What's in a Name? Distinguishing between SaaS and SOA

Considerable confusion arises in distinguishing between software as a service (SaaS) and service-oriented architecture (SOA). Zachman's framework can help to try to make sense of the alphabet soup of Web services and utilities that form the basis for both SOA and SaaS. The difference between SaaS and SOA is that the former is a software-delivery model whereas the latter is a software-construction model. A better way to illuminate the differences between these two concepts is to use the well-known Zachman architectural model. In this article, we briefly examine the concepts of SaaS and SOA, followed by a brief history of software architectural models. We use the Zachman model to differentiate the two architectural approaches to building software. Because the Zachman model is so intuitive, the approach we take to describe the differences between SaaS and SOA works well even with non-IT professionals.     

Is information systems a discipline? Foucauldian and Toulminian insights

Following the Kleinian spirit, this study takes a critical view of the existing orthodoxy within information systems (IS) and reframes the ongoing discussion concerning the intellectual core, identity and disciplinary status of IS using the disciplinary analysis of Michel Foucault and Stephen Toulmin. Instead of limiting the discussion to specific paradigms, topics, subjects or content, it focuses on the characteristics, rules and goals of IS as an academic field. A disciplinary lens is used to frame what it means to be a field, discipline and science, and in the process the study uncovers four doxas that have shaped the development of the IS field: (1) the IS research community sees no difference between fields, disciplines or sciences; (2) IT changes so rapidly, and thus the IS field needs to change to remain relevant; (3) disciplines are by definition rigid, inflexible and uni-theoretical and (4) because IS is pluralistic, IS should not become a discipline. This study's analyses of the IS field's discursive formation and intellectual ideals offer novel perspectives that allow for the integration of the IS field's plurality and diversity. To transform the IS field from its multimodal existence into a vibrant, diverse, academically and socially relevant and influential discipline, the study proposes actionable strategies that include (1) agreeing on the intellectual ideals for IS, (2) focusing on conceptual formation, (3) focusing on theory construction, (4) erecting genealogical boundaries and (5) fostering the development of professional bodies.     

Intelligent agents and contracts: Is a conceptual rethink imperative?

The emergence of intelligent software agents that operate autonomously with little or no human intervention has generated many doctrinal questions at a conceptual level and has challenged the traditional rules of contract especially those relating to the intention as an essential requirement of any contract conclusion. In this paper, we will try to explore some of these challenges, and shed light on the conflict between the traditional contract theory and the transactional practice in the case of using intelligent software agents. We will try further to examine how intelligent software agents differ from other software applications, and consider then how such differences are legally relevant. This paper, however, is not intended to provide the final answer to all questions and challenges in this regard, but to identify the main components, and provide perspectives on how to deal with such issue.

An Online Algorithm for a Problem in Scheduling with?Set-ups?and Release Times

We address the problem of sequential single machine scheduling of jobs with release times, where jobs are classified into types, and the machine must be properly configured to handle jobs of a given type. The objective is to minimize the maximum flow time (time from release until completion) of any job. We consider this problem under the assumptions of sequence independent set-up times and item availability with the objective of minimizing the maximum flow time. We present an online algorithm that is O(1)-competitive, that is, always gets within a constant factor of optimal. We also show that exact offline optimization of maximum flow time is NP-hard.     

Windows 2000: a threat to Internet diversity and open standards?

Microsoft conceived Windows 2000 as the operating system for the Internet. This gave many people pause for thought, what with Microsoft's less-than-sterling reputation regarding cohabitation of competitors' software on their operating system. The Internet is based on open standards and interworking between different systems from different suppliers. If Windows 2000 compromises the Internet's integrity and ubiquity-two of its primary hallmarks-will it really be the best operating system to base your Internet services on? Some of the new additions to Windows 2000 show that, although Microsoft pays lip-service to the Internet's sacred tenets of openness and support for standards, it has actually (and sometimes only subtly) removed or subverted these tenets. The Windows 2000 changes appear to subtly exclude technologies from other vendors and make interworking more difficult     

Simulation as a Tool for Optimizing Automated Laboratory Equipment and Processes?

In the design of complex automated manufacturing equipment simulation technology has increasingly developed into an essential planning tool which is highly used in the field of semiconductor industry. In the field of laboratory technology a similar trend towards automated systems or automated sequencing of systems can be found. This results in the question if the use of simulation can help detecting optimization potentials in the design of laboratory equipment as well as in laboratory processes. By means of a case study out of the field of clean production the elaborated results help to show the benefits of simulation as a planning tool.With the help of simulation a material flow- and throughput optimized equipment design and therefore required equipment control strategies were ascertained in several iterative runs. The system installation, being in its development stage, was represented realistically in a detailed simulation model. The performance of the system in operation was visualized and then analyzed. Thus, bottlenecks could be localized easily and the equipment design and dimensioning could be reviewed.With the selective simulative examination of different optimization approaches the equipment manufacturer was provided with important data for economical- and investment decisions. The use of simulation technology provides a high planning reliability and helps to avoid planning mistakes already in the stage of system development.This advantages could also be used in future developments in the field of laboratory automation.     

Can a short nap and bright light function as implicit learning and visual search enhancers?

