Using online collaboration applications for group assignments: The interplay between design and human characteristics

In recent years, educators and students are increasingly employing online collaboration applications such as Google Docs™ and PBWorks™ for group projects and assignments. Yet, the effectiveness of these emerging technologies has not been rigorously examined. Anchoring upon and informed by the existing literature, two design characteristics – sociability and visibility, and two human characteristics – gender and age, are focused on, which are salient in online collaboration applications. A field experiment was conducted to examine the direct and moderating effects of design and human characteristics on learning outcomes. The research found that sociability improved process satisfaction and positive social environment while visibility enhanced academic performance and solution satisfaction of learners. Males had higher solution satisfaction while older learners had higher academic performance. Moderating effects were also found. Both theoretical and practical implications are drawn. In particular, a rubric for online collaboration application selection for academic performance is conceived. This study provides empirical support for online collaboration application effectiveness in education which will augur well for future adoption, use and evolution.     

Denotation and connotation in the human – computer interface: The ‘Save as …’ command

This paper presents a semiotic technique as a means of exploring meaning and understanding in interface design and use. This is examined through a study of the interaction between the ‘file’ metaphor and ‘save as’ command metaphor. The behaviour of these (from a functional or computational basis) do not exactly match, or map onto, the meaning of the metaphor. We examine both the denotation of a term to the user, i.e. its literal meaning to that person, and the term's connotations, i.e. any other meanings associated with the term. We suggest that the technique applied is useful in predicting future problems with understanding the use of metaphor at the interface and with designing appropriate signification for human-computer interaction. Variation in connotation was expected but a more fundamental difference in denotation was also uncovered. Moreover, the results clearly demonstrate that consistency in the denotation of a term is critical in achieving a good user understanding of the command.     

出境台湾游客旅游目的地选择关键因素之分析

游客选择不同旅游目的地的群体行为客观存在。这种游客对目的地的选择受多种因素影响,影响程度也大小不同。文章提出出境游客目的地选择四大关键因素的假设,并以出境台湾游客为研究对象,收集、计算台湾游客在23个目的地空间分布以及交通联系指数、旅游资源丰度、对外关系度、贸易依存度的数据,采用最小二乘估计法（0LS）建立多元线性回归模型,分析空间距离、资源禀赋、对外关系、经济贸易对出境台湾游客目的地选择影响。结果显示,台湾游客的出访率与交通联系指数、贸易依存度呈正相关关系,交通、经贸直接影响出境台湾游客对目的地的选择;但与旅游资源丰度、对外关系度呈略微负相关关系,资源禀赋、对外关系并不影响出境台湾游客对目的地的选择。     

镀膜技术在陶瓷上的应用

叙述了镀膜技术在种类和特点以及应用于陶瓷产品上存在问题和解决方法     

束状小口径钢管内壁粉末涂料涂装工艺研究

论述了束状小口径钢管内壁用粉末涂料的涂装工艺，解决了热交换器传热管的防腐结垢问题。着重介绍了束状小口径钢管内壁粉末涂料的涂装工艺研究过程及热交换器传热管的施工工艺，并对该项工艺的经济效益作了分析。     

80 kt/a硫铁矿制酸扩建装置采用的新技术措施

针对采用水洗净化工艺的某80kt/a硫铁矿制酸装置的扩建设计，介绍了其中主要改扩建工段及设备采用的新技术措施，设计中对原料工段、沸腾炉、文氏管、泡沫塔、转化器、换热器等进行了改进，满足了厂方两期建设产量不同的要求。     

煤矸软卧地基上建筑墙体开裂的事故分析和处理

实践证明,煤矸地基为不良软土地基,工程上具有塑性、流变等不稳定现象,极易造成建筑物失稳.故而,分析了煤矸地基的物理特性,提出控制方案及控制对策.实施后结果证明可以保证地基的稳定,满足了工程需要,产生显著的经济效益.     

稀土永磁低速同步电动机制造技术

介绍了稀土永磁低速同步电动机原理结构特点，着重论述该电机在制造中的关键技术和研究。     

数字成像技术的新进展

数字成像技术日趋完善，数码相机的性能越来越高，使用越来越方便，价格越来越低，因此正在伞球迅速推广，市场竞争越加激烈，一些跨国影像工业公司也不断开发一系列更高档的产品，本文摘要介绍其最新的发展动向和突出的进展，如：为传统的高档照相机配置数码照相机背，使其具备高档数码相机的功能，为数码照相配备操作方便、产能高、加工处理极为迅速、能输出高质量彩色相片的一体化数字图像扩印系统等等。