The SIMBA project
Full title: Multimedia Information System based on Markup languages and Agents
- Head researcher: Alfredo Fernández Valmayor
- Reference: TIC2000-0737-C03-01
- Duration: 2001-2002
Briefing
The main objective of the project is the development of a distributed system for the management of multimedia information, by using web technology. System architecture is oriented to the development of educational hypermedia systems that can be accessed from the work place. Content creators and providers can use their Internet access to add or modify information into the system. System administrators can transform information from creators following instructions from these. Also, the system uses software agents for processing, searching, and recovering information from Internet.
Generalized markup languages, particularly XML and related standards, are the integrating element of the proposed architecture. Generalized markup languages are used for both, improving reusability of software components, and the interoperability among software agents. They are also the key element to facilitate the creation, adaptation, and maintenance of contents.
Generalized markup languages, and the associated concept of architectural form, allow the definition, in a standard and declarative way, of the logical structure of both content documents ( the information content of the system) and specification documents (specifications of the different elements that compose system architecture). This type of system specification promotes an implementation based on standard software components and tools. We plan to use Java components and tools associated with the XML standard.
The main parts of the proposed architecture are:
- A main server (which can be physically distributed) that manages information contents, and access to the information by content creators and users. Hipermedia interfaces for the content creator/manager and the user/student. Tools for system administration and content development. Security issues in distributed systems. (Subproject 1)
- Software agents to assist users in searching, filtering and adaptation of information, taking into account userÕs profile and needs. Methodology and tools for building agents. Security issues in software agents. (Subproject 2)
- Design methodology to build (using Internet) contents with a complex information structure, which require a high degree of interaction with the user (pedagogical strategies). Some prototypes for teaching foreign languages will be developed. Specification of requirements and testing of the content development tools. (Subproject 3)