bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Out of band signalling technique for passive optical networks
Authors: Eldering Charles A. , Alonso Antonio Martínez
Published: July 2007

In this communication we present a novel means of signalling between an out‐of‐service RT and the CO when connected via a passive optical network which contains other RTs in‐service using a TDMA protocol. A simple experiment using a non‐coherent receiver is used to demonstrate the technique.
Priority shaping of traffic streams sharing a policed virtual path in an ATM network
Authors: Reiss Leszek K. , Merakos Lazaros F.
Published: July 2007

Traffic streams with differing service requirements, sharing a single contract for use of a policed virtual path in an ATM network, may be jointly shaped to make the best use of bandwidth available in the path. The shaper may use the information about the network policer to perform self‐policing with a form of priority service to ensure satisfactory levels of cell loss and delay for both real‐time and non‐real‐time traffic. Two such shapers are considered assuming a mean bit‐rate contract with the network in which a leaky‐bucket mechanism performs the policing function. The performance of the shapers is analysed using Markov‐modulated models of bursty traffic sources and stochastic fluid methods, and the analytical results are corroborated by simulations. The choice of the shaper type and optimization of the shaper design parameters are discussed using correlated and non‐correlated source models.
Transmission algorithms for a multi‐channel packet radio system with priority users
Authors: Papantoni‐Kazakos P. , Delic Hakan , Paterakis Michael , Liu Ming
Published: July 2007

In multi‐channel systems such as multi‐station packet radio networks or cellular radio, various user categories arise. In this paper, we propose that one portion of the users, named low‐priority, each be assigned a specific channel for their transmissions, whereas another portion, named high‐priority, may transmit through any of the channels via some channel selection policy. The main objective is to reduce delays of the high‐priority users without imposing heavy penalties on the delays of the low‐priority group. For the described system, we adopt a previously studied limited sensing random access algorithm and introduce two dynamic channel selection policies. We study the stability region and the delays induced by the system. The selection policies present the high‐priority users with a significant delay advantage and induce fair utilization of the transmission channels, without requiring any knowledge about the system state by the users. One of the selection policies induces high system throughput at the expense of implementation complexity and increased delays for the low‐priority users. The second policy is easier to implement but, although it does not penalize the delays of the low‐priority users, it reduces the system thoughput.
Satellite constellations for a multiple LEO satellite network
Authors: Usui Tomonori , Kawabata Tsutomu , Onozato Yoshikuni , Oka Ikuo
Published: July 2007

Recently, research has been very active in communication networks that could service the entire globe by using multiple, low, earth‐orbiting satellites. This has been spurred on by progress in the field of digital communication technique, technical advances of satellite launching, and a decrease in the costs of small‐sized satellites.

In this paper, the construction of low, earth‐orbiting satellite communication networks is discussed from the viewpoint of the design of orbits and satellite positions. First, a symmetric orbit model derived from the idea of regular dodecahedron is proposed. Next, two evaluation methods of satellite distribution are shown. One is the method of summing the squares of distances between satellites and their earth stations. This is a general evaluation method based on the satellite orbits and satellite positions. The other is an evaluation method of the coverage based on the altitude of satellites and the antenna angles of the earth station. This method is applied to the proposed symmetric orbit, and characteristics of different satellite deployments are discussed comparatively.
Systematic construction algorithm of fixed block‐length (d, k) codes
Authors: Tanaka Hatsukazu
Published: July 2007

This paper proposes a systematic construction algorithm for the fixed block‐length (d, k) code, which is important as the code for magnetic recording. The coding rate (coding efficiency) and the encoding/decoding algorithms are discussed. As a result of numerical calculation for the coding rate of the finite block‐length (d, k) code, it is very close to the capacity limit even for a relatively short block‐length code.

It is shown also that the coding rate for the infinite block length agrees with the capacity. A systematic encoding/decoding algorithm for the finite block‐length (d, k) code is proposed, and it is shown that the algebraic encoding/decoding can be realized.

By introducing the concept of state, the coding efficiency of (d, k) code can be improved drastically and the coding rate approaches very close to the capacity while observing the constraint for the (d, k) code. Although it can be applied for the peak‐shift error correcting (d, k) code, it is left for future study.
Number of degrees of freedom, fisher information, and frequency‐time products of a random process
Authors: Kikkawa Sho
Published: July 2007

First, the number of n‐th order degrees of freedom (n‐th order NDF) of stationary random process is defined in terms of the sample moment of order n of a finite length sample. Correlation times and equivalent band‐widths are derived from the NDFs. It is shown that the second‐order NDF asymptotically approaches the degrees of freedom of a gamma distribution by which the distribution of the ample variance is approximated.

