A Framework for Evaluating Model-Driven Self-adaptive Software Systems

In the last few years, Model Driven Development (MDD), Component-based Software Development (CBSD), and context-oriented software have become interesting alternatives for the design and construction of self-adaptive software systems. In general, the ultimate goal of these technologies is to be able to reduce development costs and effort, while improving the modularity, flexibility, adaptability, and reliability of software systems. An analysis of these technologies shows them all to include the principle of the separation of concerns, and their further integration is a key factor to obtaining high-quality and self-adaptable software systems. Each technology identifies different concerns and deals with them separately in order to specify the design of the self-adaptive applications, and, at the same time, support software with adaptability and context-awareness. This research studies the development methodologies that employ the principles of model-driven development in building self-adaptive software systems. To this aim, this article proposes an evaluation framework for analysing and evaluating the features of model-driven approaches and their ability to support software with self-adaptability and dependability in highly dynamic contextual environment. Such evaluation framework can facilitate the software developers on selecting a development methodology that suits their software requirements and reduces the development effort of building self-adaptive software systems. This study highlights the major drawbacks of the propped model-driven approaches in the related works, and emphasise on considering the volatile aspects of self-adaptive software in the analysis, design and implementation phases of the development methodologies. In addition, we argue that the development methodologies should leave the selection of modelling languages and modelling tools to the software developers.Comment: model-driven architecture, COP, AOP, component composition, self-adaptive application, context oriented software developmen

Towards a synthesis of multimedia and intelligent tutoring systems : a dissertation presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Computer Science at Massey University

Multimedia is being used in almost every field. This study is about the use of multimedia in the area of intelligent tutoring systems. This project studies the advantages and disadvantages of interactive multimedia and intelligent tutoring systems, and analyses the ways of combining these technologies in search of an interesting, learnable, flexible, compelling and technology-enhanced educational tool. Educational packages need to be evaluated for effectiveness. When it comes to computer-based instruction, technical concerns such as multimedia effects are taken seriously and there is not enough emphasis on its educational value. There is not much concern about the appropriateness of the instruction method to the computer medium. This research proposes a framework for evaluating educational packages which include a number of issues. Several pieces of educational software were evaluated using this framework and Diagnosis for crop protection, a multimedia software package that aids in teaching the process of diagnosing crop problems, was selected for modification, as a practical application of the theoretical work. We studied different multimedia system development models and methodologies. We also analysed the cognitive issues and intelligent features that enhance the learnability. Finally, the appropriate intelligent features and other factors that could enhance Diagnosis for crop protection to be a more 'active knowledge constructing' environment have been identified. The current version of Diagnosis for crop protection was represented using an appropriate methodology and the proposed changes were described in detail

A theory-grounded framework of Open Source Software adoption in SMEs

This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in European Journal of Information Systems. The definitive publisher-authenticated version Macredie, RD and Mijinyawa, K (2011), "A theory-grounded framework of Open Source Software adoption in SMEs", European Journal of Informations Systems, 20(2), 237-250 is available online at: http://www.palgrave-journals.com/ejis/journal/v20/n2/abs/ejis201060a.html.The increasing popularity and use of Open Source Software (OSS) has led to significant interest from research communities and enterprise practitioners, notably in the small business sector where this type of software offers particular benefits given the financial and human capital constraints faced. However, there has been little focus on developing valid frameworks that enable critical evaluation and common understanding of factors influencing OSS adoption. This paper seeks to address this shortcoming by presenting a theory-grounded framework for exploring these factors and explaining their influence on OSS adoption, with the context of study being small- to medium-sized Information Technology (IT) businesses in the U.K. The framework has implications for this type of business – and, we will suggest, more widely – as a frame of reference for understanding, and as tool for evaluating benefits and challenges in, OSS adoption. It also offers researchers a structured way of investigating adoption issues and a base from which to develop models of OSS adoption. The study reported in this paper used the Decomposed Theory of Planned Behaviour (DTPB) as a basis for the research propositions, with the aim of: (i) developing a framework of empirical factors that influence OSS adoption; and (ii) appraising it through case study evaluation with 10 U.K. Small- to medium-sized enterprises in the IT sector. The demonstration of the capabilities of the framework suggests that it is able to provide a reliable explanation of the complex and subjective factors that influence attitudes, subjective norms and control over the use of OSS. The paper further argues that the DTPB proved useful in this research area and that it can provide a variety of situation-specific insights related to factors that influence the adoption of OSS

The Triple-S framework: ensuring scalable, sustainable, and serviceable practices in educational technology

Educational institutions are increasingly investing into digital delivery, acquiring new devices, and employing novel software and services. The rising costs associated with maintenance, in combination with increasing redundancy of older technologies, presents multiple challenges. While lesson content itself may not have changed, the educational landscape constantly evolves, where tertiary institutions are incorporating new modes of content delivery, hybrid-style learning, and interactive technologies. Investments into digital expansions must be taken with caution, particularly prior to the procurement of technology, with a need for the proposed interventions’ scalability, sustainability, and serviceability to be considered. This article presents the Triple-S framework for educators, administrators, and educational institutions, and outlines examples of its application within curricula. The paper synthesises research evidence to provide the foundation underlying the key principles of the Triple-S framework, presenting a useful model to use when evaluating digital interventions. Utilising the framework for decisions regarding the acquisition of educational technology, devices, software, applications, and online resources can assist in the assurance of viable and appropriate investments

