bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Connection Disparities
Authors: Davison Elizabeth L. , Cotton Shelia R.
Published: May 2010

In assessing the integration of the Internet into society, scholars have documented that certain sectors of the population are disadvantaged by their lack of physical access to computer resources. The disadvantaged have traditionally included the less educated, nonwhites, females, the elderly, lower income people and third world citizens. Scholars are now beginning to go beyond basic issues of access to address differences in Internet experiences among Internet users. However, few digital divide researchers focus on the importance and impacts of the various types of connections people use to log onto the Internet. Among U.S. Internet users, we examine which is more important in determining Internet use, the traditional digital divide factors or type of connection. This study examines a wide range of online activities that provide vital information and services for Internet users. We find that connection disparities explain more variance in time spent online engaged in essential tasks, than most other long-established digital divide measures.
Mobiles for Development
Authors: Mariscal Judith
Published: May 2010

This chapter offers a survey of recent literature on access gaps that focuses on pro-poor market solutions provided by mobile applications. The emerging literature on mobile uses in developing countries has focused on the benefits of voice and text messaging. However, there is little academic research on mobile applications such as m-banking. While a large number of low income people have access to mobile phones, these groups are excluded from the financial market. M-banking offers the opportunity to diminish this financial exclusion by offering access to credit and to savings which are key tools capable of transforming the livelihoods of the poor and the efficiency of the market. Accessibility is the major barrier for the expansion of mobile adoption by the poor. There is an important role for regulators to play in enabling an appropriate environment for the increase in the mobile penetration as well as business models for m-banking.
The Influence of Time on Transactional Use of the Internet
Authors: Akhter Syed H.
Published: May 2010

The major objective of this chapter was to test the effect of online time and adoption time on the frequency of transactional use of the Internet. Transactional use of the Internet includes activities such as buying products, banking, and investing online. Findings support the hypothesis that online time and adoption time positively and significantly influence the frequency of transactional use of the Internet. Theoretical and strategic implications and recommendations for future research are presented.
Beyond the Online Transaction
Authors: Burke Brendan
Published: May 2010

Among North American state and provincial governments, there are only a handful of chief executives who make the most of the Internet as a tool for gaining citizen input on policy questions and disseminating a clear and well-crafted agenda. Dalton McGuinty, the Premier of Ontario since 2003, was the first to push the Web beyond conventional e-government functions such as tax or fee payment, the filing applications for programs, and report dissemination, into a realm of interactive facilitation of democratic governance. This chapter describes the context of Ontario politics and establishment of common e-government techniques before McGuinty became his government’s leader, the responsive digital strategies that he adopted to treat Ontario’s situation as he came to office, and an assessment of these strategies five years into his leadership of this diverse province.
Bridging the Gap between Citizens and Decision-Makers
Authors: Evika Karamagioli
Published: May 2010

Over the past few years the concepts of government and governance have been dramatically transformed. Not only is this due to increasing pressures and expectations that the way we are governed should reflect modern methods of efficiency and effectiveness, but also that government should be more open to democratic accountability. The following chapter will introduce the social impact dimension of e-democracy while proposing concrete directions and incentives that should be provided for engagement through electronic means. The intention is to highlight the fact that technology is the result of a combination of tools, social practices, social organizations, and cultural meanings. It not only represents social arrangements, but also has the potential to facilitate and / or limit different types of interaction.
An Introduction to Optical Access Networks
Authors: Chochliouros Ioannis P. , Heliotis George A. , Spiliopoulou Anastasia S.
Published: May 2010

With the current continuously growing bandwidth demand, it is apparent that conventional broadband access solutions will quickly become bottlenecks in terms of bandwidth provision. In this chapter, the authors analyze the present global challenge for extended bandwidth provision in the scope of the fast developing electronic communications sector, creating a fully converged environment. In particular, first the authors examine several potential options imposed by distinct technologies, as they are currently applied in the marketplace. Then they present a comprehensive review of the emerging optical access solutions, focusing mainly on passive optical network (PON) technologies that promise to efficiently meet the anticipated growth in bandwidth demand and at the same time be economically viable and future-proof from an operator’s perspective, and evaluate their capabilities to the conventional copperbased broadband solutions. They also survey the current deployment efforts and relevant policies in the European Community area, as well as discuss why Europe is lagging with regard to deployment pace when compared to Asia and the USA. Specific and detailed analysis is given for recent developments performed in the European Union, where the authors identify current trends, potential hurdles and/or difficulties, as well as perspectives for further growth and development.
Broadband Optical Access using Centralized Carrier Distribution
Authors: Chow Chi-Wai
Published: May 2010

