bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adapting the Structurationist View of Technology for Studies at the Community/Societal Levels
Authors: Pozzebon Marlei , Diniz Eduardo , Jayo Martin
Published: May 2010

The multilevel framework proposed in this chapter is particularly useful for research involving complex and multilevel interactions (i.e., interactions involving individuals, groups, organizations and networks at the community, regional or societal levels). The framework is influenced by three theoretical perspectives. The core foundation comes from the structurationist view of technology, a stream of research characterized by the application of structuration theory to information systems (IS) research and notably influenced by researchers like Orlikowski (2000) and Walsham (2002). In order to extend the framework to encompass research at the community/societal levels, concepts from social shaping of technology and from contextualism have been integrated. Beyond sharing a number of ontological and epistemological assumptions, these three streams of thinking have been combined because each of them offers particular concepts that are of great value for the kind of studies the authors wish to put forward: investigating the influence of information and communication technology (ICT) from a structurationist standpoint at levels that go beyond the organizational one.
Theory Development in Information Systems Research Using Structural Equation Modeling
Authors: Roberts Nicholas , Grover Varun
Published: May 2010

Structural equation modeling (SEM) techniques have significant potential for assessing and modifying theoretical models. There have been 171 applications of SEM in IS research, published in major journals, most of which have been after 1994. Despite SEM’s surging popularity in the IS field, it remains a complex tool that is often mechanically used but difficult to effectively apply. The purpose of this study is to review previous applications of SEM in IS research and to recommend guidelines to enhance the use of SEM to facilitate theory development. The authors review and evaluate SEM applications, both component-based (e.g., PLS) and covariance-based (e.g., LISREL), according to prescribed criteria. Areas of improvement are suggested which can assist application of this powerful technique in IS theory development.
An Evidence-Based Health Information System Theory
Authors: Carbone Daniel
Published: May 2010

The aim of this chapter is to bridge the gap between what is known about IS theory and the specifics characteristics of health to develop an evidence based health information systems theory. An initial background first sets the significance for the need to have a solid information systems theory in health and then argues that neither the information systems literature nor the health sector have been able to provide any satisfactory pathway to facilitate the adoption of information systems in health settings. The chapter further continues by reviewing the common pathway to develop information systems theory and the knowledge foundations used in the process, and then proceeds to highlight how this theory was developed. Subsequently, the building blocks (constructs, premises, supporting evidence and conclusions) that underpins the constructs and a brief explanation of the relationships between them is included. A discussion and limitation section is then followed by a conclusion.
Research Directions on Incorporating Work System Method Ideas in Systems Analysis and Design
Authors: Misra Ram B. , Petkov Doncho , Petkova Olga
Published: May 2010

In this chapter, the authors analyze recent developments linking design science to systems analysis and design research and the growing area of the work system method proposed by Steven Alter. As a result, possible directions in a research agenda related to the incorporation of work system method ideas in systems analysis and design are provided. These follow the conceptual framework for IS research developed in 2004 by Hevner, March, Park and Ram.
Evolutionary Diffusion Theory
Authors: Wilkins Linda , Swatman Paula , Holt Duncan
Published: May 2010

Improved understanding of issues affecting uptake of innovative technology is important for the further development of e-business and its integration into mainstream business activities. An explanatory theory that can provide a more effective instrument for determining acceptance levels should therefore be of interest to IS practitioners and researchers alike. The authors aimed to establish whether evolutionary diffusion theory (EDT) could offer such an instrument, developing a set of axioms derived from the EDT literature and applying these to an in-depth review of two e-business implementations: a G2B document delivery system introduced by the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) across a number of industry sectors; and an enterprise-wide system implementation in a local government instrumentality. The authors found EDT offered remarkable explanatory depth, applicable not only to analysing uptake of complex, multi-user technologies in organisational settings but to any e-business investigation requiring a system-wide perspective.
Contemporary Information Systems Alternative Models to TAM
Authors: Mahfouz Ahmed Y
Published: May 2010

Based on the theory of reasoned action, the technology acceptance model (TAM) has been one of the most widely used theories in management information systems research. This chapter proposes several alternative theories from the literature to TAM. Four theories are showcased that actually reveal a reverse relationship in contrast to the traditional attitude-behavior relationship in TAM. These four theories are theory of cognitive dissonance, social judgment theory, theory of passive learning, and self-perception theory. Other alternatives to TAM and other popular theories are flow theory, cognitive load theory, capacity information processing theory, and information processing theory. These theories are applicable in e-commerce, online consumer behavior, online shopping, immersive gaming, virtual social interactions, and cognitive research. Pragmatic examples are shown for the theories.
Expectation-Confirmation Theory
Authors: Jiang James J. , Klein Gary
Published: May 2010

