Improving Productivity in Systems Development

Abstract

Marty Nemzow is engaged in a variety of business activities. His company, Network Performance Institute (Miami, FL) provides enterprise network design and improvement consulting services, markets capacity planning and business continuity and network resource management tools to the industry, and develops and markets shrink-wrapped network configuration software tools to big companies and consulting firms. A graduate of Brown University and Harvard Graduate School of Business, Marty also sells books, software and medical products over the Internet and is a columnist for WebServer Online Magazine at http://webserver.cpg.com.     

The one-way quantum computer--a non-network model of quantum computation

A one-way quantum computer (QC _C ) works by performing a sequence of one-qubit measurements on a particular entangled multi-qubit state, the cluster state. No non-local operations are required in the process of computation. Any quantum logic network can be simulated on the QC _C . On the other hand, the network model of quantum computation cannot explain all ways of processing quantum information possible with the QC _C . In this paper, two examples of the non-network character of the QC _C are given. First, circuits in the Clifford group can be performed in a single time step. Second, the QC _C -realization of a particular circuit—the bit-reversal gate—has no network interpretation.     

The development and application of psychophysical methods in upper-extremity work tasks and task elements

This paper examines an approach to modeling the relationship between perceived acceptable work exposures and physical stressors in upper-extremity tasks using psychophysical methods. Several years of laboratory-based studies and results from a variety of simulated work tasks and task elements are summarized. The original impetus of these studies was founded in the pioneering work and successful application of psychophysical methods applied to manual materials handling tasks (e.g., lifting) generally beginning in the 1960s and 1970s. This approach provided unique and feasible solutions to work design problems involving exposure to the hazard of cumulative trauma. Presently, these methods were adapted to studying common upper-extremity tasks and task elements. Results provide conclusive evidence of the impact of required posture, force, gender and other variables on acceptable task frequency. These results and the psychophysical method in general, may be particularly helpful in establishing realistic and reasonable work design guidelines when workers are exposed to multiple, simultaneous hazards such as force, frequency, with deviated posture, etc, and in the absence of well-defined biomechanical or physiological-based models. Finally, a review of psychophysical theory and methods which can be applied to a wide range of occupational activities is provided.     

Marketing Netcoatings for Aquaculture

Unsustainable harvesting of natural fish stocks is driving an ever growing marine aquaculture industry. Part of the aquaculture support industry is net suppliers who provide producers with nets used in confining fish while they are grown to market size. Biofouling must be addressed in marine environments to ensure maximum product growth by maintaining water flow and waste removal through the nets. Biofouling is managed with copper and organic biocide based net coatings. The aquaculture industry provides a case study for business issues related to entry of improved fouling management technology into the marketplace. Several major hurdles hinder entry of improved novel technologies into the market. The first hurdle is due to the structure of business relationships. Net suppliers can actually cut their business profits dramatically by introducing improved technologies. A second major hurdle is financial costs of registration and demonstration of efficacy and quality product with a new technology. Costs of registration are prohibitive if only the net coatings market is involved. Demonstration of quality product requires collaboration and a team approach between formulators, net suppliers and farmers. An alternative solution is a vertically integrated business model in which the support business and product production business are part of the same company.