Confidence intervals for dependent data: Equating non-overlap with statistical significance

We revisit the problem of determining confidence interval widths for the comparison of means. For the independent two-sample (two-sided) case, Goldstein and Healy (1995) draw attention to the fact that comparisons based on 95% error bars are not very effective in assessing the statistical significance of the difference in means and derive the correct confidence interval for such a comparison. We provide an extension to Goldstein and Healy (1995) to account for the correlation structure and unequal variances. We use the results to develop rules of thumb for evaluating differences, in an exploratory manner, like Moses (1987) and Cumming (2009), from the independent case. We illustrate the method for the simple comparison of two means in a real data set, provide R code that may be easily implemented in practice, and discuss the extension of the method to other applied problems.     

Managing as designing: ‘opportunity knocks’ for the IS field?

In response to anxieties about our discipline's decline, this opinion piece ‘looks to the future’, arguing a strong prospectus for the IS field, based on its direct relevance to general management practice. The thesis set out is inspired by the recent upsurge in interest in ‘managing as designing’. Reformulating management as design, I argue that we have a formidable knowledge-base of tools, theories and critique relevant to any manager, not just the MIS-inclined specialist. A case study of yet another failed information system (in U.K. children's services) is presented to show just how uniquely relevant our discipline is, in the workplace of today. Other pertinent issues are explored, such as synergies with the growing vogue for evidence-based management. The paper concludes by considering implications for research, including the need for a less exclusive approach to publishing and dissemination emphasising the need to make our work more accessible to lay practitioners.     

OpenCL: A Parallel Programming Standard for Heterogeneous Computing Systems

We provide an overview of the key architectural features of recent microprocessor designs and describe the programming model and abstractions provided by OpenCL, a new parallel programming standard targeting these architectures.     

Creating change and driving innovation in highly automated and lean organizations: The Temporal Think Tank™ (T3™)

This paper introduces the concept of the temporal think tank™ (T3™), a temporary in-house research center, based on case studies with a highly automated global manufacturer and in various small-sized manufacture (SME's). The T3™ brings individuals from across the organization together in a team setting in which they are charged to look at the future, develop their decision-making skills, and use entrepreneurial thinking to incubate new processes and/or products. After an appropriate time in the temporal think tank™, the individuals are asked to return to their regular positions to implement the best practices and best ideas and doing so spur the organization forward. At intervals, the temporal think tanks™ can be reconvened, or reconstituted with new participants. This approach prepares technology champions for the SME, who can return to the organization with a fresh outlook and renewed energy to keep the enterprise at the peak of efficiency and effectiveness.     

The Changing Face of International Cryptography Policy: Part 16 — Export Control Regulation in the United States

In my September and November contributions, I deviated slightly from my usual theme and examined several of the technical and procedural matters associated with Digital Signature technology. Of course, Digital Signature represents one of the less politically sensitive applications of cryptographic technology, although it is undoubtedly destined to become one of the most pervasive.     

Scientific sketching for collaborative VR visualization design

We present four studies investigating tools and methodologies for artist-scientist-technologist collaboration in designing multivariate, virtual reality (VR) visualizations. Design study 1 identifies the promise of 3D drawing-style interfaces for VR design and also establishes limitations of these tools with respect to precision and support for animation. Design study 2 explores animating artist-created visualization designs with scientific 3D fluid flow data. While results captured an accurate sense of flow that was advantageous as compared to the results of study 1, the potential for visual exploration using the design tools tested was limited. Design study 3 reveals the importance of a new 3D interface that overcomes the precision limitation found in study 1 while remaining accessible to artist collaborators. Drawing upon previous results, design study 4 engages collaborative teams in a design process that begins with traditional paper sketching and moves to animated, interactive, VR prototypes "sketched" by designers in VR using interactive 3D tools. Conclusions from these four studies identify important characteristics of effective artist-accessible VR visualization design tools and lead to a proposed formalized methodology for successful collaborative design that we expect to be useful in guiding future collaborations. We call this proposed methodology Scientific Sketching.     

Some Statistical-Estimation Methods for Stochastic Finite-State Transducers

Formal translations constitute a suitable framework for dealing with many problems in pattern recognition and computational linguistics. The application of formal transducers to these areas requires a stochastic extension for dealing with noisy, distorted patterns with high variability. In this paper, some estimation criteria are proposed and developed for the parameter estimation of regular syntax-directed translation schemata. These criteria are: maximum likelihood estimation, minimum conditional entropy estimation and conditional maximum likelihood estimation. The last two criteria were proposed in order to deal with situations when training data is sparse. These criteria take into account the possibility of ambiguity in the translations: i.e., there can be different output strings for a single input string. In this case, the final goal of the stochastic framework is to find the highest probability translation of a given input string. These criteria were tested on a translation task which has a high degree of ambiguity.     

The relation between color discrimination and color constancy: when is optimal adaptation task dependent?

Color vision supports two distinct visual functions: discrimination and constancy. Discrimination requires that the visual response to distinct objects within a scene be different. Constancy requires that the visual response to any object be the same across scenes. Across changes in scene, adaptation can improve discrimination by optimizing the use of the available response range. Similarly, adaptation can improve constancy by stabilizing the visual response to any fixed object across changes in illumination. Can common mechanisms of adaptation achieve these two goals simultaneously? We develop a theoretical framework for answering this question and present several example calculations. In the examples studied, the answer is largely yes when the change of scene consists of a change in illumination and considerably less so when the change of scene consists of a change in the statistical ensemble of surface reflectances in the environment.