DOI: 10.3897/jucs.151691

Authors: Irene Ruiz-Pozo, Juan Morales-García, Claudia Ximena Aguirre-Mejía, Antonio Serrano

Abstract: The use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is revolutionising how companies create digital content on social networks. However, how users respond to this content remains less explored. The aim of this article is to compare GenAI-generated content with human-generated content on Instagram. First, through a survey of 273 students, we explored user engagement with the eSports team’s content on Instagram. Second, we measured followers’ engagement behaviors (i.e., “likes”, comments, shares and reach) with GenAI-generated content versus human-created content. Results indicate that both GenAI tools (ChatGPT and Gemini) achieved similar levels of engagement in terms of “likes”. ChatGPT stood out for its use of interactive features like opinion polls, particularly in “stories”, while Gemini excelled in total reach and visibility. In contrast, human-generated content attracted a higher proportion of non-followers, suggesting a stronger potential to expand the existing audience. These findings underscore the advantages of adopting a hybrid strategy that combines the scalability and speed of GenAI with the contextual relevance and authenticity of human-created content.

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DOI: 10.3897/jucs.135666

Authors: Davut Çulha

Abstract: Widespread adoption of blockchain technologies requires scalability. To achieve scalability, various methods are applied, including new consensus algorithms, directed acyclic graph solutions, sharding solutions, and off-chain solutions. Sharding solutions are particularly promising as they distribute workload across different parts of the blockchain network. Similarly, directed acyclic graphs use graph data structures to distribute workload effectively. In this work, a binary tree data structure is used to enhance blockchain scalability. Binary trees offer several advantages, such as the ability to address nodes with binary numbers, providing a straightforward and efficient method for identifying and locating nodes. Each node in the tree contains a block of transactions, which allows for transactions to be directed to specific paths within the tree. This directionality not only increases scalability by enabling parallel processing of transactions but also ensures that the blockchain can handle a higher volume of transactions without becoming congested. Moreover, transactions are decomposed into transaction elements, improving the immutability of the binary tree blockchain. This novel decomposition process helps to minimize the computational overhead required for calculating account balances, making the system more efficient. By breaking down transactions into their fundamental components, the system can process and verify transactions more rapidly and accurately. This approach effectively realizes implicit sharding using a binary tree structure, distributing the processing load more evenly and reducing bottlenecks. The proposed method is simulated to assess its performance. Experimental results demonstrate the method's scalability, showing that it can handle a significantly higher transaction throughput compared to traditional blockchain structures.

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DOI: 10.3897/jucs.128450

Authors: Ji Woong Yoo, Kyoung Jun Lee, Arum Park

Abstract: The advancement of AI has heightened the significance of ethical concerns, particularly in managing negative user feedback like malicious comments, necessitating thoughtful deliberation. The focus of this research is to explore the potential of deep learning techniques in addressing these issues and enhancing the ethical nature of AI systems. Specifically, we investigated the collection and processing of news comment data using Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) algorithm and Word2Vec model. The primary objective was to evaluate how deep learning techniques can improve the quality of data obtained from news comments. Our findings demonstrate that deep learning models surpass CleanBot in accuracy and block rates for handling negative user comments, including malicious ones, enabling organizations to effectively manage such comments in online communities using AI-based methods. This study adds to the existing research by showing how advanced deep learning techniques can effectively identify and classify harmful comments by analyzing complex language patterns.

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DOI: 10.3897/jucs.77793

Authors: Igor Tomicic, Markus Schatten, Vadym Shkarupylo

Abstract: This paper proposes an open ontology for self-sustainable human settlements in an effort to set the common language for modelling self-sustainable systems and address the issues regarding heterogeneity of physical devices, protocols, software components, data and message formats and other relevant factors, which proved to be unavoidable in implementations of smart systems in the domain of self-sustainability, smart homes, Internet of things, smart energy management systems, demand side systems, and related areas of research and engineering. Although the existing body of research is showing significant results in related, specialized research areas, currently there is no common formal language available which would bring the diversity of such research efforts under a single umbrella and thus enhance and integrate such efforts, which is often pointed out by the researchers in related fields. This paper discuses self- sustainable systems and associated areas, argues the need for the ontology development, presents its scope, development methodology, domain’s architecture and metamodel, and finally the proposed ontology itself, implemented in an open OWL format.

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DOI: 10.3897/jucs.68692

Authors: Riri Fitri Sari, Asri Ilmananda, Daniela Romano

Abstract: In the current digital era, information exchanges can be done easily through the Internet and social media. However, the actual truth of the news on social media platforms is hard to prove, and social media platforms are susceptible to the spreading of hoaxes. As a remedy, Blockchain technology can be used to ensure the reliability of shared information and can create a trusted communications environment. In this study, we propose a social media news spreading model by adapting an epidemic methodology and a scale-free network. A Blockchain-based news verification system is implemented to identify the credibility of the news and its sources. The effectiveness of the model is investigated by utilizing agent-based modelling using NetLogo software. In the simulations, fake news with a truth level of 20% are assigned a low News Credibility Indicator (NCI ± -0.637) value for all of the different network dimensions. Moreover, the Producer Reputation Credit is also decreased (PRC ± 0.213) so that the trust factor value is reduced. Our epidemic approach for news verification has also been implemented using Ethereum Smart Contract and several tools such as React with Solidity, IPFS, Web3.js, and Metamask. By showing the measurements of the credibility indicator and reputation credit to the user during the news dissemination process, this proposed smart contract can effectively limit user behaviour in spreading fake news and improve the content quality on social media.

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DOI: 10.3897/jucs.72333

Authors: Masao Ito

Abstract: There is no standard method for describing the Operational Design Domain (ODD) in automated driving vehicles. There are many elements in the operating domain, including the external environment, and it is necessary to connect them with the internal state of the automated driving system. Its content ultimately requires the user's understanding. The description method of this ODD is summarised from the aspect of safety. Consistency with standards and guidelines will also be considered.

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DOI: 10.3897/jucs.67050

Authors: Elisabet Arnó-Macià, Mary McCall, Daniel Kenzie, Suvi Isohella, Bruce Maylath

Abstract: This article draws on Trans-Atlantic and Pacific Project (TAPP) collaborations (e.g., [Arnó, 14] [Vandepitte, 16]) to show how students in already-existing technical communication classes can join other classes in realistic transnational projects through ICT and thereby acquire and enhance various types of transversal competences necessary to students’ future performance in a globalized workplace.

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DOI: 10.3897/jucs.64591

Authors: Christian Moreira Matos, Vítor Kehl Matter, Márcio Garcia Martins, João Elison da Rosa Tavares, Alexandre Sturmer Wolf, Paulo César Buttenbender, Jorge Luis Victória Barbosa

Abstract: People with disabilities and the elderly face difficulties to fulfill their accessibility needs in their daily life routines, mainly when they have an emergency demanding speedy and specific assistance. This article proposes the SafeFollowing, a collaborative model to help people with disabilities and the elderly in smart assistive cities. The main contribution of this work is the specification of a decentralized model of ubiquitous accessibility, which involves public agents and volunteers to attend the users’ requests. SafeFollowing also allows the use of police vehicles mapping, in order to provide a specific follow-up in adverse situations of daily life. The model was validated through experiments in real case scenarios by 14 public agents and 11 elderly and people with disabilities. The results showed that 100% of evaluators (users and agents) stated that the model was useful and 82% of users and 100% of agents considered that SafeFollowing was easy to use. The experiments also allowed the learning of 5 relevant lessons on technological and usability aspects of SafeFollowing that are recorded in this article.

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DOI: 10.3897/jucs.2020.043

Authors: Caroline Moeckel

Abstract: In this extended and updated paper, the experimental construction of a new attacker typology grounded in real-life data is proposed, using grounded theory analysis and over 300 publicly available documents containing details of digital banking related cybercrime and involved attackers. Seven attacker profiles forming the typology specific to the case of digital banking are presented. An initial light-touch evaluation approach based on peer review feedback and basic heuristics is suggested. A short excursus on circumplex models is added to address this visualisation tool used across past categorisation efforts.

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DOI: 10.3897/jucs.2020.042

Authors: Damjan Fujs, Simon Vrhovec, Damjan Vavpotič

Abstract: Information systems are pervasive in organizations of all sizes. To use them securely, users must be properly trained. Because of the pervasiveness of information systems the number of scientific publications reporting on user training for secure use of information systems is increasing year by year. To overcome the issue of manually surveying such a vast body of knowledge and to keep up with research trends, we conducted bibliometric mapping of research on user training for secure use of information systems. A total of N = 1955 records published between 1991 and 2019 were retrieved from the Web of Science bibliographic database on 21 November 2019. Top contributing authors, organizations, countries and research field were identified with the Web of Science built-in results analysis tool. Additionally, keyword mapping was performed with VOSviewer software. The analysis of the network and overlay keyword maps revealed six clusters: healthcare, technology adoption, management, information security, technical solutions and physical security. The results of this study suggest attractive research directions to be pursued in the future, such as information security training in healthcare and individualized user training alternatives to one-size-fits-all user training approach.

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DOI: 10.3897/jucs.2020.009

Authors: Patrick Juola

Abstract: The computational analysis of documents to learn about their authorship (also known as authorship attribution and/or authorship profiling) is an increasingly important area of research and application of technology. This paper discusses the technology, focusing on its application to social media in a variety of disciplines. It includes a brief survey of the history as well as three tutorial case studies, and discusses several significant applications and societal benefits that authorship analysis has brought about. It further argues, though, that while the benefits of this technology have been great, it has created serious risks to society that have not been sufficiently considered, addressed, or mitigated.

