The goal of General Game Playing (GGP) is to develop a system, that is able to automatically play previously unseen games well, solely by being given the rules of the game. In contrast to traditional game playing programs, a general game player cannot be given game specific knowledge. Instead, the program has to discover this knowledge and use it for effectively playing the game well without human intervention. In this thesis, we present a such a program and general methods that solve a variety of knowledge discovery problems in GGP. Our main contributions are methods for the automatic construction of heuristic evaluation functions, the automated discovery of game structures, a system for proving properties of games, and symmetry detection and exploitation for general games.

Commercial computer gaming is a large growing industry that already has its major contributions in the entertainment industry of the world. One of the most important among different types of computer games are Real Time Strategy (RTS) based games. RTS games are considered being the major research subject for Artificial Intelligence (AI). But still the performance of AI in these games is poor by human standards due to some fundamental AI problems those require more research to be better solved for the RTS games. There also exist some AI algorithms those can help us solve these AI problems. Anytime- Algorithms (AA) are algorithms those can optimize their memory and time resources and are considered best for the RTS games. We believe that by making AI algorithms anytime we can optimize their behavior to better solve the AI problems. Although many anytime algorithms are available to solve various kinds of AI problems, but according to our research no such study is been done to compare the performances of different anytime algorithms for an AI problem in RTS games. This study will take care of that by building our own research platform specifically design for comparing performances of our selected anytime algorithms for an AI problem. / Address: NaN Mob. +46 - 737 - 40 19 17

Commercial computer gaming is a large growing industry, that already has its major contributions in the entertainment industry of the world. One of the most important among different types of computer games are Real Time Strategy (RTS) based games. RTS games are considered being the major research subject for Artificial Intelligence (AI). But still the performance of AI in these games is poor by human standards because of some broad sets of problems. Some of these problems have been solved with the advent of an open real time research platform, named as ORTS. However there still exist some fundamental AI problems that require more research to be better solved for the RTS games. There also exist some AI algorithms that can help us solve these AI problems. Anytime- Algorithms (AA) are algorithms those can optimize their memory and time resources and are considered best for the RTS games. We believe that by making AI algorithms anytime we can optimize their behavior to better solve the AI problems for the RTS games. Although many anytime algorithms are available to solve various kinds of AI problems, but according to our research no such study is been done to compare the performances of different anytime algorithms for each AI problem in RTS games. This study will take care of that by building our own research platform specifically design for comparing performances of selected anytime algorithms for an AI problem

The present study is aiming to evaluate the Intelligent Personal Assistants usage motivations, addressing at the same time various privacy issues and concerns related to this emergent technology. To fulfil the purpose of the study I have applied two different research methods. Initially, a web survey conducted gathered 18 respondents answering 24 questions related to the presented topic. Subsequently, was organised a focus group by gathering seven respondents who shared their opinions on the subject of research. Two research questions were developed based on two hypotheses. First research question: “To what extent IPA users agree to personal data collection in order to gratify their sought needs?”; exploring the participants’ opinions when it comes to the degree of acceptance of personal information disclosure to gratify their needs. Moreover, second research question: “What are the motivating criteria that determine the usage of IPA?”. This question develops opinions and experiences on the usage of Intelligent Personal Assistants, as well as the way people perceive this new technology. The finding of this studies reveals that users of new media are concerned and aware of their personal data collection. However, as a result, they feel trapped in the network society by the peer pressure towards the usage of favourite mediums. Therefore, the denial of technology would bring unfavourable consequences from a social perspective. Further researches can be conducted on this topic, addressing in depth the Artificial Intelligence and its societal implications, possible utilities of the Intelligent Personal Assistants as a companion for children, elders and people with disabilities, Artificial Intelligence used in public administration. Consequently, many different aspects can be explored having the topic of this thesis as a starting point.