Passive optical network (PON) is considered as an attractive fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) technology. Wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) PON improves the utilization of fiber bandwidth through the use of wavelength domain. A cost-effective solution in WDM PON would use the same components in each optical networking unit (ONU), which should thus be independent of the wavelength assigned by the network. Optical carriers are distributed from the head-end office to different ONUs to produce the upstream signals. Various solutions of colorless ONUs will be discussed. Although the carrier distributed WDM PONs have many attractive features, a key issue that needs to be addressed is how best to control the impairments that arise from optical beat noise induced by Rayleigh backscattering (RB). Different RB components will be analyzed and RB mitigation schemes will be presented. Finally, some novel PONs including signal remodulation PONs, long reach PONs and wireless/wired PONs will be highlighted.
Bandwidth Allocation Methods in Passive Optical Access Networks (PONs)
Authors: Merayo Noemí , Fernández Patricia , Durán Ramón J. , Lorenzo Rubén M. , de Miguel Ignacio , Abril Evaristo J.
Published: May 2010

Passive Optical Networks (PONs) are very suitable architectures to face today’s access challenges. This technology shows a very cost saving architecture, it provides a huge amount of bandwidth and efficiently supports Quality of Service (QoS). In PON networks, as all subscribers share the same uplink channel, a medium access control protocol is required to provide a contention method to access the channel. As the performance of Time Division Multiplexing Access (TDMA) protocol is not good enough because traffic nature is heterogeneous, Dynamic Bandwidth Allocation (DBA) algorithms are proposed to overcome the problem. These algorithms are very efficient as they adapt the bandwidth assignment depending on the updated requirements and traffic conditions. Moreover, they should offer QoS by means of both class of service and subscriber differentiation. Long-Reach PONs, which combine the access and the metro network into only one by using 100 km of fibre, is an emergent technology able to reach a large number of far subscribers and to decrease the associated costs.
Modeling and Techno-Economic Evaluations of WDM-PONs
Authors: Schussmann Jürgen , Schirl Thomas
Published: May 2010

In the near future, broadband access networks will be required with data rates of over 1Gbit/s per customer. Currently, time-division multiple access passive optical networks (TDMA-PONs) are deployed. However, TDMA-PONs cannot keep up with the requirements for the broadcasting of a great number of HDTV channels and the unicasting of several triple-play services (voice, data and video). In contrast, wavelength-division-multiplexed PONs (WDM PONs) will be able to provide these required high data rates per user causing higher costs than with TDM-PONs. The introduced paradigm shift, at least one wavelength per service and user, leads to the introduction of new aspects in the design of future WDM PON access networks. In techno-economic evaluations, new network architectures with the highest potential concerning economic considerations have been identified. Access to these newly identified network architectures will prompt market introduction as well as market penetration helping Fiber-tothe- Home (FTTH) to become reality.
Next Generation Home Network and Home Gateway Associated with Optical Access
Authors: Yokotani Tetsuya
Published: May 2010

As optical broadband access networks have been popularized, triple play services using IP technologies, such as Internet access, IP telephony, and IP video distributing services, have been also popularized. However, consumers expect new services for a more comfortable life. Especially, when QoS guarantee and high reliable services are provided in NGN (Next Generation Network) era, various home network services over NGN are deployed. For this purpose, the home gateway has been installed in consumer houses for the connection between access and home networks, and providing various services to consumers. Even though, the broadband router currently plays a role similar to the home gateway, this home gateway should comprehend functionalities of the broadband router, and should have additional features. The functional requirements of such home gateway have been discussed in standard bodies. That is, the next generation home gateway in NGN era generally should have four features as follows; High performance for IP processing, Compliance with the interface of carrier grade infrastructure including NGN, Flexible platform for various services, and Easy management and maintenance. This chapter describes the standardization of the home gateway and, proposes its evolution scenario the present to the future. Then, it also proposes these four requirements, and technologies to comply with features described above.
Collaborative Systems for Decision Making for Disaster Preparedness and Response, Department of Information Systems
Authors: Hahn Deidre , Block Jessica , Keith Mark , Vinze Ajay
Published: May 2010

