Zapata, Mireya
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Zapata, Mireya
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Quito
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mireyazapata@uti.edu.ec
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56818703100

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Real-Time Adaptive Physical Sensor Processing with SNN Hardware

2023 , Madrenas J. , Vallejo-Mancero B. , Oltra-Oltra J.À. , Zapata, Mireya , Cosp-Vilella J. , Calatayud R. , Moriya S. , Sato S.

Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs) offer bioinspired computation based on local adaptation and plasticity as well as close biological compatibility. In this work, after reviewing the Hardware Emulator of Evolving Neural Systems (HEENS) architecture and its Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) design flow, a spiking implementation of an adaptive physical sensor input scheme based on time-rate Band-Pass Filter (BPF) is proposed for real-time execution of large dynamic range sensory edge processing nodes. Simulation and experimental results of the SNN operating in real-time with an adaptive-range accelerometer input example are shown. This work opens the path to compute with SNNs multiple physical sensor information for perception applications. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

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Low-Cost Human–Machine Interface for Computer Control with Facial Landmark Detection and Voice Commands

2022 , Ramos, P. , Zapata, Mireya , Valencia, K. , Vargas, V. , Ramos Galarza, Carlos

Nowadays, daily life involves the extensive use of computers, since human beings are immersed in a technological society. Therefore, it is mandatory to interact with computers, which represents a true disadvantage for people with upper limb disabilities. In this context, this work aims to develop an interface for emulating mouse and keyboard functions (EMKEY) by applying concepts of artificial vision and voice recognition to replace the use of hands. Pointer control is achieved by head movement, whereas voice recognition is used to perform interface functionalities, including speech-to-text transcription. To evaluate the interface’s usability and usefulness, two studies were carried out. The first study was performed with 30 participants without physical disabilities. Throughout this study, there were significant correlations found between the emulator’s usability and aspects such as adaptability, execution time, and the participant’s age. In the second study, the use of the emulator was analyzed by four participants with motor disabilities. It was found that the interface was best used by the participant with cerebral palsy, followed by the participants with upper limb paralysis, spina bifida, and muscular dystrophy. In general, the results show that the proposed interface is easy to use, practical, fairly accurate, and works on a wide range of computers. © 2022 by the authors.

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Experimental Evaluation of EMKEY: An Assistive Technology for People with Upper Limb Disabilities

2023 , Zapata, Mireya , Kevin Valencia-Aragón , Ramos Galarza, Carlos

Assistive technology can help people with disabilities to use computers more effectively and can enable them to access the same information and resources as people without disabilities. To obtain more insight into the factors that can bring about the design of an Emulator of Mouse and Keyboard (EMKEY) to higher levels of user satisfaction, an experimental study was conducted in order to analyse its effectiveness and efficiency. The experimental study involved 27 participants (Mage = 20.81, SD = 1.14) who performed three experimental games under different conditions (using the mouse and using EMKEY with head movements and voice commands). According to the results, the use of EMKEY allowed for the successful performance of tasks such as matching stimuli (F(2,78) = 2.39, p = 0.10, η2 = 0.06). However, the execution times of a task were found to be higher when using the emulator to drag an object on the screen (t(52,1) = −18.45, p ≤ 0.001, d = 9.60). These results indicate the effectiveness of technological development for people with upper limb disabilities; however, there is room for improvement in terms of efficiency. The findings are discussed in relation to previous research and are based on future studies aimed at improving the operation of the EMKEY emulator.

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Axonal Delay Controller for Spiking Neural Networks Based on FPGA

2020 , Zapata, Mireya , Madrenas, J. , Alvarez-Tello, Jorge , Miroslava Zapata

In this paper, the implementation of a programmable Axonal Delay Controller (ADyC) mapped on a hardware Neural Processor (NP) FPGA-based is reported. It is possible to define axonal delays between 1 to 31 emulation cycles to global and local pre-synaptic spikes generated by NP, extending the temporal characteristics supported by this architecture. The prototype presented in this work contributes to the realism of the network, which mimics the temporal biological characteristics of spike propagation through the cortex. The contribution of temporal information is strongly related to the learning process. ADyC operation is transparent for the rest of the system and neither affects the remaining tasks executed by the NP nor the emulation time period. In addition, an example implemented on hardware of a neural oscillator with programmable delays configured for a set of neurons is presented in order to demonstrate full platform functionality and operability. © 2020, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

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Design and Implementation of a Wastewater Heat Recovery System Prototype for Electric Showers in Quito-Ecuador

2020 , Remache Vinueza, Byron , Calderón G.E. , Zapata, Mireya

A wastewater heat recovery system was designed and implemented in the city of Quito - Ecuador. The prototype consists of adapting a heat exchanger to recover energy from wastewater and preheat the water that enters an electric shower. A temperature control system was designed and adapted to work based on a preset comfort temperature. A procedure for the manufacture of copper U-pipe fittings was developed for the construction of the heat exchanger coil, which consists of freezing water inside the pipe so that when rolled it avoids crushing and excessive loss of the inner diameter. Results show that for an average family of 4 members a reduction of energy consumption by 57% is possible. For the case of Ecuador, a reduction of 56.69 Mt of equivalent CO2 emissions was estimated if the system was implemented across the country. A payback period of 8.35 years was calculated for the initial investment. © 2020, The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

