Competence via the web

With the rapid growth and technical development of the internet, the interest in distributing education over the web has increased greatly during recent years. Educational systems and industry see the possibilities for more flexible and cost efficient solutions. At the same time, the internet industry is sensing a new market. The challenge lies in producing competence for the individual student through good teaching, while at the same time using technical solutions to create added value via the net. This article gives a short background to the new possibilities in distributed education over the internet, and discusses various factors for success in competence development efforts. The discussion focuses on the different aspects of educational design of web-based educational material.     

Enhancement of math content accessibility in EPUB3 educational publications

ABSTRACT

The article presents methods of increasing mathematical content accessibility in educational e-publications using multimodal user interfaces (UI). Educational mathematical publications such as exercise notebooks and worksheets, require student's interactivity in problem solving. EPUB3, an open format for e-publications, has the possibilities of creating multimedia, interactive mathematics content. Among the programs that support EPUB3, only a few support the MathML format presenting formulas, and provides limited possibilities for user interactivity, insufficient in mathematical education. Our solutions in the PlatMat system increase the interactive accessibility of EPUB3 mathematical content for students with visual impairment. The solutions are based on concurrent multimodal alternative interfaces for exploring math content in EPUB3 publications. Students can read and modify formulas choosing preferred UI and device. Similarly, in different modes (visual, acoustic and touch) students can recognise function graphs and shapes of geometrical figures saved in scalable vector graphics (SVG) format. Teachers can create universal mathematical documents for all students. The system supports inclusive maths education and is designed according to the principles of universal design for learning (UDL). The article describes the system’s usefulness in relation to research conducted among maths teachers. Positive results have become the basis for the further development of the system.     

简析基于网络的学生作业管理系统设计

在网络技术日益成熟的背景下,我国教育事业从中受益匪浅,正朝着信息化的方向不断迈进.在教育教学工作中,学生作业管理是一项十分重要的工作,但是,这方面的软件开发却远远落后于实际需要,有鉴于此,本文将针对基于网络的学生作业管理系统设计展开探讨,旨在弥补这方面的不足,从而促进教育教学事业的更好发展.     

Dubbo服务框架技术在学习系统开发中的应用与实践

随着软件技术和网络的飞速发展,互联网技术越来越多地被应用到了教育领域,互联网教育以其日益丰富的形式和内容被越来越多的人接受和采纳.在线学习已经成为一种新型而且有效的学习方式.在线学习以其独有的时空无关性、及时性、可重复性等特点,使得每一个互联网用户都可以进行在线学习.同时也对在线学习系统提出了一项挑战——如何使学习系统在高并发访问下稳定运行?本文主要介绍以Dubbo分布式架构为后台服务的学习系统的设计与实现.该系统通过教育游戏吸引儿童注意力,提高学习积极性,引导儿童通过网络进行有效的学习;通过Dubbo分布式集群架构,缓解高并发访问时服务器的压力.     

Creativity and evolution: a metadesign perspective

Abstract

In a world that is not predictable, improvisation and evolution are more than a luxury: they are a necessity. The challenge of design is not a matter of getting rid of the emergent, but rather of making it an opportunity for more creative and more sustainable solutions. User-centered and participatory design approaches have focused primarily on activities taking place at design time. These approaches have not given enough emphasis and they have provided few mechanisms to support systems as living entities that can evolve over time. Metadesign is a unique design approach concerned with opening up solution spaces rather than complete solutions (hence the prefix meta-), and aimed at creating social and technical infrastructures in which new forms of collaborative design can take place. This approach extends the traditional notion of design beyond the original development of a system to include co-adaptive processes between users and systems that enable the users to act as designers in personally meaningful activities and be creative.     

Harmonizing professional standards in ergonomics while recognizing diversity

Abstract

High quality performance is an aspiration of all professions and processes of quality assurance are normally carefully defined. These include the design of educational programmes to ensure that graduates achieve a high standard of performance and are able to compete in the world market and meet consumers' needs; a method of evaluating the relevance and standard of that education; and a means of ensuring continuing competence in practice. The diversity of paths taken to become an ergonomist offers a challenge to ergonomics societies to define effective and equitable approaches to quality assurance. This paper advocates the definition of core ergonomics competencies as a linking resource for educational planning, accreditation processes and certification procedures. Such an approach could provide the basis for harmonization in the recognition of ergonomists with varying educational backgrounds, expertise and experience.     

