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This paper sketches a research path that seeks to examine the search for suitable code problem, based on the observation that when code retargeting is included within a code search activity, developers can justify the suitability of these results upfront and thus reduce their searching efforts looking for suitable code. To support this observation, this paper introduces the Snippet Retargeting Approach, or simply SNIPR. SNIPR complements code search with code retargeting capabilities. These capabilities' intent is to help expedite the process of determining if a found example is a best fit. They do that by allowing developers to explore code modification ideas in place, without requiring to leave the search interface. With SNIPR, developers engage in a virtuous loop where they find code, retarget code, and select only code choices they can justify as suitable. This assures immediate feedback on retargeted examples and thus saves valuable time searching for appropriate code. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the Cloud-Enabled Space Weather Platform (CESWP) project is to bring the power and flexibility of cloud computing to space weather physicists. The goal is to lower the barriers for the physicists to conduct their science. That is, to make it easier to collaborate with other scientists, develop space weather models, run simulations, produce visualizations and enable provenance. Success of the project is measured by the broad acceptance and use of the platform by the space weather science community. To deliver cloud computing and storage, infrastructure as a service, the project has built an internationally distributed cloud based on Eucalyptus [1]. To provide a graphical user interface for the physicists to interact with we selected the Groovy programming language and the Grails web framework. To construct the software we followed the Scrum agile software development methodology. This paper will report on the motivation and risks of such an undertaking. It will also report on the suitability of Eucalyptus as a cloud framework and the utility of the tools used to build an application on top of it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the experience of the first author with the Point-and-Click Interface of the OnScreenDualScribe, created by the last author. The new interface is an innovative extension to the previous interface which required the use of the DualPad. The main differences between the two interfaces are highlighted. The user took several writing tests with the Point-and Click Interface and compares her results with two of interfaces she uses the most for writing, Dragon NaturallySpeaking and SofType. Finally, the first author recommends several improvements to the interface which would make the software a better alternative for her. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Requirements modelling helps software engineers understand a system's required behaviour and explore alternative system designs. It also generates a formal software specification that can be used for testing, verification, and debugging. However, elaborating such models requires expertise and significant human effort. The paper aims at reducing this effort by automating an essential activity of requirements modelling which consists in deriving a machine specification satisfying a set of goals in a domain. It introduces deontic inputoutput automata -an extension of input-output automata with permissions and obligations- and an automated synthesis technique over this formalism to support such derivation. This technique helps modellers identifying early when a goal is not realizable in a domain and can guide the exploration of alternative models to make goals realizable. Synthesis techniques for input-output or interface automata are not adequate for requirements modelling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper outlines the design and evaluation of a haptic interface intended to convey non audio-visual directions to an ATM (Automated Teller Machine) user. The haptic user interface is incorporated into an ATM test apparatus on the keypad. The system adopts a well known 'clock face' metaphor and is designed to provide haptic prompts to the user in the form of directions to the current active device, e.g. card reader or cash dispenser. Results of an evaluation of the device are reported that indicate that users with varying levels of visual impairment are able to appropriately detect, distinguish and act on the prompts given to them by the haptic keypad. As well as reporting on how participants performed in the evaluation we also report the results of a semi structured interview designed to find out how acceptable participants found the technology for use on a cash machine. As a further contribution the paper also presents observations on how participants place their hands on the haptic device and compare this with their performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When the Application Programming Interface (API) of a framework or library changes, its clients must be adapted. This change propagation - known as a ripple effect - is a problem that has garnered interest: several approaches have been proposed in the literature to react to these changes. Although studies of ripple effects exist at the single system level, no study has been performed on the actual extent and impact of these API changes in practice, on an entire software ecosystem associated with a community of developers. This paper reports on early results of such an empirical study of API changes that led to ripple effects across an entire ecosystem. Our case study subject is the development community gravitating aroung the Squeak and Pharo software ecosystems: six years of evolution, nearly 3,000 contributors, and close to 2,500 distinct systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As high-level models in C and SystemC are increasingly used for verification and even design (through high-level synthesis) of electronic systems, there is a growing need for compatible error injection tools to facilitate further development of coverage metrics and automated diagnosis. This paper introduces SCEMIT, a tool for the automated injection of errors into C/C++/SystemC models. A selection of 'mutation' style errors are supported, and injection