An Introduction to the ACTR Coding System
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Introduction to the operating system of the new technologyAbstract:the Operating System (Operating System, referred to as OS) is an important part of a computer System is an important part of the System software, it is responsible for managing the hardware and software resources of the computer System and the working process of the entire computer coordination between System components, systems and between users and the relationship between the user and the user. With the appearance of new technology of the operating system functions on the rise. Operating system as a standard suite must satisfy the needs of users as much as possible, so the system is expanding, function of increasing, and gradually formed from the development tools to system tools and applications of a platform environment. To meet the needs of users. In this paper, in view of the operating system in the core position in the development of computer and technological change has made an analysis of the function of computer operating system, development and classification of simple analysis and elaborationKey words: computer operating system, development,new technologyOperating system is to manage all the computer system hardware resources include software and data resources; Control program is running; Improve the man-machine interface; Provide support for other application software, etc., all the computer system resources to maximize the role, to provide users with convenient, efficient, friendly service interface.The operating system is a management computer hardware and software resources program, is also the kernel of the computer system and the cornerstone. Operating system have such as management and configuration memory, decided to system resources supply and demand of priorities, control input and output devices, file system and other basic network operation and management affairs. Operating system is to manage all the computer system hardware resources include software and data resources; Control program is running; Improve the man-machine interface; Provide support for other application software, etc., all the computer system resources to maximize the role, to provide users with convenient, efficient, friendly service interface. Operating system is a huge management control procedures, including roughly five aspects of management functions, processes and processor management, operation management, storage management, equipment management, file management. At present the common operating system on microcomputer DOS, OS / 2, UNIX, XENIX, LINUX, Windows, Netware, etc. But all of the operating system with concurrency, sharing, four basic characteristics of virtual property and uncertainty. At present there are many different kinds of operating system, it is difficult to use a single standard unified classification. Divided according to the application field, can be divided into the desktop operating system, server operating system, the host operating system, embedded operating system.1.The basic introduction of the operating system(1)The features of the operating systemManagement of computer system hardware, software, data and other resources, asfar as possible to reduce the work of the artificial allocation of resources and people to the machine's intervention, the computer automatically work efficiency into full play.Coordinate the relationship between and in the process of using various resources, make the computer's resources use reasonable scheduling, both low and high speed devices running with each other.To provide users with use of a computer system environment, easy to use parts of a computer system or function. Operating system, through its own procedures to by all the resources of the computer system provides the function of the abstract, the function of the formation and the equivalent of the operating system, and image, provide users with convenient to use the computer.(2)The development of the operating systemOperating system originally intended to provide a simple sorting ability to work, after updating for auxiliary more complex hardware facilities and gradual evolution.Starting from the first batch mode, also come time sharing mechanism, in the era of multiprocessor comes, the operating system also will add a multiprocessor coordination function, even the coordination function of distributed systems. The evolution of the other aspects also like this.On the other hand, on a personal computer, personal computer operating system of the road, following the growth of the big computer is becoming more and more complex in hardware, powerful, and practice in the past only large computer functions that it step by step.Manual operation stage. At this stage of the computer, the main components is tube, speed slow, no software, no operating system. User directly using a machine language program, hands-on completely manual operation, the first will be prepared machine program tape into the input, and then start the machine input the program and data into a computer, and then through the switch to start the program running and computing, after the completion of the printer output. The user must be very professional and technical personnel to achieve control of the computer.Batch processing stage. Due to the mid - 1950 - s, the main components replaced by the transistor computer, running speed had the very big enhancement, the software also began to develop rapidly, appeared in the early of the operating system, it is the early users to submit the application software for management and monitoring program of the batch.Multiprogramming system phase. As the medium and small-scale integrated circuit widely application in computer systems, the CPU speed is greatly increased, in order to improve the utilization rate of CPU and multiprogramming technology is introduced, and the special support multiprogramming hardware organization, during this period, in order to further improve the efficiency of CPU utilization, a multichannel batch system, time-sharing system, etc., to produce more powerful regulatory process, and quickly developed into an important branch of computer science, is the operating system. Collectively known as the traditional operating system.Modern operating systems. Large-scale, the rapid development of vlsi rapidly, a microprocessor, optimization of computer architecture, computer speed further improved, and the volume is greatly reduced, for personal computers and portable computerappeared and spread. Its the biggest advantage is clear structure, comprehensive functions, and can meet the needs of the many USES and operation aspects.2. New technology of the operating systemFrom the standpoint of the operating system of the new technology, it mainly includes the operating system structure design of the micro kernel technology and operating system software design of the object-oriented technology.(1) The microkernel operating system technologyA prominent thought in the design of modern operating systems is the operating system of the composition and function of more on a higher level to run (i.e., user mode), and leave a small kernel as far as possible, use it to complete the core of the operating system is the most basic function, according to the technology for micro kernel (Microkernel) technology.The microkernel structure(1) Those most basic, the most essential function of the operating system reserved inthe kernel(2)Move most of the functionality of the operating system into the kernel, and eachoperating system functions exist in the form of a separate server process, and provide services.