bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Supporting Web Developers in Evaluating Usability and Identifying Usability Problems
Authors: Skov Mikael B.
Published: May 2010

Support to website developers without formal training in human-computer interaction that enable them to conduct their own usability evaluations would radically advance integration of usability engineering in web development. This chapter presents experiences from usability evaluations conducted by developers and results from an empirical study of means to support non-experts in identifying usability problems. A group of software developers who were novices in usability engineering analyzed a usability test session with the task of identifying usability problems experienced by the user. In their analysis they employed a simple one-page tool that has been developed to support identification of usability problems. The non-experts were able to conduct a well-organized usability evaluation and identify a reasonable amount of usability problems with a performance that was comparable to usability experts.
The Evaluation Cycle Management - Method Applied to the Evaluation of Learning Management Systems
Authors: Pipan Matija , Arh Tanja , Blažic Borka Jerman
Published: May 2010

The chapter deals with a complex decision-making problem, the selection and evaluation of Learning Management Systems (LMS) in which several objectives - referring to the definite group of users - like social, technical, environmental, and economic impacts, must be simultaneously taken into account. We introduce Evaluation Cycle Management (ECM), a support methodology aimed at the evaluation of options that occur in the decision-making processes. ECM is based on Multi-attribute decision making (Criteria Evaluation) and Usability Testing (Usability Evaluation). The Multi-attribute decision making in the first phase of ECM presents an approach to the development of a qualitative hierarchical decision model that is based on DEX, an expert system shell for multi-attribute decision support. The second phase of ECM is aimed at Usability Testing on end users. ECM illustrates its usefulness by showing its main features and its application to the above problem. It is based on the theoretical and practical expertise related to the quality and usability assurance of LMS.
Development and Evaluation of a Methodology for Developing Marketing Websites
Authors: Issa Tomayess , West Martin , Turk Andrew
Published: May 2010

This chapter discusses a research project that focused on the development of a new methodology for creating more effective websites for marketing purposes. After reviewing existing methodologies, it was noted that some key aspects were under-utilized, including user participation and “real interaction” (i.e. monitoring of user interaction with a prototype site). This situation can lead to deficiencies in the resulting website and hence user frustration. A study was carried out to examine various methodologies, from different disciplines, and their integration, to select the strongest aspects of the various methodologies to be combined into a new methodology. This methodology was assessed by interviews and a questionnaire. Proposed further research will develop a website describing the new methodology; incorporate a software tool to assist in tailoring the methodology to a particular project.
Usability Methodologies for Spoken Dialogue Web Interfaces
Authors: Spiliotopoulos Dimitris , Kouroupetroglou Georgios
Published: May 2010

This chapter presents the state-of-the-art in usability issues and methodologies for spoken dialogue web interfaces along with the appropriate designer-needs analysis. It is planned to unfold a theoretical perspective to the usability methodology and provide a framework description for creating and testing usable content and applications for conversational interfaces. Main concerns include the problem identification of design issues for usability design and evaluation, the use of customer experience for the design of voice-web interfaces and dialogue, and the problems that arise from real-life deployment. Moreover, it discusses the hands-on approaches for applying usability methodologies in a spoken dialogue web application environment, including methodological and design issues, resource management, implementation using existing technologies for usability evaluation in several stages of the design and deployment.
Website Accessibility and the Role of Accessibility Statements
Authors: Parkinson C M , Olphert C. W.
Published: May 2010

This chapter defines accessibility in the broader context of usability and explains the importance of making websites accessible as well as usable. It then focuses on one particular aspect of website accessibility – the accessibility statement, which is a declaration on a website about the accessibility of the site to disabled people and others with accessibility needs. This chapter argues that accessibility statements can play an important part in website accessibility if they are appropriately designed and targeted. Based on an extensive literature review and detailed examination of a large sample of accessibility statements, the chapter presents an overview of current practice and usage, raises and discusses the problematic issues that arise when developing accessibility statements, and provides recommendations for best practice.
DEPTH
Authors: Georgiakakis Petros , Retalis Symeon
Published: May 2010