Expectation-confirmation theory (ECT) posits that satisfaction is determined by interplay of prior expectations and perception of delivery. As such, there are many applications in research and practice that employ an ECT model. The descriptive power allows independent investigations manipulating either of the components and a format to examine just why clients are satisfied (or not) with a particular product or service. However, the use of ECT can be impeded by a seeming lack of analysis techniques able to handle the difficulties inherent in the model, restricting information system (IS) researchers to limit the model to less descriptive and analytical accuracy. This chapter provides an overview of ECT applications in IS research and demonstrates how polynomial regression analysis (PRA) allows for a more robust set of models.
Actor Network Theory and IS Research
Authors: Elbanna Amany
Published: May 2010

Actor network theory is a sociological theory that emerged as a useful vehicle to study technology and information systems. This chapter gives the reader some background about the development and emergence of this sociological theory. It reviews some of the premises of the theory and introduces the reader to key concepts and ideas. It also presents some of the critique of the theory, ANT authors’ response, and the implication on IS research. This chapter also gives the reader an overview of the application of ANT in different streams of IS research.
What Use is Domestication Theory to Information Systems Research?
Authors: Hynes Deirdre , Richardson Helen
Published: May 2010

This chapter introduces and discusses domestication theory—essentially about giving technology a place in everyday life—and its relevance and importance to information systems (IS) research. The authors discuss domestication within the context of the social shaping of technology and critique use and adoption theories more widely found in IS studies. The authors illustrate how domestication theory underpins studies of how Irish households find ways of using computers (or not) in their everyday life and research into the use of ICTs in UK gendered households. In conclusion they outline how developments in domestication theory can contribute to future IS research.
Coping with Information Technology
Authors: Beaudry Anne
Published: May 2010

New information technology implementations, as major modifications to existing ones, bring about changes in the work environment of individuals that trigger an important adaptation process. Extant research on the adaptation process individuals go through when a new IT is implemented in their working environment is rather limited. Furthermore, variance theories and models useful to explain IT adoption and use are not well suited to study the dynamics underlying the adaptation process. Coping theory, because it links antecedents, adaptation behaviors, and outcomes altogether, provides a rich lens through which we can study individuals’ IT-related adaptation process. A better understanding of this process will enable researchers and practitioners to understand and predict IT acceptance and related behaviors and thus to better manage them. This chapter presents coping theory, its underlying assumptions and inherent components, discusses its application, highlights the complementarities with existing models and theories currently used in IS research, and provides several avenues for future research in this area.
Computational Analysis and Characterization of Marfan Syndrome Associated Human Proteins
Authors: Sivakumar K.
Published: May 2010

Novel computational procedures and methods have been used to analyze, characterize and to provide more detailed definition of some Marfan syndrome associated human Fibrillin 1 proteins retrieved from NCBI Entrez protein database. Primary structure analysis reveals that the Marfan syndrome associated proteins are rich in cysteine and glycine residues. Extinction Coefficients of Marfan syndrome associated proteins at 280nm is ranging from 1490 to 259165 M-1 cm-1. Expasy’s ProtParam classifies most of the Marfan syndrome associated human Fibrillin 1 proteins as unstable on the basis of Instability index (II>40) and few proteins (AAB25244.1, 1EMO_A, Q504W9) as stable (II
Image Analysis for Exudate Detection in Retinal Images
Authors: Schaefer Gerald , Clos Albert
Published: May 2010

Diabetic retinopathy is recognised as one of the most common causes of blindness. Early diagnosis is important and is based on detection of features such as exudates during eye fundus image screening. In this chapter it is shown how areas corresponding to exudates can be automatically detected using a neural network that, following contrast enhancement and vessel and optic disc extraction steps, classifies each image pixel as exudate or non-exudate. Experimental results on an image set with known ground truth verify the usefulness of the presented approach.
e-OpenDay
Authors: Stamatopoulos Vasileios G. , Karagiannis George E. , Gatzoulis Michael A. , Kastania Anastasia N.
Published: May 2010

