bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Satellite Parametric Description to Ontology Concepts and Semantic Classification of Satellite Data
Authors: Abburu Sunitha , Dube Nitant
Published: August 2018

Current satellite data retrieval systems retrieves data using latitude, longitude, date, time and sensor parameters like wind, cloud etc. To achieve concept based satellite data retrieval like Storm, Hurricane, Overcast and Frost etc., requires ontological concept descriptions using satellite observation parameters and concept based classification of satellite data. The current research work has designed and implemented a two phase methodology to achieve this. The phase 1 defines ontology concepts through satellite observation parameters and phase 2 describes ontology concept based satellite data classification. The efficiency of the methodology is been tested by taking the Kalpana satellite data from MOSDAC and weather ontology. This achieves concept based retrieval of satellite data, application interoperability and strengthen the ontologies. The current methodology is implemented and results in concept based satellite data classification, storage and retrieval.
Species Distribution Modeling of American Beech (Fagus Grandifolia) Distribution in Southwest Ohio
Authors: Flessner Brandon , Henry Mary C. , Green Jerry
Published: August 2018

The ability to predict American beech distribution (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) from environmental data was tested by using a geographic information system (GIS) in tandem with species distribution models (SDMs). The study was conducted in Butler and Preble counties in Ohio, USA. Topography, soils, and disturbance were approximated through 15 predictor variables with presence/absence and basal area serving as the response variables. Using a generalized linear model (GLM) and a boosted regression tree (BRT) model, curvature, elevation, and tasseled cap greenness were shown to be significant predictors of beech presence. Each of these variables was positively related to beech presence. A linear model using presence only data was not effective in predicting basal area due to a small sample size. This study demonstrates that SDMs can be used successfully to advance one's understanding of the relationship between tree species presence and environmental factors. Large sample sizes are needed to successfully model continuous variables.
Land Surface Temperature Estimation and Urban Heat Island Detection
Authors: Santra Abhisek
Published: August 2018

Earth's land surface temperature is considered to be very important for modeling the environment. Following the trend of increasing global population, urban areas are expanding in spatio-temporal domain. In this way it is affecting the urban climate and subsequently the global climate. Thus, scientific understanding is required to conceive the knowledge about interaction between urban land use/land cover and the atmospheric conditions prevailing in that area. In this chapter the land surface temperature estimation and urban heat island detection are perceived from remote sensing perspective. The chapter in this context highlights three major aspects, viz. the theoretical background, description about some of the common thermal sensors and widely used algorithms to retrieve surface temperature from these satellite sensors.
Knowledge Extraction from Geographical Databases for Land Use Data Production
Authors: Alouaoui Hana , Turki Sami Yassine , Faiz Sami
Published: August 2018

Our study focuses on the task of land use evolution in urban environment which is fundamental in revealing the territorial planning. It refers crucially to the use of spatial data mining tools due to their high potential in handling with spatial data characteristics. The results of our knowledge discovery process are spatial and spatiotemporal association rules referring to the land use and its evolution. Three proposals based on different knowledge extraction techniques are detailed. The first approach aims to extract spatiotemporal association rules by introducing time into the attributes. The second approach forecasts the extracted rules at different dates. The third approach is devoted to the mining of spatiotemporal association rules. This proposal looks for rules that relate properties of reference objects with properties of other spatial relevant objects. The extracted patterns are relationships involving the spatial objects during time periods. To prove the applicability of each approach, experimentations are conducted on real world data. The obtained results are promising.
Streaming Remote Sensing Data Processing for the Future Smart Cities
Authors: Sun Xihuang , Liu Peng , Ma Yan , Liu Dingsheng , Sun Yechao
Published: August 2018

The explosion of data and the increase in processing complexity, together with the increasing needs of real-time processing and concurrent data access, make remote sensing data streaming processing a wide research area to study. This paper introduces current situation of remote sensing data processing and how timely remote sensing data processing can help build future smart cities. Current research on remote sensing data streaming is also introduced where the three typical and open-source stream processing frameworks are introduced. This paper also discusses some design concerns for remote sensing data streaming processing systems, such as data model and transmission, system model, programming interfaces, storage management, availability, etc. Finally, this research specifically addresses some of the challenges of remote sensing data streaming processing, such as scalability, fault tolerance, consistency, load balancing and throughput.
Designing Engaging Instruction for the Adult Learners
Authors: Swanson Karen Weller , Collins Geri
Published: August 2018