Scenario based inspection methods are currently widely used for evaluating the usability of web-based information systems (e-systems). However, it is neither easy nor cheap to find usability experts who possess the competencies for performing a usability inspection while at the same time have deep knowledge of the context for which each e-system has been developed. Moreover, the effectiveness of these methods depends on the quality of the inspection scenarios. These issues can be tackled by finding potential users of the e-systems under inspection who have basic knowledge about human-computer interaction and adequately support them to execute the appropriate scenarios. Towards this goal, a new usability evaluation method called DEPTH along with a web based tool that supports its application, have been created. This chapter describes DEPTH’s underlining philosophy which is the re-use of inspection scenarios per feature of genres of e-systems as well as the re-use design expertise which can be encoded in terms of design patterns.
Before the Mining Begins
Authors: Verlet Dries , Devos Carl
Published: May 2010

Although policy evaluation has always been important, today there is a rising attention for policy evaluation in the public sector. In order to provide a solid base for the so-called evidence-based policy, valid en reliable data are needed to depict the performance of organisations within the public sector. Without a solid empirical base, one needs to be very careful with data mining in the public sector. When measuring performance, several unintended and negative effects can occur. In this chapter, the authors focus on a few common pitfalls that occur when measuring performance in the public sector. They also discuss possible strategies to prevent them by setting up and adjusting the right measurement systems for performance in the public sector. Data mining is about knowledge discovery. The question is: what do we want to know? What are the consequences of asking that question?
Data Mining Using Fuzzy Decision Trees
Authors: Beynon Malcolm J. , Kitchener Martin
Published: May 2010

The chapter exposits the strategies employed by the public long-term care systems operated by each U.S. state government. The central technique employed in this investigation is fuzzy decision trees (FDTs), producing a rule-based classification system using the well known soft computing methodology of fuzzy set theory. It is a timely exposition, with the employment of set-theoretic approaches to organizational configurations, including the fuzzy set representation, starting to be discussed. The survey details considered, asked respondents to assign each state system to one of the three ‘orientations to innovation’ contained within Miles and Snows’ (1978) classic typology of organizational strategies. The instigated aggregation of the experts’ opinions adheres to the fact that each long-term care system, like all organizations, is “likely to be part prospector, part defender, and part reactor, reflecting the complexity of organizational strategy”. The use of FDTs in the considered organization research problem is pertinent since the linguistic based fuzzy decision rules constructed, open up the ability to understand the relationship between a state’s attributes and their predicted position in a general strategy domain - the essence of data mining.
Data Mining Challenges in the Context of Data Retention
Authors: Stark Konrad , Ilger Michael , Gansterer Wilfried N.
Published: May 2010

Retaining electronic communication and internet traffic data imposes novel technical and organisational challenges for internet service providers as well as for government authorities. ISP companies are not only burdened by storing extraordinary amounts of data, but also must develop and adhere to data protection and data security policies in order to protect the data against unauthorised access or disclosure and against accidental destruction. The authors present distributed, horizontally partitioned data warehouse architecture for retaining data at each internet service provider separately. Moreover, they elaborate a data warehouse schema for storing e-mail data according to the European data retention directive which facilitate parameterised data retrieval. The authors show how their system allows for applying various types of data mining techniques to both internet access and communication data. Finally, they discuss issues related to data security, cost and performance, and reveal limitations of data retention systems.
Data Mining In the Context of Business Network Research
Authors: Aaltonen Jukka , Turunen Annamari , Kamaja Ilkka
Published: May 2010

In the field of information technology (IT) enabled business networks and research the traditional data mining approach is theoretically and practically inadequate for knowledge eliction and management requirements in inter-organizational collaborative business environments. The issues are mostly related to fundamentally and philosophically narrow conceptions of the meaning of information, and are grounded to the metatheoretical implications of positivistic, nomothetic and objective view of reality that restricts the feasibility of research oriented application based on them. Here a novel research framework for network-wide knowledge discovery is presented that is based on sociologically anti-positivistic, ideographic and subjective view of society construed from social facts. The theoretical framework is further developed here by synthesizing it with and extracting results from existing research models and artefacts originated in analyzing a variety of business networks (for example, a case study concentrating on modeling the IT enabled service provision of local travel industry value chain). The main contribution here is the explication and elaboration of existing and emerging business network research theories and related stakeholder-level practical considerations focusing on topics such as: multidisciplinary research conceptualizations, information asymmetry reduction by benefiting from contract law oriented functional principles, and network-wide knowledge governance approaches.
Virtual Communities of Practices in Higher Education
Authors: Elia Gianluca , Secundo Giustina , Taurino Cesare
Published: May 2010

