2016: Volume 39, Number 1                         2016: Volume 39, Number 2                            

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2016: Volume 39, Number 1

Table of Contents

 

 I. Şuşnea, M. Vlase: A Software Instrument for the Assessment of Creativity in the Educational Environment (pp. 5-11)
Abstract  Full Text

E. Pecheanu, L. Dumitriu, A. Cocu: An Experiment in ICT Mediated Group Creativity (pp. 12-18)
Abstract  Full Text

G. Vasiliu: A Decentralized Approach on the Energy Management in Buildings (pp. 19-22)

Abstract  Full Text

G. M. Timiş, A. Valachi: An Overview of the Solutions for the Implementation of Asynchronous Digital Systems (pp. 23-27)
Abstract  Full Text

I. Şuşnea: Understanding Collective Intelligence – A Literature Review From an Engineering Perspective (pp. 28-33)
Abstract  Full Text

 M. S. Abdel Aziz, M. Elsamahy, M. A. Moustafa Hassan, F. Bendary: Detecting The Loss Of Excitation In Hydro Generators Using A Neuro-Fuzzy Technique (pp. 34-43)

Abstract  Full Text

 

 

 

I. Şuşnea, M. Vlase: A Software Instrument fot the Assessment of Creativity in the Educational Environment

Abstract: One of the reasons why we don’t have an education system focused on the systematic development of the creativity of the students is that we don’t have appropriate instruments for the assessment of creativity in the educational environment. The existing creativity assessment tools reflect the confusion and lack of consensus regarding the nature of the creativity. For the 100 definitions of the creativity there are as many evaluation and measuring tools. Most of them are designed for research purposes, so they are complex, difficult to apply and score, and expensive. The present paper describes the development of a new self report measure for the creativity that can be accessed online, and is easily applicable in the educational environment. To this purpose, we have developed a new scale and a fuzzy logic algorithm for automated scoring. The validation of this instrument is a work in progress, but the initial results are promising.

Keywords: Fuzzy inference, Online creativity assessment, e-learning

 

 

E. Pecheanu, L. Dumitriu, A. Cocu: An Experiment in ICT Mediated Group Creativity

Abstract: This paper describes an experiment aimed to evaluate the influence of the environment in an “iLab” (Innovation Laboratory) on the divergent thinking of a group of students. The philosophy behind the concept of iLab starts from the assumption that the convergent influence of an  “extraordinary environment”,  a special communication application, and appropriate moderation techniques is capable to foster the creativity of the participants, and to enable a certain “collective intelligence”. In our experiment, the group of 20 students was assigned the task to find as many new ideas as possible of ICT solutions for improving the quality of life of people with various disabilities.  The ideas produced during the session were recorded and analyzed in terms of originality, feasibility, and utility using the FCA (Formal Concept Analysis) methodology. This paper presents the results  of the experiment.

 

Keywords: iLab, group creativity, assistive technology, Formal Concept Analysis

 

G. Vasiliu: A Decentralized Approach on the Energy Management in Buildings

Abstract: Buildings are accounted to consume around 40% of the total energy in Europe and USA, even more – up to 60% -  in Canada and Scandinavian countries, and the rate of growth of the number of buildings follows the growth of the population. In this context, there is a vast literature dedicated to finding solutions for saving energy through innovative control systems of the heating, ventilation and lighting in residential and commercial buildings. This paper proposes a solution for controlling the HVAC system in small and medium size buildings by means of a distributed neural network, implemented using low cost microcontrollers, connected with passive infrared  (PIR) motion detectors. This network is capable to detect and learn user occupancy and activity patterns, relevant for the energy management of the building. Unlike other similar systems, in our approach the energy management is entirely decentralized, relying exclusively on the above mentioned distributed ANN.

Keywords: Building management systems, Energy saving, Activity recognition, Distributed neural networks.

 

 

G. M. Timiş, A. Valachi: An Overview of the Solutions for the Implementation of Asynchronous Digital Systems

Abstract: A variety of solutions for the implementation of asynchronous digital systems have been described in the literature. This paper presents several implementation methods of these systems, including self timed circuits, speed independent circuits, delay insensitive circuits, handshake protocol, and C Muller elements. We also describe an implementation case study. Using the predefined circuits models in implementation of asynchronous digital systems means avoid errors and digital hazard situations. The digital asynchronous system will run correctly, according with the specifications.

Abstract: As human beings are so tightly connected in social networks, and their evolution is so much determined by cultural factors, it can be argued that all the processes commonly called “intelligence” are in fact the result of social interactions. In other words, mind is a social phenomenon. Under these circumstances, the shallowness of the research on “collective intelligence” is quite surprising. Even the definition of the term seems affected by confusion and lack of consensus. This paper contains a brief review of the literature aimed to identify the relevant pieces of knowledge on collective intelligence and related concepts, with a special emphasis on the applications of the ICT for enabling and harnessing the wisdom of crowds. In the end, we propose a new definition of collective intelligence.