Planners, navigators, and pragmatists: collaborative wayfinding using a single mobile phone

Shared use of mobile devices is increasingly prevalent in both research prototypes and in practice, however, little is known as to how to support best this interaction paradigm. In this paper, we present a study examining how pairs share a single mobile phone during a collaborative wayfinding activity. We provide a classification of strategies, role relationships and phone interactions employed to conduct the wayfinding activities in our study. While acknowledging that the factors determining how the phone was shared are nuanced and intertwined, our results illustrate how differences in the mobile application’s interface influenced shared use, wayfinding strategy and outcome.

Analysis of traffic hazard intensity: A spatial epidemiology case study of urban pedestrians

Traffic safety studies have underscored the hazardous conditions of pedestrians in the United States. This situation calls for increased public awareness of the pedestrian safety issue and better knowledge of the main factors contributing to traffic hazard for urban pedestrians. The purpose of this spatial epidemiology research is to gain greater insights into the geographic dimension exhibited by the intensity of traffic collisions involving urban pedestrians. Pedestrian crashes are studied in Buffalo, NY for years 2003 and 2004. Factors of hazard intensity are determined and compared for three age cohorts as well as for collisions occurring at intersections versus mid-block locations. Physical road characteristics and density of development, as well as socio-economic and demographic variables and potential trip attractors are examined. Spatial regression models are used to account for spatial dependencies. Econometric analysis underscores that all classes of environmental factors tested are significant drivers of pedestrian traffic hazard intensity. Results of the geographic analysis indicate that young and adult pedestrian traffic hazard intensities follow rather distinct logics. In addition, intersection and mid-block crashes differ by their socio-economic correlates, as well as their spatial distribution in the urban fabric.     

User acceptance of wireless short messaging services: Deconstructing perceived value

Wireless value-added pay-per-use services, such as short messaging services (SMS), have attracted increased attention in recent years. Nevertheless, the extant literature has provided little insight into technology adoption of wireless pay-per-use services. Our study examined this adoption by combining marketing and IS perspectives through an empirical survey of 222 young–adult SMS users. It was hypothesized that perceived value would be a key multidimensional determinant of behavioral intentions. The paper therefore discusses a broadened conceptualization of technology adoption in which value tradeoffs (i.e., price, social, emotional and quality) are critical drivers in the adoption decision.     

A study of presentations of mobile web banners for location-based information and entertainment information websites

Compared to the Internet, mobile telecommunication has the characteristics of being anywhere, anytime and always online. As the growth of the Internet advertisements market slows down, there is a substantial increase in mobile advertisements. This research investigates the effectiveness of the presentation (static text and graphics, static text and graphics with audio, and animation) of mobile advertisements on the recognition of advertisements. The two types of websites for mobile advertisements - entertainment information and location-based information - are also compared. An experiment was carried out to test the proposed hypotheses. The results show that the effects of static banners with audio mobile advertisement, and animation mobile advertisement were better than static banners in advertisement recognition and memorisation. The participants of websites providing location-based information had higher advertisement attitude and purchase intention than their web-based counterparts providing entertainment information.     

A study of presentations of mobile web banners for location-based information and entertainment information websites

Compared to the Internet, mobile telecommunication has the characteristics of being anywhere, anytime and always online. As the growth of the Internet advertisements market slows down, there is a substantial increase in mobile advertisements. This research investigates the effectiveness of the presentation (static text and graphics, static text and graphics with audio, and animation) of mobile advertisements on the recognition of advertisements. The two types of websites for mobile advertisements – entertainment information and location-based information – are also compared. An experiment was carried out to test the proposed hypotheses. The results show that the effects of static banners with audio mobile advertisement, and animation mobile advertisement were better than static banners in advertisement recognition and memorisation. The participants of websites providing location-based information had higher advertisement attitude and purchase intention than their web-based counterparts providing entertainment information.     

Simulation of pedestrian flow through a “T” intersection: A multi-floor field cellular automata approach

There are several ways to study pedestrian dynamics, such as the macroscopic hydrodynamics, molecular dynamics with social force, and cellular automata (CA) with mean field approach. In recent years, the cellular automata approach has received growing interest from researchers. Because this approach is not only to save the computing time but also to reduce the complexity of the problem. In this presentation, we report the study of the conformation of congestion in a “T” intersection by using a cellular automata procedure with multi-floor fields. By using the multi-floor fields, we can mimic the pedestrian flow from several entrances to different exits firstly, and we can simulate the different pedestrian speed by changing the controlling parameter. Our results show, there are some kinds of phase transition in this system.     