This chapter presents the feasibility study of a virtual platform for medical related technology transfer, continuing medical education and e-conference. The concept extends the idea of live events (e.g. conferences, open day events) in one physical location. It exploits the creation of a virtual platform where the research world in the area of biomedicine, can showcase their success, interact and co-operate with the business community and collaborate on potentially valuable outcomes and learn without time or place restrictions. The main objective of the project was to offer a pilot service that can showcase the e-OpenDay market potential and technical feasibility. By developing a prototype and through user feedback and evaluation processes, a set of services was identified, developed and validated. The e-OpenDay project made clear that health information services are facing rapid development and expansion to wider markets and user groups. Based on the project results, a business plan was developed that showcased potential in commercial exploitation.
Explorative Data Analysis of In-Vitro Neuronal Network Behavior Based on an Unsupervised Learning Approach
Authors: Maffezzoli A. , Wanke E.
Published: May 2010

In the present chapter authors want to expose new insights in the field of Computational Neuroscience at regard to the study of neuronal networks grown in vitro. Such kind of analyses can exploit the availability of a huge amount of data thanks to the use of Multi Electrode Arrays (MEA), a multi-channel technology which allows capturing the activity of several different neuronal cells for long time recordings. Given the possibility of simultaneous targeting of various sites, neuroscientists are so applying such recent technology for various researches. The chapter begins by giving a brief presentation of MEA technology and of the data produced in output, punctuating some of the pros and cons of MEA recordings. Then we present an overview of the analytical techniques applied in order to extrapolate the hidden information from available data. Then we shall explain the approach we developed and applied on MEAs prepared in our cell culture laboratory, consisting of statistical methods capturing the main features of the spiking, in particular bursting, activity of various neuron, and performing data dimensionality reduction and clustering, in order to classify neurons according to their spiking properties having showed correlated features. Finally the chapter wants to furnish to neuroscientists an overview about the quantitative analysis of in-vitro spiking activity data recorded via MEA technology and to give an example of explorative analysis applied on MEA data. Such study is based on methods from Statistics and Machine Learning or Computer Science but at the same time strictly related to neurophysiological interpretations of the putative pharmacological manipulation of synaptic connections and mode of firing, with the final aim to extract new information and knowledge about neuronal networks behavior and organization.
Ubiquitous Healthcare
Authors: Panagiotakopoulos Theodor , Fengou Maria-Anna , Lymberopoulos Dimitrios , Babulak Eduard
Published: May 2010

We have already moved away from traditional desktop-based computer technologies towards ubiquitous computing environments that progressively exist in our daily activity. This chapter introduces the concept of ubiquitous computing in the domain of healthcare as well as the prevalent technology its implementation depends on. This technology, named context-awareness, and a generic system for its realization are comprehensively described. Furthermore, the authors outline the main services that a context-aware system can provide and concluding they discuss the impact of ubiquitous computing in the healthcare domain. The authors aim at providing an overview of the technological proceedings in this area and through this understanding assist researchers to their brainstorming.
E-Health Project Implementation
Authors: Siassiakos Konstantinos , Lazakidou Athina
Published: May 2010

Privacy includes the right of individuals and organizations to determine for themselves when, how and to what extent information about them is communicated to others. The growing need of managing large amounts of medical data raises important legal and ethical challenges. E-Health systems must be capable of adhering to clearly defined security policies based upon legal requirements, regulations and standards while catering for dynamic healthcare and professional needs. Such security policies, incorporating enterprise level principles of privacy, integrity and availability, coupled with appropriate audit and control processes, must be able to be clearly defined by enterprise management with the understanding that such policy will be reliably and continuously enforced. This chapter addresses the issue of identifying and fulfilling security requirements for critical applications in the e-health domain. In this chapter the authors describe the main privacy and security measures that may be taken by the implementation of e-health projects.
Computer-Mediated Learning
Authors: Yu Chien , Yu Wei-Chieh Wayne , Lin Chun Fu
Published: May 2010

Dramatic changes in information and communication technologies (ICTs) provide a powerful force forthe growth of e-learning. E-learning has become the undeniable trend for both secondary and higher education. This chapter provides readers with an overview of e-learning computer technologies within the teaching and learning, an examination of current research studies in related areas, and a discussion of the paradigm shift as well as on the trends and issues pertinent to the development of computer-mediated instruction/learning and e-learning. Furthermore, this chapter will explore how students perceived the effectiveness of computer-mediated instruction and learning and their perceptions and attitudes toward learning using computer technology.
The Digital Generation and Web 2.0
Authors: Roberts Robin M.
Published: May 2010