(3)In user space outside of the kernel including all operating system, service processalso includes the user's application process. Between these processes is the client/server mode.Micro kernel contains the main ingredient(1) Interrupt and the exception handling mechanism(2)Interprocess communication mechanisms(3)The processor scheduling mechanism(4)The basic mechanism of the service functionThe realization of the microkernelMicro kernel implementation "micro" is a major problem and performance requirements of comprehensive consideration. To do "micro" is the key to implementation mechanism and strategy, the concept of separation. Due to the micro kernel is the most important of news communication between processes and the interrupt processing mechanism, the following briefly describes the realization of both.Interprocess communication mechanismsCommunication service for the client and the server is one of the main functions of the micro kernel, is also the foundation of the kernel implement other services. Whether to send the request and the server reply messages are going through the kernel. Process of news communication is generally through the port (port). A process can have one or more ports, each port is actually a message queue or message buffer, they all have a unique port ID (port) and port authority table, the table is pointed out that this process can be interactive communications and which process. Ports ID and kernel power table maintenance.Interrupt processing mechanismMicro-kernel structure separation mechanism will interrupt and the interruptprocessing, namely the interrupt mechanism on micro kernel, and put the interrupt handling in user space corresponding service process. Micro kernel interruption mechanism, is mainly responsible for the following work:(1) When an interrupt occurs to identify interrupt;(2) Put the interrupt signal interrupt data structure mapping to the relevant process;(3) The interrupt is transformed into a message;(4) Send a message to the user space in the process of port, but the kernel hasnothing to do with any interrupt handling.(5) Interrupt handling is to use threads in a system.The advantages of the microkernel structure(1) Safe and reliableThe microkernel to reduce the complexity of the kernel, reduce the probability of failure, and increases the security of the system.(2) The consistency of the interfaceWhen required by the user process services, all based on message communication mode through the kernel to the server process. Therefore, process faces is a unified consistent processes communication interface.(3) Scalability of the systemSystem scalability is strong, with the emergence of new hardware and software technology, only a few change to the kernel.(4) FlexibilityOperating system has a good modular structure, can independently modify module and can also be free to add and delete function, so the operating system can be tailored according to user's need.(5) CompatibilityMany systems all hope to be able to run on a variety of different processor platform, the micro kernel structure is relatively easy to implement.(6) Provides support for distributed systemsOperating under the microkernel structure system must adopt client/server mode. This model is suitable for distributed systems, can provide support for distributed systems.The main drawback of microkernelUnder the micro-kernel structure, a system service process need more patterns (between user mode and kernel mode conversion) and process address space of the switch, this increases costs, affected the speed of execution.3 .Object-oriented operating system technologyObject-oriented operating system refers to the operating system based on object model. At present, there have been many operating system used the object-oriented technology, such as Windows NT, etc. Object-oriented has become a new generation of an important symbol of the operating system.The core of object-oriented conceptsIs the basic idea of object-oriented to construct the system as a series of collections of objects. The object refers to a set of data and the data of some basic operation encapsulated together formed by an entity. The core of object-oriented concept includesthe following aspects:(1) EncapsulationIn object-oriented encapsulation is the meaning of a data set and the data about the operation of the packaging together, form a dynamic entity, namely object. Encapsulated within the request object code and data to be protected.(2) InheritanceInheritance refers to some object can be inherited some features and characteristics of the object.(3) PolymorphismPolymorphism refers to a name a variety of semantics, or the same interface multiple implementations. Polymorphism in object-oriented languages is implemented by overloading and virtual functions.(4) The messageNews is the way of mutual requests and mutual cooperation between objects. An object through the message to activate another object. The message typically contains a request object identification and information necessary to complete the work.Object-oriented operating systemIn object-oriented operating system, the object as a concurrent units, all system resources, including documents, process and memory blocks are considered to be an object, such as the operating system resources are all accomplished through the use of object services.The advantages of object-oriented operating system:(1)Can reduce operating system throughout its life period when a change is done to the influence of the system itself.For example, if the hardware has changed, will force the operating system also changes, in this case, as long as change the object representing the hardware resources and the operation of the object of service, and those who use only do not need to change the object code.(2)Operating system access to its resources and manipulation are consistent .Operating system to produce an event object, delete, and reference, and it produces reference, delete, and a process object using the same method, which is implemented by using a handle to the object. Handle to the object, refers to the process to a particular object table in the table.(3)Security measures to simplify the operating system.Because all the objects are the same way, so when someone tries to access an object, security operating system will step in and approved, regardless of what the object is.(4)Sharing resources between object for the process provides a convenient and consistent approach.Object handle is used to handle all types of objects. The operating system can by tracking an object, how many handle is opened to determine whether the object is still in u se. When it is no longer used, the operating system can delete the object.ConclusionIn the past few decades of revolutionary changes have taken place in the operatingsystem: technological innovation, the expansion of the user experience on the upgrade, application field and the improvement of function. As in the past few decades, over the next 20 years there will be huge changes in operating system. See we now use the operating system is very perfect. Believe that after the technology of the operating system will still continue to improve, will let you use the more convenient. Believe that the operating system in the future will make our life and work more colorful.。
