Creating corroborated crisis reports from social media data through formal concept analysis

During a crisis citizens reach for their smart phones to report, comment and explore information surrounding the crisis. These actions often involve social media and this data forms a large repository of real-time, crisis related information. Law enforcement agencies and other first responders see this information as having untapped potential. That is, it has the capacity extend their situational awareness beyond the scope of a usual command and control centre. Despite this potential, the sheer volume, the speed at which it arrives, and unstructured nature of social media means that making sense of this data is not a trivial task and one that is not yet satisfactorily solved; both in crisis management and beyond. Therefore we propose a multi-stage process to extract meaning from this data that will provide relevant and near real-time information to command and control to assist in decision support. This process begins with the capture of real-time social media data, the development of specific LEA and crisis focused taxonomies for categorisation and entity extraction, the application of formal concept analysis for aggregation and corroboration and the presentation of this data via map-based and other visualisations. We demonstrate that this novel use of formal concept analysis in combination with context-based entity extraction has the potential to inform law enforcement and/or humanitarian responders about on-going crisis events using social media data in the context of the 2015 Nepal earthquake. Keywords : formal concept analysis, crisis management, disaster response, visualisation, entity extraction

Attribute Exploration on the Web

We propose an approach for supporting attribute exploration by web information retrieval, in particular by posing appropriate queries to search engines, crowd sourcing systems, and the linked open data cloud. We discuss underlying general assumptions for this to work and the degree to which these can be taken for granted

Proceedings of the 5th Workshop on Awareness and Reflection in Technology Enhanced Learning

Awareness and reflection are viewed differently across the disciplines informing Technology Enhanced Learning (CSCW, psychology, educational sciences, computer science and others). The ARTEL workshop series brings together researchers and professionals from different backgrounds to provide a forum for discussing the multi-faceted area of awareness and reflection. Through the last ARTEL workshops at EC-TEL the addressed topics are converging towards the usage of awareness and reflection in practice, its implementation in modern organisations, its impact on learners and questions of feasibility and sustainability for awareness and reflection in education and work. To reflect the growing maturity of research in ARTEL over the years the workshop particularly invited contributions that dealt with the application of awareness and reflection in practice. This is encapsulated in the workshop motto: 'Awareness and Reflection in Practice: How can awareness and reflection technology become common in work practice and how does it change work practices?

RegTech Opportunities in the Platform-Based Business Sector

The notion of RegTech has emerged in recent years, but its application appears to have been mostly limited to the use of technology to assist with organisations\u27 compliance with regulatory requirements. A model is presented that encompasses RegTech\u27s full scope, embracing its capacity to address the needs not only of regulatees, but also of regulators and the intended beneficiaries of regulatory regimes. The model is then applied to the recently-popularised platform-based business model, whose mature form is evidenced by Uber and Airbnb. A range of opportunities is identified for practitioners and researchers to contribute to the application of information technologies in the regulatory space

Usability of disaster apps : understanding the perspectives of the public as end-users : a dissertation presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Emergency Management at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand

Listed in 2020 Dean's List of Exceptional ThesesMultiple smartphone applications (apps) exist that can enhance the public’s resilience to disasters. Despite the capabilities of these apps, they can only be effective if users find them usable. Availability does not automatically translate to usability nor does it guarantee continued usage by the target users. A disaster app will be of little or no value if a user abandons it after the initial download. It is, therefore, essential to understand the users’ perspectives on the usability of disaster apps. In the context of disaster apps, usability entails providing the elements that effectively facilitate users in retrieving critical information, and thus enabling them to make decisions during crises. Establishing good usability for effective systems relies upon focussing on the user whereby technological solutions match the user’s needs and expectations. However, most studies on the usability of disaster context technologies have been conducted with emergency responders, and only a few have investigated the publics’ perspectives as end-users. This doctoral project, written within a ‘PhD-thesis-with-publication’ format, addresses this gap by investigating the usability of disaster apps through the perspectives of the public end-users. The investigation takes an explicitly perceived usability standpoint where the experiences of the end-users are prioritised. Data analysis involved user-centric information to understand the public’s context and the mechanisms of disaster app usability. A mixed methods approach incorporates the qualitative analysis of app store data of 1,405 user reviews from 58 existing disaster apps, the quantitative analysis of 271 survey responses from actual disaster app users, and the qualitative analysis of usability inquiries with 18 members of the public. Insights gathered from this doctoral project highlight that end-users do not anticipate using disaster apps frequently, which poses particular challenges. Furthermore, despite the anticipated low frequency of use, because of the life-safety association of disasters apps, end-users have an expectation that the apps can operate with adequate usability when needed. This doctoral project provides focussed outcomes that consider such user perspectives. First, an app store analysis investigating user reviews identified new usability concerns particular to disaster apps. It highlighted users’ opinion on phone resource usage and relevance of content, among others. More importantly, it defined a new usability factor, app dependability, relating to the life-safety context of disaster apps. App dependability is the degree to which users’ perceive that an app can operate dependably during critical scenarios. Second, the quantitative results from this research have contributed towards producing a usability-continuance model, highlighting the usability factors that affect end-users’ intention to keep or uninstall a disaster app. The key influences for users’ intention to keep disaster apps are: (1) users’ perceptions as to whether the app delivers its function (app utility), (2) whether it does so dependably (app dependability), and (3) whether it presents information that can be easily understood (user-interface output). Subsequently, too much focus on (4) user-interface graphics and (5) user-interface input can encourage users to uninstall apps. Third, the results from the qualitative analysis of the inquiry data provide a basis for developing guidelines for disaster app usability. In the expectation of low level of engagement with disaster app users, the guidelines list recommendations addressing information salience, cognitive load, and trust. This doctoral project provides several contributions to the body of knowledge for usability and disaster apps. It reiterates the importance of investigating the usability of technological products for disasters and showcases the value of user-centric data in understanding usability. It has investigated usability with particular attention to the end-users’ perspectives on the context of disaster apps and, thus, produces a theoretical usability-continuance model to advance disaster app usability research and usability guidelines to encourage responsible design in practice

