377,596 research outputs found
Deschooling society? A lifelong learning network for sustainable communities, urban regeneration and environmental technologies
The complexity and multifaceted nature of sustainable lifelong learning can be effectively addressed by a broad network of providers working co-operatively and collaboratively. Such a network involving the third, public and private sector bodies must realise the full potential of accredited flexible and blended formal learning, contextual opportunities offered by enablers of informal and non formal learning and the affordances derived from the various loose and open spaces that can make social learning effective. Such a conception informs the new Lifelong Learning Network Consortium on Sustainable Communities, Urban Regeneration and Environmental Technologies established and led by the Lifelong Learning Centre at Aston University. This paper offers a radical, reflective and political evaluation of its first year in development arguing that networked learning of this type could prefigure a new model for lifelong learning and sustainable education that renders the city itself a creative medium for transformative learning and sustainability
Efficient Management of Flexible Functional Split through Software Defined 5G Converged Access
Softwarization of mobile and optical networks facilitates
the inter-working between control planes of the two
domains, allowing a more efficient management of available
resources. Radio resource utilization benefits from the centralization
of mobile network functionalities with the application
of high-order functional split options by fronthauling. However,
higher-order options require larger bandwidth and lower latency
in the fronthaul. Advanced mechanisms for the joint control of
the access network represent the sole solution to support such
fronthaul requirements. This paper proposes a new cooperation
scheme to manage the adaptive flexible functional split in 5G
networks conditioned to the resource availability in the optical
access network. Results show that the proposed converged
approach guarantees the optimal allocation of optical resources
through a software defined wavelength and bandwidth allocation.
The proposed scheme adapts to current traffic demand and
simultaneously allows the mobile network to take advantage of
the highest possible centralization of mobile network functions
by leveraging flexible functional split adaptively compliant to the
current optical traffic demand.This work was partially supported by the Italian Government
under CIPE resolution no. 135 (December 21, 2012),
project INnovating City Planning through Information and
Communication Technologies (INCIPICT) and by the EC
through the H2020 5G-TRANSFORMER project (Project ID
761536
Enhanced Management of Personal Astronomical Data with FITSManager
Although the roles of data centers and computing centers are becoming more
and more important, and on-line research is becoming the mainstream for
astronomy, individual research based on locally hosted data is still very
common. With the increase of personal storage capacity, it is easy to find
hundreds to thousands of FITS files in the personal computer of an
astrophysicist. Because Flexible Image Transport System (FITS) is a
professional data format initiated by astronomers and used mainly in the small
community, data management toolkits for FITS files are very few. Astronomers
need a powerful tool to help them manage their local astronomical data.
Although Virtual Observatory (VO) is a network oriented astronomical research
environment, its applications and related technologies provide useful solutions
to enhance the management and utilization of astronomical data hosted in an
astronomer's personal computer. FITSManager is such a tool to provide
astronomers an efficient management and utilization of their local data,
bringing VO to astronomers in a seamless and transparent way. FITSManager
provides fruitful functions for FITS file management, like thumbnail, preview,
type dependent icons, header keyword indexing and search, collaborated working
with other tools and online services, and so on. The development of the
FITSManager is an effort to fill the gap between management and analysis of
astronomical data.Comment: 12 pages, 9 figures, Accepted for publication in New Astronom
'Create the future': an environment for excellence in teaching future-oriented Industrial Design Engineering
In 2001, the University of Twente started a new course on Industrial Design Engineering. This paper describes the insights that have been employed in developing the curriculum, and in developing the environment in which the educational activities are facilitated. The University of Twente has a broad experience with project-oriented education [1], and because one of the goals of the curriculum is to get the students acquainted with working methods as employed in e.g. design bureaus, this project-oriented approach has been used as the basis for the new course. In everyday practice, this implies a number of prerequisites to be imposed on the learning environment: instead of focusing on the sheer transfer of information, this environment must allow the students to imbibe the knowledge and competences that make them better designers. Consequently, a much more flexible environment has to be created, in which working as a team becomes habitual, and where cutting-edge technologies are available to facilitate the process. This can be realized because every student owns a laptop, with all relevant software and a full-grown course management system within reach. Moreover, the learning environment provides the fastest possible wireless network and Internet access available [2]. This obviously has its repercussions on the way the education is organized. On the one hand, e.g. virtual reality tools, CAD software and 3D printing are addressed in the curriculum, whereas on the other hand more traditional techniques (like sketching and model making) are conveyed explicitly as well. Together with a sound footing in basic disciplines ranging from mathematics to design history, this course offers the students a profound education in Industrial Design Engineering. The paper describes in more detail the curriculum and the education environment, based on which it is assessed if the course on Industrial Design Engineering can live up to its motto: âCreate the futureâ, and what can be done to further enable the students to acquire the full denotation of that motto
Web 2.0 and micro-businesses: An exploratory investigation
This is the author's final version of the article. This article is (c) Emerald Group Publishing and permission has been granted for this version to appear here. Emerald does not grant permission for this article to be further copied/distributed or hosted elsewhere without the express permission from Emerald Group Publishing Limited.This article was chosen as a Highly Commended Award Winner at the Emerald Literati Network Awards for Excellence 2013.Purpose â The paper aims to report on an exploratory study into how small businesses use Web 2.0 information and communication technologies (ICT) to work collaboratively with other small businesses. The study had two aims: to investigate the benefits available from the use of Web 2.0 in small business collaborations, and to characterize the different types of such online collaborations.
