Once a week during the academic year, a guest lecturer (from abroad or from the Czech Republic) gives a talk on their research. The colloquium, which takes place at the Faculty of Informatics, is open to the academic community. You can find the dates of the talks in the programme. Tuesdays 14.00–15.00, D2, FI MU, Botanická 68a

Colloquium programme with abstracts for the Autumn 2014 semester

23 September 2014

MgA. Helena Lukášová, ArtD., FI MU

The Potential of 3D Printers

Abstract: This lecture will present the possibilities of 3D printing. This method of materialising a digital model represents a fundamental shift in the thinking of architects, designers and artists. It is already having an impact on a wide range of scientific disciplines, from medicine to architecture. This production method, known as Additive Manufacturing, may, according to some forecasts, fundamentally change the way goods are produced and distributed, which could lead to a second industrial revolution.

3D printing is preceded by the preparation of a three-dimensional digital model; in other words, the capabilities of 3D printers are closely linked to digital modelling tools and scanners.

The possibility of controlling the structure of the printed model already suggests that it is possible to embed information about the behaviour of the printed object into it, a process known as 4D printing.

The presentation will showcase completed projects as well as visions for the future.

30 September 2014

Doc. RNDr. Vladimír Černý, Ph.D., Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University, Bratislava

From Uniform Rectilinear Motion to the General Theory of Relativity

Abstract: This lecture will illustrate the steps taken by science from the mathematisation of elementary phenomena of everyday life to an understanding of the profound phenomena of the universe. No knowledge beyond the elementary basics of secondary school physics is required. We will begin with a thorough discussion of the fundamental concepts. How do we understand the physical definition of a coordinate system, a straight line, a clock, an inertial frame of reference, spacetime, and so on? Then, with just a few experimental facts, we will delve into the special theory of relativity. The aim is to gain an understanding of exactly what the concepts of time dilation and length contraction mean. We will also outline the generalisations leading to the general theory of relativity.

7 October 2014

Prof. Ing. Jiří Jan, CSc., Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications, Brno University of Technology

Some difficult cases in the analysis of medical image data

Abstract: This lecture will outline the problems arising from uncertainties in the properties of CT image data in specific applications or from the requirements for their analysis by medical users. Two areas will be discussed: The first is a solution for high-quality 3D subtractive angiography, based on CT data, which has yielded better results than contemporary commercial firmware systems. Next, a solution to the problem of segmenting bone lesions in vertebrae will be presented, involving the segmentation of the spine and individual vertebrae—including cases where they are significantly deformed by disease—and the subsequent segmentation of the lesions. Given the uncertainty in the definition of lesions, this problem has proved difficult to solve; we shall briefly outline the approaches that have recently led to results comparable to radiologists’ estimates. Methodologically, these involve modifications and combinations of various methods of image data processing, particularly from the field of flexible, locally oriented 3D registration, non-standard segmentation based on deformable models, and combinations of segmentation approaches utilising statistical models, texture analysis and graph representations of image data.

14 October 2014

Assoc. Prof. Hana Rudová, Ph.D., Faculty of Informatics, Masaryk University

How are timetables organised at MU?

Abstract: This lecture will present the challenges of timetable planning at Masaryk University, which are addressed by automated timetable systems. The timetable-making problem will be described from the perspective of timetable-making for degree programmes and timetable-making based on student enrolments, and the principles and methods designed to solve these problems will be outlined. We will demonstrate how these principles are applied in practice to timetable the Faculty of Informatics, the Faculty of Education, the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Sports Studies. We will demonstrate the differences in timetable planning across individual faculties, showing that even within a single university, it is necessary to adopt an individualised approach to timetable planning so that it is accepted by both the faculties and the timetable planners. All the faculties mentioned use the UniTime timetable system, which was developed in collaboration between Purdue University (USA), the Faculty of Informatics at Masaryk University (FI MU) and the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics at Charles University (MFF UK). This comprehensive system is based on the principles of constraint programming and local search, and enables the handling of a wide range of timetable-making problems.

21 October 2014

Prof. Chu-Ren Huang, Ph.D., Faculty of Humanities, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Linguistic Knowledge and Quality of Information

Abstract: It is generally observed that the focus of NLP research has shifted from the processing of language (structure) to the access and assessment of information content. In this talk, we will demonstrate that this shift actually offers unique opportunities to explore the role that different aspects of linguistic knowledge play in encoding knowledge content. Using the papers cited as examples, we will demonstrate how linguistically encoded evidentiality, personal and impersonal viewpoints, and polarity shifts interact with information content in both expected and unexpected ways. Furthermore, we will show that high-quality linguistic knowledge must be incorporated to achieve high-quality crowdsourcing results.

4 November 2014

Prof. Mgr. Tomáš Tyc, Ph.D., Faculty of Science, Masaryk University

Optical Fibre Imaging

Abstract: Imaging using optical fibres in endoscopy has been used in medicine for decades. Each fibre in the bundle transmits a single pixel of the image. However, methods are currently being developed to transmit the image via a single optical fibre, which could be much thinner than the fibre bundle in a conventional endoscope and thus less invasive. This is made possible, amongst other things, by the rapidly growing computing power of both CPUs and GPUs, which is required for image reconstruction. In this lecture, I will present the latest advances in this field. In particular, the advances achieved at the University of Dundee in Scotland, where I am actively involved in this research.