It is shown also for the case of a Gaussian process that the first‐order NDF is the same as the standardized Fisher information about the mean; and, furthermore, the second‐order NDF of a Gaussian AR process is the same as the standardized Fisher information about the variance. A problem with the Fisher information is that it cannot always be calculated, which is not convenient from the practical viewpoint. Since the NDF defined in this paper is based on the sample moments, it can easily be calculated from the observed data. Further, from the NDF, useful features can be derived such as the correlation time and the equivalent bandwidth. Therefore, it is of practical use.

Finally, for a Gaussian process, the significance of the approximation of the NDF by 2 WT, where W denotes the equivalent bandwidth and T is time duration, is discussed. It is shown, in particular, that the approximation error for the second‐order NDF decreases only slowly, depending on the logarithm of 2 WT. This result is interesting in examining the dimension of the signal space for each moment of a random process since the situation is the same as in the case where the dimension of the signal space for the deterministic signal is approximated by 2 WT.
Bifurcations of periodic solutions in nonlinear nonautonomous system with symmetry
Authors: Katsuta Yuuji , Kawakami Hiroshi
Published: July 2007

Some of the engineering systems and physical systems described by a lumped element system have certain symmetries in the system configuration and nonlinear characteristics. In such systems, these symmetries are reflected to the state equations which become invariant with respect to the symmetric transformation of the state variables. The authors have reported symmetries in autonomous equations [1]. Similar discussions are possible to the nonautonomous system with a periodic external force. However, the discussion has to be extended due to the periodic external force.

In this paper, the symmetry of the nonautonomous system with periodic external force and the symmetry of the periodic solution are discussed. It is shown that two types of symmetry should be defined for the analysis of a nonautonomous system. It is demonstrated also that, aside from certain exceptions, the symmetry of the autonomous systems can be discussed systematically. Further, a mapping representing the symmetry of the solution is defined and the quasi‐periodic solutions and chaos are classified according to the symmetry.
Coherent‐state representations for functionals of the wiener process and the poisson process
Authors: Ogura Hisanao
Published: July 2007

By an analogy between the theories of the Wiener functional and photon quantum field, such as the Wiener‐Itô expansion and the Fock‐space representation, a “coherent‐state” representation is introduced as a functional integral of nonorthogonal, overcomplete basis, corresponding to the coherent‐state representation of a photon field. A discrete‐state version is given to the “coherent‐state” representation in a form convenient for practical application.

Analogously, a “coherent‐state” representation is established for functional of the Poisson process, where a remarkable analogy exists between the two. The Wiener‐Itô representation is derived from the coherent‐state representation by interpreting the coherent state as a generating functional of the orthogonal functionals.
Computer search of the best convolutional codes on the basis of weight distribution
Authors: Sakai Ryuichi , Kasahara Masao , Sasano Hiroshi
Published: July 2007

As the efficient methods to determine the weight distribution of the convolutional code, there have been proposed the high‐speed algorithm based on the tree search on the trellis [1] and the variational method based on the variation of the weight of the code word [2]. This paper proposes a method to determine the weight distribution of the convolutional code with the coding ratio 1:2 where an algorithm (called modified variational method), which is efficient and can easily be realized on the computer, is derived by modifying the variational method. It is shown that the modified algorithm has a better performance than the conventional method.

Then an efficient method is proposed which searches the best nonsystematic convolutional code with the coding ratio 1 : 2, assuming the maximum likelihood decoding. The best codes are sought for the constraint length from 6 to 19 using the proposed method, and a large number of the best codes is shown which heretofore have not been known.
A theoretical study on the orthonormal discriminant vector method for pattern recognition
Authors: Hamamoto Yoshihiko , Kanaoka Taiho , Tomita Shingo
Published: July 2007

Discriminant analysis has a serious shortcoming, namely, that in the m‐class problems the maximum number of features is m ‐ 1. To overcome this shortcoming, Okada and Tomita proposed the orthonormal discriminant vector (ODV) method. In the two‐class problem, the ODV method is equivalent to the method of Foley and Sammon. Experimental results show that the ODV method is more powerful than discriminant analysis. However, no attempt has been made to investigate the properties of the ODV method theoretically.

In this paper the properties of the ODV method are studied from a theoretical viewpoint. In particular, the condition that discriminant analysis produces an ortho‐normal coordinate system is discussed. Based on this condition, the ODV method is compared with discriminant analysis.
Realization of a monolithic integrator with improved high‐frequency response using a miller integrator and its application to filters
Authors: Ishibashi Yukio , Matsumoto Fujihiko
Published: July 2007

Recently, various electronic devices have become smaller in size while being required to process signals at higher speed. Especially, monolithic integration of a high‐frequency active RC filter is expected.

In this paper, a method is proposed for the design of a novel variable integrator in which a Miller integrator is introduced. It is demonstrated that, even though lateral PNP transistors are used, the high‐frequency characteristics are excellent.

