bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mapping the MIT Campus in Real Time Using WiFi
Authors: Sevtsuk Andres , Huang Sonya , Calabrese Francesco , Ratti Carlo
Published: May 2011

This chapter presents the iSPOTS project, which collects and maps data of WiFi usage on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus in Cambridge, Boston. Instead of simply mapping the locations of WiFi availability, the project is possibly the first to use and analyze log files from the Institute’s Internet service provider and to produce spatial visualizations of the observed activity in real time. The aim is to create a better understanding of the daily working and living patterns of the MIT academic community, which changes due to the emergence of WiFi itself. The MIT wireless IEEE 802.11 network, consisting of 3,000 access points (one of the largest of its kind) offers a privileged environment for this research and, in perspective, can provide a test bed for entire cities.
Strategic Positioning and Resource-Based Thinking
Authors: Gallaugher John
Published: May 2011

This article synthesizes and leverages two strategic frameworks when analyzing the true nature of strategy and the Internet: (1) the concept of strategic positioning, and (2) the resource-based view of the firm. When considered together, these approaches create a powerful tool for understanding the factors determining the winners and losers among Internet businesses. Several examples of the applied framework are demonstrated. These frameworks also help challenge broken thought around many of the postbubble assertions regarding strategy and the Internet. This analysis is based on a series of case studies, with information drawn both from secondary sources as well as over 60 field visits with senior managers at technology firms in Seattle, Silicon Valley, and Tokyo conducted from 2005-2006.
A Tale of E-Business Models
Authors: Papagiannidis Savvas
Published: May 2011

This chapter covers the concept of e-business models and how they relate to the music video and television environments. After identifying the value creation chain of music and video broadcasting to provide a context for the chapter, it assesses independent producers and aggregators of content, important new factors in the value chain of entertainment, as well as the various mechanisms through which content is reproduced. Following a comparison of the music and video/television business models, a case study is presented which exemplifies the reconfigured value chain presented herein. The background, development, and outputs of Current TV are presented in order to highlight the ultimate issue clarified in this chapter–that the changing nature of music, video, and television broadcasting markets combined with faster broadband connection–will continue to underpin radical changes in both music and television industries.
A Reverse Auction-Based E-Business Model for B2C Service Markets
Authors: Kollmann Tobias
Published: May 2011

LetsWorkIt.de is a German B2C platform for different kinds of service and handcraft orders. Based on the concept of reverse auctions, demanders compose descriptions of the required services to place orders on the platform. The supplier bidding lowest at the end of the auction obtains the right to carry out the order. Drawing upon and widely confirming existing theories on e-marketplaces, this chapter examines the underlying e-business model and the competitive strategy of LetsWorkIt. The case provides evidence that the reverse auction-based intermediation of handcraft and service orders is suitable to form the basis of an e-marketplace and points out that for such ventures, a combination of public relations, performance marketing, and cooperation, represents an ideal strategy to increase the number of demanders and suppliers. Moreover, the case suggests that, depending on the business model, it may be feasible to concentrate marketing activities on one of these two customer groups, since LetsWorkIt has managed to achieve a significant number of successful, high-quality auctions by primarily aligning its competitive strategy with the demand side.
Towards Theory Development for Emergent E-Business Innovations
Authors: Troshani Indrit
Published: May 2011

The eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) is an emerging XML-based standard which has the potential to significantly improve the efficiency and effectiveness of intra- and inter-organisational information supply chains in e-business. In this chapter, we present the case for using convergent interviews as an appropriate and efficient method for modelling factors impacting the adoption of emerging and under-researched innovations, such as XBRL. Using this method, we identify environmental, organisational, and innovation-related factors as they apply to XBRL adoption and diffusion. Contentious factors, such as the role of government organisations, XBRL education and training, and the readiness of XBRL as an innovation, and its supporting software solutions are also examined in detail. Taken together, these discussions constitute an important step towards theory development for emergent e-business innovations. Practical adoptions strategies and their implications are also discussed.
The Applicability of Network Effect Theory to Low-Cost Adoption Decisions
Authors: Song Jaeki , Walden Eric A.
Published: May 2011