Real time collaboration solutions are critical during a large scale emergency situation and necessitate the coordination of multiple disparate groups. Collaborative technologies may be valuable in the planning and execution of disaster preparedness and response. Yet, research suggests that specific collaborative technologies, such as group decision support systems, are not often leveraged for decision-making during real time emergency situations in the United States. In this chapter, we propose a theoretical model of the impact of disaster immediacy and collaboration systems on group processes and outcomes. Using a 3D model of the dimensions of space, time, and situation, we explore media richness and group polarization within the context of collaboration technologies and disaster situations. We also present the next generation of collaboration technology extensions in order to address the need for more contemporary decisional settings. This set of principles and theories suggest how collaborative technologies may be positioned to better manage future disasters.
Always-On Enterprise Information Systems with Service Oriented Architecture and Load Balancing
Authors: Bayram Serdal , Kirlidog Melih , Vayvay Ozalp
Published: May 2010

In today’s world, it is essential for a business to provide a seamless and continuous service to its customers. Such an always-on service is required, not only for the strong competitive environment but also because of the fact that most the customers also have to offer seamless and continuous service to their own customers. In this chain, failure of one of the systems even for a short time can result in a disaster in the entire service chain. A wise approach to provide a continuous service should consider all possible failure areas in a computer-based information system. Since hardware and software are vulnerable to a myriad of problems that can halt the normal operation of a system, an ideal solution should not only consider both of these two components, but also should seek to find ways for them to work in support of each other against a malfunction. This chapter is an attempt to develop a model that provides this functionality. Service oriented architecture (SOA) is implemented in the model due to its tenets that are suitable for such functionality.
Challenges of Data Management in Always-On Enterprise Information Systems
Authors: Varga Mladen
Published: May 2010

Data management in always-on enterprise information systems is an important function that must be governed, that is, planned, supervised, and controlled. According to Data Management Association, data management is the development, execution, and supervision of plans, policies, programs, and practices that control, protect, deliver, and enhance the value of data and information assets. The challenges of successful data management are numerous and vary from technological to conceptual and managerial. The purpose of this chapter is to consider some of the most challenging aspects of data management, whether they are classified as data continuity aspects (e.g., data availability, data protection, data integrity, data security), data improvement aspects (e.g., coping with data overload and data degradation, data integration, data quality, data ownership/stewardship, data privacy, data visualization) or data management aspect (e.g., data governance), and to consider the means of taking care of them.
Continuous Database Availability
Authors: Tomic Drazena , Markic Brano
Published: May 2010

In today’s business environment, it is usual that data relevant to business is stored on different hardware, inside different databases, different data warehouses, inside as well as outside of the organization. Accuracy, quality, timeliness, and especially availability of such distributed data make crucial role in the process of business managing. Now, one of the biggest challenges is to ensure continuous availability of that data, even in critical and disaster situations. This chapter gives a short overview of the most used solutions for database availability that have become industry standards and gives examples of implementation of these standards by, in this moment, three main database vendors: Oracle (Oracle 11g), IBM (DB2 Version 9.5) and Microsoft (SQL Server 2008).
The Business Knowledge and Information Policy Model
Authors: San Mujgan
Published: May 2010

As every technological development, information and communication technology also offers new life patterns to human beings. One of them is related to business and its environment. In this context, the main problem is how to manage knowledge and information and assets related to knowledge and information in business. Therefore, we have constructed the business knowledge and information policy model by using triangulation methodology. The business knowledge and information policy model includes the informative business theory, knowledge and information management (KIM) tools and projects. The first one has six characteristics. KIM tools include nine profiles which are common language, strategy, data-information-concepts, personal and social informatics, ICT infrastructure, measurement, cultural informatics and governance. KIM projects could be designed depending on business conditions and goals.
Sustaining the Green Information Technology Movement
Authors: Garg Miti , Gupta Sumeet , Goh Mark , Desouza Robert
Published: May 2010

Green computing paradigm is a term used to describe a movement in the field of information technology whereby users and information technology professionals are adopting ‘less environmentally destructive’ practices to mitigate the detrimental effects of excessive computing to the environment. Environment friendly practices such as virtualization, cloud computing, greening of data centres, recycling, telecommuting, and teleworking are discussed in this chapter. A summary of the initiatives undertaken by government agencies in various countries is also provided.
Swift Trust and Self-Organizing Virtual Communities
Authors: Mai Stephane Ngo , Raybaut Alain
Published: May 2010

Numerous communities of experts supported by firms tend nowadays to form an important part of corporate social capital. Composed of free will agents, those communities aim at creating knowledge through cognitive interactions and heavily rely on ICTs to free themselves from many constraints. Previous studies of such virtual groupings pointed out that their organization features were not similar to market nor hierarchy. Consequently, neither price nor contract or authority are used in such communities which rather seem to self-organize. Instead of traditional economic concepts, notions such as trust and leadership are advanced to explain the functioning of these virtual assemblies. This contribution proposed a tentative model which attempts to grasp some of the empirical aspects of these communities. More precisely, we were interested in the relation between trust, performance, and organizational feature within a given virtual group. Simulations of the model with different functions of swift trust display various organizational structures similar to those described by stylized facts. The organizational attributes range from pure collaborative communities to pure competitive ones. Intermediate cases also emerge with the appearance of leader(s).
Behavioral Biometrics
Authors: Revett Kenneth
Published: May 2010