The evolvement and future directions of equity crowdfunding: an explorative study

Equity crowdfunding has matured to a viable option for non-technology and technology companies to raise funding in their early and later stages in the past ten years. Venture capital (VC) companies and business angels have been increasingly involved in equity crowdfunding rounds. In recent years, a new forms of crowdfunding, initial coin offerings (ICOs) and security token offerings (STOs) have emerged. To understand more of the emerging funding industries, this study seeks to shed light on how the maturing equity crowdfunding industry will evolve in the future, how it will affect on the operation models and business models of venture capitalists, how the blockchain technology will affect on equity crowdfunding and what are the advantages and disadvantages of ICOs and STOs compared to a traditional equity crowdfunding. The study uses explorative research method based on semi- structured qualitative interviews with entrepreneurs, who have raised funding from venture capitalists, organized an initial coin offering or an equity crowdfunding round and interviews with venture capitalists, whose portfolio companies have raised funding through equity crowdfunding. Based on the interviews several key findings can be concluded on why companies choose to raise funding by organizing an equity crowdfunding round, why venture capital backed companies raise follow-on funding through equity crowdfunding, how venture capitalists see equity crowdfunding affecting to their business models and how equity crowdfunding offers an alternative way to raise funding for companies, that venture capital companies do not fund. Initial coin offerings and security token offerings are a new form crowdfunding, which emerged in 2013. This thesis will explore the advantages and disadvantages of ICOs and STOs compared to traditional equity crowdfunding. One of the central findings of this study is that equity crowdfunding, initial coin offerings and security token offerings can be used to finance different type of companies and projects that are not suitable for venture capitalists, because venture capitalist have tight criteria’s regarding the industry, growth and scalability of the company. Venture capitalists do not see equity crowdfunding as a threat to their businesses, but rather as an ancillary for venture capital and a tool for a venture capitalist to raise follow-on funding for their portfolio companies. Another key contribution of this research is that companies who organize ICOs and STOs have applied the token into to core of their strategy by using a token as a payment method, using tokens to pay dividends, buying back the issued tokens, rewarding employees by giving them tokens and use tokens to encourage the community to act in a way that is beneficial for the company.Osakepohjainen joukkorahoitus on kehittynyt varteenotettavaksi rahoitusvaihtoehdoksi teknologia- ja muille yrityksille viimeisen kymmenen vuoden aikana. Venture capital (VC) yritykset ja businessenkelit ovat olleet aktiivisesti yhä enemmän mukana osakepohjaisissa joukkorahoituskierroksissa. Viime vuosina on ilmestynyt uusi joukkorahoituksen malli, kolikkoanti (initial coin offering, ICO) ja digitaalisten arvopapereiden liikkeellelasku (security token offering, STO). Ymmärtääksemme enemmän näistä verrattain uusista rahoituksen muodoista, tämä tutkielma pyrkii tuomaan selvyyttä miten osakepohjainen joukkorahoitus -toimiala tulee kehittymään tulevaisuudessa, miten se tulee vaikuttamaan venture capital -yritysten liiketoimintamalleihin, miten lohkoketjuteknologia vaikuttaa osakepohjaiseen joukkorahoitukseen ja mitkä ovat ICO- antien ja STO-antien edut ja haittapuolet verrattuna tavalliseen osakepohjaiseen joukkorahoitukseen. Tässä tutkielmassa käytetään eksploratiivistä tutkimusmenetelmää ja haastattelut on tehty puolistrukturoituina haastatteluina yrittäjien kanssa, jotka ovat nostaneet rahoitusta venture capital sijoittajilta, järjestämällä osakepohjaisen joukkorahoituskierroksen tai ICO-annin sekä haastatteluihin venture capital -sijoittajien kanssa, joiden portfolioyhtiöt ovat nostaneet rahoitusta osakepohjaisella joukkorahoituksella. Haastatteluiden perusteella voidaan tehdä monia keskeisiä löydöksiä, siitä miksi yritykset valitsevat osakepohjaisen joukkorahoituksen rahoitusmuodokseen, miksi venture capital rahastojen rahoittamat yritykset nostavat jatkorahoitusta osakepohjaisella joukkorahoituksella, miten venture capital -sijoittajat näkevät osakepohjaisen joukkorahoituksen vaikuttavan heidän liiketoimintamalleihinsa ja miten osakepohjainen joukkorahoitus tarjoaa vaihtoehtoisen tavan nostaa rahoitusta yhtiöille, joita venture capital -rahastot eivät tavallisesti rahoita. ICO-anti ja STO- anti ovat uusi joukkorahoituksen muoto, joka ilmestyi 2013. Tämä tutkielma tarkastelee ICO-antien ja STO-antien etuja ja haittapuolia verrattuna tavalliseen osakepohjaiseen joukkorahoitukseen. Yksi tämän tutkielman keskeisistä havannoista on, että osakepohjaista joukkorahoitusta, ICO- anteja ja STO-anteja voidaan käyttää erityyppisten yhtiöiden rahoitukseen ja projekteihin, jotka eivät ole venture capital yhtiöille sopivia sijoituskohteita, johtuen venture capital yhtiöiden tiukoista sijoituskriteereistä liittyen yrityksen toimialaan, kasvuun ja yhtiön skaalautuvuuteen. Venture capital sijoittajat eivät näe osakepohjaista joukkorahoitusta uhkana heidän toiminalleen, vaan pikemminkin venture capital -rahoitusta täydentävänä rahoitusmuotona ja työkaluna venture capital -rahastoille, jonka avulla voidaan nostaa jatkorahoitusta heidän portfolioyhtiöilleen. Toinen tämän tutkielman keskeinen havinto, on, että yritykset, jotka järjestävät ICO-annin tai STO-annin ovat sisällyttäneet tokenin yrityksen strategian ytimeen, käyttämällä tokenia maksutapana, maksaakseen osinkoja, ostamalla takaisin tokeneita, palkitsemalla työntekijöitään tokeneilla sekä kannustamalla yhteisöä toimimaan tavalla, joka on hyödyllinen yritykselle

