Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Computer Technology (computer + technology)
Kinds of Computer Technology Selected AbstractsA Strategic Story of Using Computer Technology: The EPA Project by HOKJOURNAL OF INTERIOR DESIGN, Issue 1 2000Joan McLain-Kark Ph.D. ABSTRACT Interior design researchers study computer technology in order to understand its impact on design processes and education. Yet, whether the use of the computer has made interior designers better at improving the life of users remains to be seen. The purpose of this research is to examine the use of technology in design through a narrative case, the EPA project by Hellmuth, Obata, and Kassabaum (HOK), to offer insights into how computers can be used to make a design compatible with user needs. Three indivdiuals involved with the EPA project were interviewed and audiotaped regarding the design and computer modeling of the labs. The transcripts were subsequently analyzed for dominant themes. The researcher developed a narrative using a structure established by the FIDER Research Council. The results indicate that repeated involvement of the scientists in the design process through evaluation via the walk-through animation and other means resulted in a positive evaluation. The case provides insights on how computer technology can be optimized to improve the design for end-users. Using the EPA story and present trends in computer technology as a foundation, the article presents a scenario to help designers consider ways for integrating the latest computer modeling technology into their practice. [source] Use of Computer Technology to Enhance Immigrant Families' AdaptationJOURNAL OF NURSING SCHOLARSHIP, Issue 1 2006Jenny Hsin-Chun Tsai Purpose: To summarize how computer technology influenced immigrant families' adaptation to life in the United States. Design: Critical ethnography. Methods: Data were collected from 1998 to 2000 from 13 parents and 16 children from nine Taiwanese immigrant families using semi-structured interviews and a questionnaire. Narrative analysis was used with interview data. Findings: Participants faced the demands of language proficiency, economic survival, loss of social networks, and social disconnection during resettlement. Computer technology provided participants with new occupational opportunities and strategies to overcome the barriers and stress created by resettlement. Internet and E-mail access greatly facilitated these participant families' adaptation. Conclusions: Study findings warrant further exploration to assess how new computer technology promotes immigrant families' adaptation and alleviates stress associated with resettlement, including information about their health and health care. [source] Parallel processing of remotely sensed hyperspectral imagery: full-pixel versus mixed-pixel classificationCONCURRENCY AND COMPUTATION: PRACTICE & EXPERIENCE, Issue 13 2008Antonio J. Plaza Abstract The rapid development of space and computer technologies allows for the possibility to store huge amounts of remotely sensed image data, collected using airborne and satellite instruments. In particular, NASA is continuously gathering high-dimensional image data with Earth observing hyperspectral sensors such as the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's airborne visible,infrared imaging spectrometer (AVIRIS), which measures reflected radiation in hundreds of narrow spectral bands at different wavelength channels for the same area on the surface of the Earth. The development of fast techniques for transforming massive amounts of hyperspectral data into scientific understanding is critical for space-based Earth science and planetary exploration. Despite the growing interest in hyperspectral imaging research, only a few efforts have been devoted to the design of parallel implementations in the literature, and detailed comparisons of standardized parallel hyperspectral algorithms are currently unavailable. This paper compares several existing and new parallel processing techniques for pure and mixed-pixel classification in hyperspectral imagery. The distinction of pure versus mixed-pixel analysis is linked to the considered application domain, and results from the very rich spectral information available from hyperspectral instruments. In some cases, such information allows image analysts to overcome the constraints imposed by limited spatial resolution. In most cases, however, the spectral bands collected by hyperspectral instruments have high statistical correlation, and efficient parallel techniques are required to reduce the dimensionality of the data while retaining the spectral information that allows for the separation of the classes. In order to address this issue, this paper also develops a new parallel feature extraction algorithm that integrates the spatial and spectral information. The proposed technique is evaluated (from the viewpoint of both classification accuracy and parallel performance) and compared with other parallel techniques for dimensionality reduction and classification in the context of three representative application case studies: urban characterization, land-cover classification in agriculture, and mapping of geological features, using AVIRIS data sets with detailed ground-truth. Parallel performance is assessed using Thunderhead, a massively parallel Beowulf cluster at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. The detailed cross-validation of parallel algorithms conducted in this work may specifically help image analysts in selection of parallel algorithms for specific applications. