Kindheart Research Group

Our name has changed, so what happens with this blog

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Brückner) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 07:32:00 +0000

Hi there

Kindheart Research has changed its name. We are now Software Innovation Research & Management (SIR-M).

Our work will be the same, but the blog will change its name obviously. Please follow us from now on at our new blog.

Thank you all for your comments and ideas shared. We hope you will follow us also at the new blog.

16/7

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Brückner) — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 15:24:00 +0000

Not 24/7 ??

Yes!

I have to admit that we work a lot but that we sleep at least oe quarter of our time. Might be snoaring... I don't know.

But the 3/4 part of our day we are working; for different reasons. Office, research funding, students' projects, and other things that don't show your generic "gedanke". You will see some of our work in the next months conf and journals. Don't be too shy to ask.

.djvu - déjà vu?

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Brückner) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:28:00 +0000

The pic shows the office of our president at the right, the newly erected Buddha shrine in the middle of a pond at the left, and the central building with the red roofs.

djvu (or djv) seems to be a smart format for larger texts with line graphics; find out more on the Wikipedia. Unfortunately, it lacks support for the mobile devices unlike the PDF.

One way to make djvu files accesible on mobile platforms is by converting them into PDF files. Most of you guys have the Adobe Acrobat already at hand. If not, you can download the freeware FreePDF.

For the view-and-convert step I use the free Windjview, which you can download here. You can run it straight away, no installation needed. Open the file you want to convert and click on FILE>PRINT and choose the PDF application on your machine to start the conversion process and store the resulting file at a location at wish. This may take a while, so make sure you have other things to do than just watch the windmill rotating.

Maybe, some of you have other ways of making djvu accessible on mobile devices. Tell us.

The invisible web - partly revealed

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Brückner) — Fri, 30 May 2008 07:52:00 +0000

Most of us know about the so called "invisible web", that part of the WWW that is not indexed and is difficult to search. In cases where Google does not do the job there has to be found a different way - or maybe many different ways - to the desired solution, that is appropriate search results with good recall and precision.

A recently updated page in the blogs by the Virtual Private Library offers a lot of resaources to search the invisible web, amongst others the 99 ways of Jessica Hupp.

Communications in Information Literacy

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Brückner) — Mon, 19 May 2008 11:43:00 +0000

The CIL is a new online journal covering broad aspects of information literacy. Vol. 1 is from 2007.

As an online journal it fosters the free access to knowledge. An archive helps in finding such topics as interviews (the first one here with Patricia S. Breivik), conference reports and articles.

Kindheart goes on

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Brückner) — Sat, 03 May 2008 13:52:00 +0000

After a sort of anti-hibernation (it was summertime in Thailand with not so high temperatures this year, only 36 to 38 °C) we are back again.

And we got some good news last month. Our member Janjira will go to Amsterdam this summer (European summer, I mean) with one of our papers, maybe two.

We will talk about name matching for Geographical Information Systems (GIS).

IEEE DEST in Phitsanulok & FOODS and PHASES

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Brückner) — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 07:15:00 +0000

With an impressive inauguration ceremony was started this morning at the Amarin Lagoon Conference Center in Phitsanulok. Keynote speakers are amongst others, Michael L. Brodie, Chief Scientist of Verizon, and Swiss Bertrand Meyer.

Kindheart will present two research projects on e-learning and Semantic Web applications. Will talk about that later.

In the meantime we've got the notification of online publication for our PHASES paper in the International Journal of Biological and Medical Sciences. This paper is in fact the successor of the earlier FOODS project, which will be presented here at the Digital Ecosystems Conference this week. So you see, sometimes online journals can be faster than conference proceedings!

My wife has taken the camera to her home, some 600 kilometers away, so I cannot take photos. So, I'll update later with stuff from my colleagues.

Untied

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Brückner) — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 15:19:00 +0000

I never wear ties - in Thailand.

Thai means free, so can you imagine a neck-free professor? How would he (she wouldn't wear a tie for sure!) keep his head on his shoulders?

But, there are more reasons not wearing a tie. Remembering my experiences I cannot remember the ties my teachers have worn, but I remember some facial expressions they've made during instruction. Moreover, as a science student you'd usually expect your teacher to prepare for the isomorphisms than for the image.

Moreover, it's too hot here, even during "winter" time. And Time they have in this blessed country. Don't be silly: you need time as much as me, so don't waste it to tie up your neck unless you're meeting a nigh ranking official or something like that.

Anyway, if your gf expects you to wear a necktie you'd better not resist.

อุปถัมภ์ - er?