Design/methodology/approach â The research uses a qualitative case study methodology based on semi-structured interviews with the owner-managers of 12 UK-based small companies in the business services sector who are early adopters of Web 2.0 technologies.
Findings â Benefits from the use of Web 2.0 are categorized as lifestyle benefits, internal operational efficiency, enhanced capability, external communications and enhanced service offerings. A 2Ă2 framework is developed to categorize small business collaborations using the dimensions of the basis for inter-organizational collaboration (control vs cooperation) and the level of Web 2.0 ICT use (simple vs sophisticated).
Research limitations/implications â A small number of firms of similar size, sector and location were studied, which limits generalizability. Nonetheless, the results offer a pointer to the likely future use of Web 2.0 tools by other small businesses.
Practical implications â The research provides evidence of the attraction and potential of Web 2.0 for collaborations between small businesses.
Originality/value â The paper is one of the first to report on use of Web 2.0 ICT in collaborative working between small businesses. It will be of interest to those seeking a better understanding of the potential of Web 2.0 in the small business community.WestFocu
Final report of work-with-IT: the JISC study into evolution of working practices
Technology is increasingly being used to underpin business processes across teaching and learning, research, knowledge exchange and business support activities in both HE and FE. The introduction of technology has a significant impact on the working practices of staff, often requiring them to work in a radically different way. Change in any situation can be unsettling and problematic and, where not effectively managed, can lead to poor service or functionality and disenfranchised staff. These issues can have a direct impact on institutional effectiveness, reputation and the resulting student experience. The Work-with-IT project, based at the University of Strathclyde, sought to examine changes to working practices across HE and FE, the impact on staff roles and relationships and the new skills sets that are required to meet these changes
Building Programmable Wireless Networks: An Architectural Survey
In recent times, there have been a lot of efforts for improving the ossified
Internet architecture in a bid to sustain unstinted growth and innovation. A
major reason for the perceived architectural ossification is the lack of
ability to program the network as a system. This situation has resulted partly
from historical decisions in the original Internet design which emphasized
decentralized network operations through co-located data and control planes on
each network device. The situation for wireless networks is no different
resulting in a lot of complexity and a plethora of largely incompatible
wireless technologies. The emergence of "programmable wireless networks", that
allow greater flexibility, ease of management and configurability, is a step in
the right direction to overcome the aforementioned shortcomings of the wireless
networks. In this paper, we provide a broad overview of the architectures
proposed in literature for building programmable wireless networks focusing
primarily on three popular techniques, i.e., software defined networks,
cognitive radio networks, and virtualized networks. This survey is a
self-contained tutorial on these techniques and its applications. We also
discuss the opportunities and challenges in building next-generation
programmable wireless networks and identify open research issues and future
research directions.Comment: 19 page
Pacific leaders in open, online and distance learning
The Pacific is a vast region, with a diverse range of cultures and stretched geographical lands, which covers large territories and long distances. Open, online and distance learning (ODL) has always played a key role in providing access to education to remote and rural students and disadvantaged groups. In fact, it could be argued that without ODL, the levels of educational attainment in these regions would be much lower. However, there is work to be done, as some countries in the region still have infrastructure problems, such as Internet connectivity and availability, which directly impact access to online and distance learning. In this piece about Pacific leaders in ODL, I noticed that despite the fact that many leaders have or have had a formal professional base at their institutions, many have worked across different nations and in collaboration with several national and international organisations. Also, initially, ODL leaders were predominantly male, but it did not take long for their female counterparts to join in and be recognised. Encouraged by this journal's editorial board, I made sure that the ODL female leaders are well represented in this piece.
This manuscript is divided in three sections; Australia, New Zealand and some small islands of the Pacific region. This is by no means an exhaustive list of ODL leaders in the region, but one that recognises the contributions of earlier theorists and some more current researchers and practitioners. Finally, it is also important to highlight that the large majority of the leaders recognised here are renowned academics, researchers, practitioners and leaders due to their success, leadership and contributions to ODL. Therefore, most of them have published extensively, been invited to present at conferences and other national and international events, and have worked as consultants for key ODL organisations and their partners, some during the course of their employment and/or after retiring. Their career and academic successes are very important, but here I would like to focus on some of their key contributions to ODL in the Pacific region.</p
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