Multi-agent knowledge integration mechanism using particle swarm optimization

This is the post-print version of the final paper published in Technological Forecasting and Social Change. The published article is available from the link below. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. Copyright @ 2011 Elsevier B.V.Unstructured group decision-making is burdened with several central difficulties: unifying the knowledge of multiple experts in an unbiased manner and computational inefficiencies. In addition, a proper means of storing such unified knowledge for later use has not yet been established. Storage difficulties stem from of the integration of the logic underlying multiple experts' decision-making processes and the structured quantification of the impact of each opinion on the final product. To address these difficulties, this paper proposes a novel approach called the multiple agent-based knowledge integration mechanism (MAKIM), in which a fuzzy cognitive map (FCM) is used as a knowledge representation and storage vehicle. In this approach, we use particle swarm optimization (PSO) to adjust causal relationships and causality coefficients from the perspective of global optimization. Once an optimized FCM is constructed an agent based model (ABM) is applied to the inference of the FCM to solve real world problem. The final aggregate knowledge is stored in FCM form and is used to produce proper inference results for other target problems. To test the validity of our approach, we applied MAKIM to a real-world group decision-making problem, an IT project risk assessment, and found MAKIM to be statistically robust.Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (Korea

Path Analysis of Perceived Value Influence on Shopping Satisfaction of Online Customers in the View of Mental Accounting

As a kind of psychological activity in the individuals, families or organizations, mental accounting focuses on economic activity, coding and evaluation. It is of practical significance to explore customer behavior patterns and psychological changes, and improve customer satisfaction through reasonable marketing. Online enterprises need to pay attention to the perceived value of consumers and enhance overall consumer satisfaction so as to achieve long-term and stable development under the background of economic globalization. Enterprises and organizations obtain complete and accurate personalized demand information of consumers in order to achieve a win-win situation for both consumers and enterprises. This study focuses on the influencing factors of online shopping satisfaction of consumers in the new environment of online and offline integration, and explores the path dependence and influence of online consumer perceived value and the website features of consumer satisfaction. Based on the theory of mental accounting and consumer behavior, this study combines the Howard-Sheth model with the consumer perception value theory to construct a theoretical framework. This study extends prior work by using structural equation model to test the effect of perceived value on website features, trust and customer satisfaction from the perspective of mental accounting. It is hoped that this study can provide data reference and theoretical guidance for online enterprises in marketing and knowledge management, in a bid to develop accurate marketing strategies, customer segmentation and differentiated services, improve the operation mechanism of network market and promote online services

Improved micro-contact resistance model that considers material deformation, electron transport and thin film characteristics

This paper reports on an improved analytic model forpredicting micro-contact resistance needed for designing microelectro-mechanical systems (MEMS) switches. The originalmodel had two primary considerations: 1) contact materialdeformation (i.e. elastic, plastic, or elastic-plastic) and 2) effectivecontact area radius. The model also assumed that individual aspotswere close together and that their interactions weredependent on each other which led to using the single effective aspotcontact area model. This single effective area model wasused to determine specific electron transport regions (i.e. ballistic,quasi-ballistic, or diffusive) by comparing the effective radius andthe mean free path of an electron. Using this model required thatmicro-switch contact materials be deposited, during devicefabrication, with processes ensuring low surface roughness values(i.e. sputtered films). Sputtered thin film electric contacts,however, do not behave like bulk materials and the effects of thinfilm contacts and spreading resistance must be considered. Theimproved micro-contact resistance model accounts for the twoprimary considerations above, as well as, using thin film,sputtered, electric contact

Highlighting the issues in making an informed interaction-based decision in industrial ecosystems

In the literature, the notion of trust has been widely discussed and various approaches have been proposed to assess and quantify it, in order to take it into consideration when making an interaction-based decision in industrial ecosystems. At the same time, the notion and importance of risk have been widely ignored and not been acknowledged as an important factor to consider, along with trust; while making an interaction-based decision. Although there are approaches in the literature which attempt to quantify risk in the domain of a business interaction in industrial ecosystems, none of them proposes a methodology by which the initiating agent of the interaction can ascertain and determine all the various concepts that are expressed by risk in that domain, and then utilize it to make an informed interaction-based decision. In this paper we present an evaluation of the approaches from the literature and highlight the issues which need to be addressed in order to assist the initiating agent of the interaction in making an informed interaction-based decision with another agent in Industrial ecosystems