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DOI: 10.3897/jucs.2020.008

Authors: Anoud Hani, Feras Al-Obeidat, Elhadj Benkhelifa, Oluwasegun Adedugbe

Abstract: Consumer satisfaction is an important part for any business as it has been shown to be a major factor for consumer loyalty. Identifying satisfaction in products is also important as it allows businesses alter production plans based on the level of consumer satisfaction for a product. With consumer satisfaction data being very volatile for some products due to a short requirement period for such products, current consumer satisfaction must be identified within a shorter period before the data becomes obsolete. The fast fashion industry, which is part of the fashion industry, is adopted as a case study in this research. Unlike slow fashion, fast fashion products have short shelf lives and their retailers must be able to react swiftly to consumer demands. This research aims to investigate the effectiveness of current data mining techniques when used to identify consumer satisfaction towards fast fashion products. This is carried out by designing, implementing and testing a software artefact that utilises data mining techniques to obtain, validate and analyse fast fashion social data, sourced from Twitter, to identify consumer satisfaction towards specific product types. In addition, further analysis is carried out using a sentiment scaling method adapted to the characteristics of fast fashion.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-025-13-1736

Authors: J. Patón-Romero, Maria Baldassarre, Moisés Rodríguez, Mario Piattini

Abstract: Sustainability is not an option; it has become a primordial necessity in our nearest future and in the base of the growth of our society in all aspects and areas. Information Technology (IT) is playing a leading role in the field of sustainability. Organizations around the world realize the importance of Green IT and the great benefits it generates at an ecological, social, and economic level. That is why more and more organizations advocate for a sustainable environment in and by IT and demand standards and guidelines in this regard. However, this transformation towards the Green IT is not simple, it is a profound change that must be approached in stages, and the first one is the level of governance and management. For this reason, after developing, applying, and validating a first version (obtaining a series of lessons learned and points of improvement), we have carried out the development of the second version of a "Governance and Management Framework for Green IT". With this revised framework, we intend to offer a more complete and solid guide that helps organizations to gradually implement, evaluate, and improve all those aspects and characteristics of governance and management that are the basis of the processes, practices, and activities of Green IT. The results obtained after validating the revised framework demonstrate a stronger validity, usefulness, and applicability, offering a solid guide to organizations in their efforts to gradually implement, evaluate, and improve Green IT.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-025-12-1625

Authors: Carlos De Carvalho, Pedro Cano, José Roa, Anna Wanka, Franz Kolland

Abstract: Being able to effectively use online tools has become a fundamental competence in our Society. Therefore, it is important to tackle the age digital divide as there is a rapidly growing number of elderly people. Like everyone else, older adults (senior citizens or the silver generation) must be equipped with the necessary skills to be able to be connected and integrated in the online world to prevent their social isolation and to foster their inclusion. As a contribution to that effort, a European-wide digital literacy development initiative for senior citizens was setup and this article presents the analysis of the achieved results which shows a very positive perception of the seniors on the developed digital abilities.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-024-05-0646

Authors: Anže Mihelič, Simon Vrhovec

Abstract: Critical infrastructure is vital for the functioning of the state and the society. Even though the legal foundations for critical infrastructure protection in material world are well-established, there is almost no legal basis for providing critical infrastructure security in the cyberspace. In this paper, we study the applicability of different types of cybersecurity measures including the most offensive ones in different domains by drawing parallels to providing security in the material world. By further focusing on the offensive cybersecurity measures (i.e., hack back), we lay out the circumstances in which such invasive measures could be employed for providing security for the critical infrastructure.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-024-03-0302

Authors: Bruno Fernandes, Fábio Silva, Cesar Analide, José Neves

Abstract: Upcoming cities must undoubtedly reason upon the knowledge they have acquired through data gathered by sensorization. Those who do that will be at the forefront, closing to become Smart Cities. To achieve this goal, we must evolve from an Internet of Things to an Internet of People, defined as an ecosystem where everyone and everything can sense the other and the world, and act upon such data and knowledge, aiming to enhance people's quality of life. Considering the Vulnerable Road Users' (VRUs) problem, this work provides a proof of concept on crowd sensing for urban security in Smart Cities, confirming that our concept is viable and has practical potential. The goal is to sense the density of people at certain points of interest for VRUs, such as pedestrian crossings or busier roads, by detecting Wi-Fi probe requests with a Smart Scanner. Such information can be relevant to many applications, allowing, for example, the promotion of better safety measures on crowed spots, enhance crowd control and assemble interesting insights on traffic characteristics. To complement this work, and considering that smart clothing will certainly play an important role in promoting the citizen sensor and the smart cities' approach to VRUs' safety, a case study will be presented and discussed in which their clothing is equipped with a Bluetooth Low Energy transmitter. This allows such users to be recognized on the road, which may help avoid dangerous situations. The proof of concept was a success, with the developed software showing promising results at an extremely low price.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-023-12-1113

Authors: Murat Topaloglu, Dilek Kırar

Abstract: The BYOD programme is a trend that aims to provide companies and workers with the next generation of security methods and flexible business models. These have been developed recently as a result of technological developments, especially in smart devices. Individuals from the "Y generation", who are also called the millennials, have a significant influence on shaping the present and future technology. Y generation employees want to use their own devices, including their own personal applications. Allowing employees to use their own devices does not mean that you will lose anything or have no control. For this reason, the BYOD policy, when implemented at a good level, significantly increases business performance and increases the productivity with the benefits provided by mobility. The BYOD tendency, which is difficult to avoid, increases the productivity of employees and the flexibility of the company in the eyes of the employees, by letting them use their own devices in the business environment. Moreover, it reflects positively on the employees' morale, with a subsequent increase in company loyalty. The aim of this study is to evaluate the validity and reliability analyses done during the development of the scale which aims to measure the effects of BYOD on workers and to assess its security components, benefits, applicability and sustainability. Our goal is to revise the previous research done and present objective values and findings obtained from the analyses. These values were based on the demographic information and the answers given by participants about to what extent BYOD is known and legal, its vulnerabilities in infrastructure and data security, the way it affects workers' perceptions individually and in general, and the benefits it provides. SPSS 20 program was used for descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), item analyses and correlation coefficients.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-023-03-0304

Authors: Sonia Ortiz-Ángeles, Yenny Villuendas-Rey, Itzamá López-Yáñez, Oscar Camacho-Nieto, Cornelio Yáñez-Márquez

Abstract: The contemporary world has witnessed technological advances, such as Online Social Networks (OSN), whose influence in almost every action of the human being is remarkable. Among the human activities most significantly impacted by OSNs are: entertainment, human relationships, education, and political activities, including those related to electoral campaigns and electoral preferences prediction. The research contribution of the current paper regards the usefulness of OSNs users generated data to predict the political context. More specifically, 25 Computational Intelligence (CI) algorithms are used to predict voting intentions on the United States primary presidential elections for 2016, taking as input the data sets generated by 1200 users of the YouGov OSN, as well as the answers they gave to an online study run by the American National Election Studies (ANES). The application of the 25 supervised classification algorithms is done over the Waikato Environment for Knowledge Analysis (WEKA), using a stratified 5-fold cross validation scheme. Also, the experimental results obtained were validated in order to identify significant differences in performance by mean of a non-parametric statistical test (the Friedman test), and a post-hoc test (the Holm test). The hypothesis testing analysis of the experimental results indicates that predicting voting intentions in favour of a democrat or republican candidate is simpler than predicting the particular candidate, given that the prediction performances for a democrat or republican candidate (best performances of 80% and 78%, respectively) are better than those given when predicting a specific candidate (70% for democrat candidates and 56% for republican candidates).

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-023-03-0236

Authors: Klara Grčić, Marina Babac, Vedran Podobnik

Abstract: Social networks are nowadays an influential tool in the hands of the centres of political power because of their possibilities for direct and two-way communication with citizens in real time, dissemination of information, or a self-promotion and marketing. The use of social networks in the political context has become extremely important in the analysis and prediction of elections and generally in monitoring activities of politicians and public opinion. In this paper, we provide a content analysis of Facebook activities of leading European Union (EU) politicians to generate their extended individual profiles. Based on these profiles, a comparative analysis between the European Commissioners (i.e., EU ministers) and Croatian ministers is provided showing certain unexpected differences in their online behaviour. Summarizing these results, a model for prediction of online political behaviour is proposed.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-023-02-0146

Authors: Christos Georgiadis, Nikolaos Polatidis, Haralambos Mouratidis, Elias Pimenidis

Abstract: With the continuous growth of the Internet and the progress of electronic commerce the issues of product recommendation and privacy protection are becoming increasingly important. Recommender Systems aim to solve the information overload problem by providing accurate recommendations of items to users. Collaborative filtering is considered the most widely used recommendation method for providing recommendations of items or users to other users in online environments. Additionally, collaborative filtering methods can be used with a trust network, thus delivering to the user recommendations from both a database of ratings and from users who the person who made the request knows and trusts. On the other hand, the users are having privacy concerns and are not willing to submit the required information (e.g., ratings for products), thus making the recommender system unusable. In this paper, we propose (a) an approach to product recommendation that is based on collaborative filtering and uses a combination of a ratings network with a trust network of the user to provide recommendations and (b) 'neighbourhood privacy' that employs a modified privacy-aware role-based access control model that can be applied to databases that utilize recommender systems. Our proposed approach (1) protects user privacy with a small decrease in the accuracy of the recommendations and (2) uses information from the trust network to increase the accuracy of the recommendations, while, (3) providing privacy-preserving recommendations, as accurate as the recommendations provided without the privacy-preserving approach or the method that increased the accuracy applied.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-022-07-0921

Authors: Héctor Amado-Salvatierra, José Hilera, Salvador Tortosa, Rocael Rizzardini, Nelson Piedra

Abstract: The growth of education faces a constant evolution, and the adoption of new technologies for education is reflected in the inclusion of virtual courses in the educational process. However, accessibility in cloud-based applications, virtual platforms and online courses has not been widely taken into account in the educational process. In this sense, the inclusion of accessibility features for online applications and digital content represents a very important benefit for everyone, but in the context of e-learning, it is imperative for students with disabilities. The lack of interest and awareness in online accessibility for education is especially evident in developing countries that do not have legislation that encourages stakeholders to bear in mind accessibility features for web-based applications and contents. This paper proposes a methodological framework to take into account accessibility in the different processes of the life cycle of a virtual educational project. In this work, a semantic definition based on a conceptual model of the identified components for this methodology is presented. The proposed methodology has been prepared under an iterative design process, based on an international standard and complemented with online resources for dissemination. In order to validate and improve the methodological framework, seven accessible virtual training courses were prepared following the phases and components defined in the methodology. The seven courses were promoted in an open call for participation launched in Latin America with the support of a cooperation initiative between European and Latin American universities called ESVI-AL. At the end of the experience, a total of 748 teachers and 937 students from 150 different educational institutions were enrolled. The participants in the experience provided comments and suggestions for further improvement. The proposed work is intended to be used as a reference for educational institutions to identify the necessary changes needed to incorporate accessibility into their own production processes for virtual courses.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-022-03-0394