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Digital transformation is evolving, and it is driving at the helm of the digital evolution. The amount of information accessible to us has revolutionized the way we gather information. Mobile technology and the immediate and ubiquitous access to information has changed how we engage with services including healthcare. Digital technology and digital transformation have afforded people the ability to self-manage in different ways than face-to-face and paper-based methods through different technologies. This study focuses on exploring the use of the most commonly used digital health technologies in the healthcare sector and how it affects physicians’ daily routine practice. The study presents findings from a qualitative methodology involving semi-structured, personal interviews with physicians from Sweden and a physician from Spain. The interviews capture what physicians feel towards digital transformation, digital health technologies and how it affects their work. In a field where a lack of information regarding how physicians work is affected by digital health technologies, this study reveals a general aspect of how reality looks for physicians. A new way of conducting medicine and the changed role of the physician is presented along with the societal implications for physicians and the healthcare sector. The findings demonstrate that physicians’ role, work and the digital transformation in healthcare on a societal level are important in shaping the future for the healthcare industry and the role of the physician in this future. / Den digitala transformationen växer och den drivs vid rodret för den digitala utvecklingen. Mängden information som är tillgänglig för oss har revolutionerat hur vi samlar in information. Mobila tekniker och den omedelbara och allmänt förekommande tillgången till information har förändrat hur vi tillhandahåller oss tjänster inklusive inom vården. Digital teknik och digital transformation har gett människor möjlighet att kontrollera sig själv och sin egen hälsa på olika sätt än ansikte mot ansikte och pappersbaserade metoder genom olika tekniker. Denna studie fokuserar på att utforska användningen av de vanligaste digitala hälsoteknologierna inom hälso- och sjukvårdssektorn och hur det påverkar läkarnas dagliga rutin. Studien presenterar resultat från en kvalitativ metod som involverar semistrukturerade, personliga intervjuer med läkare från Sverige och en läkare från Spanien. Intervjuerna fångar vad läkare tycker om digital transformation, digital hälsoteknik och hur det påverkar deras arbete. I ett fält där brist på information om hur läkare arbetar påverkas av digital hälsoteknik avslöjar denna studie en allmän aspekt av hur verkligheten ser ut för läkare. Ett nytt sätt att bedriva medicin och läkarens förändrade roll presenteras tillsammans med de samhälleliga konsekvenserna för läkare och vårdsektorn. Resultaten visar att läkarnas roll, arbete och den digitala transformationen inom hälso- och sjukvården på samhällsnivå är viktiga för att utforma framtiden för vårdindustrin och läkarens roll i framtiden.

[ES] La presente tesis aborda el problema del encaminamiento en las redes definidas por software (SDN). Específicamente, aborda el problema del diseño de un protocolo de encaminamiento basado en inteligencia artificial (AI) para garantizar la calidad de servicio (QoS) en transmisiones multimedia. En la primera parte del trabajo, el concepto de SDN es introducido. Su arquitectura, protocolos y ventajas son comentados. A continuación, el estado del arte es presentado, donde diversos trabajos acerca de QoS, encaminamiento, SDN y AI son detallados. En el siguiente capítulo, el controlador SDN, el cual juega un papel central en la arquitectura propuesta, es presentado. Se detalla el diseño del controlador y se compara su rendimiento con otro controlador comúnmente utilizado. Más tarde, se describe las propuestas de encaminamiento. Primero, se aborda la modificación de un protocolo de encaminamiento tradicional. Esta modificación tiene como objetivo adaptar el protocolo de encaminamiento tradicional a las redes SDN, centrado en las transmisiones multimedia. A continuación, la propuesta final es descrita. Sus mensajes, arquitectura y algoritmos son mostrados. Referente a la AI, el capítulo 5 detalla el módulo de la arquitectura que la implementa, junto con los métodos inteligentes usados en la propuesta de encaminamiento. Además, el algoritmo inteligente de decisión de rutas es descrito y la propuesta es comparada con el protocolo de encaminamiento tradicional y con su adaptación a las redes SDN, mostrando un incremento de la calidad final de la transmisión. Finalmente, se muestra y se describe algunas aplicaciones basadas en la propuesta. Las aplicaciones son presentadas para demostrar que la solución presentada en la tesis está diseñada para trabajar en redes heterogéneas. / [CA] La present tesi tracta el problema de l'encaminament en les xarxes definides per programari (SDN). Específicament, tracta el problema del disseny d'un protocol d'encaminament basat en intel·ligència artificial (AI) per a garantir la qualitat de servici (QoS) en les transmissions multimèdia. En la primera part del treball, s'introdueix les xarxes SDN. Es comenten la seva arquitectura, els protocols i els avantatges. A continuació, l'estat de l'art és presentat, on es detellen els diversos treballs al voltant de QoS, encaminament, SDN i AI. Al següent capítol, el controlador SDN, el qual juga un paper central a l'arquitectura proposta, és presentat. Es detalla el disseny del controlador i es compara el seu rendiment amb altre controlador utilitzat comunament. Més endavant, es descriuen les propostes d'encaminament. Primer, s'aborda la modificació d'un protocol d'encaminament tradicional. Aquesta modificació té com a objectiu adaptar el protocol d'encaminament tradicional a les xarxes SDN, centrat a les transmissions multimèdia. A continuació, la proposta final és descrita. Els seus missatges, arquitectura i algoritmes són mostrats. Pel que fa a l'AI, el capítol 5 detalla el mòdul de l'arquitectura que la implementa, junt amb els mètodes intel·ligents usats en la proposta d'encaminament. A més a més, l'algoritme intel·ligent de decisió de rutes és descrit i la proposta és comparada amb el protocol d'encaminament tradicional i amb la seva adaptació a les xarxes SDN, mostrant un increment de la qualitat final de la transmissió. Finalment, es mostra i es descriuen algunes aplicacions basades en la proposta. Les aplicacions són presentades per a demostrar que la solució presentada en la tesi és dissenyada per a treballar en xarxes heterogènies. / [EN] This thesis addresses the problem of routing in Software Defined Networks (SDN). Specifically, the problem of designing a routing protocol based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) for ensuring Quality of Service (QoS) in multimedia transmissions. In the first part of the work, SDN is introduced. Its architecture, protocols and advantages are discussed. Then, the state of the art is presented, where several works regarding QoS, routing, SDN and AI are detailed. In the next chapter, the SDN controller, which plays the central role in the proposed architecture, is presented. The design of the controller is detailed and its performance compared to another common controller. Later, the routing proposals are described. First, a modification of a traditional routing protocol is discussed. This modification intends to adapt a traditional routing protocol to SDN, focused on multimedia transmissions. Then, the final proposal is described. Its messages, architecture and algorithms are depicted. As regards AI, chapter 5 details the module of the architecture that implements it, along with all the intelligent methods used in the routing proposal. Furthermore, the intelligent route decision algorithm is described and the final proposal is compared to the traditional routing protocol and its adaptation to SDN, showing an increment of the end quality of the transmission. Finally, some applications based on the routing proposal are described. The applications are presented to demonstrate that the proposed solution can work with heterogeneous networks. / Rego Máñez, A. (2020). Intelligent multimedia flow transmission through heterogeneous networks using cognitive software defined networks [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/160483 / TESIS