is performed though a plugin interface in the GCC compiler, which minimizes the impact of SCEMIT on existing simulation flows. Experimental injected error detection results are presented for the set of OSCI SystemC Example Models as well as the CHStone C High-Level-Synthesis benchmark set. Aside from demonstrating compatibility with these models, the results show the value of high-level error injection as a coverage measure compared to conventional code coverage measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developers frequently integrate complex COTS frameworks and components in software applications. COTS products are often only partially documented, and developers may misuse technologies and introduce integration faults, as witnessed by the many entries in fault repositories. Once identified, common integration problems and their fixes are usually documented in forums and fault repositories on the Web, but this does not prevent them to occur in the field when COTS products are reused. In this paper, we propose a methodology and a selfhealing technology that can reduce the occurrence of in- field failures caused by common integration problems that are identified and documented by COTS developers. Our methodology supports COTS developers in producing healing connectors for common misuses of COTS products. Our technology produces information that facilitate debugging and patching of applications that use COTS products. Application developers inject healing connectors into their systems to automatically repair problems caused by misuses of COTS products. Healing takes place at run-time, on-the-fly and in-the-field. The activity of healing connectors is traced in log files, to facilitate debugging and patching of integration problems. Empirical experiences with several applications and COTS products show the feasibility of the approach and the efficiency of the technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Music Therapy has been shown to be an effective intervention for clients with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC), a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition that can affect people in a number of ways. This paper presents a study evaluating the use of a multimodal 3D interactive tool, CymaSense, within a series of music therapy sessions. Eight adults with ASC participated in an 8-week period using a single case experimental design approach. The study used qualitative and quantitative methodological tools for analysis within and beyond the therapy sessions. The results indicate an increase in communicative behaviours for both verbal and non-verbal participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we make a case for future wireless networks that will seamlessly exploit many variable grade spectrum bands. The transformation we envision will be fueled by a fundamental change in the way networks use spectrum. The mix of spectrum options will include existing exclusively licensed and unlicensed bands and new shared spectrum bands where incumbent primary transmitters with interruptible, exclusive access share the band with cooperating (secondary) users. Such bands used in small cell deployments will be key to creating enormous wireless capacity needed to support future traffic demands. The nascent spectrum database technologies will morph into more dynamic spectrum databases and provide essential interference coordination, channel management and monetization. This trend when combined with infrastructure sharing enabled by cloud and SDN technologies will gradually lead to new deployment models. Such network transformation and democratization of spectrum access can fuel innovative business models and new regulatory regimes for wireless networks. We illustrate the new architecture and component radio, database and security technologies using concrete example of incorporating shared spectrum in a small cell network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An interposer-based three-dimensional integrated circuit, which introduces a silicon interposer as an interface between chips and a package, is one of the most promising integration technologies for modern and next-generation circuit designs. Inter-chip connections can be routed on the interposer by chip-scale wires to enhance design quality. However, its design complexity increases dramatically due to the extra interposer interface. Consequently, it is desirable to simultaneously consider the co-design of the interposer and multiple chips mounted on it. This paper addresses the first work of chip-interposer codesign to place multiple chips on an interposer to reduce inter-chip wirelength. For this problem, we propose a new hierarchical B*-tree to simultaneously place multiple chips, macros, and I/O Buffers. An approach based on bipartite matching is then proposed to concurrently assign signals from I/O buffers to micro bumps. Experimental results show that our approach is effective and efficient for the codesign problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Implantable Medical Devices (IMDs) are being embedded increasingly often in patients' bodies to monitor and help treat medical conditions. To facilitate monitoring and control, IMDs are often equipped with wireless interfaces. While convenient, wireless connectivity raises the risk of malicious access to an IMD that can potentially infringe patients' privacy and even endanger their lives. Thus, while ease of access to IMDs can be vital for timely medical intervention, too much ease is dangerous. Obvious approaches, such as passwords and certificates, are unworkable at large scale given the lack of central authorities and frequent emergencies in medical settings. Additionally, IMDs are heavily constrained in their power consumption and computational capabilities. Designing access-control mechanisms for IMDs that can meet the many constraints of real-world deployment is an important research challenge. In this paper, we review proposed approaches to the access-control problem for IMDs, including the problem of secure pairing (and key distribution) between an IMD and another device, such as a programmer. (We also treat related technologies, such as body-area networks.) We describe some limitations of well-conceived proposals and reveal security weaknesses in two proposed cryptographic pairing schemes. Our intention is to