Authors: Vanja Smailovic, Vedran Podobnik

Abstract: In today's networked society where everybody and everything becomes inter-connected, it is very important to be able to identify key actors and key relationships in such a complex multi-layered eco-system. This paper focuses on the specific research challenge of identifying the most influential actors in a social network built through combining relationships among same actors in two different domains - communication domain (proxied through real-world mobile phone communication data) and social networking service domain (proxied through real-world Facebook data). A practical aspect of the paper is evaluated through the SmartSocial Platform, which uses methodology and implements algorithms that enable: i) joining multiple relations among actors across different social networks into the single unified social network; as well as ii) mining created unified social network for identification of most influential actors. Evaluation of the proposed approach is based on the social experiment with 465 users. Experiment results underline two important paper contributions: i) posting frequency sensitivity analysis shows a significant effect of posting frequency on social influence scores; and ii) interdependency analysis shows a synergic effect of combining data from communication and social networking service domains when it comes to calculating influence scores.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-022-03-0375

Authors: Georgios Lappas, Amalia Triantafillidou, Prodromos Yannas, Anastasia Kavada, Alexandros Kleftodimos, Olga Vasileiadou

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to examine the use of social media such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube by candidates running for the 2014 Greek Municipal Elections by addressing the following questions: (1) which factors affect social media adoption by municipal candidates?, and (2) whether social media usage along with the popularity of candidates' social media pages influence candidates' vote share. Results indicate that social media are not very popular campaigning tools among municipal candidates in Greece. This implies that Greek candidates still rely on traditional ways to lure their voters. Furthermore, findings reveal that candidates running in large municipalities are more likely to utilize social media (i.e., Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube) as means of political marketing. In addition, challengers seem to prefer Facebook and Twitter as campaign tools while males tend to focus on YouTube to attract voters. Despite the low adoption rate, results suggest that candidates who made use of social media won more votes compared to candidates who were not social media users. Moreover, it was found that a candidate's Facebook page and YouTube channel popularity are good indicators of the candidate's vote share.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-022-03-0302

Authors: Masoud Sagharichian, Morteza Langouri, Hassan Naderi

Abstract: The variety of applications requiring graph analysis is growing rapidly. Diameter is one of the most important metrics of a graph. The diameter is important in both designing algorithms for graphs and understanding the nature and evolution of graphs. So, detecting diameter of large graphs is very important. We propose an algorithm to calculate the diameter of such graphs. The main goal of this algorithm is to reduce the number of breadth-first searches required to determine the diameter of the graph by finding a better upper bound for the eccentricity of vertices. Based on experimental results, our proposed algorithm can quickly detect the exact diameter of the large-scale real world graphs with a few number of breadth-first searches.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-021-06-0777

Authors: Paloma Cáceres, Almudena Sierra-Alonso, Carlos Cuesta, Belén Vela, José Cavero

Abstract: Many organizations and public administrations are currently working to open their data for the general use, in the context of the Linked Open Data (LOD) initiative. This emphasizes the need to publish available data in a structured format, so that they can be accessed and externally processed in order to maximize their utility for citizens. This also poses a general challenge in the area of information technologies, as it requires being able to integrate data from heterogeneous distributed sources, provided in a compatible format. We consider the specific domain of public transport networks, where the information has obviously a public interest. The processing of these data can be used for a wide variety of applications: route planning systems are a classic example. However, most of the existing approaches in this domain fail to provide specific means to deal with accessibility data, i.e. the information which is relevant for people with special mobility needs, especially when it is obtained from different transit networks. In this context, the LD approach is particularly useful, due to the complexity of those relationships and their inherently graph-oriented nature. In this work we describe the process we use to define this information and to make it available in the context of the CoMobility project. First, we define a conceptual model, supported by the main reference data models in the transport domain: Transmodel and IFOPT, and emphasizing the role of accessibility. We transform it into an ontology, in order to combine data from diverse sources; and then such concrete data are captured using the schema defined by this ontology. In this context, we use actual data from the public bus network in the City of Madrid. Afterwards we are able to define and build new mobility services, e.g. to automatically decide if a certain bus route is accessible or not, considering any potential transfers in this route. Finally, we are able to publish the obtained information, albeit partially, preserving the LOD spirit.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-020-15-1995

Authors: Chien-Wen Shen, Shih-Hsuan Chu

Abstract: Given the increasingly important role social networking services play as sources of information during disasters, this study aims to investigate how the municipal governments and their emergency agencies employed RSS or Atom, webcast, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and photo-sharing platforms in the major U.S. cities. Our findings show that the emergency agencies of San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Jose are the top 3 performers on the Web 2.0 services. Regarding the social networking services provided by municipal emergency agencies, New York, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia rank among the top 3 cities. While San Diego city government and its emergency agencies provide the most number of Web 2.0 channels, New York City and its emergency agencies have the highest number of services in Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and photo-sharing platforms (Flickr, Pinterest, and Instagram). Because big cities can support better collaboration and communication during crisis if they provide more services on social networking services, under-performing cities can enhance their services by learning from the top-performing cities such as San Diego or New York City.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-020-11-1564

Authors: Mauricio Solar, Fernando Daniels, Roberto López, Luis Meijueiro

Abstract: This paper presents a model to diagnose maturity and capabilities of Public Agencies (PAs) in pursuing the open data principles and practices. The open data maturity model, called OD-MM, was piloted in ten PAs from three Latin American countries, validating in this way the web tool that operationalizes the model. This web tool is a valuable diagnostic tool for PA's, since it shows all weaknesses and provides the instrument (a roadmap) to progress in the implementation of open data. We also propose a guide to implement open data in PAs. This guide is the result of the OD-MM application in Latin American PAs. The guide is simple and orients decision makers so that PAs following the actions of the guide can see their improved capacities when facing a diagnosis of their institutional maturity in the implementation of open data.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-019-18-2639

Authors: Ramiro Gonçalves, José Martins, Jorge Pereira, Vitor Santos, Manuel Pérez Cota

Abstract: Web accessibility is becoming a current topic in social and scientific discussions. With the advances in technology, a need for access to all Web resources is becoming more and more recurrent due to the several advantages that the Web brings to those with some sort of disability, allowing them accessing and integrating in society. With this document we aim to present indicators regarding the lower accessibility levels of the Portuguese teaching institutions websites. A set of background and theoretical considerations is made alongside the article, as well as the results of an accessibility evaluation made to the Portuguese secondary schools websites using a specialized software tool and according to WCAG 2.0. The present document also contains a proposal for a model that aims on improving Web accessibility Levels in Portugal by fostering the creation of relations and group activities between the actors that, in our opinion, are those with the most relevance in the Web content accessibility issue.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-019-17-2526

Authors: Constantin Taivan, Rui José, Bruno Silva, Ivan Elhart, Jorge Cardoso

Abstract: Urban spaces are increasingly embedded with various types of public digital displays. Many of these displays can be subject to multi-user interactions and support a broad range of applications. A fundamental implication emerging from the interactive nature of those applications is that users should have access to appropriate selection and control techniques that would allow them to drive the way applications are shown and used in the respective environment. Such techniques should enable each user to reason and express intentions about the system behavior, while also dealing with concurrent requests from multiple users in a way that is fair and clear. In this study, we aim to inform the definition of novel techniques for application selection and control in pervasive display environments that can address the above challenges. Drawing inspiration from traditional GUI interaction concepts we developed and deployed a public display system that supports multiple applications and is able to receive explicit content presentation requests from multiple viewers. Based on the experiment observations and interviews with the participants, we reached a set of design considerations for future pervasive displays environments that are open to third party applications providers and allow the audience to influence content presentation.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-019-12-1703

Authors: Habib Fardoun, Abdulfattah Mashat, Sebastián López

Abstract: In a world where the most used sentences is: "I haven't got the time..." Information Technologies (IT) plays an important role in supporting our daily work, including in everyday educational settings. Such technologies can aid a complete educational system to function successfully so to help the whole school educational life. For this to prove, we present the "Coaching for Teacher" system, a personal technological conversational coach; it aims to provide solutions to overcome difficulties that teachers face during their teaching and learning process. In real time, a teacher can appeal and seek advice rapidly by comfortably talking to an agent. In this paper, we present the steps we followed to design and develop this agent-based application, and a case study conducted in an educational centre for proof that the concept works in an authentic educational environment.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-019-11-1500

Authors: Ángel Fidalgo, María Sein-Echaluce, Dolores Lerís, Oscar Castañeda

Abstract: The education project presented in this paper endeavors to study the feasibility of incorporating adaptive systems into LMS systems, by using them both in training & learning process and at work. This case study is aimed at employability and job post improvement. For this purpose, we have created a process that is flexible both to the student pattern (and to the job pattern. The developed process is adaptable both to the student (via the incorporation of an adaptable system with an LMS system) and to the job model (via an adaptable system to the knowledge management). The evaluation was qualitative and measured the process (feasibility to apply adaptive systems) and the efficiency of the method (applicability and employability). The functionality of the specific developed tools allowed us to grade the degree of adaptability in the training process, to dynamically vary the training plan from the student's actions and to identify the resources that best met the job needs.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-019-07-0950

Authors: Habib Fardoun, Bassam Zafar, Abdulrahman Altalhi, Antonio Paules

Abstract: The design of an educational system involves a good understanding of the whole school environment in order to find the correct approach to develop a comprehensive educational system that will meet real educational needs in their operation. This article describes a design model for an educational system based on the teaching methods applied in the Spanish classrooms, which takes into account new advances in technology, while preserving the current teaching methods in the classroom to ensure a quality teaching and learning process. This development has been achieved by combining technological components such as Cloud Computing, Web Services and Distributed User Interfaces. The proposed system is based on a systematic approach where different phases are implemented, containing workflows and stages.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-019-07-0894