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Graphic and movie illustrations of human prenatal development and their application to embryological education based on the human embryo specimens in the Kyoto collectionDEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS, Issue 2 2006Shigehito Yamada Abstract Morphogenesis in the developing embryo takes place in three dimensions, and in addition, the dimension of time is another important factor in development. Therefore, the presentation of sequential morphological changes occurring in the embryo (4D visualization) is essential for understanding the complex morphogenetic events and the underlying mechanisms. Until recently, 3D visualization of embryonic structures was possible only by reconstruction from serial histological sections, which was tedious and time-consuming. During the past two decades, 3D imaging techniques have made significant advances thanks to the progress in imaging and computer technologies, computer graphics, and other related techniques. Such novel tools have enabled precise visualization of the 3D topology of embryonic structures and to demonstrate spatiotemporal 4D sequences of organogenesis. Here, we describe a project in which staged human embryos are imaged by the magnetic resonance (MR) microscope, and 3D images of embryos and their organs at each developmental stage were reconstructed based on the MR data, with the aid of computer graphics techniques. On the basis of the 3D models of staged human embryos, we constructed a data set of 3D images of human embryos and made movies to illustrate the sequential process of human morphogenesis. Furthermore, a computer-based self-learning program of human embryology is being developed for educational purposes, using the photographs, histological sections, MR images, and 3D models of staged human embryos. Developmental Dynamics 235:468,477, 2006. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Predicting and explaining the propensity to bid in online auctions: a comparison of two action-theoretical modelsJOURNAL OF CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR, Issue 2 2006Michael Bosnjak The literature on the willingness to bid and the actual bidding behaviour of consumers in online auctions is currently dominated by approaches based on the economic decision-making and information processing paradigm and are primarily focused on what influences auction outcomes. To the best of our knowledge, no serious attempts have been undertaken to stringently test and compare existing models derived from an action-theoretical perspective to predict and explain consumers´ propensity to use online auctions as well as their actual usage. Two theoretical models seem most promising in this context: The Theory of Planned Behaviour (Ajzen I, 1985, 1991) and a derivative of the Theory of Reasoned Action (Fishbein M and Ajzen I, 1975) tailored towards using computer technologies, the Technology Acceptance Model (Davis FD, 1989). In both theories, intentions play a central role in predicting behaviour. The models differ in their descriptions of the factors that determine behavioural intentions. In the Theory of Planned Behaviour, attitudes towards the behaviour, perceived behavioural control and subjective norms are assumed to influence intentions. In contrast, the Technology Acceptance Model suggests that intentions and attitudes are influenced by the perceived usefulness of a certain technological tool to improve shopping productivity (e.g. by enabling the consumer to obtain a better price or save time) and the tools´ perceived ease of use. In principle, both theories can be used to predict and explain technology-dependent consumer behaviour, but which one is more suited to online auctions? We compared both theories in terms of their predictive power and their practical utility. Although both models explain the propensity to bid in online auctions very well, the Technology Acceptance Model provides more specific recommendations for facilitating the use of online auctions. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Embodied conversational agents as conversational partnersAPPLIED COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 9 2009Max M. Louwerse Conversational agents are becoming more widespread in computer technologies but there has been little research in how humans interact with them. Two eye tracking studies investigated how humans distribute eye gaze towards conversational agents in complex tutoring systems. In Study 1, participants interacted with the single-agent tutoring system AutoTutor. Fixation times showed that the agent received most attention throughout the interaction, even when display size was statistically controlled. In Study 2, participants interacted with iSTART. Fixations were on the relevant agents when these agents spoke. Both studies provided evidence that humans regard animated conversational agents as conversational partners in the communication process. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] A direct circuit experiment system in non-immersive virtual environments for education and entertainmentCOMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION, Issue 2 2005Quang-Cherng Hsu Abstract This article proposes to contribute to the goal of "The Popular Science Teaching Research Project" as well as to enhance the programming abilities of mechanical engineering students. Topics being included as example are in physical science, which include battery, lamp, and electric circuit. These materials are designed, based on virtual-reality technology that is suitable for students as early as fourth-grade students of primary school. It will help the students become familiar with new computer technology and provide an opportunity to study while playing virtual reality computer games. The benefits of the developed application software system of virtual reality are virtualization of teaching equipment, cost reduction of teaching materials, unlimited teaching style, and optimization of learning procedures. