bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ontologically Enhanced RosettaNet B2B Integration
Authors: Kotinurmi Paavo , Haller Armin , Oren Eyal
Published: May 2011

RosettaNet is an industry-driven e-business process standard that defines common inter-company public processes and their associated business documents. RosettaNet is based on the Service-oriented architecture (SOA) paradigm and all business documents are expressed in DTD or XML Schema. Our “ontologically-enhanced RosettaNet” effort translates RosettaNet business documents into a Web ontology language, allowing business reasoning based on RosettaNet message exchanges. This chapter describes our extension to RosettaNet and shows how it can be used in business integrations for better interoperability. The usage of a Web ontology language in RosettaNet collaborations can help accommodate partner heterogeneity in the setup phase and can ease the back-end integration, enabling for example more competition in the purchasing processes. It provides also a building block to adopt a semantic SOA with richer discovery, selection and composition capabilities.
Formal Ontology for Media Rights Transactions
Authors: Pease Adam , Rust Godfrey
Published: May 2011

Rightscom (a UK-based media and rights consultancy), is working with Articulate Software (a formal ontology consultancy) and with another system developer to create a large-scale metadata integration and transaction management system, founded on an ontology-based metamodel. Previous versions of this system have utilized lightweight schema and conventional Semantic Web technologies such as OWL. This has become unwieldy, and does not take advantage of latest technologies. Our current version employs formal ontology development in the logical language of SUO-KIF and involves reuse of an extension of a large formal ontology – the Suggested Upper Merged Ontology (SUMO) - and its associated ontology management system, called Sigma. In particular, integration with a large ontology will give the Rightscom model greater coverage of more domains and expand business opportunities to supporting more kinds of transaction management applications. By utilizing an open source technology core, Rightscom will be able to leverage a larger and more robust set of technologies for our clients than would be possible with a proprietary system developed entirely in house. A key challenge in this work is maintaining customer-specific vocabularies and descriptions that are more appropriate in different contexts than the generic explanations in SUMO, that also conform to the central SUMO model.
Multi-Level Data Integration and Data Mining in Systems Biology
Authors: Alfieri Roberta , Milanesi Luciano
Published: May 2011

This chapter aims to describe data integration and data mining techniques in the context of systems biology studies. It argues that the different methods available in the field of data integration can be very useful in making research in the field of systems biology easier. Moreover data mining is an important task to take into account in this context, therefore in this chapter, some aspects of data mining applied to systems biology specific case studies shall be discussed. The availability of a large number of specific resources, especially for the experimental researchers, is something difficult for users who tried to explore gene, protein, and pathway data for the first time. This chapter finally aims to highlight the complexity in the systems biology data and to provide an overview of the data integration and mining approaches in the context of systems biology using a specific example for the Cell Cycle database and the Cell Cycle models simulation.
The System for Population Kinetics
Authors: Vicini Paolo
Published: May 2011

This chapter describes the System for Population Kinetics (SPK), a novel Web service for performing population kinetic analysis. Population kinetic analysis is a widely-used tool for extracting information about the probability distributions of unknown parameters in kinetic models. The statistical population model is usually hierarchical, with a nested structure encompassing both variation between subjects and residual unexplained variation associated with the model predictions. The complexity of the analysis is largely driven by the nonlinearity of the models employed. Here, we provide a concise introduction to the topic and a historical perspective for the benefit of the reader who is new to these concepts. Next, we briefly describe the SPK open source system and its multi-tiered architecture, indicating the user goals it set to achieve and elucidating its practical usage with examples.
Fluorescence Imaging of Mitochondrial Long-Term Depolarization in Cancer Cells Exposed to Heat-Stress
Authors: Dressler Cathrin , Minet Olaf , Zabarylo Urszula , Beuthan Jürgen
Published: May 2011

This chapter deals with the mitochondrias’ stress response to heat, which is the central agent of thermotherapy. Thermotherapies function by inducing lethal heat inside target tissues. Spatial and temporal instabilities of temperature distributions in targets require optimized treatment protocols and reliable temperature-control methods during thermotherapies. Since solid cancers present predominant targets to thermotherapy, we analyzed hyperthermic stress-induced effects on mitochondrial transmembrane potentials in breast cancer cells (MX1). Heat sensitivities and stress reactions might be extremely different among different tissue species and tissue dignities; therefore it is very important to investigate tissue-specific stress responses systematically. Even though this chapter provides minimal information only to the enlightenment of systemic cellular heat stress mechanisms, it may contribute to deepening the basic knowledge about systemic stress responses. In addition, the data presented here might support optimizing of treatment protocols applied during thermotherapy, particularly LITT and hyperthermia.
Model Development and Decomposition in Physiology
Authors: Reinecke Isabel , Deuflhard Peter
Published: May 2011

