bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sensis.Com.Au
Authors: Zhao Fang
Published: May 2011

Sensis Search, a young entrepreneurial dot-com launched in 2004, is the first mover in redefining the Australian search market and creates a new paradigm for Internet searches that delivers relevant, quality local, and global results. This chapter focuses on exploring the experiences of Sensis Search and identifying key issues of its operation. Data for this qualitative case study was collected mainly from two primary sources: (i) a documentary research into Sensis’ business reports, online newsletters, memos, agendas, and other official publications, and (ii) an in-depth interview with a senior manager of sensis.com.au. The case study illustrates how Sensis has been managed, how it has succeeded, and what lessons can be learned from its experience.
Entrepreneurial Opportunities On the Internet
Authors: Waddel Di , Singh Mohini , Musa Ambareen
Published: May 2011

This chapter highlights and discusses entrepreneurial opportunities on the Internet. It provides a brief introduction to entrepreneurship, examines the characteristics of entrepreneurs, and talks about cyber entrepreneurs. It includes a case study which demonstrates the opportunities and challenges of cyber entrepreneurship. The case study illustrates the ease of setting up a business on the Internet by the younger generation with little capital and resource requirement. It highlights the fact that an intensive marketing campaign, perseverance, and some technical knowledge are important traits of cyber entrepreneurs. The other issues apparent from the case study are an opportunistic mindset, innovation, and the ability to create value where there was none before.
Business Software Specifications for Consmers
Authors: Wang Shouhong
Published: May 2011

Commercialized business application software packages have been widely used to implement business information systems. In order to determine whether a software package meets the system needs, consumers must check the software specifications against the target system requirements. Since the commercial software industry does not have standard format of software specifications for consumers, free-formatted descriptions of application software and ad hoc demos are commonly used in marketing software products, but are often too ambiguous for consumers to uncover the implemented capacity. This chapter proposes a model of commercialized business software specifications for consumers. It suggests that software packages need to provide specifications for consumers in four aspects: business operations, user-computer interfaces, user-perceived inputs and outputs, and business rules. Using an example, the chapter demonstrates the implementation of the model.
The Changing Demographics
Authors: Knight Michael B. , Pearson J. Michael
Published: May 2011

As the changing demographics of the workplace influence how organizations operate, the need to reexamine relationships between these demographic variables and their effect on the organization continues. This study provides an empirical examination of the effect of two demographic variables, age and gender, and any moderating impact anxiety, enjoyment, and/or peer pressure may have on computer usage. Based on our analysis of 292 knowledge workers, we identified no significant difference between men and women and/or young and old regarding their computer usage in the workplace. Therefore, the findings from this study do not seem to support earlier research regarding age and gender, which indicated that these variables did impact computer usage. However, the moderating construct (anxiety) did appear to be significant in the employees’ computer usage.
Implementation of Privacy Protection Policies
Authors: Ashrafi Noushin , Kuilboer Jean-Pierre
Published: May 2011

Based on U.S. census data, more than three quarter of Internet users are concerned about having control over the release of their private information when using online services. To ease consumers’ concerns, the Internet industry has come up with self-regulatory practices. The effectiveness of self-regulatory practices and the commitment of the Internet industry to online privacy are yet to be evaluated. The questions regarding self-regulation, what it means from the industry point of view, and to what extent it is implanted remains unclear. This study is exploratory in nature and attempts to examine privacy issues in the context of fair information practices and how they are perceived and practiced by the top 500 interactive companies in the United States. Our results confirm that most companies ask for consumer trust by claiming benevolence. However, they fall short when it comes to costly implementations of comprehensive privacy protection policies.
Standards for Telecommunication Services
Authors: Sherif M. H.
Published: May 2011

Management of standardization must be part of an overall strategy for knowledge management. This principle is illustrated with the help of a planning tool for standardization in telecommunication services. The tool integrates knowledge gained from studies on the management of innovation to understand the role that external and internal standards play in the development and operation of telecommunication services. We show how the scope of standardization should differ according to the timing of the standard within the life cycle of the technology as well as the type of interfaces to be standardization. This has implications on the role of standard bodies particularly because the product cycles of equipment manufacturers and service providers are not always synchronized.
Using the Personal Response Systems to Enhance Student Learning
Authors: Hinde Kevin , Hunt Andrew
Published: May 2011