This chapter hypothesizes that Virtual Community of Practices (VCoPs) are valuable to Business Schools and Universities because they support effectively the emerging paradigms of just-in-time, action based and collaborative learning. It presents a case study of a VCoPs called “Virtual eBMS” in Higher Education setting, described as a process-oriented model, composed by four main components: The People participating in the community, the Processes enabling the knowledge flows within the community, the Purpose of the community in terms of value created for the Business School, and the Technology facilitating the interactions between the community members. Indeed, from the technological point of view, the community is supported by an integrated Web Learning and Knowledge Management platform, whose functionalities support the corresponding knowledge processes and actions. Some preliminary results expressed in terms of Intellectual Capital will end the chapter, along with the value created for the community members.
Exploiting Virtual Environments and Web 2.0 Immersive Worlds to Support Collaborative e-Learning Communities
Authors: Bouras Christos , Giannaka Eri , Tsiatsos Thrasyvoulos
Published: May 2010

The main goal of this chapter is to facilitate educational designers and developers by providing a point of reference for making decisions on how to incorporate 3D environments into the applications they develop as well as for extending their capabilities by integrating more functionality. Therefore, this chapter presents the design principles for virtual spaces, which aim at supporting multi-user communication in web-based learning communities. In addition the implementation of these principles is presented using as point of reference EVE Training Area. This environment constitutes a three-dimensional space where participants, represented by 3D humanoid avatars, have the ability to use a variety of 3D e-collaboration tools for learning together. Furthermore, this chapter presents how these principles could be used as criteria for validating and extending ready Web2.0 Immersive worlds for supporting collaborative e-learning. Finally, collaborative e-learning usage scenarios that could be realized by exploiting collaborative virtual environments are described.
Web Technologies and E-Learning Strategies for New Teaching Paradigms
Authors: Cartelli Antonio
Published: May 2010

The chapter aims at presenting some teaching experiences the author made for the introduction of the ICT and especially of Web technologies in teaching. In the introduction the need for the use of digital literacy strategies in education and the acquisition of digital competences in the knowledge society are discussed. Soon after, the problems teachers have to face in today society are analyzed and the recommendations of national and supra-national institutions for the continuous education of these professionals are reported (i.e., the European case is almost exclusively discussed). Subsequently a new teaching paradigm based on the implementation of practices is proposed and the features of the information system TETIS, which made possible the use of that paradigm in a master course for teachers, is explained. It is evidenced, among other things, how that system (born for making transparent teaching processes and implementing teachers’ practices) has been used to implement the changes induced by the new regulations in the Italian school. The results from the final questionnaire for the evaluation of the use of the TETIS platform, submitted to the teachers who attended the master course, are at last discussed and new proposals for an effective introduction of new technologies at school is proposed.
Onsite and Online Students' and Professors' Perceptions of ICT Use in Higher Education
Authors: Fillion Gérard , Limayem Moez , Laferrière Thérèse , Mantha Robert
Published: May 2010

For the past two decades, information and communication technologies (ICT) have transformed the ways professors teach and students learn. This study aims to investigate the perceptions of onsite and online students and professors. It was conducted into ICT-supported or technology-rich environments at a Faculty of Administration of a large Canadian university. To conduct the study, a moderator-type theoretical research model was developed, out of which nine hypotheses were formulated. The authors used a multimethod approach to collect data, that is, a Web survey involving open- and closed-ended questions, as well as a structured interview. The sample was composed of 313 students who completed an electronic survey on a Web site and 16 professors teaching to these students who participated in a structured interview. The quantitative data analysis was performed using a structural equation modeling software, that is, Partial Least Squares (PLS); the qualitative data were analyzed following a thematic structure using QSR NVivo software.
E-Learning with Wikis, Weblogs and Discussion Forums
Authors: Bernsteiner Reinhard , Ostermann Herwig , Staudinger Roland
Published: May 2010

This chapter explores how social software tools can offer support for innovative learning methods and instructional design in general and those related to self-organized learning in an academic context in particular. In the first section the theoretical basis for the integration of wikis, discussion forums and weblogs in the context of learning are discussed. The second part presents the results of an empirical survey conducted by the authors and explores the usage of typical social software tools which support learning from a student’s perspective. The chapter concludes that social software tools have the potential to be a fitting technology in a teaching and learning environment.
Integrating awareness mechanisms in web-based argumentative collaboration support environments
Authors: Tzagarakis Manolis , Karousos Nikos , Karacapilidis Nikos
Published: May 2010