In this chapter some model development concepts can be used for the mathematical modeling in physiology as well as a graph theoretical approach for a decomposition technique in order to simplify parameter estimation are presented. This is based on the human menstrual cycle. First some modeling fundamentals are introduced that are applied to the model development of the human menstrual cycle. Then it is shown how a complex mathematical model can be handled if a large number of parameters are used where the parameter values are not known for the most part. A method is presented to divide the model into smaller, disjoint model parts. At the same time, it is shown how this technique works in the case of the human menstrual cycle. The principles for model development and decomposition can be used for other physiological models as well.
Optimization of ECG Procedures Chain for Reliability and Data Reduction
Authors: Augustyniak Piotr , Tadeusiewicz Ryszard
Published: May 2011

This chapter deals with various aspects of improvements in the typical ECG processing chain. Particular procedures designed for the computation of specified diagnostic results are usually developed in long research projects and rarely disclosed as a source code. Without challenging well-established calculation methods, we aimed at optimizing the data flow and minimizing the propagation of computational errors. These issues are of particular importance in telemedical applications because the ECG interpretation process is distributed in the network and partly unsupervised.
Dynamic Task Distribution in Mobile Client-Server Cooperation
Authors: Augustyniak Piotr , Tadeusiewicz Ryszard
Published: May 2011

This chapter discusses the technical limitations of remote wearable recorders. These are caused mainly by high expectations of mobility and manifest themselves through short autonomy time, low computational power, limited resources, and unacceptable physical size.
ITIL and Value Networks
Authors: Lee Laurence Lock
Published: May 2011

In this chapter a management framework designed by and for the IT function will be reviewed from a network’s perspective. ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) is the result of an initiative of the UK Office of Government Commerce to collate and publish a suite of “Best IT Management” practices. The result is a process model covering the various IT service functions like service desks, problem and incident management; configuration and change management; service level management, capacity management, security management; and IT application development, implementation and maintenance.
The Global IT Outsourcing Market
Authors: Lee Laurence Lock
Published: May 2011

This chapter will initially take a closer look at the extent of networking in the global IT markets. Novel market research techniques are used to discover relationship centric intelligence, typically missing from traditional market analyses. This will be followed by a section on networks spanning the client/provider interface, looking at how network structures can enhance the client provider relationship. The client provider interface is often governed through formal structures and roles. This analysis provides some insight into the potential negative impacts of relying solely on this style of governance. Finally, the topic of innovation, and innovation networks, will be addressed. Injecting innovation into the IT sourcing relationship has proven somewhat elusive given the twin objectives of cost reduction through implementing standard IT infrastructures and processes, while at the same time creating new business opportunities through the innovative use of IT. The network perspective provides new insight into this conundrum and some avenues for profitable change.
E-Entrepreneurship
Authors: Kollmann Tobias
Published: May 2011

The fundamental advantages of information technology in regard to efficiency and effectiveness assure that its diffusion in society and in most industries will continue. The constant and rapid development of Internet-related technologies in the accompanying net economy has inevitably had a significant influence on various possibilities for developing innovative online business concepts and realizing these by establishing entrepreneurial ventures. The term “e-entrepreneurship” respectively describes the act of founding new companies that generate revenue and profits independent from a physical value chain. With this in mind, this article focuses on the process of creating electronic customer value within the net economy as well as the success factors and development phases of electronic ventures. Elaborating on these points should help to clearly define the area of eentrepreneurship and provide evidence that the establishment of electronic ventures is worthy of special consideration in the context of research on information technology entrepreneurship.
Environmental Drivers of E-Business Strategies Among SMEs
Authors: Arbore Alessandro
Published: May 2011

In front of traditional interpretations of the digital gap based on endogenous conditions of the firms, this chapter intends to emphasize the importance that some external pressures may have on the ebusiness strategy of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The environmental factors analyzed here are market position, competitive intensity, and institutional pressures. SMEs have been grouped according to their level of e-business involvement, in relation to the number of e-business solutions adopted so far. Three layers are proposed: excluded, tentative, and integrated e-business SMEs. A multinomial logistic regression was used to predict these strategies. A general conclusion is that different models seem to explain exclusion and involvement. Specifically, two factors among those analyzed reveal to be more suitable in explaining e-business exclusion. They are the size of a SME and a lack of institutional pressures to adopt. On the other hand, e-business involvement seems to be primarily prompted by a selective competitive environment and not by imitative behaviors, as in the previous case.
Best Practice in Company Standardization
Authors: de Vries Henk J. , J.C. Slob Florens
Published: May 2011

