Com base no conhecimento consolidado pelo referencial teórico disponível e nos resultados obtidos com o estudo de caso conduzido, o autor identifica e categoriza as influências do Comércio Eletrônico nos processos de compra da Cadeia de Suprimentos na indústria química, estruturando estas influências em relação aos modelos de negócios digitais conhecidos.

Análise de desempenho experimental de redes IEEE 802.3.

The Ethernet technology dominates the market of computer local networks. However, it was not been established as technology for industrial automation set, where the requirements demand determinism and real-time performance. Many solutions have been proposed to solve the problem of non-determinism, which are based mainly on TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access), Token Passing and Master-Slave. This work of research carries through measured of performance that allows to compare the behavior of the Ethernet nets when submitted with the transmissions of data on protocols UDP and RAW Ethernet, as well as, on three different types of Ethernet technologies. The objective is to identify to the alternative amongst the protocols and analyzed Ethernet technologies that offer to a more satisfactory support the nets of the industrial automation and distributed real-time application

Using serial bluetooth converters as a sensor link in networked control systems

Networked control systems (NCS) are distributed control system in which sensors, actuators and controllers are physically separated and connected through communication networks. NCS represent the evolution of networked control architectures providing greater modularity and control decentralization, ease maintenance and diagnosis and lower cost of implementation. A recent trend in this research topic is the development of NCS using wireless networks which enable interoperability between existing wired and wireless systems. This paper presents the feasibility analysis of using a serial RS-232 to Bluetooth converter as a wireless sensor link in NCS. In order to support this investigation, relevant performance metrics for wireless control applications such as jitter, time delay and messages lost are highlighted and calculated to evaluate the converter capabilities. In addition the control performance of an implemented motor control system using the converter is analyzed. Experimental results led to the conclusion that serial RS-232 Bluetooth converters can be used to implement wireless networked control systems (WNCS) providing transmission rates and closed control loop times which are acceptable for NCS applications. © 2011 IEEE.

Evaluating serial ZigBee devices for application in wireless networked control systems

Networked control systems (NCS) are distributed control system where the sensors, actuators and controllers are physically separated and connected through communication networks. NCS represent the evolution of networked control architectures providing greater modularity and control decentralization, ease maintenance and diagnosis and lower cost of implementation. A recent trend in this research topic is the development of NCS using wireless networks (WNCS) enabling interoperability between existing wired and wireless systems. This paper evaluates a serial RS-232 ZigBee device as a wireless sensor link in NCS. In order to support this investigation, relevant performance metrics for wireless control applications such as jitter, time delay and messages lost are highlighted and calculated to evaluate the device capabilities. In addition the control performance of an implemented motor control system using the device is analyzed. Experimental results led to the conclusion that serial RS-232 ZigBee devices can be used to implement WNCS and the use of this device delay information in the PID controller discretization can improve the control performance of the system. © 2012 IEEE.

Ten theses concerning social conflict in Latin America

Includes bibliography

A utilização de linguagem VRML na educação à distância em arte

Pós-graduação em Artes - IA

Pequenos atos de heroísmo: as redes sociais como mediadoras do processo de inclusão digital

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

As multiplicidades espaciais na comunicação midiática digital

Pós-graduação em Comunicação - FAAC

As possíveis inter-relações das redes comunicativas - blogs - e das comunidades de prática no processo de formação de professores de Matemática

Pós-graduação em Educação Matemática - IGCE

ICT and gender

Information and communications technologies: essential tools for achieving gender equality. By UN-WOMEN, Andean Sub-Regional Office. -- “Training telecentre operators as technology leaders in their social environment is an ongoing task”, interview with Olga Paz Martínez. -- For an information society with gender equity. By Dafne Sabanes Plou. -- “Including women in ICT can make a big difference in narrowing the digital divide”, interview with Zoraida Franco. -- “We see the potential of ICT for rearranging family communication networks”, interview with Juan Eduardo Rojas .-- “ICT might be the most tangible tool we have right now to fight gender discrimination”, interview with Martin Hilbert.