Characteristics of software ecosystems for Federated Embedded Systems: A case study

ContextTraditionally, Embedded Systems (ES) are tightly linked to physical products, and closed both for communication to the surrounding world and to additions or modifications by third parties. New technical solutions are however emerging that allow addition of plug-in software, as well as external communication for both software installation and data exchange. These mechanisms in combination will allow for the construction of Federated Embedded Systems (FES). Expected benefits include the possibility of third-party actors developing add-on functionality; a shorter time to market for new functions; and the ability to upgrade existing products in the field. This will however require not only new technical solutions, but also a transformation of the software ecosystems for ES.ObjectiveThis paper aims at providing an initial characterization of the mechanisms that need to be present to make a FES ecosystem successful. This includes identification of the actors, the possible business models, the effects on product development processes, methods and tools, as well as on the product architecture.MethodThe research was carried out as an explorative case study based on interviews with 15 senior staff members at 9 companies related to ES that represent different roles in a future ecosystem for FES. The interview data was analyzed and the findings were mapped according to the Business Model Canvas (BMC).ResultsThe findings from the study describe the main characteristics of a FES ecosystem, and identify the challenges for future research and practice.ConclusionsThe case study indicates that new actors exist in the FES ecosystem compared to a traditional supply chain, and that their roles and relations are redefined. The business models include new revenue streams and services, but also create the need for trade-offs between, e.g., openness and dependability in the architecture, as well as new ways of working.     

Nursing staff's communication modes in patient transfer before and after an educational intervention

The objective was to explore and describe nursing staff's body awareness and communication in patient transfers and evaluate any changes made after an educational intervention to promote staff competence in guiding patients to move independently. In total, 63 nursing staff from two hospitals wrote weekly notes before and after the intervention. The topics were: A) reflect on a transfer during the last week that you consider was good and one that was poor; B) reflect on how your body felt during a good and a poor transfer. The notes were analysed with content analysis. The results showed five different communication modes connected with nursing staff's physical and verbal communication. These communication modes changed after 1 year to a more verbal communication, focusing on the patient's mobility. The use of instructions indicated a new or different understanding of patient transfer, which may contribute to a development of nursing staff's competence.

Statement of Relevance: The present findings indicate that patient transfer consists of communication. Therefore, verbal and bodily communication can have an integral part of training in patient transfer; furthermore, the educational design of such programmes is important to reach the goal of developing new understanding and enhancing nursing staff's competence in patient transfer.     

Design and evaluation of a dynamic job search website for non-literate users of Pakistan

ABSTRACT

Among the many available online job searching solutions, very limited are proposed for non-literate users. The available solutions have tested the possibilities using static web pages which are not applicable in the real world for non-literate users because of the dynamism of the real world. In this research, a dynamic job search solution is presented for non-literate users of Pakistan. User Interface (UI) requirements were identified through an extensive literature review. The culturally specific content in the form of hand-drawn sketches, voice feedback, semi-illustrations was identified and incorporated in the job seekers (non-literate) module. The same module was evaluated by the non-literate and semi-literate participants in a field study as per the usability specification defined by ISO-9241-11. The results have shown that non-literate users could search for a job efficiently in the minimum task completion time as compared to the time reported in the previous literature. They were satisfied and motivated to use the website again to search for jobs. The results indicate a potential for designing ICT-based solutions to provide services to the non-literate users in developing countries.     

Accelerated Problem Solving Sessions in University Laboratory Settings

Current engineering students receive an extensive education in the technical principles associated with the design and manufacturing of products and services. However, collaboration, communication and innovative thinking are not often stressed in traditional engineering curriculums. This study proposes a new interdisciplinary, group-based educational approach to build additional competence for accelerated problem solving and innovative thinking in the future generation of engineers and support the United States’ transition towards a knowledge economy.     