This article describes a best practice model for standardization within companies, based on a process approach to the development of company standards. Per process, a best practice is developed based on an investigation within six multinational companies and a review of literature, if any. The findings are benchmarked against experiences in three comparable fields: IT management, quality management, and knowledge management. Though the number of company standards exceeds by far the number of external standards, they have been neglected in standardization research. The authors hope that standards practitioners will benefit from their study and that it will stimulate researchers to pay more attention to this topic.
A Qualitative Study in User's Information-Seeking Behaviors on Web Sites
Authors: Sawasdichai Napawan
Published: May 2011

This chapter introduces a qualitative study of user’s information-seeking tasks on Web-based media, by investigating user’s cognitive behaviors when they are searching for particular information on various kinds of Web sites. The experiment, which is a major part of the recently completed doctoral research at the Institute of Design-IIT, particularly studies cognitive factors including user goals and modes of searching in order to investigate if these factors significantly affect users’ information-seeking behaviors. The main objective is to identify the corresponding impact of these factors on their needs and behaviors in relation to Web site design. By taking a userbased qualitative approach, the author hopes that this study will open the door to a careful consideration of actual user needs and behaviors in relation to information-seeking tasks on Web-based media. The results may compliment the uses of existing quantitative studies by supplying a deeper user understanding and a new qualitative approach to analyze and improve the design of information on Web sites.
Computer and Stress in Social and Healthcare Industries
Authors: Suomi Reima , Raitoharju Reetta
Published: May 2011

Social and healthcare industries offer demanding occupations, as they are very human-contact intensive workplaces and, moreover, the customers are usually met in critical and not-wished-for situations. Possible actions are many, and seldom are there clear procedures on how to continue: Each customer contact is a place for genuine decisions. Add to this deliberate service situation a computer, and you can count on difficulties. Our focus is on how information systems affect the stress levels of health and social-care workers. Our empirical study shows–among many other factors–strong correlation between the use of computers and stress levels in the healthcare professions: The more computer use, the more stress. We discuss what could be done to manage stress levels in relationship to computer use in health and social-care industries. In conclusion, we wrap the research findings together and propose our extensions to the current knowledge on the relationship between stress and information systems in health care. Our most important finding is that when users understand the total collaborative work setting, computer work obtains meaning, and stress levels reduce.
Information-Theoretic Methods for Prediction in the Wireless and Wired Web
Authors: Katsaros Dimitrios
Published: May 2011

Discrete sequence modeling and prediction is an important goal and challenge for Web environments, both wired and wireless. Web clients’ datarequest forecasting and mobile location tracking in wireless cellular networks are characteristic application areas of sequence prediction in such environments. Accurate data-request prediction results in effective data prefetching, which combined with a caching mechanism can reduce userperceived latencies as well as server and network loads. Also, effective solutions to the mobility tracking and prediction problem can reduce the update and paging costs, freeing the network from excessive signaling traffic. Therefore, sequence prediction comprises a very important study and development area. This chapter presents information- theoretic techniques for discrete sequence prediction. It surveys, classifies, and compares the state-of-the-art solutions, suggesting routes for further research by discussing the critical issues and challenges of prediction in wired and wireless networks.
Optical Network Survivability
Authors: Correia N. S.C.
Published: May 2011

The telecommunications world is evolving dramatically toward challenging scenarios where the fast and efficient transportation of information is becoming a key element in today’s society. Wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) technology has the potential to satisfy the ever-increasing bandwidth needs of the network users on a sustained basis (Mukherjee, 2000). Network operators must provide uninterrupted service to their customers, that is, network survivability must be guaranteed. This means that networks must be able to handle link or fiber cuts as well as equipment failures, fact that influences the design and operation of networks (Gerstel & Ramaswami, 2000). When using WDM, survivability becomes even more important because of the huge amount of traffic carried by a single fiber. A single fiber failure, even for few seconds, can be catastrophic (Maier, Pattavina, Patre, & Martinelli, 2002). This issue is actually very important since the optical WDM technology is now being deployed in the field. Network survivability is not just an academic subject. In real networks, failures happen quite frequently (fiber cuts, for example, are very common in terrestrial networks since they share other utility transport conduits such as gas or water pipes and electrical cables, and are considered the least reliable component (Gerstel et al., 2000; Maier et al., 2002). The prevention of service interruption, or the reduction of the service loss when failures occur, must now be an integral part of the network design and operations strategy or otherwise severe service losses can happen.
The Financial Potential of Sporadic Customers in E-Retailing
Authors: Joia Luiz Antonio
Published: May 2011