Instructional design for the adult learner is a growing field of study in higher education. Engaging instruction for adult learners will be defined in this chapter in two ways: designing courses using the significant learning taxonomy, and a paradigm shift to support faculty to involve student participation. The discussion of engaging instruction will be presenting using several research-based foundations such as Baxter-Magolda's self-authorship, Palmer's open learning environments, and Fink's significant learning taxonomy.
Educational Ontology Development
Authors: Kaya Galip , Altun Arif
Published: August 2018

Ontology use in education environments can be explained in three groups: content access and/or retrieval, content creation, and personalization. Use of ontologies helps content creators to design and develop online courses, provide smart searches and content suggestions, and design personalized learning environments for learners. But it is not always possible for educators to find the best ontology for their needs in their learning management system. Since the ontology creation is a complex process, it might not be always easy or even possible to create an ontology for a selected domain and use accordingly. In this chapter, a review of state-of-the art literature regarding the ontologies in educational domain will be reviewed. Second, the challenges and difficulties in ontology development process for educational domain will be addressed and explained in detail. Finally, design suggestions to the difficulties expressed in the literature and further opportunities in ontology design and development will be presented, taking the existing ontology evaluation frameworks into account.
Measuring Text Readability Using Reading Level
Authors: Brewer James C.
Published: August 2018

Reading grade level calculations have been in use for over a century in the United States and have guided the selection of texts used in school programs. Government agencies at all levels, the military in its various branches, and editors of publications have found such formulas of use in setting policy or determining who can participate in programs. As readership is now a worldwide phenomenon with English as the primary language of the internet, reading grade level calculations can also be useful in creating web pages and assigning reading texts to large multi-user classes (MOOCs) run over the internet. In this regard, it is possible for faculty to be assured that the material is reachable to a wide audience by checking reading grade level and providing additional guidance for the more difficult items in the form of discussion or focused questions. Authors can use the formulas as a tool to check the quality of their own writing and improve sections which are unnecessarily complex.
Relationship Among Intelligence, Achievement Motivation, Type of School, and Academic Performance of Kenyan Urban Primary School Pupils
Authors: Muthee Jessina Mukomunene , Murungi Catherine G.
Published: August 2018

This chapter determines the extent to which primary school academic performance was influenced by the criterion variables. Two hundred pupils, male and female of age 12 and 14.5 years from both public and private primary schools in Nairobi city, participated in the study. Multiple regression and t-test were used for data analysis. The results revealed that three independent variables—intelligence, achievement, motivation—and type of school jointly and significantly contributed to the prediction of academic achievement of the urban primary school pupils (R = 0.693, P < .01). In terms of magnitude of contribution, intelligence turned out to be the most significant predictor (Beta = .445, t = 7.503, P< .01) followed by achievement motivation (beta = 0.282, t – 5.042, P< .01) and type of school (Beta = 0.208, t = 3.615, P < .01). The results of t-test revealed that students from private schools differ significantly from students of public schools in academic achievement and intelligence but not in terms of achievement motivation.
Challenges in Developing Adaptive Educational Hypermedia Systems
Authors: O'Donnell Eileen , O'Donnell Liam
Published: August 2018

The purpose of adaptive educational hypermedia systems (AEHS) is to provide each learner with learning experiences that have been specially tailored to their specific learning requirements. While the concept of AEHS appears promising, AEHS are very complex systems to design and develop. This chapter reviews a few of the challenges encountered in the design and development of these complex systems and some of the challenges encountered by educators who propose to use AEHS with their students. A number of the skills required by educators to develop positive learning experiences are discussed. In order to successfully use AEHS, educators must decide on what student characteristics to base the adaptive elements of the course. Educators may feel challenged to show the impact that AEHS can have on the learning experience. Educators may have a dilemma in deciding to allow or not to allow (1) student access to their user model and (2) students to edit their user model. Further research is required to explore why AEHS have not yet impacted education as initially expected.
Could Educational Technology Replace Traditional Schools in the Future?
Authors: Hope John K.
Published: August 2018

This chapter begins by quoting Professor Wilcox noting that little had changed in schooling over the past 500 years. This chapter provides examples of how the world has changed due to globalization and e-learning becoming mainstream, the changing needs and aspirations of the current generation of learners, and the rapid development of new technologies to assist learning. All of the examples quoted suggest that traditional face-to-face schooling will change. The economic and social survival of nations depends on the quality of education of its people, so some form of compulsory schooling will be needed, be it virtual or not.
Development of Communication Skills Through Auditory Training Software in Special Education
Authors: Contreras Eduardo C. , Contreras Isis I.
Published: August 2018