Design and development of Distributed Virtual Geographic Environment system based on web services

This paper aims to design and develop a Distributed Virtual Geographic Environment (DVGE) system. A DVGE system is an Internet-based virtual 2D and 3D environment that provides users with a shared space and a collaborative platform for publishing multidimensional geo-data, and for simulating and analyzing complex geo-phenomena. Users logging into the system from different clients can share distributed geo-information resources, including geo-data and geo-models, and can complete collaborative tasks. Web service technology provides effective solutions for constructing DVGE systems because of its ability to support multi-platform, multi-architecture, and multi-program-language interoperability on the Internet, but also because of its ability to share programs, data, and software. This paper analyzes the characteristics, relevant technologies, and specifications of web services, such as grid services, Open Geo-data Interoperability Specifications (OpenGIS), and Geography Markup Languages (GML). The architecture and working mechanisms of the DVGE system based on web services are then elaborated. To demonstrate DVGE systems based on web services, we examine a case study of water pollution in Yangzhou City, Jiangsu Province, China, using a prototype DVGE system that is developed with Jbuilder9.0 and Java3D 1.0 packages, and the Weblogic platform 8.1.     

User acceptance of context-aware services: self-efficacy,user innovativeness and perceived sensitivity on contextual pressure

The aim of this paper is to empirically examine how individual characteristics affect user acceptance of context-aware services such as GPS-based telematics systems and location-based commerce, which together have become highly promising fields for mobile or ubiquitous e-commerce. To examine these individual characteristics, we applied a technology acceptance model to construct an amended model that focuses on three individual differences: self-efficacy, personal innovativeness and perceived sensitivity on contextual pressure. As a result, we discovered that the perceived sensitivity on contextual pressure, which is newly adopted as a construct in this paper, affects behavioural intention in using context-aware services.     

User acceptance of context-aware services: self-efficacy, user innovativeness and perceived sensitivity on contextual pressure

The aim of this paper is to empirically examine how individual characteristics affect user acceptance of context-aware services such as GPS-based telematics systems and location-based commerce, which together have become highly promising fields for mobile or ubiquitous e-commerce. To examine these individual characteristics, we applied a technology acceptance model to construct an amended model that focuses on three individual differences: self-efficacy, personal innovativeness and perceived sensitivity on contextual pressure. As a result, we discovered that the perceived sensitivity on contextual pressure, which is newly adopted as a construct in this paper, affects behavioural intention in using context-aware services.     

Personality traits and concern for privacy: an empirical study in the context of location-based services

For more than a century, concern for privacy (CFP) has co-evolved with advances in information technology. The CFP refers to the anxious sense of interest that a person has because of various types of threats to the person's state of being free from intrusion. Research studies have validated this concept and identified its consequences. For example, research has shown that the CFP can have a negative influence on the adoption of information technology; but little is known about factors likely to influence such concern. This paper attempts to fill that gap. Because privacy is said to be a part of a more general ‘right to one's personality’, we consider the so-called ‘Big Five’ personality traits (agreeableness, extraversion, emotional stability, openness to experience, and conscientiousness) as factors that can influence privacy concerns. Protection motivation theory helps us to explain this influence in the context of an emerging pervasive technology: location-based services. Using a survey-based approach, we find that agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness to experience each affect the CFP. These results have implications for the adoption, the design, and the marketing of highly personalized new technologies.     

虚拟场景生成中的LOD技术综述

虚拟现实技术以其关键技术使参与者产生高度逼真的“现实”感觉。目前的计算机图形学水平,只要有足够的时间,就能生成准确的计算机图像。但是,虚拟场景的生成对图形的实时性要求很高,因此,不得小降低虚拟场景的几何复杂度和图像质量,或采用其它技术来提高虚拟场景的逼真程度和生成速度。LOD技术是虚拟场景自动生成和快速绘制技术研究领域的一个很有前途的研究方向。该文介绍了虚拟场景生成中LOD模型的选择、生成,着重分析了典型模型生成算法和存在的问题,展望了LOD技术未来的研究方向。     

User profiling and virtual agents: a case study on e-commerce services

The main contribution of this work is the design of an application framework based on both conversational agents and user profiling technologies for the development of e-commerce services. User profiles are exploited by conversational agents to help customers in retrieving potentially interesting products from a catalogue. Three techniques were used for collecting data for a usability test: eye-movement tracking, questionnaire, and recording the user-system dialogue. The main outcomes of the experimental sessions are: (1) the dialogue capabilities of the agent facilitate the interaction between the user and the e-commerce site; and, (2) user profiles improve the retrieval capabilities of the agent. Finally, some limitations of the user profiling techniques adopted in the framework are discussed and a more sophisticated content-based profiling technique is proposed.     

Web服务和BPEL规范在人力资源管理系统中的应用

为解决当前人力资源管理领域面临的难以协同工作、难以支持业务流程自动化执行的问题,在该领域引入Web服务与工作流技术.首先结合BPEL4WS规范,分析人力资源管理过程中业务流程的实际模型;提出一种基于Web服务与BPEL4WS规范的软件支撑环境的设计方案,实现了流程的自动化执行与业务协同;并在传统的B/S结构基础上,采用Ajax技术构造客户端,增强交互性与易用性;最后,在系统实现的基础上,提出该领域生成工具的研究与实现,有效简化该领域软件开发过程.     

