bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Peer Learning and Social Interactions in an Asynchronous Learning Environment
Authors: Ragusa Angela T.
Published: May 2010

This chapter explores how Internet-based asynchronous communication forums utilized in teaching undergraduate courses affect social interactions and student satisfaction. Drawing from an analysis of qualitative data, such as student and teachers’ perceptions, this case study reveals four key factors that affect learner satisfaction; (1) trust of people and technology, (2) awareness of how technically-mediated interactions differ from face-to-face interactions, (3) peer-based learning opportunities, and 4) integration of relevant learning materials and opportunities for social engagement. The findings suggest that when asynchronous forums are used as the principle vehicle for communication and learning, students feel less socially isolated, report a sense of belonging, and positively evaluate learning outcomes. The case study identifies asynchronous electronic forums as an effective tool for peer learning and social interactions among upper-level distance education students in Australia.
The Use of Social Interaction Technologies in E-Portfolios
Authors: Pelliccione Lina , Pocknee Catherine , Mulvany Julie
Published: May 2010

The chapter focuses on the potential of electronic portfolios (ePortfolios) to engage and motivate the learners and presents a framework for the informed inclusion and adoption of social interaction technologies as a means to increase the effective use of ePortfolios. Electronic portfolios are a web-based format for providing genuine evidence of student performance, self-reflection, competence, career planning and leadership. The ePortfolios meet the needs of the digital learner in the knowledge society. The collaboratively constructed artifacts enable the articulation of shared knowledge building and selfreflective practice, further confirming the status of ePortfolios as living documents. By their electronic nature, ePortfolios open promising opportunities for the assimilation of social interaction technologies such as blogs, wikis, podcasts, video, and photo sharing. The authors trace the development and use of ePortfolios within the context of higher education. Various ePortfolio tools are discussed along with their educational potential and the associated challenges.
Social Interaction Technologies
Authors: Huang Jiehua , Aaltio Iiris
Published: May 2010

This chapter explores a relationship between social interaction technologies (SIT) and guanxi, a major Chinese informal style of networking, in the context of the careers of women managers in the information technology (IT) field in China. Addressing women’s under-representation in non-traditional occupations (such as IT), prior research has established that networking, especially informal, is an important career management tool for women. Recent advances in social capital theory and social network analysis provide a framework for understanding the role of social processes in achieving career success. Today, the growing web-based social and professional networking in China weighs against the traditional forms of relationships, such as personal networks based on guanxi. The study indicates that SIT and guanxi should be viewed as complementary rather than mutually exclusive influences.
Online Relationships and the Realm of Romantic Possibilities
Authors: Ben-Ze’ev Aaron
Published: May 2010

Human life concerns not only—or even mainly—the present, but rather, and to a significant extent, the realm of imagined possibilities that include cyberspace. The fundamental human capacity to imagine the possible not only reveals reality, but often disregards it as well. Although the realm of potential romantic possibilities is promising, it is also risky. To guide our path through this unknown territory, humans have created boundaries that eliminate the options that seem immoral or dangerous. Internetbased social interaction technologies have considerably increased the boundaries of the realm of the romantically possible and its accessibility. Hence, the challenge of coping with this realm has become central to modern life and has far reaching implications for human relationships. This chapter theorizes the role of technology in creating potential possibilities for romantic relationships and focuses on the imagination, interactivity, reciprocity, and anonymity of cyberspace.
Squeak Etoys
Authors: Bouras Christos J , Poulopoulos Vassilis , Tsogkas Vassilis
Published: May 2010

Squeak Etoys is a free software program and media-rich authoring system with a user-friendly visual interface. The software is designed to help six to twelve year-old children learn through interaction and collaboration; it comes preinstalled on XO laptop computers distributed by the One Laptop Per Child Foundation. The goal of the One Laptop Per Child initiative is to create novel educational opportunities for the world’s children by providing each child with a book-size, light and portable computer for personal use at school and at home. This chapter elaborates on the educational dimensions of the XO laptop and the Etoys environment developed to empower teachers and students with the capacity for creative learning, exploration, interaction, and collaboration. The authors focus on how the hardware and software capabilities of XO laptops can be utilized to allow children to interact, work together on projects, and engage in computer simulations and games while learning mathematics, physics, chemistry, and geometry.
The Sun Earth Moon System
Authors: Marsh Ronald
Published: May 2010