There have been issues identified regarding the education of children with hearing disorders. Those do not allow the development of communicative-linguistic competence and language, in addition to an efficient oral or written communication. This causes deficits in vocabulary, delay in morph syntactic structure. Education technologies such as auditory training software have become an educational support for teachers and students. The software was developed to improve communication skills and divided into modules with ascending degrees of difficulty. They are presented in various environments and semantic fields. After about 4 months of effective use in an 8-month period, applied to 45 preschool and elementary school students aged between 4 and 12 years, considering that 11 children present auditory handicap and the rest intellectual handicap, the results obtained were the following: the learning is globally 30% of the vocabulary contained in the application, 30 of 90 words. Word articulation is improved 50%; in attention span, the period of attention increased from 3 to about 9 minutes.
Digital Storytelling in Language Classes
Authors: Rahimi Mehrak
Published: August 2018

The aim of the chapter is to introduce an innovative technique of teaching and learning that is the combination of the art of storytelling with the benefits of technology. Digital storytelling is defined as sharing one's story through the mediums of voice, imagery, music, text, sound, video, and animation. The main underlying theoretical basis of digital storytelling is cognitive theory of multimedia learning (CTML) that focuses on how people learn more deeply from words and graphics than from words alone. The chapter deals with what digital storytelling is, the theoretical framework of digital storytelling, its role in education, and how it can be made and used in teaching and learning by teachers and students.
Distance Teaching and Learning Platforms
Authors: Grooms Linda D.
Published: August 2018

The knowledge explosion, the increased complexity of human life, and the ubiquitous, 24/7 nature of technology coupled with the globalization of the marketplace herald the need to embrace the most effective methods and formats of teaching and learning. Currently providing powerful educational opportunities, the science and technology of distance learning continues to multiply at unprecedented rates. Where historically traveling from village to village verbally disseminating knowledge was the only process of training those at a distance, today's learners eagerly embrace the rapidly expanding web-based delivery systems of the 21st century, which offer a plethora of educational alternatives. So, with this rapidly changing distance educational landscape, one must question, what exactly is distance teaching and learning, how has it evolved, and what is its future?
From Digital Exclusion to Digital Inclusion for Adult Online Learners
Authors: Garland Virginia E.
Published: August 2018

There is an alarming attrition rate of adult students in distance education programs because of socio-economic, gender, and technology factors. In the United States, digitally excluded online adult learners include the poor, mostly women, who have minimal technology skills. This chapter provides some solution strategies for ICT directors, higher education administrators, online instructors, and the older students they serve. With technology training and financial assistance, adult online learners can be motivated to succeed.
Integrated Paper-Based and Digital Learning Material for Smart Learners
Authors: Leone Sabrina
Published: August 2018

Smart learners are lifelong learners whose potential is unleashed by the seamless use of smart technologies (i.e., smartphones, tablets, tablet PCs, sensor network nodes, contact-less smart cards, RFID, and QR codes) to access huge amounts of open resources and connections, anywhere and anytime. Personal, and personalized, smart technologies increase a learner's independence in a novel way, and make the context for engaging in study more tailored and potentially self-directed. This chapter illustrates the QR code format, a framework that supports smart learning by the integration of paper-based and digital learning material through quick response (QR) code. The format was devised within the research project Learning4All (2009-2012) and was validated by several learning experiences of English as a foreign language (EFL) for different clusters. Subsequently, the format was selected as an element of techno-pedagogical innovation in the Eureka project (2012-2014), a network of 11 schools in Apulia, Italy, for the enhancement of curriculum continuity from middle into high school.
Three Cases of Unconventional Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling
Authors: Fokides Emmanuel
Published: August 2018

The chapter presents three cases in which digital storytelling was used in an unconventional way: in helping an immigrant student to integrate into the school environment, in helping first-grade students' school adjustment, and in dealing with bullying. The constructivist principles concerning the learning process and the requirement of students' active participation provided the necessary framework. The researcher avoided intervening, guiding or lecturing students. All cases were short in duration and easily applied. Results confirmed the author's belief that digital storytelling is a powerful and flexible tool that can be used in many and diverse educational or non-educational scenarios.
International Students in Online Courses
Authors: Manzanares María Ángeles Rodriguez
Published: August 2018

Postsecondary institutions of education are recruiting higher numbers of international students. At the same time, they are increasing opportunities for students to participate in online courses. Despite these two current trends in postsecondary education, little research has been conducted specifically on international students learning in online courses. The chapter focuses on the few studies that have been conducted so far on this topic, with a focus on their findings.
Knowledge Networks in Higher Education
Authors: Ribeiro Filipa M.
Published: August 2018