Recent increases in class size in higher education have focused more attention on the nature of the face-to-face learning experience. This chapter examines how a keypad technology facilitates active learning in the lecture hall using a number of pedagogically proven approaches. We survey 219 first-year business studies students tackling introductory economics, and find that the technology enhances learning in lectures because, among other things, it improves concentration, provides instantaneous and more effective student feedback, and allows students to make comparisons on how well they fare relative to their peers. Interestingly, we find less statistical support for the benefits of using the technology to allow students to respond anonymously, and explore some reasons for this result. Finally, we demonstrate our use of the tool to engage in teaching the Prisoner’s Dilemma game. This forms part of the emerging knowledge on how to teach classroom experiments using keypad technology.
The Audience Response System
Authors: O’Connor Vivienne , Groves Michele , Minck Sandy
Published: May 2011

There are general, educational benefits of audience response systems (ARS), although relatively little application (or evaluation) in medical education. We briefly review changes in medical education worldwide over the last two decades, highlighting areas in which new tools, such as ARS, are valuable. We evaluated an ARS for more than 300 first-year, graduate-entry medical students, used in four 2-hour educational sessions, summarising the benefits and limitations of the system.
Using E-Learning to Promote Excellence in Polytechnic Education
Authors: Beers Maggie
Published: May 2011

This chapter describes the participatory role faculty members have played in the first year of a five-year initiative that uses e-learning to promote educational excellence in learning, teaching, and research at a polytechnic institute. It argues that faculty engagement will ultimately determine the success of this e-learning initiative and, as such, faculty need to be active members in a collaborative process informed by participatory design. As this chapter outlines, faculty have used constructivist learning principles to create the educational vision that drives the initiative and provides its focus. They have participated in decision-making processes on the management team and advisory committee, and have piloted tools, learning approaches, and technical and educational support structures to inform the institute-wide implementation of this vision. This chapter aims to provide a model to inform the strategic direction of other institutes implementing similar e-learning initiatives and, therefore, concludes with preliminary lessons learned from year one.
E-Learning in Higher Education
Authors: Morrison Dirk
Published: May 2011

This chapter discusses the imperative prerequisite to the effective adoption of e-learning by institutions of higher education, namely, the adoption of new pedagogical perspectives and methods. It examines the purposes and goals of higher education, some grounded in tradition, others born of contemporary demands. By focusing on thinking skills, deep learning, and mature outcomes, the author underscores the need for such pedagogical foci to be integrated into the very fabric of higher education’s adoption of e-learning. The hoped for outcome of such a consideration is a transformed institution, enabled to meet the demands of learners and society in the twenty-first century.
The Plain Hard Work of Teaching Online
Authors: Conrad Dianne
Published: May 2011

Learning to teach online presents new challenges to even seasoned instructors. In an age of technological wizardry, the author of this chapter proposes that there are no secrets to good online teaching. However, the effective application of sound pedagogy online requires time, effort, and planning. Using Collins and Berge’s framework for online teaching, this chapter outlines how novice instructors’ adaptation to the new medium must include attention to the pedagogical, managerial, technical, and social aspects of teaching. In so doing, online teachers are encouraged to move from a didactic, teacher-centered paradigm to a constructivist-based model where community and collaboration are valued equally with content.
ICT, Knowledge Construction, and Evolution
Authors: Cartelli Antonio
Published: May 2011

After a short introduction on the hypotheses scholars developed for explaining knowledge construction and evolution in mankind, the role that ICT is playing on this phenomenon is described. From the results of many studies and from the separation today well settled between human knowledge and corporate knowledge, the idea of a tri-partition of knowledge contexts arises and is developed and analyzed. The idea of three different kinds of knowledge receives good support from the observation of the effects of ICT on individuals, communities/organizations, and society; it sounds as the confirmation for the three different contexts of knowledge construction and evolution the author hypothesizes. The experiences described in this chapter show how ICT, while playing a relevant role in each of the above environments, influences all the others and determines a continuous evolution of knowledge in the three contexts. The hypothesized perspective opens to new interpretations for knowledge phenomena, leads to the overcoming of misleading learning explanations, and gives a strong impulse to the planning of projects for the introduction of ICT in education.
E-Teaching Scenerios
Authors: Schertler Manfred.
Published: May 2011

In this chapter a modern approach to e-teaching scenarios at the university level is introduced that focuses on the teacher. This approach covers content-related and communicational components of an e-education scenario. Content creation and delivery via Internet, as well as teacher-learner communication is shown from the point of view of the teacher. The content related part of an e-teaching scenario uses the well-known variety of computer-assisted training applications. The communication part refers to all aspects of teacher-learner and learner-learner communication within e-teaching scenarios. Based on elementary communication patterns and an easy-to-use technical infrastructure a set of reference communication processes for e-education is created and carried out depending on the chosen teaching method. To prove the technical feasibility of the concept the whole e-teaching process is supported by prototypic software solutions.
Semantic Web and Digital Libraries
Authors: Poletti Giorgio
Published: May 2011