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 13: 146,152, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae.20044 [source] Volume Reduction Surgery for End-Stage Ischemic Heart DiseaseECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Issue 7 2002Takahiro Shiota M.D. The Dor procedure, or infarction excision surgery, was first used in 1984. It is a surgical treatment option for patients with end-stage ischemic heart failure. In a recently published multicenter study that included a total of 439 patients, average ejection fraction increased from 29 ± 10% to 39 ± 12% after surgery. In our experience, the overall survival rate 18 months after surgery is 89%, and the preoperative mortality rate is 6.6%. These results are similar to the previous reports from Dor,s group, which confirmed the certain value of the surgery. Echocardiography, including intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography, plays an important role in clarifying cardiac anatomies, absolute left ventricular (LV) volumes, ejection fraction, and mitral regurgitation in patients with ischemic heart failure undergoing this surgery. With the development of ultrasound and computer technology, three-dimensional echocardiography may be preferred when evaluating the surgical results, including determination of absolute LV volumes. Communication between experienced cardiac surgeons and echocardiographers in the operating room is essential for successful outcomes and reliable evaluation of the surgery. [source] Technology-Mediated Learning 10 Years Later: Emphasizing Pedagogical or Utilitarian Applications?FOREIGN LANGUAGE ANNALS, Issue 1 2007Article first published online: 31 DEC 200, Nike Arnold Abstract: In recent years, educational technology has come a long way. Technological advancements and significant investments in computer equipment and training have opened new opportunities for foreign language teachers. In addition, instructional technology (IT) is now an accepted component of teacher training and foreign language teaching. This study addresses the question how IT actually is being used for foreign language learning in higher education. It reports the findings of an online survey, which was completed by 173 college foreign language teachers. Results suggest that the vast majority of participants do use computer technology for their teaching, but at a very basic level. Teachers' IT use seems to be motivated largely by utilitarian reasons, followed by a variety of pedagogical benefits. [source] Evaluation of best system performance: Human, automated, and hybrid inspection systemsHUMAN FACTORS AND ERGONOMICS IN MANUFACTURING & SERVICE INDUSTRIES, Issue 2 2003Xiaochun Jiang Recently, 100% inspection with automated systems has seen more frequent application than traditional sampling inspection with human inspectors. Nevertheless, humans still outperform machines in most attribute inspection tasks. Because neither humans nor automation can achieve superior inspection system performance, hybrid inspection systems where humans work cooperatively with machines merit study. In response to this situation, this research was conducted to evaluate three of the following different inspection systems: (1) a human inspection system, (2) a computer search/human decision-making inspection system, and (3) a human/computer share search/decision-making inspection system. Results from this study showed that the human/computer share search/decision-making system achieve the best system performance, suggesting that both should be used in the inspection tasks rather than either alone. Furthermore, this study looked at the interaction between human inspectors and computers, specifically the effect of system response bias on inspection quality performance. These results revealed that the risky system was the best in terms of accuracy measures. Although this study demonstrated how recent advances in computer technology have modified previously prescribed notions about function allocation alternatives in a hybrid inspection environment, the adaptability of humans was again demonstrated, indicating that they will continue to play a vital role in future hybrid systems. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Hum Factors Man 13: 137,152, 2003. [source] Advances in the application of the SWAT model for water resources managementHYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 3 2005R. Jayakrishnan Abstract Developments in computer technology have revolutionized the study of hydrologic systems and water resources management. Several computer-based hydrologic/water quality models have been developed for applications in hydrologic modelling and water resources studies. Distributed parameter models, necessary for basin-scale studies, have large input data requirements. Geographic information systems (GIS) and model,GIS interfaces aid the efficient creation of input data files required by such models. One such model available for the water resources professional is the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), a distributed parameter model developed by the United States Department of Agriculture. This paper describes some recent advances made in the application of SWAT and the SWAT,GIS interface for water resources management. Four case studies are presented. The Hydrologic Unit Model for the United