bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Utopia, Labor, and Informational Capitalism
Authors: Briziarelli Marco
Published: October 2018

Through the lens of a political economic approach, I consider the question whether or not social media can promote social change. I claim that whereas media have consistently channeled technological utopia/dystopia, thus be constantly linked to aspirations and fear of social change, the answer to that question does not depend on their specific nature but on historically specific social relations in which media operate. In the case here considered, it requires examining the social relations re-producing and produced by informational capitalism. More specifically, I examine how the productive relations that support user generated content practices of Facebook users affect social media in their capability to reproduce and transform existing social contexts. Drawing on Fuchs and Sevignani's (2013) distinction between “work” and “labor” I claim that social media reflect the ambivalent nature of current capitalist mode of production: a contest in which exploitative/emancipatory as well as reproductive/transformative aspects are articulated by liberal ideology.
Digital Entrepreneurial Charity, Solidarity, and Social Change
Authors: Saiz-Alvarez José Manuel , Colvin-Díez Jorge , Cuñado Jorge Hernando
Published: October 2018

Microcredit has been studied from many perspectives. In this work, the authors analyze KIVA, the most important Person-to-Person microfinance organization from the viewpoint of social change, and they consider how it has impacted on the nascent of a new wave of entrepreneurs known as digital entrepreneurial charity. Applied to KIVA, the authors analyze the impact of the digital space and its Internet-based Peer-to-Peer Lending to create social change in the poor, while alleviating the poverty thanks to solidarity and charity. This work concludes affirming that banking the poor and education, with the intensive use of Internet-based devices, is the best way to alleviate poverty in the digital and globalized economic world. Finally, after their last research, the authors found some critics about Kiva and microcredits which might be interesting to be considered and these have been analyzed at the end of this work.
Using Creativity and Social Innovation to Create Social Value and Change
Authors: Fields Ziska
Published: October 2018

Social challenges are numerous, complex, urgent and multidisciplinary in nature. The old ways of looking for solutions to social problems like unemployment, climate change, an ageing population, poverty, supply of clean water, chronic disease and so on, do not offer sustainable solutions and global implementation. Societies can also no longer hold governments responsible to find solutions to all these social problems only. Social innovation is needed and seeks new answers to social problems by identifying and delivering new services that improve the quality of life of individuals and communities. The main aim of this chapter is to create awareness of social innovation as an emerging field. This chapter explain what social creativity and innovation are and explains the creative and innovative processes. Barriers and support for social innovation are also discussed.
Sustainable Rural Development in the Conditions of Trade Integration
Authors: Ivolga Anna
Published: October 2018

The chapter aims at overview of the main approaches to agricultural policies in developed and developing countries and investigation of perspective ways to ensure sustainable rural development in the conditions of liberalization of trade in agricultural commodities and food. The issues of sustainable rural development and main influences of trade liberalization are considered in the light of food security, alternative income opportunities in rural areas, and support of local identities. When analyzing the economic potential of rural areas, the following indicators are studied: natural conditions; assets; general characteristics of labor resources. Some of the indicators, used to be considered as secondary for economic results of agricultural activity, are also considered: living conditions in rural areas; demographic situation; rural social, cultural and leisure infrastructure; access of rural people to modern services of communication, transport, education, medicine, consumer services and other benefits, accustomed for urban citizens.
Effective Urban Infrastructure Governance in Africa
Authors: Elias Peter , Babatola Olatunji , Omojola Ademola
Published: October 2018

The main thrust of this chapter is to examine effective urban infrastructure governance in Africa: resolving the wealth-poverty paradox. The chapter is organized into five main sections according to the identified objectives with the introduction: infrastructure deficit and poverty nexus in urban Africa as section one. Section two is the background emphasizing Africa's poverty in wealth paradox. Section three focuses on urban revolution in Africa which is characterized by growing poverty instead of wealth and its implication for resolving infrastructure deficit. The nature of urban infrastructure demand and supply in Africa is the emphasis in section four while section five underlines the strategy for future infrastructure governance in Africa. Effective urban infrastructure governance in Africa is particularly challenging the strategies for dealing with the wealth-poverty nexus.
ICT
Authors: Mahaldar Orance , Bhadra Kinkini
Published: October 2018