An analysis of the reality surrounding us clearly reveals the great amount of information, available in different forms and through different media. Volumes of information available in real time and via the Web are concepts perceived as closely related. This perception is supported by the remark that the objective of the Web was the definition and construction of a universal archive, a virtual site in which the access to documents was possible with no limits of time or space. In this digital library, documents have to be equipped with logical connections making possible for each user the definition of a reading map that expands according to the demand for knowledge gradually built up. This perspective is pointing now in the direction of the Semantic Web, a network satisfying our requests while understanding them, not by some magic telepathic communication between browser and navigator, but rather a data warehouse in which documents are matched to meta-data,1 letting specialized software to distinguish fields, importance, and correlation between documents. Semantic Web and library terms have an ever increasing close relationship, fundamental for the progress and the didactic efficiency in knowledge society.
Content Areas
Authors: Dawley Lisa
Published: May 2011

The strengths and weaknesses of each tool are discussed in detail, and educators are taught to match the strengths of the specific tool to the learning objectives they seek to achieve in their courses. Multiple examples of objectives and online learning activities are provided to help instill a deep understanding of the power of each online tool. This leaves you with a long-term ability to adapt your own curriculum over time, because you have learned options for using a variety of online tools to achieve specific learning objectives. Finally, each chapter includes a sample lesson plan that demonstrates how to integrate the tool into the learning experience. These ideas and activities provide tried and true suggestions for creating an online environment that engages and empowers learners for success. And when your students are successful in learning, you are successful in teaching.
Assessment and Survey Tools
Authors: Dawley Lisa
Published: May 2011

The strengths and weaknesses of each tool are discussed in detail, and educators are taught to match the strengths of the specific tool to the learning objectives they seek to achieve in their courses. Multiple examples of objectives and online learning activities are provided to help instill a deep understanding of the power of each online tool. This leaves you with a long-term ability to adapt your own curriculum over time, because you have learned options for using a variety of online tools to achieve specific learning objectives. Finally, each chapter includes a sample lesson plan that demonstrates how to integrate the tool into the learning experience. These ideas and activities provide tried and true suggestions for creating an online environment that engages and empowers learners for success. And when your students are successful in learning, you are successful in teaching.
Introduction
Authors: Cowan John
Published: May 2011

This chapter introduces the issues, implications, and cultural upheavals posed for the staff in higher education by the advance of technology. It does so from the standpoint of someone who has been an innovative and researching university teacher, but who is now retired and mainly serves as a grassroots teacher. It summarises the challenges he has encountered recently, and concludes with some questions which he hopes will feature in much imminent and needed action research.
From SYnthia to Calma to Sybil
Authors: Clarke Michael
Published: May 2011

This chapter describes the development of software for teaching music and music technology at the University of Huddersfield in three projects spanning the last 14 years. The importance of engaging music students with sound itself and the potential of technology to facilitate this is a key feature of all three projects. The value of developing software that is adaptable and extensible is explained. The lessons that have been learnt in the development of these projects are described, and the chapter ends with a provocative vision for the future.
A Case Study in Peer Evaluation for Second Language Teachers in Training
Authors: Anderson-Mejias Pamela L.
Published: May 2011

This chapter provides a case study of master’s level second-languageteachers in training who used self and peer evaluation within a capstonecourse in their program. Two differing sections are reported; one wasconducted entirely online, and the second was conducted face-to-face witha significant portion of online collaboration required. The author was aparticipant observer conducting this action research. Both courses requiredstudents to evaluate peers using various techniques including online quizinstruments, immediate chat-feedback quizzes, and peer evaluation rubrics.In addition, participants evaluated themselves both on the skills of teachingdemonstrated and on their participation within the community. At least onefourth of each course grade was determined by peer evaluation. E-assessment strategies are detailed, and suggestions for future online peerassessment are given from this case to guide tertiary-level colleagues’future peer evaluation efforts in the best sense of online collaborativediscourse.
Discourses in Gender andTechnology
Authors: French Sheila
Published: May 2011