States (HUMUS) project used SWAT to conduct a national-scale analysis of the effect of management scenarios on water quantity and quality. Integration of the SWAT model with rainfall data available from the WSR-88D radar network helps us to incorporate the spatial variability of rainfall into the modelling process. This study demonstrates the usefulness of radar rainfall data in distributed hydrologic studies and the potential of SWAT for application in flood analysis and prediction. A hydrologic modelling study of the Sondu river basin in Kenya using SWAT indicates the potential for application of the model in African watersheds and points to the need for development of better model input data sets in Africa, which are critical for detailed water resources studies. The application of SWAT for water quality analysis in the Bosque river basin, Texas demonstrates the strength of the model for analysing different management scenarios to minimize point and non-point pollution, and its potential for application in total maximum daily load (TMDL) studies. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Autonomy of Artistic Expression for Adult Learners with DisabilitiesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ART & DESIGN EDUCATION, Issue 2 2008Graham C. Young When an art tutor adopts the role of assistant to a disabled artist it is difficult not to move from helping with the physical handling of materials on the one hand into the actual creative process on the other, thus influencing how the artwork looks. Ecas is an Edinburgh-based charity which promotes opportunities for physically disabled people to be self-fulfilled and to participate in all aspects of society. They run, among other things, traditional art classes and computer classes. The use of computer technology (CT) in art seemed to offer the chance for self-fulfilment for disabled artists by increasing control over artistic choices and providing for self expression with only minimal assistance required from others. Ecas decided to fund a research project in the form of a ten-week pilot course and the data collected during the trial confirmed these possibilities and it was clear that adult learners with disabilities could benefit from CT in order to have greater autonomy in the creation of their art than before. In particular the program Corel Painter IX.5 and various graphics tablets proved to be a powerful arsenal for self-expression without having to wait for a tutor to tape paper to a board, replenish paint, change brushes attached to a head pointer or any one of the many and varied problems disabled students had with traditional art materials. [source] Intelligence benevolent tools: A global system automating integration of structured and semistructured sources in one processINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS, Issue 6 2004Mbale Jameson In this article, we investigate a global mechanism that merges and automates interoperability of heterogeneity structured and semistructured sources in one process. In particular, we introduce the intelligence benevolent tool (IBT) system comprised of tools like assertions, integration rules, conceptual model constructs, and agents that boost the architectural components' versatility to reconcile the semantics involved in data sharing. Going by the title, the term benevolent in this case refers to tools' ability to do what they are told to do. In this way, the tools shall rejuvenate the system's intelligence to withstand the test of time against the existing terrifically dynamic computer technology in the present and future information age. The first three IBTs are passive objects, whereas the agent has a strong versatility to perceive events, perform actions, communicate, make commitments, and satisfy claims. The IBT's vast intelligence allows the system to filter out and process only the relevant operational sources such as preferences (i.e., customer's interest) from the sites. In addition, the IBT's richness in knowledge and flexibility to accommodate various data models manages to smoothly link system-to-system or firm-to-firm regardless of any field such as engineering, insurance, medicine, space science, and education, to mention a few. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] A new parallelization strategy for solving time-dependent 3D Maxwell equations using a high-order accurate compact implicit scheme,INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NUMERICAL MODELLING: ELECTRONIC NETWORKS, DEVICES AND FIELDS, Issue 5 2006Eugene Kashdan Abstract With progress in computer technology there has been renewed interest in a time-dependent approach to solving Maxwell equations. The commonly used Yee algorithm (an explicit central difference scheme for approximation of spatial derivatives coupled with the Leapfrog scheme for approximation of temporal derivatives) yields only a second-order of accuracy. On the other hand, an increasing number of industrial applications, especially in optic and microwave technology, demands high-order accurate numerical modelling. The standard way to increase accuracy of the finite difference scheme without increasing the differential stencil is to replace a 2nd-order accurate explicit scheme for approximation of spatial derivatives with the 4th-order accurate compact implicit scheme. In general, such a replacement requires additional memory resources and slows the computations. However, the curl-based form of Maxwell equations allows us to construct an effective parallel algorithm with the alternating domain decomposition (ADD) minimizing the communication time. We present a new parallel approach to the solution of three-dimensional time-dependent Maxwell equations and provide a theoretical and experimental analysis of its performance. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Impact of interviewing by proxy in travel survey conducted by telephoneJOURNAL OF ADVANCED TRANSPORTATION, Issue 1 2002Daniel A. Badoe Telephone-interview surveys are a very efficient way of conducting large-scale travel surveys. Recent advancements in computer technology have made it possible to improve upon the quality of data collected by telephone surveys through computerization of the entire sample-control process, and through the direct recording of the collected data into a computer. Notwithstanding these technological advancements, potential sources of bias still exist, including the reliance on an adult member of the household to report the travel information of other household members. Travel data collected in a recent telephone interview survey in the Toronto region is used to examine this issue. The statistical tool used in the research was the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) technique as implemented within the general linear model framework in SAS. The study-results indicate that reliance on informants to provide travel information for non-informant members of their respective households led to the underreporting of some categories of trips. These underreported trip categories were primarily segments of home-based discretionary trips, and non home-based trips. Since these latter two categories of trips are made primarily outside the morning peak period, estimated factors to adjust for their underreporting were time-period sensitive. Further, the number of vehicles available to the household, gender, and driver license status respectively were also found to be strongly associated with the underreporting of trips and thus were important considerations in the determination of adjustment factors. Work and school trips were found not to be underreported, a not surprising result giving the almost daily repetitiveness of trips made for these purposes and hence the ability of the informant to provide relatively more precise information on them. [source] Reconstructing the Effects of Computers on Practice and Education during the Past Three DecadesJOURNAL OF ARCHITECTURAL EDUCATION, Issue 2 2002ALFREDO ANDIA Architectural practice and education are consuming the phenomenon of digital technologies in their own distinctive manner. Professional practice has used computers mainly to increase the efficiency of how the profession has functioned in the past 150 years. Architectural academia has taken a more critical position and has used computer technology to reshape the scope of the profession. The schools of architecture supporting this view have become testing grounds for new design imagination, methods and materials, and types of projects. [source] The Identity of Place in Virtual Design StudiosJOURNAL OF ARCHITECTURAL EDUCATION, Issue 1 2002TADEJA ZUPANCIC STROJAN Since independence in 1991, Slovenian society has sought models for education in the West. As in Slovenia, schools of architecture situated in other countries of rapid social transformation are offered the opportunity to critically review examples of the virtual design studio (VDS). This article investigates such examples within the concepts of "identity" and "place." These concepts are developed to include a consideration of the identity of virtual places and virtual studios and to examine the implications of globalization on architectural education. In conclusion, we develop an exploratory model for VDS as an instrument that integrates computer technology, distance learning, and design education. [source] The status of training and education in information and computer technology of Australian nurses: a national surveyJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 20 2008Robert Eley Aims and objectives., A study was undertaken of the current knowledge and future training requirements of nurses in information and computer technology to inform policy to meet national goals for health. Background., The role of the modern clinical nurse is intertwined with information and computer technology and adoption of such technology forms an important component of national strategies in health. The majority of nurses are expected to use information and computer technology during their work; however, the full extent of their knowledge and experience is unclear. Design., Self-administered postal survey. Methods., A 78-item questionnaire was distributed to 10,000 Australian Nursing Federation members to identify the nurses' use of information and computer technology. Eighteen items related to nurses' training and education in information and computer technology. Results., Response rate was 44%. Computers were used by 86·3% of respondents as part of their work-related activities. Between 4,17% of nurses had received training in each of 11 generic computer skills and software applications during their preregistration/pre-enrolment and between 12,30% as continuing professional education. Nurses who had received training believed that it was adequate to meet the needs of their job and was given at an appropriate time. Almost half of the respondents indicated that they required more training to better meet the information and computer technology requirements of their jobs and a quarter believed that their level of computer literacy was restricting their career development. Nurses considered that the vast majority of employers did not encourage information and computer technology training and, for those for whom training was available, workload was the major barrier