“Those found responsible have been sacked”: some observations on the usefulness of error

Erik Hollnagel’s body of work in the past three decades has molded much of the current research approach to system safety, particularly notions of “error”. Hollnagel regards “error” as a dead-end and avoids using the term. This position is consistent with Rasmussen’s claim that there is no scientifically stable category of human performance that can be described as “error”. While this systems view is undoubtedly correct, “error” persists. Organizations, especially formal business, political, and regulatory structures, use “error” as if it were a stable category of human performance. They apply the term to performances associated with undesired outcomes, tabulate occurrences of “error”, and justify control and sanctions through “error”. Although a compelling argument can be made for Hollnagel’s view, it is clear that notions of “error” are socially and organizationally productive. The persistence of “error” in management and regulatory circles reflects its value as a means for social control.     

In Praise of Measurement

The role of measurement in quantum computation is examined in the light of John Bell’s critique of the how the term “measurement” is used in quantum mechanics. I argue that within the field of quantum computer science the concept of measurement is precisely defined, unproblematic, and forms the foundation of the entire subject.     

The Human Communication Space: Towards I-centric Communications

In the last few years, a variety of concepts for service integration and corresponding systems have been developed. On the one hand, they aim for the interworking and integration of classical telecommunications and data communications services. On the other, they are focusing on universal service access from a variety of end-user systems. Many of the technical problems, resulting from the service integration, and service personalisation have been solved during the last years. However, all these systems are driven by the concept of providing several technologies to users by keeping the peculiarity of each service.  Looking at humans’ communication behaviour and their communication space, it is obvious that human beings interact habitually in a set of contexts with their environment. The individual information preferences and needs, persons to interact with, and the set of devices controlled by each individual define their personal communication space. Following this view, a new approach is to build communication systems not on the basis of specific technologies, but on the analysis of the individual communication spaces. The result is a communication system adapted to the demands of each individual (I-centric). The communication system will act on behalf of users’ demands, reflecting recent actions to enable profiling and self-adaptation to contexts and situations.  In this paper, we introduce I-centric Communications, an approach to design communication systems that adapt themselves to the individual communication space and individual environment and situation. In this context “I” means I, or individual, “Centric” means adaptable to I requirements and a certain user environment.     

The concept and theory of material flow

This paper, for the first time, presents seven main theories under the Material Flow (MF) Theory, namely “Material flow theory”, “Comprehensive MF theory”, “MF element theory”, “MF nature theory”, “MF science and technology theory”, “MF engineering theory” and “MF industry theory”. The paper points out that the MF is the collective term for the flow of macroscopic goods and that of microcosmic substances. The material flow is not only an economic phenomenon, but also social and natural ones. There is not only economic MF, but also social and natural ones. The economic MF is the core for the MF, and the social and natural MF is the basis for the MF; no matter whether in nature, society or economic circles, the MF comprises of five basic elements: Material, Flow, Owner, Region and Time, among which Material is the core one; the MF is divided into intrinsic and extrinsic ones by nature. Its intrinsic natures include Material, Flow, Owner, Region and Time; its extrinsic natures include Party, Service, Management, Technology and Economy. The MF science and technology is a scientific and technological field with very strong comprehensibility, dealing with subjects including natural science, engineering technology and science, and human and social studies; the MF engineering is a syntheses comprising of six MF elements or six MF forces. The MF’s hard science and technology and its soft science and technology can be applied to national economy in the most efficient way, with the fundamental purpose to benefit the mankind; the MF is not only an industry, but also a backbone industry, and even a backbone industry group. The paper provides some insights into future enterprise integration in a global supply chain environment.