The majority of women are not involved in the design, manufacturing or shaping of technology in many Western societies. This is at a time when governments globally see technology as an enabler to economic success. Using feminist scholarship and discourse analysis, this chapter questions why patterns of gender segregation prevail in technology related fields in the United Kingdom. The chapter critically analyses why government policy, and equal opportunities initiatives, have so far largely failed to increase women’s participation. Using examples taken from two educational settings, the chapter uses the narratives of individual’s experiences of technology, their engagement, or lack of engagement with it, to examine the dominant discourses of the field. It is argued that technology discourses, which shape our understanding and identity with technology, are gendered. It is argued that current policies and initiatives, based on giving women equality of access will continue to make little difference. That until gendered dominant discourses of technology are deconstructed and examined; we will not have the tools to address the current situation of gender segregation.
Tracking E-Government in South America
Authors: Frick María
Published: May 2011

The existing disparity regarding the achievements of electronic-government development in the Southern Cone area is owed to implementation processes characterized by the coexistence of organizational isomorphism patterns along with each country’s own institutional framework. Insofar as electronic government was developed within the public administration’s modernization processes, and that said processes were financed almost entirely by international credit institutions, there is a similarity among the different strategies implemented; the same responds to a middle-level policy transfer process. However, institutional environments have exerted a decisive influence on the effective implementation of the original schemes, thus determining significant differences regarding the impacts of each policy. This chapter develops this perspective, understanding that acknowledgement of this path covered may contribute to adapting strategies to the frameworks in which they have been introduced, thus fostering amortization of resources invested, survival of initiatives, and use of electronic-government benefits in the construction of an efficient and transparent public administration open to citizens.
Concepts And History Of Strategy In Organizations
Authors: Shimizu Tamio , Monteiro de Carvalho Marley , Barbin Laurindo Fernando Jose
Published: May 2011

The concept of strategy was born in military campaigns whose results, whether good or bad, were largely the product of the minds of strategists. From ancient times, much has been said about great military commanders and their strategies. The word strategic comes from the Greek stratego, which literally means general. In the classic division of war into operational, tactical, and strategic aspects, strategy is linked to planning, to the broader environment and the longest time frame. Even though its meaning has changed over time, since the Napoleonic wars it has encompassed military, political and economic dimensions.
An Overview Of Value Chains, Supply Chains And Strategic Alliances Issues
Authors: Shimizu Tamio , Monteiro de Carvalho Marley , Barbin Fernando Jose
Published: May 2011

In the competitive scenario unfolding at the beginning of the 21st century, characterized by the fast pace of technologic changes and opening and volatilization of global markets, an understanding of global value chains is of critical importance to outlining strategy. As shown in Chapter II, in the most complex production chains, assessing bargaining power in relation to customers and suppliers may not be enough to understand the power relationships in the global competitive market. Imagine a semiconductors industry, whose clients may be the PC industry, but also be in telecommunications, electronics end users, and new areas such as smart cards. How can one discuss bargaining power based only on the elements introduced on Chapter II? On the other hand, the process of decentralizing production activities, very often marked by globally-based outsourcing and by the streamlining of yesterday’s large corporate structures, created the so-called “network-companies.” According to Chesnais (1996), large companies operating on a global basis gave priority to some functions considered strategic, leading a global chain of suppliers and distributors, performing activities previously performed by verticalized companies. This process of “de-verticalization” presents some risks. However, when a company takes over value activities, it is possible to enforce its interests over other chain links by using its economic power. For small companies, which are part of these large chains, the understanding of power dynamics and relations is decisive for their survival and development, and to outline defensive strategies enabling them to increase their relative power in the chain by means of partnerships and networks of cooperation. The issues discussed are vital for strategy definition, since they bring a more detailed understanding of the game rules of the global value chains and of how to take advantage of its configuration, using networks and partnerships, or making use of location. This chapter intends to present a more in-depth discussion of the supply chain, introducing issues such as location, networks of cooperation, and the study of governance, both of local and global scope. The concept of value chains, both in product-based and in service-based industries, are addressed.
Enterprise Systems Implementation Issues
Authors: Portougal Victor
Published: May 2011

Many software development life cycles have been proposed in the past.Boehm’s Waterfall Model (Figure 4.1), incorporates, project definition, analy-sis, design, coding, testing, implementation, and maintaining, with feedback atevery stage to the previous stage.The prototyping model (Figure 4.2) involves listening to the customer, buildinga prototype that reflects the customer’s requirements, followed by testing of theprototype by the customer, and then listening to the customer again regardingthe prototype, and then revising and rebuilding prototype. Then we again getthe customer to test drive the prototype, and this goes on in benig
Capacity Management Business Processes
Authors: Portougal Victor
Published: May 2011