Networks function as an appropriate device to explore the processes of creation and adoption of knowledge by academics in higher education institutions (HEIs), and how it can be operationalized with the concept of epistemic authority and the analysis of knowledge networks. The claim that underlies this chapter is that emergent processes of knowledge creation—in terms of epistemic states—are highly shaped by the social and knowledge networks in which academics are engaged. The primary focus of this approach to knowledge networks will be on knowledge creation. Thus, instead of focusing on the vehicles of distribution of knowledge and scientific outputs, the emphasis will be on the role of knowledge networks – seen as epistemic conduits.
Implicit Cognitive Vulnerability
Authors: Crawford Caroline M.
Published: August 2018

Through the concept of implicit cognitive vulnerability, the learner develops a “comfortableness” within the instructional environment that engages the learner in a creative understanding of the subject matter that reflects a cognitively vulnerable sense of understanding that engages the learner in new and different ways with the subject matter. This cognitive vulnerability is not only creative in nature, but the “comfortableness” to safely “think outside the box” in new and different ways more fully supports the learner's understanding of the subject matter. The importance revolving around a learner's “comfortableness” within an instructional environment is a level of engagement within the learning community that impacts not only the sense of community engagement towards motivational and self-efficacy efforts, but more importantly the learner's sense of belonging and “comfortableness” within a learning community.
Mobile Game-Based Learning in STEM Subjects
Authors: Eichler Marcelo Leandro , Perry Gabriela Trindade , Lucchesi Ivana Lima , Melendez Thiago Troina
Published: August 2018

The acronym STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) has entered the agenda of educational policies. The development of mobile game-based learning has been seen as a new line of research and technological development in the field of educational technology, STEM education, and game design. These fields are rather new and intrinsically multidisciplinary, making it even more exciting. There is a growing interest in mobile game-related research, whether strictly technological or applied in social contexts. In this chapter, the authors thought a nice way to connect this data and depict the current scenario would be to break the subject into pieces: game design; affection and play; mobile learning; games for learning; science and mathematics education; and lastly, summarizing it in the games for STEM education section. The conclusions point to the fact that we are taking the first steps in a digital game development process for teaching mathematics in the school environment and the acceptance of smartphones as tools that add value to education.
A Psychological Perspective on Mobile Learning
Authors: Terras Melody M. , Ramsay Judith
Published: August 2018

The mobile internet offers 24/7 access to a wide range of social, commercial, and educational opportunities. If the educational opportunities are to be maximized, then a full understanding of user skills, motivations, preferences, and learning profiles is required. The authors propose that this detailed understanding is best informed by adopting a psychological perspective on the mobile learning process. Therefore, this chapter considers the insights that can be derived from viewing mobile learning through a psychological lens: in particular the psychological challenges that mobile learning presents and the importance of considering individual differences in learner skills and behaviors. They also consider the insights that psychology offers in addressing these challenges, especially the importance of media literacy skills, the presentation of learning resources in a way that considers the limited cognitive resources of the learner, and the importance of context and contextualized behavior.
Effectiveness of Teacher Training in Using Latest Technologies
Authors: Viswanathan Revathi
Published: August 2018

In this chapter, the author discusses the workshop that she conducted for teachers (who represented various Indian states) to train them to use handheld devices for teaching language skills. Further, she sheds light on the responses given by the participants, which reflected the effectiveness of the program.
Ubiquitous Teachers' Training and Lessons Learned With the uProf! Model
Authors: Leone Sabrina , Biancofiore Giovanni
Published: August 2018

This chapter illustrates features and outcomes of the experiences with uProf!, a model for teachers' professional training in ubiquitous learning by tablets and quick response (QR) codes. The model was designed, implemented, and successfully validated in 2012 within a full-immersion, learner-centered, and metacognitive course for 80 Italian high school teachers who are part of a school network for the enhancement of curriculum continuity from middle into high school. Later on, uProf! was used to provide continuous professional training and tailored in-class tutoring during these teachers' first implementations of technology-enhanced learning experiences.
Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Walczak Steven
Published: August 2018

This chapter examines the history of artificial neural networks research through the present day. The components of artificial neural network architectures and both unsupervised and supervised learning methods are discussed. Although a step-by-step tutorial of how to develop artificial neural networks is not included, additional reading suggestions covering artificial neural network development are provided. The advantages and disadvantages of artificial neural networks for research and real-world applications are presented as well as potential solutions to many of the disadvantages. Future research directions for the field of artificial neural networks are presented.
Board Games AI
Authors: Gonsalves Tad
Published: August 2018