In this work, we examined the boundary of the applicability of network effects theory. We theorized that when adoption is cheap, the cognitive demands of estimating network effects outweigh the benefit of making optimal adoption decisions. Thus, even in contexts where network effects do exist, we predict that adopters will use simple heuristics to make adoption decisions, if adoption is cheap. We propose that adopters simply do what they observe others doing. Using the context of peer-to-peer file sharing, we conducted three studies comparing network effects against simply following the behavior of others, and found in all three cases that there was no marginal effect of network size on willingness to adopt. However, when subjects were told classmates’ adoption choices, there was a strong marginal effect on willingness to adopt. Put simply, if people are offered the option of downloading a free peer-to-peer software, then changing the network size from 1,000 to 1,000,000 has no effect on their willingness to adopt, but having two classmates express a choice not to download the software, had a large negative impact on a subject’s willingness to download. Thus, our subjects, when faced with the option of a free download, did not behave in accordance with network effects theory, suggesting that there is a boundary on the applicability of the theory to internet adoption behavior.
Context Aware Mobility Management
Authors: Pedrasa Jhoanna Rhodette , Perera Eranga , Seneviratne Aruna
Published: May 2011

Context is any information that can enhance a computing system’s relevance, timeliness, and usefulness to the user. Recent research has been devoted to the use of context in a mobile environment, particularly in handling the mobility itself. This chapter will start with defining what context is, how it is represented, and present a generalized system architecture. The authors then look at the problem of mobility in general and discuss existing solutions. Next they show how context can be leveraged to achieve more intelligent mobility management decisions. The authors highlight some of the research issues particular to context-aware mobility management and survey existing solutions. Last, they argue that these solutions have not truly addressed these issues and present their own architecture for handling mobility.
Construction of Matrix and eMatrix for Mobile Development Methodologies
Authors: Shiratuddin Norshuhada , Sarif Siti Mahfuzah
Published: May 2011

Mobile computing is getting more and more attention these days, but the fact that there is still inadequate source of development methodologies to support mobile development, triggers the interest in this study to explore issues related to mobile development methodologies. The mobile developers are facing formidable challenges in the development of mobile application due to the specific demand and technical constraints of mobile environment. Selecting a suitable development methodology is believed to be the key answer to all these issues. Thus, this study aimed to propose a solution to resolve the issues. A decision matrix based on Pugh method was constructed to assist mobile developers especially the novices, to choose the methodology that suits the requirements of their mobile development projects. In order to rate the usefulness of the constructed matrix, an electronic version of the matrix was designed and developed, called md-Matrix. Detail descriptions of the processes involved in constructing the matrix and designing the electronic version of the constructed matrix are also described. Analysis of data gathered from a questionnaire given after the test of md-Matrix shows that participants fairly agreed that md-Matrix is useful in helping them to develop a mobile application.
RFID and Supply Chain Visibility
Authors: Gupta Sumeet , Garg Miti , Xu Heng , Goh Mark
Published: May 2011

Supply chains have become increasingly complex and interdependent in the globalization era. Regulatory authorities are demanding stricter customer compliance, and customers are demanding real-time data for better decision making. At the same time, customer demand is becoming more erratic thus the need for enhanced supply chain coordination with an objective to enhance overall customer value. Radio Frequency Identification RFID, an enabler of supply chain visibility, has the potential to provide customers with large amounts of information at any point in the movement of goods through the supply chain. This technology complements the barcode technology. However, with the acceptance of RFID technology, several managerial and technical issues arise. The focus of this chapter is to thus discuss the relevance of RFID technology for enabling supply chain visibility and adoption related issues. introduCtion
Mobility for Secure Multi-Factor "Out of Band" Authentication
Authors: Tatham Matthew , Honkanen Arsi
Published: May 2011

Securing data is a key concern for individuals and organisations throughout the world, especially within information and communications infrastructure. With the help of highly sensitive data such as individual account information, criminals can carry out a variety of fraudulent activities; most notably financial fraud, which can be carried out through a multitude of channels. The increasing utilization of technologies, devices, and processes has further exacerbated these risks to organisations. This chapter identifies and describes the issues surrounding the secure authentication of individuals attempting to access or transact with organisations using online networks. This chapter then explains how to secure access to sensitive data through the use of multi-factor out-of-band authentication.
A Case Study in the Installation of Wi-Fi Networks in a Chemical Manufacturing Unit in India
Authors: Bhatt Bhargav
Published: May 2011

This chapter describes a case study in installation of a Wi-Fi network in a chemical manufacturing company. This project, carried out in India, was meant to connect the various dispersed manufacturing units of the organization as well as its administrative offices. Initial studies indicated that a physical network was not appropriate due to the local corrosive chemical environment; Ultra InfoTech was invited to install Wi-Fi network within the complex. This chapter reports on how the project progressed, the lessons learnt and the way to approach this kind of work in future in terms of wireless networking.
Social Context for Mobile Computing Device Adoption and Diffusion
Authors: Ciganek Andrew P. , Ramamurthy K.
Published: May 2011

