Session 1. Computer Hardware.
Grisha Spasov
Department Computer systems and technologies,
Faculty on Electronics and Automation in Technical University Sofia - Plovdiv Branch
http://www.tu-plovdiv.bg
http://dsnet.tu-plovdiv.bg/

Keynote on: : Internet of Things - Models and Basic Architectures

Biography: Grisha Spasov received his PhD degree in Computer systems and technologies (“Wireless LAN based on diffuse infrared communication channel”) in 2003 (Technical University Sofia). From 2007 untill 2015 he was Head of Department Computer Systems and Technologies in the Faculty of Electronics and Automation at Technical University Sofia - Plovdiv Branch. Since 2015, he is Dean of the Faculty of Electronics and Automation. His main research interests and contributions are in the field of computer networks, Distributed systems and computer communications, Embedded system, Internet of things and Medical information systems. He has published 53 journal articles and more than 80 conference papers, 3 textbooks and 2 methodological manuals. He has participated in a number of international and national research projects as project manager, coordinator or team leader, as for example: “Web Services and Data Integration in Distributed Automation and Information Systems in Internet Environment”, "Internet based distributed embedded system for real-time monitoring", "Modern approaches in the design of clinical information system (CIS) for observation of pediatric surgery diseases", “Investigation of methods and tools for application of cloud technologies in the measurement and control in the power system”. He is a member of IEEE – CS (since 2005) and Bulgarian Society of automatics and informatics.

Session 2. Computer Software
Todor Tagarev
Institute of Information and Communication Technologies, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
http://iict.bas.bg/

George Sharkov
European Software Institute Center Eastern Europe
http://esicenter.bg/

Keynote on: Computationally Intensive Tasks in Designing and Operating Distributed Cyber Secure and Resilient Systems
View Abstract

Biography: Dr. Todor Tagarev is an experienced security and defence policy maker, who has held several senior governmental positions. With a background in cybernetics and control, he is currently professor in the Institute of Information and Communication Technologies of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and leads its Centre for Security and Defence Management.
Dr. George Sharkov is CEO of the European Software Institute (Eastern Europe) and Head of the Cyber Security and Resilience Lab at Sofia Tech Park. He served as National Cybersecurity Coordinator of Bulgaria (2014-2017) and is presently advising the minister of defence on cyber security and defence issues. George lectures on software process and design quality, cyber security and resilience, active cyber security.

Session 3. Application Aspects of Computer Systems and Technologies.
Todor Stoilov
Department Hierarchical systems
Institute of Information and Communication Technologies,
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS), Sofia, Bulgaria
http://hsi.iccs.bas.bg

Keynote on: How to integrate complex optimal data processing in information services in internet
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Biography: Todor Stoilov received his scientific degrees on Cybernetics in Bulgarian Academy of Sciences as PhD(1979) and DSc (1998). He has theoretical achievements and scientific results in the domain of Hierarchical systems’ theory. The formal background of this theory founds on the development and application of optimization models applied in different practical areas: transportation systems, communication flows, automation in business and information systems, resource allocation. He is associate professor (1989) and full professor (2000) in Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Due to his technological and engineering background he was very active in the research and technological programs, supported by the European Commission. He was the Bulgarian leader of successful funded projects by the EU in the Framework programs 4,5,6,7, COST projects; National projects funded by the National Scientific Fund, Executive Agency for Support of Medium and Small enterprises, Ministry of Transportation, business units and regional communities. Methods of hierarchical system theory w used in applications for automatic control in computer and software systems (under the term „autonomic computing”), for autonomous transportation systems, for integration of information services in virtual systems. He is author and coauthor of more than 300 papers, 6 monographs (two published by international editions Kluwer and Intech), 7 chapters in academic books abroad. For two election period he has been a Chair of IFAC(International Federation of Automatic Control) Technical Committee 7.4:Control of Transportation System, position which has not been allocated to a Bulgarian scientist till now. He has activities in many Universities by giving lectures for master and bachelor degrees in important and complex academic domains.

Session 4. Educational Aspects of Computer Systems and Technologies (ICT-based innovative educational technologies).
Roumiana Peytcheva-Forsyth
Director of the Bulgarian National Centre of Distance Education

Keynote on: A pedagogical perspective towards ICT-based innovative educational technologies - case study on TeSLA Integration in e-assessment
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Biography: Roumiana Peytcheva-Forsyth is a full professor in Educational technology at Faculty of Education, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”. She is a Director of Sofia university Distance education centre as well as a Director of the National distance education centre. She is a leader of the first distance education master degree programme at Sofia University - “ICT in education”. Prof. Peytcheva-Forsyth is a member of ASEM Education and Research Hub for Lifelong Learning - Research Network 1 "Development of ICT skills, e-learning and the culture of e-learning in Lifelong Learning (e-ASEM). Over the last 3 years she is a member of the Management committee of the EU Horison 2020 project TeSLA - An Adaptive trust-based e-assessment System for Learning. She is also a Work package leader and Pilot manager responsible for planning and execution of large scale pilots of the authentication and authorship checking system TeSLA involving over 23 000 students in Europe from 7 leading in distance education and campus based universities. Her research interests are focused of ICT-supported learning, pedagogical aspects of online learning design, e-assessment, academic integrity.