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Brückner) — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 14:23:00 +0000

As all research groups, Kindheart needs funding. We are in constant pressure to raise our position and improve research conditions; yes, globalization paves its way back to the developing countries even at this level of work. That means we have to do a lot more than just doing research and creation, discarding and design...

So, we search (and bother) with these IMHO stupid impact factors, necessarily changing every year with citations coming up and papers being published in varying numbers.

Moreover, in order to be recognized locally, regionally and even nationally, we have to translate our papers - at least the abstracts+ - into Thai; well, that has to be done by my dear fellow Dr. Chakkrit, the head of Kindheart himself, and as such always keen at bringing the team and its brand forward.

In the meantime, someone has to maintain the pace writing down our ideas for papers and other publications. Who do I tell that all? You know already, rite?

BTW. The title reads "sponsor", please.

Work is going on...

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Brückner) — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 15:06:00 +0000

Kindheart will present results of two projects at the upcoming IEEE DEST Conference 2008 here in Phitsanulok. As most of the research groups in developing countries we cannot afford high registration fees overseas. So, we welcome the opportunity to meet important people here at our place and to present some facets of our work; even without funding you can do a lot.

The papers being presented are about e-learning (on the evaluation of a system we have presented elsewhere) and FOODS, a Food-Oriented Ontology-Driven System for small and medium enterprises.

Kindheart at CASA e-Leader Bangkok 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Brückner) — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 13:57:00 +0000

Lotus flowers in a pond nearby Naresuan University, Phitsanulok

It's one week after the event, but so many things happened at the beginning of 2008/2551 (B.E.). It seems to get a busy year then...

Kindheart was invited for a keynote talk at the e-Leader conference CASA in Bangkok this year. We've presented an overview of the use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) in Thailand over the last decades. As we registered late, the paper is not online right now, but will be soon (or we will post it).

By the way, for the upcoming IEEE DEST Conference, Kindheart will present the results of two projects, which we think are quite useful, especially for Southeast Asia, but maybe have a larger impact. The papers are about

- a multilingual food ontology with a backend expert system for menu planning counseling according to state of the arts nutritional facts,

- a Web based evaluation system for an online course on Software Engineering according to our O-DEST framework.

Great year (after the great days)

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Brückner) — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 13:27:00 +0000

The members of KINDHEART Research Group wish all of you a year full of ideas and new insights in health and happiness, that’s all we need, right?

Tomorrow never dies… so after some more nights working than anticipated in the optimistic last post I’m now going to explain why the graduation days last so long. Firstly, there are proud parents coming to the campus, and they need one day to accommodate to campus life with their likewise proud children. That day is also a day rehearsal for the students, who get their certificates on day 2.

Day 2 is devoted to taking photos early in the morning, otherwise we would not stand the heat and sunlight (see above). In the afternoon H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn officiates the handout of the certificates. On day 3 it is time to pack up all the stuff from the last four or more years on campus.

Great days

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Brückner) — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 14:12:00 +0000

These days are great days for our students and faculty, vibrant and exciting all over the campus of Naresuan University. What happens? Santa Claus - too warm. New Year - four months ahead according to Thai calendar.

What you see above are faculty of the Department of Computer Science and Information Technology of Naresuan University, the guys as usual are at the feet of the ladies: standing from right Dr Punnee (our head of department) and Dr Orasa (being deputy dean of the Faculty of Science). Now, kneeling as knights of science are from right to left: Dr Wutthipong, Mr Kraisak (on leave from Kingston College London for some days off in his homeland), Dr Chakkrit (head of KINDHEART Research Group), Mr Winai (on leave to Newcastle University to get his merits), and Michael Brueckner (subhead of KINDHEART Research Group).

Now, the current events are about handing out of the bachelors' certificates, which is done by H.R.H. Maha Chakkri Sirindhorn personally tomorrow, who you see on the big poster in the background. Since yesterday the festivities are going on. Shows, parties, speeches, taking photos, ...

At least three days of a final excitement for the students and their teachers. I must admit, coming from Germany this whole event strikes me a lot. I got my Masters degree certificate in a departments office by the secretary. Well, nice, but no gathering and definitely no show.

Here at Naresuan University every year the students are and the teachers are part of a big education show, highlighted by the presence of a member of the Royal family, who watches over the official education of the citizens.

I think tomorrow I can tell you why this lasts three or more days...

KINDHEART presents PHASES

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Brückner) — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 12:12:00 +0000

As announced on December 8, Michael Brueckner presented our framework for a Personal Health Assiatance Expert System (PHASES) at the 2007 Bangkok Conference of the World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology last Sunday. As the private digital camera ran out of battery power that afternoon, we cannot present a photo of the talk.

