Inheritance relationships for disciplined software construction

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Human-Computer Interface Design for Online Tutoring: Visual Rhetoric, Pedagogy, and Writing Center Websites

This dissertation examines the theory and praxis of taking an expanded concept of the human-computer interface (HCI) and working with the resulting concept to design a writing center website that facilitates online tutoring while fostering a conversational approach for online tutoring sessions. In order to foster a conversational approach, I explore the ways in which interactive digital technologies support the collaborative and communicative nature of online tutoring. I posit that my research will yield a deeper understanding of the visual rhetoric of human-designed computer interfaces in general and writing center online tutoring websites in particular, and will, at the same time, provide support and rationale for the use of interactive digital technologies that utilize the space within the interface to foster a conversational approach to online tutoring, an outcome that the writing center community strongly encourages but acknowledges is difficult to achieve in online tutoring situations (Bell, Harris, Harris and Pemberton, Gillespie and Lerner, Hobson, Monroe, Rickley, Thomas et. al). The resulting prototype design that I submit as part of this dissertation was developed by considering the surface and conceptual dimensions of the HCI along with pedagogies that support interactivity, exploration, communication, collaboration, and community

Optimizing JavaScript Engines for Modern-day Workloads

In modern times, we have seen tremendous increase in popularity and usage of web-based applications. Applications such as presentation softwareand word processors, which were traditionally considered desktop applications are being ported to the web by compiling them to JavaScript. Since JavaScript is the de facto language of the web, JavaScript engine performance significantly affects the overall web application experience. JavaScript, initially intended solely as a client-side scripting language for web browsers, is now being used to implement server-side web applications (node.js) that traditionally have been written in languages like Java. Web application developers expect "C"-like performance out of their applications. Thus, there is a need to reevaluate the optimization strategies implemented in the modern day engines.Thesis statement: I propose that by using run-time and ahead-of-time profiling and type specialization techniques it is possible to improve the performance of JavaScript engines to cater to the needs of modern-day workloads.In this dissertation, we present an improved synergistic type specialization strategy for optimized JavaScript code execution, implemented on top of a research JavaScript engine called MuscalietJS. Our technique combines type feedback and type inference to reinforce and augment each other in a unique way. We then present a novel deoptimization strategy that enables type specialized code generation on top of typed, stack-based virtual machines like CLR. We also describe a server-side offline profiling technique to collect profile information for web application which helps client JavaScript engines (running in the browser) avoid deoptimizations and improve performance of the applications. Finally, we describe a technique to improve the performance of server-side JavaScript code by making use of intelligent profile caching and two new type stability heuristics

Corporate culture: an investigation into the operationalisation of the concept and into divergences between management and staff

Studies on corporate culture are mostly limited to samples drawn from management, and the integrative view of corporate culture as something unique within an organisation still dominates in the literature. Such a unitary stance bears the risk that cultural divergences in corporations remain undetected, thereby limiting the value of research on corporate culture. A further aspect found in the literature is the complexity and variety ascribed to corporate culture, which exacerbates practical implementation of the concept. The operationalisation of the cultural concept is still a prevalent problem not yet completely resolved. This research addresses these two concerns. The researcher conducted this research at Post CH Ltd. The study incorporated the design and implementation of a tailored survey, based on cultural dimensions from the literature, items from Swiss Post’s employee survey, and data from semi-structured qualitative interviews with members of top management. The survey involved employees of Post CH Ltd from all hierarchical levels, selected by proportionate stratified random sampling. The two thirds of the questionnaire recipients who responded could also comment on an optional open question. The researcher then analysed the qualitative and quantitative data in order to discover the degree of\ud alignment on corporate culture. Finally, recommendations were elaborated on how to mitigate the explored divergences between management and employees. This research provides contributions in two distinct areas: first, it demonstrates that the perception of a unitary corporate culture is not always tenable. The researcher found distinctive and statistically significant divergences in corporate culture, as staff in line management positions are considerably more positive in their perception of corporate culture compared to employees without management responsibilities. Using content analysis, the researcher further discovered divergences in the perception of corporate culture between top management and employees. Second, it demonstrated the successful operationalisation of corporate culture research into practical application, by offering a thorough, concrete, specific, and tailored approach, contributing to a more practitioner friendly usage of the concept of corporate culture. The methods used here can be applied to other organisations in a similar way. Keywords: Corporate culture; organisational culture; cultural divergences; cultural fit; organisational change; organisational performance; Swiss Post; Post CH Ltd

Systems Mapping

This open access book explores a range of new and older systems mapping methods focused on representing causal relationships in systems. In a practical manner, it describes the methods and considers the differences between them; describes how to use them yourself; describes how to choose between and combine them; considers the role of data, evidence, and stakeholder opinion; and describes how they can be useful in a range of policy and research settings. This book provides a key starting point and general-purpose resource for understanding complex adaptive systems in practical, actionable, and participatory ways. The book successfully meets the growing need in a range of social, environmental, and policy challenges for a richer more nuanced, yet actionable and participatory understanding of the world. The authors provide a clear framework to alleviate any confusion about the use of appropriate terms and methods, enhance the appreciation of the value they can bring, and clearly explain the differences between approaches and the resulting outputs of mapping processes and analysis