The concept of automation was first seeded worldwide by Industrial Revolution. Liberalization and privatization has contributed much in the welcome of updated and upgraded technology in India. World Wide Web being the core connector of earth rightly supports Mc Luhan's concept of the ‘Global Village'. ICT- Information and Communication Technology is an initiative cum phenomenon that is taken on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in order to build a bridge between the two sections of the society (technology haves and have nots) so that it is accessible to all. e-Governance, e-Health and e-Commerce are some of its applications. India has witnessed a number of successful E- Projects. Nonetheless, the argument of social exclusion, questions on technology support communication and information dissemination is still on. The article intends to throw light on various aspects keeping in line with the ICT projects in India, the type of ICT usage and a comparison between the already established communication models.
Urban Economy and Sources of Its Efficiency as Factors Addressing the Challenges Faced by Urban Economy
Authors: Chiloane-Tsoka Evelyn , Mabiza Junior Mabiza-ma
Published: October 2018

Rapid growth of density of population and overcrowded and congested cities in the Southern African region due to urban migration from people seeking a better lifestyle and job opportunities, despite high levels of urban unemployment, infrastructure and sanitation, is embedded by lack of accelerated innovation to create sustainable future for most people. However, in South Africa infrastructure is seen as an enabler weapon of development to cultivate growth and confront challenges of efficient operations that are to reduce costs of production and create access to application of modern society. With this in mind, the chapter aims to look at the extent to which sources of efficiency can be used as a tool to address the urban economic challenges affecting the global economic development in the region.
Exploring the Social Impact of Foreign Direct Investment on Institutional Change
Authors: Smith Natalya , Thomas Ekaterina
Published: October 2018

Despite the vast and growing literature on the economic impact of foreign direct investment (FDI), its social significance is somewhat a neglected issue. Focusing on Russia, this chapter examines the effect of FDI and (formal) institutions (proxied, alternatively, by the [1] accumulated stock of small and medium sized firms or SMEs and [2] number of economic crimes per 100,000 population or corruption) on (informal) institutional change (proxied by the change in the number of violent and property crimes per 100,000 population). The empirical findings provide robust support for a significantly positive direct impact of SMEs, whilst observing a significantly negative effect of corruption and either significantly positive impact of FDI or insignificant effect of multinational firms in this context.
Correlates of Political Consumption in Africa
Authors: Adugu Emmanuel
Published: October 2018

Using the marketplace as a site for political action with social change motives is referred as political consumption. Boycott, as a form of political consumption is an innovative way being used by citizens to directly express their attitudes, interests and concerns with the ultimate goal of influencing public affairs. This book chapter specifically examines the correlates of boycott as a form of political consumption in Africa using Wave 6 of the World Values Survey. Based on binary logistic regression, the correlates of boycott action are: level of education, gender, social class, media usage, gender equality, institutional confidence, social network, interest in politics, life satisfaction, seeing oneself as being part of world citizenship, seeing oneself as being embedded in local community, importance of doing something for the good of society, importance of traditions, and importance of riches or expensive things. These findings have implications for reaching out to boycotters.
Geometry in the Architectural Design of Rafael Moneo
Authors: Taboada José Antonio Franco
Published: October 2018

In the architectural work of Rafael Moneo, winner of the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1996, geometry is a fundamental element, as he has confirmed through his writings and the very reality of his work. This chapter contains an analysis of the geometric component of his work, through his writings and interviews, but also through the drawings and models of his works that are most paradigmatic or most representative of his architectural style. Also analyzed are the possible influences from other architects and important works from the history of architecture. The conclusion is that the geometric component underlying his works has its roots in Platonic thought and that for Moneo, architectural ideas have an ontological nature, transcending the imperfection inherent in nature and approaching the perfection of Platonic order.
Digital Technologies in Architecture and Engineering
Authors: Eloy Sara , Dias Miguel Sales , Lopes Pedro Faria , Vilar Elisângela
Published: October 2018

This chapter focuses on the development and adoption of new Multimedia, Computer Aided Design, and other ICT technologies for both Architecture and Computer Science curricula and highlights the multidisciplinary work that can be accomplished when these two areas work together. The authors describe in detail the addressed educational skills and the related developed research and highlight the contributions towards the improvements of teaching and learning in those areas. This chapter discusses the role of digital technologies, such as Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Multimedia, 3D Modelling software systems, Design Processes and its evaluation tools, such as Shape Grammar and Space Syntax, within the Architecture curricula.
Learning GIS in Architecture
Authors: Garcia-Almirall Pilar , Domínguez Ernest Redondo , Dalmau Francesc Valls
Published: October 2018

