Braille, as a special written method of communication for the blind, has been globally accepted for years. It gives blind people another chance to learn and communicate more efficiently with the rest of the world. It also makes possible the translation of printed languages into a written language which is recognisable for blind people. Recently, Braille is experiencing a decreasing popularity due to the use of alternative technologies, like speech synthesis. However, as a form of literacy, Braille is still playing a significant role in the education of people with visual impairments. With the development of electronic technology, Braille turned out to be well suited to computer-aided production because of its coded forms. Software based text-to-Braille translation has been proved to be a successful solution in Assistive Technology (AT). However, the feasibility and advantages of the algorithm reconfiguration based on hardware implementation have rarely been substantially discussed. A hardware-based translation system with algorithm reconfiguration is able to supply greater throughput than a software-based system. Further, it is also expected as a single component integrated in a multi-functional Braille system on a chip. / Therefore, this thesis presents the development of a system for text-to-Braille translation implemented in hardware. Differing from most commercial methods, this translator is able to carry out the translation in hardware instead of using software. To find a particular translation algorithm which is suitable for a hardware-based solution, the history of, and previous contributions to Braille translation are introduced and discussed. It is concluded that Markov systems, a formal language theory, were highly suitable for application to hardware based Braille translation. Furthermore, the text-to-Braille algorithm is reconfigured to achieve parallel processing to accelerate the translation speed. Characteristics and advantages of Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), and application of Very High Speed Integrated Circuit Hardware Description Language (VHDL) are introduced to explain how the translating algorithm can be transformed to hardware. Using a Xilinx hardware development platform, the algorithm for text-to-Braille translation is implemented and the structure of the translator is described hierarchically.

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This bachelor's thesis in applied mathematics & industrial economics is an attempt to model drives in American football using Markov chains. The transition matrix is obtained through logit regression analysis on historical data from the NFL. Different outcomes of drives are modelled as separate absorbing states in the Markov chain. Absorption probabilities are calculated representing the probabilities of each outcome. Results are tested against a Markov chain with the transition matrix based on frequency analysis. Three scoring rules unanimously declare the regression based model to be superior. The application of the model pertains to live sports betting. With the insight provided by the Markovian model, a bettor should be able to make statistically informed betting decisions. The prospect of creating a start-up based on the Markovian betting model is discussed. / Denna kandidatuppsats i tillämpad matematik & industriell ekonomi är ett försök till att modellera drives i amerikansk fotboll med hjälp av Markovkedjor. Övergångsmatrisen fås genom logit-regressionsanalys av historisk data från NFL. Olika utfall av drives modelleras som separata absorberande tillstånd i Markovkedjan. Absorptionssannolikheter beräknas, vilka representerar sannolikheterna för de olika utfallen. Resultaten testas mot en Markovkedja där övergångsmatrisen fås genom frekvensanalys. Tre olika poängregler föredrar enhälligt den regressionsbaserade modellen. Modellens tillämpning berör sportbetting. Med hjälp av Markovmodellen bör en spelare kunna ta statistiskt underbyggda beslut i deras betting. Möjligheterna att skapa ett företag baserat på Markovmodellen diskuteras.

In order to be compliant with the Basel regulations, banks need to compute two probabilities of default (PDs): point-in-time (PIT) and through-the-cycle (TTC). The aim is to explain fluctuations in the rating system, which are expected to be affected by systematic and idiosyncratic factors. Being able to, in an objective manner, determine whether the rating system is taking the business cycle - i.e the systematic factors - into account when assigning a credit rating to an obligor is useful in order to evaluate PD-models. It is also necessary for banks in order to use their own risk parameters and models instead of standardized models, which is desirable for most banks as it could lower capital requirements. This thesis propose a new measure for the degree of PIT-ness. This measure aims to be especially useful when examining a low default portfolio. The proposed measure is built on a markovian approach of the credit rating system. In order to find a suitable measure for a low default portfolio, the proposed measure takes into account credit rating migrations, the seasonal component of the business cycle and time series analysis. An analysis were performed between two different credit portfolios in order to interpret results. The results demonstrated that the degree of PIT-ness was lower in a low default portfolio in comparison with a sampled portfolio which displayed a greater amount of rating migrations with a larger magnitude. The importance of considering relevant macroeconomic variables to represent the business cycle was mentioned amongst the most important factors to consider in order to receive reliable results given the proposed measure. / För att uppfylla Basel regelverken behöver banker beräkna två sannolikheter för fallissemang (PD): point-in-time (PIT) och through-the-cycle (TTC). Målet är att förklara fluktuationer i betygssystemet, som förväntas påverkas av systematiska och idiosynkratiska faktorer. Att på ett objektivt sätt kunna avgöra om betygssystemet tar hänsyn till affärscykeln - dvs de systematiska faktorerna - när man tilldelar en kredittagare ett kreditbetyg är användbart för att utvärdera PD-modeller. Detta är också nödvändigt för att banker ska få använda sina egna riskparametrar och modeller istället för standardiserade modeller, vilket är önskvärt för de flesta banker eftersom det kan sänka kapitalkraven. Denna avhandling föreslår ett nytt mått för att mäta graden av PIT-ness. Detta mått syftar till att vara särskilt användbart när man utvärderar en kreditportfölj med få fallissemang. Det föreslagna måttet är byggt på en Markov tillämpning på kreditbetygssystemet. För att hitta ett lämpligt mått för en kreditportfölj med få fallissemang, tar det föreslagna måttet hänsyn till kreditbetygsmigrationer, säsongskomponenten i affärscykeln och tidsserieanalys. En analys utfördes mellan två olika kreditportföljer för att tolka resultaten. Resultaten visade att graden av PIT-ness var lägre i en kreditportfölj med få fallissemang jämfört med en testportfölj som uppvisade en större mängd kreditbetygsmigrationer med en större magnitud. Vikten av att beakta relevanta makroekonomiska variabler för att representera affärscykeln nämndes bland de viktigaste faktorerna att beakta för att få tillförlitliga resultat givet det föreslagna måttet.