Computing

Counter-examples used in a Socratic dialogue aim to provoke reflection to effect conceptual changes. However, natural language forms of Socratic dialogues have their limitations. To address this problem, we propose an alternative form of Socratic dialogue called the pictorial Socratic dialogue. A Spring Balance System has been designed to provide a platform for the investigation of the effects of this pedagogy on conceptual changes. This system allows learners to run and observe an experiment. Qualitative Cartesian graphs are employed for learners to represent their solutions. Indirect and intelligent feedback is prescribed through two approaches in the pictorial Socratic dialogue which aim to provoke learners probe through the perceptual structural features of the problem and solution, into the deeper level of the simulation where Archimedes' Principle governs.

The aim of this paper is to present the findings of a PhD research (Heinzl, 2007) conducted on the Universities of Applied Sciences in Austria. The research is to establish an idiosyncrasy model for Universities of Applied Sciences in Austria showing the effects of their idiosyncrasies on the ability to successfully conduct technology transfer. Research applied in the study is centred on qualitative methods as major emphasis is placed on theory building. The study pursues a stepwise approach for the establishment of the idiosyncrasy model. In the first step, an initial technology transfer model and list of idiosyncrasies are established based on a synthesis of findings from secondary research. In the second step, these findings are enhanced by the means of empirical research including problemcentred expert interviews, a focus group and participant observation. In the third step, the idiosyncrasies are matched with the factors conducive for technology transfer and focused interviews have been conducted for this purpose. The findings show that idiosyncrasies of Universities of Applied Sciences have remarkable effects on their technology transfer abilities. This paper presents four of the models that emerge from the PhD research: Generic Technology Transfer Model (Section 5.1); Idiosyncrasies Model for the Austrian Universities of Applied Sciences (Section 5.2); Idiosyncrasies-Technology Transfer Effects Model (Section 5.3); Idiosyncrasies-Technology Transfer Cumulated Effects Model (Section 5.3). The primary and secondary research methods employed for this study are: literature survey, focus groups, participant observation, and interviews. The findings of the research contribute to a conceptual design of a technology transfer system which aims to enhance the higher education institutions' technology transfer performance.

This is a theoretical paper which aims to integrate various epistemologies from the philosophical, knowledge management, cognitive science, and educational perspectives. From a survey of knowledge-related literature, we have collated diverse views of knowledge. This is followed by categorising as well as ascribing attributes to the different types of knowledge.

This is a theoretical paper which aims to integrate various epistemologies from the philosophical, knowledge management, psychological, cognitive science, and educational perspectives. Due to the general lack of consensus over what knowledge is, we have developed an ontology of knowledge not only seeks to unify the epistemologies but also to clarify the distinctions between knowledge and information by introducing a novel calculi for information and knowledge conversions, which is embedded in our proposed Information Knowledge Management (IKM) Model and our IKM cycle will depict the information and knowledge creation as well as transfer.

Syllogistics is a type of logical reasoning which involves quantifiers such as All, and Some. Here, we explore the use of syllogisms to formalize quantified direction relations by incorporated them into the classical Projection-based Model for cardinal directions [Frank]. have integrated cardinal direction relations and RCC-5 and RCC-8 to represent directional and topological information. They have investigated the mutual dependencies them, and discussed the composition of the hybrid relations. However, in this paper, we have developed formalisms to facilitate an expressive reasoning mechanism for spatial databases. These formalisms is the outcome of the integration of RCC-5 [Cohn, et.al,1997] for topological relations, the Projectbased Model for cardinal direction relations and syllogisms. In the latter part of the paper, we demonstrate how to compute the composition of such hybridized cardinal direction relations.

In this paper, we demonstrate how to group the nine cardinal directions into sets and use them to compute a composition table. Firstly, we define each cardinal direction in terms of a certain set of constraints. This is followed by decomposing the cardinal directions into sets corresponding to the horizontal and vertical constraints. We apply two different techniques to compute the composition of these sets. The first technique is an algebraic computation while the second is the typical technique of reasoning with diagrams. The rationale of applying the latter is for confirmation purposes. The use of typical composition tables for existential inference is rarely demonstrated. Here, we shall demonstrate how to use the composition table to answer queries requiring the common forward reasoning as well as existential inference.Also, we combine mereological and cardinal direction relations to create a hybrid model which is more expressive.

In our previous paper , we have shown how the nine tiles in the projection-based model for cardinal directions can be partitioned into sets based on horizontal and vertical constraints (called Horizontal and Vertical Constraints Model). In order to come up with an expressive hybrid model for direction relations between two-dimensional single-piece regions (without holes), we integrate the well-known RCC-8 model with the above-mentioned model. From this expressive hybrid model, we derive 8 atomic binary relations and 13 feasible as well as jointly exhaustive relations for the x and y directions respectively. Based on these atomic binary relations, we derive two separate 8x8 composition tables for both the expressive and weak direction relations. We introduce a formula that can be used for the computation of the composition of expressive and weak direction relations between 'whole or part' regions. Lastly, we also show how the expressive hybrid model can be used to make several existential inferences that are not possible for existing models.