The relationship between the Digital or Millennium Generation and Web 2.0 is investigated focusing on how post-secondary students just entering American colleges and universities use the interactive or read-write web popularly known as “Web 2.0” and what implications their use of those web sites has for E-learning. Central to the investigation is addressing the question of whether the Digital Generation and Web 2.0 concepts describe actual realities or exist merely as popular media constructions. The basic thrust of the chapter will be the position that the Digital Generation does not function as a monolithic group, but that the use of Web 2.0 technologies is related to developmental stages and life situation.
Adult Learners, E-Learning, and Success
Authors: Hsu Jeffrey , Hamilton Karin
Published: May 2010

Adult learners have a set of specific and unique needs, and are different from traditional college students. Possessing greater maturity, interest in learning, and also career and life-oriented objectives, they have different expectations for their education, as well as different backgrounds and goals. This chapter examines what adult learners are, theories of adult learning, and the applicability of online learning to adult learners. Specific teaching methods and techniques are discussed for online and hybrid distance learning courses, as well as hybrid arrangements; encompassing teaching methods, types of exercises and activities, intensive course structures, block scheduling, and the use of modular course segments. Examples from an adult learner hybrid distance learning undergraduate program, Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Global Business Management, are also provided. Future trends and areas for further research conclude the chapter.
Online Interaction Styles
Authors: Yang Dazhi , Richardson Jennifer C.
Published: May 2010

Past studies indicate that students demonstrate different online interaction styles, which consist of the ways or habits students acquire knowledge from computer-mediated discussions (Sutton, 2001). Such interaction styles include the active interaction style (Beaudion, 2002), the vicarious interaction style (Sutton, 2001), and the mixed or balanced-interaction style. The purposes of this chapter are to: (1) examine relative studies on students’ online interaction styles; (2) propose a hypothesis that students’ online interaction styles can change during the course of computer-mediated discussion; (3) conduct a case study on students’ online interaction styles to test the hypothesis. This chapter reviews current issues related to students’ online interaction styles. It offers practical suggestions on the design of online learning environments, instructor’s role in online courses, and educational tools to facilitate students in adapting to more active interaction styles in computer-mediated learning environments.
Implementing E-Learning in University 2.0
Authors: Özkan Betül C.
Published: May 2010

Because of the ways students learn and make sense of world change, higher education institutions try to re-conceptualize this change process and search for better approaches to respond to the demands of the information age. This chapter will address current transformation specifically occurring in e-Learning environments through emerging technologies and discuss new approaches to teaching and learning so the future of education can be better grasped. The chapter will also provide a list of suggestions so adoption of new technologies as well as e-Learning strategies will be more effective in Universities 2.0.
New Literacies in New Times
Authors: Hung Hsiu-Ting
Published: May 2010

The focus of the chapter is two-fold: on one hand, it seeks theoretical understanding of literacy as social practice; on the other hand, it explores how emerging technologies afford and transcend the practice of literacy in social interaction. The chapter begins with a re-conceptualization of literacy from the perspective of New Literacies Studies and outlines key principles pertaining to the plural notion of literacy to provide a theoretical context for the discussion of a multimodal approach to literacy learning. The chapter then links the development of the emerging literacy approach with the advent of technology to explore new possibilities in language and literacy classrooms. Vignettes of emerging technologies, more specifically, social networking services are also presented to demonstrate possible pedagogic uses of multimodal resources in education. The chapter concludes with directions for future literacy research, promoting a multimodal approach to learning that attends to teaching and learning with emerging technologies.
Mode Neutral
Authors: Smith Brian , Reed Peter
Published: May 2010

The excitement of Web 2.0 and E-learning 2.0 is upon us. As the use of social networking sites and other Web 2.0 tools continue to increase, pedagogues are considering their place within education. Some passionately share their research findings or experiments of blogging, wikiing, podcasting and other tools, to empower a new wave in learning and teaching. The authors feel part of this new culture and have undertaken their own research with seventy health care students, harnessing collective intelligence to scaffold their learning in anaesthesia. In this chapter, the authors too share our excitement about the 2.0 era with some notes of caution. From an educational perspective, they believe there is a void between Web 2.0 and E-learning 2.0 - in the shape of pedagogy. What academics have traditionally delivered in a classroom setting has been framed around a sound set of principles – the pedagogy. As for e-learning, many of us have adopted classroom pedagogies within the ever-evolving online world and have noted their incompatibilities. Nevertheless, the common aim of using technology in education is intended to support the learner in their studies. Integrating any (new or old) technologies into education requires a pedagogy that is effective in information exchange, yet flexible enough to respond to the various demands placed upon learning and teaching by both the learner, and the technology. This chapter details the authors’ evidence-based pedagogical model – Mode Neutral – showing how contemporary education can promote the use of Web 2.0 tools to harness collective intelligence. They will outline our case study of using (arguably) a Web 1.0 technology, the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) as the single learning space, with Web 2.0 tools integrated to encourage collaborative learning.
Challenges for Teacher Education in the Learning Society
Authors: Coutinho Clara Pereira
Published: May 2010

