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[Gzz-commits] journals/plans SA_2003.rst
From: |
Tuomas J. Lukka |
Subject: |
[Gzz-commits] journals/plans SA_2003.rst |
Date: |
Wed, 14 May 2003 04:18:47 -0400 |
CVSROOT: /cvsroot/fenfire
Module name: journals
Changes by: Tuomas J. Lukka <address@hidden> 03/05/14 04:18:47
Modified files:
plans : SA_2003.rst
Log message:
Train trip - lots
CVSWeb URLs:
http://savannah.gnu.org/cgi-bin/viewcvs/fenfire/journals/plans/SA_2003.rst.diff?tr1=1.111&tr2=1.112&r1=text&r2=text
Patches:
Index: journals/plans/SA_2003.rst
diff -u journals/plans/SA_2003.rst:1.111 journals/plans/SA_2003.rst:1.112
--- journals/plans/SA_2003.rst:1.111 Wed May 14 04:04:40 2003
+++ journals/plans/SA_2003.rst Wed May 14 04:18:47 2003
@@ -78,46 +78,77 @@
TJL
-The Fenfire project is a free software effort to build
-a location transparent, hyperstructured desktop
+The Fenfire project is a free software research effort to build
+a location transparent, hyperstructured computer operating
environment.
-The work leading to the current Fenfire project (formerly known as GZigZag and
Gzz)
-was started in 1999.
-
-Fenfire consists of three components:
+On an abstract level, the Fenfire differs from conventional desktop
environments
+by bringing together
+three components:
Hyperstructured data model
- ... RDF + Xu
-
-Novel focus+context user interfaces
- The bidirectionally linked hyperstructural approach to information opens
new
- possibilities to user interfaces.
+ As opposed to the conventional file system trees and location-based
pointing
+ within them, the data model in Fenfire is more database-like, allowing
+ anything to be connected permanently to anything else.
+ The data model consists of two orthogonal pieces,.
+ The Xanalogical media model[ted-xanalogical-structure-needed]_
+ endows to the smallest units of media with identity and as a consequence
+ changes
+ the cutting and pasting operation from copying pieces of media to actually
+ creating a structure between the instance locations since the identities
can be tracked.
+ On a higher level, RDF[w3rdfurl]_ graphs are used to create dynamic
structure
+ between instances of xanalogical media.
+ In this data model, all connections are fundamentally bidirectional,
traversable
+ in both directions.
The user can connect any two items which
will then be near each other in hyperspace, easily visible and
accessible from one to the other.
-P2P information sharing
- To support data mobility, we have developed a software library, named as
Storm
- (STORage Module), for storing and retrieving data as immutable byte
sequences, which
- are identified by cryptographic content hashes. With Storm, we plan to use
globally
- unique, semantic-free references for locating data in Peer-to-Peer
environment.
- Location-independent identifiers allows a peer-to-peer lookup system find
documents
- wherever they are moved. We believe that the properties of Peer-to-Peer
technology,
- such as the ad hoc connectivity and the lack of central authority, are
prerequisites
- while mobilizing our system. Additionally, Storm allows us to study two
important
- issues *of data mobility*: dangling links and version management.
- We study how location-independent identifiers can
- support *data mobility*. For instance, documents are often transferred
quite freely
- between computers: they are sent as e-mail attachments, carried around on
disks and
- published on the web. We use 'data mobility' as a collective
- term for the movement of documents between computers (or folders!),
- and movement of content between documents (through copy&paste).
-
-
-
-
+Novel focus+context user interfaces
+ The bidirectionally linked hyperstructural approach to information opens
new
+ possibilities to user interfaces, since each piece of information has
+ a richer context available to the computer than in conventional
filesystems.
+ The Fenfire project includes libvob, a library for creating flexible,
animated
+ user interfaces easily, allowing nonlinear fisheye coordinate
systems[carpendale01presspace]
+ and smooth text rotation and scaling.
+ The user interfaces currently used in fenfire are mostly
+ focus+context[fc-fisheye]_, showing one location in the hyperstructured
database
+ as the central item and peripherally the connected locations.
+ Several of the new technologies in fenfire are related to user interfaces,
+ in particular to showing the context visibly yet nonintrusively.
+
+Permanent data and peer-to-peer (P2P) information sharing
+ Collaboration with even only
+ conventional, rigidly structured data leads to versioning problems
+ unless a version control system such as CVS is used.