Much research has been performed on how computer-based technologies might facilitate awareness among cooperating actors. However, existing approaches in providing awareness services prove to be inadequate in data-intensive instances of argumentative collaboration. Moreover, they fail to address the needs of dynamic, web-based communities. In this context, this chapter presents a list of awareness mechanisms that have been integrated in an innovative web-based collaboration support tool, namely CoPe_it!, the ultimate aim being to satisfy the requirements associated to the above remarks. The proposed mechanisms are described and elaborated with respect to various awareness types reported in the literature.
A Pedagogics Pattern Model of Blended e-Learning
Authors: Labour Michel , Kolski Christophe
Published: May 2010

In this chapter, we examine blended e-learning design based on user feedback commonly found in grassroots educational practice. After outlining three approaches to understanding blended e-learning, we present Marcia Bates’s informational process approach to bring together the design theory of Christopher Alexander and the instructional theory of Jean Houssaye. This results in our pedagogics pattern model to transcribe blended e-learning practice in a hands-on way to both instructional designers and educational practitioners using e-learning to satisfy the emotional and cognitive needs of learners. The Model takes into account the dynamics between technology-bounded determinism of e-learning and users’ need to develop their personal emotional and cognitive preferences. We present case studies demonstrating the viability of our approach in simulation-based learning in Human-Computer Interface design, and writing an online troubleshooting wiki about network computing in English. The study used a qualitative method to evaluate feedback data in the form of tutor self-reports, learners’ reports, examination results, and a collective analysis of three experienced tutors-researchers.
Designing E-Learning Applications with Students
Authors: Triantafyllakos George N. , Palaigeorgiou George E. , Tsoukalas Ioannis A.
Published: May 2010

In years past, many methodological approaches, methods and techniques have been implemented based on the belief that users can and should be involved in the design process of technology products that affect them. Inspired by the findings of research involving users and particularly students at diverse levels and phases of the design process of technology products, we have developed the We!Design methodology, a student-centered participatory design methodology that assigns students a primary role in the design process. We present the various phases of the We!Design methodology, examine the results of its application in four different design projects (a web-based e-assessment application for tertiary education, a course website, an e-Portfolio application, and a Tablet-PC-based e-assessment application for secondary education) and elaborate upon our overall experiences with the methodology during the past 3 years. Participant evaluations indicated that the We!Design methodology was an adequate means for successful elicitation of students’ needs and their application in educational software design.
On Aligning the Properties of Standards with the Needs of Their Direct Users – Network Operators
Authors: Brzeziński Krzysztof M.
Published: May 2010

Network Operators (NOs) are the important stakeholders in standardization. For the ongoing development of their infrastructure and service portfolio, they directly use “external” telecommunications standards developed by the SDOs, and both produce and use the company standards, customarily referred to as Operator’s Technical Requirements (ORs). It is shown that the specific needs of NOs are not properly reflected in the current structure and contents of the external standards. As a consequence, the process of developing and using the ORs is costly and inefficient. This chapter presents an alternative, formalized methodology for ORs, called OpTeR. A part of this methodology is a lightweight semi-formal notation, which is amenable to handling by a computer support tool. The methodology makes explicit the nature of the current inadequacy of external standards, and allows for a “detour.” However, to achieve the optimum performance of the method, the authors propose that the external standards be extended with a new part, called Embedded Capability Relations, that would serve as a common base for ORs.
How Engineers Learn about Standards
Authors: Krechmer Ken
Published: May 2010

This chapter focuses on the training needed by technical experts and explores the type of academic coursework as well as training that technical experts need in the field of standards and standardization.
Identification of Vulnerabilities in Web Services using Model-Based Security
Authors: Höhn Sebastian , Lowis Lutz , Jürjens Jan , Accorsi Rafael
Published: May 2010

In a service-oriented architecture, business processes are executed as composition of services, which can suffer from vulnerabilities. These vulnerabilities in services and the underlying software applications put at risk computer systems in general and business processes in particular. Current vulnerability analysis approaches involve several manual tasks and, hence, are error-prone and costly. Service-oriented architectures impose additional analysis complexity as they provide much flexibility and frequent changes within orchestrated processes and services. Therefore, it is inevitable to provide tools and mechanisms that enable efficient and effective management of vulnerabilities within these complex systems. Model-based security engineering is a promising approach that can help to fill the gap between vulnerabilities on the one hand, and concrete protection mechanisms on the other. The authors present an approach that integrates model-based engineering and vulnerability analysis in order to cope with the security challenges of a service-oriented architecture.
Web Services Security
Authors: Fernandez Eduardo B. , Hashizume Keiko , Buckley Ingrid , Larrondo-Petrie Maria M. , VanHilst Michael
Published: May 2010