Advancing Ubiquitous Collaboration for Telehealth - A Framework to Evaluate Technology-mediated Collaborative Workflow for Telehealth, Hypertension Exam Workflow Study

Healthcare systems are under siege globally regarding technology adoption; the recent pandemic has only magnified the issues. Providers and patients alike look to new enabling technologies to establish real-time connectivity and capability for a growing range of remote telehealth solutions. The migration to new technology is not as seamless as clinicians and patients would like since the new workflows pose new responsibilities and barriers to adoption across the telehealth ecosystem. Technology-mediated workflows (integrated software and personal medical devices) are increasingly important in patient-centered healthcare; software-intense systems will become integral in prescribed treatment plans [1]. My research explored the path to ubiquitous adoption of technology-mediated workflows from historic roots in the CSCW domain to arrive at an expanded method for evaluating collaborative workflows. This new approach for workflow evaluation, the Collaborative Space – Analysis Framework (CS-AF), was then deployed in a telehealth empirical study of a hypertension exam workflow to evaluate the gains and gaps associated with a technology-mediated workflow enhancements. My findings indicate that technology alone is not the solution; rather, it is an integrated approach that establishes “relative advantage” for patients’ in their personal healthcare plans. Results suggest wider use of the CS-AF for future technology-mediated workflow evaluations in telehealth and other technology-rich domains

Persuasive Systems Design: Key Issues, Process Model, and System Features

A growing number of information technology systems and services are being developed to change users’ attitudes or behavior or both. Despite the fact that attitudinal theories from social psychology have been quite extensively applied to the study of user intentions and behavior, these theories have been developed for predicting user acceptance of the information technology rather than for providing systematic analysis and design methods for developing persuasive software solutions. This article is conceptual and theory-creating by its nature, suggesting a framework for Persuasive Systems Design (PSD). It discusses the process of designing and evaluating persuasive systems and describes what kind of content and software functionality may be found in the final product. It also highlights seven underlying postulates behind persuasive systems and ways to analyze the persuasion context (the intent, the event, and the strategy). The article further lists 28 design principles for persuasive system content and functionality, describing example software requirements and implementations. Some of the design principles are novel. Moreover, a new categorization of these principles is proposed, consisting of the primary task, dialogue, system credibility, and social support categories

Mobile Learning Usability Evaluation Using Two Adoption Models

Published Conference ProceedingsThe Central University of Technology, Free State has introduced the use of e-books as opposed to printed hard-cover textbooks for students. This is in line with international campaigns seeking the adoption of e- books for educational purposes, while reducing the costs of printing material. This study is aimed at developing an Integrated Framework Model for evaluating the usability of e-books in higher education, thereby enhancing mobile learning adoption at a university. Despite the advantages of usability, continuous emphasis is still placed on the gap which exists between software development and usability evaluation. It is for this reason that the results of usability evaluations frequently have little or no significant influence on the software development of mobile learning applications. This paper reports on the results of a pilot study where a questionnaire was developed to evaluate the use of e-books on mobile devices by students in higher education. The sample size consisted of 49 IT students who registered for a Computer Security module during 2015, where the majority were Sesotho speaking. The outcomes of the study may create provision of a framework useful for evaluating mobile learning usability which may subsequently lead to enhanced adoption

การพัฒนากรอบแนวทางการประเมินสมรรถนะรายบุคคลด้านเทคโนโลยีสารสนเทศแบบต่อเนื่องในวงจรชีวิตการพัฒนาซอฟต์แวร์

The purpose of this research study were to (1) develop a framework for evaluating individual information technology literacy during the software development life cycle (2) to evaluate the developed framework for individual information technology literacy planning by experts and (3) to evaluate the efficiency of the developed framework for individual information technology literacy planning. Agile software development method was chosen for this work as it was a method with several sub-cycles (sprints) according to the number of modules/sub-modules in the system. With this method, developers would get to deliver and test the software module with real users more frequently. This approach would allow for evaluating users’ IT literacy during the development phase as oppose to before or after the software development. The individual IT literacy results evaluated from each sprint were used as feedback to either improve the software training material as well as curriculum or improve the software quality to better serve the current work flow. Being given an opportunity to develop an Asset Management System (AMS) for the Royal Irrigation Department (RID), we had applied our framework with a sample group of 613 people from procurement departments coming from every RID office around the country. There were a total of 16 sprints where each sprint interval was approximately 2-3 weeks. Based on the time taken to register the asset which normally takes 2-6 months without supporting software, the users took about 50-75 minutes to register the asset during the first sprint. This asset registration time continued to decrease on subsequent sprints and was 15-20 minutes by the time we reached the last sprint

State of the App: A Taxonomy and Framework for Evaluating Language Learning Mobile Applications

The widespread growth in availability and use of smartphones and tablets has facilitated an unprecedented avalanche of new software applications with language learning and teaching capabilities. However, little has been published in terms of effective design and evaluation of language learning apps. This article reviews current research about the potential of apps for language learning and presents a taxonomy of available apps and their use for language learning. The article also presents a framework consisting of four categories for evaluating language learning apps (technology, pedagogy, user experience, and language learning) and a set of criteria within the categories. Finally, the article proposes areas for further research