Dr Jalal Karam, who is presiding the next WASET Conference in the Middle East (Kuwait) next spring, kindly wished good luck for the implementation of the framework, which will enable and support rural health services in Thailand.

Survey on information habits

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Brückner) — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 10:11:00 +0000

KINDHEART is looking for people willing to contribute for a survey on information habits. Although the survey is titled "Information Habits of Students", we would appreciate literally everybody to contribute as we want to compare students' behavior and attitudes to others' (teachers, researchers).

But the main idea behind this survey is an analysis of the attitudes towards information in different cultures.

KINDHEART appreciates your contribution very much. For further details see here.

The results can be seen online, as is said by my3q. I don't have experience with this website, but we will see. Setting up the online questionnaire was an easy job (even if I left at least minor spelling errors, sorry!), so I can recommend this service up to now.

Involving students early in research

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Brückner) — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 10:54:00 +0000

This term started in November - after the rainy season - and it will finish in February. Our department introduced a new policy for students' projects last month, which I appreciate as a big opportunity to get them used to project work and academic thinking.

The policy is: all third year students have to choose one broad topic, such as knowledge management and e-learning, until end of November and at the same time they have to find an advisor who is willing to counsel them. Step by step the scope of the project has to be limited, so that the students concentrate on a manageable topic from the start of their fourth year. Faculty are limited to three projects of that kind, so the students have to hurry up to get their favorite tutors.

I encouraged my students to work on Geographic Information Systems, knowledge management and multimedia for e-learning. Let's see what happens when we narrow down the projects.

Phase in to health

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Brückner) — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 16:00:00 +0000

A healthy lifestyle is an objective not only in the Western world but also in many emerging and developing countries. This is also in parts of the society in Thailand, but there are not so many applications helping hospitals, doctors, and individuals seeking advice about healthy food and way of life. Kindheart has carried out research on opportunities to convey information and knowledge about health matters into the society. This research resulted in a first paper by members of Kindheart being presented next weekend at the Bangkok Conference of the World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology (WASET)--PDF.

In this paper we propose a framework for a system assisting users through counseling on personal health, the Personal Health Assistance Serrvice Expert System (PHASES). Our approach is that personal health assistance systems need Personal Health Records (PHR), which support wellness activities, improve the understanding of personal health issues, enable access to data from providers of health services, strengthen health promotion, and in the end improve the health of the population. This is especially important in societies where the health costs increase at a higher rate than the overall economy. The most important elements of a healthy lifestyle are related to food (such as balanced nutrition and diets), activities for body fitness (such as walking, sports, fitness programs), and other medical treatments (such as massage, prescriptions of drugs). The PHASES framework uses an ontology of food, which includes nutritional facts, an expert system keeping track of personal health data that are matched with medical treatments, and a comprehensive data transfer between patients and the system.
Sometimes people need only some rest to keep healthy. We hope we can get that at the end of the year during New Year.

Oates, Briony J.: Researching information systems and computing. London: Sage 2006. 18, 341 p. ISBN 1-4129-0224-X.

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Brückner) — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 07:48:00 +0000

I've got this book recently from our library, and I have to say this is a magnificent textbook on the subject of research and project work. The text is very well written and starts from the easier and more fundamental steps in the research process, such as the purpose and the products of research, to finish at the more complex ones, e.g. philosophical paradigms accompanying our thoughts and ways of work. The title is a bit misleading, because the text covers far more than just research on information systems and computing. In fact, the ideas and methods can be applied to almost every field of study. Well, there could be said a bit more about quantitative research approaches and project management. The most valuable parts for me are the numerous practical ideas, that are presented on every topic. For instance, you can find there how to evaluate research results on the basis of case studies. I'm sure my colleagues and my students will appreciate this treasure chest very much.

SEARCC Conference at IMPACT Exhibition Center, Bangkok

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Brückner) — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 11:05:00 +0000

Members of the Kindheart Research Group visited IMPACT in Mueang Thong Thani, Bangkok, to give a talk about one of the latest projects.

The Photo Online Service System (POSS) is designed to serve Thais in rural areas and add value to the widespread digital cameras owned by them. The corresponding paper will soon be uploaded to the SEARCC online journal.

During the discussion some concern was raised about the safety of the private section included in the system. Data security is a long lasting topic in IT and up to now no affordable solution has been found. There's no such thing as Fort Knox in the Internet. But we think our validated e-mail/password approach will be enough to prevent everyday hacker activities.