Authors: Felix Marco, Victor Penichet, José A. Gallud Lázaro

Abstract: e-Learning platforms allow users to collaborate with one other. Moodle, as one of the main e-Learning platforms, provides tools to perform collaborative tasks. With these tasks, students are able to share documents and information. The means provided by Moodle are not enough to perform some collaborative tasks, such as sharing documents in real-time. In this scenario users must be aware of what is happening in the system effectively. We propose the use of Drag & Share within Moodle, a collaborative tool that allows users to synchronously share resources in real-time. Through this tool, teachers are able to easily provide a shared workspace for students and be able to create groups. With such a tool, students can share all kind of resources and be aware of what is going on in the system in which they are participating and of what they are doing. All these features use standard technologies, such as HTML5.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-018-20-2748

Authors: Lutz Prechelt

Abstract: In September 1997, J.UCS published an article titled "Why we Need an Explicit Forum for Negative Results" [Prechelt, 1997]. It argued that when a plausible approach for solving a computer science or software engineering problem had failed to work out, it was silly for the scientific system not to publish the attempt iff a useful insight had been gained along the way nevertheless. Due to the strong bias of essentially all Computer Science publication venues towards "successful" research results, it was thus required to call for such negative results explicitly in order to avoid that those results would either be misleadingly disguised as successes or disappear in some closet. The article declared that J.UCS had thus agreed to create the "Forum for Negative Results (FNR)" as a permanent special section of J.UCS.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-018-19-2625

Authors: George Giaglis, Diomidis Spinellis

Abstract: Research in virtual teams and distributed work argues that the lack of collocation places an overhead on the performance potential of large, globally distributed teams. In this paper, we revisit this tenet through a case study of Free/Libre Open Source Software (FLOSS) development to demonstrate how globally dispersed FLOSS communities manage to overcome the problem of geographic separation of their members. Our results show that successful FLOSS teams demonstrate a truly global distribution of members, who perform different types of work so as to achieve consistent round-the-clock development, without any apparent ill effects on team productivity and the quality of the resulting outcomes. Cooperation between team members is abundant, especially at more complex work items, and does not seem to be affected by distance; only mentoring relationships appear in some cases to be easier to cultivate between individuals living closer together. These findings challenge the conventional wisdom of research in distributed work, in cases where virtual teams consist of highly skilled and motivated individuals, who leverage the power of communication technologies to overcome problems associated with physical distance.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-018-10-1323

Authors: Marija Jovic, Dusan Milutinovic, Anton Kos, Saso Tomazic

Abstract: This paper deals with customers' behavior in an online environment. The major hypothesis of this paper is that different online product presentation strategies have a different impact on the customer's choice and that this impact can be measured. The research was conducted using an experimental method based on 6 product groups of 8 products per group. The products were presented with different combinations of several audio and visual elements: text, picture, video, animation, speech, special sound, and background music. The impact of each combination on the customer's choice was tested on a customer sample of 46 examinees. The most important conclusion is that besides text and a picture of the product, it is highly recommendable to include a video of the product in the product's online presentation. Regarding the number of multimedia elements, it is better to include more than less elements in a product presentation on the Internet, in contrast to some findings in connection with e-Learning.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-018-08-1048

Authors: Victor Ströele, Geraldo Zimbrão, Jano Souza

Abstract: Social networks are dynamic social structures consisting of individuals or organizations, usually represented by nodes tied by one or more relationship type. Analyzing these structures enables us to detect several inter and intra connections between people in and outside their organizations. In this context, we construct a multi-relational scientific social network where researchers may have four different types of relationships with each other. We adopt some criteria such as relationship age in order to assign a weight to relationships and to enable the modeling of a scientific social network as close as possible to reality. Using clustering techniques with maximum flow measure, we identify the social structure and research communities in a way that allows us to evaluate the knowledge flow in the Brazilian scientific community.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-018-04-0577

Authors: Anna Zygmunt, Piotr Bródka, Przemysław Kazienko, Jarosław Koźlak

Abstract: Identifying key persons active in social groups in the blogosphere is performed by means of social network analysis. Two main independent approaches are considered in the paper: (i) discovery of the most important individuals in persistent social communities and (ii) regular centrality measures applied either to social groups or the entire network. A new method for separating of groups stable over time, fulfilling given conditions of activity level of their members is proposed. Furthermore, a new concept for extracting user roles and key persons in such groups is also presented. This new approach was compared to the typical clustering method and the structural node position measure applied to rank users. The experimental studies have been carried out on real two-year blogosphere data.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-018-10-1379

Authors: Cao Mukun, Melody Kiang

Abstract: Research in automated negotiation has traditionally been focusing on the negotiation protocol and strategy design, but little on the implementation related issues such as how to select the best negotiation strategy, especially for problems involving multi-strategy selection. The strategy selection is very important for agent to take risk to achieve better negotiation outcomes. The lack of such study has hampered the development in applying automated negotiation to real world problems. This research focuses on operationalizing risk taking agent's independent decision-making process through the design of a negotiation decision-making model and the software architecture, based on an abstract architecture model that can support both goal-directed reasoning and reactive response. We formally define the automated negotiation agent's abstract architecture model and propose an algorithm for the architecture and the decision-making model. Grounded on the theory of Belief-Desire-Intention, the model can support the agent's multi-strategy negotiation. A prototype of the model is built and applied to an aircraft purchase negotiation process to demonstrate the effectiveness of our model.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-018-03-0353

Authors: Luca Botturi, Chiara Bramani, Sean Mccusker

Abstract: This paper explores the differences between boys and girls in their approach to ICT. Data were gathered from students in the final grades of high school in the Swiss Canton Ticino as part of a wider European project, with a particular focus on the potential uptake of a study or professional career in ICT. Preliminary focus groups with teachers and interviews with women with a job in ICT were followed by a quali-quantitative study which involved 539 students. Results indicate that there are no big gender differences when it comes to ICT use and perception. Small differences are found in the perception of the gender digital divide, while relevant differences were found in the perception and values attached to future professional or academic careers in ICT.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-017-14-1951

Authors: Victor Ströele, Ricardo Silva, Moises De Souza, Carlos Eduardo R. De Mello, Jano Souza, Geraldo Zimbrão, Jonice Oliveira

Abstract: Social networks are social structures consisting of individuals or organizations, usually represented by nodes tied by one or more types of relationships. Although these structures are often complex, analyzing them enables us to detect several inter and intra connections amongst people in and outside their organizations. In this context, we present an approach using data mining techniques in order to identify intra and inter organizational linkages amongst groups of people with similar profiles. Using clustering techniques, we identify groups of people in a way that allows us to evaluate how researchers collaborate in the Brazilian scientific scenario of Computing Science. Besides this, we are able to understand how research flows amongst the best universities and research centres in Brazil. Understanding the Scientific Brazilian scenario can help the development of research in other scenario or even in other Social Network Types.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-017-14-1931

Authors: Ana Cristina B. Garcia, Adriana Vivacqua, Thiago Tavares

Abstract: Democratic governments constantly need to make sense of their citizens' needs to make appropriate decisions that reflect the overall wishes and needs of the population. However, except for mandatory voting scenarios, a low rate of citizen participation in government decisions through democratic processes is an aspect that defies democracy itself. Brazil's participatory budget policy emphasizes people's direct guidance regarding certain budget allocations though group meetings. This paper presents mParticipation, an agent-based model for eliciting and answering citizen demands in a participatory government structure using mobile technology. A prototype system applied to the domain of public budget allocation domain demonstrates that it is feasible to provide effective computational support to participatory collective decision-making.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-017-12-1659

Authors: Rory Sie, Marlies Bitter-Rijpkema, Peter Sloep

Abstract: Several studies have shown that connecting to people in other networks foster creativity and innovation. However, it is often difficult to tell what the prospective value of such alliances is. Cooperative game theory offers an a priori estimation of the value of future collaborations. We present an agent-based social simulation approach to recommending valuable peers in networked innovation. Results indicate that power as such does not lead to a winning coalition in networked innovation. The recommendation proved to be successful for low-strength agents, which connected to high-strength agents in their network. Future work includes tests in real-life and other recommendation strategies.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-017-09-1329

Authors: Mark Johnson, Dai Griffiths, Mi Wang

Abstract: The concept of social role is a fundamental underpinning of the design and implementation of a wide range of learning technologies. However, the roles that are designed into technologies often ill-fit the real roles of teachers, learners and other stakeholders in educational institutions. This can exacerbate problems in adoption as stakeholders do not recognise the roles described for them in the technology. In this paper, Positioning Theory is used to explore the relationship between role, social context and communication drawing on specific examples of IMS Learning Design, Virtual Learning Environments, and Personal Learning Environments. With insights gained from this analysis, recommendations are made for theoretical focus on understanding the particulars of practice and identification of specific technical issues of interoperability rather than designing technologies based on idealisations of the roles of stakeholders within institutions.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-017-09-1314

Authors: Ángel Hernández-García, Santiago Iglesías-Pradas, Julián Chaparro-Peláez, Félix Pascual-Miguel

Abstract: Acceptance of online shopping adoption by individuals has been a concerning issue for researchers in the past decade. However, most research has focused in evaluating the attitudes and intention to use electronic commerce from the shoppers' perspective, neglecting to analyze the behavior and attitudes of those who have not adopted e-commerce yet: the non-shoppers. The objective of this study is to explore and evaluate the behavior and attitudes of the non-shoppers' segment towards the acceptance of business-to-consumer electronic commerce (B2C-EC). The theoretical foundations of the study are provided by the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Innovations Diffusion Theory (IDT), with the addition of a specific factor related to the nature of B2C-EC: product offering of the e-commerce channel. This framework leads to an attitudinal/behavioral model which seeks to identify the factors perceived by non-shoppers as the most important for the adoption of B2C-EC. The model has been validated with data from 995 Spanish non-shoppers using the partial least squares (PLS) technique. Findings from the analysis results show that perceived usefulness, perceived compatibility and product offering affect positively the attitude of non-shoppers towards the adoption of B2C-EC and their intention to use it. Among these factors, perceived compatibility stands out as the most relevant factor to foster the adoption of B2C-EC among non-shoppers. Other implications for theory and practice are discussed in the final section.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-017-04-0548