This chapter focuses on the issues pertaining to informal science learning through public outreach and the utilization of established and evolving web technologies. The Sun Earth Moon System (SEMs) is a website that integrates webcasting with Web 2.0 features to increase public awareness and interest in natural sciences as well as to dispel the stereotype that science is boring. The SEMs website provides live video webcasts of solar and lunar eclipses and planet transits streamed from various locations around the world as part of a web-based public outreach program. The SEMs project aims to offer the general public a realistic experience and evoke the spirit of excitement felt by being a part of a global community witnessing rare astronomical events. The purpose of the chapter is to explore webcasting and design strategies, such as the incorporation of social media elements, that can assist in the development of a science-oriented educational website.
Social Software Use in Public Libraries
Authors: Abbas June
Published: May 2010

With the emergence of Web 2.0, libraries have started employing social software applications (such as blogs, tagging, social networking, and wikis) to engage readers, encourage user-contributed content, and connect with user populations in novel ways. However, little research has been conducted on the applications of Web 2.0 technologies within public libraries. This chapter focuses on the applicability of social software in a library setting and examines the use of such innovative techniques as live tagging, social cataloging, and social bookmarking. The chapter evaluates the potential of social software tools for facilitating collaboration between librarians and library patrons; it addresses the concerns expressed by the library and information science community related to the issues of trust, authority, accuracy, responsibility, and ethics in the context of the Library 2.0.
Marketing for Children Using Social Interaction Technologies
Authors: Brown Ruth E.
Published: May 2010

Children are spending more time online and, in most cases, this means they are using social interaction technologies. Beyond the concern for safety, another issue is gathering strength; namely, interactive marketing to children. This chapter looks at the immersive nature of interactive marketing, which can be found in blogs, chat rooms, virtual worlds, advergaming, and other forms of advertainment. The chapter also examines; the ages of targetable audiences (some of whom cannot yet read the “advertisement” label), websites for children that use interactive marketing, where and how ads are displayed, the effects of interactive marketing, the potential for data collection through interactive marketing, the lack of regulation in interactive marketing, and the future trends of interactive marketing to children.
The Use of Social Media by Nonprofit Organizations
Authors: Waters Richard D.
Published: May 2010

Nonprofit organizations are an essential part of the social, political, and economic landscape of contemporary society. Social media provide ample opportunities for these organizations to increase their community presence, impact, effectiveness, and efficiency. A qualitative study of 39 nonprofit leaders explored how nonprofits are utilizing the potential of the social media technologies to carry out their programs and services. Thematic analysis revealed that nonprofits are slowly embracing the possibilities offered by the new social interaction technologies. Most nonprofit organizations lag behind and wait to see how other nonprofits incorporate these new communication outlets into their budgets and daily operations. Paralleling Rogers’ diffusion of innovations theory, innovators and early adopters are using social media to revitalize their fundraising and volunteering efforts while the majority lags behind.
Towards Understanding the Successful Adoption of Blog-Based Knowledge Management Systems
Authors: Park Joowon , Jo Sooran , Moon Junghoon
Published: May 2010

Knowledge has been recognized as a valuable resource for organizational activities. As businesses are entering the world of Web 2.0, knowledge sharing is widely regarded as a critical issue in the area of organizational knowledge management (KM). Recently, organizations have started adopting blog-based knowledge management systems (KMS) with encouraging results. Used as a tool for sharing organizational knowledge, blogging can aggregate the intellectual power of individual members, serve as innovative KMS, and lead to the creation of a trust-based corporate culture. However, despite the increasing adoption of blogs by organizations, a theoretical framework for understanding a blog-based KMS has not been developed. This chapter attempts to present a framework for understanding a blog-based KMS in an organizational setting, grounded in a socio-psychological approach and the application of social identity and symbolic interaction theories.
Social Software for Customer Knowledge Management
Authors: Zhang Zuopeng (Justin)
Published: May 2010

Social software is assuming a significant role in electronic business, increasingly referred to as e-business, and has been utilized recently on a growing scale by companies in customer relationship management. However, it is largely unclear at what levels firms should implement social software. This chapter addresses the gap by identifying the optimal level of social software deployment for a firm that plans to maximize its transactional benefits through the management of a customer knowledge base. The conclusion reached is that the optimal level of social software depends on a range of factors; for example, the initial volume of knowledge base, transaction benefits, and the estimates of the positive and negative effects of social software use. The chapter offers insights and guidance for business managers and practitioners.
Critical Success Factors in the Development of Folksonomy-Based Knowledge Management Tools
Authors: Owen Kenneth , Willis Robert
Published: May 2010