Next, the effect of the parasitic capacitance of the integration capacitor on the integration characteristics is investigated. It is shown that such an effect can be made negligibly small by an appropriate layout of the integration capacitor.

Finally, by means of a circuit simulator PSPICE, the integrator and the third‐order Chebyshev lowpass filter designed with the integrators are simulated and the results are presented. Even though PNP transistors with a transition frequency of 7 MHz are used, good characteristics are obtained in a filter with a cutoff frequency of 2 MHz. In the case of a power supply voltage of 3.2 V and a cutoff frequency of 2 MHz. In the case of a power supply voltage of 3.2 V and a cutoff frequency of 2 MHz, the total harmonic distortion of the output voltage of the filter is less than 0.1 percent for the input signal voltage of 1 Vp‐p. Hence, the effectiveness of the proposed circuit is confirmed.
Estimating aircraft altitude profile using natural spline function
Authors: Shirakawa Masayuki
Published: July 2007

To evaluate the performance of Airborne Collision Avoidance System (ACAS), it is necessary to use the real aircraft profiles as encounter scenarios. For this purpose, smoothing interpolation of radar data is attempted. First, the mean square error is obtained as the measure of optimization. Then, as an example of this method, cubic natural spline function of Schoenberg is tried and optimum parameter is obtained.
Compression method using LZW coding and a sliding window
Authors: Ogihara Takeshi , Iida Hajimu , Inoue Katsuro , Torii Koji
Published: July 2007

This paper proposes a new compression method which uses a sliding window with an Lempel‐Ziv‐Welch (LZW) dictionary. When an LZW phrase is constructed, the location of the phrase on the window is also recorded in the dictionary. Using this information, there are cases where we can find that a new LZW phrase is already included in the sliding window. If the current input matches the string on the window longer than the LZW phrase constructed, the length of the string is encoded instead of the phrase itself. For most kinds of inputs, the compression performance of this method is better than the original LZW method and is equal or superior to various improved LZW methods. In addition, compared with that of the LZW method, the execution time of this method increases only about 25 percent.
Resolution conversion method with arbitrary rational values for transform‐coded images
Authors: Muramatsu Shogo , Kiya Hitoshi
Published: July 2007

The decimation and interpolation (contraction and expansion) processings of the image based on the orthogonal transform are simple and useful in the communication and storage of the digital image data. Consequently, their application to the resolution conversion of the image is expected. The conversion factor in this type of resolution conversion can be seas an arbitrary rational number if the size of the matrices in the forward and backward transforms can be set arbitrarily.

On the other hand, the size of the transform matrix in the encoding is specified by the international standard and other specifications and it is not possible to set the conversion factor arbitrarily on the decoding side. When the transform matrix has the size of N, for example, the conversion factor is restricted to be the integer multiple of 1/N.

From such a viewpoint, this paper proposes a method that can realize a resolution conversion with an arbitrary conversion factor even if the transform matrix size in the encoding is already specified. The basic principle of the proposed method is to combine the conventional method and the decimation processing and can be characterized as a more general method than the conventional method.

By a discussion based on the filter bank and multi‐rate system, the effective configuration for the proposed method is shown. It is shown also as a result that the conversion with an arbitrary rational factor can be executed with nearly the same computational complexity as in the conventional method. A simulation is executed using DCT and LOT and the effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated while indicating the problems in DCT.
Decimation ratio in subband adaptive identification of a time‐varying AR model
Authors: Shimizu Jun'Ya , Miyanaga Yoshikazu , Tochinai Koji
Published: July 2007

This paper presents some conditions to determine decimation ratio in subband adaptive identification of a time‐varying system. It has been reported in some experiments that a large decimation ratio is not suitable for subband identification of a time‐varying system. However, theoretical conditions for a maximally decimated ratio in a time‐varying system have not to date been reported.

A short‐time invariant model is the starting point for this research. The relation between a forgetting factor used in the recursive weighted least‐squares (RWLS) algorithm and a time variation of the time‐varying system are derived. Then, new forgetting factors are derived for the multirate processing case. Using a convergence property provided by these forgetting factors, theoretical conditions are obtained having parameters estimated from decimated signals that are as accurate as those from all observed signals. The propriety of these conditions is demonstrated using simulations.
Speaker‐independent spontaneous speech dialog system TOSBURG II using multimodal response and speech response cancellation
Authors: Takebayashi Yoichi , Kanazawa Hiroshi , Nagata Yoshifumi , Seto Shigenobu
Published: July 2007

This paper describes the speaker‐independent spontaneous speech dialog system TOSBURG II, where the user can input the speech interrupting the speech response from the system. In the speech dialog system TOSBURG, which was previously constructed experimentally, spontaneous utterance dialog was realized by a continuous speech understanding based on the key word and the multimodal response. TOSBURG II aims at dialog that is more flexible and interactive. The speech response component superposed on the input speech signal is cancelled by the active control technique, making it possible for the user to interrupt and input during the system speech response.