Spatial embodied augmented reality: design of AR for spatial productivity applications

Recently there has been a growth in commercial systems for Augmented Reality (AR), such as the Microsoft HoloLens and Magic Leap, which aim to subsume traditionally 2D productivity tasks performed by previous technologies through the use of a 3D User Interface (3DUI). However, there is currently a lack of research into how to design effective AR interfaces and no consensus on how to design general purpose 3DUIs. Augmented reality is an emergent technology with little prior design precedent. As AR becomes more widespread, it becomes apparent that new design paradigms are required to translate potential benefits of these new interfaces. This thesis aims to explore the design of AR productivity software that can exploit the spatial nature of augmented reality to complement the spatial nature of human interaction. To investigate this, three user studies were performed using an email client as a use case scenario. Each study focused on a different aspect in the design of an augmented reality system starting with user elicitation using informance design methods. This progressed to testing of alternative interfaces for three-dimensional document presentation using a formal lab experiment, finally ending with an observation of how users arrange documents in a simulated limited prototype system. The findings of this thesis include: • A new method of user elicitation for augmented reality interface design called “spatial informance design”. • Design recommendations of spatial interface augmentations for email. • Data to support that space can be used to triage email more effectively. • Different layouts of documents in space provide greater or lesser time, accuracy and memorability. • Presentation of document layouts with either an ego or exocentric view alters performance. • Users have a preference to use space over colour to group documents. • Users take advantage of space when a 3rd dimension is available. The conclusion of this thesis is that augmented reality has the potential to improve the user experience over the traditional two-dimensional GUI for knowledge work tasks

Next generation catalogues: an analysis of user search strategies and behavior

The movement from online catalogues to search and discovery systems has not addressed the goals of true resource discoverability. While catalogue user studies have focused on user search and discovery processes and experiences, and construction and manipulation of search queries, little insight is given to how searchers interact with search features of next generation catalogues. Better understanding of user experiences can help guide informed decisions when selecting and implementing new systems. In this study, fourteen graduate students completed a set of information seeking tasks using UIUC's VuFind installation. Observations of these interactions elicited insight into both search feature use and user understanding of the function of features. Participants used the basic search option for most searches. This is because users understand that basic search draws from a deep index that always gives results regardless of search terms; and because it is convenient, appearing at every level of the search, thus reducing effort and shortening search time. Participants rarely used advanced search but selected it as a secondary alternative, especially when searching for local library or print collections. Participants understand an online catalogue as a list of library holdings that provides access to local print collections; and offers options for refining voluminous result sets. Participants frequently used author, title, subject, keywords; and citation, search within, print, save, e-mailing, fulltext download that offered clear alternatives to searching and search reformulation respectively. Such features are familiar to users from past search experiences and puts them in control of the system. Participants understand the function of VuFind features based on their perception and preference that: VuFind will give relevant and current information because of the large collection size at UIUC; because of their prior experiences with quick, minimal effort search reformulation strategies; and VuFind‘s large result sets, presented in systematic and logical order. The evidence confirms that information tasks guide and shape the way searchers select and use system features. Participant search processes change during and after using a specific system. Alternatives to improve the design of more robust search features are proposed

Toward a model of epistemic cognition: A mixed method study

Both empirical and theoretical work in the field of personal epistemologies has indicated several epistemic factors that influence the way in which individuals approach information and knowledge formation. An organizational scheme is suggested for making sense of the various approaches to personal epistemologies and an integrative model of epistemic cognition that combines these elements along with contextual influences is proposed. Using a sample of 84 undergraduate and graduate students, 18 to 41 years of age, a mixed method approach was employed to begin investigations into the theoretical model. In an online information-seeking scenario on the, scientifically controversial but morally and politically neutral, topic of hand sanitizer, participants' initial thoughts on the topic were captured with Likert-type survey items and their online behaviors tracked using Internet logfile data. Follow-up open response survey items questioned participants on their approaches to the sources of information and for justification of the opinions they formed after having access to the information. Survey data were also collected on each of the proposed components at the individual level of the model: epistemic strategies, development, and motivations. Using regression and multiple mediation analyses the connections between contextual factors and individual and task-specific epistemic factors were explored. This indicated evidence of mediation of the relationship between epistemic development and the types of sources and time spent reading information by one of the proposed epistemic motivations, need for cognition. Regression analyses also revealed a lack of relationship between epistemic behaviors in the task and perceived sufficiency of information suggestive of either an interaction between variables or influence by additional latent factors influencing standards for what counts as sufficient information as the basis of a justified opinion. Mixed method analyses indicated few significant differences in the types or amount of evidence that individuals provide as justification related to epistemic development, motivation, or strategies. However, mixed-methods analyses involving comparison of quantitative and qualitative measures revealed individual differences in the amount to which interest in the topic and risk perception influenced both the quantity and quality of the information accessed. This suggests the need to account for the influence of epistemic self-regulation and epistemic metacognition in an overall model of epistemic cognition