The scope of this article is to explore the transaction profitability of frequent and sporadic buyers in the e-commerce arena. Evidence in relationship marketing literature stressing the impact of purchase frequency on customer transaction profitability as well as recent academic research challenging this approach and pointing out the importance of sporadic clients is analyzed and presented. A single case study research methodology was chosen for this article due to the exploratory facets associated with the subject and the industry under investigation. In order to gather relevant input to carry out this research, one of the largest retailing groups in Brazil was investigated. Conclusions are drawn showing that greater frequency of purchases does not necessarily translate into increased customer transaction profitability. Implications are presented, enabling practitioners and academics to grasp fully the real value of customers — both frequent and sporadic buyers — in order to develop coherent approaches for dealing with them adequately.
M-Commerce Payment Systems
Authors: Kumari Vatsavayi Valli , Mukkamala Ravi
Published: May 2011

With mobile operators having a large customer base and e-payments getting popular, there is a shift of focus on the huge potential that the mobile commerce (m-commerce) market offers. Mobile payment (m-payment) service is the core for the success of m-commerce. M-payments allow customers to buy digital goods from anywhere and anytime using Internet and mobile environments. Ubiquity, reachability, localization, personalization, and dissemination of information are the characteristics that favor m-payments and encourage the consumers and merchants to use them. This chapter examines various aspects of m-payments like architectures, limitations, security, and trust issues. It also discusses and compares the existing payment procedures of several different companies providing m-payment services. While exploring the advantages of shifting to m-payments, the problems that have to be dealt with when adopting new solutions are discussed. Finally, the chapter concludes by identifying a common set of requirements criteria for successful global m-payments.
E-Commerce Links for SMEs within the Industry Value Chain
Authors: Feindt Sylvie , Jeffcoate Judith , Chappell Caroline
Published: May 2011

The objective of this chapter is to evaluate the use of e-commerce across the value chains of several companies. In order to fulfil this objective, two different types of supply chain are analysed: the first type consists of buyer groups in the consumer goods sector; the second is dynamic networks in the manufacturing sector. Having identified what value activities are automated, the chapter examines the level of ICT and how value activity interactions between organisations are supported with e-commerce. Building on the analysis of e-commerce technology usage, the development of virtual structures is examined and the roles that SMEs can play in these. The chapter seeks to demonstrate that, with the introduction of ecommerce technologies in value activities across companies, the role of the current players is changing. Finally, the extent to which the traditional supply chain tiers change into more virtual value chain structures is evaluated.
Business Information Integration from XML and Relational Databases Sources
Authors: Fermoso Garcia Ana María
Published: May 2011

This chapter introduces different alternatives to store and manage jointly relational and eXtensible Markup Language (XML) data sources. Nowadays, businesses are transformed in e-business and have to manage large data volumes and from heterogeneous sources. To manage large amounts of information, Database Management Systems (DBMS) continue to be one of the most used tools, and the most extended model is the relational one. On the other side, XML has reached the de facto standard to present and exchange information between businesses on the Web. Therefore, it could be necessary to use tools as mediators to integrate these two different data to a common format like XML, since it is the main data format on the Web. First, a classification of the main tools and systems where this problem is handled is made, with their advantages and disadvantages. The objective will be to propose a new system to solve the integration business information problem.
E-Governance in Uganda
Authors: van Reijswoud Victor , de Jager Arjan
Published: May 2011

E-governance is a powerful tool for bringing about change to government processes in the developing world. It operates at the crossroads between Information and Communication Technology and government processes and can be divided into three overlapping domains: e-administration, e-services and e-society. To succeed, e-governance must be firmly embedded in existing government processes; supported, both politically and technically, by the governments; and provide users with reasons to use these on-line domains. To maximize the impact, process change must be part and parcel of e-governance. This chapter presents and evaluates the ongoing DistrictNet e-governance programme in Uganda which was set up in 2002 to provide transparency at the local government level and improve the provision of public information using ICT. DistrictNet’s achievements are presented and evaluated according to the criteria of the three domains of e-governance and their impact on government processes. On the basis of this evaluation, we elicit lessons that can be used to guide smaller programmes at the local government level in the developing world.
Mobile-Commerce Intention to Use via SMS
Authors: Rouibah Kamel
Published: May 2011