This chapter surveys the context for web services security and discusses the issues and standards at every level of architectural. The authors attempt to evaluate the status of industrial practice with respect to the security of web services. They look at commercial products and their supporting levels, and end with some conclusions. They see a problem in the proliferation of overlapping and possibly incompatible standards. Reliability is also an important aspect. They discuss some of its issues and consider its effect on security. A basic principle of security is the need to secure all levels of architecture; any weak levels will permit attackers to penetrate the system. These levels include: Business workflow level, catalog and description of web services level, communications level (typically SOAP), and storage of XML documents. There is a variety of standards for web services security and reliability and the authors will look at most of them.
The Case of Global Technology in South Africa
Authors: Rocci Luppicini
Published: May 2010

Perhaps the greatest challenge 21st century globalization i to overcome the technological divide (this includes the digital and non-digital technologies) that exists between developed and developing nations. The uneven global uptake of technology is one of most important gauges of global inequality in the world today. Despite substantive efforts to level the playing field by bringing new opportunities to developing nations, this challenge continues to plague out modern world. It touches every area of human activity in society that depends on technology and change. It is both important in the current context and in future technology development. This raises the question about how it is that technology diffuses at a global level and how should this diffusion be regulated and controlled. For instance, Jeffrey (2001) examines the economic characteristics of ICT’s to gauge their potential effects on the global economy. Jeffrey (2001) found that ICT’s “are associated with a number of powerful cumulative mechanisms causing some countries to grow rapidly and others to become increasingly marginalized from the global economy (p. 147). According to Jeffrey, South Africa is among the most marginalized of developing nations despite substantive investment in their ICT infrastructure from the international development initiatives. Why is this the case and what can be done to improve the situation?
Global Technoethics and Cultural Tensions in Canada
Authors: Rocci Luppicini
Published: May 2010

Winston Churchill once said that history is written by the victors. This statement from Churchill highlights the challenge that marginalized local cultures face in the global world and how important parts of their cultural history can get left behind and forgotten in the drive for national prosperity in the global economy. This chapter focuses on the cultural tensions that arise when a technology rich culture threatens the sustainability of a technology poor culture. A pilot case study of cultural tensions between aboriginal people and dominant French and English Canadian populations. This pilot study explores how technoethical considerations are intertwined with historical, political, and social factors that have threatened the sustainability of aboriginal culture in Canada. Findings suggest that more attention must be invested to ensure that that globalization efforts by technology rich dominant cultures do not lead to the demise of technology poor marginalized cultures. Given the longstanding history and broad scope of aboriginal problems in Canada efforts to revive the cultural history and identity of aboriginal people is suggested as one option to help rebuild aboriginal trust and willingness to collaborate with dominant Canadian populations on global initiatives.
The Future of Technoethics
Authors: Rocci Luppicini
Published: May 2010

As the title of this book suggests, the knowledge society is in a state of change and transition, rather than a being a fixed point in time and history. One of the greatest objectives (and challenges) in the 21st century is to complete the transition into a knowledge society within the ever expanding landscape of information, technological advancement, and ethical tensions. The western world has survived the fallout of the ‘information bomb” and the “collapse of globalization”. Society has struggled through information overload, extended work weeks, increased time and space compression, loss of personal meaning, and a variety of new inequalities created through eroding social institutions and fragmenting social relations at a global level. Throughout this struggle, technology has acted as a focal point and catalyst, spurring ethical debates and widespread concern over the direction of society and human life. Technoethics is a key component in the advancement of the evolving knowledge society because of the central importance of both technology and humans. As demonstrated in this book, technoethical inquiry provides important insights and direction to help refocus attention on key areas of technology related human activity that raise widespread ethical concern and debate which necessitate special attention and care.
Aligning a KM Strategy and Developing KM Capabilities
Authors: Ekionea Jean-Pierre Booto , Swain Deborah E.
Published: May 2010