The introduction of Information and Communication Technology tools in the architectural practice can be challenging. This chapter discusses an educational approach to teach Geographic Information Systems to architecture students in the Barcelona School of Architecture. The methodology uses a combination of theory lectures, worked-out examples with faded guidance using a real-world case of study, and self-directed discovery in a project-based learning activity. The results of pre-course and post-course surveys are also discussed to illustrate the workflow of students when using spatial data, their perception on using GIS applications, and their impressions regarding the development the course. Finally, the possible reasons for the limited adoption of these tools in the architectural field are also discussed.
Global and Local Clustering-Based Regression Models to Forecast Power Consumption in Buildings
Authors: Vergara Gonzalo , Carrasco Juan J. , Martínez-Gómez Jesus , Domínguez Manuel , Gámez José A. , Soria-Olivas Emilio
Published: October 2018

The study of energy efficiency in buildings is an active field of research. Modeling and predicting energy related magnitudes leads to analyze electric power consumption and can achieve economical benefits. In this study, classical time series analysis and machine learning techniques, introducing clustering in some models, are applied to predict active power in buildings. The real data acquired corresponds to time, environmental and electrical data of 30 buildings belonging to the University of León (Spain). Firstly, we segmented buildings in terms of their energy consumption using principal component analysis. Afterwards, we applied state of the art machine learning methods and compare between them. Finally, we predicted daily electric power consumption profiles and compare them with actual data for different buildings. Our analysis shows that multilayer perceptrons have the lowest error followed by support vector regression and clustered extreme learning machines. We also analyze daily load profiles on weekdays and weekends for different buildings.
Optimization of Construction Supply Chains for Greenhouse Gas Reduction
Authors: Dunphy Niall P. , Morrissey John E.
Published: October 2018

There is an increasing number of regulatory and public policy initiatives aimed at improving building energy efficiency, recognizing the importance of the built environment to achieve lower energy-related emissions. However, these efforts have generally focused on the building scale. A comprehensive reduction of carbon emissions from construction requires a wider focus, considering the building as well as the lifecycle of materials and their supply chains. There is a need for robust analysis of the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) implications of construction supply chains and to optimize supply chains configurations so as to minimize GHG emissions across multiple organizations. This chapter provides a rigorous means of assessing the dynamic and complex supply chains of construction to obtain optimal and sustainable levels of GHG reductions in a whole-of-chain approach. Outcomes represent critical new knowledge, enabling deeper understanding as well as enhanced capacity to maximize energy savings from the built environment.
Sustainable Construction Materials
Authors: Ralegaonkar R. V. , Madurwar M. V. , Sakhare V. V.
Published: October 2018

Due to ever increasing demand for the conventional construction materials as well as an increase in agro-industrial by-products it is essential to reuse these materials. As a smart city solution this chapter briefs an overview for the application of alternate raw materials as a principal source for the development of sustainable construction materials. The potential application of the discussed raw materials is elaborated as cementitious material, the aggregates as well as alternative reinforcement material. To understand the process of application, sustainable masonry product development is discussed in detail. In order to evaluate the feasibility of the raw material, the necessary physico-chemical test evaluation methods are also briefed. The developed end product performance evaluation is also discussed by desired tests as recommended by standards. The chapter concludes with a positive note that reuse of agro-industrial by-products is a feasible solution for the smart city development.
Barriers to Achieving the Benefits of BIM
Authors: Halttula Heikki , Haapasalo Harri , Herva Maila
Published: October 2018

The purpose of this paper is to study the benefits of building information modelling (BIM) and determine the barriers to achieving these benefits. The use of BIM is not yet at a level where known benefits can be realised. This study consists of a literature review of the benefits of BIM and an empirical review, where focus group interviews were used to discover barriers. The major benefits of BIM include cost savings, better information flow, shorter project timelines and better quality. The greatest barrier is the lack of practical guidelines for BIM implementation in projects. Successful BIM implementation requires technology, people and processes to be in proper shape. Earlier studies identify the theoretical requirements of BIM implementation, but practical solutions are still not at an adequate level.
BIM Based Design Management of a Building Project Collaboratively Designed With a Foreign Design Firm in China
Authors: Tezel Algan , Aziz Zeeshan , Jiang Chuxiong
Published: October 2018

In parallel with China's growing construction market, there has been an influx of foreign architectural and engineering design firms into the Chinese construction market. Those firms generally form partnerships with local Chinese firms or institutions to overcome various complications in the country. Adding to the complexity, relatively recent technologies such as Building Information Modelling (BIM) also started to play a role in those collaborative project design management efforts in China. This paper presents an in-depth case study of a complex building design project collaboratively executed using BIM by a foreign design firm from the USA and local Chinese firm in China. The project was analysed from different design management and stakeholder perspectives. Some of the findings confirm the pervious accounts from the literature. New insights and the key lessons learned for BIM based design management in this context are also presented.
Original and Innovative Structural Concepts for Design, Non-Linear Analysis, and Construction of Multi-Story Base Isolated Buildings
Authors: Melkumyan Mikayel G.
Published: October 2018