This chapter examines three important aspects of folksonomies; common design factors found in folksonomies, developmental patterns of mature folksonomies, and the identification of knowledge consumer behaviors that can act as metrics for the evaluation of a small-scale folksonomy. In identifying desirable design elements, a comparative examination of tags and objects was made using a study conducted at Lakehead University. From this project, an exemplar of an effective folksonomical data structure was derived. User behavior was examined and categorized to identify behaviors that can be monitored and measured as indicators of user satisfaction. The authors analyze the structures of a folksonomy and synthesize a practical model of an effective folksonomy in the context of knowledge management.
Online Scams
Authors: Berzins Michelle
Published: May 2010

The adoption of new technologies presents a risk that inexperienced users may become immersed in a virtual world of cyber-crime featuring fraud, scams, and deceit. In addition to the societal benefits of social interaction technologies (SIT), the adoption of social software tools brings a range of security issues. The chapter highlights the “darker” side of SIT in which online safety and interpersonal trust become tangible commodities and where fraudsters prey on unsuspecting netizens; it demonstrates that an assortment of technological tools and psychological practices may be used to gain the confidence and trust of unsuspecting consumers. The author argues that consumer education can be successfully utilized to enhance the ability of Internet users to detect and avoid fraudulent interactions and safely enjoy the many benefits afforded by the emerging social interaction technologies.
Interactivity Redefined for the Social Web
Authors: Sachdev V. , Nerur S. , Teng J. T.C.
Published: May 2010

With the trend towards social interaction over the Internet and the mushrooming of Web sites such as MySpace, Facebook and YouTube in the social computing space, practitioners and researchers are motivated to explain the sudden surge in user interest. The authors propose that interactivity is an important and appropriate subject of investigation to shed light on this explosion in social media use. Based on a review of the extant literature, they justify the use of interactivity for addressing research questions motivated by this new phenomenon. In particular, they propose a redefinition of interactivity for the social computing domain and term it Social Computing Interactivity (SCI). The authors suggest possible operationalizations of the dimensions of SCI and explore theory bases which would inform a study of their relevance in predicting the continued growth of social computing.
Managing E-Relationships in a Supply Network
Authors: Xu Susanna Xin , Joe Nandhakumar
Published: May 2010

This chapter investigates the dynamics of the formation and transformation of electronic supply relationships (e-supply relationships) in the Chinese cultural, technological, and industrial network context. It focuses on a newly-formed large Chinese telecom company. The aim is to provide better insights into inter-organisational relationships (IORs) enabled by the application of newer types of Internet technology in different contexts, and to develop a new conceptual framework of e-supply relationships. In this research, the conceptualisation of the transformation process of e-supply relationships represents circuits of interactions between managerial actions and social structures, as well as the particular cultural and technological context within which the interactions take place.
Class Management
Authors: Lee Chao
Published: May 2010

In the previous chapter, we discussed the issues related to the database which is used to store student information and course information. After the network, server, and database have been set up properly, our next task is to develop a learning management system to support class management. In this chapter, we will examine the open source tools used for class management. Learning Management System (LMS) software is commonly used to support course setup, management, and assessment. The first part of this chapter will focus on various open source learning management systems. Some commonly used open source LMS software packages will be introduced. We will investigate how these LMS software packages can be used to manage classes and course materials.
Service-Level Roaming
Authors: Frattini Giovanni , De Furio Ivano , Russo Roberto , Romano Luigi , Ceccarini Federico
Published: May 2010

We will discuss on new methods and tools for building high personalized, virtual e-business services. A new service provisioning architecture based on web services has been conceived, taking into account issues related to end-user mobility. The following pages deal with a proposal for creating real localized, personalized virtual environments using web services and domain ontologies. In particular, to overcome interoperability issues that could arise from a lack of uniformity in service descriptions, we propose a way for controlling and enforcing annotation policies based on a service registration authority. It allows services to be advertised according to guidelines and domain rules. Furthermore, this solution enables enhanced service/component discovery and validation, helping software engineers to build services by composing building blocks and provision/deliver a set of personalized services.
Virtual Economy and Consumer
Authors: Shin Dong Hee
Published: May 2010

By expanding the technology acceptance model, this study analyzes the consumer purchasing behaviors with virtual currency in Web 2.0 drawing data from 311 users. This study focuses on which variables influence the intention to transact with virtual currency in Web 2.0. Individuals’ responses to questions about attitude and intention to transact in Web 2.0 were collected and combined with various factors modified from the technology acceptance model. The results of the proposed model show that subjective norm is a key behavioral antecedent to use virtual currency. In the extended model, subjective norm’s moderating effects on the relations among the variables are found significant. The new set of variables can be virtual environment-specific factors, playing as enhancing factors to attitudes and behavioral intention in Web 2.0 transactions. This study provides a more intensive view of Web 2.0 system users and is an important step towards a better understanding of the consumer behavior in Web 2.0.
Key Issues in Mobile Marketing
Authors: Barnes Stuart J. , Scornavacca Eusebio
Published: May 2010

