Designing screens for people to use easily

The use of interactive computer systems is expanding rapidly. In many applications users can communicate directly with computer-based systems through an interactive dialogue at a display terminal. However, this direct form of communication has created problems. Whereas early users of on-line systems were skilled computer professionals, today's users may have little or no training in computer technology. How then does this group communicate effectively with a computer systems?

The answer is that many users communicate only with considerable difficulty. The result is that the effectiveness of many systems is very much less than expected. The reason for this is simple: these systems are not very good at communicating with their users.

The most common communications bridge between a person and a computer system is a display screen. A well-designed screen format can enhance user productivity, eliminate or reduce user input errors, and promote end user satisfaction. A poorly designed screen has the opposite effect: it will decrease human processing speed, provoke user mistakes, and complicate computer operations.

Screen design requires the same care as designing the overall application. It employs the same techniques as planning and preparing good user documents. Screens, like documents, must be easy to understand and easy to use. To achieve these objectives, screen designers must make good choices regarding three ease-of-use parameters: format; screen content and layout; and style. This paper describes how standards may be established for each of these parameters in a proposed application or system. Futher, an interactive tutorial computer program has been developed (using Bricklin's DEMO program) which may be used to illustrate the application of these standards.     

The changing data processing environment in Saudi Arabia

The rapid growth in microcomputer sales has affected data processing in many ways and in many countries. In order to study the effects of this growth in a Third World environment, a survey of 200 organizations was conducted. Three major user segments were identified: non-users, microcomputer users, and mainframe users. It was found that during the period 1982–1984 an important change occurred, in that the number of organizations using microcomputers surpassed those using mainframe computers. Companies using microcomputers were found to be smaller, younger, and more likely to be in the trade/service sector. The majority of companies in this user segment lacked a formal data processing department. They generally did not employ computer professionals and depended on ready-made rather than in-house development of software. There were no differences in the overall portfolio of applications of the two user segments, though the number of applications was fewer among micro users. This paper discusses the growing use of microcomputers in the small business sector and the implications of these results for educators, equipment vendors, and researchers.     

An interactive productivity measurement model using spreadsheet software

Previous computerized productivity measurement models to assist firms in computing productivity measures from a set of input data have been constructed using procedural languages, primarily Fortran and Basic. These models have a number of shortcomings which have detracted from their usefulness. First, these models must be modified to adapt them to the organization and data available from a particular firm. Modification is expensive and time consuming since it requires a detailed knowledge of the structure of the model and the language in which it is programmed in addition to a detailed knowledge of the firm. Second, data entry is not only difficult and time consuming but the user has no indication of what is happening between the input of data and the output of the final productivity measure.

This paper describes the development of an interactive multifactor productivity measurement model using Lotus 123. With the spreadsheet software the model can be easily adapted to fit the needs of the firm by the firm's industrial engineer with a only working knowledge of Lotus 123. Changes in data can be made easily by using the features of the spreadsheet software, and the effects of the changes can be seen easily and rapidly on various aspects of the model.     

An interoperable solution for Cloud manufacturing

Cloud manufacturing is a new concept extending and adopting the concept of Cloud computing for manufacturing. The aim is to transform manufacturing businesses to a new paradigm in that manufacturing capabilities and resources are componentized, integrated and optimized globally. This study presents an interoperable manufacturing perspective based on Cloud manufacturing. A literature search has been undertaken regarding Cloud architecture and technologies that can assist Cloud manufacturing. Manufacturing resources and capabilities are discussed in terms of Cloud service. A service-oriented, interoperable Cloud manufacturing system is proposed. Service methodologies are developed to support two types of Cloud users, i.e., customer user and enterprise user, along with standardized data models describing Cloud service and relevant features. Two case studies are undertaken to evaluate the proposed system. Cloud technology brings into manufacturing industry with a number of benefits such as openness, cost-efficiency, resource sharing and production scalability.     

面向服务的知识发现体系结构研究与实现

知识发现服务(Knowledge Discovery Service,KDS)作为一种数据、计算、语义密集型的高层服务应用。用户通常需要具备非常全面的知识才能正确使用．如何实现一个面向最终用户的、智能的、有质量保证的KDS架构面临很多困难．现有的研究提出了利用数据挖掘本体和预测执行时间的方法来帮助用户选择正确并且高质量的KDS．但是数据挖掘本体只是对数据挖掘的方法进行枚举,无法保证服务的质量,而预测执行时间的方法不能体现KDS本身的特点,因而难以获得满意的服务效果．为了更有效地辅助最终用户在面向服务的体系结构(Service Oriented Architecture,SOA)上自助地实现知识发现应用,该文提出了一种新的面向服务的知识发现体系结构——SOA4KD,将用户的知识发现需求分为内容需求和质量需求,并提出了扩展的知识发现任务本体EKDTO。以自然语言的方式进行用户意图获取;在考虑到KDS的服务特性的前提下,充分分析了KDS自身的特点,提出了KDS质量本体KDSQO,采用元学习来进行选择最适合的KDS．相对于目前的体系结构,提出了为最终用户提供高质量知识发现服务的一些新方法和技术,为面向服务的知识发现系统设计与实现提供了一个新的参考模型．     