With the widespread use of mobile phones in the Arab world, companies, including banks, are offering different communication channels for their customers to access their services. Among these channels, this study investigates the level of intention to use SMS for banking transactions. To reach this objective the study compares the explanatory power of six technology adoption models to predict SMS intention to use. These models are: the theory of reasoned action, the theory of panned behavior, the technology acceptance model, the decomposed theory of planed behavior, Nyvseen’s et al., (2005) model, and a new model proposed by the authors. A convenient sample of 171 users in Kuwait was used to compare these models using regression analysis. Results show that the decomposed theory of planned behavior has the largest explanatory power, followed by the new proposed model. Results also reveal that the technology acceptance model and the theory of reasoned action have the least explanatory power. These results provide researchers and practitioners with some insights on the adoption of SMS. For researchers, such insights would be useful in understanding the adoption phenomenon, while for practitioners, such insights would provide some basis for adopting certain policies to promote adoption.
Constructive Alignment in SE Education
Authors: Armarego Jocelyn
Published: May 2011

Practitioner studies suggest that formal IT-related education is not developing the skills and knowledge needed by graduates in daily work. In particular, a shift in focus from technical competency to the soft and metacognitive skills is identified. This chapter argues that a framework for learning can be developed that more closely models the experiences of practitioners, and addresses their expectations of novice software engineers. Evaluation of a study incorporating three action research cycles shows that what is needed is a mapping between the characteristics of professional practice and the learning model that is applied. The research shows that a relationship also exists between learner and learning model, and that this relationship can be exploited in the development of competent discipline practitioners.
Experiences in Project-Based Software Engineering
Authors: Demurjian Steven A. , Needham Donald M.
Published: May 2011

Project-based capstone software engineering courses are a norm in many computer science (CS) and computer science & engineering (CS&E) accredited programs. Such cap-stone design courses offer an excellent vehicle for educational outcomes assessment to support the continuous improvement process required for accreditation. A project-based software engineering capstone course near the end of a student’s program can span the majority of CS and CS&E program objectives, providing a significant means to assess at-tainment of these objectives in a single course location. One objective of this chapter is to explore the role of a project-based, software engineering course in accreditation. An addi-tional objective is to relate over twelve combined years of experience in teaching such a course, and in the process, highlight what works and what does not. We candidly examine both the successes and the failures that we have encountered over the years, and provide a roadmap for other instructors and departments seeking to institute such courses.
Collaboration and Networks
Authors: Mengalli Neli Maria
Published: May 2011

This chapter presents the course School Management and Technologies, and what emerged from the discourses of subjects that make it possible to deduce that the educational managers successfully learned to use of technology in school management and the formation of networks and of partnerships during the course. Through the curriculum developed in the course of School Management and Technologies, as well as the interfaces offered in the learning environment, participating managers have the opportunity to rethink everyday practice, the educational contexts, and ways to work on communication with people, both in the same school or other. It was possible to perceive the potentials for the suggestion of network formation and community building, primarily Communities of Practice (CoP), as the basis for knowledge-based management in education.
A Training Design for Behavioral Factors in Virtual Multicultural Teams
Authors: Fischlmayr Iris C.
Published: May 2011

In this chapter, factors “really” influencing virtual multicultural team work shall be described and a training design used for students and company members will be presented. So far, little attention has been paid to behavioural factors influencing virtual team work, or conclusions have been made from what is known about face-to-face teams. In this study, a bottom-up research with empirical data collected directly in the field, discovering such influences will be presented. With the help of grounded theory method factors influencing team members’ behaviour and team processes such as isolation, leadership, trust, commitment, conflict, information sharing, or culture will be described. A training design based on a real-time online business game which considers these factors provides a tool for acquiring the skills and abilities needed in virtual multicultural teams.
Trust, Social Networks and Electronic Commerce Adoption
Authors: Chakuthip Apivut , Brunetto Yvonne , Farr-Wharton Rod , Ramsay Sheryl
Published: May 2011

This chapter uses the structural and relational dimension of Social Capital Theory as the lens for examining the factors affecting a Small and Medium Enterprise’s (SME) intention to adopt electronic commerce (EC), using a one-shot experimental design. The findings suggest that in terms of the network structure, Thai SME owner/managers predominantly use their strong ties (such as family, relatives, friends) when discussing EC adoption issues. Moreover, trust in social networks (both predisposition to and experience of trust) was found to significantly influence the intention to adopt EC. This means that when Thai SME owner/managers are considering exploiting a potential business opportunity, the trustworthiness of the social network member appears to be more important than their credibility. An important implication of the findings is that, in mostly using their strong ties with family and friends, Thai SME owner/managers may not be obtaining accurate information about the benefits and costs involved in EC adoption.
2007 Leadership and Human Resources Training in Rwanda
Authors: Braye Rubye , Evans Eric
Published: May 2011