Authors: Marco Bertoni, Koteshwar Chirumalla

Abstract: The paper explores the application of Web 2.0 technologies to support product development efforts in a global, virtual and cross-functional setting. It analyses the dichotomy between the prevailing hierarchical structure of CAD/PLM/PDM systems and the principles of the Social Web under the light of the emerging product development trends. Further it introduces the concept of Engineering 2.0, intended as a more bottom up and lightweight knowledge sharing approach to support early stage design decisions within virtual and cross-functional product development teams. The lessons learned collected from a cross-company study highlight how to further developblogs, wikis, forums and tags for the benefit of new product development teams, highlighting opportunities, challenges and no-go areas.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-017-03-0426

Authors: Wynand Van Staden, Martin Olivier

Abstract: This paper puts forward a verification method for compound purposes and compound reasons to be used during purpose limitation. When it is absolutely necessary to collect privacy related information, it is essential that privacy enhancing technologies (PETs) protect access to data - in general accomplished by using the concept of purposes bound to data. Compound purposes and reasons are an enhancement of purposes used during purpose limitation and binding and are more expressive than purposes in their general form. Data users specify their access needs by making use of compound reasons which are defined in terms of (compound) purposes. Purposes are organised in a lattice with purposes near the greatest lower bound (GLB) considered weak (less specific) and purposes near the least upper bound (LUB) considered strong (most specific). Access is granted based on the verification of the statement of intent (from the data user) against the compound purpose bound to the data; however, because purposes are in a lattice, the data user is not limited to a statement of intent that matches the purposes bound to the data exactly - the statement can be a true reflection of their intent with the data. Hence, the verification of compound reasons against compound purposes cannot be accomplished by current published verification algorithms. Before presenting the verification method, compound purposes and reasons, as well as the structures used to represent them, and the operators that are used to define compounds is presented. Finally, some thoughts on implementation are provided.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-017-03-0399

Authors: Fernando López-Colino, José Colás

Abstract: This work presents a first approach to the synthesis of Spanish Sign Language's (LSE) Classifier Constructions (CCs). All current attempts at the automatic synthesis of LSE simply create the animations corresponding to sequences of signs. This work, however, includes the synthesis of the LSE classification phenomena, defining more complex elements than simple signs, such as Classifier Predicates, Inflective CCs and Affixal classifiers. The intelligibility of our synthetic messages was evaluated by LSE natives, who reported a recognition rate of 93% correct answers.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-016-13-1776

Authors: Heiko Thimm, Karsten Rasmussen

Abstract: Companies in collaborative networks require intermediation to perform. The collaborative network forms the breeding environment for the configuration of a Virtual Enterprise that can handle a business request. This configuration task can be supported by IT services. For collaborative networks such as production networks focused on non-digital services and products we propose to assign specific intermediation tasks to a human network moderator supported by these IT services. The obvious support is targeted for the configuration of the Virtual Enterprise i.e. the search and selection from the available products, services, and competences found among the network participants. The configuration decision can jeopardize the network performance by harming the trust necessary to build new Virtual Enterprises. Through a further intermediation task trust can be inspired and promoted in the network. This article shows how the configuration is supported by a Decision Support Service and how a Transparency Support Service supports the downloading and acceptance of decisions in collaborative networks. The article outlines the IT supportive service system and exemplifies the use by a scenario example. Results on intermediation in collaborative networks can prove helpful for general service science problems.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-016-13-1694

Authors: Carlos Pedrinaci, John Domingue

Abstract: It has often been argued that Web services would have a tremendous impact on the Web, as a core enabling technology supporting a highly efficient service-based economy at a global scale. However, despite the outstanding progress in the area we are still to witness the application of Web services in any significant numbers on the Web. In this paper, we analyse the state of the art highlighting the main reasons we believe have hampered their uptake. Based on this analysis, we further discuss about current trends and development within other fields such as the Semantic Web and Web 2.0 and argue that the recent evolution provides the missing ingredients that will lead to a new wave of services - Linked Services - that will ultimately witness a significant uptake on a Web scale. Throughout the presentation of this vision we outline the main principles that shall be underpinning the development of Linked Services and we illustrate how they can be implemented using a number of technologies and tools we have developed and are in the process of extending.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-016-12-1480

Authors: Rui José, Helena Rodrigues, Nuno Otero

Abstract: Ambient Intelligence (AmI) has emerged in the past 10 years as a multidisciplinary field within ubiquitous computing, attracting considerable research, funding and public attention and leading to many research groups, and conferences specifically focused on Ambient Intelligence topics. From its conception, AmI has always been a field strongly driven by a particular vision of how ICT technologies would shape our future. This has given the AmI vision, essentially as proposed by ISTAG, an excessively central role in shaping the field and setting its research agenda. We argue that this inspiring vision should no longer be the main driver for AmI research and that we should now re-interpret its role in the background of 10 years of research. In this paper, we reflect on what it means for AmI to move behind its foundational vision and we identify a number of emerging trends around some of its core concepts, more specifically the notion of intelligence, the system view and the requirements process. The main motivation is to search for alternative research directions that may be more effective in delivering today the essence of the AmI vision, even if they mean abandoning some of the currently prevailing approaches and assumptions. Overall, these trends provide a more holistic view of AmI and may represent important contributions for bringing this field closer to realisation, delivery and real social impact.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-016-08-1102

Authors: Melpomeni Hatzikou

Abstract: The successful deployment and exploitation of an Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) project in a traditional Public Organization involves the proper design and implementation of the Information System (IS) and a proper combination of Business Process Re-engineering (BPR) and Change Management (CM) techniques, specially adapted to meet the organizations' needs. The current work describes the transformation of such an organization, the Holy Archdiocese of Athens, earlier functioning based on a bureaucratic model, into a modern organization, integrating Information Technology (IT) in core processes and offering electronic public services to citizens. Over and above IT expertise, an individual approach of BPR and CM techniques were used in order to meet the challenges set by the nature of this project, the outdated processes in a church organization and the problems caused by elder, unfamiliar with IT and highly resistant to change personnel.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-016-06-0983

Authors: Maytham Safar, Nosayba El-Sayed, Khaled Mahdi, David Taniar

Abstract: Recent work on social networks has tackled the measurement and optimization of these networks’ robustness and resilience to both failures and attacks. Different metrics have been used to quantitatively measure the robustness of a social network. In this work, we design and apply a Genetic Algorithm that maximizes the cyclic entropy of a social network model, hence optimizing its robustness to failures. Our social network model is a scale-free network created using Barabási and Albert's generative model, since it has been demonstrated recently that many large complex networks display a scale-free structure. We compare the cycles distribution of the optimally robust network generated by our algorithm to that belonging to a fully connected network. Moreover, we optimize the robustness of a scale-free network based on the links-degree entropy, and compare the outcomes to that which is based on cycles-entropy. We show that both cyclic and degree entropy optimization are equivalent and provide the same final optimal distribution. Hence, cyclic entropy optimization is justified in the search for the optimal network distribution.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-016-03-0341

Authors: Susana Bagüés, Andreas Zeidler, Cornel Klein, Carlos Valdivielso, Ignacio Matias

Abstract: Protection of personal data in the Internet is already a challenge today. Users have toactively look up privacy policies of websites and decide whether they can live with the terms of use. Once discovered, they are forced to make a "`take or leave"' decision. In future living andworking environments, where sensors and context-aware services are pervasive, this becomes an even greater challenge and annoyance. The environment is much more personalized and userscannot just "`leave"'. They require measures to prevent, avoid and detect misuse of sensitive data, as well as to be able to negotiate the purpose of use of data. We present a novel modelof privacy protection, complementing the notion of enterprise privacy with the incorporation of personal privacy towards a holistic privacy management system. Our approach allows non-expertusers not only to negotiate the desired level of privacy in a rather automated and simple way, but also to track and monitor the whole life-cycle of data.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-015-07-1496

Authors: Lucila Maria Costi Santarosa, Lourenço Basso

Abstract: Eduquito is intended to be a virtual environment for digital/social inclusion where people can exercise their citizenship with interaction and personal development. As a virtual space, it comprises a Learning by Project Environment which provides not only access resources for People with Special Educational Needs but also an array of special tools, which foster a process of creative dialogue as well as dynamic individual and collective development.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-015-03-0692

Authors: Niels Bjørn-Andersen, Leif Rasmussen, Soley Rasmussen

Abstract: This paper presents findings from the development process of a general innovation framework for an ongoing Nordic R&D project on e-business and media. It focuses on the current state of the Danish news media sector and the conclusions we can draw from the "Web 2.0 activity" of the Danish newspapers. The paper concludes that the Web 2.0 implies the need for fundamental re-thinking of the business models of the news media sector and for developing a new framework for business modelling for this sector.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-015-03-0555

Authors: Antonio Ruiz-Martínez, C. Marín-López, Laura Baño-López, Antonio Skarmeta

Abstract: The participation of an e-notary, acting as an on-line Trusted Third Party is required in some scenarios, such as Business to Business, Intellectual Property Rights contracting, or even as a legal requirement, in contract signing is frequently necessary. This e-notary gives validity to the contract or performs some tasks related to the contract, e.g. contract registration. In the abovementioned contracting scenarios, two important additional features are needed: the negotiation of the e-contract and confidentiality. However, until now, e-contract signing protocols have not considered these issues as an essential part of the protocol. In this paper, we present a new protocol which is designed to make negotiation and contract signing processes secure and confidential. Moreover, compared to other previous proposals based on an on-line Trusted Third Party, this protocol reduces the e-notary’s workload. Finally, we describe how the protocol is being used to achieve agreements on the rights of copyrighted works.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-015-02-0401