How close we are to the real Quantum Computer? Efficient Monte Carlo algorithms for Wigner Monte Carlo Method
Ivan Dimov

Abstract: In order to determine how close we are to the "Real Quantum Computer" we consider the following topics:

IT impact on the labor market – professions to disappear and new ones to emerge
Avram Eskenazi

Abstract: Based on recent publications, the speaker will demonstrate the sustained trend in labor market polarization as a result of the turbulent development of Information Technologies (IT) and, more recently, of Artificial Intelligence (AI). There are two hypotheses already outlined about the future development of this polarization - a trend of attenuation and a trend of retention in the foreseeable future. The lecturer will launch and justify a third option - a gradual transition to a unipolar model. As a side effect a number of professions will gradually disappear, only to be replaced by new ones emerging.

Robots for Help of Pedagogy and Rehabilitation
Roman Zahariev
Co-authors: Nina Valchkova, George Angelov, Yasen Paunski, Aleksander Krastev

Abstract: The research of modern systems of engineering and service robotics aims to implement cost-optimized innovative approaches to build intelligent, robust and reliable robotic devices and technology systems that serve people's needs and create the conditions for a better quality of life for future generations. It is described experience for development, prototyping and using of Mobile Cognitive Robotic Systems designed for service and assistance to people with disabilities. At the same time, due to the intelligence of the robots created, it is possible to use them as educational learning tools, which is quite extensive worldwide widespread, yet it is rather limited in special education for the children with disabilities. It has been created a series of Service Mobile Robots type AnRI (Anthropomorphic Robot with Intelligence) to help disabled people as well as the elderly. These robots are also successfully used in the process of special education of children with needs. Simultaneously an anthropoid robot type Nao is also implemented in the training process. Experimental research has been carried out in the process of introducing robotic technologies in special education for children, youth and pedagogical specialists in the framework of the implementation of a project funded by the EC under the “Marie Curie” Program, Project H2020-MSCA-RISE-2017, ID No. 77720 "CybSPEED:" Cyber-physical systems for pedagogical rehabilitation in special education".

Computationally Intensive Tasks in Designing and Operating Distributed Cyber Secure and Resilient Systems
Todor Tagarev, George Sharkov

Abstract: The modern digitized society, economy and government increasingly depend on advanced sensor, information and control technologies. Communications and IT infrastructures become the backbone for the functioning of mass transport, energy generation and distribution systems, public administration, banking, water and food management, heavy industries and even for tracking the medical condition of certain groups of people.

While boosting effectiveness and efficiency, the massive incorporation of technological solutions introduces vulnerabilities, often exploited with malicious intent. The provision of safety, security and resilience of the evolving systems of systems poses a number of regulatory, procedural, technological and competence challenges.

This report examines the features of distributed systems for cybersecurity and, on that basis, elaborates general tasks in designing and operating such systems that are computationally demanding. These are: detection of cyberattacks and hybrid malicious activities; situational awareness, requiring fusion of information from diverse and disparate sources, visualization, and sense-making; decision-making, i.e. foreseeing possible evolution, devising and comparing potential courses of action, in particular with application of artificial intelligence; and cyber forensics, intelligence and attribution. In terms of technology – new methods like big-data analysis, high performance computing, AI and machine learning are not only providing new generation tools but influence significantly the design of such complex systems-of-systems with emerging complex behavior. Particularly demanding in terms of computational power is finding the balance between effectiveness and resilience of distributed systems of systems (connectivity, interoperability, info sharing, etc.) and the provision of agility and adaptation to the changing security and technological environment, including the challenges of detecting and reacting to the “unknown”.

How to integrate complex optimal data processing in information services in internet
Todor Stoilov

Abstract: Information technology implements its outcomes in development information services, which are available in virtual environments. As information services a lot of business entities operate offering e-shop facilities, virtually offering of business information, galleries, many others information services based on distribution of on-line important data. The increase of usage of information services insists the functionalities, offering by the information systems to provide complex treatment of the data. Thus additional and new business relations are identified and can be taken in consideration in managing and decision making in complex systems. Optimal treatment of data is a keystone for increase system functionalities in supporting the decision management. The presentation illustrates how to provide optimization functionalities in virtual information system. The software suits in such systems are outlined. An example, related to information service dealing with optimization of portfolio investments is given.

A pedagogical perspective towards ICT-based innovative educational technologies - case study on TeSLA Integration in e-assessment
Roumiana Peytcheva-Forsyth

Abstract: There are different perspectives for analysing the effectiveness of ICT-based technologies in education - technological, psychological, socio-psychological, methodological, pedagogical. It is the latter that seeks, defines and studies the intersection between other perspectives, which characterises the way in which specific technologies are integrated in a particular educational context. The pedagogical perspective reveals and defines the indicators for the successful integration of a certain innovative ICT-based technology in order specific educational objectives to be achieved with a specific group of learners on a particular topic. In other words, the pedagogical perspective refers to the “contextualised effectiveness” of the innovative educational technologies. The context itself defines how innovative is a particular technology or the way it is used. The presenter will discusses the pedagogical perspective in seeking the effective use of innovative ICT-based technologies in education. She will present an example of an integrated student authentication and authorship checking system in e-assessment as a demonstration of the reliability of the pedagogical perspective in exploring the effective use of technology in education.