This chapter originated as a reflection of the communication between U.S. facilitators and a Rwandan host as they ecollaborated in planning international leadership and human resources training for Rwandan leaders. The authors maintain that electronic collaboration or e-collaboration is a viable practice for use in effective communication with persons in developing nations. It can be used as a way to reduce the cost of providing support and services. For this action research project, facilitators accepted an invitation to train, collaborated to complete all planning via the Internet, and traveled to do the work successfully addressing all of the substantive requirements. In preparing this chapter, the authors have shared pre, during, and post work considerations hoping to make a case for increased use of e-collaboration in establishing effective work relationships and improved international communication. The chapter includes substantial details for context and the issues that necessitated the training.
Understanding the Dialectic Relationship between Intraand Inter-Organizational Cooperation
Authors: Baker Keith
Published: May 2011

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is often seen as a vehicle for organizational reform. However, the established literature on achieving ICT based reform tends to focus upon the private sector and is unsuitable for analysing the public sector. In the public sector ICT reform is usually delivered through complex partnership arrangements with private sector organizations. This seen the emergence of the Strategic Service Partnership (SSP) in which an interorganizational relationship is established between a public sector organization and a private sector organization. This partnership allows for the private sector organization to become the exclusive provider of ICT systems for the public sector organization. These ICT systems allow for intra-organizational communication and coordination to be achieved. As such reform which seeks to enable intra-organizational collaboration is shown to be dependent upon the establishment of inter-organizational collaboration. These two factors are understood in terms of a dialectic relationship.
High Altitude Stratospheric Platforms (HASPs)
Authors: Birkos Konstantinos
Published: May 2011

High Altitude Stratospheric Platforms (HASPs) have gained much of attention from the scientific society and the communication industry in the recent years. Their use in the Next Generation Networks can offer enhanced coverage and facilitate the implementation of several heterogeneous wireless networks schemes. In this chapter, the main aspects of the HASP-related technology are presented. Emphasis is given in the ways the intrinsic characteristics of these platforms can be used effectively in order to compensate for the disadvantages of both the existing terrestrial and satellite solutions. Antennas and coverage planning, capacity and interference, call admission control, handover, mobility management, networking and TCP/IP performance are the main issues addressed. The provided mathematical tools and the state-of-the-art techniques presented here, can be useful to engineers interested in designing and evaluating performance of HASP-aided hybrid networks.
From E to U
Authors: Angelopoulos Spyros P. , Kitsios Fotis C. , Babulak Eduard
Published: May 2011

Telecommunications and Internet Technologies have evolved dramatically during the last decade, laying a solid foundation for the future generation of Ubiquitous Internet access, omnipresent Web technologies and ultimate automated information cyberspace. Ubiquitous computing has been investigated since 1993. As a result, current efforts in research and development in the areas of Next Generation Internet and Telecommunications Technologies promote the formation of inter-disciplinary international teams of experts, scientists, researchers and engineers to create a new generation of applications and technologies that will facilitate the fully-automated information cyberspace systems, such as Future House 2015. The authors discuss the current state-of-the-art in the world of Telecommunications and Internet Technologies, new technological trends in the Internet and Automation Industries, E-manufacturing, Ubiquity, Convergence, as well as the concept of the Fully-automated Future House 2015, the 2006 Web Report with the Microsoft project on Easy Living, while promoting research and development in the interdisciplinary projects conducted by multinational teams world-wide.
Channel Management Schemes to Support Services in Ubiquitous Communications Infrastructures for Future Transportation Technologies
Authors: Babulak Eduard , Ioannou Konstantinos G. , Ioannou Athanasios
Published: May 2011

Transportation and Internet Technologies have evolved dramatically during the last decade, laying solid foundation for the future generation of the Ubiquitous Internet access, omnipresent Web technologies and ultimate automated information cyberspace. As a result, the current efforts in the research and development in the areas of Future Transportation and Next Generation of Internet Technologies promotes formation of inter-disciplinary international teams of experts, scientists, researchers and engineers to create a new generation of applications and technologies that will facilitate the future transportation system. The authors present a dynamic channel management scheme for a Mobile Communication System, that supports services in Ubiquitous Communications Infrastructures for Future Transportation Technologies (DCMS-FTT). The performance is improved as it can be seen from the simulation results.
Cross Cultural Adaptation in E-Learning
Authors: Blanchard Emmanuel G , Frasson Claude
Published: May 2011

