Framework to improve e-learner satisfaction and further strengthen e-learning implementation

In this study, a framework has been designed to guide institutions to better improve learner satisfaction and further strengthen their e-learning implementation. Undergraduate participants (n = 600) completed an online survey of 132 items. This article will first report on the development and validation of an instrument that attempts to reveal factors that affect user satisfaction, and then a multiple regression analysis and a path analysis help further investigate which factors can significantly predict learner satisfaction. The factor analysis identified 14 different factors. These factors were further categorized by the researchers into 6 dimensions i.e. learner dimension, instructor’s dimension, course dimension, technology dimension, design dimension, and the environment dimension. The multiple regression analysis showed that e-learners satisfaction can mostly be predicted by learner interaction with others. Findings of this research will help institutions by providing them with psychometric properties that add pedagogical value to e-courses.     

基于笔画曲率特征的笔迹鉴别方法

现有的手写汉字脱机笔迹鉴别方法存在只能针对特定字符或需要大量样本字符等问题,为此提出一种基于笔画曲率特征的笔迹鉴别方法。首先运用数学形态学对采集的笔迹图像进行预处理,在横、竖、撇、捺四个方向提取具有代表性的笔画骨架,然后对笔画骨架进行圆的重构,提取四个方向笔画圆的曲率作为特征值组成笔迹特征矩,根据待鉴别的笔迹特征矩与数据库中笔迹特征矩向量夹角相似性度量结果对样本做出判断。实验结果表明该文方法对于待鉴别样本字符的内容没有要求,样本字符数量要求低、应用范围广、鲁棒性强。     

模型化数据管理研究

分析了管理信息系统中的枚举型数据项和区间型数据项特点及对其进行常规设计方法存在的不足,提出了对这两类数据项的值域数据采用模型化管理的思想,探讨了基于该思想要解决的主要技术问题。基于该思想可以缩短系统开发时间,减少系统设计和维护工作,提高系统的柔性。     

一种深度图像中的表面曲率估计算法

曲率估计在深度图像分析中占有重要地位,传统的有限差分或局部拟合方法未考虑到表面上可能出现的不连续性,因而会不可避免地出现错误,为了得到有效可靠的曲率估计,本文提出了基于自适应局部表面拟合和鲁棒最大似然的估计的曲率估计算法,首先,提出曲面是分片光滑的假设,表面曲率需从该像素所属的光滑曲面片来估计,其次,定义了能量函数来度量拟合窗的平滑度,在局部表面拟合时,依据最小化能量函数的原则来自适应移动拟合窗的中心,以使拟合窗达到最“光滑”,最后,采用鲁棒最大似然估计以消除仍然存在的“局外点”的影响,理论分析和实验结果证明估计算法是稳健,可靠,有效的且计算复杂度小。     

Numerically Invariant Signature Curves

Corrected versions of the numerically invariant expressions for the affine and Euclidean signature of a planar curve introduced by Calabi et al. in (Int. J. Comput. Vision, 26: 107–135, 1998) are presented. The new formulas are valid for fine but otherwise arbitrary partitions of the curve. We also give numerically invariant expressions for the four differential invariants parameterizing the three dimensional version of the Euclidean signature curve, namely the curvature, the torsion and their derivatives with respect to arc length.     

Ergonomic evaluation of electronic paper: Influences of anti‐reflection surface treatment,illumination, and curvature on legibility and visual fatigue

Abstract— The intent of this study is to investigate some critical factors that affect legibility and visual fatigue while reading on an electronic‐paper display in terms of ergonomics. Anti‐reflection surface treatment, ambient illumination, and bending curvature are taken into account to evaluate their effects by using the method of letter‐search task. The results showed that the surface treatment with high degrees of anti‐reflection significantly improved the legibility and reduces visual fatigue. Thus, electronic‐paper manufacturers may choose a much better surface treatment in order to meet ergonomic demand. In addition, the findings in the present study also indicate that subjects reported less visual fatigue on a bending surface of a visual display unit, in comparison with a plane surface. It is proven that these ergonomic evaluations for electronic paper provide manufactures with useful information to design suitable products for users.     

Inside the adaptive enterprise: an information technology capabilities perspective on business process agility

Recent innovations in utility computing, web services, and service-oriented architectures, combined with a growing array of IT skills, have improved firms’ ability to be more agile in responding to change. Using the resource-based view of the firm, prior research suggests that IT resources, in isolation, are unlikely to yield superior performance and so as firms try to boost their agility, the question becomes how to configure IT resources to prepare for, or react to, change. In this paper, we posit that managerial IT capabilities based on IT-business partnerships, strategic planning, and ex-post IT project analysis lead to the development of technical IT capabilities associated with a flexible IT infrastructure which in turn drives agility or a firm’s ability to react to change in its products and markets. Using data from matched surveys of IT and business executives in 241 firms, we find that managerial and technical capabilities affect agility. In further testing, we reveal that in a stable setting, technical IT capabilities are more important to agility than managerial IT capabilities, while in a dynamic setting, the opposite is true. Thus, for firms operating in volatile markets, effective models of managerial IT governance are essential for delivering superior agility or adaptiveness.

Angle deficit approximation of Gaussian curvature and its convergence over quadrilateral meshes

We propose a discrete approximation of Gaussian curvature over quadrilateral meshes using a linear combination of two angle deficits. Let g_ij and b_ij be the coefficients of the first and second fundamental forms of a smooth parametric surface F. Suppose F is sampled so that a surface mesh is obtained. Theoretically we show that for vertices of valence four, the considered two angle deficits are asymptotically equivalent to rational functions in g_ij and b_ij under some special conditions called the parallelogram criterion. Specifically, the numerators of the rational functions are homogenous polynomials of degree two in b_ij with closed form coefficients, and the denominators are . Our discrete approximation of the Gaussian curvature derived from the combination of the angle deficits has quadratic convergence rate under the parallelogram criterion. Numerical results which justify the theoretical analysis are also presented.     

重复控制系统中非周期扰动的抑制

为了改善重复控制系统中的扰动抑制性能,提出一种基于曲率模型的扰动估计新方法.该方法的主要特点是扰动的估计值直接与重复控制规则结合也不影响重复控制系统的稳定性.仿真结果显示该方法可以有效地抑制扰动.     

柔性装配系统的集成与设计

自行开发的柔性装配系统FAS ,将PC机、机器人、PLC和产品识别装置各单元集成于一个协调工作的自动装配系统。通过网络互连通信、信息集成 ,完成系统各单元的硬件构成和软件模块设计 ,为中小批量产品的装配提供了一个柔性化的解决方案。