The purpose of this chapter is to explore and suggest how perceptions of the social context of an organization moderate the usage of an innovative technology. We propose a research model that is strongly grounded in theory and offer a number of associated propositions that can be used to investigate adoption and diffusion of mobile computing devices for business-to-business (B2B) interactions (including transactions and other informational exchanges). Mobile computing devices for B2B are treated as a technological innovation. An extension of existing adoption and diffusion models by considering the social contextual factors is necessary and appropriate in light of the fact that various aspects of the social context have been generally cited to be important in the introduction of new technologies. In particular, a micro-level analysis of this phenomenon for the introduction of new technologies is not common. Since the technological innovation that is considered here is very much in its nascent stages there may not as yet be a large body of users in a B2B context. Therefore, this provides a rich opportunity to conduct academic research. We expect this chapter to sow the seeds for extensive empirical research in the future.
Case Studies in Mobile Business
Authors: Garito Marco
Published: May 2011

Th first part of this chapter deals with various mobile business applications and initiatives taken from real-life companies of which successfully implemented their go-to-market strategy in the wireless world. The structure of this chapter can be summarized into three main areas. At the beginning, the current market situation for mobile environment is described through highlighting how decreasing revenue is forcing companies to quickly innovate their offering to cope with highly intensive competition, justifying such an assumption with the flexible and open value chain. The second part is covering the Lateral Marketing approach in its main points under a theoretical point of view. Eventually, some examples of mobile applications and services are provided to reinforce the validity and need of Lateral Marketing to build reliable and durable growth.
Traffic Management System (TMS) using WiMAX
Authors: Bhalla Ishan , Chaudhary Kamlesh
Published: May 2011

Mobile WiMAX has gained extensive support in the industry. Demand on wireless Internet bandwidth is increasing. Mobile WiMAX, also called WirelessMAN (Wireless Metropolitan Area Networks.), is Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) of the Metro. Mobile WiMAX will offer wireless internet experience within the city as Wi-Fi offers within your office or home. Imagine making VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) calls from home and continuing to talk as you travel to work in the train or travel in the car on a freeway. Mobile WiMAX can make that happen. In this chapter the authors would describe what is Mobile WiMAX, how it can be combined with GPS (Global Positioning System) for Traffic Management, solve traffic related offences and help in providing a clear way for PSV’s (Public safety vehicles) like fire brigades and ambulances.
Manipulating Multimedia Materials
Authors: Reed Stephen K.
Published: May 2011

This chapter discusses a theoretical framework for designing multimedia in which manipulation, rather than perception, of objects plays the predominant role. The framework is based on research by cognitive psychologists and on Engelkamp’s (1998) multimodal model of action-based learning. Although the assumptions of Engelkamp’s model should be helpful for instructional design, they are not complete enough to include the additional demands of multimedia learning. These additional demands can result in unintended actions, involve sequences of related actions, and require reflection about domain-specific knowledge. Actions can be performed on either physical or virtual manipulatives, but virtual manipulatives exist in idealized environments, support continuous transformations of objects, and allow for dynamic linking to other objects, symbols, and data displays. The use of manipulatives in the Building Blocks and Animation Tutor projects provide illustrations.
The Cognitive Demands of Student-Centered, Web-Based Multimedia
Authors: Hannafin Michael J. , West Richard E. , Shepherd Craig E.
Published: May 2011

This chapter examines the cognitive demands of student-centered learning from, and with, Web-based multimedia. In contrast to externally-structured directed learning, during the student-centered learning, the individual assumes responsibility for determining learning goals, monitoring progress toward meeting goals, adjusting or adapting approaches as warranted, and determining when individual goals have been adequately addressed. These tasks can be particularly challenging in learning from the World Wide Web, where billions of resources address a variety of needs. The individual, in effect, must identify which tools and resources are available and appropriate, how to assemble them, and how to manage the process to support unique learning goals. We briefly analyze the applicability of current cognitive principles to learning from Web-based multimedia, review and critically analyze research and practice specific to student-centered learning from Web-based multimedia, and describe implications for research.
Online Synchronous English Learning from Activity Theory Perspectives
Authors: Uden Lorna , Chen Nian-Shing , Wei Chun-Wang , Fan Jui-Chu
Published: May 2011