An introduction to the analysis of algorithms"An Introduction to the Analysis of Algorithms" is a book or course title that suggests a focus on understanding and evaluating algorithms. Here is a brief overview of what such a study might involve:Overview:1.Algorithm Basics:* Introduction to the concept of algorithms.* Understanding algorithm design principles.* Basic algorithmic paradigms (e.g., divide and conquer, greedy algorithms, dynamic programming).2.Algorithm Analysis:* Time complexity analysis: Big-O notation, time complexity classes.* Space complexity analysis: Memory usage analysis.* Worst-case, average-case, and best-case analysis.3.Asymptotic Notation:* Big-O, Big-Theta, and Big-Omega notation.* Analyzing the efficiency of algorithms as the input size approaches infinity.4.Recursion:* Understanding recursive algorithms.* Analyzing time and space complexity of recursive algorithms.5.Sorting and Searching:* Analysis of sorting algorithms (e.g., bubble sort, merge sort, quicksort).* Analysis of searching algorithms (e.g., binary search).6.Dynamic Programming:* Introduction to dynamic programming principles.* Analyzing algorithms using dynamic programming.7.Greedy Algorithms:* Understanding the greedy algorithmic paradigm.* Analyzing algorithms using greedy strategies.8.Graph Algorithms:* Analyzing algorithms related to graphs (e.g., Dijkstra's algorithm, breadth-first search, depth-first search).9.Case Studies:* Analyzing real-world applications of algorithms.* Case studies on how algorithm analysis influences practical implementations.10.Advanced Topics:* Introduction to advanced algorithmic concepts.* Optional topics such as randomized algorithms, approximation algorithms, and more.Conclusion:"An Introduction to the Analysis of Algorithms" provides a foundation for students or readers to understand the efficiency and performance of algorithms. It equips them with the tools to choose the right algorithms for specific tasks and to evaluate their impact on system resources.。
高二英语软件开发单选题50题1.The main language used in software development is _____.A.PythonB.JavaC.C++D.All of the above答案:D。
在软件开发中,Python、Java 和C++都是常用的编程语言,所以答案是以上皆是。
2.Which one is not a software development tool?A.Visual StudioB.IntelliJ IDEAC.PhotoshopD.Eclipse答案:C。
Photoshop 是图像编辑软件,不是软件开发工具。
Visual Studio、IntelliJ IDEA 和Eclipse 都是常用的软件开发集成环境。
3.The process of finding and fixing bugs in software is called _____.A.debuggingB.codingC.testingD.designing答案:A。
debugging 是调试的意思,即查找和修复软件中的错误。
coding 是编码,testing 是测试,designing 是设计。
4.A set of instructions that a computer follows is called a _____.A.programB.algorithmC.data structureD.variable答案:A。
program 是程序,即一组计算机遵循的指令。
algorithm 是算法,data structure 是数据结构,variable 是变量。
5.Which programming paradigm emphasizes on objects and classes?A.Procedural programmingB.Functional programmingC.Object-oriented programmingD.Logic programming答案:C。
Introduction to the Theory of Computation 课程设计一、课程介绍计算机科学中的基础课程之一是自动机理论,它是算法和编程语言设计的基础。
一种能够处理自动机模型的工具是正则表达式,可以用于文本搜索和验证输入的正确性。
本课程探讨自动机模型和正则表达式的基础,并向同学介绍扩展的自动机模型和编译器的数据结构。
本课程是一门面向计算机科学专业的本科课程,全球的计算机科学相关专业都包括这一课程。
本课程要求学生掌握正则表达式和自动机,以及它们在计算机科学中的应用。
二、主要内容本课程的主要内容包括:1. Automata(自动机)自动机是检测、接受和处理诸如自然语言、计算机程序和网络协议等输入的最常用模型之一。
本课程会介绍有限自动机和正则表达式的概念和应用,以及用于对自然语言进行识别和处理的有限状态机。
2. Regular Expressions(正则表达式)正则表达式是描述字符串模式的计算机语言,其主要用途是在文本编辑器和字符查找功能中进行字符串匹配和替换。
本课程会讨论正则表达式在输入验证机制和编译器设计中的应用。
3. Context-free grammars(上下文无关文法)上下文无关文法是描述计算机语言的形式语言之一,它为编译器和自然语言处理提供了重要的支持。
本课程会重点介绍上下文无关文法的一些优雅且适用的应用,例如利用本文中的语法使解析器更加高效、利用上下文无关文法构建编译器的结果优化策略。
4. Finite-State Transducers(有限状态转换器)有限状态转换器是自动机的扩展模型,主要用于在计算机科学中语言处理领域的翻译、翻译活动和语音识别等方面的开发。
本课程会介绍有限状态转换器的概念和应用。
5. Compiler Data Structures(编译器数据结构)编译器数据结构是与编译过程相关的数据结构,例如符号表、语法分析树和中间代码。
本课程会介绍编译器中常用的特定数据结构,例如词法分析器和解析器。
介绍计算机组成原理这门学科的英语作文Computer organization and design is a fundamental subject in the field of computer science. 计算机组成原理和设计是计算机科学领域的一门基础课程。
It focuses on the understanding and design of computer systems at the hardware level, and plays a crucial role in shaping the way modern computing systems work. 它关注的是在硬件层面上理解和设计计算机系统,并且在塑造现代计算系统的工作方式上起着至关重要的作用。
At its core, computer organization and design delves into the architecture and functionality of computer hardware components such as the CPU, memory, and I/O devices. 在其核心,计算机组成原理和设计深入研究了计算机硬件组件的体系结构和功能,如CPU、内存和I/O 设备。
It aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how these components work together to execute instructions, process data, and perform various computational tasks. 它旨在提供对这些组件如何一起执行指令、处理数据和执行各种计算任务的全面理解。
Furthermore, the study of computer organization and design often involves exploring the principles of digital logic and circuit design. 此外,计算机组成原理和设计的研究通常涉及探索数字逻辑和电路设计的原理。
如何成为编程之神英语作文Becoming a coding god ain't easy, folks. It's like diving into a black hole of algorithms and syntax, but if you're willing to strap in and ride the waves, you might just find yourself at the peak of Mount Code. It's a journey filled with late-night debugging sessions, endless cups of coffee, and moments of sheer brilliance when your code finally does what you want it to. So, how does one ascend to the ranks of the coding elite? Well, strap yourselves in, 'cause I'm about to spill the beans.First off, forget everything you know about traditional learning. This ain't no classroom with textbooks and lectures. Nope, in the world of coding, it's all about diving headfirst into the deep end and learning by doing. You wanna master Python? Start writing scripts like your life depends on it. Wanna conquer web development? Build websites like there's no tomorrow. The key is to get your hands dirty and embrace the trial-and-error grind.Next up, embrace the community. You ain't gonna becomea coding wizard holed up in your mom's basement. Nah, you gotta put yourself out there and connect with fellow coders. Hit up forums like Stack Overflow, join coding meetups, heck, even start your own coding club. The more yousurround yourself with like-minded folks, the faster you'll grow. Plus, you'll have a support network to lean on when you hit those inevitable roadblocks.Now, let's talk about mindset. Becoming a coding deity ain't just about mastering the syntax of a dozen programming languages. It's about cultivating a mindset of relentless curiosity and problem-solving. You gotta bewilling to tackle challenges that seem impossible, to think outside the box when everyone else is following the status quo. And when you hit a wall (which you will, trust me),you gotta pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and diveback in with even more determination.Oh, and here's a secret weapon for ya: documentation. Yeah, yeah, I know it sounds about as exciting as watching paint dry, but trust me, it's your lifeline in the world ofcoding. Whether you're wrestling with a new library ortrying to decipher someone else's spaghetti code, good documentation can mean the difference between triumph and defeat. So bookmark those API docs, study them like yourlife depends on it, and never underestimate the power of a well-commented codebase.Alright, last but not least, don't forget to take careof yourself. Yeah, yeah, I know you're itching to spend every waking hour glued to your screen, but trust me, burnout ain't a pretty sight. So make sure you're getting enough sleep, eating decent meals, and taking regularbreaks to stretch your legs and clear your mind. Remember, you're in this for the long haul, so pace yourself and remember to enjoy the ride.And there you have it, folks. Becoming a coding legend ain't for the faint of heart, but if you're willing to putin the blood, sweat, and tears, the rewards are oh-so sweet. So go forth, young padawan, and may the code be ever inyour favor.。
介绍计算机组成原理这门学科的英语作文全文共3篇示例,供读者参考篇1The Principle of Computer OrganizationIntroductionComputer organization is a fundamental discipline in the field of computer science that deals with the study of the structure and components of computers. It is crucial for understanding how computers function and how they can be designed and optimized for various applications. In this essay, we will explore the principles of computer organization and discuss its importance in the modern technological landscape.The Basics of Computer OrganizationAt its core, computer organization encompasses the study of the hardware components of a computer system, including the central processing unit (CPU), memory, storage, input/output devices, and the interconnections between them. These components work together to perform computations, execute instructions, and store and retrieve data. Understanding howthese components interact and communicate is essential for developing efficient and reliable computer systems.The central processing unit (CPU) is often considered the "brain" of the computer, as it is responsible for executing instructions and carrying out computations. The CPU consists of various components, including the arithmetic logic unit (ALU), control unit, and registers, which