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Playful Thinking as a Strategy to Assess Mathematical Skills in Primary School

2023 , Arias Flores, Hugo Patricio , Solis M. , Zapata, Mireya

This research aims to find gamified tools that can be used by teachers in their classes and transform traditional evaluation so that it is attractive to the student and their mathematical skills are developed. The objective of the research was to empirically analyze whether the use of gamification has a positive impact on Mathematics Evaluation, through the application of a quasi-experimental program for learning basic operations in fourth-year students of Basic General Education. We worked with an experimental group and a control group, under the hypothesis that there is a significant difference in the results of the evaluation of basic operations in mathematics when using a traditional instrument and another online. The designed instrument consists of 20 multiple-choice questions, extracted from the PISA model evaluates for the fourth year. The experimental group was evaluated with the instrument in Word and the online instrument was used with the control group. The results of the evaluation of the experimental group have an average of 16.15, after the intervention, while the control group has an average of 14.20; showing that there is a difference in the evaluations when using a traditional instrument and another online. It is concluded that these new ways of evaluating and learning through gamified modalities and resources open new spaces to investigate different options on how to value knowledge to future generations, regardless of obstacles of time, space, and resources. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

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Design and evaluation of a heuristic optimization tool based on evolutionary grammars using PSoCs

2020 , Vallejo Mancero B. , Zapata, Mireya , Topón-Visarrea L. , Malagón P.

Currently, the evolutionary computing techniques are increasingly used in different fields, such as optimization, machine learning, and others. The starting point of the investigation is a set of optimization tools based on these techniques and one of them is called evolutionary grammar [1]. It is a evolutionary technique derived from genetic algorithms and used to generate programs automatically in any type of language. The present work is focused on the design and evaluation of hardware acceleration technique through PSoC, for the execution of evolutionary grammar. For this, a ZYNQ development platform is used, in which the logical part is used to implement factory modules and independents hardware blocks made up of a soft-processor, memory BRAM, and a CORDIC module developed to perform arithmetic operations. The processing part is used for the execution of the algorithm. Throughout the development, the procedures and techniques used for hardware and software design are specified, and the viability of the implementation is analyzed considering the comparison of the algorithm execution times in Java versus the execution times in Hardware. © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020.

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Design of a Human Machine Interface for Programming and Testing Adjustable Frequency Drives for Constant Pressure Pumping Applications

2021 , Remache-Vinueza B. , Castro-Ramírez J. , Zapata, Mireya

In this project, a human machine interface (HMI) was developed for programming adjustable frequency drives (AFDs). Frequency drives have a wide range of industrial applications such as pumping systems, conveyor belts, ventilation and air conditioning systems, and, in general, applications that require motors with high torque. Constant pressure pumping systems with AFDs, for instance, allow working with a proportional integral derivative (PID) control, providing the system with precise response between the desired value and the process feedback. In this project, an HMI has been designed to effectively configure, test and calibrate AFDs for constant pressure pumping applications. Various alternatives of HMI screens were analyzed using the prioritization matrix method to determine the most suitable screen. The HMI interface was developed in the DOPsoft 4 software of DELTA Electronics, following the guidelines set forth by ANSI/ISA-101.01-2015, to generate a clear and easy to understand HMI. © 2021, The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

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PSoC-Based Real-Time Data Acquisition for a Scalable Spiking Neural Network Hardware Architecture

2018 , Zapata, Mireya , Balaji U.K. , Madrenas J.

Data acquisition for monitoring the spiky activity of large-scale SNN hardware architectures are a challenge due to their time constraints, complexity, large logic size, and so on. This paper presents a versatile PSoC-Based Data Acquisition prototype, where a specialized Master Device is used for this purpose. It benefits from the heterogeneous nature of SoC platforms that allows it to host programmable logic together with a hard-core ARM processor integrating memory and a variety of peripherals in a single chip. The presented design enables monitoring the performance of a multi-chip neural network through a single Ethernet interface in a hardware and software co-design, which is combined with an application developed in Python that allows the visualization on the PC of a dynamic raster plot of neural activity. In addition, an example of full platform functionality is shown. © 2018 IEEE.

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Design of BPM Processes in Higher Education in Ecuador

2023 , Molina-Izurieta R. , Alvarez-Tello, Jorge , Zapata, Mireya , Robledo P.

Introduction: This manuscript addresses the strategy for digital transformation in university management as an improvement for the development of the link with society, where the digital transformation strategy for the Academy in Ecuador is taken as a reference. Objective: To design the planning sub-process through a Business Process Management Suite as a proposal for improvement in the Information Technology degree programme at the University of Guayaquil. Method: To carry out the design proposal for automation, the problem definition, the AS-IS model, the Hammer PEMM diagnosis for the company and processes are presented. The model is optimised based on the process mining analysis to obtain the TO-BE process. For the implementation, the database, formats, and the end-user interface are designed. Together with the ROI estimation for the justification of the feasibility of the proposal. Results: With the TO-BE process optimised by a business process analysis (BPA) software package, a time reduction of 51% and a total cost reduction of 41% is achieved. The estimated return on investment (ROI) is 1.61. Conclusion: Optimisation through process mining increases the assertiveness in the design of the proposal, exceeding even the initial projection of optimising the process by 30% in contrast to the 51% obtained. The estimated return on investment facilitates the justification for technical implementation, according to the institutional investment programme. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

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