Seismic isolation of structures is becoming a more common method of providing protection from earthquake damage. Starting from 1994, 53 buildings and structures have been designed by the author of this chapter with application of base or roof isolation systems. Of these designed buildings, the total number of already constructed and retrofitted buildings has reached 45. The number of seismically isolated buildings per capita in Armenia is one of the highest in the world. Together with that seismic isolation laminated rubber-steel bearings (SILRSBs) different by their shape and dimensions, as well as by damping (low, medium and high) were designed and about 5000 SILRSBs were manufactured in the country, tested locally and applied in construction. since 2003 seismic isolation technologies were designed and then extensively applied in construction of multi-story buildings. these are: base isolated residential complexes, business centers, hotels, schools, and hospital buildings. Original and innovative structural concepts, including the new approach on installation of seismic isolation rubber bearings by clusters, were developed and designed for construction of these base isolated buildings and they are described in the given chapter. The advantages of this approach are listed and illustrated by the examples. It is mentioned that suggested new structural solutions in seismic isolation are bringing to significant savings in construction cost. The earthquake response comparative analyses were carried out for some of the considered buildings in two versions (i.e., when the buildings are base isolated and when they are fixed base). Several histories were used in the analyses and for both cases the buildings were analyzed also according to the requirements of the Armenian Seismic Code. Comparison of the obtained results indicates the high effectiveness of the proposed structural concepts of isolation systems and the need for further improvement of the Seismic Code provisions regarding the values of the reduction factors. A separate section in the chapter dedicated to the design of high damping laminated rubber-steel bearings and to results of their tests.
Female Architecture
Authors: Franchina Alice , Maggio Francesco , Vattano Starlight
Published: October 2018

The objective of this study is that one, starting from the initial considerations, to give back to the history of architecture, through drawing as a critical means of inquiry, the thought and work of some women-architect who, between 1926 and 1962, have designed and/or built buildings of fine architectural quality. The critical re-drawing, which in this case is mimetic to the construction of the project, wants to make manifest the thought of some figures of the Modern Movement often relegated to an unknown fate; in particular it analyses a part of the activity of Lilly Reich, Helena Niemirowska Syrkus and Charlotte Perriand. The study aims to build a graphic inedited and exhaustive repertory of some unrealized projects, carried out by these women that can be defined “pioneer” of modern architecture, giving back a female thought of the project's construction. The drawing of architecture, as ambit of critical analysis, in this study assumes a substantial role when it investigates the project which is the central place of its true expression.
Smart Cities and Municipal Building Regulation for Energy Efficiency
Authors: Sanseverino Eleonora Riva , Scaccianoce Gianluca , Vaccaro Valentina , Carta Maurizio , Sanseverino Raffaella Riva
Published: October 2018

The “Smart Cities & Communities Initiative” of the Strategic Energy Technology Plan is the strategic European response to lead cities and regions to a carbon free future. In this contest energy efficiency in buildings has a crucial role and must be considered in a holistic approach to the urban planning. In order to implement the minimum requirements stated by the European Directive about the Energy Performance of Buildings, and in order to consider different planning layers with the view to a smart city planning, local regulations are a key factor aiming at sustainable territorial planning. This paper investigates the possibility to draft a basic structure of Municipal Building Regulations in order to guide local administrators and technicians and to limit discretionary power of bureaucracy. The paper is organized as follows. First, a review of the most common practices for building regulations in Europe is proposed, then the basic structure of a municipal building regulation for the city of Palermo (Southern Italy) accounting for sustainability is discussed.
Automatic Transformation of Different Levels of Detail in 3D GIS City Models in CityGML
Authors: Deng Yichuan , Cheng Jack C.P.
Published: October 2018

3D Geographic Information System (GIS) models are increasingly used for planning and analyses on a city level. Defining 3D GIS city models in different levels of detail (LoD) is often needed to browse and handle large models more efficiently. In this paper, a methodology framework for automatic transformation of different LoDs in CityGML is presented and illustrated. A new exterior shell extraction algorithm was developed from the Ray Tracing algorithm for classifying building surfaces as interior or exterior. A transformation framework among each LoD was developed based on the new exterior shell extraction algorithm. The transformation framework also includes an additional LoD called LoD3.5 that the authors proposed in this paper. The new LoD can satisfy the needs of applications which require information about interior rooms while maintaining a small data storage. The results show that the new exterior shell extraction algorithm can help achieve an automatic derivation of LoDs in CityGML.
Ecological Data Exploration
Authors: Rahmani Mohamed Elhadi , Amine Abdelmalek
Published: October 2018