The company is always aware of what it wants to produce because it is definedby the market pressures or by demand. However, what the company wants tomake must be rationalised against what it can make. The issue of balancebetween requirements and capacity relates to a type of trade off. On one hand,the company wants to satisfy demand, but on the other hand, it may not havethe capital resources to do so. At the senior management strategic planninglevel, long-range investment decisions are made that can increase the company’scapacity resources. Commonly however, the additional capacity lags behindthe pressure to produce more product more quickly. In these cases, manage-ment must make choices. A company must select carefully how to manage itslimited asset of resources to achieve the greatest benefit to the company.
Chronic Disease Registers in Primary Healthcare
Authors: Harris M. F. , Penn D. , Taggart J. , Geogious Andrew , Burns J. , Davies G. Powell
Published: May 2011

Systematic care of patients with chronic diseases needs to be underpinned by information systems such as disease registers. Their primary function is to facilitate structured care of patients attending services—supporting identification of patients at risk, structured preventive care and provision of care according to guidelines, and supporting recall of patients for planned visits. In Australia general practitioners using division-based diabetes registers are more likely to provide patient care that adhered to evidence-based guidelines. Critical data issues include privacy, ownership, compatability, and capture as part of normal clinical care and quality.
Goals and Benefits of Knowledge Management in Healthcare
Authors: Hirakis Odysseas , Karakounos Spyros.
Published: May 2011

The aim of this chapter is to explain the role of knowledge management and how it can be successfully applied in the area of healthcare in order to improve health services and to increase patients’ satisfaction. The first part of this chapter is about explaining the theories beyond knowledge management as “what is knowledge” and how it can be transformed and captured across people and organizations. The second part consists of the theory of knowledge management and the benefits of it in the area of healthcare in comparison with the old traditional systems. Knowledge management systems can be used to index and at the same time to spread all that information across people, libraries, and hospitals.
Use of Telemedicine Systems and Devices for Patient Monitoring
Authors: Damigou Dionisia , Kalogirou Fotini , Zarras Georgios
Published: May 2011

Today’s health standards demand a high quality and efficiency as a major characteristic of every health service provided to the public, even in cases where patients have to be treated from a distance. The combination of medicine and information technology (telecommunications) led to the introduction of the term telemedicine. Telemedicine services are used in assisting remote patients. Interaction and feedback through patient monitoring systems and devices allow the health providers interfere when necessary, so medical maintenance can be guaranteed. This chapter deals with the different kinds of such systems and devices. The contribution of old and new telecommunication technologies is currently being discussed. The individual needs of every remote patient are taken into account, thus, several devices and systems are used for telemonitoring. This chapter indicates characteristics and features of the various kinds of patient monitoring systems and devices.
Safety Issues in Computerized Medical Equipment
Authors: Doyle D. John
Published: May 2011

Computers now are being used increasingly in safety-critical systems like nuclear power plants and aircraft and, as a consequence, have occasionally been involved in deadly mishaps. As microcomputer technology continues to proliferate, computers are also now increasingly being used in medical equipment such as ventilators and pacemakers, sometimes with safety-critical results. This chapter discusses some of the special concerns that arise when computer technology is introduced into medical equipment, using two case studies as examples: the Therac-25 radiation therapy unit and Abbott’s patient controlled analgesia machine. Also discussed are some of the regulations that have been proposed by the (American) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help tackle the special problems that can arise when developing software-based medical equipment.
Artificially in Social Sciences
Authors: Rennard J.
Published: May 2011

This chapter provides an introduction to the modern approach of artificiality and simulation in social sciences. It presents the relationship between complexity and artificiality, before introducing the field of artificial societies which greatly benefited from the fast increase of computer power, gifting social sciences with formalization and experimentation tools previously owned by the “hard” sciences alone. It shows that as “a new way of doing social sciences,” artificial societies should undoubtedly contribute to a renewed approach in the study of sociality and should play a significant part in the elaboration of original theories of social phenomena.
Simulation in Social Sciences
Authors: Axelrod R.
Published: May 2011

Advancing the state of the art of simulation in the social sciences requires appreciating the unique value of simulation as a third way of doing science, in contrast to both induction and deduction. Simulation can be an effective tool for discovering surprising consequences of simple assumptions. This chapter offers advice for doing simulation research, focusing on the programming of a simulation model, analyzing the results, sharing the results, and replicating other people’s simulations. Finally, suggestions are offered for building a community of social scientists who do simulation.
Data Gathering to Build and Validate Small-Scale Social Models for Simulation
Authors: Rouchier J.
Published: May 2011