In this chapter the author presents the results of a project developed in pre-service and in-service teacher education programs at the Minho University, Braga, Portugal. The main goal of the research was to test the importance of providing technological-rich experiences in teacher education programs as a strategy to promote the integration of technologies in the classroom. As educators in a public university we assume that the failure of ICT integration in Portuguese schools is due to a lack of teacher training in technology-supported pedagogy. We present and discuss a set of principles that we consider essential to understand and sustain the importance of the learning experiences we develop in teacher education programs both for pre-service and in-service teacher education. Different Web 2.0 tools were explored in different contexts and with different pedagogical goals: to build e-portfolios, to enhance cooperation and collaboration among peers, to develop skills in searching, organizing and sharing web resources and to facilitate interaction and communication competencies. Results are presented and discussed in order to infer a set of guidelines for the design of teacher education and training programs regarding the use of ICT in teaching and learning.
Multi-Tier Knowledge-Based System Accessing Learning Object Repository Using Fuzzy XML
Authors: Sajja Priti Srinivas
Published: May 2010

Quality of an e-Learning solution depends on its content, services offered by it and technology used. To increase reusability of common learning material which is accessed by multiple applications, there is a need for user-friendly and cost-effective knowledge-based approach. This chapter discusses basic concepts of learning object repositories; presents work done so far and establishes the need of knowledgebased access of the learning repositories to improve cost-benefit ratio of an e-Learning solution. For this purpose, a multi-tier knowledge-based system accessing a fuzzy XML learning object repository is described with architectural framework and detailed methodology. The working of course tier, reusable LO tier, presentation tier, fuzzy interface tier and application tier is discussed in detail with an example to identify learners’ level and determine presentation sequence accordingly. The chapter concludes by discussing the advantages and questions related to further enhancement.
The Concept of Good Classification (Diagnostic) Test
Authors: Naidenova Xenia
Published: May 2010

In this chapter, the definition of good diagnostic test and the characterization of good tests are introduced and the concepts of good maximally redundant and good irredundant tests are given. The algorithms for inferring all kinds of good diagnostic tests are described in detail.
The Duality of Good Diagnostic Tests
Authors: Naidenova Xenia
Published: May 2010

The concept of good classification test is redefined in this chapter as a dual element of interconnected algebraic lattices. The operations of lattice generation take their interpretations in human mental acts. Inferring the chains of dual lattice elements ordered by the inclusion relation lies in the foundation of generating good classification tests. The concept of an inductive transition from one element of a chain to its nearest element in the lattice is determined. The special reasoning rules for realizing inductive transitions are formed. The concepts of admissible and essential values (objects) are introduced. Searching for admissible or essential values (objects) as a part of reasoning is based on the inductive diagnostic rules. In this chapter, we also propose a non-incremental learning algorithm NIAGaRa based on a reasoning process realizing one of the ways of lattice generation. Next, we discuss the relations between the good test construction and the Formal Concept Analysis (FCA).
Towards an Integrative Model of Deductive-Inductive Commonsense Reasoning
Authors: Naidenova Xenia
Published: May 2010

The most important steps in the direction to an integrative model of deductive-inductive commonsense reasoning are made in this chapter. The decomposition of inferring good classification tests is advanced into two kinds of subtasks that are in accordance with human mental acts. This decomposition allows modeling incremental inductive-deductive inferences. We give two basic recursive procedures based on two kinds of subtasks for inferring all good maximally redundant classification tests (GMRTs): ASTRA and DIAGaRa. An incremental algorithm INGOMAR for inferring all GMRTs is presented too. The problems of creating an integrative inductive-deductive model of commonsense reasoning are discussed in the last section of this chapter.
Towards a Model of Fuzzy Commonsense Reasoning
Authors: Naidenova Xenia
Published: May 2010

This chapter summarizes some methods of inferring approximate diagnostic tests. Considering the sets of approximately minimal diagnostic tests as “characteristic portraits” of object classes we have developed a model of commonsense reasoning by analogy. The system DEFINE of analogical inference with some results of its application is described. Mining approximate functional, implicative dependencies and association rules is based on the same criteria and on applying the same algorithm realized in the Diagnostic Test Machine described shortly in this chapter. Some results of inferring “crisp” and approximate tests with the use of Diagnostic Test Machine are give in Appendix to this chapter.
Privacy Enhancing Technologies in Biometrics
Authors: Campisi Patrizio , Maiorana Emanuele , Neri Alessandro
Published: May 2010

