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Distribution by Scientific Domains

Business, Economics, Finance and Accounting	50%

Selected Abstracts

Visyllable Based Speech Animation

COMPUTER GRAPHICS FORUM, Issue 3 2003
Sumedha Kshirsagar
Visemes are visual counterpart of phonemes. Traditionally, the speech animation of 3D synthetic faces involvesextraction of visemes from input speech followed by the application of co-articulation rules to generate realisticanimation. In this paper, we take a novel approach for speech animation , using visyllables, the visual counterpartof syllables. The approach results into a concatenative visyllable based speech animation system. The key contributionof this paper lies in two main areas. Firstly, we define a set of visyllable units for spoken English along withthe associated phonological rules for valid syllables. Based on these rules, we have implemented a syllabificationalgorithm that allows segmentation of a given phoneme stream into syllables and subsequently visyllables. Secondly,we have recorded the database of visyllables using a facial motion capture system. The recorded visyllableunits are post-processed semi-automatically to ensure continuity at the vowel boundaries of the visyllables. We defineeach visyllable in terms of the Facial Movement Parameters (FMP). The FMPs are obtained as a result of thestatistical analysis of the facial motion capture data. The FMPs allow a compact representation of the visyllables.Further, the FMPs also facilitate the formulation of rules for boundary matching and smoothing after concatenatingthe visyllables units. Ours is the first visyllable based speech animation system. The proposed technique iseasy to implement, effective for real-time as well as non real-time applications and results into realistic speechanimation. Categories and Subject Descriptors (according to ACM CCS): 1.3.7 [Computer Graphics]: Three-Dimensional Graphics and Realism [source]

Supporting long-term workforce planning with a dynamic aging chain model: A case study from the service industry

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, Issue 5 2010
Andreas Größler
Abstract This study demonstrates how a dynamic, aging chain model can support strategic decisions in workforce planning. More specifically, we used a system dynamics model (a modeling and simulation technique originating from supply chain management) to improve the recruiting and training process in a large German service provider in the wider field of logistics. The key findings are that the aging chain of service operators within the company is affected by a variety of delays in, for example, recruiting, training, and promoting employees, and that the structure of the planning process generates cyclic phases of workforce surplus and shortage. The discussion is based on an in-depth case study conducted in the service industry in 2008. Implications are that planning processes must be fine-tuned to account for delays in the aging chain. The dynamic model provides a tool to gain insight into the problem and to improve the actual human resource planning process. The value of the paper lies in the idea of applying a well-known and quantitative method from supply chain management to a human resource management issue. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source]

System Dynamics as a Structural Theory in Operations Management

PRODUCTION AND OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT, Issue 3 2008
Andreas Größler
The purpose of the paper is to demonstrate the usefulness of (1) system dynamics as a structural theory for operations management and (2) system dynamics models as content theories in operations management. The key findings are that, although feedback loops, accumulation processes, and delays exist and are widespread in operations management, often these phenomena are ignored completely or not considered appropriately. Hence, it is reasoned why system dynamics is well suited as an approach for many operations management studies, and it is shown how system dynamics theory can be used to explain, analyze, and understand such phenomena in operations management. The discussion is based on a literature review and on conceptual considerations, with examples of operations management studies based on system dynamics. Implications of using this theory include the necessary re-framing of some operations management issues and the extension of empirical studies by dynamic modeling and simulation. The value of the paper lies in the conceptualization of the link between system dynamics and operations management, which is discussed on the level of theory. [source]

Implicit Forward Rents as Predictors of Future Rents

REAL ESTATE ECONOMICS, Issue 2 2004
Peter Englund
This paper investigates the relation between the term structure of rents and future spot rents. A rich database of office rental agreements for various maturities is used to estimate the term structure of rents, and from this structure implicit forward rents are extracted. The data pertain to commercial properties in the three largest Swedish cities for the period 1998,2002. A positive relation between forward and spot rents is found in some regions, but forward rents underestimate future rent levels. Another contribution of the paper lies in the area of rental index construction. We provide evidence that rental indices should not only be quality constant (i.e., control for characteristics), but should also be maturity constant. [source]