An Ethnorelative Framework for Information Systems Design

IT artifacts are connected to our lives in significant and complex ways. The consideration of culture in designing information systems for a global context will become increasingly important. This paper develops the concept of cultural values in relation to information, technology, and people (ITP). In an effort to facilitate a more robust analysis of culture with respect to information systems design, I develop an ethnorelative framework in which designers can begin to assess the “cultural geography” of the target audience in relation to their own. This framework has implications for the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), but it is not focused on the evaluation of user behaviors in terms of perceived usefulness and perceived ease-of-use, per se. Its goal is to provide a heuristic for designers to understand their own cultural values relative to users of other national cultures

How does Technology Influence Online Music Access and Use? A Taxonomy of Empirical Studies

Based on the literature, a taxonomy of empirical studies that investigate online music systems is discussed in this paper. The studies presented discuss a number of related issues such as music sharing, security technologies like digital rights management (DRM), and changing business models. Research into online music systems is inherently cross disciplinary, and two main groups (industry/users) are identified to classify the research. The PhD research that this paper is based on has a user focus, however it is important to explore related groups and issues in order to adequately investigate. Therefore the taxonomy presented in this paper is significant as it provides an informative base from which to conduct further empirical studies into online music systems. To put the taxonomy into context, details of a current ethnography of online music systems is discussed

The GDPR’s Rules on Data Breaches: Analysing Their Rationales and Effects

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requires an organisation that suffers a data breach to notify the competent Data Protection Authority. The organisation must also inform the relevant individuals, when a data breach threatens their rights and freedoms. This paper focuses on the following question: given the goals of the GDPR’s data breach notification obligation, what are its strengths and weaknesses? We identify six goals of, or rationales for, the GDPR`s data breach notification obligation, and we assess the obligation in the light of those goals. We refer to insights from information security and economics, and present them in a reader-friendly way for lawyers. Our main conclusion is that the GDPR’s data breach rules are likely to contribute to the goals. For instance, the data breach notification obligation can nudge organisations towards better security; such an obligation enables regulators to perform their duties; and such an obligation improves transparency and accountability. However, the paper also warns that we should not have unrealistic expectations of the possibilities for people to protect their interests after a data breach notice. Likewise, we should not have high expectations of people switching to other service providers after receiving a data breach notification. Lastly, the paper calls for Data Protection Authorities to publish more information about reported data breaches. Such information can help to analyse security threats

Exploring Impact of Consumer and Product Characteristics on E-Commerce Adoption: A Study of Consumers in India

The paper aims at examining the impact of various consumer and product characteristics on adoption of e-commerce among consumers in India. The study is based on primary data collected through survey of consumers residing in and around Delhi. A structured non- disguised questionnaire has been employed for collecting the information from the respondents about their demographics, shopping orientations, security and privacy concerns, technological familiarity, past online shopping experiences and intentions to buy various types of products through internet in future. Past online shopping satisfaction, recreational shopping orientation, education and income emerge as significant factors affecting consumer past online purchases. In respect of future online shopping intentions, only three consumer-related factors viz., past online shopping satisfaction, past online shopping frequency and education, are found as significant predictors. Amongst product characteristics, product expensiveness is found to be negatively related to consumer future online purchase intentions. While consumers appear quite willing to buy services online that are high in their intangible value proposition, they appear somewhat ambivalent in their intentions to buy online the 'frequently purchased products'. Some of the consumer and product characteristics do influence consumer adoption of e-commerce. Study findings entail interesting implications for the marketers. They need to give adequate attention to consumer and product characteristics while designing their e-marketing strategies. As compared to goods, the surveyed respondents have expressed greater willingness to buy services online in future. Services thus appear to be more promising product category for sale through internet channel in future

Seven Years after the Manifesto: Literature Review and Research Directions for Technologies in Animal Computer Interaction

As technologies diversify and become embedded in everyday lives, the technologies we expose to animals, and the new technologies being developed for animals within the field of Animal Computer Interaction (ACI) are increasing. As we approach seven years since the ACI manifesto, which grounded the field within Human Computer Interaction and Computer Science, this thematic literature review looks at the technologies developed for (non-human) animals. Technologies that are analysed include tangible and physical, haptic and wearable, olfactory, screen technology and tracking systems. The conversation explores what exactly ACI is whilst questioning what it means to be animal by considering the impact and loop between machine and animal interactivity. The findings of this review are expected to form the first grounding foundation of ACI technologies informing future research in animal computing as well as suggesting future areas for exploratio