Problems and their mitigation in system and software architecting

ContextToday, software and embedded systems act as enablers for developing new functionality in traditional industries such as the automotive, process automation, and manufacturing automation domains. This differs from 25–30 years ago when these systems where based on electronics and electro-mechanical solutions. The architecture of the embedded system and of the software is important to ensure the qualities of these applications. However, the effort of designing and evolving the architecture is in practice often neglected during system development, whilst development efforts are centered on implementing new functionality.ObjectiveWe present problems and success factors that are central to the architectural development of software intensive systems in the domain of automotive and automation products as judged by practitioners.MethodThe method consisted of three steps. First, we used semi-structured interviews to collect data in an exploratory manner. As a second step, a survey based on problems extracted from the interview data was used to investigate the occurrence of these problems at a wider range of organizations. In order to identify and suggest how to mitigate the problems that were considered important, we finally performed root cause analysis workshops, and from these a number of success factors were elicited.ResultsA total of 21 problems have been identified based on the interview data, and these are related to the technical, organizational, project, and agreement processes. Based on the survey results, the following four problems were selected for a root cause analysis: (1) there is a lack of process for architecture development, (2) there is a lack of method or model to evaluate the business value when choosing the architecture, (3) there is a lack of clear long-term architectural strategy, and (4) processes and methods are less valued than knowledge and competence of individuals.ConclusionIn conclusion, the following identified success factors are crucial components to be successful in developing software intensive systems: (1) define an architectural strategy, (2) implement a process for architectural work, (3) ensure authority for architects, (4) clarify the business impact of the architecture, and (5) optimize on the project portfolio level instead of optimizing each project.     

An information network project in Libyan industry: A critical review

Abstract

The Secretariat for Strategic Industry in Libya, responsible for the development of the fast‐growing non‐oil industry sector, has launched an ambitious program to introduce personal computer‐based information networks throughout the industry. The goals are twofold. First, to improve the possibilities of monitoring industry performance from the Secretariat's level; and second, to improve productivity in office work so that office personnel can be released and transferred to production in industry. The purpose of the paper is to discuss some of the opportunities and difficulties encountered in the first implementation phase of this project. The author has been involved in the project as an advisor to the Secretariat.     

POSSIBILITY THEORY II: CONDITIONAL POSSIBILITY

Abstract

It is shown that the nolion of conditional possibility can be consistently iniroduced in possibility theory, in very much the same way as conditional expectations and probabilities are defined in the measure- and integral-theoretic treatment of probability theory. I write down possibilistic integral equations which are formal counterparts of the integral equations used to define conditional expectations and probabilities, and use their solutions to define conditional possibilities. In all, three types of conditional possibilities, with special cases, are introduced and studied. I explain why, like conditional expectations, conditional possibilities are not uniquely defined, but can only be determined up to almost everywhere equality, and I assess the consequences of this nondeterminacy. I also show that this approach solves a number of consistency problems, extant in Ihe literature.     

Information technology levels,competence development and performance in Swedish small business enterprises

This paper analyses relations between leaders' and co-workers' competence, IT-levels and organizational aspects within ten small business enterprises in Sweden. Data from questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were used for statistical data analyses organized in four steps. A result is that IT-levels and change competence go together with higher levels of educational investment, and that companies with high levels on these aspects also tend to have a proneness for joining change programs. Another finding is that the higher the rate of IT in a company, the lower the incidence of musculoskeletal problems among employees. The study shows that an increase in leader change competence, a flat organization, a higher leader than co-worker change competence, and an ongoing program contribute significantly to profit per capita at the company level. The analysis model seems to give a good integration of the results, but underlying mechanisms must be dealt with in future research.     

Thinking Beyond Security

Abstract

A competitive business views information technology (IT) as an integral part of itself in achieving the business mission. On the other hand, IT cannot stand up to the service level agreement (SLA) with the business units if it views solutions in an ad hoc way [1]. In a time where the IT as a business enabler and enhancer is the target of unanticipated attacks from various agents, the entity at risk is the business itself and the trust the business has developed so far in the IT [2]. Government initiatives, such as the Critical Infrastructure Protection Act [3], include even the assets owned by private industry, such as those of major banking and energy sectors, as a part of the national asset. They mandate that companies take initiatives to protect and make information resources available, despite possibilities of threats [4].     