The Method of Levels of Abstraction

The use of “levels of abstraction” in philosophical analysis (levelism) has recently come under attack. In this paper, I argue that a refined version of epistemological levelism should be retained as a fundamental method, called the method of levels of abstraction. After a brief introduction, in section “Some Definitions and Preliminary Examples” the nature and applicability of the epistemological method of levels of abstraction is clarified. In section “A Classic Application of the Method of Abstraction”, the philosophical fruitfulness of the new method is shown by using Kant’s classic discussion of the “antinomies of pure reason” as an example. In section “The Philosophy of the Method of Abstraction”, the method is further specified and supported by distinguishing it from three other forms of “levelism”: (i) levels of organisation; (ii) levels of explanation and (iii) conceptual schemes. In that context, the problems of relativism and antirealism are also briefly addressed. The conclusion discusses some of the work that lies ahead, two potential limitations of the method and some results that have already been obtained by applying the method to some long-standing philosophical problems.

Information technologies and intuitive expertise: a method for implementing complex organizational change among New York City Transit Authority’s Bus Maintainers

This paper describes an attempt to implement a complex information technology system with the New York City Transit Authority’s (NYCTA) Bus Maintainers intended to help better track and coordinate bus maintenance schedules. IT implementation is notorious for high failure rates among so-called “low level” workers. We believe that many IT implementation efforts make erroneous assumptions about front line worker’s expertise, which creates tension between the IT implementation effort and the “cultures of practice” among the front line workers. We designed an aggressive “learning intervention” to address this issue and called “Operational Simulation”. Rather than requiring the expected 12 months for implementation, the hourly staff reached independence with the new system in 2 weeks and line supervisors (who do more) managed in 6 weeks. Additionally, the NYCTA shifted from a reactive to a proactive maintenance approach, reduced cycle times, and increased the “mean distance between failure”, resulting in a estimated $40 million cost savings. Implications for cognition, expertise, and training are discussed.     

Rudolph M. Schindler—Space Reference Frame,Modular Coordination and the “Row”

While Rudolph Schindler’s “space reference frame” is becoming better known, its relationship to the “row” has only been recently investigated. The theory of the “row” counters traditional proportional notions, many of which are derived from the principle of geometric similitude a principle which is mostly represented in architectural drawings by regulating lines and triangulation.     

Minor houses/minor architecture

Deleuze and Guattari develop a notion of “minor literature” in their short book on Kafka, and the opposition major/minor has been used with varying degrees of success by critics working in a range of disciplines including architectural theory. Teasing out the potentially subversive implications of the major/minor opposition requires reading it in relation to other binarisms developed by Deleuze and Guattari in those same years, e.g., state/nomadic science, striated/smooth space, optic/haptic, as well as Guattari’s useful concept “machinic heterogenesis.” Then, one ends up with a minor architecture concerned with partially subversive practices rather than with structure per se. A building’s minor status is figured through its deployment in and production of a space that is a technological, social and political pattern as well as a line of flight. This paper reads minor architecture by examining the minor house built by Henry David Thoreau at Walden Pond and those currently being assembled by the Mad Housers in Atlanta, Georgia.     

Internet Network Resource Information Model

The foundation of any network management systems is a database that contains information about the network resources relevant to the management tasks.A network information model is an abstraction of network resources,including both managed resources and managing resources,In the SNMP-based management framework,management information is defined almost exclusively from a “Device“ viewpoint,namely managing a network is equivalent to managing a collection of individual nodes.Aiming at making use of recent advances in distributed computing and in object-oriented analysis and design,the Internet management architecture can also be based on the Open Distributed Processing Reference Model(RM-ODP).The purpose of this article is to provide an Internet Network Resource Information Model.First,a layered management information architecture will be discussed.Then the Internet Network resource information model is presented.The information model is specified using object-Z.     

Is There a Future for AI Without Representation?

This paper investigates the prospects of Rodney Brooks’ proposal for AI without representation. It turns out that the supposedly characteristic features of “new AI” (embodiment, situatedness, absence of reasoning, and absence of representation) are all present in conventional systems: “New AI” is just like old AI. Brooks proposal boils down to the architectural rejection of central control in intelligent agents—Which, however, turns out to be crucial. Some of more recent cognitive science suggests that we might do well to dispose of the image of intelligent agents as central representation processors. If this paradigm shift is achieved, Brooks’ proposal for cognition without representation appears promising for full-blown intelligent agents—Though not for conscious agents.     