stimulate yet more inventive and rigorous research in the intriguing and challenging areas of IMD security and medical-device security in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we describe an exploratory study to determine the feasibility of using a low-cost gestural headset to support communication. Findings have shown tasks involving facial gestures, such as blinks and smiles, can be performed and detected by an Augmented and Alternative Communication (AAC) system within a shorter period of time compared to brow movements. As tasks increase in complexity, rates of accuracy and time taken remain relatively constant for blinking gestures, highlighting their potential in AAC interfaces. We aim to refine such a system to better address the needs of individuals with disabilities, by limiting input errors from involuntary movements and examining ways to reduce interface navigation time. Insights gained from the study offer promise to interface designers seeking to widen access to their interfaces using gestural input. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hardware modules would be much easier to reuse if they supported generic flexible high-level interfaces. However, these interfaces are rarely used since they lead to timing and area overheads compared to a customized design. This paper describes a reachability analysis framework that identifies over-provisioning in instances of flexible design, and offers a technique for annotating this information so that modern synthesis tools can remove most of the overhead. Results are demonstrated on a variety of flexible structures, including functional blocks, programmable state machines, and latency-insensitive interfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we compare embedded-DRAM (eDRAM) testing to both SRAM testing and commodity-DRAM testing, since an eDRAM macro uses DRAM cells with an SRAM interface. We first start from an standard SRAM test algorithm and discuss the faults which are not covered in the SRAM testing but should be considered in the DRAM testing. Then we study the behavior of those faults and the tests which can detect them. Also, we discuss how likely each modeled fault may occur on eDRAMs and commodity DRAMs, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern wireless interfaces support a physical layer capability called Message in Message (MIM). Briefly, MIM allows a receiver to disengage from an ongoing reception, and engage onto a stronger incoming signal. Links that otherwise conflict with each other, can be made concurrent with MIM. However, the concurrency is not immediate, and can be achieved only if conflicting links begin transmission in a specific order. The importance of link order is new in wireless research, motivating MIM-aware revisions to link scheduling protocols. This paper identifies the opportunity in MIM-aware reordering, characterizes the optimal improvement in throughput, and designs a link layer protocol to achieve it. Testbed results confirm the performance gains of the proposed system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adaptation is of utmost importance in systems developed by assembling reusable software services accessed through their public interfaces. This process aims at solving, as automatically as possible, mismatch cases which may be given at the different interoperability levels among interfaces by synthesizing a mediating adaptor. In this paper, we present a toolbox that fully supports the adaptation process, including: (i) different methods to construct adaptation contracts involving several services; (ii) simulation and verification techniques which help to identify and correct erroneous behaviours or deadlocking executions; and (iii) techniques for the generation of centralized or distributed adaptor protocols based on the aforementioned contracts. Our toolbox relates our models with implementation platforms, starting with the automatic extraction of behavioural models from existing interface descriptions, until the final adaptor implementation is generated for the target platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Critiquing-based recommender systems provide an efficient way for users to navigate through complex product spaces even if they are not familiar with the domain details in e-commerce environments. While recent research has mainly concentrated on methods for generating high quality compound critiques, to date there has been a lack of comprehensive investigation on the interface design issues. Tradition- ally the interface is textual, which shows compound critiques in plain text and may not be easily understood. In this paper we propose a new visual interface which represents various critiques by a set of meaningful icons. Results from our real-user evaluation show that the visual interface can improve the performance of critique-based recommenders by attracting users to apply the compound critiques more frequently and reducing users' interaction effort substantially when the product domain is complex. Users' subjective feedback also shows that the visual interface is highly promising in enhancing users' shopping experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we design and develop Rio, a novel battery-free touch sensing user interface (UI) primitive for future IoT and smart spaces. Rio enables UIs to be constructed using off-the-shelf RFID readers and tags, and provides a unique approach to designing smart IoT spaces. With Rio, any surface can be turned into a touch-aware surface by simply attaching RFID tags to them. Rio also supports custom-designed RFID tags, and thus allows specially customized UIs to be easily deployed into a real-world environment. Rio is built using the technique of impedance tracking: when a human finger touches the surface of an RFID tag, the impedance of the antenna changes. This change manifests as a change in the phase of the RFID backscattered signal, and is used by Rio to track fine-grained touch movement over both off-the-shelf and custombuilt tags. We study this impedance behavior in-depth and show how Rio is a reliable UI primitive that is robust even within a multitag environment. We leverage this primitive to build a prototype of Rio that can continuously locate a finger during a swipe movement to within 3mm of its actual position. We also show how customdesign RFID tags can be built