The classical area of AI application is the board game. This chapter introduces the two most prominent AI approaches used in developing board game agents—the MinMax algorithm and machine learning—and explains their usage in playing games like Tic-Tac-Toe, Checkers, Othello, Chess, Go, etc. against human opponents. The game tree is essentially a directed graph, where the nodes represent the positions in the game and the edges the moves. Even a simple board game like Tic-Tac Toe (naughts and crosses) has as many as 255,168 leaf nodes in the game tree. Traversing the complete game tree becomes an NP-hard problem. Alpha-beta pruning is used to estimate the short-cuts through the game tree. The board game strategy depends on the evaluation function, which is a heuristic indicating how good the player's current move is in winning the game. Machine learning algorithms try to evolve or learn the agent's game playing strategy based on the evaluation function.
Swarm Intelligence for Multi-Objective Optimization in Engineering Design
Authors: Manne Janga Reddy
Published: August 2018

Most of the engineering design problems are intrinsically complex and difficult to solve because of diverse solution search space, complex functions, continuous and discrete nature of decision variables, multiple objectives, and hard constraints. Swarm intelligence (SI) algorithms are becoming popular in dealing with these complexities. The SI algorithms, being population-based random search techniques, use heuristics inspired from nature to enable effective exploration of optimal solutions to complex engineering problems. The SI algorithms derived from principles of cooperative group intelligence and collective behavior of self-organized systems. This chapter presents key principles of multi-optimization and swarm optimization for solving multi-objective engineering design problems with illustration through a few examples.
Trust and Decision Making in Turing's Imitation Game
Authors: Shah Huma , Warwick Kevin
Published: August 2018

Trust is an expected certainty in order to transact confidently. However, how accurate is our decision-making in human-machine interaction? In this chapter, the present evidence from experimental conditions in which human interrogators used their judgement of what constitutes a satisfactory response trusting a hidden interlocutor was human when it was actually a machine. A simultaneous comparison Turing test is presented with conversation between a human judge and two hidden entities during Turing100 at Bletchley Park, UK. Results of post-test conversational analysis by the audience at Turing Education Day show more than 30% made the same identification errors as the Turing test judge. Trust is found to be misplaced in subjective certainty that could lead to susceptibility to deception in cyberspace.
Assistive Technology for Supporting Communication, Occupation, and Leisure by Children With Severe to Profound Developmental Disabilities
Authors: Stasolla Fabrizio , Perilli Viviana , Boccasini Adele
Published: August 2018

This chapter provides a literature overview (i.e., range period 2000-2015) concerning the use assistive technology (AT) for children with severe to profound developmental disabilities. Specifically, the chapter presents a general picture concerning the use of electronic tools such as microswitches enabling individuals with multiple disabilities to access independently to preferred stimuli. The chapter focused on the opportunities of choice, literacy process, communication of their own needs, promoting adaptive responses and reducing challenge behaviors, fostering ambulation and/or locomotion fluency, cognitive-behavioral interventions for people estimated within the normal range of intellectual functioning who present pervasive motor impairments. Moreover, the effects of such programs on indices of happiness as outcome measure of participants involved are outlined as well as social validation assessments. Results and implications of the findings are discussed.
Design, Manufacture, and Selection of Ankle-Foot-Orthoses
Authors: Surmen Hasan Kemal , Akalan Nazif Ekin , Arslan Yunus Ziya
Published: August 2018

Ankle-foot-orthoses (AFOs) are externally applied assistive devices that are prescribed to the patients with neuromuscular dysfunctions in order to improve abnormal lower limb motor functions. To improve the effectiveness of the AFOs, novel patient-specific designs have been carried out for recent years. According to the level and type of the dysfunctions, there are a variety of designs available in clinics. Different AFO designs, such as solid, dynamic, and hinged can be prescribed for different abnormalities. New designs lead to development of new manufacturing methods. The most conventional manufacturing technique includes a molding process in which the lower part of the leg is casted by producing a positive cast to represent patients' shank, ankle, and foot. However, different manufacturing methods have been improved due to the different design and material requirements. All these developments affect the selection of the AFO. In this chapter, a substantial survey regarding design, manufacture, and selection of AFOs is provided and future trends about these issues are discussed.
A Critical Overview of Image Segmentation Techniques Based on Transition Region
Authors: Zhang Yu-Jin
Published: August 2018

Image segmentation is the key step from image processing to image analysis, and it is an important technique of image engineering. Image segmentation based on transition region is a special or distinctive type of technique that are different from traditional boundary-based or region-based techniques. Since the first technique using transition region proposed, there are many subsequent related researches and applications, and a series of papers in the literature citing are published worldwide. Using Google Scholar, a number of papers citing the original papers are searched, and a study on the statistics of these papers is conducted. These papers are sorted first according to the publishing year, and then grouped according to their purposes and contents (with techniques used). Some questionable issues in these papers are pointed out and critically discussed, and several further research directions are indicated and analyzed.
Particle Shape Analysis Using Digital Image Processing
Authors: Tannous Katia , Silva Fillipe de Souza
Published: August 2018