Computer modeling of ecological systems is the activity of implementing computer solutions to analyze data related to the fields of remote sensing, earth science, biology, and oceans. The ecologists analyze the data to identify the relationships between a response and a set of predictors, using statistical models that do not accurately describe the main sources of variation in the response variable. Knowledge discovery techniques are often more powerful, flexible, and effective for exploratory analysis than statistical techniques. This chapter aims to test the use of data mining in ecology. It will discuss the exploration of ecological data by defining at first data mining, its advantages, and its different types. Then the authors detail the field of bio-inspiration and meta-heuristics. And finally, they give case studies from where they applied these two areas to explore ecological data.
Cardiovascular Disease Prediction Using Data Mining Techniques
Authors: Kadam Kalyani , Kamat Pooja Vinayak , Malav Amita P.
Published: October 2018

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have turned out to be one of the life-threatening diseases in recent times. The key to effectively managing this is to analyze a huge amount of datasets and effectively mine it to predict and further prevent heart-related diseases. The primary objective of this chapter is to understand and survey various information mining strategies to efficiently determine occurrence of CVDs and also propose a big data architecture for the same. The authors make use of Apache Spark for the implementation.
Hybridization of Biogeography-Based Optimization and Gravitational Search Algorithm for Efficient Face Recognition
Authors: Goel Lavika , Lavanya B.  , Panchal Pallavi
Published: October 2018

This chapter aims to apply a novel hybridized evolutionary algorithm to the application of face recognition. Biogeography-based optimization (BBO) has some element of randomness to it that apart from improving the feasibility of a solution could reduce it as well. In order to overcome this drawback, this chapter proposes a hybridization of BBO with gravitational search algorithm (GSA), another nature-inspired algorithm, by incorporating certain knowledge into BBO instead of the randomness. The migration procedure of BBO that migrates SIVs between solutions is done between solutions only if the migration would lead to the betterment of a solution. BBO-GSA algorithm is applied to face recognition with the LFW (labelled faces in the wild) and ORL datasets in order to test its efficiency. Experimental results show that the proposed BBO-GSA algorithm outperforms or is on par with some of the nature-inspired techniques that have been applied to face recognition so far by achieving a recognition rate of 80% with the LFW dataset and 99.75% with the ORL dataset.
The Cathedral of St. Sophia in Ohrid, Macedonia
Authors: Chalovska Emilija Apostolova , Vidal Francisco Juan
Published: October 2018

The church of St. Sophia in the town of Ohrid, a UNESCO world heritage site since 1980, is one of the oldest and, undoubtedly, one of the most significant protected monuments of culture in Macedonia. Since its “rediscovery” in the first decades of the 20th century, hundreds of publications have been devoted to the artistic heritage of Ohrid's cathedral, and to a lesser extent to its architecture and historical chronology. Nevertheless, the pioneer restoration project undertaken in the 1950s has not received sufficient scientific attention as yet. This research aims to address the then bold restoration methods and novel techniques in the most difficult of circumstances which, despite the transcribed period of more than sixty years, are as relevant to conservation science now as they have ever been.
Cronocaos
Authors: Butragueno Belen , Raposo Javier Francisco , Salgado María Asunción
Published: October 2018

This chapter questions the traditional approach to preservation as it was historically undertaken. It is based on the approach followed by Rem Koolhaas and his Office OMA-AMO, in the exhibition “Cronocaos,” at the 12th Edition of Venice Biennale (2010). The authors will show how globalization has had a homogenizing impact on the concept of preservation. There is an unequivocal need to find a new system to mediate between preservation and development. OMA proposes to focus on “what to erase” and not “what to keep,” avoiding pre-existing assumptions and working with a “tabula rasa beneath the thinning crust of our civilization.”
Ephemeral Architecture and Painted Architecture
Authors: Rossi Gabriele , Castagnolo Valentina
Published: October 2018