The implementation of Online Synchronous Learning (OSL) poses many challenges to existing instruction technology theory because of the complexity of the digital age. Although many studies have been carried out for an OSL, there is little evidence of OSL for teaching language learning. This is especially so when it involves multiple cultural perspectives. This chapter describes the implementation of OSL for teaching English to foreign students from different cultures. The authors believe that the cultural historical Activity Theory is ideal for understanding OSL and its pedagogy. Through the lens of Activity Theory, this study takes close look at OSL courses and examines the socio-cultural factors affecting the success of the course as well as their complex relationships. Applying Activity Theory to analyze data collected over three years we have developed a framework to help educators who intend to implement OSL from multiple cultural perspectives.
Culture and Language Learning in Computer-Enhanced or Assisted Language Learning
Authors: Olaniran Bolanle A.
Published: May 2011

This chapter explores computer-mediated communication (CMC) and information communication technology (ICT) use in language learning. More specifically, the chapter addresses the impact or implications of CMC tools for computer enhanced language learning. The chapter attempts to present a review of key literature in adaptation of communication technologies to teaching or learning language in general and specifically second language acquisition. The chapter stresses the need to understand culture and contextual appropriateness of language, thus, it argues for communication technology to be used as a secondary resource rather than a primary tool for language learners. The discussion addresses the dimensions of cultural variability with respect to language learning. At the same time, features of synchronous and asynchronous CMC were analyzed in the context of language learning. Finally, the chapter addresses implications for language learning in computer mediated communication or computer assisted environments.
Using Blended Learning to Teach Foreign Brides Chinese
Authors: Lien Wei-Peng , Kuo Rita , Chang Maiga
Published: May 2011

This project aimed to construct a Blended Learning model with a lecture-review Web site, which would support students’ self-learning at home or in the community center of An-Chow village (Taiwan). The model would assist the participants (foreign brides from South-East Asia) not only in learning the Chinese culture but also in improving their relationships with the family members.
The Role of Interactive Computer Graphics to Augment the Learning Experience of Cultural Heritage Within Museums and Expositions
Authors: Conti Giuseppe , De Amicis Raffaele , Girardi Gabrio , Andreolli Michele , Piffer Stefano
Published: May 2011

In the past years the adoption of computer graphics to improve learning experience has seen a rising success. The wide availability of dedicated graphics hardware at low cost, mostly fostered by the increasing popularity of videogames, has contributed to the widespread adoption of 3D graphics technologies specifically developed for the general public in the context of cultural heritage. This chapter illustrates the role that 3D graphics has played and still plays today in improving the learning experience and it does so from different perspectives through the results from three projects. The first project illustrates the use of high-tech virtual reality facilities as means to improve the learning experience in the context of an archaeological site. The second project describes the use of standard desktop as well as Webbased 3D game-based technologies to provide interactive access to cultural heritage content. Finally, the third project shows how the use of technologies borrowed from other domains, such as in the case of 3D Geobrowsers, can bring significant benefit if adopted in the context of cultural heritage.
Developing Electronic Portfolios in a Computer Supported Collaborative Learning Environment
Authors: Erkunt Hamdi
Published: May 2011

Can a traditional college course be enhanced with online collaborative learning, with similar attributes to knowledge work in the modern world? Can students be engaged in semester long online collaborative work culminating their efforts in electronic portfolios that cannot be completed without the collective work of the whole group? Will some those students achieve a greater conceptual understanding of the domain than others? How will students react and adapt to kind of learning that aligns itself with assessment? These were the main questions driving the research with forty seven college level senior pre-service EFL teachers enrolled in an ELT materials development course, who were engaged in collaborative learning throughout a semester and prepared electronic portfolios consisting of their selection of best student work, all performed over a networked collaborative environment. The main goal is to probe further into the alignment of learning, collaboration, and assessment in computer forums within the framework of collaborative knowledge building. This chapter describes a knowledge-building environment (KBE) and the role of knowledge building portfolios in characterizing and scaffolding collaborative inquiry. What follows are some concise descriptions of the crucial concepts employed in the framework of this research. They are somewhat extended within the discussion section.
Intercultural Dimensions in the Information Society
Authors: Palaiologou Nektaria
Published: May 2011

Nowadays, it is a common ascertainment that information and communication technologies (ICTs) and networked learning are not easy to access for many people in non-Western societies and for those who belong in etho-cultural minority groups. As a result, one of the major drawbacks in networked learning programs is miscommunication amongst culturally-diverse participant users, which, to a great extent, is due to the lack of services that meet the needs of various socio-cultural groups of people. In addition, there is great need for multi-language Web sites (such as educational programmes, curricula, and software) in order to emphasise the importance of culture as a dimension which should be incorporated in modern ICT implementations. A literature review approach is followed so as to review statements and studies in the joint field of ICTs.
Cognitive Processes by using Finite State Machines
Authors: Rodríguez Ismael , Núñez Manuel , Rubio Fernando
Published: May 2011