This chapter will discuss new software, Particles and Geometric Shapes Analyzer (APOGEO), aiming the determination of aspect ratio and sphericity of solid particles by image processing technique without any manual work. This software can quantify the major and minor axes correlating two or three dimensions of particles (e.g., biomass, mineral, pharmaceutical, and food products) to obtain their shape. The particles can be associated with different geometries, such as rectangular parallelepiped, cylinder, oblate and prolate spheroids, and irregular. The results are presented in histograms and tables, but also can be saved in a spreadsheet.
Application of Fuzzy Numbers to Assessment Processes
Authors: Voskoglou Michael
Published: August 2018

A fuzzy number (FN) is a special kind of FS on the set R of real numbers. The four classical arithmetic operations can be defined on FNs, which play an important role in fuzzy mathematics analogous to the role played by the ordinary numbers in crisp mathematics. The simplest form of FNs is the triangular FNs (TFNs), while the trapezoidal FNs (TpFNs) are straightforward generalizations of the TFNs. In the chapter, a combination of the COG defuzzification technique and of the TFNs (or TpFNs) is used as an assessment tool. Examples of assessing student problem-solving abilities and basketball player skills are also presented illustrating in practice the results obtained. This new fuzzy assessment method is validated by comparing its outcomes in the above examples with the corresponding outcomes of two commonly used assessment methods of the traditional logic, the calculation of the mean values, and of the grade point average (GPA) index. Finally, the perspectives of future research on the subject are discussed.
Defining and Conceptualizing Cyberbullying
Authors: Spenser Karin , Betts Lucy R.
Published: August 2018

Whilst researchers have defined face-to-face bullying to include elements of repetition, power imbalance, and intentional acts directed towards an individual, the definition and conceptualization of cyberbullying is more widely debated. Alongside arguing why researchers and practitioners should address cyberbullying, this chapter will review some of the unique aspects of cyberbullying that are central to this form of bullying. In particular, the chapter will consider the issues of anonymity, access, repetition, permanency, power, audience, and motivation. The chapter will also discuss how these issues can, in turn, influence how cyberbullying is conceptualized and the conclusions that can be drawn from research on cyberbullying. Finally, solutions and recommendations and future research in the area of cyberbullying will be presented.
Existential Aspects of the Development E-Culture
Authors: Baeva Liudmila Vladimirovna
Published: August 2018

This chapter is devoted to the study of a new information-age phenomenon: the electronic culture. The author introduces the philosophical analysis of electronic culture, its definition, characteristic features, and functions within the society. The purpose of the chapter is justification theory electronic culture as a special “third nature” generated by human creativity and information technology. The chapter described existential aspects of the formation of e-culture. E-culture gives human beings new ways to solve existential problems (death, desolation, not liberty, relations with strange ones, and ethical choice), forming in this regard new dependences and risks for person. First of all, internet-dependence refers to such risks. It enhances “existential vacuum,” axiological disorientation in real sphere; deformation of interpersonal communication essence with the virtualization of its sensual and emotional aspects; appearance of new freedom forms of personality ethical choice, generated by virtual interaction.
The Nature of Cyber Bullying Behaviours
Authors: Betts Lucy R.
Published: August 2018

Digital technology has provided many benefits for young people. However, some of these benefits are offset against potential risk factors. For example, digital technology can be used as a mechanism to direct aggression towards another person, and this may take the form of cyber bullying. This chapter will review some of the current debates surrounding which behaviors constitute cyber bullying. The chapter will also discuss the various forms of cyber bullying and some of the motives for engaging in such behaviors. Finally, the chapter will provide some recommendations for researchers undertaking studies in the area of cyber bullying.
Cognitive Mapping in Support of Intelligent Information Systems
Authors: Esfahanipour Akbar , Montazemi Ali Reza
Published: August 2018

This chapter provides a review of the recent applications and trends on cognitive mapping techniques in support of the design and development of intelligent information systems. Cognitive maps are inference networks, using cyclic directed graphs for knowledge representation and reasoning. Cognitive mapping techniques are widely used to analyze causal systems such as industrial marketing planning, risk management, and product planning. Four knowledge management categories are adopted in this chapter to portray different applications of cognitive mapping techniques in the design and development of intelligent information systems. These four categories are knowledge creation, knowledge storage/retrieval, knowledge transfer, and knowledge application.
Digital Divide
Authors: Flanagan Patrick
Published: August 2018

