Abstract

Abstract
The usage of multi-touch interfaces on a tabletop device, has been very explored for elder users in several domains. This interaction technique is an alternative to reducing the obstacles that older adults face in the use of computer systems, e.g., handling of peripherals. Many design guidelines are proposed in the literature for a wide range of products and systems for elders, e.g. websites, TV user interfaces. However, there is a lack of set of design guidelines and design recommendations of multi-touch interfaces that matches elder's needs. This paper presents a set of design guidelines and design recommendations distilled and extracted from most relevant works on design of multi-touch interfaces for elders available in the literature. The results are a set of design guidelines, useful for designers, application developers, usability specialists and researchers. Copyright © IARIA, 2014.

Abstract
A gas pressure sensor based on an all-fiber Fabry-Perot interferometer (FFPI) is reported. The sensing head consists of a small section of silica rod spliced with a large offset between two single-mode fibers. The silica rod is used only as mechanical support so that an air cavity can be formed between both SMF. It is shown that the FFPI sensor is sensitive to gas pressure variation and when submitted to different gaseous environments, namely carbon dioxide, nitrogen and oxygen - sensitivities of 6.2, 4.1 and 3.6 nm/MPa, respectively, were attained. The refractive index change on nitrogen environment by means of gas pressure variation was also determined and a sensitivity of 1526 nm/RIU was obtained. The response of the sensing device to temperature variations in air was also studied and a sensitivity of -14 pm/degrees C was attained.

Abstract

Abstract
The European funded ECHORD project ¹ European Clearing House for Open Robotics Development began in January 2009 with the ambitious goal of bringing together European robotics manufacturers with the excellent European research institutions. Europe has a very strong robot industry and there is significant research potential as well as technological knowledge. There has been a long history of outstanding research and development in both robot manufacturers and research institutes. However, finding common ground between manufacturers and the research community, especially when it comes to defining the future direction of robotics research, has proven difficult in the past. This is one of the recurring themes on both sides, and a new level of cooperation is long overdue. Thus, ECHORD acted as a clearing house to streamline successful know-how transfers. The research leading to the results presented in this book has received funding from the European Union through the 7th Framework Programme (FP7) under grant agreement number FP7-ICT-231143.

Abstract
Approaches to dependability and performance are challenged when systems are made up of networks of heterogeneous applications/devices, especially when operating in unpredictable open-world settings. The research community is tackling this problem and exploring means for enabling interoperability at the application level. The EU project Connect has developed a generic interoperability mechanism which relies on the on-the-fly synthesis of "Connectors", that is software bridges that enable and adapt communication among heterogeneous devices. Dependability and Performance are relevant aspects of the system. In our previous work, we have identified generic dependability mechanisms for enhancing the dependability of Connectors. In this work, we introduce a set of generic strategies for automating the selection and application of an appropriate dependability mechanism. A case study based on a global monitoring system for environment and security (GMES) is used as a means for demonstrating the approach. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.