work together to process data and control the operation of the computer.Memory is another critical component of a computer system, as it is used to store data and instructions that are currently being processed by the CPU. There are different types of memory, such as random access memory (RAM) and read-only memory (ROM), each serving a specific purpose in the system.Storage devices, such as hard drives and solid-state drives, are used to store data and programs for long-term storage. Input/output devices, such as keyboards, mice, monitors, and printers, are used to interact with the computer and provide input to and output from the system.The Importance of Computer OrganizationUnderstanding computer organization is essential for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, it provides insight intohow computers work and how they can be optimized for performance. By studying the interaction of hardware components, computer scientists and engineers can design more efficient and reliable computer systems.Additionally, knowledge of computer organization is crucial for developing software that takes advantage of the underlying hardware. Programmers who understand the structure of the CPU, memory, and storage can write code that is optimized for performance and resource utilization.Furthermore, computer organization is vital for troubleshooting and diagnosing hardware issues in computer systems. By understanding how components interact and communicate, technicians can identify and resolve problems that may arise in the system.ConclusionIn conclusion, computer organization is a fundamental discipline in the field of computer science that is essential for understanding how computers work and how they can be designed and optimized. By studying the structure and components of computers, we can develop efficient and reliable systems that meet the demands of modern technology.篇2Introduction to the Computer Organization and DesignComputer organization and design are crucial aspects of computer science that focus on understanding how computers work at the hardware level. It involves studying the structure and operation of computer systems, including the design of basic components such as processors, memory, input/output devices, and storage units.To fully grasp the fundamentals of computer organization and design, one must delve into the principles and concepts that underpin the functioning of modern computing devices. This includes learning about the architecture of different processors, the role of memory in storing and retrieving data, and how input and output devices facilitate communication between users and computers.At the heart of computer organization and design lies the central processing unit (CPU), which serves as the "brain" of the computer. The CPU is responsible for executing instructions and performing calculations, making it a critical component in ensuring the smooth operation of a computer system. Understanding how the CPU interacts with other components,such as the memory and input/output devices, is essential for optimizing performance and efficiency.Memory plays a key role in computer organization and design, as it is used to store data and instructions that are required for processing tasks. Different types of memory, such as cache memory and RAM, have varying speeds and capacities, which impact the overall performance of a computer system. Learning about memory hierarchies and memory management techniques is essential for designing efficient and reliable computing systems.Input/output devices are essential for interacting with computers and transferring data to and from external sources. Understanding how these devices are connected to the CPU and memory, as well as the protocols used for data transfer, is crucial for designing systems that can effectively communicate with users and external devices.In addition to the basic components of a computer system, computer organization and design also encompass advanced topics such as parallel processing, pipelining, and multiprocessor systems. These concepts are essential for designinghigh-performance computing systems that can handle complex tasks and process large amounts of data efficiently.Overall, studying computer organization and design provides valuable insights into the inner workings of modern computing devices and equips students with the knowledge and skills to design and optimize computer systems. By understanding the principles and concepts that govern computer organization and design, individuals can develop a deep appreciation for the intricate technology that powers our modern world.篇3Introduction to Computer ArchitectureComputer architecture is a fundamental discipline within the field of computer science that focuses on the design and organization of computer systems. It encompasses the study of the components and principles that form the basis of modern computing devices, including processors, memory units,input/output devices, and the overall system structure. Understanding computer architecture is crucial for computer scientists and engineers, as it provides the foundation for developing efficient and reliable computer systems.At the heart of computer architecture is the concept of the Von Neumann architecture, named after the renownedmathematician and computer scientist John von Neumann. This architecture defines a computer system as consisting of four main components: the central processing unit (CPU), memory unit, input/output devices, and control unit. The CPU is responsible for executing instructions, the memory unit stores data and instructions, the input/output devices allow interaction with the system, and the control unit coordinates the activities of these components.One of the key principles in computer architecture is the concept of the instruction set architecture (ISA). This is a set of instructions that a CPU can execute, which defines the operations that a computer can perform. Different types of processors have different ISAs, which dictate the capabilities and limitations of a system. Computer architects must carefully design the ISA to ensure that it is both powerful and efficient, while also being compatible with existing software and hardware.Another important aspect of computer architecture is the organization of memory. Memory plays a crucial role in computing, as it stores data and instructions that are needed by the processor. There are different types of memory, including cache memory, main memory, and secondary memory, each withits own characteristics and uses. Computer architects must design memory systems that balance speed, capacity, and cost, to provide optimal performance for a given application.In addition to the CPU and memory, computer architecture also encompasses the design of input/output devices and system buses. Input/output devices allow users to interact with the computer system, while buses provide the communication pathways between components. Computer architects must design these components to provide efficient data transfer and control, while also ensuring compatibility with various devices.Overall, computer architecture is a foundational discipline that underpins the design and operation of modern computer systems. By studying the components and principles of computer architecture, computer scientists and engineers can develop systems that are fast, reliable, and efficient. With advances in technology and the growing complexity of computing tasks, the importance of computer architecture continues to grow, making it a critical area of study for anyone interested in computing and technology.。
