A structural computing model for dynamic service-based systems

Traditional techniques for Programming in the Large, especially Object- Oriented approaches, have been used for a considerable time and with great success in the implementation of service-based information systems. However, the systems for which these techniques have been used are static, in that the services and the data available to users are fixed by the system, with a strict separation between system and user. Our interest lies in currently emerging dynamic systems, where both the data and the services available to users are freely extensible by the users and the strict distinction between system and user no longer exists. We describe why traditional object-oriented approaches are not suitable for modelling such dynamic systems. We discuss a new architectural model, the Information Unit Hypermedia Model, IUHM, which we have designed for modelling and implementing such dynamic systems. IUHM is based upon the application of structural computing to a hypermedia-like structure, which thereby operates as a service-based architecture. We discuss the details of this model, and illustrate its features by describing some aspects of a large-scale system, built using this architecture.Evento: International Symposium, MIS 2003 (Austria, 17 al 20 de septiembre de 2003)Laboratorio de Investigación y Formación en Informática Avanzad

The Effectiveness of Storyboard Surrogates in the Subject Indexing of Digital Video

This study was designed to assess whether an indexer working from automatically generated storyboard surrogates could assign subject keywords to digital video, saving significant time while sacrificing little retrievability. The researcher assigned keywords to six videos selected from the Open Video Project repository. Three were indexed after viewing the videos in full; three were indexed after viewing their storyboard surrogates. A record of time consumed was maintained. Study participants viewed all six videos in full and listed what they believed to be the main topics addressed. Participant terms were compared to the researcher-assigned keywords. Retrievability was calculated as the percentage of participant terms that matched these keywords. Overall, time consumed in indexing the three videos based on their surrogates was 82% less than the time consumed in downloading and indexing the three full videos. Results reflected only 6% less retrievability for the three videos indexed based on their surrogates