Integrating mobile robotics and vision with undergraduate computer science

This paper describes the integration of robotics education into an undergraduate Computer Science curriculum. The proposed approach delivers mobile robotics as well as covering the closely related field of Computer Vision, and is directly linked to the research conducted at the authors’ institution. The paper describes the most relevant details of the module content and assessment strategy, paying particular attention to the practical sessions using Rovio mobile robots. The specific choices are discussed that were made with regard to the mobile platform, software libraries and lab environment. The paper also presents a detailed qualitative and quantitative analysis of student results, including the correlation between student engagement and performance, and discusses the outcomes of this experience

Brain Drain and Fiscal Competition: a Theoretical Model for Europe

In this paper we study Brain Drain (BD) and Fiscal Competition (FC) in a unified framework for the European Union (EU) specific context. Potential mobility of educated workers can increase the degree of FC through taxation or the provision of public education. An increase in FC can be caused by competition among different jurisdictions that aim to attract educated workers. When the importance of FC increases, then the European States may employ FC as a new policy tool. We propose a simple model in which is possible describe different scenarios: Brain Gain (when BD may increase average productivity in the source economy); Brain Drain (when there is unidirectional flow of highly skilled workers that is welfare-deteriorating in the source economy); Migration Competition (when the regions have not high differences in the productivity and they compete attracting educated workers); Fiscal Competition (when jurisdictions compete either to attract a mobile tax base), This simple model help us to explain several policies implemented by European regions.Brain Drain; Fiscal Competition; Migration Competition; Growth.

Information Technology Applications in Hospitality and Tourism: A Review of Publications from 2005 to 2007

The tourism and hospitality industries have widely adopted information technology (IT) to reduce costs, enhance operational efficiency, and most importantly to improve service quality and customer experience. This article offers a comprehensive review of articles that were published in 57 tourism and hospitality research journals from 2005 to 2007. Grouping the findings into the categories of consumers, technologies, and suppliers, the article sheds light on the evolution of IT applications in the tourism and hospitality industries. The article demonstrates that IT is increasingly becoming critical for the competitive operations of the tourism and hospitality organizations as well as for managing the distribution and marketing of organizations on a global scale

International Mobility of Highly-Qualified People in APEC

An important aspect of the global knowledge-based economy is the emergence of a new trend where certain groups of highly-qualified workers have become increasingly mobile internationally. Reaching the goal of being more innovative economy requires that the highly-qualified workforce is of sufficient quantity and quality to support the expansion of innovative activities by firms. Many industrialized countries compete strategically in attracting these workers. It is necessary that the economic policy discussion surrounding the international mobility of skilled labour must take into consideration the wide variety of ways the migration of labour affects the economy. Numerous drivers, policy and non-policy induced, are at work. Attention must now turn towards the links between these movements and the regulating institutions; the performance in the trade of goods and services, FDI, human capital formation and multinational enterprises location, and income convergence among countries. This paper focuses on four key issues: First, it examines the global trends in the international migratory flows of highly qualified persons (HQPs), focusing on APEC economies. Second, it discusses the fundamental non-policy drivers of the increased HQP flows in the new global economy. Third, it reviews the literature on the economic costs and benefits associated with cross-country movement of HQPs and the main factors conditioning these costs and benefits. Finally, it addresses the question of how policy in APEC economies has adjusted or should adjust to the increased international HQP mobility.International migration, Skilled workers, Labour mobility

Get yourself connected: conceptualising the role of digital technologies in Norwegian career guidance

This report outlines the role of digital technologies in the provision of career guidance. It was commissioned by the c ommittee on career guidance which is advising the Norwegian Government following a review of the countries skills system by the OECD. In this report we argue that career guidance and online career guidance in particular can support the development of Norwa y’s skills system to help meet the economic challenges that it faces.The expert committee advising Norway’s Career Guidance Initiativ

International Labor Migration: A Responsible Role for Business

Outlines trends in labor migration in international supply chains and proposes an action plan for businesses to raise awareness and engage with suppliers to protect foreign workers' rights. Includes a case study of the Philippine government's policies

Reading and company: embodiment and social space in silent reading practices

Reading, even when silent and individual, is a social phenomenon and has often been studied as such. Complementary to this view, research has begun to explore how reading is embodied beyond simply being ‘wired’ in the brain. This article brings the social and embodied perspectives together in a very literal sense. Reporting a qualitative study of reading practices across student focus groups from six European countries, it identifies an underexplored factor in reading behaviour and experience. This factor is the sheer physical presence, and concurrent activity, of other people in the environment where one engages in individual silent reading. The primary goal of the study was to explore the role and possible associations of a number of variables (text type, purpose, device) in selecting generic (e.g. indoors vs outdoors) as well as specific (e.g. home vs library) reading environments. Across all six samples included in the study, participants spontaneously attested to varied, and partly surprising, forms of sensitivity to company and social space in their daily efforts to align body with mind for reading. The article reports these emergent trends and discusses their potential implications for research and practice

Addressing Resource Gaps in the U.S. Health Care Safety Net: An Assessment of the Free Clinic Network

Based on a survey of free clinics serving uninsured low-income patients, examines the resource constraints limiting the expansion of healthcare services provided, including the high costs of labs, equipment, and medication. Makes recommendations