atcoder 题库【中英文版】Title: atcoder 题库Task:To create a document that provides an introduction and guidance on utilizing the AtCoder problem library.The document should be written in a bilingual format, with one paragraph in English and the corresponding paragraph in Chinese.The writing style and grammar structure should vary randomly to avoid consistency in sentence patterns and paragraph styles.Content:Paragraph 1:Welcome to the AtCoder problem library, a platform that offers a wide range of programming challenges for individuals of all skill levels.Whether you are a beginner or an experienced programmer, you can find various contests and problems to test your coding abilities.The AtCoder library is a great resource for improving your problem-solving skills and preparing for programming competitions.中文段落一:欢迎来到AtCoder问题库,这是一个为所有技能水平的个人提供广泛编程挑战的平台。
Introduction to Critical ThinkingWhat is Critical Thinking?*Definition: Critical thinking is the ability to think clearly and rationally. It includes the ability to engage in reflective and independent thinking.Someone with critical thinking skills is able to do the following:∙understand the logical connections between ideas∙identify, construct and evaluate arguments∙detect inconsistencies and common mistakes in reasoning∙solve problems systematically∙identify the relevance and importance of ideas∙reflect on the justification of one's own beliefs and valuesCritical thinking is not a matter of accumulating information. A person with a good memory and who knows a lot of facts is not necessarily good at critical thinking. A critical thinker is able to deduce consequences from what he knows, and he knows how to make use of information to solve problems, and to seek relevant sources of information to inform himself. Critical thinking should not be confused with being argumentative or being critical of other people. Critical thinking can help us acquire knowledge, improve our theories, and strengthen arguments.Why study critical thinking?1.Critical thinking is a domain-general thinking skill. The ability to think clearly and rationally isimportant whatever we choose to do. If you work in education, research, finance, management or the legal profession, then critical thinking is obviously important. But critical thinking skills are notrestricted to a particular subject area. Being able to think well and solve problems systematically is an asset for any career.2.Critical thinking is very important in the new knowledge economy. The global knowledge economyis driven by information and technology. One has to be able to deal with changes quickly andeffectively. The new economy places increasing demands on flexible intellectual skills, and the ability to analyze information and integrate diverse sources of knowledge in solving problems. Good critical thinking promotes such thinking skills, and is very important in the fast-changing workplace.3.Critical thinking enhances language and presentation skills. Thinking clearly and systematically canimprove the way we express our ideas. In learning how to analyze the logical structure of texts, critical thinking also improves comprehension abilities.4.Critical thinking promotes creativity. To come up with a creative solution to a problem involves notjust having new ideas. It must also be the case that the new ideas being generated are useful andrelevant to the task at hand. Critical thinking plays a crucial role in evaluating new ideas, selecting the best ones and modifying them if necessary.5.Critical thinking is crucial for self-reflection. In order to live a meaningful life and to structure ourlives accordingly, we need to justify and reflect on our values and decisions. Critical thinking provides the tools for this process of self-evaluation.*Adapted from philosophy.hku.hk**Adapted from Bedford Handbo ok and St. Martin’s handbookHow to Think Critically**1.Critical thinking involves going past assumptions, highlighting them and then analyzing and debatingalternatives. Ambiguity is key in critical thinking, as things tend not to be "black or white" but rather gray. Critical thinkers recognize that truths are provisional and subject to modification.2.To think critically means to not accept the material at face value. So when you finish the reading, thinkabout the issues it raises. Go back to your summary notes (where you’ve underlined text, written in the margins, or written on a separate piece of paper). Jot down your ideas about these notes (ideas that you agree with, ideas you disagree with, ideas you find contentious, ideas that might not be fullydeveloped, or ideas that are maybe outdated, etc). NOTE: These notes can be useful when writing a thesis for an essay or studying for an exam.3.The heart of critically thinking involves not answering questions but questioning answers. Ask and tryto answer multiple questions about the ideas you raise from your notes. NOTE: If you ask good,provocative questions, then the answers will be open-ended and do not have yes/no answers.4.Pick one or several of your ideas and discuss them in your analysis of the text. Make sure you back upyour opinions with evidence and sound, thorough reasoning.5.Remember that critically thinking ends in why. Keep asking ‘why?’ Why do people behave this way?Why did this individual come to this conclusion? Why have these ideas changed? Why am I asking so many questions?*Adapted from philosophy.hku.hk**Adapted from Bedford Handbo ok and St. Martin’s handbook。
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE ACTR CODING SYSTEMbyErrol Rowe and Christine WongAutomated Coding StaffStatistical Research DivisionBureau of the CensusWashington,DC202331This paper examines an automated coding system developed by Statistics Canada,ACTR (Automatic Coding by Text Recognition).The information presented in this paper is from the testing of ACTR at the Bureau of the Census as well as a summary of Statistics Canada documents.The purpose of examining ACTR is to evaluate its coding capabilities in order to determine if there exists coding applications at the Bureau of the Census for which ACTR is well suited.In this paper we provide an overview of the ACTR system,the capabilities and limitations of the current system1,as well as the coding results obtained from ACTR versus other systems.ACTR was developed by Statistics Canada and is based on the Hellerman algorithm2.Its purpose is to convert alphabetic responses on survey questionnaires into corresponding numeric codes at quality levels equal to or better than those achieved when the codes are manually assigned.ACTR employs word standardization techniques(subject to user specifications and modifications)to match input respondent text to an existing database file of phrases in order to return a code.As part of its implementation,ACTR provides:1.a parsing mechanism to reduce the text to a standard format,2.functions to create and maintain database files of descriptions and codes,3.a searching/matching algorithm to perform the coding which may be batch oron-line.All that is required of the user is a database of descriptions and their associated codes. ACTR is unique in that it has been generalized to allow it to be used by almost any application which assigns classification codes based on input text3.Another feature of ACTR is dynamic updating:an entry passing through the system unmatched may be manually coded and added to the project database so that subsequent similar entries will be coded by ACTR. Text and code may be added to the database,changed,or deleted from the database at any time during the life of the application.The parsing strategy can be altered at any time by adding,changing,deleting,or only bypassing certain steps.1The current system as of this writing-September1992.2See Hellerman,E.