To improve the precision of speech recognition, noise immunity learning, which is useful in detecting the keyword in the noise, is extended so that it can also be applied to the speech input after the speech response cancellation, where the residual component still remains. To evaluate the effectiveness of speech response cancellation and noise immunity learning, an experiment is executed by superposing the speech data (obtained by the utterance of 350 sentences containing 49 key words by five adult males) on the system speech response. The key word detection rate, false alarm rate, and sentence recognition rate are improved from 58.8 percent, 24.1 FA/H/W (false alarms/hour/word), 27.8 percent, to 89.6 percent, 15.4 FA/H/W, 58.4 percent, respectively. A dialog experiment is also conducted using the constructed realtime system, and the usefulness of the proposed system is verified.
Design of two‐dimensional FIR filter using hybrid domain approximation
Authors: Zhu Jiemei , Hamada Nozomu
Published: July 2007

This paper proposes a zero‐phase, two‐dimensional (2‐D) FIR filter design using a hybrid domain where a spatial variable and frequency variable are mixed. For a desired amplitude response given in 2‐D frequency plane, the approximation method of 1‐D FIR filter design is applied in two steps and the desired response is approximated.

First, the approximation coefficients in the hybrid domain are obtained by min‐max approximation for one of the frequency variables. Then filter coefficients are obtained by the frequency sampling method or inconsistent Čhebyshev approximation method for another of the variables. Moreover, the error distribution of the designed 2‐D filter is evaluated; and, when the magnitude of the error is uneven in the frequency domain, then the method of redesigning is proposed to obtain good approximation.

Since this method decomposes the calculation of the 2‐D filter into the 1‐D case, its design is very simple. Moreover, this method has the advantage of free setting the magnitude of error in the passband and stopband of filter.
Edge‐preserving smoothing using the fuzzy control technique
Authors: Takashima Hironori , Taguchi Akira , Murata Yutaka
Published: July 2007

When a random noise is superposed on a signal with an abrupt change (i.e., edge), as in the case of the image signal, there is a large overlap of the frequency component between the abrupt changes (edge) of the signal and the noise. Then it is impossible to realize both the noise elimination and the edge preservation sufficiently by the conventional linear filter, such as the mean filter. Thus, a nonlinear technique is required in order to eliminate the noise and preserve details of the original signal where the coefficient of the smoothing filter is determined according to the properties of the data in the window. There can be more than one observed value in the filter window that can be used to specify the properties of the data.

It is difficult, however, to represent precisely the properties of the image signal using a single observed value. In addition, the observed values contain ambiguities since they are calculated from the local image data with superposed noise. In other words, it is required to determine the filter coefficients based on multiple obseved values containing ambiguities. For such a problem, the fuzzy control rule, which is utilized effectively in control problems, can be applied to calculate the control variable (i.e., filter coefficient) adequately by the nonlinear technique from the multiple observed values containing ambiguities.

In this paper, the nonlinear filtering technique based on the fuzzy control rule is presented and the usefulness of the filter in the noise elimination from the image signal is demonstrated.
Block parallel architecture of separable denominator two‐dimensional state‐space digital filters based on the reduced‐dimensional decomposition
Authors: Iwata Yasushi , Kawamata Masayuki , Higuchi Tatsuo
Published: July 2007

This paper proposes a highly parallel algorithm of separable denominator two‐dimensional (2‐D) state‐space digital filters, called a block parallel algorithm. to derive the block parallel algorithm, the processing image is divided into several blocks and all dependency constraints in a divided block are eliminated. In the block parallel algorithm, the number of multiply‐and‐accumulate operations required to process one image is proportional to 1/L for the block length L. We also study the architecture of the block processor which implements our proposed algorithm. As a result, one 250‐K gates VLSI chip to implement one block processor with the block length L = 8 must be designed. the multiprocessor system comprising 66 proposed VLSI chips can propose 2048 × 2048 pixels image at the rate of 60 frames/s.
Structural ordering analysis for interval rating data
Authors: Matsui Tatsunori , Takeya Makoto
Published: July 2007

The questionnaire test using the rating scale data is applied effectively, since it features relatively high reliability and the simple processing. the semantic structure analysis (SS analysis) is proposed as the method of structural analysis for the rating scale data. In the SS analysis, the order of the items is considered, and the human behavior or the psychological aspects are interpreted from the ordering structure of the items. In the conventional questionnaire test using the rating scale data, the evaluation is possible in many cases even if the data are composed of a discrete single point. Depending on the questionnaire items, however, it may happen that the evaluator is not convinced of a discrete single point.