Behavioral biometrics is a relatively new form of authentication mechanism which relies on the way a person interacts with an authentication device. Traditional instances of this approach include voice, signature, and keystroke dynamics. Novel approaches to behavioral biometrics include biosignals, such as the electroencephalogram and the electrocardiogram. The biosignal approach to user authentication has been shown to produce equal error rates on par with more traditional behavioral biometric approaches. In addition, through a process similar to biofeedback, users can be trained with minimal effort to produce computer-based input via the manipulations of endogenous biosignal patterns. This chapter discusses the use of biosignal based biometrics, highlighting key studies and how this approach can be integrated into a multibiometric user authentication system.
Gait Recognition and Analysis
Authors: Yu Shiqi , Wang Liang
Published: May 2010

With the increasing demands of visual surveillance systems, human identification at a distance is an urgent need. Gait is an attractive biometric feature for human identification at a distance, and recently has gained much interest from computer vision researchers. This chapter provides a survey of recent advances in gait recognition. First, an overview on gait recognition framework, feature extraction, and classifiers is given, and then some gait databases and evaluation metrics are introduced. Finally, research challenges and applications are discussed in detail.
Gait Feature Fusion using Factorial HMM
Authors: Liang Jimin , Chen Changhong , Zhao Heng , Hu Haihong , Tian Jie
Published: May 2010

Multisource information fusion technology offers a promising solution to the development of a superior classification system. For gait recognition problem, information fusion is necessary to be employed under at least three circumstances: 1) multiple gait feature fusion, 2) multiple view gait sequence fusion, and 3) gait and other biometrics fusion. Feature concatenation is the most popular methodology to integrate multiple features. However, because of the high dimensional gait data size and small available number of training samples, feature concatenation typically leads to the well-known curse of dimensionality and the small sample size problems. In this chapter, we explore the factorial hidden Markov model (FHMM), an extended hidden Markov model (HMM) with a multiple layer structure, as a feature fusion framework for gait recognition. FHMM provides an alternative to combining several gait features without concatenating them into a single augmented feature, thus, to some extent, overcomes the curse of dimensionality and small sample size problem for gait recognition. Three gait features, the frieze feature, wavelet feature, and boundary signature, are adopted in the numerical experiments conducted on CMU MoBo database and CASIA gait database A. Besides the cumulative matching score (CMS) curves, McNemar’s test is employed to check on the statistical significance of the performance difference between the recognition algorithms. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed FHMM feature fusion scheme outperforms the feature concatenation method.
Keystroke Biometric Identification and Authentication on Long-Text Input
Authors: Tappert Charles C. , Villani Mary , Cha Sung-Hyuk
Published: May 2010

A novel keystroke biometric system for long-text input was developed and evaluated for user identification and authentication applications. The system consists of a Java applet to collect raw keystroke data over the Internet, a feature extractor, and pattern classifiers to make identification or authentication decisions. Experiments on over 100 subjects investigated two input modes–copy and free-text input–and two keyboard types–desktop and laptop keyboards. The system can accurately identify or authenticate individuals if the same type of keyboard is used to produce the enrollment and questioned input samples. Longitudinal experiments quantified performance degradation over intervals of several weeks and over an interval of two years. Additional experiments investigated the system’s hierarchical model, parameter settings, assumptions, and sufficiency of enrollment samples and input-text length. Although evaluated on input texts up to 650 keystrokes, we found that input of 300 keystrokes, roughly four lines of text, is sufficient for the important applications described.
Secure Dynamic Signature-Crypto Key Computation
Authors: Jin Andrew Teoh Beng , Kuan Yip Wai
Published: May 2010