The object of this study is a group of architectural perspectives painted on the domes and walls of noble palaces in Apulia, in particular that the baronial palace in Botrugno, the Broquier palace in Trani, and the Manes palace in Bisceglie. The perspectives belong to the “Quadratura” genre that developed in Italy and Europe in the Baroque period, but the architectural solutions represented are specific of the Apulian regional context, of Neapolitan derivation, rather than linked to the noble models of the Emilian and Roman master experiences. These architectural perspectives can be considered belonging to that “immaterial cultural heritage,” as defined by the UNESCO Convention for the Protection of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of 2003, if we consider the cultural significance of these painting representations—as previously mentioned—for their relationship with the 16th-17th century painting season of “Quadratura,” for the massive production of treatises on perspective, as well as for the Baroque experiences and for the tradition in the use of “Festa” ephemeral architectures.
Visualization as a Knowledge Transfer
Authors: Ursyn Anna
Published: October 2018

This chapter inspects visualization tools and applications enabling visualization of data, information, and knowledge. The background is provided first about visualizing information in a pictorial yet abstract rather than illustrative way. Further text discusses visual metaphors as a basic structure in metaphorical language of visualization. Selected methods and tools are introduced, and the ways visualization transfers knowledge and mediates between the user and the physical world supporting cognitive ways of learning and teaching are shown. Nature-derived metaphors serve as bio-inspired, interdisciplinary models. The importance of visual and technological literacy is discussed, along with a need of teaching visualization methods as an important part of the current educational strategies. Concluding remarks examine how metaphorical visualization may support learning and teaching, and why visual and technological literacy should be taught and trained since early childhood.
Change Leadership Styles and Behaviors in Academic Libraries
Authors: Lewis John Kennedy
Published: October 2018

Academic libraries in the 21st century are in the midst of constant and tumultuous change caused by advances in technology, shifting demands of faculty and students, declining budgets, and transformations in publishing and in other methods of acquiring scholarly research. Librarians working in this environment must cope with continuous change while still providing research support to their primary clientele: faculty and students. This chapter addresses the research on change leadership styles and behaviors employed by leaders in academic libraries today. Included in the chapter are reinforcement and transactional leadership, consultative and participatory leadership, participatory and transformational leadership, shared leadership, and self-leadership. The chapter concludes with a review of areas in need of future research.
Social Media Applications as Effective Service Delivery Tools for Librarians
Authors: Babatope Ihuoma Sandra
Published: October 2018

In a bid to satisfy the growing needs of library users, the social media hype has gradually crept into the library profession with a wide variety of social media applications such as Facebook, MySpace, Flickr, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Skype, Library Thing, Ning, and so on being common tools for carrying out routine tasks within the library community. This chapter will provide an overview of social media applications and identify those that are commonly used in libraries in Nigeria as well as explore the reasons for using social media applications in libraries and how they are employed in performing sundry library routines. The chapter will also examine the future role of librarians with respect to the current realities as presented by these social media applications as well as the opportunities and the challenges of using social media applications in libraries. Recommendations and future trends in the use of social media applications will also be highlighted.
The Nature of Research Methodologies
Authors: Tran Ben
Published: October 2018

In the nature of research methodologies, quantitative research and quantitative research data are static through time, compared to qualitative research and qualitative research data. Across the globe, the internet and mobile technologies are providing unprecedented access to markets and individuals. Such technologies range from high-definition video conferencing and instant communication around the world to the ability to reach participants on their mobile devices and access to demographics that are traditionally hard to reach. The internet is providing technology-based research methods like blogs, webinars, virtual intercepts, and virtual reality. The nature of the problem then plays the major role in determining what approaches are suitable. The purpose of this chapter is to cover the three types (trends) of research methodologies: the traditional (quantitative, qualitative), the universal (mixed-methods), and the trends (blogs, webinars, virtual intercepts, and virtual reality).
Research Methodology
Authors: Jagdale Swati C. , Hude Rahul U. , Chabukswar Aniruddha R.
Published: October 2018

Research is a logical and systematic approach to investigate or find solutions to scientific and social problems. The research is primarily carried out to discover new facts, to verify and test important facts, and to analyze an event or process. Research is carried out with the help of study, experiment, observation, analysis, comparison, and reasoning. Research is important both in scientific and nonscientific fields. There are two types of research: basic and applied. Basic research is an investigation on basic principles and reasons for occurrence of a particular event or process or phenomenon. Applied research solves certain problems employing well-known and accepted theories and principles. The research process is carried out through series of steps. Research methods are the various procedures, schemes, and algorithms used in research. The research methodology is a systematic way to solve a problem. It is a science of studying how research is to be carried out.
Information Science and Technology in Crisis Response and Management
Authors: Basham Randy
Published: October 2018