Finite State Machines (FSM) are formalisms that have been used for decades to describe the behavior of systems. They can also provide an intelligent agent with a suitable formalism for describing its own beliefs about the behavior of the world surrounding it. In fact, FSMs are the suitable acceptors for right linear languages, which are the simplest languages considered in Chomsky’s classification of languages. Since Chomsky proposes that the generation of language (and, indirectly, any mental process) can be expressed through a kind of formal language, it can be assumed that cognitive processes can be formulated by means of the formalisms that can express those languages. Hence, we will use FSMs as a suitable formalism for representing (simple) cognitive models. We present an algorithm that, given an observation of the environment, produces an FSM describing an environment behavior that is capable to produce that observation. Since an infinite number of different FSMs could have produced that observation, we have to choose the most feasible one. When a phenomenon can be explained with several theories, Occam’s razor principle, which is basic in science, encourages choosing the simplest explanation. Applying this criterion to our problem, we choose the simplest (smallest) FSM that could have produced that observation. An algorithm is presented to solve this problem. In conclusion, our framework provides a cognitive model that is the most preferable theory for the observer, according to the Occam’s razor criterion.
A Formal Specification of the Memorization Process
Authors: López Natalia , Núñez Manuel , Pelayo Fernando L.
Published: May 2011

In this chapter we present the formal language, stochastic process algebra (STOPA), to specify cognitive systems. In addition to the usual characteristics of these formalisms, this language features the possibility of including stochastic time. This kind of time is useful to represent systems where the delays are not controlled by fixed amounts of time, but are given by probability distribution functions. In order to illustrate the usefulness of our formalism, we will formally represent a cognitive model of the memory. Following contemporary theories of memory classification (see Squire et al., 1993; Solso, 1999) we consider sensory buffer, short-term, and long-term memories. Moreover, borrowing from Y. Wang and Y. Wang (2006), we also consider the so-called action buffer memory.
Towards Cognitive Machines
Authors: Kinsner Witold
Published: May 2011

Numerous attempts are being made to develop machines that could act not only autonomously, but also in an increasingly intelligent and cognitive manner. Such cognitive machines ought to be aware of their environments which include not only other machines, but also human beings. Such machines ought to understand the meaning of information in more human-like ways by grounding knowledge in the physical world and in the machines’ own goals. The motivation for developing such machines ranges from self-evidenced practical reasons, such as the expense of computer maintenance, to wearable computing in health care, and gaining a better understanding of the cognitive capabilities of the human brain. To achieve such an ambitious goal requires solutions to many problems, ranging from human perception, attention, concept creation, cognition, consciousness, executive processes guided by emotions and value, and symbiotic conversational human-machine interactions. An important component of this cognitive machine research includes multiscale measures and analysis. This chapter presents definitions of cognitive machines, representations of processes, as well as their measurements, measures and analysis. It provides examples from current research, including cognitive radio, cognitive radar, and cognitive monitors.
Interactive Classification Using a Granule Network
Authors: Zhao Yan , Yao Yiyu
Published: May 2011

Classification is one of the main tasks in machine learning, data mining, and pattern recognition. Compared with the extensively studied automation approaches, the interactive approaches, centered on human users, are less explored. This chapter studies interactive classification at 3 levels. At the philosophical level, the motivations and a process-based framework of interactive classification are proposed. At the technical level, a granular computing model is suggested for re-examining not only existing classification problems, but also interactive classification problems. At the application level, an interactive classification system (ICS), using a granule network as the search space, is introduced. ICS allows multi-strategies for granule tree construction, and enhances the understanding and interpretation of the classification process. Interactive classification is complementary to the existing classification methods.
Improving Image Retrieval by Clustering
Authors: Gebara Dany , Alhajj Reda
Published: May 2011

This chapter presents a novel approach for content-fbased image retrieval and demonstrates its applicability on non-texture images. The process starts by extracting a feature vector for each image; wavelets are employed in the process. Then the images (each represented by its feature vector) are classified into groups by employing a density-based clustering approach, namely OPTICS. This highly improves the querying facility by limiting the search space to a single cluster instead of the whole database. The cluster to be searched is determined by applying on the query image the same clustering process OPTICS. This leads to the closest cluster to the query image, and hence, limits the search to the latter cluster without adding the query image to the cluster, except if such request is explicitly specified. The power of this system is demonstrated on non-texture images from the Corel dataset. The achieved results demonstrate that the classification of images is extremely fast and accurate.
Content Based Image Retrieval Using Active-Nets
Authors: García Pérez David , Mosquera Antonio , Berretti Stefano , Del Bimbo Alberto
Published: May 2011