Biometric-key computation is a process of converting a piece of live biometric data into a key. Among the various biometrics available today, the hand signature has the highest level of social acceptance. The general masses are familiar with the use of handwritten signature by means of verification and acknowledgement. On the other hand, cryptography is used in multitude applications present in technologically advanced society. Examples include the security of ATM cards, computer networks, and e-commerce. The signature crypto-key computation is hence of highly interesting as it is a way to integrate behavioral biometrics with the existing cryptographic framework. In this chapter, we report a dynamic hand signatures-key generation scheme which is based on a randomized biometric helper. This scheme consists of a randomized feature discretization process and a code redundancy construction. The former enables one to control the intraclass variations of dynamic hand signatures to the minimal level and the latter will further reduce the errors. Randomized biometric helper ensures that a signature-key is easy to be revoked when the key is compromised. The proposed scheme is evaluated based on the 2004 signature verification competition (SVC) database. We found that the proposed methods are able to produce keys that are stable, distinguishable, and secure.
Enhancing University Students' Interaction and Learning through Formative Peer-Assessment Online
Authors: Liljeström Monica
Published: May 2010

This chapter draws upon data collected from a Swedish project with the aim to implement and evaluate peer assessment/peer review in online and distance education in the context of higher education. Previous studies of peer assessment in on-campus settings are discussed with a focus on what impact these findings had on the design of the peer assessment element. Findings from a distance course with 60 students, in which peer assessment and peer assessment preparation was carried out trough asynchronous text based communication in FirstClass, are reported. Data are collected from multiple sources and analyzed with the aim to find out how peer assessment element worked in this asynchronous text based environment. The results indicate that the students’ engagement and collaborative efforts in general was high. The overall conclusion is that peer assessment could be worth exploring further as a tool to enhance student collaboration and learning in courses based on asynchronous text based communication.
Wikis for Collaboration & Knowledge Management
Authors: Kussmaul Clif
Published: May 2010

This chapter examines how collaboration and knowledge management (KM) can be supported using wikis and related tools. A wiki is a web site that makes it easy for users to create, edit, and link pages without specialized tools. The chapter seeks to help readers understand what KM and wikis are, and when and why wikis can support collaboration and KM. The chapter identifies associated challenges and best practices. Organizations should assess cultural factors, recognize the differences between top-down and bottom-up approaches, and leverage the KM “market”. Projects should be iterative, focus on either mapping or capture, start with pilot projects and simple structures, and focus on key users and roles. Systems should be off-the-shelf, avoid “either-or” conflicts, and provide structures to facilitate common tasks. The chapter also discusses future directions and implications in these rapidly changing areas.
University 2.0
Authors: Surry Daniel W. , Ensminger David C.
Published: May 2010

Higher education is changing in important and profound ways. New technologies are enabling universities to reach new students and create innovative learning environments. Technology is also allowing students to interact, collaborate, and create customized learning experiences in ways that were previously impossible. University 2.0 offers amazing potential to fundamentally change the way higher education functions in the future. With this change will come the opportunity to improve educational quality, reach new learners, and create new organizational structures, but there will also be many potential problems. Many of the problems relate to the key issue of maintaining the vital human and social dimension of higher education in a rapidly changing, technology rich environment. This chapter describes many of the potential problems that will accompany university 2.0 and provides a series of recommended actions that university administrators can take to respond to the problems.
VISOLE
Authors: Jong Morris S.Y. , Shang Junjie , Lee Fong-Lok , Lee Jimmy H.M.
Published: May 2010

VISOLE (Virtual Interactive Student-Oriented Learning Environment) is a constructivist pedagogical approach to empower computer game-based learning. This approach encompasses the creation of a near real-life online interactive world modeled upon a set of multi-disciplinary domains, in which each student plays a role in this “virtual world” and shapes its development. All missions, tasks and problems therein are generative and open-ended with neither prescribed strategies nor solutions. With sophisticated multi-player simulation contexts and teacher facilitation (scaffolding and debriefing), VISOLE provides opportunities for students to acquire both subject-specific knowledge and problem-solving skills through their near real-life gaming experience. This chapter aims to delineate the theoretical foundation and pedagogical implementation of VISOLE. Apart from that, the authors also introduce their game-pedagogy co-design strategy adopted in developing the first VISOLE instance—FARMTASIA.
Podcasting
Authors: Liu Youmei , McCombs Shawn
Published: May 2010

E-Learning has undergone an amazing metamorphosis: it has changed from the delivery of individualized, static curricular information to the consumption and sharing of social knowledge. While Web 2.0 provides the best tools to achieve this goal, podcasting – as one of the Web 2.0 technologies - is one of the most flexible teaching and learning tool used today. It has been used increasingly in higher educational institutions. This chapter will discuss the uniqueness of podcasting technology in promoting e-learning in following aspects: 1) podcasting addressing the needs of a dynamic e-learning environment, 2) research results indicating the educational efficacy of podcasting in e-learning, and 3) podcasting best practice in e-learning design and delivery.
Putting a TAG on Software
Authors: Barker Mike , Matsumoto Kenichi , Inoue Katsuro
Published: May 2010