Design-in-play: improving the variability of indoor pervasive games

Treasure is a pervasive game playing in the context of people’s daily living environments. Unlike previous pervasive games that are based on the predefined contents and proprietary devices, Treasure exploits the “design-in-play” concept to enhance the variability of a game in mixed-reality environments. Dynamic and personalized role design and allocation by players is enabled by exploring local smart objects as game props. The variability of the game is also enhanced by several other aspects, such as user-oriented context-aware action setting and playing environment redeployment. The effectiveness of the “design-in-play” concept is validated through a user study, where 15 subjects were recruited to play and author the trial game.     

Generating novel memories by integration of chaotic neural network modules

A principle of integrating neural network modules based on chaotic dynamics was studied on our two-moduled Nozawa model. Chaotic neural networks represent each embedded pattern as a low-dimensional periodic orbit, and the others are shown as high-dimensional chaotic attractors. This is equivalent to W. Freeman’s “I don’t know” and “I know” states. In particular, we noted that the combination of two-way inputs to each neural network module conflicted with embedded Hebbian correspondence. It was found that the interaction between the modules generated a novel “I know” state in addition to the embedded representation. Chaotic neural network modules can autonomously generate novel memories or functions by this interaction. The result suggests a functional integration in neural networks as it ought to be, e.g., feature binding and gestalt. This work was presented, in part, at the Fourth International Symposium on Artificial Life and Robotics, Oita, Japan, January 19–22, 1999     

How “Authentic Intentionality” can be Enabled: a Neurocomputational Hypothesis

According to John Haugeland, the capacity for “authentic intentionality” depends on a commitment to constitutive standards of objectivity. One of the consequences of Haugeland’s view is that a neurocomputational explanation cannot be adequate to understand “authentic intentionality”. This paper gives grounds to resist such a consequence. It provides the beginning of an account of authentic intentionality in terms of neurocomputational enabling conditions. It argues that the standards, which constitute the domain of objects that can be represented, reflect the statistical structure of the environments where brain sensory systems evolved and develop. The objection that I equivocate on what Haugeland means by “commitment to standards” is rebutted by introducing the notion of “florid, self-conscious representing”. Were the hypothesis presented plausible, computational neuroscience would offer a promising framework for a better understanding of the conditions for meaningful representation.     

Is presence a technology issue? Some insights from cognitive sciences

The International Society of Presence Research, defines “presence” (a shortened version of the term “telepresence”) as a “psychological state in which even though part or all of an individual’s current experience is generated by and/or filtered through human-made technology, part or all of the individual’s perception fails to accurately acknowledge the role of the technology in the experience” (ISPR 2000, The concept of presence: explication statement. Accessed 15 Jan 2009). In this article, we will draw on the recent outcomes of cognitive sciences to offer a broader definition of presence, not related to technology only. Specifically, presence is described here as a core neuropsychological phenomenon whose goal is to produce a sense of agency and control: subjects are “present” if they are able to enact in an external world their intentions. This framework suggests that any environment, virtual or real, does not provide undifferentiated information, ready-made objects equal for everyone. It offers different opportunities and produces presence according to its ability in supporting the users and their intentions. The possible consequences of this approach for the development of presence-inducing virtual environments are also discussed.     

Rudolph M. Schindler—Proportion,Scale and the “Row”

Jin-Ho Park interprets Schindler’s “reference frames in space” as set forth in his 1916 lecture note on mathematics, proportion, and architecture, in the context of Robinson’s1898–99 articles in the Architectural Record. Schindler’s unpublished, handwritten notes provide a source for his concern for “rhythmic” dimensioning in architecture. He uses a system in which rectangular dimensions are arranged in “rows.” Architectural examples of Schindler’s Shampay, Braxton-Shore and How Houses illustrate the principles.     

