Students' natural use of language for academic library concepts

Library jargon is a barrier to users in their interactions with library staff and systems. Comprehension testing has shown that many students do not understand common library jargon. Usability testing and preference testing have successfully sought user feedback in order to develop more user-friendly interfaces. In this study into language preferences, a questionnaire was based on 20 concepts taken from New Zealand university library websites. Participants were asked to label these concepts with terms of their own choosing. New Zealand university summer school coordinators were asked to forward a URL for the web-based questionnaire to students in their classes. Fifty valid responses were received. Concepts that were central to students' library experiences were labelled with as few as 4 different terms, while less central concepts were labelled with more than 30. Library jargon was an important influence on students' choice of terminology. For many concepts, however, students used terms that had not been found on library websites. Further research is recommended into a broader range of concepts, and into whether user-derived terminology outperforms library jargon in whole-library context usability testing

The Tiger Vol. 91 Issue 16 1998-02-20

https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/tiger_newspaper/2894/thumbnail.jp

Public Policymaking in Ireland: the Case of the Indigenous Interactive Media Industry, 1994-2004

Ireland’s economic rollercoaster, going from one of western Europe’s poorest countries to one of its wealthiest during the late 1990s and early 2000s, to being bailed-out in 2010 by the EU and IMF, has attracted much international attention. But beneath this story of bust to boom to bust lies an interesting case study of how a small peripheral state attempted to develop an indigenous internationally competitive sector. This study argues that over theperiod the state refined its ‘strategic future grabbing’ policymaking process. This flexible, fast reacting, non-bureaucratic policymaking system was informed by the small agile state’s American-leaning intelligence gathering network and input from private sector consultants. This research had unprecedented access to the state’s enterprise policymakingdocumentation. This access fed into the principal research method - a case study of the Irish state’s policymaking process aimed at developing its indigenous interactive media industry between 1994 and 2004. The majority of indigenous interactive media companies failed. However, those that survived were successful enough to ensure that by the end of this period, Dublin, its capital, had become one of the world’s largest producers for export of interactive educational media produced by indigenous companies. The interaction of the indigenous interactive media industry with the policymaking process is also examined. This policymaking process is placed in the context of previous Irish policymaking towards indigenous enterprise development

Standardization of network interfaces : a framework for collaborative development and go-to-market strategy

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, System Design and Management Program, 2006."June 2006."Includes bibliographical references.Over the last decade technological innovation in computers and communications industries has resulted in higher penetration of technology intensive products in businesses and homes. In communications industry, the true value of converged networks will be exploited only if the products and services provided end-to-end quality, reliability and consistency of features and functionalities that are offered. However, for this to happen, the products, systems and networks need to be interoperable. Interoperability can be accomplished most effectively and efficiently by use of common standards; but at the same time use of common standards potentially and arguably leads to commoditization of products, and constrains ability of product differentiation. Processes for setting standards, are not only messy but are prolonged, and quite often lead to battles for platform leadership. As incumbent telecommunications service providers transition from the public switched telephone networks to the IP-based data networks, customer expectations are high, challenges are many and failures are costly.(cont.) Verizon Interoperability Forum has taken on this challenge by attempting to develop standards for interfaces for network elements that are used on Verizon's own network. It is proposed that network interfaces' standards exhibit characteristics of network effects and possess a great potential for becoming a de facto standard.by Uday Hardikar.S.M

Introduction to Directory Services

The Directory has grown to be an important OSI application as it acts as a focal point and general support for a number of other applications. This work first points out directory requirements in the OSI framework and other OSI applications, as the Mail Handling System. The first version of the X.500 standard is then described and some Directory related issues are discussed. In particular, X.500 Directory as a database system is examined and some directory service implementations are presented

Transforming Dalit Identity: Ancient Drum Beat, New Song

Folk music is one medium used by the Dalits of India in response to the oppression they face under the country's caste system. This thesis describes research conducted on the effects of music composed by a radical Dalit Christian pastor in South India nicknamed ' Parattai.' The main aims were to investigate how Parattai's religiously affiliated Dalit folk music transformed people, and whether or not its popularity and use had been maintained since Parattai's death in 2005. The primary data was collated from twenty six semi-structured interviews which took place in Tamil Nadu state between December 2006 and April 2007. The secondary data comprises literature on caste and inequality, and grassroots responses involving religion and music. This research found that Parattai' s music was effective because it declared a proud Dalit identity. Parattai embraced and reclaimed the musical and dance styles, vernacular languages, food, and religious ideologies of Dalits so as to transform Dalits from the inside out. Parattai's music continues to empower people with the appreciation of their own strengths. However, further promotion of his folk music style would ensure enduring transformation and activism towards the equality of all Dalits