+ In Fenfire, we have developed a group of technologies collectively known
+ as Storm (STORage Module) to address this problem.
+ Storm starts from a fairly unconventional idea:
+ instead of mutable files or databases, all information is stored
+ in immutable byte sequences, blocks[lukka02guids].
+ Blocks are accessed through their permanent globally unique identifiers
(GUIDs).
+ To allow mutable data, a system of pointer blocks is built on top of the
+ block system.
+ This already helps versioning: unless explicitly requested, old versions
+ are never deleted; new and old and alternate versions are accessible on a
computer
+ without contacting a central server.
+ Location-independent identifiers allow a P2P lookup system find documents
+ from any source, as opposed to URLs which specify the explicit location for
+ fetching a document.
+
+There is a strong interaction between these components: for example,
+the data model *enables* the novel user interfaces, but on the other hand,
+without new types of user interfaces, the richer data model would be of
limited use.
+The work leading to the current Fenfire project (formerly known as GZigZag and
Gzz)
+was started in 1999 in collaboration with Ted Nelson, who has since
discontinued
+the collaboration and due to patent and trademark reasons, the Fenfire project
+cannot currently use the name GZigZag nor the ZigZag structure.
+However, the fundamental ideas embodied in the ZigZag structure were not
affected
+by the particular implementation and in spring 2003 we were able to convert
+our system to using RDF.
+Currently, Fenfire is nearing the public release of its first subgoal: the
FenPDF
+system for reading, annotating and linking electronic publications.
.. raw:: latex
@@ -144,51 +175,66 @@
+Previous activity and publications
+----------------------------------
+
.. previous activity pertaining to the scope of the topic of the
research (list of the research team's five most important
publications in terms of the topic)
-In [lukka02guids]_ we discuss the possibility of implementing
-the xanalogical storage model in Peer-to-Peer environment with globally unique
identifiers.
-
-In [lukka02fillets]_ we introduced the use of fillets ---
-smoothing of sharp angles at the joints ---
-for rendering on-screen connections in a way that makes them easier to
-perceive even with several overlapping objects.
-
-We have developed a perceptually designed hardware-accelerated
-algorithm for generating unique background textures
-[kujala03paper]_ for distinguishing documents.
-
-Additionally, the methods developed and used in
[lukka02gomcmc-andalso-kujala02solutions]_
-are relevant to the modeling problems in our user interface research.
-
-List of the most important publications
+The most important publications related to this project are:
- Tuomas J. Lukka and Benja Fallenstein:
Freenet-like GUIDs for implementing xanalogical hypertext.
- *Proc. Hypertext 2002* 194-195, 2002
+ *Proc. Hypertext 2002* 194-195, 2002.
+ This article discusses the possibility of implementing
+ the xanalogical storage model in Peer-to-Peer environment
+ using globally unique identifiers.
+
- Tuomas J. Lukka, Janne V. Kujala, and Marketta Niemelä,
Fillets: Cues for Connections in Focus+Context Views of Graph-like
Diagrams. Proceedings of the
*6th International Conference on Information Visualisation*,
pp. 557--562, London, July 2002.
+ This article introduces the use of fillets ---
+ smoothing of sharp angles at the joints ---
+ for rendering on-screen connections in a way that makes them easier to
+ perceive even with several overlapping objects.
+
- Janne V. Kujala and Tuomas J. Lukka:
Rendering recognizably unique textures.
To be published in the proceedings of the
*7th International Conference on Information Visualisation*,
London, July 2003.
+ This article introduces
+ a perceptually designed hardware-accelerated
+ algorithm for generating unique background textures
+ for distinguishing documents.
+
- Tuomas J. Lukka and Janne V. Kujala:
Using Genetic Operators to Speed up Markov Chain Monte Carlo
Integration.
- *Monte Carlo Methods \& Applications*, 8(1), 51--71, 2002
+ *Monte Carlo Methods \& Applications*, 8(1), 51--71, 2002.
+
+
- Janne V. Kujala and Tuomas J. Lukka:
Solutions for certain number-conserving deterministic cellular automata.
*Physical Review E* 65, 026115, 2002.
+ The simple cellular automaton
+ rules introduced in [JVKXXXFUCHSBOCCARAREF] produced an unexpected
result in simulations.