Content-based image retrieval has been an active research area in past years. Many different solutions have been proposed to improve performance of retrieval, but the large part of these works have focused on sub-parts of the retrieval problem, providing targeted solutions only for individual aspects (i.e., feature extraction, similarity measures, indexing, etc). In this chapter, we first shortly review some of the main practiced solutions for content-based image retrieval evidencing some of the main issues. Then, we propose an original approach for the extraction of relevant image objects and their matching for retrieval applications, and present a complete image retrieval system which uses this approach (including similarity measures and image indexing). In particular, image objects are represented by a two-dimensional deformable structure, referred to as “active net.” Active net is capable of adapting to relevant image regions according to chromatic and edge information. Extension of the active nets has been defined, which permits the nets to break themselves, thus increasing their capability to adapt to objects with complex topological structure. The resulting representation allows a joint description of color, shape, and structural information of extracted objects. A similarity measure between active nets has also been defined and used to combine the retrieval with an efficient indexing structure. The proposed system has been experimented on two large and publicly available objects databases, namely, the ETH-80 and the ALOI.
A Machine Learning-Based Model for Content-Based Image Retrieval
Authors: Hacid Hakim , Zighed Abdelkader Djamel
Published: May 2011

A multimedia index makes it possible to group data according to similarity criteria. Traditional index structures are based on trees and use the k-Nearest Neighbors (k-NN) approach to retrieve databases. Due to some disadvantages of such an approach, the use of neighborhood graphs was proposed. This approach is interesting, but it has some disadvantages, mainly in its complexity. This chapter presents a step in a long process of analyzing, structuring, and retrieving multimedia databases. Indeed, we propose an effective method for locally updating neighborhood graphs, which constitute our multimedia index. Then, we exploit this structure in order to make the retrieval process easy and effective, using queries in an image form in one hand. In another hand, we use the indexing structure to annotate images in order to describe their semantics. The proposed approach is based on an intelligent manner for locating points in a multidimensional space. Promising results are obtained after experimentations on various databases. Future issues of the proposed approach are very relevant in this domain.
Solving the Small and Asymmetric Sampling Problem in the Context of Image Retrieval
Authors: Zhang Ruofei , Zhang Zhongfei (Mark)
Published: May 2011

This chapter studies the user relevance feedback in image retrieval. We take this problem as a standard two-class pattern classification problem aiming at refining the retrieval precision by learning through the user relevance feedback data. However, we have investigated the problem by noting two important unique characteristics of the problem: small sample collection and asymmetric sample distributions between positive and negative samples. We have developed a novel approach to empirical Bayesian learning to solve for this problem by explicitly exploiting the two unique characteristics, which is the methodology of BAyesian Learning in ASymmetric and Small sample collections, thus called BALAS. In BALAS different learning strategies are used for positive and negative sample collections, respectively, based on the two unique characteristics. By defining the relevancy confidence as the relevant posterior probability, we have developed an integrated ranking scheme in BALAS which complementarily combines the subjective relevancy confidence and the objective similarity measure to capture the overall retrieval semantics. The experimental evaluations have confirmed the rationale of the proposed ranking scheme, and have also demonstrated that BALAS is superior to an existing relevance feedback method in the current literature in capturing the overall retrieval semantics.
Collective CPD
Authors: Gold Jeff , Thorpe Richard
Published: May 2011

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is usually conceived as a planned and formulated process for individual members of professional associations. This chapter, by contrast, examines professional learning as a collective and distributed process, taking a whole firm, as the unit of analysis. Cultural Historical Activity Theory is used to work with a law firm. The results show inherent tensions and contradiction in a process of knowledge sharing and practice improvement.
Cultural Issues, Organizations and Information Fulfillment
Authors: Burke Maria E.
Published: May 2011

The purpose of this chapter is to consider an original way of improving Knowledge Management relationships. This is done within the context of an aspect of Information behaviour, known as Information Fulfillment. The chapter presents the cultural results of a three-year study into the concept of information fulfillment, and considers the impact of culture on levels of information fulfillment. Ethnographic studies were undertaken within higher education institutions in four countries and the social and symbolic meanings that underpinned the culture of information in the chosen institutions are presented followed by a section of “raw data” from the ethnographic field. Culture impacted significantly in all the studies, and each study had its own unique character and provided rich insights into the culture and contexts of the fields. The relationships between the cultures and the levels of information fulfillment are reported with suggestions re helping build KM systems that deliver higher levels of information fulfillment.
Engineering Design at a Toyota Company
Authors: Mehri Darius
Published: May 2011