Authors: Andreas Schmidt

Abstract: Business models involving buyers of digital goods in the distribution process are called superdistribution schemes. We review the state-of-the art of research and application of superdistribution and propose a systematic approach to market mechanisms using super-distribution and technical system architectures supporting it. The limiting conditions on such markets are of economic, legal, technical, and psychological nature. Large scale applications of superdistribution such as video-on-demand and multimedia over peer-to-peer type networks pose particular requirements on security and efficiency.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-014-10-1739

Authors: Ian Witten

Abstract: Search engines—"web dragons"—are the portals through which we access society's treasure trove of information. They do not publish the algorithms they use to sort and filter information, yet what they do and how they do it are amongst the most important questions of our time. They deal not just with information per se, but evaluate it in order to prioritize it for the user. To do this they assess the prestige of each web page in terms of who links to it. This article explains in non-technical terms what is known about how web search engines work. We describe the dominant way of measuring prestige, relating it to the experience of a surfer condemned to click randomly around the web forever—and also to standard techniques of bibliometric evaluation. We review alternatives: some strive to identify subcommunities of the web; others learn based on implicit user feedback. We also takes a critical look at how people use search engines, and identify issues of bias, privacy, and personalization that crucially affect our world of information today.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-014-07-1118

Authors: Amelia Bădică, Costin Bădică

Abstract: The vision of global agent-based e-commerce environments that enable dy-namic trading between business partners requires the study and development of suitable formal modeling frameworks. In particular, negotiation is a necessary and importantactivity to allow engagement of business parties in non-trivial business relationships. In this paper we propose a formal framework based on finite state process algebra formodeling and analysis of interaction protocols in agent-based negotiations. The approach is demonstrated by applying the framework to model agent interactions in asingle-item English auction scenario.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-014-07-1080

Authors: Vedran Podobnik, Ana Petric, Gordan Jezic

Abstract: Supply chain management (SCM) deals with planning and coordinating activities such as material procurement, product assembly, and the distribution of manufactured products. This paper offers an agent-based solution as a potentially adequate approach for the automation of supply chain management. The greatest obstacle in SCM research is obtaining benchmark designed solutions since it is difficult to simulate real business environments, while live testing in real-world systems is not an option. The Trading Agent Competition Supply Chain Management (TAC SCM) scenario provides a unique testbed for studying and prototyping SCM agents by providing a challenging game environment where competing agents engage in complex decision-making activities with the purpose of maximizing their profit. In this paper, we describe the TAC SCM environment and present the main features of the CrocodileAgent, our TAC SCM 2007 entry. Additionally, the CrocodileAgent’s performance in the competition, as well as in a series of controlled experiments, is discussed.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-014-05-0717

Authors: Zbigniew Hulicki

Abstract: Development of e-services in the CE (Central European) countries d epends on a number of factors which can result in overcoming or extending digital divide between the "new" and "old" EU member states. These factors comprise both drives of and barriers to development of broadband access and growth of e-services. This paper provides insight into the environment for the CE mass-market broadband adoption, and examines each of the factors that condition this adoption: novel approaches to increase ICT penetration; clear policy and legal regulations; segmented service offerings for specific user needs in such markets ; and innovative pricing schemes and service packages.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-014-04-0526

Authors: Claudia Müller, Benedikt Meuthrath, Anne Baumgraß

Abstract: Increasingly wikis are used to support existing corporate knowledge exchange processes. They are an appropriate software solution to support knowledge processes. However, it is not yet proven whether wikis are an adequate knowledge management tool or not. This paper presents a new approach to analyze existing knowledge exchange processes in wikis based on network analysis. Because of their dynamic characteristics four perspectives on wiki networks are introduced to investigate the interrelationships between people, information, and events in a wiki information space. As an analysis method the Social Network Analysis (SNA) is applied to uncover existing structures and temporal changes. A scenario data set of an analysis conducted with a corporate wiki is presented. The outcomes of this analysis were utilized to improve the existing corporate knowledge processes.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-014-04-0508

Authors: Ronald Maier, Stefan Thalmann, Florian Bayer, Michael Krüger, Hendrik Nitz, Alexander Sandow

Abstract: Even though knowledge management has been around for more than a decade, so far concrete instruments that can be systematically deployed are still rare. This paper presents an optimization solution targeted at flexible management of office space considering knowledge management criteria in order to enhance knowledge work productivity. The paper presents the Flexible Office conceptual model and optimization solution. It discusses the theoretical foundation, assumptions and reasoning. A corresponding prototype was field-tested, successfully introduced, evaluated with the help of a series of interviews with users and improved according to their requirements. The paper also reflects on the organizational impact and lessons learned from field test and practical experience.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-013-13-2035

Authors: Mario Bravetti, Adalberto Casalboni, Manuel Núñez, Ismael Rodriguez

Abstract: An e-barter system is an e-commerce environment where transactions do not necessarily involve money. They are multi-agent systems where agents perform exchanges of rewources on behlaf of their respective users. Besides, their strucutre is based on a tree of markets. In this paper we show how to develop suitable designs for this kind of systems by means of web services by using WS-BPEL. Since the formal specification abstracts most practical details, the development of such design definition requires to face several challenges. We present two alternative designs that both comply with the formal specification.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-013-04-0479

Authors: Zoran Đurić, Ognjen Marić, Dragan Gašević

Abstract: Payment systems need to address a number of security issues in order to be an effective and secure means of transferring payments across the Internet. To be accessible to a wider audience, they also need to be easy to use for their end-users (customers and merchants). Trying to address these issues, we created the Internet Payment System (IPS). IPS tries to combine the advantages of several existing payment systems. While strong emphasis is made on the mobility and ease of use for its customers, IPS still retains strong security properties. It achieves privacy, integrity, authentication and non-repudiation by using different cryptographic algorithms and techniques. To demonstrate that the protocol satisfies the desired security properties, we use a recently proposed tool for formal verification, called AVISPA.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-013-02-0244

Authors: Costin Bădică, Maria Ganzha, Marcin Paprzycki

Abstract: The idea of automating e-commerce transactions attracts a lot of interest among researchers and IT practitioners, and multi-agent systems are claimed to be one of promising software technologies for achieving this goal. Since price negotiations are one of crucial aspects of e-commerce transactions, in this paper we present a rule-based implementation of automated price negotiations utilized in a multi-agent system that models an e-commerce environment. We start by summarizing state-of-the-art in rule-based approaches to automated negotiations. We follow with a brief description of the conceptual architecture of our system and a simplified scenario that involves multiple buyer agents participating in multiple English auctions performed in parallel. A detailed discussion of the design and implementation of price negotiations, using JADE and JESS, and presentation of sample experiments complete the paper.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-012-12-1731

Authors: Narayanan Kulathuramaiyer, Wolf-Tilo Balke

Abstract: Everyone realizes how powerful the few big Web search engine companies have become, both in terms of financial resources due to soaring stock quotes and in terms of the still hidden value of the wealth of information available to them. Following the common belief that "information is power" the implications of what the data collection of a de-facto monopolist in the field like Google could be used for should be obvious. However, user studies show that the real implications of what a company like Google can do, is already doing, and might do in a not too distant future, are not explicitly clear to most people. Based on billions of daily queries and an estimated share of about 49% of the total Web queries [Colburn, 2007], allows predicting with astonishing accuracy what is going to happen in a number of areas of economic importance. Hence, based on a broad information base and having the means to shift public awareness such a company could for instance predict and influence the success of products in the market place beyond conventional advertising or play the stock market in an unprecedented way far beyond mere time series analysis. But not only the mining of information is an interesting feature; with additional services such as Google Mail and on-line communities, user behavior can be analyzed on a very personal level. Thus, individual persons can be targeted for scrutiny and manipulation with high accuracy resulting in severe privacy concerns. All this is compounded by two facts: First, Google's initial strategy of ranking documents in a fair and objective way (depending on IR techniques and link structures) has been replaced by deliberatively supporting or ignoring sites as economic or political issues are demanding [Google Policy: Censor, 2007]. Second, Google's acquisition of technologies and communities together with its massive digitization projects such as [Burright, 2006] [Google Books Library, Project, 2006] enable it to combine information on issues and persons in a still more dramatic way. Note that search engines companies are not breaking any laws, but are just acting on the powers they have to increase shareholder value. The reason for this is that there are currently no laws to constrain data mining in any way. We contend that suitable internationally accepted laws are necessary. In their absence, mechanisms are necessary to explicitly ensure web content neutrality (which goes beyond the net neutrality of [Berners-Lee, 2006]) and a balanced distribution of symbolic power [see Couldry, 2003]. In this paper we point to a few of the most sensitive issues and present concrete case studies to support our point. We need to raise awareness to the threat that a Web search engine monopoly poses and as a community start to discuss the implications and possible remedies to the complex problem.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-012-09-1358

Authors: Robert Sinka

Abstract: This study represents a survey approach in order to analyse the information society in a regional setting. The first part deals with a current problematic issue: the human resources of the information society, which is a neglected research area of the information society. The second part of the paper will point out the main characteristics of the human adaptation of the information society. My aim is to accentuate the importance of the 'human-interface gap’. These days the accessibility is strongly connected to the education and to the fact that several jobs do not require competence in digital or information literacy. Focusing on the human aspect has become a central issue of the higher education, and one of its prominent tasks, besides others, is to prepare the next generation for the challenges of the information society.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-012-08-1050

Authors: Hermann Maurer, Frank Kappe, Bilal Zaka

Abstract: Plagiarism in the sense of "theft of intellectual property" has been around for as long as humans have produced work of art and research. However, easy access to the Web, large databases, and telecommunication in general, has turned plagiarism into a serious problem for publishers, researchers and educational institutions. In this paper, we concentrate on textual plagiarism (as opposed to plagiarism in music, paintings, pictures, maps, technical drawings, etc.). We first discuss the complex general setting, then report on some results of plagiarism detection software and finally draw attention to the fact that any serious investigation in plagiarism turns up rather unexpected side-effects. We believe that this paper is of value to all researchers, educators and students and should be considered as seminal work that hopefully will encourage many still deeper investigations.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-012-03-0357