The wide diffusion of biometric based authentication systems, which has been witnessed in the last few years, has raised the need to protect both the security and the privacy of the employed biometric templates. In fact, unlike passwords or tokens, biometric traits cannot be revoked or reissued and, if compromised, they can disclose unique information about the user’s identity. Moreover, since biometrics represent personal information, they can be used to acquire data which can be used to discriminate people because of religion, health, sex, gender, personal attitudes, and so forth. In this chapter, the privacy requirements, the major threats to privacy, and the best practices to employ in order to deploy privacy sympathetic systems, are discussed within the biometric framework. An overview of state of the art on privacy enhancing technologies, applied to biometric based authentication systems, is presented.
Digital Camera Photographic Provenance
Authors: Sorell Matthew
Published: May 2010

Whether investigating individual photographs or a large repository of images, it is often critical to establish some history of the generation, manipulation and/or distribution of the images, which is to say the provenance. The applications of image provenance are wide, including the detection of steganographic messages and image tampering, the clustering of images with like provenance, and the gathering of evidence which establishes (or refutes) a hypothetical source. This chapter considers published research and identifies research gaps which address the general challenges of digital image provenance with an explicit emphasis on evidence related to the camera or other digital source.
Challenges and Solutions in Multimedia Document Authentication
Authors: Katzenbeisser Stefan , Liu Huajian , Steinebach Martin
Published: May 2010

Multimedia document authentication allows the judging of the authenticity and integrity of digital documents. Today a variety of such tools exist which are constructed using different approaches, namely forensic methods, perceptual hashes and digital watermarks. Digital document forensics identifies the source of a document as well as its integrity by means of passive estimation. Perceptual hashing allows computing of short digests of documents; the hashes are insensitive against some signal processing operations and may serve as proof of integrity. Finally, authentication watermarking even allows gaining precise and reliable knowledge on the nature of modifications that a digital document underwent. In this chapter, we give an overview of the three complementary technologies, survey state-of-the-art methods and provide an analysis of their strength and weaknesses.
Trends in Information Security Regulation
Authors: Canning Christopher A. , Wang Baoying
Published: May 2010

This chapter reviews regulations and laws that are currently affecting information assurance and security policy in both the public and private sectors. Regulations and laws in different areas and at different levels are considered. Important industry sector regulations are also included when they have a significant impact on information security, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Analysis of these regulations including evaluation of their effectiveness, enforceability, and acceptance is presented. Since the regulations in this field are in a state of continuous fluctuation, this chapter also attempts to make proposals for statutory improvements that would make security policy development more comprehensive and consistent, resulting in more secure systems throughout the world. It is also predicted that there will be a need for international information security regulations given the nature of the worldwide internet and cross-border information systems. Such developments will improve digital crime investigations worldwide.
Introduction to ITS and NTCIP
Authors: Lin Da-Jie , Dow Chyi-Ren
Published: May 2010

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) combines high technology and improvements in information systems, communication, sensors, and relevant mathematical methods with the conventional world of surface transportation infrastructure to increase the capacity of transportation systems and to improve the level of services. There are four major goals of ITS, including safety, environmental protection, efficiency, and economy. NTCIP (NTCIP Standard 9001, 2002; DISA et al., 1997) is a set of communications protocols and data definition standards designed for various needs of ITS services and applications. The key goals of the NTCIP open-standards effort are interoperability and interchangeability. Interoperability refers to the ability for multiple devices to work together as a single system and interchangeability refers to the ability to use multiple brands of a device on the same communications channel. Accompanying the social and economic development, traffic congestion and delay have become major issues in most areas around the world. How to use readily available technologies to increase the capacity of transportation systems and to improve the level of service has become one of major solutions to solve transportation problems that people are facing. This is the motivation of Intelligent Transportation Systems development. NTCIP is a set of communications protocols and data definition standards designed for various needs of ITS services and applications. These standards are intended to handle these needs in the two areas: Center-to-Field (C2F) and Center-to-Center (C2C) communications.
Implementing and Promoting Blended Learning in Higher Education Institutions
Authors: Wang Lixun
Published: May 2010