From such a viewpoint, this paper proposes a structural analysis considering the ordering among items which is not a discrete point evaluation to evaluate by a single discrete point, but is an interval evaluation to evaluate by an interval on the rating scale. For this purpose, the difference between the ratings of two items is quantified anew based on the interval rating data. the inversely ordered rating ratio and the ordering coefficient are defined as the indices for the ordering.

It is shown that the method proposed in this paper is an extension of the SS analysis. Furthemore, as the structural analysis, the ordering structure graph is constructed for the set of items. A method of constructing the ordering structure graph is presented, and the application process is shown through an actual example.
Proposal and evaluation of the sweeping display of speech spectrum for a tactile vocoder used by the profoundly hearing impaired
Authors: Wada Chikamune , Ino Shuichi , Ifukube Tohru
Published: July 2007

This paper presents a study for improving the sensory substitution system using the fingertip tactile sensation as an auxiliary means of lipereading and talking with hands for the severely hearing impaired, for whom the hearing aid or the cochlear implant was not effective. First, the problems of the previously developed 16‐channel tactile vocoderwith avibrator array are described. It is pointed out that the backward masking of the tactile sensation is one of the factors that made consonants difficult to recognize. Then, as a solution to the problem, a new stimulus presentation method is proposed where the speech spectrum is swept on the finger surface.

The optimal sweeping velocity is determined from the viewpoint of the two‐point threshold so that the backward masking is minimized. Based on those investigations, an 8 × 4 vibrator matrix is constructed which can sweep the speech spectrum. A recognition experiment is attempted for monosyllabic speech. It is seen as a result that the identification of a consonant that is easily affected by the backward masking, especially plosive are improved. Thus, it is suggested that the sweeping of the spectral pattern is effective as an auxiliary means of speech recognition, even for the profoundly hearing impaired.
Filter optimization for pulse timing detector
Authors: Inoue Tadaaki , Iritani Tadamitsu , Kinouchi Yohsuke
Published: July 2007

In the pulse transmission system such as pulseposition modulation (PPM), where the linear filter for pulse‐timing detection is optimized and the construction of the detector is considered, one of the essential problems is the timing error contained in the timing information extracted from the received pulse.

Several papers have been reported on the linear filters which are claimed to be useful in correcting the error, but the extent of improvement has not been analyzed clearly. This paper compares those filters from the viewpoint of the mean‐square timing error and indicates the effectiveness of the filters on the relative basis. In addition, a new suboptimal filter is proposed and compared. Methods for filter optimization and timing detector construction are presented and compared from various viewpoints, such as the easiness of realization.

The calculation of the timing error produced by the filter is calculated easily using the result shown in this paper, where the expression is normalized by the pulsewidth. It is shown that the proposed suboptimal filter gives an excellent performance compared to the filters proposed in the past. Assuming the pulse transmission using the optical fiber, the calculation is shown based on the white and f2 additive noise as well as the Gaussian signal pulse.
Implementation of advanced manufacturing technologies: Swedish FMS experiences
Authors: Hörte Sven Åke , Lindberg Per
Published: July 2007

Sweden has a relatively advanced manufacturing base. The density of advanced manufacturing technologies is among the highest in the world. The labor force is relatively well educated, but the labor supply is a problem, partly due to the perceived low status of industrial work. This calls for extraordinary efforts in the design of manufacturing systems and work organizations. This article reports results from 27 flexible manufacturing system installations in Sweden. The technical and organizational features and system performances are described, and the implementation of the systems is given special attention. The systems are generally characterized by ordinary technology configurations, but by a relatively low degree of division of labor and a high degree of decentralization.
Impact of flexible production philosophy and advanced manufacturing technology on organizations and jobs
Authors: Seppäiä Pentti , Tuominen Eva , Koskinen Paavo
Published: July 2007

The impact of the introduction of advanced manufacturing technology (AMT) and the new flexible production philosophy on the organization of work, job contents, work demands, and employees' well‐being was studied in nine Finnish engineering companies. The AMT included in the study consisted of FMS, CNC machining centers, and robotized machining cells. The data were collected by interviews, job analyses, and questionnaires. The results support the view that AMT does not inevitably result in impoverishment of job contents and deskilling. The main trend in the firms studied is to create production systems based on a flexible and multiskilled workforce.
Configurations: Crystallizing contingency
Authors: Fleck James
Published: July 2007

Configurations comprise assemblies of technological and nontechnological components, including human factors, built up to meet local contingencies. Examples are drawn from robotics, production systems, CAPM, and IT applications. A possible metric is outlined. Unlike generic systems, configurations do not evidence particular dynamics of development. They may represent an early stage of an overall life‐cycle, with a generic mature phase. The participation of users at various levels, familiar with local contingencies, is necessary to build configurations. User knowledge, job design, and human factors are not adjuncts, but essential inputs to the innovation process, helping to crystallize contingencies into novel artifacts.
Organizational politics, advanced engineering systems, and human factors
Authors: McLoughlin Ian
Published: July 2007