Authors: Ignacio Nieto, Juan Botía, Antonio Gómez-Skarmeta

Abstract: This paper describes OCP (Open Context Platform), a middleware which provides support for management of contextual information and merging of information from different sources. The host system is thus endowed with proactive capacities which, in turn, provide a certain environmental intelligence [8]. The approach consists of a modelling of contextual information which is based on Semantic Web derived technologies and a description of the structured merging in the form of decision rules. The latter serve to classify situations of interest and subsequently to trigger off the relevant actions at each moment. Elsewhere, the underlying architecture in OCP is designed so that it can function both by centralizing all the contextual information from a central server and by distributing it among consumers and producers of this type of information.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-012-03-0252

Authors: Mónica Tentori, Jesus Favela, Victor González

Abstract: Privacy is a complex social process that will persist in one form or another as a fundamental feature of the substrate into which ubiquitous computing (ubicomp) is threaded. Hospitals are natural candidates for the deployment of ubicomp technology while at the same time face significant privacy requirements. To better understand the privacy issues related to the use of ubicomp we place our efforts in understanding the contextual information relevant to privacy and how its interplay shapes the perception of privacy in a hospital. The results indicate that hospital workers tend to manage privacy by assessing the value of the services provided by a ubicomp application and the amount of privacy they are willing to concede. For ubicomp applications to better deal with this issue we introduce the concept of Quality of Privacy (QoP) which allows balancing this trade-off in a similar way as that of Quality of Service (QoS) does for networking applications. We propose an architecture that allows designers to identify different levels of QoP based on the user's context. Finally, we identify the main privacy risks of a location-aware application and we extend its architecture exemplifying the use of QoP to manage those risks.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-012-01-0080

Authors: Adel Taweel, Alan Rector, Jeremy Rogers

Abstract: The convergence of need between improved clinical care and post genomics research presents a unique challenge to restructuring information flow so that it benefits both without compromising patient safety or confidentiality. The CLEF project aims to link-up heath care with bioinformatics to build a collaborative research platform that enables a more effective biomedical research. In that, it addresses various barriers and issues, including privacy both by policy and by technical means, towards establishing its eventual system. It makes extensive use of language technology for information extraction and presentation, and its shared repository is based around coherent "chronicles" of patients' histories that go beyond traditional health record structure. It makes use of a collaborative research workbench that encompasses several technologies and uses many tools providing a rich platform for clinical researcher.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-012-01-0059

Authors: Anthony Glascock, David Kutzik

Abstract: The lack of appropriate and accurate information on the ability of a frail individual to accomplish specific task oriented activities can place the individual at risk or result in the allocation of costly and unnecessary care. Although there have been previous attempts to use computer technology to obtain this information, they have proved to be costly and complex and therefore not widely used. However, a behavioral monitoring technology, based on smart-home and telemedicine applications, has been developed that obtains more accurate and timely information on the ability of frail individuals to accomplish specific tasks in their own residences than any other existing method. During a twelve month pilot study, this system has been used by care providers to assess the status of their clients, respond to immediate needs and alter overall care plans, thus resulting in better care and greater peace of mind for the individual.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-012-01-0006

Authors: Jean Roberts

Abstract: Much development work is ongoing addressing technologies and their application in the health domain, in order to achieve solutions that are non-invasive to every day life and work. As with many previous phases of informatics to support health, currently the developments are in islands and there is considerable untapped potential for synergy. Much research development is happening in other domains and show potential for health reversioning and deployment once proven. This paper explores some of the technological, societal and domain-specific issues surrounding this emerging concept of pervasiveness. It concludes that pervasive support to care is emerging but further work on minimizing risk and marketing the concept to professionals and laypeople is necessary to ensure an effective deployment.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-011-02-0327

Authors: Andrzej Gecow, Mariusz Nowostawski, Martin Purvis

Abstract: Contemporary distributed software systems, exposed to highly unpredictable environments, are reaching extremely high complexity levels. For example, open heterogeneous multi-agent systems that may potentially be spread all around the globe are interacting with different types of dynamically changing web-services and web-technologies. Traditional control-based handling of adaptability may not be suitable any more in such systems. Therefore there is a tendency for exploring different adaptability models inspired by biological phenomena. Biological systems inherently are faced with complexity and unpredictable environments, and they exhibit high levels of ad aptability. In this article, we present a theoretical model of development of complex system, which was built originally by Andrzej Gecow, as a computational model in evolutionary biology. This model represents a generic complex system subjected to long sequences of adaptive changes. The model was used for analysis of development processes and also structural tendencies. By tendencies we mean some phenomena that should be expected in any complex system, subjected to a long development process. Some of these tendencies are not desirable, for example bloat of the system. Some of the phenomena, however, show characteristics of changes that improve the system. These characteristics can be applied to optimisation of self-producing and self-adapting algorithms of self-maintaining complex software systems. The main structural tendencies described in this article are: terminal modifications, terminal majority of additions, and covering (reconstructing within the system itself disappearing environmental signals).

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-011-01-0150

Authors: Valentina Casola, Rosa Preziosi, Massimiliano Rak

Abstract: In a world made of interconnected systems which manage huge amounts of confidential and shared data, security plays a significant role. Policies are the means by which security rules are defined and enforced. The ability to evaluate policies is becoming more and more relevant, especially when referred to the cooperation of services belonging to untrusted domains. We have focused our attention on Public Key Infrastructures (PKIs), at the state of the art security policies evaluation is manually performed by technical and organizational people coming from the domains that need to interoperate. However, policy evaluation must face uncertainties derived from different perspectives, verbal judgments and lack of information. Fuzzy techniques and uncertainty reasoning can provide a meaningful way for dealing with these issues. In this paper we propose a fuzzy technique to characterize a policy and to define a Reference Evaluation Model representing different security levels against which we are able to evaluate and compare policies. The comparison takes into account not only minimal system needs but evaluator s severity, too, furthermore it gives clear information regarding policy weakness that could be used to help security administrators to better enforce rules. Finally we present a case study which evaluates the security level of a legally recognized policy.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-010-06-0702

Authors: Jon Rodríguez, Arturo Castellanos, Stanislav Ranguelov

Abstract: In Higher Education and Research Organisations (HEROs), one of the most important activities in the R & D process is the effective management of knowledge transference. A correct analysis and diagnosis of that process through knowledge management methodology is essential for the correct orientation of organisation strategy. The aim of this paper is to describe the analysis carried out in order to diagnose the research & development & transference (R & D & T) activities at a public university in Spain. The diagnosis analyses the key phases in the knowledge transference process, because these different stages define important implications for the monitoring of the intellectual capital and the organisation s performance. Also with in the diagnostic analysis preformed here an methodological innovation is introduced related with the cause and effect relations of the knowledge collaboration and a process witch deals mainly with intangibles.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-010-03-0186

Authors: Björn Decker, Jörg Rech, Klaus-Dieter Althoff, Andreas Klotz, Edda Leopold, Angie Voss

Abstract: In software engineering, the quality of development and business processes and their models is of utmost importance for (a) the quality of the software products developed and (b) the operational success of the organization. Nevertheless, many organizations neglect these processes and leave the knowledge about them in the heads of their experts. In this paper, we present the indiGo method and platform for eParticipative Process Learning. Furthermore, we present the results of a three case studies for the evaluation of these methods. The results indicate that processes introduced and modeled with process user participation result in process models with higher acceptance and better perceived quality.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-010-03-0176

Authors: David Fuhr, Frank Fuchs-Kittowski

Abstract: Communities of Practice (CoPs) are among the most promising concepts to promote the genesis, evolution and exchange of knowledge in organizations. However, there is a gap between CoP theories and their implementation in companies. Our case studies of four attempts to introduce CoP-related structures show that the different underlying management principles can systematically be analyzed in at least two dimensions, technology "vs." the social and exchange "vs." production. We argue that the choice is not contingent, but that emphasis on the social and the creative production of new knowledge leads to more productive structures in the area and in the sense of knowledge intensive services. For the conception of such approaches we show that it is useful to think in terms of another structure between "teams" and "communities", which we call "nets of experts".

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-009-12-1519

Authors: Eduardo Tomé

Abstract: This paper analyses the Portuguese current economic situation, and points out to the decisive importance of management decisions, in order to explain the present state of affairs and to win over the massive challenges that lie ahead. The main conclusion is that, investments in training, education and skills can help Portugal to achieve success in trade. Evidence of that was obtained applying three simple economic models to statistical data on around 30 exporter economic sectors, related to the years from 1989 to 2001 (see section 4). That basic idea will be completed with three others that reinforce it: (1) the Portuguese future economic evolution will depend heavily on its external record (see section 3), (2) bad management caused Portugal to have traditionally low levels of education, skills and training (see section 3), (3) a new skills management attitude will be needed focusing in the importance of education, skills and training as real success factors (see section 5). The findings presented are somewhat preliminary, and may be extended and deepened by further and more detailed research (see section 7).