The growth and convergence of wireless telecommunications and ubiquitous networks has created a tremendous potential platform for providing business services. In consumer markets, mobile marketing is likely to be a key growth area. The immediacy, interactivity, and mobility of wireless devices provide a novel platform for marketing. The personal and ubiquitous nature of devices means that interactivity can, ideally, be provided anytime and anywhere. However, as experience has shown, it is important to keep the consumer in mind. Mobile marketing permission and acceptance are core issues that marketers have yet to fully explain or resolve. This chapter provides direction in this area. After briefly discussing some background on mobile marketing, the chapter conceptualises key characteristics for mobile marketing permission and acceptance. The chapter concludes with predictions on the future of mobile marketing and some core areas of further research.
Accessing Learning Content in a Mobile System
Authors: Trifonova Anna
Published: May 2010

This chapter has the aim to point out an important functionality of a ubiquitous mobile system, and more specifically, its application in the learning domain. This functionality is the possibility to access the learning material from mobile devices, like PDAs (personal digital assistants) during their offline periods and the technique to approach it, called hoarding. The chapter starts with the overview of a concrete mobile learning system—Mobile ELDIT, so as to give a clear idea of when and how this problem appears and why it is important to pay attention to it. Later, a description of the development approaches for both general and concrete solutions are discussed, followed by more detailed description of the important hoarding steps.
Leveraging Pervasive and Ubiquitous Service Computing
Authors: Zhang Zhijun
Published: May 2010

The advancement of technologies to connect people and objects anywhere has provided many opportunities for enterprises. This chapter will review the different wireless networking technologies and mobile devices that have been developed, and discuss how they can help organizations better bridge the gap between their employees or customers and the information they need. The chapter will also discuss the promising application areas and human-computer interaction modes in the pervasive computing world, and propose a service-oriented architecture to better support such applications and interactions.
Re-Assessing Validity and Reliability in the E-Learning Environment
Authors: Markham Selby , Hurt John
Published: May 2010

Reliability and validity have a well-established place in the development and implementation of educational assessment devices. With the advent of electronic delivery and assessment some of the factors that influence reliability and validity have changed. In order to understand the process involved the authors have suggested that a socio-technical approach to these educational issues gives an economical explanatory system. Within this socio-technical system, the authors show that the way the students extract information from sources is changing to an extent where it is difficult to distinguish between cheating and poor quoting behavior. This has led them to postulate a new classification within validity and reliability – knowledge validity and reliability. They argue that electronic delivery and assessment have not changed their core structures, but rather require revised education and training for both staff and students.
Collaborative E-Learning Using Wikis
Authors: Brack Charlotte
Published: May 2010

Within the notion of Web 2.0, social software has characteristics that make it particularly relevant to ELearning, aligning well with a social constructivist approach to learning encompassing peer production and review of curriculum content. In this chapter examples of the use of social software are described and ways in which they draw on these characteristics are discussed. An intensive three week program of study online has been developed for students who have not completed year 12 biology and who are entering first year medical studies. The program incorporates individual self-directed learning and collaborative projects. The latter include a debate and competition between groups involving the creation of a Wiki. Social software, the Wiki, enabled peer learning activities including peer support, and the shared peer production and review of learning materials. The social software also provided mechanisms for developing generic skills and contributed to transition issues for new students. Incorporation of social bookmarking into the project may extend the potential for connected knowledge with a broader concept of peers and peer assessment.
The Validity of Group Marks as a Proxy for Individual Learning in E-Learning Settings
Authors: Lajbcygier Paul , Spratt Christine
Published: May 2010

This chapter presents recent research on group assessment in an e-learning environment as an avenue to debate contemporary issues in the design of assessment strategies. The underpinning research measured individual students’ contributions to group processes, individual students’ influence on their peers’ topic understanding of the related curriculum content, and the influence of the overall group experience on personal learning in an e-learning environment designed to act as a catalyst for the group learning. As well, the learning objectives fundamental to the project work were tested individually as part of the final examination. Further, the authors complemented the quantitative aspects of the research with focus group interviews to determine if students perceived that the e-learning environment helped attain the group learning objectives. The authors found that e-learning does not necessarily enhance deep learning in group assignments. They also found that the attainment of group learning objectives does not translate to the attainment of the same individual learning objectives. The chapter provides comment on the relationship that may exist between students’ perceptions of the e-learning environment, the group project work and e-learning group dynamics.
Validation of E-Learning Courses in Computer Science and Humanities
Authors: Friedman Robert S. , Deek Fadi P. , Elliot Norbert
Published: May 2010