This chapter introduces the concepts of culturally aware systems (CAWAS), a new family of adaptive systems that try to adapt learning contents and pedagogical strategies according to learners’ cultural background. CAWAS is based on the notion of cultural intelligence and on the representation of a culture as both a static system, that is, a “relatively stable system of shared meanings, a repository of meaningful symbols…” and a dynamic one, that is, “a process of production of meanings.” A methodology for cultural evaluation and selection of appropriate resources is described. A system implementing this methodology is finally introduced. The aim of this work is to develop systems that will be better accepted by learners and de facto will work more efficiently by showing a cultural proximity with learners during a learning session.
Balancing Local Knowledge within Global Organisations through Computer-Based Systems
Authors: Joshi Somya , Barrett Michael , Walsham Geoff , Cappleman Sam
Published: May 2011

This article investigates how, and with what success, global organisations design computer-based systems for knowledge sharing which aim to balance centralised and standardised approaches against more diverse local needs. The empirical basis for the article is provided by an analysis of two different global organisations, each with its own knowledge-sharing infrastructure in place. We use third-generation activity theory as the theoretical basis for our analysis. The contributions from this article are twofold. The first is our theoretical lens, where activity theory is applied to the domain of global information systems and their organisational context. This analysis provides a new approach in addressing both the mediation of and motivations behind knowledge-sharing activity. The second contribution concerns the theoretical and practical insights this gives on the problems and challenges of achieving a balance between global and local priorities within highly distributed work contexts, and the role of computer-based systems in this arena.
Digital Rights Management and E-Commerce Transactions
Authors: Meidanis Dimitrios P.
Published: May 2011

This chapter investigates intellectual property rights clearance of as part of e-commerce. Rights clearance is viewed as another online transaction that introduces certain technological and organizational challenges. An overview of the current intellectual property rights legislation is used to describe the setting in which business models and digital rights management systems are called to perform safe and fair electronic trade of goods. The chapter focuses on the technological aspects of the arising issues and investigates the potentials of using advanced information technology solutions for facilitating online rights clearance. A case study that presents a working online rights clearance and protection system is used to validate the applicability of the proposed approaches.
Re-Culturing Beliefs in Technology
Authors: Levin Tamar
Published: May 2011

Drawing on the empirical data from two longitudinal studies, the chapter describes the evolution of teachers’ educational beliefs and their actual classroom practices when using ICT in the schools. It also identifies three different classroom cultures with differing assumptions and practices concerning teaching, learning, and technology use. Highlighting the fact that teachers’ beliefs are shaped by everyday classroom and school experiences, and using teachers’ statements, metaphors and observations, the chapter shows changes occurring in the beliefs and classroom practices of several teachers. It shows that following several years of ICT use teachers changed their educational lenses, demonstrating multiple views rather than pure beliefs. Finally it demonstrates that the enculturation of teachers into ICTenriched classrooms is influenced not just by the technology used, but also by the richness of the overall learning environment with its emphasis on non-structured tasks and rich technology-based resources, and by their exposure to new educational vistas.
Empowerment Rationale for New Media Literacy
Authors: Hadley Nancy J.
Published: May 2011

This chapter defines empowerment, describes an empowerment rationale for new media literacy, and articulates a schema for empowering curriculum design. Empowerment is all about control, and an empowered person has mastered the arena in which he/she is operating. Using an empowerment rationale as a basis for designing curricula ensures a focus on mastering critical concepts and developing confidence in the student’s ability to create solutions. An empowering curriculum design centers on essential skills, plans small steps, ensures success in mastery experiences, and requires reflection to make connections. The author argues that an increasing level of new media literacy is required for citizens in a global community to contribute to the growing online participatory cultures such as MySpace and YouTube, and there is too much to learn in times of exponential change. These factors are driving the need for educators to focus on empowerment as the underlying principle for curriculum design.
Reconceptualising Scaffolding for New Media Contexts
Authors: Yelland Nicola , Masters Jennifer
Published: May 2011

