title: History-based visual mining of semi-structured audio and text

authors: Bouamrane, Matt-Mouley

subjects: computer science

abstract: Accessing specific or salient parts of multimedia recordings remains a challenge as there is no obvious way of structuring and representing a mix of space-based and time-based media. A number of approaches have been proposed which usually involve translating the continuous component of the multimedia recording into a space-based representation, such as text from audio through automatic speech recognition and images from video (keyframes). In this paper, we present a novel technique which defines retrieval units in terms of a log of actions performed on space-based artefacts, and exploits timing properties and extended concurrency to construct a visual presentation of text and speech data. This technique can be easily adapted to any mix of space-based artefacts and continuous media.

text: History-based visual mining of semi-structured audio and text Accessing specific or salient parts of multimedia recordings remains a challenge as there is no obvious way of structuring and representing a mix of space-based and time-based media. A number of approaches have been proposed which usually involve translating the continuous component of the multimedia recording into a space-based representation, such as text from audio through automatic speech recognition and images from video (keyframes). In this paper, we present a novel technique which defines retrieval units in terms of a log of actions performed on space-based artefacts, and exploits timing properties and extended concurrency to construct a visual presentation of text and speech data. This technique can be easily adapted to any mix of space-based artefacts and continuous media.

year: 2006

title: Community-led initiatives: reforms for better accountability?

authors: Awio, Godwin

subjects: health services

abstract: Purpose – This paper sets out to contrast the ubiquitous, globalizing influence of new public management (NPM) with an alternative approach more attuned to the local needs of communities, especially those with health and economic problems in less-developed countries. The Ugandan Community-led HIV/AIDS Initiative is drawn on to contrast the operation of “bottom-up” accountability – whereby the deliverers of public services are accountable primarily to the communities they serve – with the usual expectations of an NPM model, which instead focuses on holding public sector managers accountable to their political masters. 
Design/methodology/approach – A hermeneutics approach is adopted to interpret evidence from: government policy documents; interactions and interviews with public sector actors at national, district and community levels; and one author's own pre-understanding from his role with the Uganda AIDS Commission. 
Findings – This Ugandan illustration suggests potential benefits from importing workable aspects of NPM reforms while at the same time exploring other service delivery and accountability options that fit the needs of target communities in less-developed countries. 
Research limitations/implications – Uganda's adoption of the outlined community-led approach has important implications for the (ir)relevance debate around NPM reforms in developing countries. However, as this paper is based on a single initiative in one country, it represents only a first step towards understanding the potential for innovative public sector models to add value in developing countries. 
Practical implications – The findings point to community-led approaches, such as those adopted in Uganda, as a promising alternative to NPM models for improving public service delivery and financial accountability in less-developed countries. 
Originality/value – Communitarian and social capital theoretical perspectives are drawn on to analyse novel public sector management and accountability mechanisms and compare the findings with dominant NPM perspectives. The research context contributes new understanding of how NPM reforms might be adapted and supplemented to benefit developing nations.

text: Community-led initiatives: reforms for better accountability? Purpose – This paper sets out to contrast the ubiquitous, globalizing influence of new public management (NPM) with an alternative approach more attuned to the local needs of communities, especially those with health and economic problems in less-developed countries. The Ugandan Community-led HIV/AIDS Initiative is drawn on to contrast the operation of “bottom-up” accountability – whereby the deliverers of public services are accountable primarily to the communities they serve – with the usual expectations of an NPM model, which instead focuses on holding public sector managers accountable to their political masters. 
Design/methodology/approach – A hermeneutics approach is adopted to interpret evidence from: government policy documents; interactions and interviews with public sector actors at national, district and community levels; and one author's own pre-understanding from his role with the Uganda AIDS Commission. 
Findings – This Ugandan illustration suggests potential benefits from importing workable aspects of NPM reforms while at the same time exploring other service delivery and accountability options that fit the needs of target communities in less-developed countries. 
Research limitations/implications – Uganda's adoption of the outlined community-led approach has important implications for the (ir)relevance debate around NPM reforms in developing countries. However, as this paper is based on a single initiative in one country, it represents only a first step towards understanding the potential for innovative public sector models to add value in developing countries. 
Practical implications – The findings point to community-led approaches, such as those adopted in Uganda, as a promising alternative to NPM models for improving public service delivery and financial accountability in less-developed countries. 
Originality/value – Communitarian and social capital theoretical perspectives are drawn on to analyse novel public sector management and accountability mechanisms and compare the findings with dominant NPM perspectives. The research context contributes new understanding of how NPM reforms might be adapted and supplemented to benefit developing nations.

year: 2007

title: Investigating commentary on the fifth labour-led government’s third way approach

authors: Piercy, Gemma Louise

abstract: After the 1999 election of a Labour-led coalition government in Aotearoa New Zealand, a raft of policy reforms adopted characteristics of the ‘Third Way’ ideology promoted by Anthony Giddens. We argue, however, that Third Way characteristics were not implemented in Aotearoa New Zealand without attracting criticism. This article reviews academic analysis and wider commentary on the Third Way in Aotearoa New Zealand, much of which particularly focused on social policy reforms made by the Labour-led coalition government (1999-2008). We have used this literature to identify the varied ways in which the Third Way was defined and the extent to which Third Way ideology was considered to have influenced policy and practice the Aotearoa New Zealand context. Our semi-systematic literature review shows that many commentators argued that New Zealand did indeed implement a policy platform consistent with Third Way ideological characteristics but these were also adapted to the unique context of Aotearoa New Zealand. We explore in detail two key examples of adaptation di scussed in the literature: the Labour-led government’s early focus on reducing inequalities between Māori and non-Māori and on renewing civil society through subsidiarity and a partnership approach.

text: Investigating commentary on the fifth labour-led government’s third way approach After the 1999 election of a Labour-led coalition government in Aotearoa New Zealand, a raft of policy reforms adopted characteristics of the ‘Third Way’ ideology promoted by Anthony Giddens. We argue, however, that Third Way characteristics were not implemented in Aotearoa New Zealand without attracting criticism. This article reviews academic analysis and wider commentary on the Third Way in Aotearoa New Zealand, much of which particularly focused on social policy reforms made by the Labour-led coalition government (1999-2008). We have used this literature to identify the varied ways in which the Third Way was defined and the extent to which Third Way ideology was considered to have influenced policy and practice the Aotearoa New Zealand context. Our semi-systematic literature review shows that many commentators argued that New Zealand did indeed implement a policy platform consistent with Third Way ideological characteristics but these were also adapted to the unique context of Aotearoa New Zealand. We explore in detail two key examples of adaptation di scussed in the literature: the Labour-led government’s early focus on reducing inequalities between Māori and non-Māori and on renewing civil society through subsidiarity and a partnership approach.

year: 2017