In order to offer a unified framework for the empirical assessment of e-learning (EL), this chapter presents findings from three studies conducted at a comprehensive technological university. The first, an archival study, centers on student performance in undergraduate computer science and humanities courses. The second study, a survey given three times within EL classes, investigates the variables of learning style, general expectation, and interaction in student performance. The third study investigates student performance on computer-mediated information literacy. Taken together, these three studies—focusing on archival, process, and performance-based techniques—suggest that a comprehensive assessment model has the potential to yield a depth of knowledge allowing shareholders to make informed decisions on the complexities of asynchronous learning in post-secondary education.
Identifying Latent Classes and Differential Item Functioning in a Cohort of E-Learning Students
Authors: Sanford Andrew , Lajbcygier Paul , Spratt Christine
Published: May 2010

A differential item functioning analysis is performed on a cohort of E-Learning students undertaking a unit in computational finance. The motivation for this analysis is to identify differential item functioning based on attributes of the student cohort that are unobserved. The authors find evidence that a model containing two distinct latent classes of students is preferred, and identify those examination items that display the greatest level of differential item functioning. On reviewing the attributes of the students in each of the latent classes, and the items and categories that mostly distinguish those classes, the authors conclude that the bias associated with the differential item functioning is related to the a priori background knowledge that students bring to the unit. Based on this analysis, they recommend changes in unit instruction and examination design so as to remove this bias.
Evaluation Strategies for Open and Distributed Learning Environments
Authors: Reeves Thomas C. , Hedberg John G.
Published: May 2010

Evaluation falls into the category of those often neglected human practices such as exercise and eating right. All of us involved in education or training know that we should engage in systematic evaluation when designing or implementing any type of learning environment, but we rarely get around to it. Perhaps this lapse stems from the fact that most instructional design models such as the ubiquitous ADDIE (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation) model (Molenda, 2003) appear to suggest that we can postpone evaluation until the end of the process. Whatever the reason, evaluation often remains in the realm of promises made, but not kept, such as “I’ll eat better tomorrow.”
Practical Strategies for Assessing the Quality of Collaborative Learner Engagement
Authors: LeBaron John , Bennett Carol
Published: May 2010

Teachers and designers of computer-networked settings increasingly acknowledge that active learner engagement poses unique challenges, especially for instructors weaned on traditional site-based teaching, and that such engagement is essential to the progressive construction of learner knowledge. “Learner engagement” can mean several things: engagement with material, engagement with instructors, and, perhaps most important, peer engagement. Many teachers of computer-networked courses, who are quite diligent about incorporating activities and procedures to promote human interactivity, are confronted with the challenge of assessing the efficacy of their efforts. How do they discern whether the strategies and tactics woven into their “e-settings” are achieving the desired ends? This chapter outlines issues of self-assessment, including ethical questions. It lays out recommendations for self-assessment in a manner that respects student trust and confidentiality, distinguishing the demands of practical self-assessment from scholarly course research. The institutional pressures from which such assessment emerges are also examined.
E-Commerce Background
Authors: Shareef Mahmud Akhter , Dwivedi Yogesh K. , Williams Michael D. , Singh Nitish
Published: May 2010

Electricity, telecommunication, integrated circuits, networking, and the Internet fostered a revolution by delivering distinctive services. The power of the net lies in restructuring the global economy to benefit consumers, businesses, society, and civilization. In general sense, electronic economy is considered to have three primary components--supporting infrastructure, electronic processes (how it is conducted), and electronic commerce transactions (buying and selling). This chapter deals with the introductory concepts of B2C EC and its related issues in the global context. It describes introduction to EC and evolution of one of the basic components of EC, that is, the Internet. Then this chapter sheds light on definition, proliferation, adoption, globalization, and management issues related to B2C EC. This chapter also explains the basic concepts of M-Commerce and E-Government (EG) as the related issues.
E-Commerce Adoption in Developing Countries
Authors: Shareef Mahmud Akhter , Dwivedi Yogesh K. , Williams Michael D. , Singh Nitish
Published: May 2010