This chapter describes the evolution of approaches to empirical software engineering from goal and data-driven to the latest purchaser-centered approach. The new Japanese Software Traceability and Accountability for Global software Engineering (StagE) project is developing this approach to ensure the transparency of software development processes and products for software purchasers by “tagging” software with empirical software development data. Global software development raises unprecedented difficulties for developers, including the international and intercorporate coordination of development and distribution, the change to composition as the primary development approach, the shift to software everywhere talking to everything, and continuing upgrades and interaction with released software. To work effectively in this environment, empirical data collection, analysis, and feedback must extend throughout the software lifecycle including both production and usage data.
Enhancing Testing Technologies for Globalization of Software Engineering and Productivity
Authors: Khan Amir H. , Memon Atif M.
Published: May 2010

While successful at increasing code churn rates, global software development and evolution suffers from several quality assurance challenges. First, sub-groups within developer communities often work on loosely coupled parts of the application code. Each developer (sub-group) typically modifies a local “copy” of the code and frequently checks-in changes (and downloads other developers’ changes). Consequently, after making a change, a developer may not immediately realize that the local change has inadvertently broken other parts of the overall software code. This situation is compounded as there is little direct inter-developer communication -- almost all communication is done via web-based tools such as code commit log messages, bug reports, change-requests, and comments. This chapter outlines the challenges that global software development adds to the already-complex quality assurance process. Two case studies of real software projects implemented in a disturbed manner demonstrate the importance of continuous integration testing and the positive consequences of increasing the diversity of quality assurance techniques/tools. Finally, it concludes with an outline of how software integration testing needs to be enhanced to meet the new challenges of globalization.
Combinatorial Testing
Authors: Bryce Renée C. , Lei Yu , Kuhn D. Richard , Kacker Raghu
Published: May 2010

Software systems today are complex and have many possible configurations. Products released with inadequate testing can cause bodily harm, result in large economic losses or security breaches, and affect the quality of day-to-day life. Software testers have limited time and budgets, frequently making it impossible to exhaustively test software. Testers often intuitively test for defects that they anticipate while less foreseen defects are overlooked. Combinatorial testing can complement their tests by systematically covering t-way interactions. Research in combinatorial testing includes two major areas (1) algorithms that generate combinatorial test suites and (2) applications of combinatorial testing. The authors review these two topics in this chapter.
A Systematic Review of Distributed Software Development
Authors: Jiménez Miguel , Piattini Mario , Vizcaíno Aurora
Published: May 2010

In last years, software development activity tends to be decentralized, thus expanding greater development efforts towards more attractive zones for organizations. The type of development in which the team members are distributed in remote sites is called distributed software development (DSD). The main advantage of this practice is mainly that of having a greater availability of human resources in decentralized zones with less cost. On the other hand, organizations must face some disadvantages due to the distance that separates the development teams related to project organization, project control and product quality. Coordination becomes more difficult as the software components are sourced from different places, and new processes and tools are needed. This chapter presents a systematic review of the literature related to the problems of DSD with the purpose of obtaining a vision about the solutions proposed up to the present day.
Matilda
Authors: Wada Hiroshi , Suzuki Junichi , Malinowski Adam , Oba Katsuya
Published: May 2010

Traditional Model Driven Development (MDD) frameworks have three critical issues: (1) abstraction gap between modeling and programming layers, (2) a lack of traceability between models and programs, and (3) a lack of customizability to support various combinations of modeling technologies and implementation/deployment technologies. In order to address these issues, this chapter proposes a new MDD framework, called Matilda, which is a framework to build execution runtime engines (or virtual machines) for software models. It directly executes models defined with certain modeling technologies such as UML and BPMN by automatically transforming them to executable code. Matilda is designed based on the Pipes and Filters architectural pattern, which allows for configuring its structure and behavior flexibly by replacing one plugin with another one or changing the order of plugins. Also, plugins can be deployed on multiple network hosts and seamlessly connect them to form a pipeline. This facilitates distributed software development in which developers collaboratively work at physically dispersed places. This chapter overviews Matilda’s architectural design, describes the implementations of Matilda-based virtual machines, and evaluates their performance.
Rapid Productivity and Quality
Authors: Ganeshan Sathya , Ramachandran Muthu
Published: May 2010

The aim of this chapter is to introduce a reader to the world of software product lines, how it is used and what the future of this field might be. The authors present some of the success stories of organizations who have employed this approach, the benefits they have derived as opposed to conventional approaches. They also present their own views and innovations in touch with cutting edge developments in this field.
The Role of Information Technology Managers in the Significant Company in Case of Natural Disasters in Qatar
Authors: Al-Marri Salem , Ramachandran Muthu
Published: May 2010