In order to be effective, human factors interventions must have a better understanding of technology and the processes within organizations which shape both technology and its effects on the work that human beings do. Rather than being primarily determined by the capabilities and characteristics of technology, it is argued that the organizational outcomes of technological change are a product of political processes of choice and social negotiations within adopting organizations. Technical influences, though, are seen as one important factor enabling and constraining the process of choice and negotiation. Some of the implications of this view for human factors considerations are discussed.
Smart sociotechnical CIM systems: Beyond island solutions and turnkey philosophies
Authors: Badham Richard , Wilson Simon
Published: July 2007

The guiding agenda of international programs promoting intelligent manufacturing systems (IMS) has been the creation of advanced machines with artificial intelligence capable of coping with the complex and changing conditions that threaten to disrupt the increasingly “automatic” factory. This article argues that this needs to be broadened to incorporate the development of integrated sociotechnical production systems that effectively combine human and technical resources in creating “smart” systems capable of adapting technologies to firm specific conditions, utilizing data bases, customizing software rules and procedures, and ensuring the ongoing development of the sociotechnical system. This requires greater attention to the human resources and organizational requirements of interdisciplinary system design and implementation. In making this argument, the article draws upon recent Australian case study experiences in the implementation and customization of integrated CAD/CAM systems and European research into human‐centered CIM design.
Learning and forgetting industrial skills: An experimental model
Authors: Shtub Avraham , Levin Nissan , Globerson Shlomo
Published: July 2007

Traditional learning curve models disregard the impact of break periods between consecutive repetitions. Since such breaks generate forgetting, when they do occur, actual performance is inferior to performance forecasted by a typical learning curve model. This study has two major objectives: (1) to test two hypotheses regarding learning and forgetting in the automated factory, proposed for a traditional industrial setting by Bailey (1989); (a) Forgetting is a function of the amount of learning prior to the interruption and the elapsed time of the interruption and (b) relearning rate is a function of the original learning rate. (2) to identify a proper forgetting model and estimate its parameters so that it may be compared to existing learning‐forgetting models. The results of this study confirmed that Bailey's hypotheses are valid in a high tech manufacturing environment where computers are used for the control of machines, material handling systems and inspection equipment. Based on these hypotheses a power learning‐forgetting model was found to be the preferred model to depicting the relationship between the break length and the degree of forgetting.
Transformation of work organization in time‐based production management: The case of three finnish electronics plants
Authors: Alasoini Tuomo
Published: July 2007

This article examines new rationalization policies and working patterns in the Finnish electronics industry. Starting out with the assumption that management of time is becoming a more important source of competitive advantage for companies, the author outlines implications of the shift in strategy for manufacturing organization, skill demands, and workplace relations. The empirical material focuses on the prospects of teamwork, the status of supervisors, and the effects of new technologies on labor deployment in three plants. The author concludes that many of the firms' efforts to overcome the limits of Taylorism are stuck halfway due to insufficient training of the workers, lack of support in the middle‐ and lower‐level management, and selective utilization of the new organizational practices in the production management.
The dialogue that needs to happen
Authors: Plummer Joseph T.
Published: July 2007

The author proposes that the enormous potential of academic psychology's contribution to marketing and advertising can only be fully realized through a collaboration that allows an understanding of the nature of the issues and tasks to which that psychological knowledge will be applied in a business context. Forums such as this journal, face‐to‐face contacts through visiting professorships, sabbaticals, and internships can complement the role of conferences, symposia, and consultancies as mechanisms for establishing the interface between academics and practitioners that will allow greater awareness of the relevance of academic knowledge to the real‐time, real‐world nature of the human element in marketing.
Methodological considerations in the use of electroencephalographic techniques in advertising research
Authors: Nevid Jeffrey S.
Published: July 2007

This paper focuses on methodological concerns of interest to advertising researchers who seek to employ electroencephalographic (EEG) methods for assessing the impact of advertising stimuli. It is suggested that the validity of EEG applications in advertising research needs to be demonstrated on the basis of examining relationships between EEG measures and more traditional measures of evaluating advertising effectiveness. More attention needs to be focused on determining the content‐specific cues that engage the viewer's attentional processes. Further research is necessary to determine hemispheric differences in processing emotional cues in advertising stimuli and relationships between subjective reactions to advertising stimuli and lateralized differences in activation patterns. It is suggested that individual differences in hemispheric preferences may be related to response to advertising stimuli and that computersimulated brain topographical techniques may by useful in revealing shifts in region‐specific activation patterns during exposure to advertising stimuli such as television commercials.
Consumer profiles section: Consumer profiles for conventional bed and waterbed owners in Canada
Authors: Schell Bernadette , Thornton John , O'Grady Sheila , Ribordy Annette , Pitzel Joseph , Cieslewica Al , Gostanzi Franco , Goegan Susan , Nosich Frank
Published: July 2007