and used with Rio, and provide two example applications that demonstrate its real-world use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces our research project for developing a novel graphic representation method with touch and sound as the universal designed touch-screen interface for visually impaired people to understand graphical information. Our previous works on single-touch screens clarified the problems about the low recognition rate of curves. To solve this, an improved graphical representation interface for multi-touch screens were implemented and evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Communication in the Arabic language with gaze using dwell time has been made possible by the development of eye typing interfaces. This paper describes the design process for developing iWriter, an Arabic gaze communication system. Design considerations for the optimization of the gaze typing interfaces for Arabic script are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we present our ongoing study and deployment efforts for enabling FPGAs in datacenters. An important focus is to provide a quantitative evaluation of a wide range of heterogeneous system designs and integration options, from low-power field-programmable SoCs to server-class computer nodes plus high-capacity FPGAs, with real system prototyping and implementation on real-life applications. In the meantime, we develop a cloud-friendly programming interface and a runtime environment for efficient accelerator deployment, scheduling and transparent resource management for integration of FPGAs for large-scale acceleration across different system integration platforms to enable\write once, execute everywhere." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measurement-Based Probabilistic Timing Analysis (MBPTA) techniques simplify deriving tight and trustworthy WCET estimates for industrial-size programs running on complex processors. MBPTA poses some requirements on the timing behaviour of the hardware/software platform: execution times of end-to-end runs have to be independent and identically distributed (i.i.d.). Hardware and software solutions have been deployed to accomplish MBPTA requirements. The latter has achieved the i.i.d. properties running on some commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) processor designs. Unfortunately, software randomisation challenges functional verification needed for certification since it introduces indirections through pointers in the code. In this paper we propose a new approach to software randomisation able to contain its functional verification costs. Our approach performs software randomisation statically, as opposed to current dynamic approaches. We carefully review the requirements of the new approach and prove its feasibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing density of NAND flash memory leads to a dramatic increase in the bit error rate of flash, which greatly reduces the ability of error correcting codes (ECC) to handle multi-bit errors. To ensure the functionality and reliability of flash memory, the pages containing address mapping information and other metadata should be carefully stored in flash memory. This paper presents Meta-Cure, a novel hardware and file system interface that transparently protects metadata in the presence of multi-bit faults. Meta-Cure exploits built-in ECC and replication in order to protect pages containing critical data. Redundant pairs are formed at run time and distributed to different physical pages to protect against failures. Meta-Cure requires no changes to the file system, on-chip hierarchy, or hardware implementation of flash memory chip. Experimental results show that the proposed technique can reduce uncorrectable page errors by 92% with less than 1% space overhead in comparison with conventional error correction techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes using a non-intrusive timing synchronization interface approach to facilitate shared-data synchronization for fast and accurate hardware-assisted HW/SW co-simulation. Our synchronization interface device is specially designed for nontransparent components. With the device, we can systematically monitor shared-data accesses on a bus and control the progressing time of hardware-assisted components for fast and accurate system co-simulation. Experiments show that our approach is 10 to 140 times faster than the cycle-based hardware-assisted co-simulation approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phoneme-based text entry provides an alternative typing method for nonspeaking individuals who often experience difficulties in orthographic spelling. In this paper, we investigate the application of rate enhancement strategies to improve the user performance of phoneme-based text entry systems. We have developed a phoneme-based predictive typing system, which employs statistical language modeling techniques to dynamically reduce the phoneme search space and offer accurate word predictions. Results of a case study with a nonspeaking participant demonstrated that our rate enhancement strategies led to improved text entry speed and error rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a preliminary evaluation of the perceived entertainment value and ease of use of three eyes-free interfaces for point-and-click games. Interface 1 (I1) uses a web-like cyclical navigation system to change the focused interactive element. Interface 2 (I2) uses a sonar to help the user locate interactive elements with the mouse. Interface 3 (I3) interprets natural language commands typed in by the player. Results suggest that I2 adds more entertainment value and is appropriate for experienced players. Players find I1 is the easiest to use while I3 seems more adequate for users with little gaming experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, spike sorting for neural processing in brain-computer interfaces has been performed using off-chip analysis or custom ASIC designs. In this paper, we propose and test the feasibility of performing on-chip, real-time spike sorting on a commercially available and programmable smartdust wireless sensor network mote since such a platform is currently the closest to an implantable chip due to its small size and similar physical and environmental constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]