to uptake. Nurses favoured introduction of a national competency standard in information and computer technology. Conclusions., For the considerable benefits of information and computer technology to be incorporated fully into the health system, employers must pay more attention to the training and education of nurses who are the largest users of that technology. Relevance to clinical practice., Knowledge of the training and education needs of clinical nurses with respect to information and computer technology will provide a platform for the development of appropriate policies by government and by employers. [source] Designing ubiquitous computing to enhance children's learning in museumsJOURNAL OF COMPUTER ASSISTED LEARNING, Issue 4 2006T. Hall Abstract In recent years, novel paradigms of computing have emerged, which enable computational power to be embedded in artefacts and in environments in novel ways. These developments may create new possibilities for using computing to enhance learning. This paper presents the results of a design process that set out to explore interactive techniques, which utilized ubiquitous computer technology, to stimulate active participation, involvement and learning by children visiting a museum. Key stakeholders, such as museum curators and docents, were involved throughout the process of creating the exhibition, Re-Tracing the Past, in the Hunt Museum, Limerick, Ireland. The paper describes aspects of the evaluation of the exhibition, which involved 326 schoolchildren (ages 9,12-year-old), and which exemplifies important features of the design and use of the novel technology in the museum. The paper concludes by articulating a series of design guidelines for developing ubiquitous computing to enhance children's learning in museums. These guidelines relate 12 experiential criteria to five supporting design informants and resources. The guidelines encompass important dimensions of children's educational experience in museums, including collaboration, engagement, active interpretation, and materiality. While developed in a museum context, these guidelines could be applied to the development of novel computing to enhance children's learning in other educational environments, both formal and informal. [source] Why Is "Integrated" ABC Better?JOURNAL OF CORPORATE ACCOUNTING & FINANCE, Issue 3 2002David E. Keys Traditionally, the various parts of an organization have been assumed to be independent. This was done mainly to simplify calculations, though the assumption is almost always inaccurate in reality. But computer technology now makes it possible to account for the many interrelationships of activities. The explicit consideration of these interrelationships in product and service costing can be referred to as integrated activity-based costing. By measuring these interrelationships, managers can better understand the parts of an organization, how they relate with each other, and how they can be integrated into the entire organization. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] A Strategic Story of Using Computer Technology: The EPA Project by HOKJOURNAL OF INTERIOR DESIGN, Issue 1 2000Joan McLain-Kark Ph.D. ABSTRACT Interior design researchers study computer technology in order to understand its impact on design processes and education. Yet, whether the use of the computer has made interior designers better at improving the life of users remains to be seen. The purpose of this research is to examine the use of technology in design through a narrative case, the EPA project by Hellmuth, Obata, and Kassabaum (HOK), to offer insights into how computers can be used to make a design compatible with user needs. Three indivdiuals involved with the EPA project were interviewed and audiotaped regarding the design and computer modeling of the labs. The transcripts were subsequently analyzed for dominant themes. The researcher developed a narrative using a structure established by the FIDER Research Council. The results indicate that repeated involvement of the scientists in the design process through evaluation via the walk-through animation and other means resulted in a positive evaluation. The case provides insights on how computer technology can be optimized to improve the design for end-users. Using the EPA story and present trends in computer technology as a foundation, the article presents a scenario to help designers consider ways for integrating the latest computer modeling technology into their practice. [source] Use of Computer Technology to Enhance Immigrant Families' AdaptationJOURNAL OF NURSING SCHOLARSHIP, Issue 1 2006Jenny Hsin-Chun Tsai Purpose: To summarize how computer technology influenced immigrant families' adaptation to life in the United States. Design: Critical ethnography. Methods: Data were collected from 1998 to 2000 from 13 parents and 16 children from nine Taiwanese immigrant families using semi-structured interviews and a questionnaire. Narrative analysis was used with interview data. Findings: Participants faced the demands of language proficiency, economic survival, loss of social networks, and social disconnection during resettlement. Computer technology provided participants with new occupational opportunities and strategies to overcome the barriers and stress created by resettlement. Internet and E-mail access greatly facilitated these participant families' adaptation. Conclusions: Study findings warrant further exploration to assess how new computer technology promotes immigrant families' adaptation and alleviates stress associated with resettlement, including information about their health and health care. [source] Building a Partnership