This chapter discusses two different approaches that gather empirical data and link them to modeling and simulations with agent-based systems: experimental economics which built reproducible settings and quantitatively defined indicators, and companion modeling which accompanies observed social groups when they negotiate over renewable resource issues. Both developed techniques have different epistemological posture which lead them to promote diverse data comparison and model validation. They both have small limitation. The chapter wishes to put forward that, although both approaches have different goals, some evolutions in research protocol could enhance qualities of both. Some of these evolutions have already started to be used by researchers.
Human-Centric Evolutionary Systems in Design and Decision-Making
Authors: Parmee I. C.
Published: May 2011

The chapter introduces the concept of user-centric evolutionary design and decision-support systems, and positions them in terms of interactive evolutionary computing. Current research results provide two examples that illustrate differing degrees of user interaction in terms of subjective criteria evaluation; the extraction, processing, and presentation of high-quality information; and the associated improvement of machine-based problem representation. The first example relates to the inclusion of subjective aesthetic criteria to complement quantitative evaluation in the conceptual design of bridge structures. The second relates to the succinct graphical presentation of complex relationships between variable and objective space, and the manner in which this can support a better understanding of a problem domain. This improved understanding can contribute to the iterative improvement of initial machine-based representations. Both examples complement and add to earlier research relating to interactive evolutionary design systems.
Evolutionary Optimization in Production Research
Authors: Dimopoulos C.
Published: May 2011

This chapter provides a short guide on the use of evolutionary computation methods in the field of production research. The application of evolutionary computation methods is explained using a number of typical examples taken from the areas of production scheduling, assembly lines, and cellular manufacturing. A detailed case study on the solution of the cell-formation problem illustrates the benefits of the proposed approach. The chapter also provides a critical review on the up-to-date use of evolutionary computation methods in the field of production research and indicates potential enhancements as well as promising application areas. The aim of the chapter is to present researchers, practitioners, and managers with a basic understanding of the current use of evolutionary computation techniques and allow them to either initiate further research or employ the existing algorithms in order to optimize their production lines.
Efficient Searching in Peer-to-Peer Networks Using Agent-Enabled Ant Algorithms
Authors: Dasgupta P.
Published: May 2011

In this chapter we describe a mechanism to search for resources in unstructured peer-to- peer (P2P) networks using ant algorithms implemented through software agents. Traditional resource search algorithms in P2P networks use an uninformed or blind search among the various nodes of the network. In contrast, the resource search algorithm described in this chapter performs an informed search using the ant-based heuristic. In our algorithm, ants, implemented as software agents, are created in response to a user’s resource search query. An ant reinforces the route that yields a successful search for directing ants in the future towards nodes with higher probability of locating resources. We describe and compare different reinforcement strategies used by ants to perform efficient resource search in P2P networks.
An Annealing Protocol for Negotiating Complex Contracts
Authors: Klein M. , Faratin P. , Sayama H.
Published: May 2011

Work to date on negotiation protocols has focused almost exclusively on defining contracts consisting of one or a few independent issues and a relatively small number of possible contracts. Many real-world contracts, by contrast, are much more complex, consisting of multiple interdependent issues and intractably large contract spaces. This chapter describes a simulated annealing-based approach appropriate for negotiating such complex contracts that achieves near-optimal social welfare for negotiations with binary issue dependencies.
Genetic Programming for Spatiotemporal Forecasting of Housing Prices
Authors: Kaboudan M.
Published: May 2011

This chapter compares forecasts of the median neighborhood prices of residential single-family homes in Cambridge, Massachusetts, using parametric and nonparametric techniques. Prices are measured over time (annually) and over space (by neighborhood). Modeling variables characterized by space and time dynamics is challenging. Multi-dimensional complexities—due to specification, aggregation, and measurement errors—thwart use of parametric modeling, and nonparametric computational techniques (specifically genetic programming and neural networks) may have the advantage. To demonstrate their efficacy, forecasts of the median prices are first obtained using a standard statistical method: weighted least squares. Genetic programming and neural networks are then used to produce two other forecasts. Variables used in modeling neighborhood median home prices include economic variables such as neighborhood median income and mortgage rate, as well as spatial variables that quantify location. Two years’ out-of-sample forecasts comparisons of median prices suggest that genetic programming may have the edge.
E-Health and Ensuring Quality
Authors: Chhanabhai Prajesh
Published: May 2011