This chapter is aimed to provide a fundamental conceptual framework for adoption of EC by the consumers of developing countries. Through extensive review of literature and different related theories, we suggest that Awareness, Availability of infrastructure, Relative advantage, Compatibility, Website quality, Information quality, Multi-lingual option, and Trust have positive and Complexity has negative relations with adoption of EC by consumers of developing countries. These constructs can also measure the status of developing countries whether B2C EC could pursue consumers to use their systems.
Influencing Factors and the Acceptance of Internet and E-Business Technologies in Maritime Canada's SMEs
Authors: Shareef Mahmud Akhter , Dwivedi Yogesh K. , Williams Michael D. , Singh Nitish
Published: May 2010

This chapter examines the influence of some relevant factors on the acceptance of internet and E-Business technologies in Maritime Canada’s SMEs (small- and medium- sized enterprises). To examine the influence of the factors, a research framework was developed and nine hypotheses formulated to test the various relationships. A survey was conducted and a total of 162 valid responses were obtained from mainly business owners and managers. The data supported five out of the nine hypotheses formulated. The key findings are as follows: The sampled SME’s organizational readiness is positively related to their intent to use Internet/business technologies (dependant variable); the two constructs of the technology acceptance model (TAM) were found to be important mediators in the relationship between the management support construct and the dependant variable. Further, no evidence was found to suggest that management support positively influences the intent to use Internet/ business technologies among Maritime Canada’s SMEs. The implications of the study’s findings for policy making and research were discussed.
Effect of Proliferation and Resistance of Internet Economy
Authors: Shareef Mahmud Akhter , Dwivedi Yogesh K. , Williams Michael D. , Singh Nitish
Published: May 2010

Information and communication technology (ICT) is the prime driving force of Internet economy. Therefore, before implementing E-Commerce (EC) and E-Government (EG) projects, it is a vital issue to investigate the capability of developing countries to adopt ICT and reveal the impact of adopting ICT among society. However, it is observed that in developing countries, rural and urban population have significant digital divide. We argue that the purposes of implementing Internet-based projects, particularly EG, can only be accomplished and full benefits can be realized if rural population of developing countries has that ability to adopt ICT, the main driver of EG, and if ICT has positive impact on rural population in technological, economical, and social perspectives. Therefore, it is the prime motive of policy makers of developing countries to study the impact of ICT in capability development among citizens prior to launching EG. To study the impact of ICT on both rural and urban population separately through a vertical survey, this research proposes separate ad-hoc and post-hoc frameworks.
Introduction
Authors: Mutula Stephen M.
Published: May 2010

The ‘Digital economy’ is sometimes used synonymously with ‘information society’, which emerged back in the 1960s to describe a futuristic society that is highly dependent on information (Bridges.org, 2001; Computer Systems Policy Projects, 2000). Martin (1997:87) further associates the concept with ‘information economics’ by defining it as a society in which there is a growing rate in the production, distribution and use of information. The ‘Digital economy’, as term and concept, has been used in this book in keeping with ‘information society’ as espoused by Schienstock et al. (1999), who view it from an interdisciplinary perspective to describe: An information economy;A post-industrial society; The end of the industrial labour society; A knowledge society; An ‘informatized’ industrial society; and A learning society.
Digital Economy Components
Authors: Mutula Stephen M.
Published: May 2010

The digital economy consists of various components, key among which include government; policy and regulation; internet, the world wide web (WWW) and electricity infrastructure; telecommunication industry; digital service providers; e-business and e-commerce industry; information and knowledge management systems; intellectual property rights; human capital and knowledge workers; research and development; and emerging technologies.
SMEs Industry
Authors: Mutula Stephen M.
Published: May 2010

There is a growing impetus internationally for the development of strong SME sectors as engines of economic growth and development. This impetus is driven by the recognition of SMEs as the backbone of most economies. For instance, there are about 30 million enterprises in Europe providing employment to around 122 million people, with the vast majority (99.8%) of these enterprises being SMEs (Riegebauer, 2004). These SMEs therefore generate a large share of the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) in most of the region’s countries. Asian countries are also investing significantly in SMEs. For example, during the 1980s and 1990s, China’s economy was largely driven by SMEs, while the Philippines invested heavily in the same (Gungen, 2003).
Digital Divide and SMEs
Authors: Mutula Stephen M.
Published: May 2010

There is a growing interest in how the digital divide affects the operations of SMEs. The digital divide among businesses is defined as the disparity between the effective use of ICT for gains in productivity (Wielicki, 2008). Often, SMEs are found to be on the wrong side of this divide, with insufficient funds and/or access to ICT as the most cited reasons for falling behind big corporations. A further common barrier to the use of ICT is cited as the lack of education and training. A study conducted on micro and small-sized enterprises (SMEs) from selected regions in Spain, Portugal and Poland on the use of ICT produced interesting results. It was found that the main barrier to the utilization of ICT and e-Business, and thus the main reason why SMEs struggle with the digital divide, is not so much the lack of access to IT as the lack of proper knowledge, education and skilled owner-managers and employees within the enterprise (Arendt, 2008).
Knowledge Management (KM)
Authors: Mutula Stephen M.
Published: May 2010