Natural disasters are increasingly frequent in recent years taking peoples’ lives and destructions to our economy, for example, Hurricane Katrina (US 2006), Tsunami (Asia 2004), and other IT related failures. The major aims of this study were to outline the disaster management steps, actions and procedures in the computer environment. The study focused on the role of Information Technology manager (IT) in case of any disaster events. IT manager job to perform a pre-disaster preparedness, mitigation and prevention necessary steps to protect the organisation Information Technology manager resources. Than proposes a model for Disaster Recovery management. This model will support contingencies and will provide a continuous planning management and monitor its activities along with a clear description of the hierarchical roles and activities. Also proposes a model for contingency and continuity planning management and its activities. This model consists of hierarchical roles and activities.
ERP System Implementation from the Ground Up
Authors: de Carvalho Rogério Atem , de Campos Renato , Monnerat Rafael Manhães
Published: May 2010

The design and implementation of an ERP system involves capturing the information necessary for implementing a system that supports enterprise management. This process should go down through different abstraction layers, starting on enterprise modeling and finishing at coding. For the case of Free/Open Source ERP, the lack of proper modeling methods and tools jeopardizes the advantages of source code availability. Moreover, the distributed, decentralized decision-making, and source-code driven development culture of open source communities, generally does not rely on methods for modeling the higher abstraction levels necessary for an ERP solution. The aim of this paper is to present a development process and supportive tools for the open source enterprise system ERP5, which covers the different abstraction levels involved, taking into account well established standards and practices, as well as new approaches, by supplying Enterprise, Requirements, Analysis, Design, and Implementation workflows and tools to support them.
Information System Model for Global Emergency-Response System in the Context of Natural Disaster Recovery Management System
Authors: Al-Marri Salem , Ramachandran Muthu
Published: May 2010

Emergency needs occurs anywhere anytime by naturally, manually and accidentally in addition to worldwide death by hunger and poverty. As such, the need of response system should be there to tackle this emergency. Natural disasters are increasingly frequent in recent years taking peoples lives and destructions, for example, Hurricane Katrina US 2006 and Tsunami Asia 2004. This study proposes a model for Classification of Natural Disasters and Catastrophic Failures activity model. This model consists of hierarchical roles and activities. It is critical that organization must support and provide infrastructure for managing and preventing disasters and its aftermath to a full recovery. Furthermore, this chapter also proposes a triangular model for global emergency response systems, which can be used as a preventive measure, as well as post-recovery management system for managing and tackling emergencies. This model also proposes the use of emerging technologies such as ubiquitous computing and wireless communications systems. Now-a-days people use these wireless technologies to communicate in case of a disaster. Lastly, the study proposes another two models namely the Disaster Risks categorization model, which help identify and to assess the threat levels.
Educating a Multidisciplinary Human Services Workforce
Authors: Martin Jennifer , McKay Elspeth , Hawkins Linette
Published: May 2010

This chapter explores technological developments in the human services and the educational requirements of a skilled labor force. It is argued that learner experiences can be enhanced by adopting a blended approach that includes face- to- face and online activities. Careful planning is required that matches desired learning experiences and learner characteristics with appropriate educational design and architectures. The main views of learning discussed are absorption, behavioral and cognitive with consideration of the most appropriate learning architectures to support these. A case study highlights the complexity of applying these in practice, as well as the importance of community building in the online environment.
Creating and Sustaining Community in a Virtual World
Authors: Colachico David P.
Published: May 2010

We are currently living in an electronic age where it is easier to travel the world, stay in touch with people who live away from our face-to-face environment without the need to leave home or to meet in a real life situation than ever before. The Web is becoming a place where we encounter others in ways to get our personal, social, and professional needs met. As a result of this growing phenomenon individuals are seeking to be a part of online communities of individuals who interact and associate with one another through the Web and the use of modern technology. This chapter will provide an insight into the use of information communication technology to create and sustain community.
Building Professional Practice Education Cultures in the Online Environment
Authors: Brown Marion
Published: May 2010