The present study examined effects of a short nap (20 min) and/or bright light (2000 lux) on visual search and implicit learning in a contextual cueing task. Fifteen participants performed a contextual cueing task twice a day (1200–1330 h and 1430–1600 h) and scored subjective sleepiness before and after a short afternoon nap or a break period. Participants served a total of four experimental conditions (control, short nap, bright light and short nap with bright light). During the second task, bright light treatment (BLT) was applied in the two of the four conditions. Participants performed both tasks in a dimly lit environment except during the light treatment. Results showed that a short nap reduced subjective sleepiness and improved visual search time, but it did not affect implicit learning. Bright light reduced subjective sleepiness. A short nap in the afternoon could be a countermeasure against sleepiness and an enhancer for visual search.

Practitioner Summary: The study examined effects of a short afternoon nap (20 min) and/or bright light (2000 lux) on visual search and implicit learning. A short nap is a powerful countermeasure against sleepiness compared to bright light exposure in the afternoon.     

Intelligent agents and liability: is it a doctrinal problem or merely a problem of explanation?

The question of liability in the case of using intelligent agents is far from simple, and cannot sufficiently be answered by deeming the human user as being automatically responsible for all actions and mistakes of his agent. Therefore, this paper is specifically concerned with the significant difficulties which might arise in this regard especially if the technology behind software agents evolves, or is commonly used on a larger scale. Furthermore, this paper contemplates whether or not it is possible to share the responsibility with these agents and what are the main objections surrounding the assumption of considering such agents as responsible entities. This paper, however, is not intended to provide the final answer to all questions and challenges in this regard, but to identify the main components, and provide some perspectives on how to deal with such issue.     

How do we measure and improve the quality of a hierarchical ontology?

Hierarchical ontologies enable organising information in a human-machine understandable form, but constructing them for reuse and maintainability remains difficult. Often supporting tools available lack formal methodological underpinning and their developers are not supported by any concomitant metrics. The paper presents a formal underpinning to provide quality metrics of a taxonomy hierarchical ontology and proposes a methodology for semi-automatic building of maintainable taxonomies. Users provide terms to be used to describe different ontological elements as well as their attributes and their ranges of values. The methodology uses the formalised metrics to assess the quality of the users input and proposes changes according to given quality constraints. The paper illustrates the metrics and the methodology in constructing and repairing two medium size well-known taxonomies.     

The relation between OSH and ergonomics: a 'mother-daughter' or 'sister-sister' relation?

Despite the growing importance of ergonomics and ergonomists worldwide, the position of ergonomics in companies is often not clear. Today, in many countries ergonomics is mainly (or even only) associated with the reduction of risks of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). Therefore, many companies consider ergonomics a part of occupational safety and health (OSH) that focuses mainly on the reduction of risks. This paper aims to analyse the links between occupational ergonomics and OSH. The position of occupational ergonomics in legislation, the presence of ergonomics in OSH networks, and the position of ergonomics in OSH company services are discussed. In addition, the added value of ergonomics to companies is examined. From these discussions, it becomes clear that ergonomics should be part of the OSH policy of companies, and should be integrated into today's company strategies to improve labour conditions. If ergonomics is considered as a discipline in its own right, a clear legislative context should be developed that goes beyond voluntary guidelines and the goodwill of employers, and necessitates the presence of ergonomics professionals in companies.     

You want a piece of me? Paying your dues and getting your due in a distributed world

The paper offers a critical reflection, inspired by the insights of integrational linguistics, on the conception of thinking and action within the distributed cognition approach of Edwin Hutchins. Counterposing a fictional account of a mutiny at sea to Hutchins’ observational study of navigation on board the Palau, the paper argues that the ethical fabric of communication and action with its ‘first person’ perspective must not be overlooked in our haste to appeal to ‘culture’ as an alternative to the internalist, computer metaphor of thinking. The paper accepts Hutchins’ own critique of the ‘meaning in the message’ illusion but goes beyond this critique to argue for a view of communication, thinking and action as creative, ethically charged and morally accountable acts of engagement.     

Buying a New Car?

You read it here first, folks: a car buying processthat first counsels its readers not to buy a car! Why?Because, no matter what mystical incantations a carsalesperson may whisper in your ear, cars are notinvestments. Certainly, there are a few exceptions to that rule,but in general. vehicles are what the accountantsamong us call depreciating assets. Think of a vehiclepurchase in comparison with the other big-ticketpurchases we make during our lifetimes. Buying a     

Has Fortran a future?

For over 25 years FORTRAN has dominated all other programming languages in the field of scientific and engineering computation. Although much denigrated by computer-science purists, it has consistently shown itself to be attractive to scientific users because its basic simplicitly and power of expression appeal to non-specialists. Can this situation continue? Will the introduction of FORTRAN 77 lead to an upsurge in the use of the language, providing it with momentum sufficient to carry it through to the end of the decade? Shall we witness a conflict between FORTRAN 8x and ADA?This lecture will take stock of the present status of FORTRAN and describe its likely development, before going on to speculate on possible trends until the turn of the century.     

Is a Semantic Web Agent a Knowledge-Savvy Agent?

The issue of knowledge sharing has permeated the field of distributed AI and, in particular, its successor, multiagent systems. Through the years, many research and engineering efforts have tackled the problem of encoding and sharing knowledge without the need for a single, centralized knowledge base. The proposed solutions to this problem are based, more or less, on stringent assumptions, such as static, shared ontological models, or the existence of a common blackboard (or "Linda Space") environment where entities can share knowledge. However, the uptake of the World Wide Web and the emergence of modern computing paradigms, such as distributed, open systems, have highlighted the importance of sharing distributed and heterogeneous knowledge on a larger scale-possibly on the scale of the Internet.