The author worked in the research and design department at a large Toyota company in the late 1990s and experienced an innovative process where engineers worked in tightly knit groups where monitoring, the informal hierarchy and dependence resulted from an emphasis on collective work. In the approach to innovation during the design process, the Toyota engineers were found to engage in an inductive process that placed an emphasis on the concrete and an orientation toward the field as a result of an approach that relied on experience based knowledge. The use of tacit and explicit knowledge is discussed within the context of the design process and the author finds that explicit knowledge dominates the improvement of productivity and organizational learning. The latest research in the sociology of culture and cultural psychology is used to highlight the cognitive approach to problem solving during the innovative process.
Critical Analysis of International Guidelines for the Management of Knowledge Resources
Authors: Ricceri Federica , Guthrie James
Published: May 2011

The shift towards a knowledge based economy is at the core of the debate of contemporary management and accounting literature and organisations are challenged by the need to manage their knowledge resources. Several national and international institutions have produced authoritative “guidelines” to facilitate the management and reporting of KR. Many of these guidelines are the result of co-operation between researchers, companies, industry organisations and consultants and have, therefore, been informed by practice. However, to date, there has been no serious critique of these guidelines. The main objective of this chapter is to provide an in-depth analysis of six contemporary guidelines. By reviewing these guidelines, this chapter explores how each of these addresses the MKR and therefore facilitates the management and reporting of KR. Therefore, this chapter will establish some of the key issues involved in understanding MKR. It will also provide an overview of how these issues are addressed or otherwise in the six guidelines. Two key messages of this chapter are the followings: first, MKR and its elements are embedded in various ways into the international guidelines examined; second, that a key policy issue is international harmonisation.
Tensions between Knowledge Creation and Knowledge Sharing
Authors: Andreeva Tatiana
Published: May 2011

Contemporary literature usually views knowledge creation and knowledge sharing as either independent or positively related processes. However, based on the review of the literature on the organizational conditions aimed to support these processes, the author challenges this view at the individual level of analysis and suggests that an individual employee can hardly simultaneously combine features that support both knowledge creation and knowledge sharing and thus can hardly be efficient in both processes at the same time. The data from the survey of 120 employees from 5 knowledge-intensive companies supported this idea, and the author discusses its implications for further research and for management practice in knowledge-intensive organizations.
IIR Filters to Sampling Rate Conversion
Authors: Milic Ljiljana
Published: May 2011

Infinite impulse response (IIR) filters are used in applications where the computational efficiency is the highest priority. It is well known that an IIR filter transfer function is of a considerably lower order than the transfer function of an FIR equivalent. The drawbacks of an IIR filter are the nonlinear phase characteristic and sensitivity to quantization errors. In multirate applications, the computational requirements for FIR filters can be reduced by the sampling rate conversion factor as demonstrated in Chapter IV. However, such a degree of computation savings cannot be achieved in multirate implementations of IIR filters. This is due to the fact that every sample value computed in the recursive loop is needed for evaluating an output sample. Based on the polyphase decomposition, several techniques have been developed which improve the efficiency of IIR decimators and interpolators as will be shown later on in this chapter. In this chapter, we consider first the direct implementation structures for IIR decimators and interpolators. In the sequel, we demonstrate the computational requirements for direct form IIR decimators and interpolators. The polyphase decomposition of an IIR transfer function is explained with its application to decimation and interpolation. Then, we demonstrate an efficient IIR polyphase structure based on all-pass subfilters, which is applicable to a restricted class of decimators and interpolators. In this chapter, we discuss the application of the elliptic minimal Q factor (EMQF) filter transfer function in constructing high-performance decimators and interpolators. The chapter concludes with a selection of MATLAB exercises for the individual study.
Sampling Rate Converison by a Fractional Factor
Authors: Milic Ljiljana
Published: May 2011

We have discussed so far the decimation and interpolation where the sampling rate conversion factor is an integer. However, the need for a non-integer sampling rate conversion appears when the two systems operating at different sampling rates have to be connected, or when there is a need to convert the sampling rate of the recorded data into another sampling rate for further processing or reproduction. Such applications are very common in telecommunications, digital audio, multimedia and others. In this chapter, we consider the sampling rate conversion by a rational factor, called sometimes a fractional sampling rate conversion. We use MATLAB functions from the Signal Processing and Filter Design Toolbox to demonstrate the fractional sampling rate conversion. We present the technique for constructing efficient fractional sampling rate converters based on FIR filters and the polyphase decomposition. In the sequel, we consider the sampling rate alteration with an arbitrary conversion factor. We present the polynomial-based approximation of the impulse response of a hybrid analog/digital model, and the implementation based on the Farrow structure. We also consider the fractional-delay filter problem. This chapter concludes with MATLAB exercises for individual study.
Fault-Tolerant Software
Authors: De Florio Vincenzo
Published: May 2011