The goal of General Game Playing (GGP) is to develop a system, that is able to automatically play previously unseen games well, solely by being given the rules of the game. In contrast to traditional game playing programs, a general game player cannot be given game specific knowledge. Instead, the program has to discover this knowledge and use it for effectively playing the game well without human intervention. In this thesis, we present a such a program and general methods that solve a variety of knowledge discovery problems in GGP. Our main contributions are methods for the automatic construction of heuristic evaluation functions, the automated discovery of game structures, a system for proving properties of games, and symmetry detection and exploitation for general games.:1. Introduction 2. Preliminaries 3. Components of Fluxplayer 4. Game Tree Search 5. Generating State Evaluation Functions 6. Distance Estimates for Fluents and States 7. Proving Properties of Games 8. Symmetry Detection 9. Related Work 10. Discussion

L’éthique de l’intelligence artificielle (IA) constitue un domaine de recherche pluridisciplinaire en expansion. Cette thèse s’inscrit dans le champ de l’éthique de l’IA et en propose une nouvelle interprétation. D’entrée de jeu, les nombreux liens qu’entretiennent les défis et opportunités que présentent les systèmes employant l’intelligence artificielle avec le domaine politique y sont exposés. Une hypothèse clé animant cette thèse est que, puisque la politique consiste à répondre au conflit par le dialogue, les décideurs politiques aux prises avec des questions concernant l’IA peuvent tirer profit des orientations fournies par différentes traditions éthiques. Afin de faciliter un dialogue optimal, une prise de position métaéthique particulière est avancée au niveau théorique, soit le « monisme non orthodoxe », tandis qu’une série de questions ciblées est proposée au niveau de la pratique. Divisée en trois sections, la thèse débute avec une exploration métaéthique des fondements des approches éthiques principales qui sont à l’œuvre dans les réflexions contemporaines concernant l’IA. Les écoles éthiques étudiées, en faisant appel au continuum qui distingue le monisme et le pluralisme, sont l’éthique de la vertu, l’utilitarisme et l’éthique déontologique. Ces démarches monistes sont ensuite placées en contraste avec le pluralisme des valeurs, une approche souvent employée, mais rarement nommée de manière explicite. La deuxième section consiste en une analyse métaéthique d’une vingtaine de directives éthiques émises par des compagnies privées, la société civile ainsi que des organisations à multiples partenaires, de même que par des instances gouvernementales ou intergouvernementales. C’est ce portrait qui révèle à quel point le pluralisme des valeurs est récurrent dans ces directives. En outre, il se mêle souvent à d’autres approches éthiques pour générer des versions en situation de « tension métaéthique », bien que cela ne se produise souvent que de manière implicite. En conséquence, les propositions associées à ces approches sont parfois contradictoires, tant en ce qui concerne leur formulation que dans la manière dont elles seraient mises en œuvre. Une approche éthique alternative est proposée dans la troisième section. Cette approche est formée d’éléments dérivés spécialement de l’éthique de la vertu et du pluralisme. Ils fondent le socle sur lequel, dans le chapitre final de la thèse, un « guide dialogique » est développé pour l’usage des décideurs politiques. La prudence, une sensibilité profonde au contexte, une orientation téléologique « douce » vers le bien commun ainsi que l’ouverture à la possibilité de dilemmes insolubles caractérisent cette approche éthique. La philosophie herméneutique est également mise à contribution pour justifier l’articulation d’une série de questions destinées à guider le dialogue des décideurs politiques. En effet, l’herméneutique encourage une logique de questions, plutôt qu’une logique dérivée de principes ou de théories. / The ethics of artificial intelligence (AI) is a growing field of multidisciplinary research. This thesis falls within AI ethics and suggests a new interpretation. The numerous challenges and opportunities generated by AI systems are described at the outset. A key assumption of the thesis is that, given that politics consists of responding to conflict with dialogue, policy-makers dealing with the questions surrounding AI can benefit from the guidance provided by different ethical traditions. Furthermore, in order to facilitate an optimal dialogue, this thesis puts forward a particular metaethical position, that of “unorthodox monism” at the theoretical level, and one consisting of a series