This chapter will discuss the ways in teachers can support their student’s learning in new media contexts with the use of effective scaffolding techniques. The authors present two learning scenarios of children to illustrate the ways in which scaffolding pedagogies are deployed in order to enhance learning opportunities that incorporate the use of new media. In Scenario One, the Year 2 children (approximately 7 years) use digital technologies to communicate their ideas and investigations through stop-motion animation. In Scenario Two, the Year 1 children (approximately 6 years) edit digital video to create an advertisement for a new sports drink. This work is important since the use of computers and other new technologies in schools remains peripheral and is frequently an afterthought to be aligned with specific curriculum objectives and mandated learning outcomes. An important question for educators is how can we ensure and describe the learning that takes place in contexts that incorporate new media. Implicit in this is that teachers and students will guide and support each other in order to complete tasks that exemplify specific learning outcomes. Our findings suggest that the main challenges and issues for teachers with regard to new media are centered on how they might incorporate them into their pedagogical repertoire and of finding effective ways to support student learning.
Engagement in Science and New Media Literacy
Authors: Harmer Andrea J.
Published: May 2011

This chapter introduces an inquiry designed to foster learner engagement in science and literacy in using new media. The design included an online, problem-based, science inquiry that investigated environmental pollution at the Lehigh Gap, a U.S. Superfund Site. During five weeks of classroom sessions, several sessions were enhanced by remote access to an electron microscope to analyze Lehigh Gap samples. This access allowed the students to capture images from the microscope, known as micrographs, and furthermore, allowed them to perform an elemental analysis of samples from the polluted area. Additionally, an introduction to nanoscale science and nanotechnology used for remediation of heavy metal contamination was explored. Students contributed the artifacts they generated during their research to a university database and presented them to researchers at the university working on similar problems. This approach proved highly engaging and generated design guidelines useful to others interested in student engagement, introducing nanotechnology, and using remote electron microscopy in middle school science.
Using Online Tools to Support Technology Integration in Education
Authors: Tondeur Jo , Coenders Arno , Braak Johan van , Brummelhuis Alfons ten , Vanderlinde Ruben
Published: May 2011

This chapter explores the possibilities of online tools to support ICT (Information and Communication Technology) integration in primary education. Before describing three valuable tools, a framework will be discussed which gives schools insight into the most important preconditions for successful use of ICT in relation to the selection of a specific tool. Consequently, three specific tools are described: (1) the “Four in Balance” tool measures a school’s current use of ICT, (2) the “ICT-Assessment tool” focuses on teachers’ knowledge and skills and corresponds with the school’s vision on ‘good’ education, and (3) “pICTos”, an online tool that supports the process of ICT planning in schools. These examples illustrate how the tools operate and their many possibilities.
Tapping into Digital Literacy with Mobile Devices
Authors: van‘t Hooft Mark
Published: May 2011

This chapter describes the use of wireless mobile devices for teaching and learning, and their impact on digital literacy. Following a brief description of these digital tools for education, a sampling of short narratives is used to illustrate what types of educational activities are possible above and beyond what is possible without them, what pedagogical changes need to be made to effectively integrate wireless mobile devices in teaching and learning activities, how these devices can be adapted to harness their full potential as ubiquitous devices for teaching and learning, and how digital literacy skills influence and are being influenced by this technology. The ultimate goal of this chapter is to provide evidence of the potential that wireless mobile devices have for teaching and learning.
Children's Text Messaging and Traditional Literacy
Authors: Plester Beverly , Wood Clare , Bowyer Samantha
Published: May 2011

The authors present three investigations into pre-teen children’s text message language and measures of their standard literacy abilities. The children translated sentences, from standard English into text, and from text into standard English , and wrote text messages appropriate to a set of scenarios. They categorised text abbreviations used and calculated the proportion of abbreviations to total words. The children completed a questionnaire about their mobile phone use. Text messaging facility was positively associated with verbal reasoning, vocabulary, school achievement in English, and reading ability across the three studies. Texting provides opportunity for children to communicate in writing without the constraints of standard English, and we propose that the playful variants on words that they use in texting, and their ability to encode spoken slang graphically, show not a lack of knowledge of English, but a light hearted use of phonological and alphabetic decoding principles that also underpin standard English.
K-20 Technology Partnerships in a Rural Community
Authors: Lisowski Linda R. , Twiford Claudia C. , Lisowski Joseph A. , Davis Quintin Q. , Kirtley Rebecca F.
Published: May 2011

Public schools need to address issues of 21st century literacy, which go beyond reading and mathematics to include teamwork and technological proficiency. The authors have worked collaboratively to develop K-20 technology partnerships that provide 21st century learning to benefit all stakeholders. In this chapter, the authors discuss three of these partnerships and the benefits and barriers associated with them. Lessons learned included the need for: 1) immediately available technological and pedagogical support; 2) formalized roles and responsibilities between K-12 and university partners; 3) personnel who can take over a role or responsibility in emergencies; and 4) opportunities to plan ahead together. The authors hope that their lessons learned can inform other K-20 collaborations as they develop innovative 21st century partnerships through the use of technology.