The gradual introduction of Internet-based delivery methods into higher education has broadened technology usage and led to reflection on the pedagogical implications for social work education taught online, with considerations for content, design and delivery. This chapter reviews the use of online technologies in post secondary education, the use of critical reflection as a pedagogical tool, and social work field education, to contextualize the experience of the Dalhousie University School of Social Work’s distance delivery field education course. In the experience of Dalhousie University School of Social Work, the knowledge, skills, abilities, and attitudes of its student practitioners have been enhanced through the use of online integrative seminar case analysis and critical reflection facilitated via distance delivery. This chapter develops the connections among the online environment, adult education principles, and critical reflection on field education in social work, to craft an expanded message regarding transformative social work practice.
Virtual Communication for Field Education Placements in a Global Context
Authors: Hawkins Linette , Patanayak Supriya
Published: May 2010

Increasing reliance upon information communication technology is one of the major factors in the current student profile which challenges the traditional concept of professional field education. In Australia the involvement of a growing minority of students in international field education highlights the value of communication via different technological methods. Drawing upon the experience of students at one university in Australia who undertook international placements over a three year period, with particular attention to those engaged in group placements in Orissa, India, this chapter presents the different placement structures and the application of ICT and pedagogical factors requiring critical attention. Another longer term field education challenge has been the increasing demand for human service field placements in an environment of decreasing resources. A common electronic data base, developed by the schools of social work, in one state in Australia presents an approach aimed at promoting co-operation in a competitive situation.
Developing Information Communication Technologies for the Human Services
Authors: Martin Jennifer , McKay Elspeth
Published: May 2010

This chapter introduces a design process for developing useful information communication technologies for the human services. Key to the success of the design process is an in-depth knowledge and understanding of user needs and requirements. The stages involved in the design process are presented in this chapter and include: user and task analysis, persona and scenario development and the establishment of measurable usability goals. A case study illustrates the application of this design process to develop a Web enabled electronic work requirement awareness program (e-WRAP) for people recovering from mental illness seeking employment. The challenge for social workers is to use these new technologies to improve service provision and enhance quality of life without compromising ethical standards of practice; particularly in relation to client confidentiality, privacy and self-determination.
The Role of Information and Communications Technologies in Human Rights Monitoring and Advocacy
Authors: Lannon John
Published: May 2010

This chapter analyses tools and techniques used to document human rights abuse. It outlines the opportunities and pitfalls associated with the use of information and communication technologies by human rights organizations, and it examines the importance of rigorous documentation to underpin human rights work. Tools developed to help grassroots organizations record usable and actionable information are contrasted with an initiative that actively involves citizens in the reporting of xenophobic attacks. The analysis shows that the tools and systems used to monitor human rights violations are essential to the effective implementation of human rights standards. It also shows that new technologies can empower ordinary citizens to become directly involved in awareness building and debate about human rights abuse.
Social Shaping of Technologies for Community Development
Authors: Bala Poline
Published: May 2010

Using electronic-Bario (e-Bario) project in the Kelabit Highlands of Sarawak in East Malaysia, this chapter explores how the introduction of information communication technologies (ICT) as developmental tools have been mediated and reconfigured by webs of social relations and the intricate interplay of social, political and cultural conditions specific to different social and technical settings. One crucial factor conditioning the effects of the project has been the Kelabit’s own desire for, and expectations of, “development” and “progress.” This is a quest which ties in closely with two fundamental Kelabit concepts: doo-ness and iyuk. As a result, the social and economic effects of ICT have unfolded through countless open-ended strategic and everyday decisions made by the Kelabit themselves, who actively consume, apply and make use of objects, ideas and services in the Highlands.
Knowledge Sharing Online
Authors: Kim Hyunjung , Stefanone Michael A.
Published: May 2010

This chapter examines the contribution of information communication technology (ICT) to the operation of social and public policy. The governmentality analytic is introduced as a way in which to highlight how ICT is used by the state in governing populations. The chapter identifies four ways ICTs relate to social and public policy. First, social policy can be a response to ICT innovation and use. Second, ICT is used to implement and administer social policy. Third, ICT is used to develop and evaluate social policy. Fourth, the use of ICT can shape the very nature and substance of social policy. The chapter illustrates these theoretical and conceptual approaches by examining the extensive and innovative use of ICT in Australia’s national income security agency, Centrelink.The aim of this chapter is to explore the utility of online knowledge sharing for the health and human services. Experiences in marketing are used as a basis for the development of three broad and interrelated theoretical concepts—the diffusion of innovations, viral marketing, and online word of mouth advertising—as well as several other influential factors to explain online knowledge sharing. Three major elements that stimulate online knowledge sharing are distilled from these theoretical perspectives including internal factors such as altruism, online social network size, and topic salience. This chapter uses these elements to propose a model of e-Mavenism which explains the cognitive processes that lead to online knowledge sharing behavior. Based on the e-Mavenism model, several strategies are suggested for online health promotion and community education.