With the rapid development of the Internet, blended learning (online learning plus face-to-face learning) has become a model that more and more higher education institutions are intending to adopt. This chapter first compares various forms and expressions of blended learning adopted by different institutions around the world, and then reports on how blended learning has been implemented and promoted in the English Department at the Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIEd) using a variety of approaches. Here, a number of projects have been carried out over the past seven years, focusing on the conversion of traditional face-to-face modules into partly face-to-face, partly online modules. In addressing these developments, the Blackboard online learning management system, which has been adopted as the main platform for the delivery of blended learning at HKIEd, is first examined. Then the design of a series of subject-specific Web sites to supplement the Blackboard system and facilitate blended learning is introduced. Finally, the implementation of innovative Wikibook projects is illustrated and discussed. Such Wikibook projects, where students are required to work in groups to write an academic textbook collaboratively online, are highly effective in promoting not only autonomous yet collaborative online academic reading and writing, but also online peer editing. This adds a new dimension to blended learning. Feedback from students shows that they greatly enjoyed the experience of collaborative academic writing through the Wikibook projects, and found that the wiki technology made peer editing much more efficient and effective. All the evidence suggests that blended learning has great potential as a vehicle for teaching and learning and is a notable current trend in higher education.
Using Action Research to Assess Student Performance in Traditional vs. E-Learning Formats
Authors: Guy Retta , Wishart Craig
Published: May 2010

While the popularity and acceptance of online education is undeniable, many are concerned about measurable performance of student learning in Web-based courses. The issue of student performance dates back to the start of correspondence courses as the initial challenge to the traditional classroom (McLaren, 2004). Yet, today, it is not a question of whether we pursue this educational medium, but rather, are students in the Web-based courses performing equal to or better than their counterparts in the classroom-based courses? An action research study was conducted to assess student performance in a traditional versus e-learning format at a historically Black land-grant university located in the southern part of the United States. The population sampled included 293 declared business majors who were self enrolled in either organizational behavior or international business undergraduate courses. Both courses in both formats were conducted over a 3-year period. A chi-square test was run to determine if correlation exist between final grades and delivery method. The results revealed that the delivery method did not impact student performance; hence, concluding that there was not sufficient evidence to assert that a relationship exists between final grades and delivery method.
When Cultures Meet in Blended Learning
Authors: Hu Chun
Published: May 2010

This chapter presents a literature review of the blended learning projects that involved learners from different cultures. The studies reviewed essentially addressed two issues: the feasibility of cross-cultural blended learning and leaner differences in such a learning environment. While the studies overwhelmingly reported the benefits of using the Internet to create opportunities for students to learn with peers from other cultures, they also highlighted issues of cultural impact on learner behaviors. Learner differences reported included approaches to asking questions, collaborating with others and preferences in the way they made use of technologies. Patterns emerged from the review, implying some design considerations for planning cross-cultural blended learning. It seems that successful cross-cultural blended learning programs need committed teaching teams who make decisions on curriculum choices, learning tasks and assessments, and which technology tools to use; and who skillfully handle issues of language barriers, project management, and preparation of learners.
The Efficacy of Security Awareness Programs from a Cross-Cultural Perspective
Authors: Medlin B. Dawn , Chen Charlie C.
Published: May 2010

Different cultures have different technological capabilities and, therefore, face a diverse set of security challenges. Increasing security awareness training can alert users to the existence of security vulnerabilities and threats. A user’s ability to understand these threats and vulnerabilities can empower them to take preventive and corrective actions in the event of such problems. This study proposes that users adopt situational awareness learning that is more receptive to high individualists than low individualists in their ability to increase their security awareness levels, which include comprehension, projection, and actions. We conducted an intercultural study to investigate if users from the U.S. and Taiwan exposed to the same situational awareness learning would have different performance in security awareness outcomes. Our findings confirmed that security awareness is cultural-ware learning, and our proposed situational awareness is a more useful learning approach to high individualists than low individualists.
Cross Disciplinary Learning in Distance Higher Education
Authors: Osiki Jonathan O.
Published: May 2010

Adequately selecting and applying the multi-model structure from the backdrop of cross-disciplinary learning in stimulating professionals’ research empowerment in distance higher education, is a regular focus of research. How the benefits of research is developed, nurtured, continuously enhanced, and sustained in value-driven academic activities is the direct consequence of learners’ emotionality. The study argues that distance learners learn meaningfully when their emotionality is adequate. Using the emotional spiral model, the study in a pre-test, post-test, control quasi-experimental research design evaluated the impact of behaviour techniques subsumed psychotherapeutically in facilitating learners’ emotional stability for inducing research competences. The distance learners were initially screened for their fears in research activities and quantitative abilities, and then subsequently allotted into four independent intervention sub-groups. Under the vantage application of psychotherapy, for a four-week out of a six-week maximum teaching-learning encounter, prior to the post-evaluation (i.e. post-test) period, the learners were exposed to the benefits of the reframing techniques, rational emotive bahaviour techniques, assignment method, and the control technique (i.e the non-treatment) group. Utilizing the analysis of variance statistical method at the 0.05 alpha, the findings showed that the participants’ research prowess improved tremendously with a statistically significant treatment effect [F (4, 1052) =7.52; P
Comparing IT and Non-IT Faculty and Students' Perceptions on Blended Learning
Authors: Ng Eugenia M.W.
Published: May 2010