The software and information services sector in Argentina: The pros and cons of an inward-oriented development strategy

This paper analyzes the evolution, present situation, and prospects for the Argentine software and information services (SIS) sector. Argentina has some advantages to exploit in order to make significant inroads in this sector. It has a relative abundance of well-educated people, a sizeable domestic market, and a cultural influence in Spanish-speaking Latin America. The currency devaluation of 2002 dramatically reduced costs measured in U.S. dollars. Nonetheless, SIS firms in Argentina have focused primarily on the domestic accountancy and management market, where they enjoy advantages derived from the specific requirements of the domestic regulations and their knowledge of the business culture and the needs of their local clients. This concentration in the domestic market has caused SIS firms to pay insufficient attention to some key issues for competitiveness in this sector. Hence, it is no surprise to find that they lack marketing and management capabilities and that the diffusion of quality certifications is almost null. The domestic environment also poses some obstacles, since firms often have difficulties accessing investment and working capital. Business networking mechanisms are weak, both among SIS firms as well as between them and their customers, R&D institutions, etc. Increasing the competitiveness of this sector requires intelligent public policies and actions aimed at improving the SIS firms' capabilities and endowments. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

基于Web服务的校园信息化平台的设计和实现

数字化校园是高校信息化建设的发展方向.设计并实现了一个小型化的数字化校园方案--校园信息化平台,该平台以Web Services（Web服务）为信息集成的核心技术,可以集成学校现有的多种形式的信息系统,并为此提供了统一的数据中心、统一安全身份认证中心、统一用户权限管理中心和统一的用户界面.介绍了该校园信息化平台的模型以及系统的总体框架,并分析了实现该平台的一些关键技术.     

User switching of information technology: A theoretical synthesis and empirical test

As competing technological choices emerge in the marketplace, an inevitable consequence is user switching from one IT product or service to another. However, we know very little of this phenomenon or the key drivers of user switching. We examined the reasons for IT switching by proposing a model that synthesized and extended current theories of IT acceptance and customer satisfaction. We believed that IT switching was driven by user dissatisfaction with an incumbent product or service and the fact that the customer was aware of the availability of a potentially superior product or service. Further, to explain differential switching patterns across an adopter population, we posited personal innovativeness as an individual difference variable that moderated the effect of user dissatisfaction and relative advantage of a new IT on users’ switching intention. Our model was empirically validated using a longitudinal survey of web browser switching among student subjects. We hope that our study will generate researchers’ interest in an understudied area of research and that the model will serve as a starting point for furthering our understanding of IT switching.     

User required information modality and structure of in-vehicle navigation system focused on the urban commuter

Current available functions of In-Vehicle Navigation System (IVNS) are approaching to the multimedia system, and its information types become diverse by manufacturing company for accomplishing the on-board multimedia system. Concerning these trends, Human-Machine Interface (HMI) is regarded as more crucial issue for driver's safety and system usability. Also, this kind of issue includes determining the type of information that would be most beneficial to the particular group of users, when and where they need specific information, and the modality in which it should be presented. This paper conducted two kinds of experiments. One is an assessment of driver's mental workload of two kinds of modality to verify the developed Revision of NASA-TLX (RNASA-TLX), and the other is survey-based study to prioritizing the user required information that presented from IVNS. This experiment conducted in the real road situation using IVNS simulator especially focused on the urban commuter.     

Network mapping services for dynamic selection of web services: promises and challenges

Web services provide the possibility of dynamically integrating distributed service components scattered over the Internet to fulfill sophisticated business demands. The effectiveness of service integration depends critically on the selection of best-fit service components. In this paper, we first review several research streams related to server selection. We then propose a framework of dynamic service discovery, termed Network Mapping Services (NMS), which combines prior efforts on network-aware applications and server selection into a coherent structure. As successful implementation of NMS requires the collaboration among all participating service providers, we also discuss several incentive schemes and compare their effectiveness in supporting collaboration.This research was sponsored in part by the National Science Foundation under contract number IIS-0219825.     

A contextual study of police car telematics: the future of in-car information systems

The data from a former experiment with a serial responding task were analysed to throw light on some issues connected with the ‘ blocking ’ phenomenon. The task consisted of pushing one of four keys in response to the appearance of four figures on a numerical indicator. It was self-paced. Thirty-five subjects worked on it uninterruptedly for 30 min. It is shown that:

1. The main change which occurs in the distribution of reaction times during the session is the appearance of a tail of long times: this is in agreement with the blocking hypothesis, i.e. with the hypothesis that an extra delay is sometimes added to the normal reaction time.

2. The increase in number of long reaction times takes place in the first five minutes of work.

3. Long reaction times are preceded by an increase in mean reaction time and in percentage of errors, which take place over four or five preceding responses, and are followed by a return of both variables to normal level ; this is in agreement with the hypothesis that blocks allow fatigue to dissipate.