(1982),"Overview of the Hellerman I&O Coding System",draft memo, Bureau of the Census.3Technically,ACTR can accommodate any language.Statistics Canada intends this system to perform in English and French,but currently only English is functional.2Parsing StrategyAutomated coding is the process by which text is machine analyzed in order to assign it a classification or code.To deal with the inconsistencies of text,ACTR copes with the problems of:1.rearranged words 6.plural vs singular forms2.missing words7.extraneous words3.spelling variations8.synonyms4.abbreviations9.inconsistent hyphenation5.various punctuation10.syntax.The parsing strategy controls the way in which input descriptions are parsed to standard forms.The strategy is comprised of parsing steps,objects and data.There are six parsing steps in ACTR,four of which are further broken down into twelve parsing objects.Each parsing object contains the parsing data which will be used to convert the input description to its standard form.For example,one parsing step is word processing,one of its objects is suffixes,and the data of this object are the actual suffixes such as-ent and-ance.The parsing strategy of ACTR is entirely user controlled and may be modified at any time. Moreover,it should be modified to optimize the performance of each project.The flexibility allows the user to change the parsing objects in use and also to change the order in which the objects are used.There are two types of processing in parsing:1)String Processing and2)Word Processing. The processes the input text as a continuous stream of characters.The processes on a word by word basis after the string has been broken into its constituent words.The parsing of an input description continues until all words have been processed.Diagram of ACTR’s Six Parsing StepsInput Description--1)Character Translation:word characters.2)String Processing:deletion clauses,deletion strings,replacement strings.3)Word Breaking:word characters.4)Word Processing:hyphenated words,illegal words,replacement words,doublewords,suffixes,prefixes,double characters,exception words.5)Sort Words6)Remove Duplicate Words--Parsed Description3The order of the six steps cannot be changed,but the order of the twelve objects within the steps and the data for each of the objects can be modified4.WEIGHTING SYSTEM5CMK FormationCMK stands for Complete Match Key.It is a unique key that allows direct matching.It uniquely identifies a description in parsed form.The CMK is based upon a16bit unsigned integer,used as an identifier for each word known to the application.As the application acquires words,they are assigned a serial number which is simply1greater than that of the currently highest numbered word.In hex,valid word ID code numbers range from x’0001’to x’FFFF’,with the value x’0000’used to indicate that a word is unknown.Thus,there are65,534[216-2]possible word ID codes.To form the[ACTR]version2CMK:-Parse the input text to obtain a list of words.-Look-up the code for each word,and concatenate them into a string.The format ofthe CMK looks like:wd1wd2wd3wd4wd5wd6wd7wd8wd9wdA1234567891011121314151617181920 wd1through wdA represent the two byte(unsigned)word ID numbers for words1through10respectively.The implementation of the CMK in ACTR uses an overflow technique.Basically,the CMK is divided between a primary CMK(denoted just by CMK)and an overflow CMK(denoted CMKO).The primary CMK handles the first10words;the CMKO takes care of the remaining110words6.The biggest advantage of splitting the CMK in two is that the primary CMK will be used most of the time(descriptions with more than10words are rather 4Further details on the parsing steps are found in Appendix1.5Taken from ACTR,Automated Coding by Text Recognition,Version2,System Maintenance Manual(Draft).General Systems,Systems Development Division,Statistics Canada.August 7,1992.6The Beta Version of ACTR does not allow more than10words in an input phrase.4rare)and therefore will result in a very short key,making database searches very fast.Note that in the process of forming the CMK,we have determined whether or not the input text contains any unknown words,and so we can avoid fruitless CMK searching.Also,we are able to obtain word weights at the same time,thus eliminating a second lookup effort.Word WeightsEach word in an ACTR database is assigned a weight which indicates how frequent a word [occurs].The method used in ACTR will always result in values in the range of0to1 inclusive where1is for a very rare word and0for a word that appears in all descriptions in the database(one would wonder about the usefulness of such a word).A new method for the calculation of word weights is implemented.The following method considers only the usefulness of the word in assigning a code,and will always result in values in the range of0to1inclusive7.Methodx=the number of unique codes known to the applicationy i =the number of unique codes corresponding to descriptions containing word iwi =the weight for word i=1-(log2(yi)/log2(x))Note that as a special case,where:x=yi=1,i.e.only one code in the entire database,the weight for the word is arbitrarily assigned a value of1.Note,as well,that thevalue of y,for any known word,will always be greater than or equal to1.7A word weight is calculated involving all of the following factors:the number of different words,the number of different codes,the number of different codes associated with each word,frequency with which words occur,frequency with which codes occur and frequency with which unique word/code couplet occurs.5There is no theoretical reason for the use of the base’two’in the log function.We could have used any other base.ExampleDescription Database:Descriptions Codescomputer programmer005computer analyst005economist011lawyer008programmer/analyst005weather analyst013word i=analystx=4yi=2Weight for word"analyst"=1-(log2(2)/log2(4))=1/2ScoringEach match produces a score which indicates how good the match is:the higher the score,the better the match.The ACTR scoring method produces scores which will always fall within the range of 0(not even one word matches)to10(perfect match,all the words match).The scores in ACTR V2are therefore quite intuitive.Methoda=2*(#of words in common in DB8and input text)(#words in database text)+(#words in input text)b=sum(weights of common words in DB and input text)sum(weights of known words in input text)Score9=((a+2b)/3)*108Database phrase.9In most occasions,the value of’b’dominates’a’.This is true when the individual weight of each word in common is greater or equal than the weight of each word not in6ExampleUsing the same description database as in previous exampleInput text="system computer analyst"Find score for DB description"computer analyst"a=2*(2)=4(2)+(3)5b=[1-(log2(1)/log2(4))]+[1-(log2(2)/log2(4))]=1[1-(log2(1)/log2(4))]+[1-(log2(2)/log2(4))]Score=(((4/5)+2(1))/3)*10=4.9System OverviewBasic sequences of operations:1)Define/redefine parsing strategy2)Create project3)Load/update project database4)Perform coding preparation5)Perform coding(i.e.,run ACTR)6)View Coding Results7a)Redefine parsing strategy107b)Update project database(Optional step)7c)Reparse project database8a)Update project database118b)Redefine parsing strategy(Optional step)8c)Reparse project databasecommon.When’a’dominates’b’,the value of’a’is small as well as the value of the score. This usually occurs when the weight of the word in common is less than half the weight of the word not in common.The ratio half is further reduced when a word from the input phrase does not appear in any database phrase.10See Configuration1.11See Configuration2.7In ACTR,certain tasks are governed by synchronization rules.These tasks entail manipulating parsing strategy,loading database phrases,and coding.The sequences listed on the previous page observe these rules.ACTR does provide a Project Status function which states which tasks are currently executing against your project,the last update task,and the next possible tasks which you may undertake.Operations(1)through(6)are the core operations,appearing in the order necessary to run a project through ACTR.7(a)-(c)and8(a)-(c)are two possible subroutines which you may choose to perform in ACTR as a way to improve your results.1)The descriptions which are stored in the project database are parsed while loaded intoACTR.So the parsing strategy must first be in place before the database can beloaded.This function allows you to load new parsing data or to update existing data.You may also accept the default parsing