Emergent technological innovations in robotics and miniaturization of robotics, drone technologies, acoustical sensors, and others are revolutionizing the effectiveness of crisis response and management efforts, on smaller local events, and in combination, may be applied to larger disaster events such as major community or regional crises. This chapter will define and identify the essential component parts of effective information-driven and technological-based crises response and management, as well as larger systems to address disasters as crises events.
Science, Ethics, and Weapons Research
Authors: Forge John
Published: October 2018

If it were not for weapons research, there would be no predator drones or smart bombs or improvised explosive devices or assault rifles. The insurgents in the Middle East and elsewhere would have no means to fight, and there would be no wars, large or small. The main issue for ethics and weapons research centers on the moral evaluation of this kind of activity: Is it ever morally justified to design the means to kill, harm, and destroy, and if so, under precisely what circumstances? Turning to science and its relation to weapons research, the question here, leaving aside ethics for the moment, is the role that science plays in weapons research. Perhaps weapons research is a wholly (applied) scientific endeavor or perhaps science is a part of weapons research.
Computing Technologies and Science Fiction Cinema
Authors: Carrasco-Carrasco Rocío
Published: October 2018

The chapter privileges the body as being key to understanding our intricate relationship with the latest advances in computing and robotics in contemporary societies. In doing so, it critically entrenches with a specific movement called “new materialism,” whereby matter is not perceived as fixed or passive but rather as a dynamic and shifting process. Specifically, the author stresses the importance of approaching popular representations of the so-called “body in transit,” as this shifting idea of corporeality reflects contemporary anxieties and interests fueled by the relationship between physical bodies, computing technologies, and gender representation. For this purpose, this chapter will focus on the notion of the fluid body or “body in transit” as represented in US popular Sci-Fi cinema to contend that this posthuman figuration is still informed by gendered practices and dominant structures of power, despite its hybrid nature.
Community Broadband Networks and the Opportunity for E-Government Services
Authors: Williams Idongesit
Published: October 2018

Community broadband networks (CBN) facilitate broadband connectivity in underserved areas in many countries. The lack of broadband connectivity is one of the reasons for the slow diffusion of e-government services in many countries. This chapter explains how CBNs can be enabled by governments to facilitate the delivery of e-government services in underserved areas in the developed and developing countries. The community-based broadband mobilization (CBNM) models are used as explanatory tools.
Users Behavioral Intention Towards eGovernment in an African Developing Country
Authors: Taiwo Ayankunle A.
Published: October 2018

Ever since international emergence of the internet, huge amounts of money have been invested in e-government globally. Nevertheless, many African countries have recorded unsuccessful e-government initiatives. Optimal results are not exclusively dependent on technological innovation but also on a combination of technologies and active participation of citizens. There is a plethora of qualitative discussions on e-government with inadequate substantial quantitative study on the influence of trust on the adoption of e-government services in African developing economies. The unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) and the web trust model was integrated to investigate citizens' intention to use e-government services. Data relating to the constructs were collected from 310 respondents that participated in this study. Performance expectancy, effort expectation, facilitating conditions, and trusting belief emerged as significant determinants of intention to use e-government services. Lastly, practical implications of the results are reported with discussion for further studies.
Community Outreach
Authors: Roy Loriene , Frydman Antonia
Published: October 2018

As social institutions, libraries respond to the needs, pressures, and impacts of society. Community outreach is the development and promotion of services offered by information settings. Such services extend beyond physical collections and involve the development and provision of customized events in response to or in anticipation of community needs. Library outreach has its historical roots in the late 19th century public library movement that coincided with the progressive era, when library services were conveyed directly to community members' homes and places of employment. Contemporary expressions of community outreach include engagement of faculty and students with communities of need, academic preparation of new professionals to serve communities of need, crisis informatics, and digital equity. Efforts are challenged by sustainability, impacts or returns on investments, personal and professional motivations, and the emergence of expected and unexpected community needs.
Exploring “Hacking,” Digital Public Art, and Implication for Contemporary Governance
Authors: Khan Amadu Wurie , Speed Chris
Published: October 2018

This chapter considers the hypothesis that the online (internet) “hacking” concept has applications for community life and processes of sharing memories and identity, and facilitating social engagement and digital inclusion among residents. It specifically presents how the characteristics and practicality of online hacking inspired the design and functionality of a community digital artwork in a disadvantage urban estate in Edinburgh, UK. In addition, the chapter considers the implication of the hacking practices by and among disadvantaged communities for realizing social action, social engagement, and networked society goals of the UK Government's “Big Society” policy. This is significant because the Big Society agenda promotes an interactive networked culture that has transformative potential to connect citizens, build knowledge and continuous learning, and regenerate communities at times of economic austerity in the UK.
Political Context Elements in Public Policy of Radio Frequency Information Technology and Electromagnetic Fields
Authors: Steinfeld Joshua M.
Published: October 2018

