Learning Spreadsheet Software in the Traditional and Synchronous Modes: A Model and a Pilot Study to Investigate End User\u27s Performance and Satisfaction

Organizational learning and use of IS technologies ranked fifth in a list of 20 critical IS management issues in U.S.A. (Niederman et al., 1991). A very recent study (Kim and Kim, 1999) ranked organizational learning as 13th and IS Education and Training as 14th most important in a list of 30 issues. Globally, this issue ranked first in Hong Kong (Burn et al, 1993); fifth in Singapore (Rao et al., 1987); and sixth in India (Palvia and Palvia, 1992). Knowledge of and skills in the use of software such as word processing, spreadsheet, and database represent the basic computer literacy requirements for end users. Both academic institutions and corporations have been investing significant time and dollars to provide the necessary education in the use of these software products. This paper articulates four approaches - traditional, asynchronous, delayed, and synchronous - to impart computer software education in a group setting. It then describes instruments developed to measure relatively distinct areas of computer software knowledge and skills - memory recall, critical thinking, and computing literacy. Finally, the paper provides an analysis of data collected to compare and contrast the effectiveness of the traditional and synchronous modes for spreadsheet software (Excel) education. The findings are: (a) the traditional mode does not individually contribute to improving memory recall and recognition, or critical thinking whereas synchronous mode does; (b) both traditional and synchronous approaches individually contribute to improving computing literacy; (c) there is no evidence to suggest that either mode is superior in contributing to these improvements, and (d) the end users find the synchronous mode to be more satisfying than the traditional mode for learning spreadsheet software

Innovative Asia: Advancing the Knowledge-Based Economy - Highlights of the Forthcoming ADB Study Report

[Excerpt] The development of knowledge-based economies (KBEs) is both an imperative and an opportunity for developing Asia. It is an imperative to sustain high rates of growth in the future and an opportunity whereby emerging economies can draw from beneficial trending developments that may allow them to move faster to advance in global value chains and in position in world markets. Over the last quarter of a century, driven mostly by cheap labor, developing countries in Asia have seen unprecedented growth rates and contributions to the global economy. Sustaining Asia’s growth trajectory, however, requires developing economies to seek different approaches to economic growth and progress, especially if they aspire to move from the middle-income to the high-income level. KBE is an important platform that can enable them to sustain growth and even accelerate it. It is time for Asia to consolidate and accelerate its pace of growth. Asia is positioned in a unique moment in history with many advantages that can serve as a boost: to name a couple, an expanding middle of the pyramid—Asia is likely to hold 50% of the global middle class and 40% of the global consumer market by 2020; and the growing importance of intra-regional trade within Asia, increasing from 54% in 2001 to 58% in 2011. Many developing economies are well placed to assimilate frontier technologies into their manufacturing environment

Sharing 3D city models: an overview

This study describes the computing methods now available to enable the sharing of three-dimensional (3D) data between various stakeholders for the purposes of city modeling and considers the need for a seamless approach for sharing, transmitting, and maintaining 3D city models. The study offers an overview of the technologies and the issues related to remote access, collaboration, and version control. It builds upon previous research on 3D city models where issues were raised on utilizing, updating and maintaining 3D city models and providing access to various stakeholders. This paper will also describe a case study which is currently analyzing the remote access requirements for a sustainable computer model of NewcastleGateshead in England. Options available will be examined and areas of future research will be discussed

Model migration neural network for predicting battery aging trajectories

Accurate prediction of batteries’ future degradation is a key solution to relief users’ anxiety on battery lifespan and electric vehicle’s driving range. Technical challenges arise from the highly nonlinear dynamics of battery aging. In this paper, a feed-forward migration neural network is proposed to predict the batteries’ aging trajectories. Specifically, a base model that describes the capacity decay over time is first established from the existed battery aging dataset. This base model is then transformed by an input-output slope-and-bias-correction (SBC) method structure to capture the degradation of target cell. To enhance the model’s nonlinear transfer capability, the SBC-model is further integrated into a four-layer neural network, and easily trained via the gradient correlation algorithm. The proposed migration neural network is experimentally verified with four different commercial batteries. The predicted RMSEs are all lower than 2.5% when using only the first 30% of aging trajectories for neural network training. In addition, illustrative results demonstrate that a small size feed-forward neural network (down to 1-5-5-1) is sufficient for battery aging trajectory prediction

Progress in information technology and tourism management: 20 years on and 10 years after the Internet—The state of eTourism research

This paper reviews the published articles on eTourism in the past 20 years. Using a wide variety of sources, mainly in the tourism literature, this paper comprehensively reviews and analyzes prior studies in the context of Internet applications to Tourism. The paper also projects future developments in eTourism and demonstrates critical changes that will influence the tourism industry structure. A major contribution of this paper is its overview of the research and development efforts that have been endeavoured in the field, and the challenges that tourism researchers are, and will be, facing