This is an eGISE network paper. It is motivated by a concern to develop a better approach to learning from the experience of an eGovernment project and applying that knowledge in future projects. The proposed project is based on previous work in the construction industry that developed COLA, a Cross Organisational Learning Approach. Developing a similar strategy for Knowledge Management is likely to be effective because the 'silo' culture of local government organisations has parallels with the segmented organisational structures within the construction industry.

Syllogistics is a type of logical reasoning which involves quantifiers such as All, and Some. Here, we explore the use of syllogisms to formalize quantified direction relations by incorporated them into the classical Projection-based Model for cardinal directions [Frank]. have integrated cardinal direction relations and RCC-5 and RCC-8 to represent directional and topological information. They have investigated the mutual dependencies them, and discussed the composition of the hybrid relations. However, in this paper, we have developed formalisms to facilitate an expressive reasoning mechanism for spatial databases. These formalisms is the outcome of the integration of RCC-5 [Cohn, et.al,1997] for topological relations, the Projectbased Model for cardinal direction relations and syllogisms. In the latter part of the paper, we demonstrate how to compute the composition of such hybridized cardinal direction relations.

This paper is a positioning paper which outlines a proposal for engaging in the evaluation of eGovernment systems. The primary purpose of our proposed research is to develop, apply, test, and disseminate an evaluation framework which can support continuous, adaptable, and reflective evaluation of eGovernment systems. The theoretical bases for the methodology will be the Information Systems (IS), Soft Systems Methodology, SSM (Checkland and Scholes, 1990) which provides the platform for the analyses of the 'soft' aspects (e.g. human, political, cultural and organisational factors) and the Hard Systems Methodology (HSM) which provides methods and tools for quantitative measures and analyses of the system. A further three interrelated bases are: Reflective Practice, Organisational Learning (OL), and Information and Knowledge Management (IKM). Some of the key underlying principles to a successful evaluation framework are good data collection and analyses methods, an evaluative reflective practice approach which entails the complete process of identification and analysis of strengths and problems, followed by rigorous testing, implementation, and revision of solutions. Such a cycle encourages organisational learning and promotes continuous improvement to both the evaluation framework and system. Additionally, it aims to cultivate an organisational culture that supports evaluation through reflection, continuous learning, and knowledge management which facilitates knowledge creation, capture, sharing, application and dissemination.

In a language-deficient domain such as buoyancy, students generally find it difficult to explain phenomena that daily saturate their lives such as sinking and floating. To address this problem, we propose a simple and object-related articulation and reflection tool which is embedded in the BSL System (B stands for Body while S and L are for String and Liquid respectively). An analysis of the findings reveals that generally, the use of the tool decreased with respect to time. Evidence also shows that contents in the tool is either adapted or misused. Finally, evidence suggests positive changes in students' conceptual knowledge of B and S but not L.

Syllogistics is a type of logical reasoning which involves quantifiers such as All, and Some. Here, we explore the use of syllogisms to formalize quantified direction relations by incorporated them into the classical Projection-based Model for cardinal directions [Frank]. have integrated cardinal direction relations and RCC-5 and RCC-8 to represent directional and topological information. They have investigated the mutual dependencies them, and discussed the composition of the hybrid relations. However, in this paper, we have developed formalisms to facilitate an expressive reasoning mechanism for spatial databases. These formalisms is the outcome of the integration of RCC-5 [Cohn, et.al,1997] for topological relations, the Projectbased Model for cardinal direction relations and syllogisms. In the latter part of the paper, we demonstrate how to compute the composition of such hybridized cardinal direction relations.

The aim of this paper is to present the findings of a PhD research (Heinzl, 2007) conducted on the Universities of Applied Sciences in Austria. The research is to establish an idiosyncrasy model for Universities of Applied Sciences in Austria showing the effects of their idiosyncrasies on the ability to successfully conduct technology transfer. Research applied in the study is centred on qualitative methods as major emphasis is placed on theory building. The study pursues a stepwise approach for the establishment of the idiosyncrasy model. In the first step, an initial technology transfer model and list of idiosyncrasies are established based on a synthesis of findings from secondary research. In the second step, these findings are enhanced by the means of empirical research including problemcentred expert interviews, a focus group and participant observation. In the third step, the idiosyncrasies are matched with the factors conducive for technology transfer and focused interviews have been conducted for this purpose. The findings show that idiosyncrasies of Universities of Applied Sciences have remarkable effects on their technology transfer abilities. This paper presents four of the models that emerge from the PhD research: Generic Technology Transfer Model (Section 5.1); Idiosyncrasies Model for the Austrian Universities of Applied Sciences (Section 5.2); Idiosyncrasies-Technology Transfer Effects Model (Section 5.3); Idiosyncrasies-Technology Transfer Cumulated Effects Model (Section 5.3). The primary and secondary research methods employed for this study are: literature survey, focus groups, participant observation, and interviews. The findings of the research contribute to a conceptual design of a technology transfer system which aims to enhance the higher education institutions' technology transfer performance.