Since 1991, when the world wide web (WWW) was first made available to the public, it has revolutionized the way the global community engages each other economically, politically, and socially. Its impact has been historically unprecedented. While the availability of and access to the WWW appears to be ubiquitous, it is not. The expansion of this marvelous information communication technology (ICT) has not penetrated certain areas of the world resulting in a “digital divide.” This chapter discusses this digital divide. It first defines the term and then it moves to discuss the origins of the term. From there, the chapter moves to present concrete evidence of how the digital divide has negatively impacted the global community. Finally, it names and evaluates the efforts of different organizations and agencies to resolve the digital divide. It concludes with a prospectus on the future challenges of information communication technology vis-à-vis the digital divide.
ICT Standardization
Authors: Jakobs Kai
Published: August 2018

The chapter first looks at the links that exist between standards and standardization on the one hand and innovation and economics on the other. It then offers a brief description of a typical standards setting process. The complex “web” of standards setting organizations in the ICT sector is discussed next. Subsequently, a flexible tool to describe the characteristics of an SSO is introduced. It can be deployed by firms to identify the SSO that is best suited for a planned standardization activity. This selection is only part of the fairly complex task of standardization management, which will be described next. Finally, the chapter will briefly discuss national standardization strategies.
iSchools Promoting “Information Science and Technology” (IST) Domain Towards Community, Business, and Society With Contemporary Worldwide Trend and Emerging Potentialities in India
Authors: Paul P. K. , Chatterjee D.
Published: August 2018

iSchool or I-school or information school is one of the important names in the present age. It is treated as oxygen for several organizations, institutions, and sectors such as health, government, academia, business, and commerce for solid and sophisticated information and technological solution. Owing to the extreme importance of information, several academic units around the world have established information schools (I-schools) on the line of IT schools or B-schools. I-schools are academic units which work for professional and academic solution of information and technologies. Information schools are responsible for providing manpower in the field of information and technologies and computing with the focus of information.
Performance Measurement of Technology Ventures by Science and Technology Institutions
Authors: Ng Artie W. , Cheung Benny C. F. , Ng Peggy M. L.
Published: August 2018

Science and technology institutions are established by governments to promote advancement of science and technology in support of their social economic developments. The purpose of this study is to deliberate a framework for monitoring and assessment of technology ventures exploiting disruptive technologies from the standpoint of a science and technology institution. This framework, harnessing both internal resources and externalities, aims to enhance the role of institutional stakeholders in governing and nurturing technology ventures. This approach stresses the dynamics between resource management and the external landscapes as critical considerations in performance measurement and management of technology ventures. Such dynamic interaction between a science and technology institution and a cluster of technology ventures under its supervision is expected to evolve over time with frequent reassessments of its technology foresight.
Understanding and Assessing Quality of Models and Modeling Languages
Authors: Krogstie John
Published: August 2018

An important challenge for organizational activity is to effectively represent and transfer knowledge. One reason why humans have excelled as a species is our ability to create common stories and represent, reuse, and transfer this as knowledge across time and space. Whereas in most areas of human conduct one-dimensional natural language texts are the main way of expressing and sharing knowledge, the authors see the need for and use of two and many-dimensional forms of knowledge representational to be on the rise. This will also enable users to capture contextual dependencies between roles, tasks, information elements, and the views required for performing work without having to go through traditional systems developers to have enhanced support for their work. The importance on supporting judgment on the quality of these models will thus increase along with the usefulness of frameworks for quality of models and modeling languages such as SEQUAL.
Robotics and Programming Integration as Cognitive-Learning Tools
Authors: Eteokleous Nikleia
Published: August 2018

Robotics and programming integration as cognitive-learning tools in selected teaching cases exploits its full potential; therefore, it upgrades and enhances the teaching and learning process and promotes school transformation. Employing a case study approach, the current study examines how robotics and computer programming can be integrated within the elementary teaching practice (2nd to 6th grade) in order to achieve learning objectives across disciplines beyond STEM (8 teachers and 169 students participated at the study). Results are discussed taking into account class size, robotics package used, teacher age, gender, experience, and teacher digital literacy/comfort level with technology. The innovative educational robotics curriculum developed by the Robotics Academy provides the theoretical and educational framework to achieve the above.
From General Services to Pervasive and Sensitive Services
Authors: Vega-Barbas Mario , Pau Iván , Seoane Fernando
Published: August 2018