Knowledge capitalization has become a major economic driver in business today and has created enormous requirements for organizations as they reconsider their goals and adapt their business strategies. However, the definition of knowledge management in an organizational context is a difficult task to realize (Spiegler, 2000). Although knowledge is a critical resource, it is generally poorly managed (Earl, 2001). Good knowledge management in an organization is likely to help achieve business goals, but require an alignment of knowledge management strategies (KMS) and business strategies (BS). Such alignment can be an effective approach to enhancing interactions and to applying knowledge. This chapter provides, first, a KMS and BS alignment framework and taxonomy in which concepts, links (contextual links among concepts), actors, actions and processes are defined and described to show how they provide the potential for effective knowledge management through alignment and interaction in an organization. Secondly, a KM capabilities framework and taxonomy in which three main dimensions and specific features is presented. The framework presented here is for managers in companies and organizations to use to align their KM strategies with business strategies to improve performance involving financial growth, cost reduction, and customer satisfaction.
Operationalizing Knowledge Sharing for Informers
Authors: Ford Dianne P. , Staples D. Sandy
Published: May 2010

Knowledge sharing is a popular research topic; however, the construct has not been well defined theoretically or in terms of how to operationalize it, as there appears to be little consistency. This apparent lack of consistency is problematic for developing a cumulative understanding of the predictors and outcomes of this behavior. This study examines how other researchers have operationalized knowledge sharing, and conduct a qualitative study to further understand this construct. A knowledge sharing and hoarding classification system is developed, and six knowledge sharing behavioral categories are identified. Finally, recommendations are made for future research in knowledge management.
Sustainable Communities for Knowledge Management Systems in the New Technological Era
Authors: Mousavidin Elham , Goel Lakshmi
Published: May 2010

The topic of knowledge management has received considerable attention in research as well as practice. However, the success of knowledge management systems remains elusive. This chapter provides a framework, which suggests that knowledge management success can be achieved by designing sustainable communities of practice. Communities of practice have proven to have significant economic and practical implications for organizations. A growing body of literature in knowledge management recognizes the importance of communities that foster collaborative learning in organizations and almost all knowledge management systems have a ‘network’ component that facilitates connecting people in communities of practice. Technological advancements in social systems such as weblogs, wikis, social networking sites, and virtual worlds enable new ways in which such communities can be supported. This study takes into account affordances of these technologies in facilitating knowledge management. This study draws on literature in knowledge management and communities of practice to arrive at properties of a community that make it sustainable. These properties can then be viewed as a blueprint of what a community needs to have to achieve its function of fostering collaboration and hence, generating knowledge. In sum, this research is intended to help practitioners arrive at how best to design communities in knowledge management systems.
Evaluating Semantic Web Service Technologies
Authors: Küster Ulrich , König-Ries Birgitta , Klusch Matthias
Published: May 2010

In recent years, a huge amount of research effort and funding has been devoted to the area of semantic web services (SWS). This has resulted in the proposal of numerous competing approaches to facilitate the automation of discovery, composition and mediation for web services using semantic annotations. However, despite of a wealth of theoretical work, too little effort has been spent towards the comparative experimental evaluation of the competing approaches so far. Progress in scientific development and industrial adoption is thereby hindered. An established evaluation methodology and standard benchmarks that allow the comparative evaluation of different frameworks are thus needed for the further advancement of the field. To this end, a criteria model for SWS evaluation is presented and the existing approaches towards SWS evaluation are comprehensively analyzed. Their shortcomings are discussed in order to identify the fundamental issues of SWS evaluation. Based on this discussion, a research agenda towards agreed upon evaluation methodologies is proposed.
Service Provisioning through Real World Objects
Authors: Paolucci Massimo , Broll Gregor , Hamard John , Rukzio Enrico , Wagner Matthias , Schmidt Albrecht
Published: May 2010

The last few years have seen two parallel trends emerge. The first of such trends is set by technologies such as Near Field Communication, 2D Bar codes, RFID and others that support the association of digital information with virtually every object. Using these technologies ordinary objects such as coffee mugs or advertisement posters can provide information that is easily processed. The second trend is set by (semantic) Web services that provide a way to automatically invoke functionalities across the Internet lowering interoperability barriers. The PERCI system, discussed in the chapter, provides a way to bridge between these two technologies allowing the invocation of Web services using the information gathered from the tags effectively transforming every object in a service proxy.
Nested Optional Join for Efficient Evaluation of SPARQL Nested Optional Graph Patterns
Authors: Chebotko Artem , Lu Shiyong
Published: May 2010

