Week 2 [14.11-20.11.2016] DNA computing

Hello,

I would like to present you the topic of DNA computing. The idea of using DNA for computational processes was already suggested by Richard Feynman in 1961. Since then it became a broad research domain. Article's autors describe their solution which selects and displays in the seven-segmented display the result of computation of two input variables.

Additional materials about DNA computers and above project you can find on MIT and ScienceNordic portals.

What do you think about DNA computing idea? May it be a real competition to silicone technology?
Do you see any threats in it (or maybe on the contrary, it can benefit a lot)?
Do you know any other technologies and ideas that can be a replacement for silicon?

Links:
http://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms10089
https://www.technologyreview.com/s/534721/what-can-dna-based-computers-do/
http://sciencenordic.com/scientists-build-most-advanced-dna-computer-date

Week 2 [14.11-20.11.2016] older drivers.

In many situations, driving is essential for senior citizens to maintain their independent lifestyle. A systematic literature review was conducted that summarized the age-related physical, visual and cognitive functional declines and their associated risk to driving. Based on these findings, we explored whether the skills required in playing Xbox Kinect video games were correlated with measures of driving performance among older drivers. Fifty-two participants, 65 years of age or older (Mean = 72; SD = 3.84; range 65 – 85 years; 29 males) who have access to a car and drive frequently were invited to play Just dance, Table Tennis (ping pong), Bowling, and Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training Exercises on an Xbox Kinect 360. Participants also completed a 25-minute on-road driving task along a predetermined route to assess and identify critical driving errors using a similar instrument as that used by a driving license tester. Bivariate correlation examined the relationship between game scores and these objective driving skills. There was a significant correlation between the Xbox Kinect video games and on-road driving scores (r = 0.861, p <0.001), indicating that ‘good gamers are good drivers’. This was correlation was significant for the males (r = 0.864, p <0.001) as well as for the females (r = 0.878, p <0.001). We suggest that performance on Xbox games may be a suitable, cost-effective and less-risky indicator of on-road driving skills for older drivers, particularly in jurisdictions in which mandatory testing of older citizens has been introduced or is being considered as a requirement in the driver licensing process.

LINK : http://journal.acs.org.au/index.php/ajis/article/view/1110/704

1. Do you know of other research methods from the world of entertainment? What kind?
2. What is better? Autonomous cars for older people or systems to help older drivers?

Week 2 [14.11-20.11.2016] Cloud computing

Good evening everyone,

Reading answers for Week1 I’ve noticed that some topics were too refined so it was difficult to have an opinion on. Having that in mind I propose to discuss something that we all know a lot of.

Please have a look on “Cloud computing – a risk or an opportunity for business”.

In this article I raised the issue of the impact of cloud computing services on the economic efficiency of companies. I primarily concentrated on the benefits which companies accrue, in particular, the flexible use of resources of cloud computing without the necessity to make additional investments  in their IT infrastructure. I also put attention on  the question of the risks associated with the use of cloud computing. This concerns mainly the loss of data, which may result in adverse economic effects for a company. However, I estimated that the benefits of the use of Cloud computing services outweigh the risks.

Please asked the following questions:

1. Do you know of any others benefits which companies accrue using cloud?
2. Do I correctly choice concerns related to cloud computing usage?
3. Do you think that the benefits of the use of Cloud computing services outweigh the risks ?

Week 1 [07.11-13.11.2016] Leading Academic Transformation

Hello everyone,

For the survival in a rapidly changing reality around us is following the pace of these changes. This challenge has interdisciplinary dimension, good examples of areas that do not escape to changes in the science and education. It is very important that the implementation of innovative solutions for teaching is not indifferent to our adaptation abilities to today's world. Nowadays, we have unlimited access to knowledge, therefore, the mere possession of knowledge begins to play a smaller role, important becomes ability to apply it.

Read a short article and answer in the questions:

1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of learning academic transformation?
2. What is your opinion about the Polish academic learning / teaching?
3. What changes would you propose in Polish academic learning / teaching?

Week 1 [07.11-13.11.2016] Your smartphone is a civil rights issue

Watch the presentation Your smartphone is a civil rights issue
at https://www.ted.com/talks/christopher_soghoian_your_smartphone_is_a_civil_rights_issue
and comment on/discuss it.

Week 1 [7.11.2016 - 13.11.2016] Google's A.I. Learns How to Encrypt Itself

Hello everybody,

I would like to present something interesting, it is not connected with my research area but in my opinion may be quite interesting.
The article will be about how Google AI invents its own cryptographic algorithm and no one knows how it works.

After reading this articles, answer the following questions:
1. Can  AI  learn how to encrypt itself?
2. Do you think it's good that Google scientists don't know how this algorithm works?
3. What do you think about the current research in the AI field. Do you agree with Stephen Hawking that artificial intelligence could end mankind?


Main article:
http://arstechnica.co.uk/information-technology/2016/10/google-ai-neural-network-cryptography/

Additional info:
https://www.inverse.com/article/22928-google-ai-created-own-encryption

Link to the research paper:
https://arxiv.org/pdf/1610.06918v1.pdf

Week 1 [7.11.2016 - 13.11.2016] PROM and Documents flow analysis

Hello,
I am glad because I can start our new semester discussions.


I would like to present you an article that shows process mining usage in real-world company case. Company had a problem with documents flow. Process mining methods were used to solve this problem. Given that this is existing company we have confirmed the process mining methods can be used in real business processes analysis.


https://fedcsis.org/proceedings/2016/pliks/456.pdf


Questions are:

- Do companies compare process model with its execution in production environment?

- How can we use experts knowledge in process analysis software?
This question regards to papers conclusion. It highlights expert knowledge usage. How to "translate" human know-how to process flow validator?

- Do you know any methods for process tracking / analysis / optimization?