Ubiquitous computing and pervasive technology represent enabling technologies which have conditioned the evolution of the current information society. These ICT are transforming society and particularly changing the interfacing methods between services and user as well as their expectations from services. Such changes are related to arising of new kind of pervasive and sensitive service such as new healthcare and wellbeing personalized services. In this chapter, these services are defined in a comprehensive manner. This sense, sensitive services refers to new IS services that manage data that is not only based on the physical disposition of the user in regards to the environment but also related to more personal aspects. On its part, pervasive services are those developed by using pervasive technology and therefore can be defined as a delocalized and persistent ICT service. These definitions will be supported by an analysis of the evolution of services of the information society both from a socio-economic and industrial focus.
Multifaceted Applications of the Internet of Things
Authors: Kasemsap Kijpokin
Published: August 2018

This chapter determines the overview of the internet of things (IoT) and the multifaceted applications of the IoT. The IoT is made up of hardware and software technologies. The IoT describes a world in which everyday objects are connected to a network so that data can be shared. The IoT refers to the networking of physical objects through the use of embedded sensors, actuators, and other devices that can collect and transmit information about the objects. The data amassed from these devices can be analyzed to optimize products, services, and operations. For the IoT to flourish, interoperability must apply across all parts of the system, including the transmission networks and the data being transmitted. The IoT enables the multifaceted applications ranging from the micro to the macro, and from the trivial to the critical perspectives.
The Role of U-FADE in Selecting Persuasive System Features
Authors: Wiafe Isaac
Published: August 2018

Although persuasive technology continues to impact behavioral and attitudinal interventions, research has demonstrated that existing design approaches are faced with limitations that impede their effective usage. Mostly, they become obsolete, as user needs change during the use of the persuasive application. This research therefore proposes the unified framework for analyzing, designing, and evaluating of persuasive systems (U-FADE). The proposed framework integrates concepts from various existing models to provide a systematic approach that facilitates persuasive design. It addresses the issue of changing needs of users by considering external and internal activities that may promote or impede persuasion before and during implementation.
A Study on Factors Influencing Mutual Fund Portfolio Performance
Authors: Mekonnen Medhanie , Mayer Roger , Chien Wen-Wen
Published: August 2018

Mutual fund portfolio managers do not always meet performance expectations, resulting in loss of capital reserves. Out of 3,612 U.S. based open-ended mutual funds, the risk-adjusted performance of 2,890 (80%) failed to meet the S&P 500 performance between the year 2006 to 2016. Grounded in Markowitz's modern portfolio theory, this correlational study examined the relationship between mutual fund class type, portfolio turnover, fund longevity, management turnover, and annual fund risk-adjusted performance. Archival data were collected from 88 U.S. based equity mutual funds companies. The results of the multiple regression analysis indicated the model as a whole was able to significantly predict annual fund risk-adjusted performance for the 5-year period ending 2016, F (4, 83) = 3.581, p = .010, R2 = .147. In the final model, mutual fund class type and portfolio turnover were statistically significant with mutual fund class type (ß= .249, t = 2.302, p = .024) accounting for a higher contribution to the model than portfolio turnover (ß = .238, t = 2.312, p = .023).
Impact of Social Networks on Brand Value Based on Customer Behavior Using Structural Equations
Authors: Radpour Reyhane , Honarvar Ali Reza
Published: August 2018

One of the most influential services provided on the internet is an online social networking site. With increasing competition in global and regional markets, having a brand is not a choice, but an inevitable necessity that in the case of negligence, there could be a reduction in the product market. The present article examines the impact of social network marketing on the creation of customer-specific brand value. In this article, 384 people were selected randomly. Data was collected using a social networking and brand equity questionnaire. After collecting the data, a structural equation model of research hypotheses was used, specifically LISREL and SPSS software for data analysis. Findings of the analysis indicate that all aspects of social network marketing are effective in creating a brand-specific brand value for the customer.
Management of Unanticipated Extreme Flood
Authors: Das Partho , Rahman Rezaur
Published: August 2018

South Asian countries (Nepal, India, and Bangladesh) experienced extreme flooding in August 2017 which is one of the deadliest in the recent few decades. Being the downstream country of this Himalayan region Bangladesh experienced immense flooding both in its flood prone and less flood prone areas. Northwest Bangladesh district Dinajpur is known for its high topography where flooding is not a common phenomenon. Due to this reason flood control and flood management practices by concerned agencies are very rare in this region. Such negligence in river and floodplain management turned this region a vulnerable one due to flood. The unexpected August 2017 flood in Dinajpur bears an example that this region is no longer flood free. This study aims to study the insights of this August 2017 flood event bi investigating causes, flood time and after flood recovery, existing management practices and damage information etc. Based on those primary and secondary assessment, future directions for flood management in this region has been proposed.