Relational technology has shown to be very useful for scalable Semantic Web data management. Numerous researchers have proposed to use RDBMSs to store and query voluminous RDF data using SQL and RDF query languages. This chapter studies how RDF queries with the so called well-designed graph patterns and nested optional patterns can be efficiently evaluated in an RDBMS. The authors propose to extend relational algebra with a novel relational operator, nested optional join (NOJ), that is more efficient than left outer join in processing nested optional patterns of well-designed graph patterns. They design three efficient algorithms to implement the new operator in relational databases: (1) nested-loops NOJ algorithm, NL-NOJ, (2) sort-merge NOJ algorithm, SM-NOJ, and (3) simple hash NOJ algorithm, SH-NOJ. Using a real life RDF dataset, the authors demonstrate the efficiency of their algorithms by comparing them with the corresponding left outer join implementations and explore the effect of join selectivity on the performance of these algorithms.
An Associative and Adaptive Network Model For Information Retrieval In The Semantic Web
Authors: Scheir Peter , Prettenhofer Peter , Lindstaedt Stefanie N. , Ghidini Chiara
Published: May 2010

While it is agreed that semantic enrichment of resources would lead to better search results, at present the low coverage of resources on the web with semantic information presents a major hurdle in realizing the vision of search on the Semantic Web. To address this problem, this chapter investigates how to improve retrieval performance in settings where resources are sparsely annotated with semantic information. Techniques from soft computing are employed to find relevant material that was not originally annotated with the concepts used in a query. The authors present an associative retrieval model for the Semantic Web and evaluate if and to which extent the use of associative retrieval techniques increases retrieval performance. In addition, the authors present recent work on adapting the network structure based on relevance feedback by the user to further improve retrieval effectiveness. The evaluation of new retrieval paradigms - such as retrieval based on technology for the Semantic Web - presents an additional challenge since no off-the-shelf test corpora exist. Hence, this chapter gives a detailed description of the approach taken to evaluate the information retrieval service the authors have built.
Principles for Exploring Virtual Collaborative Writing
Authors: Hewett Beth L. , Robidoux Charlotte , Remley Dirk
Published: May 2010

This chapter defines collaboration in some of its many variations and settings, and then it locates collaboration in the virtual world of contemporary writers connected through digital technology. In this way, it offers a snapshot of the kinds of collaboration about which this book’s writers write in Sections 2 – 7, while it also uses that collaboration in its own development. In other words, the understandings reflected in this chapter are the product of intense collaboration among this book’s writers, who have brought to it their own expertise in this subject matter. This chapter addresses (1) the literature of collaboration and collaborative writing in general, (2) the move from traditional collaborative writing efforts into that of virtual collaborative writing, and (3) six principles inherent to virtual collaborative writing. Taken together, they help us to develop the definitions on which we have based this book’s approaches to virtual collaborative writing.
Removing Barriers to Collaborating in Virtual Writing Projects
Authors: Carney William
Published: May 2010

While there are some obvious rewards of virtual collaboration, technological, organizational, and psychosocial barriers to effective collaboration certainly exist. First, familiarity with the media used for collaboration and opportunities for practice are essential. Next, organizational concerns can hinder successful collaboration. Huws (2005) suggested that traditional face-to-face hierarchical organizations or even those with a degree of hybridity can subvert successful collaboration of any sort but also contain features that might enhance collaboration, if used correctly. Additionally, making work roles clearly defined and making the collaborative endeavor explicit and transparent can ensure positive outcomes. Finally, knowledge of the personality traits and values of the participants in a collaborative project is necessary for project managers. This chapter discusses these three potential barriers; provides examples from higher education and the U.S. Army; and discusses possible solutions.
Putting Their Heads Together Virtually
Authors: Mescan Suzanne
Published: May 2010

Content management technology provides a flexible environment for virtual collaboration for technical and business writing. Internationally, small and large organizations in various industries are using content management system (CMS) technology to improve their communications while lowering their production and translation costs and enhancing the quality of their writing. The following case studies provide a look at how small and large writing teams are really doing it. These teams have successfully implemented content management technology and improved virtual collaboration in varying environments—within a department, between multiple departments, within a division, and across several divisions of their respective organizations.
Optimizing Team Performance
Authors: Robidoux Charlotte
Published: May 2010