This study examines consumer profile data on waterbed and conventional bed consumers. Five hundred conventional and waterbed consumers in Canada were randomly selected from two national lists of waterbed/mattress purchasers from 1981 to the present. A 73‐item questionnaire was sent by mail to all of the selected respondents. The cover letter stated the purpose of the project; to study why people bought the bed that they are presently using. One hundred and sixty‐two completed, useable questionnaires were returned, yielding a response rate of 37%.

Following a series of multivariate analyses, a consumer profile for the two bed users was developed. Both groups tended to be married. The conventional bed consumers had: (a) either no children or one child at home; (b) a mean age of 44; and, (c) an average income in the $30,000‐$40,000 range. Waterbed consumers had: (a) a mean age of 36, (b) one child living at home; and, (c) an average income in the $20,000‐$30,000 range. On the Adorno F scale, the conventional bed user was found to be more conservative and authoritarian as compared to the waterbed user. The results did not support the notion that waterbed users are abnormally sexually‐oriented or “kinky”. For both groups, the price paid for the purchased bed fell in the $600 to $650 range. Implications for retailers were discussed.
Using values to measure attitudes toward discontinuous innovation
Authors: McQuarrie Edward F. , Langmeyer Daniel
Published: July 2007

Discontinuous innovations pose special challenges to attitude measurement. The authors propose a solution which uses Rokeach's (1968) value terms to update Rosenberg's (1956) formulation. This values‐based approach solves problems associated with more conventional procedures based on beliefs or adjective checklists. A measure constructed according to this model was included in a mail questionnaire completed by 950 owners of personal computers. Analyses supportive of the validity of the values‐based attitude measure are reported, and an example is given of the practical utility of the technique. The values‐based approach is recommended when a general measure of attitude toward a highly involving product category is desired.
A laingian view of the ‘advantage’ of advertisers over consumers
Authors: Gilbert Steven J.
Published: July 2007

This paper discusses the advantage advertisers may enjoy over consumers in terms of R.D. Laing's Interpersonal Perception Method (Laing, Phillipson & Lee, 1966). It is suggested that the advertiser (A) has an advantage over the consumer (C) to the extent that (1) A operates more efficiently at higher order levels of perspective than does C; (2) A understands C, whereas C misunderstands A; (3) A causes C to feel understood by A; and (4) A realizes that he understands C, whereas C fails to realize that she misunderstands A. The differential orientations and skills of A and C would appear to support these conditions with some frequency.
Introversion‐extraversion and loud commercials
Authors: Cetola Hank , Prinkey Kathleen
Published: July 2007

The introversion‐extraversion dimension of Hans Eysenck's personality theory, combined with the theory proposed by Daniel E. Berlyne that hedonic value changes with changes in arousal level, are used to examine the effect that high intensity advertising appeals have on the audience. It was hypothesized that advertising appeals presented at a higher stimulus intensity than the program in which they are imbedded (e.g., commercials presented at a higher volume) would have a differential effect on individuals due, in part, to whether they were introverts or extraverts. In a preliminary test of this hypothesis, participants were exposed to either a radio commercial played at the same volume as the program or to one that was played at a higher volume. Their attitudes toward the commercial and the product were assessed. The results indicate that there is a difference between introverts and extraverts in the resulting attitude toward the product based on the type of appeal to which they were exposed.
Subcultural influences on family decisionmaking
Authors: O'Guinn Thomas C. , Faber Ronald J. , Imperia Giovanna
Published: July 2007

This investigation assessed Mexican‐American and Anglo wives' perceptions of family decisionmaking roles for the purchase of eight different goods and services. This comparison was used to explore the impact ethnic subculture plays in consumer behavior. The findings indicate that ethnicity significantly affects wives' perceptions of family decisionmaking roles for expensive items, and that this is not just due to common associations with other variables. This is an under researched area in which cross‐national differences and basic socioeconomic disparities are often inaccurately attributed to culture.
Recall and recognition effects of brand name imagery
Authors: Robertson Kim R.
Published: July 2007

The strategic marketing decision regarding the selection of a brand name has long been an area neglected by academic researchers. This study attempts to apply psychological theory to this important strategic decision area. Specifically, the applicability of a dual‐coding theory of memory to brand name recall/recognition is tested in an experimental setting. Results indicate, on average, a significant one hour and two day recall/recognition advantage of high imagery over low imagery brand names across a variety of product categories.
Changes in consumer choice: Further investigation of similarity and attraction effects
Authors: Burton Scot , Zinkhan George M.
Published: July 2007