There are a growing number of studies on knowledge management (KM) in SMEs for various reasons. One has been the growing realisation that SMEs are in a unique situation because their most significant assets are intangibles comprised mainly of knowledge. SMEs constitute the largest number of enterprises in the economies of both developed and developing countries, as already discussed in preceding chapters. In Germany, for example, 97.9% of all companies fall within the scope of SMEs and provide approximately 36% of all industrial investments (Wimmer and Wolter, 2000). Likewise in Australia, SMEs account for 97% of all private sector businesses and produce 30% of the nation’s output (Australian Bureau of Statistics- ABS, 2001). Handzic (2006) stresses that organizations that manage knowledge better will deal more successfully and effectively with the challenges of the new business environment. KM is therefore perceived to be a key factor in realizing and sustaining organizational success for improved efficiency and innovation.
Capacity Building in SMEs
Authors: Mutula Stephen M.
Published: May 2010

The preceding chapter demonstrated that one of the more pressing challenges facing SMEs is the lack of adequate skills, which makes capacity building a critical preoccupation. The 2003 WSIS highlighted the need for capacity building to achieve an information society where there is rapid growth and the wide spread use of information, and where people have the necessary literacy competencies to appreciate what information is needed, where to get it, and most importantly, how to use it. Appropriate levels of education and Internet familiarity are necessary for digital commerce to be viable. Digitally enabled consumers and businesses are the basic cornerstones of the digital economy. Without the necessary ICT skills, firms would find it difficult to penetrate global markets. Notably, labour-intensive businesses that support digital commerce, such as call centres or KM outsourcing providers, move quickly into markets where skills are available to support their operations.
Globalisation of the Digital Economy
Authors: Mutula Stephen M.
Published: May 2010

Data transmitted over the Internet does not recognize national borders. It is this factor that has led information technology to open up new avenues in global commerce. People in separate countries can work on the same project without having to physically relocate. Organizations can now deploy their resources and operations anywhere around the world. Information about new products, corporate earnings, etc; can be shared simultaneously in a networked economy via corporate e-mail systems, value-added networks or over the Internet. In an increasingly globalized business world, for which the Internet is partly responsible, countries are likely to experience the migration of skilled workers to higher paying economies or jobs. Therefore, as the globalization of the world’s economy takes shape, concerted efforts must be made by national governments and states to train enough students and workers to meet the new challenges brought about by the digital economy (Selhofer, 2003).
Landmark-Based Shape Context for Handwritten Digit Recognition
Authors: Hazarika Shyamanta M.
Published: May 2010

This chapter introduces landmark-based shape context. Standard shape context computation samples at regular interval on the contour of an object. Corner points of an object being landmarks on the contour; set of corner points is a good descriptor of shape. Landmark-based shape context is computed by sampling a reduced set of points based on such landmarks. In this chapter, an approach to recognizing handwritten digits based on shape similarity computed through landmark-based shape context is presented. Shape context based object recognition being an iterative process; the reduction in the number of sample points provides a basis for faster recognition.
Enhanced Information Retrieval Evaluation between Pseudo Relevance Feedback and Query Similarity Relevant Documents Methology Applied on Arabic Text
Authors: Ghwanmeh Sameh , Kannan Ghassan , Al-Shalabi Riyad
Published: May 2010

Information retrieval systems utilize user feedback for generating optimal queries with respect to a particular information need. However, the methods that have been developed in IR for generating these queries do not memorize information gathered from previous search processes, and hence cannot use such information in new search processes. Thus, a new search process cannot profit from the results of the previous processes. Web Information Retrieval systems should be able to maintain results from previous search processes, thus learning from previous queries and improving overall retrieval quality. In this chapter, we are using the similarity of a new query to previously learned queries. We then expand the new query by extracting terms from documents, which have been judged as relevant to these previously learned queries. Thus, the new method uses global feedback information for query expansion in contrast to local feedback information, which has been widely used in previous work in query expansion methods. Experimentally, we compared a new query expansion method with two conventional information retrieval methods in local and global query expansion to enhance the traditional information system. From the results gathered it can be concluded that although the traditional IR system performance is high, but we notice that PRF method increases the average recall and decreases the fallout measure.
A Proposed Theoretical Framework for Assessing Quality of E-Commerce Systems
Authors: Alamro Sattam , El-Sheikh Asim
Published: May 2010