The Internet is one of the most utilized resources for obtaining information, learning, communication, and as a source of advice. The most sought after advice and information are related with health matters. In the United States, for example, over 16 million people per year visit WebMD (http://my.webmd.com/webmd_today/ home/default), an online portal dedicated to providing health information and services (Sass, 2003). Health information on the Internet has grown exponentially, with up to 88 million adults predicted to access medical information online in 2005 (Ansani et al., 2005). This merging of medical knowledge and information knowledge has given birth to e-health.
Information Ethics from an Islamic Perspective
Authors: Abdallah Salam
Published: May 2011

The Web of networks has created a convenient global environment for people to work, socialize, learn, buy, and sell. The Web has also been used as a tool to breach privacy, gain illegal possession of property, battlefield for cyber warfare, and in some cases, cause loss of life. The field of ‘information ethics’ was developed to curb this negative impact. Elrod and Smith (2005) define information ethics as a “field that applies ethical principles within the context of information provision, control, and use. This field considers issues about all aspects of information technology and information systems for personal, professional, and public decision-making.” Moore (2005) defines information ethics as having three public interests related to privacy, property, and control. Mason (1986) proposes a different set consisting of privacy, accuracy, property, and access.
Information Security and the "Privacy Broker"
Authors: Douma Michael , Gamito Eduard J.
Published: May 2011

The term “privacy broker” describes a concept developed in 2004 to address important privacy issues in public health research. The privacy broker provides a combination of an information “firewall” between the research team and the study participants’ personal data, to protect the identity of study participants. It also provides a “masquerading” feature so that participants can be indirectly tracked or contacted, which allows for the collection of scientifically useful information over time.
Mobile Agents and Security
Authors: Xue Fei
Published: May 2011

As an emerging technology, mobile agents can facilitate distributed computing applications over computer networks. During the past decade, the advance of computer software and hardware has led the structure and logic of mobile agents to become increasingly sophisticated. As a consequence, some security threats have started to appear in mobile agent systems (MASs).
Protection of Mobile Agent Data
Authors: Guan Sheng-Uei
Published: May 2011

One hindrance to the widespread adoption of mobile agent technology is the lack of security. Security will be the issue that has to be addressed carefully if a mobile agent is to be used in the field of electronic commerce. SAFER or Secure Agent Fabrication, Evolution, and Roaming is a mobile agent framework that is specially designed for the purpose of electronic commerce (Zhu, Guan, Yang, & Ko, 2000; Guan & Hua, 2003; Guan, Zhu, & Maung, 2004). Security has been a prime concern from the first day of our research (Guan & Yang, 1999, 2002; Yang & Guan, 2000). By building strong and efficient security mechanisms, SAFER aims to provide a trustworthy framework for mobile agents, increasing trust factors to end users by providing the ability to trust, predictable performance, and a communication channel (Patrick, 2002).
Secure Automated Clearing House Transactions
Authors: Hanson Jan Skalicky
Published: May 2011

U.S. society is at the precipice of a major revolution in the payments system. Given today’s advancing technology, it is becoming clear to industry experts that consumers and businesses are ready for the transition to electronic movement of funds. Banks of all sizes are beginning to innovate, the Federal Reserve is encouraging transition to electronic funds as opposed to paper, and consumers are slowly getting used to the idea of safe transfer of funds electronically (Santomero, 2005). In the end, it will be the consumer who decides, and critical to the transition will be providers creating simple and secure solutions so users have confidence in the payment systems.
Traditional Knowledge and Intellectual Property
Authors: Popova-Gosart Ulia
Published: May 2011

During the past two decades, the search for an appropriate mechanism to protect ‘traditional knowledge’ has been a subject of discourse among international law and policies agents, actors of global trade, academia, environmentalists, and the indigenous-rights activists. Within the framework of international law, the discussion went into two main directions: protection of knowledge products, and protection of rights over knowledge resources as a part of a movement to preserve vitality and diversity of indigenous cultures.
A Coaching Portal for IT Project Management
Authors: Taranovych Yuriy
Published: May 2011

Current investigations of numerous institutions (Genus & Dalcher, 2003; RAE, 2004; Sauer & Cuthbertson, 2003; The Standish Group, 2003) demonstrate that about 75% of all IT projects fail. The reason for such a high rate of IT project failures is mostly a lack of professionalism and competence in IT project management (RAE, 2004). IT companies often do not have enough resources for filling in the competence gap, especially under conditions of time pressure in IT projects. Project coaching is a possibility for acquiring the required competencies (Rauen, 2002b). A search for suitable project coaches is often a challenging and time-consuming task, and usually limited to the local area. Even if an appropriate coach is found, their availability is still uncertain. Furthermore, professional project coaching is associated with high costs. This article proposes that Internet technologies can help to overcome these difficulties, considering that Web-based project coaching can reduce the time of problem solution, and due to its virtual character, can be offered without geographical limitations. This article focuses on the concept of Web-based project coaching and its practical experiences, and points out the benefits of using portal technology for its implementation.
Comparing Portals and Web Pages
Authors: Fulmer Connie L.
Published: May 2011