strategy.2)Before using ACTR to code,a project must first be created.This function sets up theenvironment for a new project,and creates a place for the database to be stored.3)With this function,you can load your project database/reference file(description+code).Clearly,this step must be done before any coding can be performed.Note that during loading or updating of descriptions,each description is automatically parsed toa standard format.To update a database,you may add,delete,or change individualentries in the database in a conversational(interactive)mode.4)The Coding Preparation function must be executed before coding only if a newdatabase has been loaded or the existing one has been updated.If a database hasalready been prepared and has not been altered,this step may be skipped.In this step, ACTR assigns weights to each word in the project database.5)Coding is the process of parsing input descriptions and matching them against theproject database in order to assign them a code.You are free to allow only perfectmatches or to allow partial matches as well.perfect match:exact match between each word of the parsed input descriptionand the parsed description in the project database.partial match:at least one common word between the parsed input descriptionand the parsed database description is encountered.Partial matching will often result in more than one match.This is where scores come into play.A score is given to each match found in the project database.The score is based on a mathematical formula which uses the weights of each common word.Ascore ranges from1to10where10represents a perfect match.For partial matches,scores can be used to help you make a decision about the quality of the match.8Immediately following the coding of an input file,ACTR displays the number ofperfect matches,partial matches and failures.For partial matches and their scores,ACTR displays winners(high scores),multiple matches,possible matches(middlescores),and failures(low scores below a cutoff).6)After your input file has been coded in a batch mode,ACTR allows you to view theresults,the original phrase,the parsed phrase and tells you whether the phrase wasmatched.If it was matched,ACTR displays the matched phrase,code and score.7a)See(1).7b)See(3).Note that this is an optional step and may be skipped.7c)When a change is made to the parsing data,the project database has to be reparsed using the new parsing data,since the descriptions are stored in a parsed form.Synchronization rules in ACTR dictate this.So the Reparse Project Database function takes the existing database and applies the new parsing rules to it.8a)See(3).8b)See(1).Note that this is an optional step and may be skipped.8c)See(7c).Experiences with ACTRCanadian Centre for Health Information12The Centre used ACTR to code the occupation data from138,000death certificates for the "Mortality by Occupation"study.The industry data was used as well as occupation to determine the code.The generalized functions of ACTR were used and no software development costs were incurred.The implementation included accepting direct matches only and editing the unmatched responses to be fed back into ACTR.Initial match rates,prior to editing the file were50%,but subsequent rounds of processing eventually produced a match rate of approximately82%,with manual coding required for the remaining26,000responses. The members of the Mortality study team indicated that the study would not have been feasible without the use of ACTR(Wilkins,Ratnasingham;1989)as the resources(personnel and funding)for a completely manual coding operation could not be acquired.[The estimated cost of ACTR and manual coding is$40,000versus the estimated cost of complete manual coding for$138,000.]12Taken from Automated Coding At Statistics Canada,Dianne Miller,General Systems, Informatics Branch,Statistics Canada,November,1991.9Statistics Canada Testing of ACTRIn consideration of using ACTR for the Canadian1991Census,a research project to test ACTR was established and produced the following results13:The match rates correspond to the percentage of responses for which ACTR found amatch on the reference file.The error rates reflect the percentage of matchedresponses that were assigned an incorrect code.The error rates for the cultural and Major Field of Study variables were attributedlargely to spelling errors,multiple responses,abbreviations,lengthy or ambiguousresponses,the use of adjectives and missing entries in the reference files.These rates were similar to those in the manual coding of these variables in the[Canadian]1986Census and the subject matter specialists felt that many of the problems could becorrected by updates to the reference files and modifying their use of the software.The results of the Industry and Occupation testing were less encouraging.TheIndustry question consists of three parts to be used in coding:the company name,department or section,and the kind business.Two reference files were createdcontaining data specific to the Company Name and Kind of Business.The problemswith coding related to misspellings,ambiguity,generalizations(e.g.self-employed),and missing data in the reference files.Some of these could be overcome byenhancing the reference file and refining parsing data.However,as indicated by the 13Taken from Automated Coding At Statistics Canada,Dianne Miller,General Systems, Informatics Branch,Statistics Canada,November,1991.10results of the testing,the major requirement to code this data is to have access to theresults of both reference files when determining the code.This facility was notavailable in ACTR and the user wrote specific software to simulate the effect of this.The Occupation question contains two parts:kind of work and the most importantduties carried out by the respondent.Two reference files were created and the results were similar to those of the Industry coding.Subsequent analysis indicated that theresults of both reference files would be required as well as the Industry code to obtain acceptable occupation codes.Based on these results,the decision was made to proceed with the automated codingof the socio-cultural variables and continue research with the Industry and Occupation data.LimitationsDianne Miller,Research and General Systems,Systems Development Division,Statistics Canada stated,"ACTR cannot currently handle the coding of two fields at one time.This is in our plans for the next year."This feature added to ACTR would facilitate I&O coding. Additionally,creating a driver that calls on ACTR in a subroutine will reduce the complexity of these problems."The[1991Canadian]Census uses the generalized functions and end-user interface provided by ACTR to maintain their reference files and parsing data but has developed application programs to perform batch matching and a custom user-interface to perform the on-line resolution of non-matches.ACTR is called within this software."14 Other limitations of ACTR are much less restrictive for various coding applications.The weight system of ACTR cannot be altered by the user.Score calculations vary with database updates,and vary greatly with the size of the text being matched which may produce non-intuitive score values.There is no spelling check in ACTR.The results of a batch coding process are sent by ACTR(Beta Version)to an output table which cannot be specified by the user and which is overwritten each time such a process is run.Also,an input phrase or database phrase may have up to but not to exceed ten words.See Appendix2for proposed improvements of ACTR.RecommendationsVarious divisions of the Canadian government currently use ACTR for coding.ACTR can be used to successfully code a wide range of items,single phrases matching to single codes. Even if ACTR returns a low match rate,it eliminates some manual coding which is lengthy and tends to be more expensive.In the Canadian Transportation Division,"approximately 14Taken from Automated Coding At Statistics Canada,Dianne Miller,General