Companies and institutions in the light of globalization and competitiveness are seeking to improve their services, particularly electronic access to excellence. With the tremendous growth in the global digital transactions, the entry of electronic commerce strongly in global business dealings under acceleration, heated competition in the provision of electronic services, the companies are keen on achieving the principle of comprehensive quality and special electronic sites and services on the Internet. Thus, those sites become electronic firms, so it must give good impression about the company from the outset. The significance of the study is that it addresses one of the vital issues of our time, which is the current enormous revolution in information technology and communications, it provides a framework to the quality of sites and electronic services are comprehensive, objective and flexible to reach the ideal site. The proposed framework can be used to compare the quality of E-Commerce systems, or to improve the image and performance of a particular E-Commerce systems or to provide reference guide for designers of the sites where their determination to new sites. This chapter examined and analyzed previous research studies that interrelated with the quality of sites and electronic services, and then developed an inclusive theoretical framework. This framework consisted of new indicators that are clear, measurable, and flexible to the possibility of its application on all sites and services, regardless of the nature of the company or institution. Consequently, the proposed framework can be applied easily to evaluate the quality of any system.
Discovering Knowledge Channels in Learning Organization
Authors: El-Mahied Maha T. , Alkhaldi Firas , Abu-Taieh Evon M. O.
Published: May 2010

The aim of this research is to discover the knowledge channels in the learning organization in Jordan. The research studied three aspects of the trusted knowledge channels: first studied the worker perspective and understanding of the TRUST issue. Second the research studied the worker perspectives of the knowledge channels, finding that the worker consider boss, colleague, and assistant as the most important sources of knowledge in the organization. Third the research studied how the organization by providing the right environment will encourage knowledge sharing. For the organization to foster the proper channels, the organization must know that “it takes two to tango”. In other words the organization must take the initiative to set the proper channels. Finally this chapter proposes a model that represents the knowledge channels in the learning organization.
Performance Optimization of DWT-Based Image Watermarking Using Genetic Algorithms
Authors: Al-Haj Ali , Abu-Errub Aymen
Published: May 2010

The excellent spatial localization, frequency spread, and multi-resolution characteristics of the discrete wavelets transform (DWT), which are similar to the theoretical models of the human visual system, facilitated the development of many imperceptible and robust DWT-based watermarking algorithms. However, there has been extremely few proposed algorithms on optimized DWT-based image watermarking that can simultaneously provide perceptual transparency and robustness Since these two watermarking requirements are conflicting, in this paper we treat the DWT-based image watermarking problem as an optimization problem, and solve it using genetic algorithms. We demonstrate through the experimental results we obtained that optimal DWT-based image watermarking can be achieved only if watermarking has been applied at specific wavelet sub-bands and by using specific watermarkamplification values.
Computer Simulation of Particle Packing In Bituminous Concrete
Authors: Gopalakrishnan Kasthurirangan , Shashidhar Naga
Published: May 2010

Although computer simulation methods have been used extensively in modeling the microstructure of Portland cement concrete, their application for studying asphalt concrete is relatively new. In this chapter, the nature and distribution of inter-particle contacts in computer-simulated compacts with a wide particle size range such as those found in asphalt pavements are discussed. The aggregates were modeled as hard spheres and some typical aggregate gradations used in AC were packed using a computer program. The application of particle packing simulation concepts discussed in this chapter to the study of aggregate structure in asphalt pavements, in conjunction with the recent advances in nondestructive imaging techniques and DEM simulations have tremendous potential to help us to develop a deeper understanding of the aggregate structure in asphalt concrete, develop and optimize the various parameters that describe the aggregate structure and relate them to the performance of pavements in a scientific way.
Adaptive Computation Paradigm in Knowledge Representation
Authors: Gavrilova Marina L.
Published: May 2010

The constant demand for complex applications, the ever increasing complexity and size of software systems, and the inherently complicated nature of the information drive the needs for developing radically new approaches for information representation. This drive is leading to creation of new and exciting interdisciplinary fields that investigate convergence of software science and intelligence science, as well as computational sciences and their applications. This survey article discusses the new paradigm of the algorithmic models of intelligence, based on the adaptive hierarchical model of computation, and presents the algorithms and applications utilizing this paradigm in data-intensive, collaborative environment. Examples from the various areas include references to adaptive paradigm in biometric technologies, evolutionary computing, swarm intelligence, robotics, networks, e-learning, knowledge representation and information system design. Special topics related to adaptive models design and geometric computing are also included in the survey.