Seamless Integration: Standardisation across Multiple Local Settings

The pressure towards tighter or “seamless” integration of health information systems is a recurring issue with both practical and analytical relevance. It taps into a discourse in the IS literature in general and organisation and management science in particular. Unfortunately, the prevailing perception of integration in the IS literature is as a predominantly technical issue. The CSCW literature, however, is attentive to the socio-technical aspects of integration. Building on this – but supplemented with recent elaborations in science studies – we aim at exploring the unintended consequences of information systems integration. A user-led perspective implies emphasising the tailoring to local needs based on in-depth studies of the micro practices. We argue, however, that the condition for such an approach is radically undermined by politically motivated, regional changes towards integration with implicated standardisation. Enforcing order in the form of standards across multiple local settings, seemingly a prerequisite for tight integration, simultaneously produces disorder or additional work in other locations for other users. Empirically, our study is based on a large, ongoing integration effort at the University hospital of Northern Norway, specifically studying work practices and perceptions across multiple laboratories.     

Extended optimality in topology design

Most existing studies of 2D problems in structural topology optimization are based on a given (limit on the) volume fraction or some equivalent formulation. The present note looks at simultaneous optimization with respect to both topology and volume fraction, termed here “extended optimality”. It is shown that the optimal volume fraction in such problems — in extreme cases — may be unity or may also tend to zero. The proposed concept is used for explaining certain “quasi-2D” solutions and an extension to 3D systems is also suggested. Finally, the relevance of Voigt’s bound to extended optimality is discussed.     

Inter-organizational networks for knowledge sharing and trading

Although companies are increasingly developing complex networks of connections with their partners and customers and shifting their focus towards expanding the knowledge management concept externally, research addressing the management of knowledge across organizational borders is rather sparse. Our aim in the present paper is to develop a typology of cross-organizational networks of information and knowledge flows. In order to arrive at such a typology we examine two issues. The first concerns the locus of control on the processes that enable knowledge flow. The second refers to the tradability of the streams of knowledge that flow among organizational entities. We examine four types of knowledge networks: “knowledge communities”, “knowledge chains”, “knowledge supplies” and “knowledge markets”. For each type of knowledge network, we examine its distinct characteristics, study related examples, consider the associated research challenges and analyze an indicative case.     

Polymorphic intelligence

The aim of this article is to reconsider the idea of human intelligence and machine intelligence as two separate entities. To do so, we defined a new concept that we call polymorphic intelligence.¹ Such a concept comes up as a possible answer to many “false” paradigms and philosophical and conceptual orientations that for decades have pervaded many research fields, such as education, art, literature, psychology, pedagogy, science, technology, and AI. We believe, indeed, that in this exact moment of human history, it becomes necessary to clarify with a strong theoretical paradigm what is the real relationship between machines and humans. Therefore, we propose to abandon the mental scheme by which intelligence is an exclusive prerogative of humans in order to embrace the idea that machines have started to express a real collaborative and/or competitive force, that they are able to produce ideation and inspiration, and to contribute to the wealth of ideas. This work was presented in part at the 12th International Symposium on Artificial Life and Robotics, Oita, Japan, January 25–27, 2007     

E-commerce success criteria: determining which criteria count most

We explore in this paper how performance of e-commerce websites in terms of various criteria influences customers’ intention to shop again in the same website. Our approach is based on an interesting use of statistical regression in the hotel literature that attempted to classify different cues in hotels as critical, satisfier, dissatisfier, etc. We use online ratings for 484 e-commerce websites for this study. Our study shows that “satisfaction with claims” is the single most important criterion valued as critical by online customers. “Comparative prices” and “Refunds/returns” are desirable criteria. “Management accessibility”, “Payment process” and “Privacy experience” are satisfiers while “on-time delivery” is a dissatisfier.