Increasingly, collaborative writing occurs in distributed work environments. Collaboration is essential for technical writing teams that develop and share, or single source, content using content management system (CMS) technology. Technical writers must be proficient not only in developing content that can be shared but also in carrying out complex writing tasks virtually. However, research indicates that asynchronous-distributed collaborative writing can lead to productivity losses unless teams implement explicit processes for interacting and using computer-mediated communication (CMC) technology. With highly structured processes to guide their efforts, teams are more likely to see productivity gains. To achieve these gains, effective collaboration must address six key areas: (1) targets to guide team performance, (2) assessments of collaborative writing skills in virtual teams, (3) role delineation, (4) process scripts to promote efficient virtual collaborative writing, (5) a training framework, and (6) performance measurements and a recognition framework for reinforcing team accomplishments. Organizations must be willing to create a culture that supports a team environment committed to these specific areas. This chapter explores how to establish an infrastructure that promotes collaborative writing efficiency in virtual settings.
Developing Content in a Reuse Environment
Authors: Emery Norma
Published: May 2010

The need for reusing content and automating the writing process to gain efficiency in workplace environments is a priority in many work settings. Writing teams seek effective strategies for integrating reuse principles, and increasingly they need to accomplish this work virtually. Reusing content across an organization requires coordinated collaboration in terms of both establishing standards and ensuring that all team members follow those standards. In view of this high-level requirement, setting up a reuse environment seems familiar; that is, developing and implementing a style guide to promote consistency always has been central to good technical writing. Also familiar is the fact that as long as there have been style guides, adherence to them has been difficult to achieve. What makes a reuse environment different from those less focused on reuse is that degree to which standardization among writers must occur. Whereas style guidelines typically have emphasized word or phrasing nuances, standards for reuse move beyond terminology or syntax, involving all aspects of the writing process. An effective reuse environment thus depends on collaborative input from writing teams, which poses significant challenges in virtual environments. This chapter provides insight into the principles of reuse and how virtual collaboration is essential to making content reusable.
Caution, Empowered Reviewers Ahead
Authors: Warner Robbin Zeff , Hewett Beth L. , Robidoux Charlotte
Published: May 2010

One aspect of writing in government, business, and academia that always has been collaborative is the document review process. In this process, all persons with a stake in the final writing product are invited to help shape the piece in terms of content, style, or structure. Their review work has primarily been both serial and parallel. However, problems and perils of document review can strike at any stage in the review process: from the reviewer not knowing how to give useful comments to the writer not knowing how to interpret and use comments constructively. In today’s Web 2.0 world, what once was a more closed and controlled collaboration review process becomes open and organic because digital and online information is accessible to intended and unintended audiences alike for commenting, ranking, and reviewing. Response to this new openness in review has been mixed among and within institutions. And yet, the momentum for open and even unsolicited reviews is not only impossible to stop but also difficult to manage. While computer-mediated communication (CMC) and content management system (CMS) tools have automated the writing process, the review process has lagged in terms of being efficiently collaborative. This chapter explores collaborative review in a user-empowered Web 2.0 world, including how CMC tools can facilitate the review process. Finally, this chapter exemplifies Principles 1, 2, and 4 that ground this book.
Preparing Writers for Virtual Environments
Authors: Zemliansky Pavel
Published: May 2010

This chapter offers practical strategies for instructors, trainers, and managers to use while preparing writers for virtual collaboration. It first considers various existing barriers to successful virtual collaboration, both in the writers’ individual preparation and in organizational structures within which they work. Next, the chapter offers a set of specific guidelines designed to prepare writers for virtual writing collaboration and to facilitate their work. In order to prepare writers for virtual collaboration, instructors and trainers must develop trust among members of virtual teams, carefully structure writing assignments, and design learning spaces that promote collaboration and interaction.
Case Study - Writing, Rhetoric, and Design
Authors: Eyman Douglas
Published: May 2010

This chapter presents a case study of virtual collaboration that focuses on a research and production team’s approach to making choices about the most appropriate technologies to support the team’s interactions. The study highlights the importance of establishing clear, well-defined roles for collaborators as well as the importance of explicitly acknowledging the institutional context within which the work was undertaken. The chapter concludes with a series of recommendations based upon the experience of this virtual collaboration.
Inventing Non-Discursive Text in Virtual Collaboration Environments
Authors: Murray Joddy
Published: May 2010

Virtual collaborative writing must acknowledge and encourage a range of symbolization practices because textual products simply are likely to be hybrids of words (discursive) and visual images, aural images, haptic images, olfactory images, and even gustatory images (all non-discursive). Though digital technologies are still limited to aural and visual technologies, the authors must theorize collaboration for and within media that are as yet not widely developed or possible. Today’s collaborative environments require more from interfaces if we are to invent texts that become edited images, Web pages, films, and/or animations. This chapter argues that virtual collaborative environments must accommodate the invention of non-traditional, multimodal texts.