Коллективные потоковые вычисления: реляционные модели и алгоритмы

Recently, microtask crowdsourcing has become a popular approach for addressing various data mining problems. Crowdsourcing workflows for approaching such problems are composed of several data processing stages which require consistent representation for making the work reproducible. This paper is devoted to the problem of reproducibility and formalization of the microtask crowdsourcing process. A computational model for microtask crowdsourcing based on an extended relational model and a dataflow computational model has been proposed. The proposed collaborative dataflow computational model is designed for processing the input data sources by executing annotation stages and automatic synchronization stages simultaneously. Data processing stages and connections between them are expressed by using collaborative computation workflows represented as loosely connected directed acyclic graphs. A synchronous algorithm for executing such workflows has been described. The computational model has been evaluated by applying it to two tasks from the computational linguistics field: concept lexicalization refining in electronic thesauri and establishing hierarchical relations between such concepts. The “Add–Remove–Confirm” procedure is designed for adding the missing lexemes to the concepts while removing the odd ones. The “Genus–Species–Match” procedure is designed for establishing “is-a” relations between the concepts provided with the corresponding word pairs. The experiments involving both volunteers from popular online social networks and paid workers from crowdsourcing marketplaces confirm applicability of these procedures for enhancing lexical resources. В последнее время краудсорсинг на основе выполения микрозадач получил широкое применение в области анализа неструктурированных данных. Разрабатываются специализированные методики, состоящие из множества этапов обработки исходных данных, требующих согласованности их представления для обеспечения воспроизводимости работы. Данная статья посвящена решению проблемы воспроизводимости и формализации процесса краудсорсинга микрозадачами. Предложена модель коллективных потоковых вычислений на основе расширенной реляционной модели и потоковой модели вычислений. Модель предназначена для обработки исходных данных в виде реляционных отношений путем параллельного выполнения этапов разметки микрозадачами и этапов автоматической синхронизации. Этапы обработки данных и связи между ними записываются с использованием схемы коллективных вычислений, представляющей собой слабо связный ориентированный ациклический граф. Описан синхронный алгоритм выполнения схем коллективных вычислений. Продемонстрированы приложения модели в области компьютерной лингвистики для уточнения лексикализации понятий в электронных тезаурусах и построения родо-видовых отношений между понятиями при помощи краудсорсинга. Процедура «добавить–удалить–подтвердить» позволяет внести в лексикализацию понятий недостающие лексемы и исключить посторонние. Процедура «род–вид–сопоставить» позволяет сформировать гипо-гиперонимические отношения между понятиями на основе соответствующих родо-видовых пар слов. Результаты экспериментов на материалах открытого электронного тезауруса русского языка подтверждают применимость разработанных процедур для развития лексических ресурсов. В экспериментах приняли участие как волонтеры из популярных социальных сетей, так и пользователи бирж краудсорсинга (за вознаграждение в форме микроплатежей).