Effect of the identification of key machines in the cell formation problem of cellular manufacturing systems

Cellular manufacturing as been viewed as an important manufacturing philosophy that has helped both small and medium sized parts manufacturers increase their manufacturing productivity. In the analysis of a cellular manufacturing problem, identifying the key machines representing the manufacturing cells is an important step in the determination of final part-machine clusters. Three different methods have been proposed in this paper for performing this identification, and a more complete model taking into consideration the sequence of operations exhibited by parts have been developed for minimizing total moves. The total movefs contributed by all parts have been evaluated as a weighted sum of both inter- and intracell moves. A heuristic solution algorithm developed for the model has been operationalized by implementing the associated computer program on an IBM PC compatible microcomputer. The sensitivity of each of the three proposed methods with regard to identifying the key machines and their impact on the selection of final part-machine clusters has been analyzed by solving an example problem. The results obtained show that method 2 outperforms the other two (methods 1 and 3) in determining the best part-machine clusters in cellular manufacturing, thus making it a better decision tool to be used by both small and medium sized parts manufacturers in production planning.     

Program greatly improves production cost estimate

During the past few years, IBM San Jose has experienced increasing needs for better ways to model and estimate production costs of products such as magnetic heads, magnetic disks and circuit cards. More precise projections are needed to establish accurate pricing structure, evaluate manufacturing performance and provide an index for evaluating production improvements aimed at reducing costs.

To answer such needs, a unique new process estimating program has been developed and applied successfully. This program represents a major step forward in cost and productivity estimating. It provides data useful in many areas—cost engineering, manufacturing engineering and finance—and is designed to “bridge” to additional systems in the future.     

一种基于QoS的Internet服务管理体系结构

服务定位协议(SLP)是IETF提出的基于IP网络的服务定位标准。而这一标准并没有考虑对QoS的支持。未来的互联网络是一个具有QoS保证的网络。服务发现仅仅是Internet服务管理中的一个方面，发现服务不是最终目的，最终目的是为了使用这一服务。在对SLP体系结构、下一代互联网QoS服务管理及相关技术充分研究的基础上，提出了一种新奇的基于QoS的Internet服务管理体系结构模型。为使在服务表示与发现层支持QoS，对SLP定位协议进行了一些扩充。对服务定位协议扩充后，当用户代理在向服务代理发布请求时，可以在请求消息中绑定QoS对象参数，一旦服务代理接收到这一消息，就可以利用这些QoS参数与域管理器进行协商，协商结果可通过服务代理反馈给用户代理。这样不仅减小了网络开销，而且降低了传统的用户代理与域管理器协商的次数，在服务发现的同时用户代理还可以直接获得该服务的QoS信息。     

The effects of ubiquitous healthcare service on the south Korean Economy: using input–output analysis

Due to the rapid market penetration of smartphones and the development of context-aware ubiquitous healthcare services, the demand for ubiquitous healthcare service—to monitor patients’ longitudinal health data continuously and cope with emergency situations—has rapidly increased. Recent developments have suggested that researchers need to provide policy-makers with accessible and reliable information regarding the role of ubiquitous healthcare services. The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of ubiquitous healthcare services on the South Korean economy, using a static input–output approach. We address topics relating to the input–output model, such as the demand-driven model and inter-linkage effects, and the components inherent in an unconventional input–output model, such as the supply-driven model and the Leontief price model. The results indicate that the ubiquitous healthcare industry as a final primary production sector has strong production-inducing effects, weak price ripple effects, and marginal backward and forward linkage effects. It is also found that the industry is closely related to the electric and electronic device sector and the precision machinery sector. This is largely attributable to the convergence characteristics of industries that use wireless telecommunications, as well as those of the medical and measurement device and medical service sectors.     

Integrating economics into quality control charts

When control of a manufacturing process is needed, the common tool is Statistical Quality control (SQC). In the past, however, economic factors were the results after employing the SQC charts. Design of control charts refers to the specification of the sample size, the sampling frequency and the control limits for the chart. The authors have tested a model that uses economics as an integral part for the design of an X-bar control chart.

Douglas C. Montgomery developed a computer program for the optimal economic design of an X-bar control chart. The program is based on the cost model proposed by A.J. Duncan.