The political rhetoric that accompanied the introduction of eGovernment expected it to produce innovation in the way government agencies conducted themselves with citizen and business alike. It was assumed that innovation was both "good" and inevitable. This paper challenges these assumptions and presents a more realistic model of how innovation might occurs in UK local government. The model is supported by anecdotal evidence, literature and a recent study of eGoverment achievement in the UK -VIEGO. A key element in the model is the notion of innovation value.

In our previous papers , we have shown how the nine tiles in the projection-based model for cardinal directions can be partitioned into sets based on horizontal and vertical constraints (called Horizontal and Vertical Constraints Model). In order to come up with an expressive hybrid model for direction relations between two-dimensional singlepiece regions (without holes), we integrate the well-known RCC-8 model with the above-mentioned model. From this expressive hybrid model, we derive 8 basic binary relations and 13 feasible as well as jointly exhaustive relations for the x and y directions respectively. Based on these basic binary relations, we derive two separate 8x8 composition tables for both the expressive and weak direction relations. We introduce a formula that can be used for the computation of the composition of expressive and weak direction relations between 'whole or part' regions. Lastly, we also show how the expressive hybrid model can be used to make several existential inferences that are not possible for existing models.

"Sustainability" or ("green-ness") has a significant role to play in the teaching of information systems in higher education. There is considerable variation possible in breadth and depth of content, and raises the question of appropriateness, suitability of material and targeting at an appropriate level. There also exists considerable potential for variation of emphasis in presentation according to students’ motivations. Institutions have adopted different approaches, some utilising specialised courses as components of wider programmes, or in their own right. Others have integrated the topic into undergraduate teaching, perhaps as a component of systems analysis and design courses, treating environmental impact as a design constraint within a solution. Computer science programmes may use their computer architecture-themed modules to introduce the relationship between hardware design and energy use or the ethics and professionalism strand may be developed through...

Big Data applications have become increasingly popular with the emergence of cloud computing and the explosion of artificial intelligence. The increasing adoption of data-intensive machines and services is driving the need for more power to keep the data centers of the world running. It has become crucial for large IT companies to monitor the energy efficiency of their data-center facilities and to take actions on the optimization of these heavy electricity consumers. This paper proposes a Belief Rule-Based Expert System (BRBES)-based predictive model to predict the Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of a data center. The uniqueness of this model consists of the integration of a novel learning mechanism consisting of parameter and structure optimization by using BRBES-based adaptive Differential Evolution (BRBaDE), significantly improving the accuracy of PUE prediction. This model has been evaluated by using real-world data collected from a Facebook data center located in Luleå, Sweden...

This paper is a positioning paper which outlines a proposal for engaging in the evaluation of eGovernment systems. The primary purpose of our proposed research is to develop, apply, test, and disseminate an evaluation framework which can support continuous, adaptable, and reflective evaluation of eGovernment systems. The theoretical bases for the methodology will be the Information Systems (IS), Soft Systems Methodology, SSM (Checkland and Scholes, 1990) which provides the platform for the analyses of the 'soft' aspects (e.g. human, political, cultural and organisational factors) and the Hard Systems Methodology (HSM) which provides methods and tools for quantitative measures and analyses of the system. A further three interrelated bases are: Reflective Practice, Organisational Learning (OL), and Information and Knowledge Management (IKM). Some of the key underlying principles to a successful evaluation framework are good data collection and analyses methods, an evaluative r...

In this paper, we demonstrate how to group the nine cardi- nal directions into sets and use them to compute a composi- tion table. Firstly, we define each cardinal direction in terms of a certain set of constraints. This is followed by decom- posing the cardinal directions into sets corresponding to the horizontal and vertical constraints. We apply two different techniques to compute the composition of these sets. The first technique is an algebraic computation while the second is the typical technique of reasoning with diagrams. The ratio- nale of applying the latter is for confirmation purposes. The use of typical composition tables for existential inference is rarely demonstrated. Here, we shall demonstrate how to use the composition table to answer queries requiring the com- mon forward reasoning as well as existential inference.Also, we combine mereological and cardinal direction relations to create a hybrid model which is more expressive.

In our previous paper (Kor and Bennett, 2003), we have shown how the nine tiles in the projection-based model for cardinal directions can be partitioned into sets based on horizontal and vertical constraints (called Horizontal and Vertical Constraints Model). In order to come up with an expressive hybrid model for direction relations between two-dimensional single-piece regions (without holes), we integrate the well-known RCC-8 model with the above-mentioned model. From this expressive hybrid model, we derive 8 atomic binary relations and 13 feasible as well as jointly exhaustive relations for the x and y directions respectively. Based on these atomic binary relations, we derive two separate 8x8 composition tables for both the expressive and weak direction relations. We introduce a formula that can be used for the computation of the composition of expressive and weak direction relations between 'whole or part' regions. Lastly, we also show how the expressive hybrid model can...