There are widespread uses of radio frequency information technology (RADFIT) including applications related to communications, security, big data, military, transportation, space exploration, oceanography, agriculture, medical sciences, and more. Regulation of RADFIT is challenging and controversial as agencies and stakeholders struggle to balance benefits and costs. This powerful and invisible technology has the capacity to achieve breakthrough solutions by utilizing electromagnetic fields to collect, analyze, and transmit data, or to enact stimuli to create interventions for machines or living matter. However, the prevalence of RF base stations and electromagnetic fields has altered the environment and results in unintended absorption by human subjects. The public policy and politics of RADFIT, including the processes for base site installation and acceptable levels of absorption, have come to the forefront of discourse. This chapter discusses the political narratives that dictate public policy stances on the issue, bureaucratic considerations, and the response by communities.
Financial Inclusion, Content, and Information Technologies in Latin America
Authors: Chong Alberto , de Mendoza Cecilia
Published: October 2018

While the current scientific literature is quite scarce for most of the developing world, several leading researchers have made great strides in understanding the role of cyber technologies and related information and communication technologies (ICT) in economic development. A good proportion of this work lays on interventions in the regions of South Asia and Africa. However, cyber-behavior research focused on Latin America has been very limited. Recently, some researchers have taken steps to apply rigorous statistical tools in a systematic way to evaluate how these technologies contributed to the success of several development projects in the region of Latin America. In this chapter, the authors summarize a number of specific cyber-interventions that have taken place in Latin America and that may lead to a better understanding of the impact of interventions to know what works, what does not, and why. The common thread of all the existing cyber-behavior research is that tools must go hand in hand with high quality messaging and content for them to be fully effective.
Manufacturing vs. Services and the Role of Information Technology
Authors: Adhikari Arnab , Ganguly Shromona
Published: October 2018

The role of information technology is often debated in the context of economic development of the developing countries. In order to understand the role technology plays in the structural change of the economy, the chapter analyzes the case of India, which, according to many researchers, has experienced an “idiosyncratic” pattern of structural changes since its independence compared to many countries. This is evident from the fact that the growth of Indian economy has been driven by the services sector rather than manufacturing, which prompted many researches to conclude that India has leapfrogged the phase of industrialization. This chapter examines the impact of services-led growth and the role of information technology in India through a comparative analysis of manufacturing versus services in export performance and employment scenario. The chapter concludes that India needs a more broad-based policy of technology adoption, not only to sustain its services-led growth but also to boost its manufacturing sector as well as make the economic development more inclusive.
New Faces of Digital Divide and How to Bridge It
Authors: Freiman Viktor , Martinovic Dragana , Robichaud Xavier
Published: October 2018

The chapter aims to explore, through the lens of digital divide, the challenges to alleviating socio-economic and intellectual limitations for prosperity of each individual. Cutting-edge research is reviewed to discuss in what way new technologies and access to them really help to develop citizens who are able to contribute in creative and democratic ways to society. While much effort has been done in the past decade to bridge the digital divide by resolving access issues and usage issues, the recent studies seem to indicate that the gap at all levels, nation-wide, community-wide, special groups-wide still exists and even deepens, especially regarding digital inclusion and meeting needs of at-risk population. More systematic research and innovative practical solutions are needed to address all the aspects of digital divide: physical, financial cognitive, content, and political access; also, we have to consider the technological and social resonances of digital technologies in terms of digital literacy and development of critical thinking.
Information-Based Revolution in Military Affairs
Authors: Kopec Rafal
Published: October 2018

The subject of the chapter is the information-based revolution in military affairs (RMA). The concept of RMA is identified as a way to increase combat capabilities based on a synergy between three spheres: information acquisition, information processing and transfer, and making use of information in order to enhance firepower. RMA includes the following key elements: technological change, doctrinal, strategic, operational and tactical change, and transformation of military organizational structure. Paradoxically, military transformation takes place while the pace of military technology development decreases, which poses a significant inhibitor. Consequently, only the first RMA stage—computerization—might be recognized as a relatively advanced one, whereas its second stage—networking—is far from this level. The chapter's aim is to present the RMA concept and its practical application in transformation of military forces. The chapter examines to what extent expectations emerging from RMA have been fulfilled in armed conflicts over the last two decades.