After the presentation we had the great opportunity to talk to the father of the e-learning in Thailand, Prof. Srisakdi Charmonman, who now after working in many different positions in private companies and for the public service in Thailand is presiding the SEARCC. Prof. Srisakdi's nickname is "Charm". Not often have I found such a congruence between Nick and personality. Prof. Srisakdi was kind enough to let us take a photo.

Prof. Srisakdi with Dr. Chakkrit (r) and Michael Brueckner (l) from Kindheart Research.

IMPACT Mueang Thong Thani, Bangkok

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Brückner) — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 02:54:00 +0000

These days members of Kindheart are in Bangkok, visiting the ICT Expo 2007 and attending some of the conferences there. One of our presentations will be on a Photo Online Service System (POSS), which is designed for Thai that are not computer savvy, but use digital cameras.

POSS V. 1 enables users to post-process their digital images (or let the shop do this job) and order print-outs of the resulting images. The photos are then sent to the customers or can be received at the shop. So, the system works in connection with brick-and-click businesses.

We expect POSS to add value to digital cameras, especially in the rural areas of Thailand.

Visiting researchers + Kindheart

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Brückner) — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 16:28:00 +0000

Last week two Korean researchers arrived at out department, whom we welcomed with a miniparty; the big one has to follow.

They're specialists in the field of embedded systems, so we thought it was a good idea to let them help in our project on KITS - the Knowledge-based Intelligent Transport System on our campus. This project has got a lot of insight in software area, but still needs some hardware support (besides some business strategy, if you ask me).

For those of you, who don't know of the blue cars at our campus, here's a link. Well, the cars have evolved, I suppose. And we want to drive this evolution to an even higher speed (the evolution, not the cars).

BTW, the cars of today look like that:

... and upcoming work

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Brückner) — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 14:52:00 +0000

Currently, the group is working on three topics - having loaded batteries during our trip to the North. We're carrying out some projects this month leading to shortcoming papers:
* Assessment of and in e-learning systems,
* Telematics system for the campus of Naresuan University,
* Job expert system that takes into account the skills needed by potential employers and offered by potential employees

If I hadn't been working as a manager in a medium-sized company (4,000 employees) for a while, I would soon get lost with all those ideas and schedules, plans and adaptations around here.

Partly it's the necessary way of working out research in a big group like that, but I think mostly it's just Thai style. They can improvise professionally, and they like it. They like surprises as well, especially pleasant ones. And who of you doesn't. Christmas isn't that far away.

Back to work, gents

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Brückner) — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 07:27:00 +0000

Yesterday morning (5 a.m.): back from our trip to Macau/Hongkong.

We met with the Vice Rector of Macau University of Science and Technology and exchanged not only presents but also ideas, which leads - as is known - to a duplication of them. Not like exchanging apples.

We'll stick our heads together and find out what we can do more than exchanging students, which most of the time doesn't lead to a duplication.

The other pic is about The Venetian, a place for researchers of Applied Statistics and the biggest Casino worldwide. The second biggest seems to be the Sands, also in Macau.

FOODS - the Food-Oriented Ontology-Driven System

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Brückner) — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 13:51:00 +0000

As we come nearer to our system I would like to express some ideas which led us to this development. Thailand has a long-term history in preparing healthy and delicious food. But that's not why we worked on this project. Even more, Thailand serves a great range of small and medium enterprises related to food preparation and processing.

So, we thought it was a good idea to get an ontology, which not only helps those SMEs but also Western needs for healthy foods. See more in our paper for the upcoming DEST Conference.

In that kind of ontology we have to express not only domain knowledge (let's say facts) but also tasks (procedures) for cooking. So, that means we had to do a thorough domain analysis job and perform a strong task analysis. How do you prepare food, meals to be precise? Let us know, so we can add it into the soon published ontology for all people in need of healthy food.

YAGO

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Brückner) — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 13:53:00 +0000

Yet Another Great Ontology.

This ontology strives to link articles in the Web 2.0 encyclopaedia, the Wikipedia, with Wordnet and other resources of the Semantic Web. The Wikipedia has an obvious advantage in that its concepts, called categories, are openly discussed and most often thoroughly negotiated.

YAGO lets you query in terms of "entity1" "relation" "entity2". Up to now, the supported relationships are bornInYear, diedInYear, establishedInYear, hasWonPrize, writtenInYear, locatedIn, politicianOf, familyNameOf, givenNameOf, means, type, subClassOf, domain, range, discoveredInYear, discoveredBy, isCitizenOf, isMemberOf, isPartOf, isSubstanceOf, after, before and subPropertyOf.

YAGO is being developed at the Max-Planck-Institut für Informatik in Saarbrücken.