Systems, Informatics Branch,Statistics Canada,November,1991.11300,000-500,000responses are coded annually.The match rates are only25-30%but without the use of ACTR,the division would have had to reduce the volume of respondent data captured as there were limited resources to code it manually."15By improving its reference file and parsing strategy,the Canadian Center for Health Information was able to improve initial match rates from50%to82%16.The most difficult step of ACTR may be either compiling the material necessary to create the reference file of phrases and codes if they did not exist previously or refining the reference file and parsing strategy once the coding application is established.However,once a successful reference file and parsing strategy is established,subsequent uses of ACTR will require much less work. ACTR is a time saving,and inexpensive tool which should be utilized by anyone who needs to do general coding.With regards to comparing ACTR with other systems,at the time of this writing we are still learning about the ACTR weighting system and how it differs from the other systems.Until this study is complete,such comparisons cannot be made.However,ACTR does have the advantage of an extremely user-friendly interface.ConclusionACTR is a user-friendly software package for general coding.The general design of ACTR makes it extremely versatile,even though it is not possible to perform I&O coding with ACTR alone.ACTR does successfully code less complicated data.In order to optimize the results,the components involved with coding the project can be easily modified,assuming that ACTR’s weighting system is appropriate for your coding purposes.Recall that to code in ACTR,text is standardized and the parsed input phrase is compared with parsed database phrases.One way to improve the coding is through manipulation of the parsing strategy.ACTR allows the user to immediately correct mistakes by modifying the parsing strategy and database at any time.This is a powerful tool to refine your project in order to improve your results.You may code a file,view the results,and based on that, change the parsing strategy and/or database,code again and see the new results in a matter of minutes.15Taken from Automated Coding At Statistics Canada,Dianne Miller,General Systems, Informatics Branch,Statistics Canada,November,1991.16Taken from Automated Coding At Statistics Canada,Dianne Miller,General Systems, Informatics Branch,Statistics Canada,November,1991.12Appendix1Details of the Six Parsing Steps1)Character translation takes input characters and as prescribed,translates them tospecific characters such as all lowercase letters going to the corresponding uppercaseletters.Word characters is a feature that contains a list of valid characters and theirtranslation as specified by the user through the parser.It translates the entire inputdescription.So"R.V."would go to"recreational vehicle".2)String processing is performed regardless of the input description since the text isprocessed as a continuous stream of characters.a)Deletion clauses are a method of delimiting a string which should beremoved from the input text.By supplying a beginning and endingstring,the user can remove these and any information enclosed in thestrings.For example the beginning string could be"(EXCEPT"and theending string could be")".These two strings and anything in betweenwould be removed.b)Deletion strings found at any position in a description will be removed.For example"’s".If only the apostrophe were removed,the problemwould then be the creation of a new word"s"which is bad for codingpurposes.c)Replacement strings are most useful for standardizing abbreviations,i.e.,"t.v."replaced by"television".To use this feature of ACTR,the"@"technique maintains the appropriate number of blank spaces.(See"ACTR Parsing Strategy"in Statistics Canada’s documentation ofACTR for more information on"@".)3)Word breaking prepares the phrases for word processing.Characters not included inthe list of word characters will be used as word delimiters and will be dropped fromfurther consideration with the two exceptions of blanks and specified hyphens when a substitution from the hyphenated word list exists.An example of a word delimiter is the symbol/.4)Word processing treats the text as a collection of words.a)Hyphenated words recognizes words and word groups which are inconsistentlyhyphenated and replaces them with a standardized form.b)Illegal words are removed when a specified character string exists in thosewords at any position.This feature can be used to eliminate words containing13numeric characters,such as dept17b.c)Replacement words is a feature that provides synonym capability.This couldallow"car"and"automobile"to be parsed identically.Replacement words alsoallows the removal of trivial words by replacing them with blanks.d)The double word feature forces ACTR to consider not only the occurrence oftwo word groupings,but their order as well.This can be useful in overcominginconsistencies in word spellings and also to preserve word order.e)Suffixes and prefixes are handled in the same manner.For suffixes,the word isscanned from right to left looking for the longest defined suffix such that theremaining word,after the removal of the suffix,is still at least four letters long.This feature will also handle the problem of plural versus singular forms.f)Double characters(contiguous double letters)are reduced to a singleoccurrence.g)Exception words is a feature that scans each word for the presence of apredefined exception word which would prevent it from any"suffixes,""prefixes,"or"double character processing.Examples are the two distinctlanguages,slavee and slavic.Suffix truncation would identify them as thesame:slav.5)Sort Words is a step that sorts the remaining words in the description in alphabeticalorder.6)Remove Duplicate Words is the final parsing step which performs as its name wouldindicate;it removes any duplicate words in the parsed description.14Proposed Improvements(Statistics Canada)The current new version of ACTR does not restrict the size of the description to10input words or less,in either the database or in the file to be coded.The Beta Version of ACTR, which the Census Bureau currently uses(September,1992),does have this restriction.The new version of ACTR also allows one to specify the output tables so that the ACTR specified output table is not written over each time a project is run,as in the Beta Version.In the soon to be released version,ACTR will have normalized output tables which are tables that store the data more efficiently with less repetition.ACTR cannot currently handle the coding of two fields at one time but the possibility of this will be considered in the next year.Soundex is not yet active,but it is being developed for use in ACTR.French as a user language is not functioning,but is being developed.15Relationship with ORACLEThe visual format of ACTR is created from SQL*Forms,a feature of Oracle.However,the amount of Oracle which an ACTR user must know is minimal.To actually run ACTR,no knowledge of Oracle is required.The necessary Oracle commands are those that properly format your files to be used in ACTR.In order to load files into ACTR,the project database file and files to be coded,must be in Oracle tables.In order to store your files in Oracle tables,which can then be directly loaded into ACTR,see the documentation"Oracle for ACTR"by E.Rowe and C.Wong.System RequirementsHardware Required:CPU Preferably,a32-bit computer.Tape drive A51/4inch tape drive needed for installation.Disk Space You will need about5megabytes of hard disk space to store ACTR V2 software.Terminals ACTR V2will run on ANSI,VT220(VI220)and X terminals. Software Required:UNIX A UNIX operating system compatible with UNIX System V.ORACLE ACTR V2requires ORACLE RDBMS Version6.0and SQL*FormsV2.3as the underlying DBMS’C’Compiler An ANSI’C’Compiler must be available to ACTR V2to allow it tocompile programs at installation time.16。