Montgomery's program was modified to select the optimal design parameters from a table of parameter values. Subroutines were developed to enable the user to enter the number of subgroups and the data points for each subgroup. The economically designed control chart is plotted using standard Graphical Kernel System (GKS) subroutines.     

Manufacturing productivity education data control by a general database system

This paper describes a database system which is in use by a National Science Foundation funded education project. The major thrust of the project is to develop and distribute modularized learning units which are concerned with topics in manufacturing productivity. The database, which utilizes the FORTRAN-based GPLAN/DMS³ system, stores and controls the selective input and output of data concerned with manufacturing productivity education. The database logic and structure are described and examples of input and outout are presented.     

Truss influence lines on a time sharing system

A computer program is presented for finding influence lines for plane truss member forces on a time sharing system. The program is interactive; requesting data from the user as needed. The output can consist of either printed influence line ordinales on a printing terminal or plotted influence lines on a graphic terminal.     

A productivity measurement model using a programmable calculator

A comprehensive total factor productivity measurement model has been developed by the American Productivity Center for use in firm-level and plant-level productivity measurement. The computer program for this model is available from the APC in Houston, Texas for use on a main-frame computer system. However, this model has now been programmed for use on a Texas Instruments TI-59 programmable calculator with a PC-100 printer. This makes possible several inexpensive applications of the model, including the use of the model for small business with limited computer availability, use by consultants for developing complex measurement systems, and for training purposes in the application of the model and analysis of results. The article describes total factor productivity, discusses the APC model, and presents the program listing and operating instructions for the programmable calculator version of the model.     

Graphic interactive simulation for the planning of manufacturing systems

With the increasing complexity of modern manufacturing and assembly processes, the number of alternatives to be analyzed during the planning process has also grown. To help planning staff to quickly analyze solution alternatives, different computer aided planning tools have been developed. However, they do have the disadvantage that their capacity for illustration extends only to specific branches of manufacturing systems. Apart from this initial starting position, as described above, this serves as the basis for the development of the simulation program GISA (Graphic Interactive Simulation and Animation) at the Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering (WZL) at the University of Technology, Aachen, Federal Republic of Germany. Using the GISA simulation program, the user can quickly and effectively describe the various facets of manufacturing systems without extensive foreknowledge of EDP technology. In order to assist the operator, the program system GISA operates on the basis of a graphical interactive dialogue between computer and user. The structure of these planning tools is described and illustrated with an example from an industrial application.     

Global Positioning Systems: an analysis of applications,current development and future implementations

The commercial sector is constantly looking for new ways to become more efficient and effective in their business. Researchers are always busy looking for the new technology that will create a boom in the industry. Around for a few years, Global Positioning Systems (GPS) may be the next technology that will push companies into higher productivity. We are seeing these systems become more prevalent with the passing of time. Companies are adopting this technology and merging it with their current infrastructures to improve their efficiency and create better customer service. This technology has the potential to change the way that all companies do business. As more and more companies adopt GPS to create a competitive advantage, it will become a standard for the rest to follow.     

Orient: A computer program for the resolution and rotation of paleocurrent data

A limited number of computer and calculator programs are available now for paleocurrent reorientation. The published listings of reorientation programs however, do not, account for fold plunge. ORIENT is an interactive FORTRAN program which will remove tectonic tilt and plunge from palaeocurrent measurements in deformed areas. The program also contains facilities for resolving palaeocurrent data recorded as two apparent dips. The program will accept data recorded in a variety of conventional forms and has a flexible data input format that may be modified by the user at run time. The corrected data are output onto cards or disk file for further processing. The program is written as a series of modules which allows the subroutines to be used for alternative applications. The output format of the corrected data can be modified to facilitate input to any statistical processing programs currently available.     

Toward a hybrid model for usability resource allocation in industrial software product development

The organizational aspects of user‐centered software development in a financial services company are presented. The financial services industry sector is one of the industrial sectors to embark on the development of computer software as a consumer product. The nature of business in the service sector predisposes it to encounter difficulties in developing software aimed at meeting customer demands. Lack of familiarity and experience with the product design and implementation processes, as well as reliance on usability for acceptance, are major obstacles encountered. Difficulties, insights, and lessons learned regarding organizational ergonomics issues faced by a user‐centered design group are provided, and a hybrid resource distribution model is proposed to guide other service sector companies in their future software development efforts. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Hum Factors Man 17: 245–262, 2007.     

NT服务的创建控制及其在复费率电度表生产过程自动控制系统中的使用

Windows NT是一个非常稳定的操作系统，其服务构架主要有三部分组成：服务控制管理器、服务本身、服务控制程序。本文对服务控制管理器、服务控制程序，以及如何在Windows NT中创建和安装自己的Win32服务进行了描述，并给出了在复费率电度表的生产过程自动控制系统中嵌入自己的服务应用实例。