Context-Aware Personalised Service Delivery

Postprin

Service and Content Presentation in Ubiquitous Environments

The heterogeneous, dynamic nature of ubiquitous environments necessitates that all system components that form part of a personalisation framework should be context aware. Personalised service delivery requires that the system must detect and interpret device modality contexts in real time and provide automated adaptation on behalf of the user. Towards this aim, this paper presents the design and implementation of a demonstrator that offers personalised, context sensitive, service and content delivery

Construction programme management - current context

The use of programme management systems by construction programme managers is critical nowadays. The increasing complexity of multiple construction projects require information and service delivery systems that are more effective and efficient in order for the programme manager to be able to achieve the business objectives or benefits. This paper reports on the main findings from a study of programme managers in the United Kingdom and Malaysia concerning the challenges and issues in the delivery of information and services in multiple construction project environment and explores how the context of a user (such as role, location, time, preference, etc) may be utilised to provide personalised information. The discussion in the paper focuses on the key issues and requirements for programme managers to manage multiple projects using the existing programme management tools. Conclusions are drawn about the potential implementation of context-aware computing technologies in the current context of construction programme management

Smart PIN: performance and cost-oriented context-aware personal information network

The next generation of networks will involve interconnection of heterogeneous individual networks such as WPAN, WLAN, WMAN and Cellular network, adopting the IP as common infrastructural protocol and providing virtually always-connected network. Furthermore, there are many devices which enable easy acquisition and storage of information as pictures, movies, emails, etc. Therefore, the information overload and divergent content’s characteristics make it difficult for users to handle their data in manual way. Consequently, there is a need for personalised automatic services which would enable data exchange across heterogeneous network and devices. To support these personalised services, user centric approaches for data delivery across the heterogeneous network are also required. In this context, this thesis proposes Smart PIN - a novel performance and cost-oriented context-aware Personal Information Network. Smart PIN's architecture is detailed including its network, service and management components. Within the service component, two novel schemes for efficient delivery of context and content data are proposed: Multimedia Data Replication Scheme (MDRS) and Quality-oriented Algorithm for Multiple-source Multimedia Delivery (QAMMD). MDRS supports efficient data accessibility among distributed devices using data replication which is based on a utility function and a minimum data set. QAMMD employs a buffer underflow avoidance scheme for streaming, which achieves high multimedia quality without content adaptation to network conditions. Simulation models for MDRS and QAMMD were built which are based on various heterogeneous network scenarios. Additionally a multiple-source streaming based on QAMMS was implemented as a prototype and tested in an emulated network environment. Comparative tests show that MDRS and QAMMD perform significantly better than other approaches

AmbieSense: a system and reference architecture for personalised and context-sensitive information services for mobile users

The purpose of AmbieSense is to provide personalised, context-sensitive information to the mobile user. It is about augmenting digital information to physical objects, rooms, and areas. The aim is to provide relevant information to the right user and situation. Digital content is distributed from the surroundings and onto your mobile phone. An ambient information environment is provided by a combination of context tag technology, a software platform to manage and deliver the information, and personal computing devices to which the information is served. This paper describes how the AmbieSense reference architecture has been defined and used in order to deliver information to the mobile citizen at the right time, place and situation. Information is provided via specialist content providers. The application area addresses the information needs of travellers and tourists

Intervening to improve outcomes for vulnerable young people : a review of the evidence

Concerns about the number of young people who fail to reach their potential at school, or get into trouble, or are not in education, employment or training (NEET), underpin the continuing commitment to end child poverty in the UK by 2020, and the Coalition Government’s pledge to increase the focus on supporting the neediest families and those with multiple problems. A strong policy commitment to improving the life chances of vulnerable young people has in recent years led to the testing of a number of initiatives. This review sought to identify: the common barriers to the effective implementation of new initiatives; elements of effective practice in the delivery of multi-agency services for vulnerable young people and their families; the costs associated with integrated service delivery; the outcomes that can be achieved; and whether fewer and more targeted initiatives might offer better value for money, particularly during a period of fiscal reform. Includes: •Introduction to the Review •Identifying and Assessing Vulnerable Young People •Multi-Agency Working: Innovations in the Delivery of Support Services •Delivering Interventions and Improving Outcomes for Young People •Assessing Value for Money in Interventions To Improve Outcomes for Young People •Looking to the Future: Defining Elements of Effective Practic