11 November 2014

Prof. RNDr. Petr Hliněný, Ph.D., Faculty of Informatics, Masaryk University

Planar Graph Emulators – Beyond Planarity in the Plane

Abstract: Two beautiful and mutually related mathematical puzzles are introduced; the planar covering problem of Negami, and the planar emulator problem of Fellows. In a nutshell, both these very similar problems investigate the question of how to represent non-planar graphs by larger planar graphs that ‘look locally the same’ as the original non-planar graphs. During nearly 30 years of study, many strong specific results have been achieved, but the problems remain largely open. We pay particular attention to the planar emulator problem, which for a long time remained in the shadow of the planar covering problem, until a breakthrough result by Rieck and Yamashita six years ago, which triggered a rapid recent development in planar emulators. Some of these new results have been obtained in collaboration with young students at the Faculty of Informatics.

18 November 2014

Doc. PhDr. David Šmahel, Ph.D., FSS MU

Online addiction: from theory and research into the phenomenon

Abstract: As technology becomes central to our lives, we are seeing cases of extreme use and dependence on these newer tools. Although such excessive internet use is found across all age groups, it is particularly prevalent amongst adolescents and young adults. An important question we consider is whether it is even appropriate to use the term ‘addiction’ in the context of Internet users. We describe what addictive behaviour on the Internet entails, along with information on the prevalence of such behaviour. We then discuss the symptoms considered to be warning signs of Internet-related addictive behaviour and describe the personal and social context of addictive behaviour on the Internet. We discuss four areas of online addiction separately: online gaming, online relationships (communication), virtual sexual behaviour, and online gambling. We also describe the therapeutic approaches used to treat addictive behaviour on the Internet.

25 November 2014

Doc. RNDr. Petr Sojka, Ph.D., Faculty of Informatics, Masaryk University

Towards Structure-Aware Information Retrieval

Abstract: Keyword-based information retrieval (IR) has become prevalent in our daily searches. Mainstream tools and technologies are being developed to index and retrieve information based solely on a ‘bag of words’, completely disregarding structured information such as mathematical formulae or the narrative structure of documents. Using the example of maths-aware (tree indexing) information retrieval (MIR), we will demonstrate an approach that has recently been evaluated as the best among available prototypes for MIR. We will outline possible approaches towards IR that is truly meaningful.

2 December 2014

Prof. Dr Stephanie Rinderle-Ma, Faculty of Computer Science, University of Vienna

Flexibility and compliance in Process-Aware Information Systems

Abstract: Business processes represent and implement the business logic of companies and are typically modelled and executed through Process-Aware Information Systems (PAIS). Two practically very relevant challenges for PAIS are compliance and flexibility. Compliance refers to the ability to prove that business processes are conducted in accordance with relevant compliance constraints such as regulations or guidelines. Of particular importance in this context are security requirements, which may also be represented and verified across business processes. Process flexibility refers to the ability to deviate from the prescribed process execution even during runtime. Here, it is crucial that a process change does not lead to subsequent problems such as incorrect states or compliance violations; in other words, flexibility and compliance must be considered in conjunction with one another. The talk presents requirements and experiences from various projects on PAIS, with a focus on flexibility and compliance. It will discuss selected solutions and also place some emphasis on security in PAIS.

9 December 2014

Prof. RNDr. Alexander Meduna, CSc., FIT VUT

Regulated Grammars and Automata

Abstract: In essence, regulated grammars and automata are based on classical grammars and automata, extended by an additional mathematical mechanism that prescribes the use of rules during the generation of their languages. From a practical perspective, an important advantage of these models lies in their ability to control the language-defining process and, consequently, to operate in a more deterministic manner than general models, which carry out their derivations in a rather unregulated way. Perhaps even more significantly, the regulated versions of language models are stronger than their unregulated versions. Given these advantages, it is hardly surprising that formal language theory has devoted such a great deal of attention to these regulated formal models, which form the main focus of this presentation.

The author of this talk will divide it into two parts. In the first part, he will introduce a brand-new monograph published by Springer this year:

Alexander Meduna and Petr Zemek: Regulated Grammars and Automata, Springer, New York, 694 pages, 2014.

This monograph provides an in-depth treatment of regulated grammars and au- tomata. The author will discuss the motivation behind this book and outline its purpose, focus, approach, intended use and target audience. He will also summarise its contents and scope.

In the second part, he will discuss a type of regulated grammar to which an entire chapter of the monograph is devoted: one-sided random context grammars. These are regulated grammars based on context-free grammars, where a set of permitting symbols and a set of forbidding symbols are attached to every rule, and the set of rules is divided into the set of left random context rules and the set of right random context rules. A left random context rule can rewrite a non-terminal if each of its permitting symbols occurs to the left of the rewritten symbol in the current sentential form, whilst none of its forbidding symbols occurs there. A right random context rule is applied in a similar manner, except that the symbols are examined to the right of the rewritten symbol. Apart from this, these grammars function in exactly the same way as context-free grammars. The author will discuss these regulated grammars in detail by presenting established results and highlighting open problems.

16 December 2014

Bruno Rossi, Ph.D., Faculty of Informatics, Masaryk University

Ing. RNDr. Barbora Bühnová, Ph.D., Faculty of Informatics, Masaryk University

Software Quality: Directions in Practice and Education

Abstract: In this colloquium, we will present the aims behind the new course “PV260 Software Quality”, which is to be taught from the spring of 2015. Following an introduction to the course objectives and the methods for achieving them, the colloquium will serve as a platform to gather ideas and feedback from both lecturers and students on this new course, prompted by the introduction.

The aim of the course is to train students to understand different aspects of software quality, develop critical thinking and be able to identify code flaws related to performance, maintainability, testability and other quality attributes. In the course, students will learn how to refactor existing code to improve the discussed quality attributes, and to gain practical experience with different dimensions of software testing not covered elsewhere (e.g. performance testing) and related tools. To enhance the value of the course across a wide range of study fields, feedback from participants is very much welcome.