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-009-12-1428

Authors: Cord Hockemeyer, Owen Conlan, Vincent Wade, Dietrich Albert

Abstract: Several approaches for formalising prerequisite structures on skills or competencies based on the psychological theory of knowledge space have been suggested and applied for adaptive eLearning. In this paper, we will discuss how these structures may be applied in skill management in a broader sense. After introducing some formal structures for prerequisite relationships between competencies, we will briefly present an example of an adaptive eLearning system based on this approach (APeLS). Several other aspects of the system which promise to be useful for advanced skill management are discussed. In the final part of this paper, we will discuss such broader applications of the model with respect to personal as well as to organisational skill management.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-009-12-1372

Authors: Kai Reinhardt, Klaus North

Abstract: The present state of research on competence management does not provide any suitable model that can be used in practice. Neither results from organizational nor from cognitive and social sciences meet the requirements for an application-oriented competence management completely as yet. An integrative competence management must be able to synchronise individual with organisational competencies. This linking is still neglected in research. A convenient solution has not been described yet. This article presents a model for an integrated competence management model, which gives approaches from both cognitive science and organizational science a practical framework of action.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-009-10-1244

Authors: Jennifer Lennon, Hermann Maurer

Abstract: Most informed educators agree that e-Learning should create a paradigm shift away from traditional teaching models, yet in practice this is extremely difficult to achieve. Typically, teachers use computer networks (internet or intranets) mainly for email, dissemination of information that frequently just mirrors traditional book material, assignments, and perhaps a discussion forum. In this paper, we examine reasons why there has been so little departure away from conventional teaching paradigms. We look beyond Virtual Learning Environments to Managed Learning Environments. We look at ways to make this transition a desirable option for both teachers and students. We suggest that when teachers and learners are properly supported within a Managed Learning Environment the workload of teachers is not increased and they enjoy teaching more, also, students learn better (i.e. more efficiently) and with higher motivation.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-009-06-0491

Authors: Matteo Bonifacio, Alessandra Molani

Abstract: The goal of this article is to explore some of the main reasons that sustain a distributed approach to Knowledge Management, and this will be done, first, showing how, according to very different theoretical disciplines, knowledge diversity is proposed as the very source of organizational innovation and adaptability, second providing some evidence coming from major applicative domains, third proposing some considerations on the role of technology.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-009-04-0300

Authors: Hermann Maurer, Ron Oliver

Abstract: In this paper we argue that in about ten years time PCs as we now know them, will no longer exist. Their functionality will be totally integrated into mobile telephony devices, or putting it differently, in ten years time mobile phones will incorporate all functions one would expect from a powerful PC. These new devices, let us call them eAssistants, will be with us all the time and will change our lives enormously. In this paper we take a first look at both the technological and applied aspects of this prediction.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-008-09-0848

Authors: Hans-Georg Stork

Abstract: Many believe that today s Web has not yet reached the full potential which globally distributed systems may achieve in terms of information access and use. Realizing this potential may indeed turn the Web into a vast knowledge and service space. We discuss some of the issues involved and present a number of activities initiated and supported by the European Commission that are likely to make significant contributions towards attaining this goal.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-008-05-0506

Authors: Jacqueline Reich, Peter Brockhausen, Thorsten Lau, Ulrich Reimer

Abstract: Establishing electronically accessible repositories of people s capabilities, experiences, and key knowledge areas is key in setting up Enterprise Knowledge Management. A skills repository can be used for e.g. finding people, staffing, skills gap analysis, and professional development. The ontology based skills management system developed at Swiss Life uses RDF schema for storing ontologies. Its query interface is based on a combined RQL and HTML query engine.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-008-03-0396

Authors: Jenny Shearer, Hermann Maurer

Abstract: Concepts of democracy have been developed and refined since Aristotle's time. However it is not until the new millennium that a unique set of circumstances, social, technical, and economic, have enabled a realistic plan of an e-democratic world to emerge. It is the lot of the internet generation to carry this vision through a maze of regulatory and commercial obstacles. The most important development on the internet in terms of its impact is e-commerce and the flow of support from governments and the market. It may appear that social and political aspirations for the internet have been eclipsed. However, on the contrary, global online commerce is providing opportunities for e-democracy to meet ethical and strategic challenges. The ultimate goal is to create peaceful change in key areas of global governance. We investigate some of those aspects in this paper.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-007-10-0893

Authors: Yuliang Liu, Dean Ginther, Paul Zelhart

Abstract: Computer-mediated Communication (CMC) has been commonly compared to face-to-face (FtF) communication in recent CMC literature. Research comparisons suggested depersonalizing effects of CMC. However, this experimental study indicates that CMC is a potentially viable mode of social-emotion-oriented communication. In this study, the effects of frequency and duration of messaging on impression development in CMC were investigated. Undergraduate participants were randomly assigned to each of the four experimental groups. For a period of two weeks, participants monitored discussion lists that differed in relation to the frequency and duration of messaging in asynchronous CMC environments. ANOVA results indicated that duration and frequency had significant main effects on impression development in asynchronous CMC environments. No interaction effects were found. The results of this study not only theoretically support the social-emotion-oriented model in CMC, but also lay foundations for further research in many popular types of interactive CMC environments, including e-learning, e-commerce, and e-health.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-007-04-0327

Authors: Jennifer Lennon, Hermann Maurer

Abstract: At first sight, knowledge management for poverty-stricken countries appears to be a contradiction in terms. It sounds "high-tech" and not very applicable for "third world" countries that may not possess the necessary infrastructure. However, the aim of the paper is to show that this is not only false but that Knowledge Management (KM) has a big role to play. We begin by giving an introduction to KM systems in general before considering how they may be applied in poverty and crisis situations. We then consider specific functions of these systems before looking at some problems and possible solutions of implementing such a system.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-006-03-0367

Authors: Jessie Lennertz

Abstract: This study investigated the self-reported effects of Internet use on faculty at small Christian colleges and universities by age, years of Internet use, academic field, and on faculty communication style, teaching style, personal productivity, fulfillment of the organization s mission, social networks, research, and professional development. Findings: Faculty believed that their communication had changed and that they can communicate with others more quickly, get faster replies to questions, and obtain more relevant data. Faculty disagreed that their teaching style had changed and that they had changed the way they conduct a class. Faculty believe that their productivity has changed. Most faculty disagreed that the Internet has made them more comfortable sharing their feelings about God. Faculty believe that the Internet has changed the type of jobs and the way students look for jobs, that there are fewer barriers to joining an electronic group, and that the volume of people they keep in frequent touch with has increased. Most faculty agreed that the way they do research has changed and that the Internet makes it easier to get information about advances in their fields. Faculty disagreed that the Internet could be substituted for conferences and that the Internet has made it possible for them to serve on boards. Key Words: Internet, faculty, communication, professional development, personal productivity, research, social networks, teaching, mission.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-006-03-0272

Authors: Ioannis Antoniou, Mike Reeve, Vic Stenning

Abstract: We are all very conscious of living through a revolution - one in which the industrial society is being superseded by the information society. Every day brings new evidence of the breakneck pace of the changes that are currently underway. But while broad awareness may be unavoidable, understanding is not so easy. Both the pace of the revolution and its multi-faceted nature make it difficult to gain a clear perspective. But here the new science of complexity can perhaps help. It provides a coherent theory that is directly applicable to the emerging society, potentially providing new insights and new understanding. This paper examines several facets of the current revolution from a complexity perspective, and suggests that the relationship between the emerging science and the emerging society will be a rich one.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-003-10-1126

Authors: Hermann Maurer

Abstract: In this paper we discuss two novel ideas to improve teaching and information transfer between persons in general. The first aspect is centered around proposing to use the "Tamagotchi craze" for teaching purposes, the second deals with new ways of unobtrusively collecting data on the subjective satisfaction of persons with information and teaching material offered on the Web.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-003-09-1074

Authors: Lutz Prechelt

Abstract: Current Computer Science (CS) research is primarily focused on solving engineering problems. Often though, promising attempts for solving a particular problem fail for non-avoidable reasons. This is what I call a negative result: something that should have worked does not. Due to the current CS publication climate such negative results today are usually camouflaged as positive results by non-evaluating or mis-evaluating the research or by redefining the problem to fit the solution. Such publication behavior hampers progress in CS by suppressing some valuable insights, producing spurious understanding, and misleading further research efforts. Specific examples given below illustrate and back up these claims. This paper is the announcement of a (partial) remedy: a permanent publication forum explicitly for negative CS research results, called the Forum for Negative Results, FNR. FNR will be a regular part of J.UCS.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-002-12-0842

Authors: Jenny Shearer

Abstract: The development of a global ethical system is desirable to fulfil the societal promise of the technology of the Internet. The author attempts to construct such a "pragmatic" ethical system (in an age of relativism and ethical scepticism) using concepts drawn from a number of moral philosophers. The global ethics construct uses the quality of human rationality as a basis, co-existing with the essence of "identity" in religious, cultural, and personal terms for individuals. The potential of the constructed Internet "global citizen" is unquantifiable, but the concept represents an opportunity for global co-operation and mingling of ideas, personalities, cultures, and solutions to problems. It is an unconstrained scenario utilising key qualities of the technology including rapid information turnaround and unprecented individual access by vast numbers of the global population.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-002-10-0679

Authors: Tomasz Müldner, Robin Nicholl

Abstract: Recently, there has been growing excitement over the use of electronic classrooms. This paper provides a carefully balanced view of the advantages of using various technological facilities to improve teaching and learning, while recognizing the continuing need for a human teacher who coordinates and controls the learning process. In particular, our view is that technology should not be intrusive and should serve as a "means" towards specific educational goals, not as an "end" in itself. To illustrate this view we offer as a "case study" our vision of a course that uses electronic classrooms to assist teachers and students.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-002-09-0610

Authors: Peter Nürnberg, Erich Schneider, John Leggett

Abstract: Web and Internet technologies have traditionally been used to serve information across machines and among people. Recently, there has been a great deal of interest shown in using these information services to support digital libraries. Research in digital libraries is an interdisciplinary effort that must synthesize existing results from highly disparate fields. This paper examines two such contributing fields - information systems and orality-literacy studies - and applies them to a particular digital library domain, botanical taxonomic work. In trying to build digital libraries for botanical taxonomists, we show how two widely differing fields can each provide part of a solution neither can provide alone.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-002-03-0113

Authors: Jenny Shearer, Peter Gutmann

Abstract: The notion of a right to privacy of citizens in their communications is discussed in the context of an international movement by governments towards regulation of cryptography, and consideration of key forfeiture systems in national cryptography use. The authors argue that the right to privacy in communications networks is an issue of major importance, assuring freedom of the individual in national and global communications. Regulation and control of cryptography use on the Internet by national governments may lead to an imbalance in the citizen/government power relationship, with sequelae including unprecedented surveillance of citizens, disruption of international commerce due to lack of powerful cryptography (and lack of standardisation), human rights abuses by less democratic or non-democratic governments, and limiting of the political potential of an Internet global political system.

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DOI: 10.3217/jucs-001-05-0312

Authors: Jenny Shearer, Arnould Vermeer

Abstract: The attempt by Unisys to obtain royalties from the Lempel Zev Welch Graphics Interchange Format specification through Compuserve has wide implications for the Internet. Increased activity in the US software patents area is likely to result in damage to progress of the software arts and the Internet, and to generate upscaled protest from Internet users. The LZW GIF case highlights the Internet culture in favour of free and unfettered development. Clarification of this important principle will have a major effect on the future of the Internet.

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