Analyzing an automotive testing process with evidence-based software engineering

ContextEvidence-based software engineering (EBSE) provides a process for solving practical problems based on a rigorous research approach. The primary focus so far was on mapping and aggregating evidence through systematic reviews.ObjectivesWe extend existing work on evidence-based software engineering by using the EBSE process in an industrial case to help an organization to improve its automotive testing process. With this we contribute in (1) providing experiences on using evidence based processes to analyze a real world automotive test process and (2) provide evidence of challenges and related solutions for automotive software testing processes.MethodsIn this study we perform an in-depth investigation of an automotive test process using an extended EBSE process including case study research (gain an understanding of practical questions to define a research scope), systematic literature review (identify solutions through systematic literature), and value stream mapping (map out an improved automotive test process based on the current situation and improvement suggestions identified). These are followed by reflections on the EBSE process used.ResultsIn the first step of the EBSE process we identified 10 challenge areas with a total of 26 individual challenges. For 15 out of those 26 challenges our domain specific systematic literature review identified solutions. Based on the input from the challenges and the solutions, we created a value stream map of the current and future process.ConclusionsOverall, we found that the evidence-based process as presented in this study helps in technology transfer of research results to industry, but at the same time some challenges lie ahead (e.g. scoping systematic reviews to focus more on concrete industry problems, and understanding strategies of conducting EBSE with respect to effort and quality of the evidence).     

云计算技术在教育领域的应用探析

云计算技术在教育领域中的运用,能够使科技教育更加快速有效的进行。但是云计算技术是一项新型的计算模型,它在计算方面运用了多方面互联网计算审核技术,将这样强大的技术进行教育运用,存在着一定的创新性和技术性,在创新运用和灵活运用的同时,我们更要注意的它的各项细节特征的变化。     

The financial aspect of managing technical debt: A systematic literature review

ContextTechnical debt is a software engineering metaphor, referring to the eventual financial consequences of trade-offs between shrinking product time to market and poorly specifying, or implementing a software product, throughout all development phases. Based on its inter-disciplinary nature, i.e. software engineering and economics, research on managing technical debt should be balanced between software engineering and economic theories.ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to analyze research efforts on technical debt, by focusing on their financial aspect. Specifically, the analysis is carried out with respect to: (a) how financial aspects are defined in the context of technical debt and (b) how they relate to the underlying software engineering concepts.MethodIn order to achieve the abovementioned goals, we employed a standard method for SLRs and applied it on studies retrieved from seven general-scope digital libraries. In total we selected 69 studies relevant to the financial aspect of technical debt.ResultsThe most common financial terms that are used in technical debt research are principal and interest, whereas the financial approaches that have been more frequently applied for managing technical debt are real options, portfolio management, cost/benefit analysis and value-based analysis. However, the application of such approaches lacks consistency, i.e., the same approach is differently applied in different studies, and in some cases lacks a clear mapping between financial and software engineering concepts.ConclusionThe results are expected to prove beneficial for the communication between technical managers and project managers, in the sense that they will provide a common vocabulary, and will help in setting up quality-related goals, during software development. To achieve this we introduce: (a) a glossary of terms and (b) a classification scheme for financial approaches used for managing technical debt. Based on these, we have been able to underline interesting implications for researchers and practitioners.     

Contributions and challenges in the struggle to end poverty: the case of Kiva

ABSTRACT

This study discusses the American microfinance nonprofit organization, Kiva Microfunds, its organizational development and the impact of its approach to microfinance on the microfinance industry generally. The paper sees Kiva’s particular contribution to the field of microfinance as drawing on internet technologies to bring microfinance to a global user base. As it grew, it maintained is leadership in the niche it created, but it also faces many challenges. We conduct a SWOT-inspired analysis in which we specifically focus on what have been some of the key factors that have led to Kiva’s success and what may be areas of vulnerability that threaten its position of strength, particularly the high interest rates it charges, and the emergence of competitors that may be more effective than Kiva in their shared mission to alleviate poverty. We briefly examine some literature that challenges the received view on the overall value of microfinance and consider some implications for Kiva and conclude by noting that in the current market, Kiva will need to draw on its corporate history of innovation if it hopes to maintain its position of leadership in the face of new organizations like Acumen Fund and One Acre Fund that take different routes to the same goal of reducing poverty.