+ We were able to solve the problem exactly starting from first principles,
+ by using generating functions in a rather twisted way.
+
Of these, the two last ones contain some mathematical methods which we hope
will
be applicable to e.g. filtering in the text rendering problem.
+Additionally, the methods developed and used
+are relevant to the modeling problems in our user interface research.
+
+In addition, several manuscripts about various aspects of Fenfire are in
preparation.
+
+
- postgraduate studies performed in the research team
Janne Kujala
@@ -200,11 +246,43 @@
TJL
-The current proposal
+The proposed research consists of two parts: continuing research into questions
+opened by techniques invented for Fenfire, and theoretical questions whose
+solutions are relevant to developing algorithms used in Fenfire.
+
+The questions opened by the inventions in Fenfire look at some phenomena in
new light:
+for example, we do not believe the questions in [kujala03paper]_ on how
+to generate recognizably memorizable textures were asked before this; so far,
+most research has concentrated on texture *discrimination*, i.e. under which
+conditions a human notices that two textures placed right next to each other
are different.
+Contrasting results obtained in these two different questions may lead to
surprising
+new insights on the human visual system and memory.
+This basic research may of course yield new technologies but that is not the
point;
+the point is to understand and measure the phenomena we have observed in
constructing Fenfire.
+
+On the other hand, some of the research questions in this proposal are
+driven by technological requirements. For example,
+enhancing the readability of the hardware-accelerated rendering of
+rotated or nonlinearly transformed text is a problem
+whose solution would benefit Fenfire.
+Here, however, before being able to tackle that problem, a considerable
+amount of mathematical framework is required, related to filtering and
perception.
+Creating this framework is a complex task, requiring both mathematics
+and user experiments.
+Armed with the framework developed by this research, developing the actual
+hardware-accelerated filtering algorithms becomes a relatively easy task.
+
+All subproblems presented in this proposal are, however, significant in their
own right:
+even if the Fenfire project ceased to exist, the research results would be
applicable
+to other programs and problems.
+
Objectives and methods
======================
+(reorg: "general (user experiments, math. modeling)", then specific projects,
+ stating for each the objectives *and* methods.)
+
Objectives of the research
--------------------------
@@ -338,6 +416,8 @@
and smooth animation.
Generalizing filleting to three dimensions ...
+ - quantitative experimental results from general graphs layout
+
Text filtering
''''''''''''''
@@ -378,34 +458,50 @@
TJL
-The hardware algorithm for rendering the unique background textures
-currently uses ad hoc distributions in the sampling of the texture
-features. Although the distributions (e.g., for choosing the texture
+In [kujala03paper]_, we introduced the use of unique background textures
+for distinguishing documents.
+The current hardware-accelerated algorithm for rendering the unique background
textures
+uses *ad hoc* distributions in the sampling of the texture
+features.
+Although the distributions (e.g., for choosing the texture
colors) are qualitatively based on
general principles for making the texture distinguishable and
recognizable, their exact values are not rigorously justified.
-We plan to obtain justification for different aspect of the algorithm
-experimentally and to further evaluate the recognizability of the generated
-textures.
+
+The goals in this area are first to
+formulate and test (with user experiments) a general way of adjusting a
distribution
+towards being memorable. This is a nontrivial optimization problem,
+as the recognizability of a texture depends on the distribution it is
+presented as a part of.
+Next, it is important to research how much different aspects of the textures
+may be optimized separately by the methods developed in the previous step,
i.e., how much
+the different aspects interact.
+These questions are interesting not only from a practical point of view but
also
+from the point of view of cognitive psychology: for instance,
+if any data can be obtained on how fast and how the brain adapts
+to a particular input distribution, it would be an interesting result.
+On a practical level, these experiments would allow us to get rid of the *ad
hoc*
+distributions and create a well-founded
+algorithm for generating unique textures.
+
+ - quantitative model of certain aspects of texture perception and
recognition
Controllers
'''''''''''
TJL
-Custom controllers can offer new ways to navigate and control the information
-flow on the screen.
-They are many usability aspects in the configuration of the degrees of freedom
-provided by the controller that can be theoretically modeled and experimentally
-tested.
-
-We have invented a new type of controller which we cannot describe here
-before the (potential) filing of a patent application.
+In the context of Fenfire,
+we have invented a new type of computer controller which we cannot describe
here
+before the (potential) filing of a patent application.