to Evaluate School-Linked Health Services: The Cincinnati School Health Demonstration ProjectJOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH, Issue 10 2005Barbara L. Rose Partners from the Cincinnati Health Department, Cincinnati Public Schools, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, and The Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati wanted to determine if levels of school-linked care made a difference in student quality of life, school connectedness, attendance, emergency department use, and volume of referrals to health care specialists. School nurses, principals and school staff, parents and students, upper-level managers, and health service researchers worked together over a 2.5-year period to learn about and use new technology to collect information on student health, well-being, and outcome measures. Varying levels of school health care intervention models were instituted and evaluated. A standard model of care was compared with 2 models of enhanced care and service. The information collected from students, parents, nurses, and the school system provided a rich database on the health of urban children. School facilities, staffing, and computer technology, relationship building among stakeholders, extensive communication, and high student mobility were factors that influenced success and findings of the project. Funding for district-wide computerization and addition of school health staff was not secured by the end of the demonstration project; however, relationships among the partners endured and paved the way for future collaborations designed to better serve urban school children in Cincinnati. (J Sch Health. 2005;75(10):363-369) [source] Interaction in distance-learning coursesJOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR INFORMATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 3 2006Dan Bouhnik The article provides an in-depth analysis of previous literature that led to the understanding of the four interactive components of "e" learning and how we can utilize these components to maximize the positive and minimize the negative results of "e" learning. The four interactive dimensions of "e" learning are the following three originally described in Moore's editorial (1989): (1) interaction with the content, (2) interaction with the instructor, (3) interaction with the students, and an additional new fourth dimension, interaction with the system, which considered all of the new computer technology since his article. In our viewpoint we will highlight the impact that this fourth technological interactive dimension has on the results of "e" learning. The question then is not "to ,e' or not to ,e'," since "e" learning is already an essential factor of our contemporary learning environment. The question is how to "e", based on the understanding of the four interactive components of "e" learning, and the understanding that these four types of interactions are different from the ones we are accustomed to in the traditional learning environment. [source] Over- and underreporting of energy intake by patients with metabolic syndrome using an automated dietary assessment websiteNUTRITION & DIETETICS, Issue 4 2007Yasmine PROBST Abstract Under- and overreporting of dietary intake in a face-to-face context is related to age, gender and body mass index. The use of computer technology in dietetic practice is restricted to analysis of nutrient data rather than assessment of the diet. DietAdvice, a website developed to allow patients with metabolic syndrome to self-report their dietary intake, has been developed in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. Patients are recruited by their general practitioner, and use the website, and the data are electronically fed to a dietitian for an individualised dietary prescription. The aim of the present study is to describe the reporting status of patients using a pilot test of the website from November 2004 to October 2005, and determine relationships to body mass index, gender and age. Reported energy intake (EI) was compared with predicted basal metabolic rate (BMR). Patients were classified as underreporting if EI : BMR <1.35 and overreporting if EI : BMR >2.4. Chi-square and ordinal regression analyses were used to determine relationships to patient characteristics. Two hundred patients were recruited, of whom 57 had missing data or did not complete the assessment. Of the remaining 143 patients, 32.3% underreported their intakes, 21.7% overreported their intakes, and 46.2% were on target with their reporting. No relationships were found for age, gender or body mass index. Findings suggest that computerised dietary assessment may encourage patients to report with less bias than in a verbal dietary assessment when compared with the literature. [source] Movement-to-music computer technology: a developmental play experience for children with severe physical disabilitiesOCCUPATIONAL THERAPY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 2 2007Cynthia Tam Abstract Children with severe physical disabilities often lack the physical skills to explore their environment independently, and to play with toys or musical instruments. The movement-to-music (MTM) system is an affordable computer system that allows children with limited movements to play and create music. The present study explored parents' experiences of using the MTM system with their children. A qualitative methodology employing in-depth interview techniques was used with six mothers and their children. The themes extracted from the data were organized under two main concepts of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) (WHO, 2001) framework. The results showed that the MTM expanded horizons for the child along the ICF health dimensions and the MTM had a positive impact on ICF environmental determinants of health. The small sample size should be noted as a limitation of this study. Further research should be carried out with a larger sample of children with restricted mobility to obtain a better understanding of the impact of MTM technology on children's psychosocial development. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Overview of total intravenous anesthesia in childrenPEDIATRIC ANESTHESIA, Issue 3 2010VAITHIANADAN MANI MBChB FRCA Summary Total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) can be defined as a technique, in which general anesthesia is induced and maintained using purely i.v. agents. TIVA has become more popular and possible in recent times because of the pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic properties of propofol and the availability of short-acting synthetic opioids. Also, new concepts in PK modeling and advances in computer technology have allowed the development of sophisticated delivery systems, which make control of anesthesia given by the i.v. route as straightforward and user friendly as conventional, inhalational techniques. Monitoring of depth of anesthesia is being validated for these techniques, and in the future, measurements of expired propofol may be possible to guide administration. TIVA is being used increasingly in children. [source] The Implementation of an Electronic Performance Support System for Teachers: An Examination of Usage, Performance, and AttitudesPERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT QUARTERLY, Issue 1 2001Joi L. Moore ABSTRACT This study investigated how teachers used an electronic performance support system (EPSS) and whether the usage of this EPSS affected their work performance and attitudes toward computer technology. The findings suggested a framework for the implementation of an EPPS in an educational setting, specifically at a middle school. The data were collected through observations, questionnaires, anecdotal logs, database records, and interviews. Four middle school teachers used the EPSS primarily for completing student progress reports wherein the results indicated that the EPSS decreased the amount of time to perform this task. Computer usage, performance, and attitudes were affected by work responsibilities, accessibility to computers, the change agent, the technology support personnel, as well as the specific characteristics of the EPSS. The teachers' attitudes toward the EPSS and technology in general were affected by their performances when using the system, by interactions with the person responsible for technology support, and by the ability to customize the computer program to fit their needs. [source] Patent Protection of Computer-Implemented Inventions Vis-À-Vis Open Source SoftwareTHE JOURNAL OF WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, Issue 3 2006Asunción Esteve This article describes the different positions of the open source proponents versus the "traditional intellectual property approach" towards the so-called computer-implemented inventions. It analyses the position of both sides regarding the European Commission proposal on the patentability of computer-implemented inventions, and tries to clarify the confusion and misunderstanding that followed this proposal. The article first focuses on the reasons that could justify providing patent protection on computer-implemented inventions, in particular how the gradual growth of computer technology is having an increasing effect on the performance of inventions. Second, it examines the three main risks that the EU proposal was said, by some open source lobbies, to introduce: the overprotection of computer programs; the blocking effect in interoperability; and its negative impact on innovation and software development. The article evaluates these risks and provides reasons and arguments that show that they were overestimated. It also shows that no hard empirical data have been provided to support conclusions over the negative impact of computer-implemented inventions on innovation. Third, the article analyses if the legal provisions of the EU proposal on the patentability of computer-implemented inventions could have brought positive effects in terms of legal certainty. In this respect, the article considers that both the definition of computer-implemented invention and the criteria to evaluate the patentability of such inventions were a bit disappointing. Finally, the article considers any new legal initiative to endorse patent protection on computer-implemented inventions to be positive. [source] A review of the Behavioral Evaluation Strategy and Taxonomy (BEST®) software applicationBEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS, Issue 4 2004Tina M. Sidener Recent computer technology has led to the development of a number of software applications that have been specifically designed for collecting and analyzing observational data in real time. Behavioral Evaluation Strategy and Taxonomy (BEST®) is an innovative software program that provides users with an effective way to collect, store, and analyze real-time observational data. The program is comprised of two distinct applications: BEST Collection® and BEST Analysis®. The purpose of the current article was to provide a critical review of BEST Version 4.1.6 for the Windows® (95/98/NT) operating system. The basis of this review was our use of BEST to collect and analyze data for several studies over a 2 year period. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||