After having described the main characteristics of dependability and fault-tolerance, it is analyzed here in more detail what it means that a program is fault-tolerant and what are the properties expected from a fault-tolerant program. The main objective of this chapter is introducing two sets of design assumptions that shape the way our fault-tolerant software is structured—the system and the fault models. Often misunderstood or underestimated, those models describe • what is expected from the execution environment in order to let our software system function correctly, and • what are the faults that our system is going to consider. Note that a fault-tolerant program shall (try to) tolerate only those faults stated in the fault model, and will be as defenseless against all other faults as any non fault-tolerant program. Together with the system specification, the fault and system models represent the foundation on top of which our computer services are built. It is not surprising that weak foundations often result in failing constructions. What is really surprising is that in so many cases, little or no attention had been given to those important factors in fault-tolerant software engineering. To give an idea of this, three wellknown accidents are described—the Ariane 5 flight 501, Mariner-1 disasters, and the Therac-25 accidents. In each case it is stressed what went wrong, what were the biggest mistakes, and how a careful understanding of fault models and system models would have helped highlighting the path to avoid catastrophic failures that cost considerable amounts of money and even the lives of innocent people. The other important objective of this chapter is introducing the core subject of this book: Software fault-tolerance situated at the level of the application layer. First of all, it is explained why targeting (also) the application layer is not an open option but a mandatory design choice for effective fault-tolerant software engineering. Secondly, given the peculiarities of the application layer, three properties to measure the quality of the methods to achieve fault-tolerant application software are introduced: 1. Separation of design concerns, that is, how good the method is in keeping the functional aspects and the fault-tolerance aspects separated from each other. 2. Syntactical adequacy, namely how versatile the employed method is in including the wider spectrum of fault-tolerance strategies. 3. Adaptability: How good the employed fault-tolerance method is in dealing with the inevitable changes characterizing the system and its run-time environment, including the dynamics of faults that manifest themselves at service time. Finally, this chapter also defines a few fundamental fault-tolerance services, namely watchdog timers, exception handling, transactions, and checkpointingand- rollback.
Fault-Tolerant Protocols Using Compilers and Translators
Authors: De Florio Vincenzo
Published: May 2011

In this chapter our survey of methods and structures for application-level fault-tolerance continues, getting closer to the programming language: Indeed, tools such as compilers and translators work at the level of the language—they parse, interpret, compile or transform our programs, so they are interesting candidates for managing dependability aspects in the application layer. An important property of this family of methods is the fact that fault-tolerance complexity is extracted from the program and turned into architectural complexity in the compiler or the translator. Apart from continuing with our survey, this chapter also aims at providing the reader with two practical examples: • Reflective and refractive variables, that is, a syntactical structure to express adaptive feedback loops in the application layer. This is useful to resilient computing because a feedback loop can attach error recovery strategies to error detection events. • Redundant variables, that is, a tool that allows designers to make use of adaptively redundant data structures with commodity programming languages such as C or Java. Designers using such tools can define redundant data structures in which the degree of redundancy is not fixed once and for all at design time, but rather it changes dynamically with respect to the disturbances experienced during the run time. Both tools are new research activities that are currently being carried out by the author of this book at the PATS research group of the University of Antwerp. It is shown how through a simple translation approach it is possible to provide sophisticated features such as adaptive fault-tolerance to programs written in any language, even plain old C.
Fault-Tolerant Protocols Using Fault-Tolerance Programming Languages
Authors: De Florio Vincenzo
Published: May 2011

The programming language itself is the focus of this chapter: Fault-tolerance is not embedded in the program (as it is the case e.g. for single-version fault-tolerance), nor around the language (through compilers or translators); on the contrary, faulttolerance is provided through the syntactical structures and the run-time executives of fault-tolerance programming languages. Also in this case a significant part of the complexity of dependability enforcement is moved from each single code to the architecture, in this case the programming language. Many cases exist of fault-tolerance programming languages; this chapter proposes a few of them, considering three cases: Object-oriented languages, functional languages, and hybrid languages. In particular it is discussed the case of Oz, a multi-paradigm programming language that achieves both transparent distribution and translucent failure handling.