+This controller, however, also opens some interesting related questions for
+basic research.
Storage
'''''''
-TJL
+JVK, HH
+!!! [tjl] Mikä tässä on KYSYMYS?
Research on how location-independent identifiers can be used to find
information in a Peer-to-Peer environment. To support our research work, we
have
@@ -652,23 +748,15 @@
.. research results to be expected and their significance
-The Fenfire project is largely based on novel ideas on both
-user interfaces and hyperstructure.
-Therefore, the project includes basic research as well as
-applying the developed technologies on
-the Fenfire distributed hypermedia system.
-
-The expected results of the research are listed below:
-
-- paper: procedural background textures for
- bestowing identity to virtual objects
+As already discussed, this project is a combination of several
+subprojects revolving around specific questions raised by our work in Fenfire.
+The expected results of each subproject are listed in the subsection above
+describing that subsection.
+The results will be published in international conferences and journals.
- - quantitative model of certain aspects of texture perception and
recognition
+The expected results of the research are listed below:
-- fillets: drawing connections between things in a perceptually
- motivated way resulting far quicker perception
- - quantitative experimental results from general graphs layout
- experimental justification for the layout geometry and type of animation
(buoys, nadir, irregu, etc.)
@@ -676,26 +764,6 @@
.. - buoys: show connected documents and ideas floating in the margin
.. - nadir: a natural layout for multiple pieces of data by small rotations
-
-- storm
-
- - saving data in permanent blocks, requiring
- less bandwidth, allowing access to earlier
- versions.
- - data uniquess and immutability
- - distributed storage framework
-
-- urn-5
-
- - registered URI scheme to our project
-
-- Object/document identity in user interfaces
-- P2P networking
-- Interactive creation of hyperstructure
-- Bidirectional linking in hyperspace
-- Xanalogical hypertext model
-- Relational data/data relationship management, document/data item management
-
.. Used techologies, our implementations:
- RDF structure
- [Gzz-commits] journals/plans SA_2003.rst, (continued)
- [Gzz-commits] journals/plans SA_2003.rst, Janne V. Kujala, 2003/05/13
- [Gzz-commits] journals/plans SA_2003.rst, Tuomas J. Lukka, 2003/05/13
- [Gzz-commits] journals/plans SA_2003.rst, Tuomas J. Lukka, 2003/05/13
- [Gzz-commits] journals/plans SA_2003.rst, Tuomas J. Lukka, 2003/05/13
- [Gzz-commits] journals/plans SA_2003.rst, Janne V. Kujala, 2003/05/13
- [Gzz-commits] journals/plans SA_2003.rst, Janne V. Kujala, 2003/05/13
- [Gzz-commits] journals/plans SA_2003.rst, Hermanni Hyytiälä, 2003/05/14
- [Gzz-commits] journals/plans SA_2003.rst, Janne V. Kujala, 2003/05/14
- [Gzz-commits] journals/plans SA_2003.rst, Hermanni Hyytiälä, 2003/05/14
- [Gzz-commits] journals/plans SA_2003.rst, Hermanni Hyytiälä, 2003/05/14
- [Gzz-commits] journals/plans SA_2003.rst,
Tuomas J. Lukka <=
- [Gzz-commits] journals/plans SA_2003.rst, Tuomas J. Lukka, 2003/05/14
- [Gzz-commits] journals/plans SA_2003.rst, Tuomas J. Lukka, 2003/05/14
- [Gzz-commits] journals/plans SA_2003.rst, Janne V. Kujala, 2003/05/14
- [Gzz-commits] journals/plans SA_2003.rst, Tuomas J. Lukka, 2003/05/14
- [Gzz-commits] journals/plans SA_2003.rst, Janne V. Kujala, 2003/05/14
- [Gzz-commits] journals/plans SA_2003.rst, Hermanni Hyytiälä, 2003/05/14
- [Gzz-commits] journals/plans SA_2003.rst, Janne V. Kujala, 2003/05/14
- [Gzz-commits] journals/plans SA_2003.rst, Tuomas J. Lukka, 2003/05/14
- [Gzz-commits] journals/plans SA_2003.rst, Tuomas J. Lukka, 2003/05/14
- [Gzz-commits] journals/plans SA_2003.rst, Janne V. Kujala, 2003/05/14