of pertinent questions at the practical level. Divided into three main sections, the thesis begins by exploring the metaethical foundations at work in most contemporary thinking about AI. Using a continuum that distinguishes between monism and pluralism in ethics, the particular schools examined are virtue ethics, utilitarianism, and deontology. These monistic approaches are then contrasted with value pluralism, which is an approach that is often employed and yet rarely identified explicitly. The second section consists of a metaethical analysis of a sample of some twenty sets of AI ethical guidelines produced within private companies, civil society and by multi-partner organizations, as well as by governmental and intergovernmental bodies. It is this portrait which reveals how value pluralism recurs in many of these sets of guidelines. Moreover, it is also often implicitly combined with other ethical approaches to generate “mixed” versions, which exhibit metaethical tensions. As a result, the proposals associated with these approaches are sometimes contradictory, both in regards to how they are formulated as well as to how they are to be implemented. Third, an alternative ethical approach is proposed. It consists of elements derived in particular from virtue ethics and value pluralism. They form the basis upon which, in the thesis’ final chapter, a “dialogical guide” is formulated for use by policy-makers. Prudence, a deep sensitivity to context, a “soft” teleological orientation towards a common good, along with openness to the possibility of intractable dilemmas characterize this approach. Hermeneutical philosophy is also drawn upon in order to justify the articulation of a series of questions meant to guide the dialogue of policy-makers. Indeed, hermeneutics calls forth a logic of questions rather than one based on principles or theories.

Supply chain operations of construction industry including road projects in disaster regions results in exceeding project budget and timelines. In road construction projects, supply chain with poor performance can affect efficiency and completion time of the project. This is also the case of the road projects in disaster areas. Disaster areas consider both natural and man-made disasters. Few examples of disaster zones are; Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Sri Lanka, India, Japan, Haiti and many other countries with similar environments. The key factors affecting project performance and execution are insecurity, uncertainties in demand and supply, poor communication and technology, poor infrastructure, lack of political and government will, unmotivated organizational staff, restricted accessibility to construction materials, legal hitches, multiple challenges of hiring labour force and exponential construction rates due to high risk environment along with multiple other factors. The managers at all tiers are facing challenges of overrunning time and budget of supply chain operations during planning as well as execution phase of development projects. The aim of research is to develop a Multiple Linear Regression Model (MLRM) and a Rule Based Decision Support System by incorporating various factors affecting supply chain management of road projects in disaster areas in the order of importance. This knowledge base (KB) (importance / coefficient of each factor) will assist infrastructure managers (road projects) and practitioners in disaster regions in decision making to minimize the effect of each factor which will further help them in project improvement. Conduct of Literature Review in the fields of disaster areas, supply chain operational environments of road project, statistical techniques, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and types of research approaches has provided deep insights to the researchers. An initial questionnaire was developed and distributed amongst participants as pilot project and consequently results were analysed. The results’ analysis enabled the researcher to extract key variables impacting supply chain performance of road project. The results of questionnaire analysis will facilitate development of Multiple Linear Regression Model, which will eventually be verified and validated with real data from actual environments. The development of Multiple Linear Regression Model and Rule Based Decision Support System incorporating all factors which affect supply chain performance of road projects in disastrous regions is the most vital contribution to the research. The significance and novelty of this research is the methodology developed that is the integration of those different methods which will be employed to measure the SCM performance of road projects in disaster areas.