The successful implementation of blended learning depends on many factors, but the interactions between academics and students far outweigh technology and all other factors put together. However, so far, no satisfactory research has been conducted relating to teacher education or to providing a comprehensive analysis on academic and student teachers’ perceptions. For the purpose of this study, thirteen academics were interviewed or attended focus group meetings to share their views on blended learning. Some of them were classified as information technology (IT) academics whilst others were not. The academics had a very positive attitude towards the concept of blended learning and there were no notable differences between IT and non-IT academics. Their findings are also cross referenced with findings from students who participated in a questionnaire survey. There were a total of seventy student teachers, who participated in the survey. Forty-four of them were regarded as IT students whilst the rest was regarded as non-IT students. These two groups of students gave high ratings on most of the questionnaire items. There were some minor differences between the two groups of students but the differences were not very statistically significant. These thought-provoking findings not only serve as practical and beneficial information for The Hong Kong Institute of Education, but they also serve as an invaluable source of knowledge and information for all individuals in the field of teacher education.
Today's Information Enterprise
Authors: Ghosh Supriya
Published: May 2010

This chapter shifts you from the complex topic of network centric warfare to address the basic fundamentals of today’s information enterprise environment. It addresses how our information enterprise is structured and what forms of information forms are there. This includes use of text, images, voice, audio/video and data. It then provides an understanding of the information functions as to how to use these information forms. It helps create, display, store, process and transport information, and work on how these converge. It then introduces the concept of a decision pyramid which in detail explains data, information, knowledge, intelligence and how decision making requires all of them. It further discusses an information sharing strategy for large organizations and the information sharing value chain. The chapter ends by discussing a number of tomorrow’s information technology future trends.
Net-Centric Operational Environment
Authors: Ghosh Supriya
Published: May 2010

In this chapter we delve deeper into the concepts of net-centric systems and provide characteristics of the upcoming net-centric operational environment. We define traits that are properly defines this type of real-time operational environment and its benefits. The problem of today’s military is described and a shift to a new operational environment is mentioned to surmount current challenges. The chapter then illustrates the net-centric operational context and denotes each of the elements. We describe the fundamentals of knowledge management, knowledge sharing and distributed decision making. We address issues such as collaboration within communities of interest, technical connectivity and network management principles. We define different knowledge domains and sharing of knowledge across the net-centric environment. We then provide a case study of an example, future net-centric environment that has been presented within a DoD joint forces document.
Net-Centric Information
Authors: Ghosh Supriya
Published: May 2010

This chapter now shifts to describing Information Assurance and how it is a crucial topic that aids the process of Net Centricity. We start with a set of information assurance definitions that have been stated in the language within DoD guidance documents. We then define common information assurance principles and define terms such as Defense-in-Depth. We then discuss the certification and accreditation process that has been standardized throughout the DoD to ensure that security measures are in place. The latest DoD process is DIACAP, and it involves implementing a set of information assurance steps. We then introduce Common Criteria standards, an international framework that allows government and industry to work together on a common method for implementing security measures. Then we discuss net-centric information assurance goals and how information assurance aspects are adopted for netcentric operations.
Scaling Fuzzy Models
Authors: Hall Lawrence O. , Goldgof Dmitry B. , Canul-Reich Juana , Hore Prodip , Cheng Weijian , Shoemaker Larry
Published: May 2010

This chapter examines how to scale algorithms which learn fuzzy models from the increasing amounts of labeled or unlabeled data that are becoming available. Large data repositories are increasingly available, such as records of network transmissions, customer transactions, medical data, and so on. A question arises about how to utilize the data effectively for both supervised and unsupervised fuzzy learning. This chapter will focus on ensemble approaches to learning fuzzy models for large data sets which may be labeled or unlabeled. Further, the authors examine ways of scaling fuzzy clustering to extremely large data sets. Examples from existing data repositories, some quite large, will be given to show the approaches discussed here are effective.