Just how do Web pages and portals differ? A fair question, since both have common characteristics. However, important differences can be drawn. The purposes of this chapter are to (a) provide a basic background of both Web pages and portals, (b) compare the structure of Web pages with the infrastructure of portals, and (c) point out future trends for each.
Constructing and Deploying Campus Portals in Higher Education
Authors: Chan Tom S.
Published: May 2011

A portal is a doorway, a gate, or a means of entrance. For example, the local library is a portal for knowledge. In this age of the Internet, portal refers to a Web site that offers a broad array of resources and services, such as e-mail, forums, search engines, and online shopping malls (Webopedia, 2005). Like any project, portal development should observe the system development life cycle guidelines with activities including planning, analysis, design, implementation, and support. Launching a portal requires careful planning and strategizing. Analysis defines a portal’s requirements, determining its content and functionality. Design selects the appropriate software, platform, and architecture. Implementation makes the “build or buy” decision. Support is to maintain the portal, provide support, and perform upgrades.
Countermeasures for Protecting Legally Sensitive Web-Powered Databases and Web Portals
Authors: Evdoridis Theodoros
Published: May 2011

The issue of the escalation of security breaches in the field of Web systems has caused a great deal of disquiet in the computer security community. The majority of recorded security violations against legally sensitive portals have raised numerous issues both at an individual and at an organizational level. Furthermore, taking for granted the fact that security achieved through the isolation of the targeted systems is a path which no one is willing to follow, it is understood that security countermeasures must be perceived and applied without any alterations in respect of the current operational scheme. The economic and social reasons for using the Internet are still far too compelling (Schneier, 2005). Looking in this direction, the complexity as well as the urgency of the present situation has attracted specialists from other scientific sectors, such as psychology and law, who contribute to the search for an integrated multilevel solution required in this context.
A Declarative Approach for Designing Web Portals
Authors: Gardner William , Rajugan R.
Published: May 2011

As many enterprise and industrial content management techniques are moving towards a distributed model, the need to exchange data between heterogeneous data sources in a seamless fashion is constantly increasing. These heterogeneous data sources could arise from server groups from different manufacturers or databases at different sites with their own schemas. Since its introduction in 1996, eXtensible Markup Language (XML) (W3C-XML, 2004) has established itself as the open, presentation independent data representation and exchange medium. XML provides a mechanism for seamless data exchange in many industrial informatics settings. In addition, XML is also emerging as the dominant standard for storing, describing, representing, and interchanging data among various enterprises systems and databases in the context of complex Web enterprises information systems (EIS).
Evolution of the Milwaukee Public Schools Portal
Authors: Holland Ilona E.
Published: May 2011

In discussing education portals and the Web, Richard N. Katz & Associates (2002) state that the Web is the ultimate frontier. Katz observed that this frontier is inherently messy and in need of guidance, “if not law and order.” In this context, a portal is more than a gateway. It has the potential of functioning as a unifying principle around which educational institutions can leverage their resources, talents, and vision (Richard N. Katz & Associates, 2002). The Milwaukee Professional Support Portal (PSP) is a case study in how the development of an educational portal can serve as an agent for district-wide reform, while at the same time responding to specific needs for collaborative online venues, data warehousing, and personalized access to online information. This article examines the conditions that motivated the creation of the portal, traces how human dynamics contributed to the portal’s development, and follows the interaction between portal infrastructure and culture change. It concludes with a discussion of district adoption and scaling.
A Generic Model of an Enterprise Portal
Authors: Feng Xiuzhen
Published: May 2011

With the rapid development of Internet technology, the portal has been envisioned as one of the greatest opportunities to improve the management of enterprise information. A number of portals associated with enterprise information portal, e-market portal, business portal, enterprise collaboration portal, enterprise knowledge portal, enterprise portal or enterprise information portal, etc. As one of the most important applications of portals, an enterprise portal is more attractive because it could be used not only to improve information management and business processes management (Collins, 2002; Detlor, 2004; Terra & Gordon, 2003), but also to promote business collaborations and interactions both internally and externally (Dias, 2001; Detlor, 2000).