CSISE: cloud-based semantic image search engine

Title from PDF of title page, viewed on March 27, 2014Thesis advisor: Yugyung LeeVitaIncludes bibliographical references (pages 53-56)Thesis (M. S.)--School of Computing and Engineering. University of Missouri--Kansas City, 2013Due to rapid exponential growth in data, a couple of challenges we face today are how to handle big data and analyze large data sets. An IBM study showed the amount of data created in the last two years alone is 90% of the data in the world today. We have especially seen the exponential growth of images on the Web, e.g., more than 6 billion in Flickr, 1.5 billion in Google image engine, and more than 1 billon images in Instagram [1]. Since big data are not only a matter of a size, but are also heterogeneous types and sources of data, image searching with big data may not be scalable in practical settings. We envision Cloud computing as a new way to transform the big data challenge into a great opportunity. In this thesis, we intend to perform an efficient and accurate classification of a large collection of images using Cloud computing, which in turn supports semantic image searching. A novel approach with enhanced accuracy has been proposed to utilize semantic technology to classify images by analyzing both metadata and image data types. A two-level classification model was designed (i) semantic classification was performed on a metadata of images using TF-IDF, and (ii) image classification was performed using a hybrid image processing model combined with Euclidean distance and SURF FLANN measurements. A Cloud-based Semantic Image Search Engine (CSISE) is also developed to search an image using the proposed semantic model with the dynamic image repository by connecting online image search engines that include Google Image Search, Flickr, and Picasa. A series of experiments have been performed in a large-scale Hadoop environment using IBM's cloud on over half a million logo images of 76 types. The experimental results show that the performance of the CSISE engine (based on the proposed method) is comparable to the popular online image search engines as well as accurate with a higher rate (average precision of 71%) than existing approachesAbstract -- Contents -- Illustrations -- Tables -- Acknowledgements - Introduction -- Related work -- Cloud-based semantic image search engine model -- Cloud-based semantic image search engine (CSISE) implementation -- Experimental results and evaluation -- Conclusion and future work - Reference

The determinants of brand equity in handicraft small and medium enterprise in Thailand

The handicraft industry in Thailand is uniquely endowed with fascinating cultural national heritage and fine artistic traditions. However, local promotions of these products are not rigorously conducted to reflect Thailand’s culture through proper brand equity. Only 23% of them have their own brand name whereas the other 77% do not. Brand loyalty is treated as a mediator in this study since its mediating role is unknown in the handicraft industry. Hence, this study aims to empirically verify the determinants of brand equity for SME handicrafts and to examine the mediating role of brand loyalty as perceived by customers in Thailand. The specific objectives of the study are three-folds: (1) to examine the predictors of brand equity (2) to determine the predictors of brand loyalty and (3) to investigate the mediating effect of brand loyalty. The survey instrument consists of 15 latent variables and 70 items. Through quantitative survey, 500 questionnaires were distributed to customers of handicraft at producers’ outlets in five regions in Thailand. The returned questionnaires were 419 representing 84 percent response rate. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling analysis method which produces four significant relationships: (1) brand loyalty is positively related to brand equity (H1); (2) satisfaction is positively related to brand equity (H2); (3) competitive advantage is positively related to brand loyalty (H6); and (4) brand loyalty mediates fully the relationship between competitive advantage and brand equity (H9). It is imperative that handicraft consumers are loyal to a brand once they know about the brand (brand awareness), capture brand image, perceived the offering as quality product, have brand association and finally develop brand trust. The Thai handicraft product must establish its brand image, performed continuous brand awareness campaign, so that customers around the world will build their trust in Thai handicraft products

Gesture based interface for image annotation

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Rethinking the brand concept for air transportation : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Aviation at Massey University, Manawatū Campus, New Zealand

The study of brands and branding in the aviation industry is not new. However, in common with the more general branding literature, there is a fundamental problem at the centre of research: what is the subject of study? This is the problem of brand definition and, in common with most of the branding literature, it is not unusual to find studies of the brand or branding in the aviation literature where the understanding of the brand concept differs between authors. This thesis emphasises the need to have clarity of definition before proceeding to research a concept. The solution to the problem of brand definition is a return to what is described as the Label and Associations Model (LAM), as highlighted in Chapter 1. In the LAM, the brand is conceptualised as a trade name/logo that identifies a product and/or service or firm. The interesting point of study in this model is not the brand itself, but the brand associations (what comes to mind upon the presentation of a brand). The LAM is applied to study airline brand choice (Chapter 2), airport brand association structures, and airport brand choice (Chapters 3 and 4). The application of the LAM was done in conjunction with the guiding methodological principles of the thesis, which involved the free elicitation of brand associations to avoid self-generated validity and construct creation, as well as recognise heterophenomenology. Combining the LAM with free elicitation meant using the brand name or logo to elicit associations stored in long-term memory. This approach provides both clarity as to the subject of study (with the brand being a name or logo), while allowing participants to provide any form of association without prompting or bias from the researcher. The result of this approach is new research findings, theory, and managerial implications for the aviation industry. This thesis demonstrates that it is the tangible product/service attributes (e.g., price, reliability, facilities) that air travellers are most likely to associate with airline and airport brands, rather than more abstract associations (e.g., reputation, loyalty, social responsibility). Other insightful findings include discovering a new type of brand (termed as a compound brand) that applies to airports and highlighting the role of double jeopardy within airline markets. These contributions were only possible due to the use of the LAM in conjunction with the free elicitation of brand associations, thus unifying the thesis conceptually and methodologically