Attraction and substitution effects have been shown to be important determinants of brand choice when a new brand is added to a choice set. A simple framework is proposed for predicting the effect on relative market shares when a new brand is added to the choice set in an experimental setting. The study attempts to replicate previous results concerning the relative impact of attraction and similarity and to extend empirical findings to brand attribute positionings not examined in recent research on the attraction effect. Generally, the proposed framework operates as hypothesized, and results suggest that, in some instances, a new brand may benefit substantially from the joint effects of attraction and similarity.
Functional equivalence in cross‐cultural consumer behavior: Gift giving in Japan and the United States
Authors: Green Robert T. , Alden Dana L.
Published: July 2007

The functional equivalence of products and consumer activities across cultures is a largely unexplored area. Yet, the lack of functional equivalence that exists may suggest the need for modification of some concepts and theories of consumer behavior. The study reported in this paper explores the functional equivalence that exists between U.S. and Japanese consumers in an important consumer activity—gift giving. The results suggest a lack of functional equivalence of this activity and illustrate how researchers should give explicit consideration to this issue in the development and testing of consumer concepts and models.
Dimensions of possession importance
Authors: Hirschman Elizabeth C. , Labarbera Priscilla A.
Published: July 2007

The present study examines the characteristics of possessions which consumers deem to be their most important. Two orthogonal dimensions emerged as an interpretive structure for possession meaning: A sacred/secular dimension, and a subjective/objective dimension. Examples of products falling into each quadrant (e.g., sacred‐objective) are described and their implications for future research inquiry are discussed.
Naïve theories of price: A developmental model
Authors: Fox Karen F. A. , Kehret‐Ward Trudy
Published: July 2007

A model of the development of naïve theories of price is presented and tested. The criterion used to account for price variations within a product category is product features at age five, product features and quality at age ten, product quality and buyer utility at age thirteen, and a combination of supply considerations and buyer utility/demand in adulthood. Five‐year‐olds do not justify their use of product features as a price criterion; however, older respondents all justify their price criterion by referring to a source of value. At age ten, variation in the amount of manufacturing inputs is the source of value which justifies the use of product features as a price criterion; at age thirteen, variations in the quality of manufacturing inputs justify the use of product quality as a price criterion; and in adulthood, relative scarcity and buyer preferences justify the use of cost and demand as price criteria.
Origin of rumor and tone of message in rumor quelling strategies
Authors: Iyer Easwar S. , Debevec Kathleen
Published: July 2007

Past studies have shown that, while refuting rumors, certain strategies, such as the introduction of a stimulus that deflects allegation, are superior to mere refutation. In this study, the originator of a rumor and the tone of a refutational message are proposed as factors that influence the success of rumor quelling strategies. It is shown that no refutation is superior when the originator is a negative stakeholder, whereas other types of refutation are more effective when the stakeholders are neutral or positive. Further, a conciliatory tone is uniformly superior to an inflammatory tone.
Informational power: A means for increased control in channels of distribution
Authors: Eyuboglu Nermin , Atac Osman A.
Published: July 2007

Informational power has received little empirical treatment in the distribution literature, possibly because the conceptual work on the topic is disjointed. This article clarifies the concept of informational power and differentiates it from others with which it is often confused. Channel member control through informational power is explained and its possible effects on a distribution relationship are discussed, Hypothesized links between informational power, control, cooperation, and satisfaction are tested in a lab study. The findings indicate that a channel member's control over another's strategy increases with its informational power source.
Computerized sociometric marketing: Advances and prospects
Authors: Bainbridge William Sims
Published: July 2007

The prospects for marketing research and marketing programs that emphasize social influences on consumer behavior have been signficantly improved by recent methodological advances, particularly the development of powerful computer software. Three valuable approaches are linked pair research, computerized sociometry, and computer simulation of theories. Examples of each of these show both that real progress has been achieved and that opportunities exist for new and profitable computer applications.
Brand frequency and product involvement: The application of a pc‐based perceptual learning routine to psychology and marketing
Authors: Marks William , Tidwell Paula M. , Spence Christi L.
Published: July 2007

This article describes a set of procedures that were developed for implementing perceptual learning studies on IBM PCs. The routines permit the display of pictorial and alphanumeric graphic images in 320 × 200 graphics mode, using 4 colors from a 16‐color palette. One of the perceptual learning routines—a dot clarification routine—is applied in a study of brand frequency and product involvement as a demonstration of the usefulness of the procedure to issues in psychology and marketing. Perceptual identification was significantly faster for studied items than for nonstudied ones, for high‐frequency brands than for low‐frequency ones, and for high‐involvement products than for low‐involvement ones. None of the interactions were significant. We also discuss other potential applications of the perceptual learning procedures to issues in psychology and marketing.