86,773 research outputs found
Perspectives about paradigms in software engineering
There is a broad use of the term āparadigmā in Software Engineer-ing. Concepts such as structured paradigm, cascade paradigm or agent-oriented paradigm are very frequent in software engineering research proposals. In this essay we distinguish between functional and scientific paradigm and we show that the common use of paradigm in Software Engineering is about the func-tional or engineering paradigm rather than scientific paradigm. We distinguish among four possible perspectives and, in this context, we sustain that the scien-tific perspective is intrinsic and hence very difficult to properly identify and de-scribe. We argue that a discussion about the scientific paradigm in Software Engineering could help us to evaluate and improve the research practice in the discipline.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version
Organization of Multi-Agent Systems: An Overview
In complex, open, and heterogeneous environments, agents must be able to
reorganize towards the most appropriate organizations to adapt unpredictable
environment changes within Multi-Agent Systems (MAS). Types of reorganization
can be seen from two different levels. The individual agents level
(micro-level) in which an agent changes its behaviors and interactions with
other agents to adapt its local environment. And the organizational level
(macro-level) in which the whole system changes it structure by adding or
removing agents. This chapter is dedicated to overview different aspects of
what is called MAS Organization including its motivations, paradigms, models,
and techniques adopted for statically or dynamically organizing agents in MAS.Comment: 12 page
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Information systems: a cyborg discipline?
This paper argues for a model of information systems in terms of cyborgs ā a boundary-crossing mixture of the technical and the social. The argument for this model is substantiated from the personal experience of the author, presented as examples of being a cyborg researcher within a disciplinary context. Lessons for information systems are drawn
Designing as Construction of Representations: A Dynamic Viewpoint in Cognitive Design Research
This article presents a cognitively oriented viewpoint on design. It focuses
on cognitive, dynamic aspects of real design, i.e., the actual cognitive
activity implemented by designers during their work on professional design
projects. Rather than conceiving de-signing as problem solving - Simon's
symbolic information processing (SIP) approach - or as a reflective practice or
some other form of situated activity - the situativity (SIT) approach - we
consider that, from a cognitive viewpoint, designing is most appropriately
characterised as a construction of representations. After a critical discussion
of the SIP and SIT approaches to design, we present our view-point. This
presentation concerns the evolving nature of representations regarding levels
of abstraction and degrees of precision, the function of external
representations, and specific qualities of representation in collective design.
Designing is described at three levels: the organisation of the activity, its
strategies, and its design-representation construction activities (different
ways to generate, trans-form, and evaluate representations). Even if we adopt a
"generic design" stance, we claim that design can take different forms
depending on the nature of the artefact, and we propose some candidates for
dimensions that allow a distinction to be made between these forms of design.
We discuss the potential specificity of HCI design, and the lack of cognitive
design research occupied with the quality of design. We close our discussion of
representational structures and activities by an outline of some directions
regarding their functional linkages
Towards Ecology Inspired Software Engineering
Ecosystems are complex and dynamic systems. Over billions of years, they have
developed advanced capabilities to provide stable functions, despite changes in
their environment. In this paper, we argue that the laws of organization and
development of ecosystems provide a solid and rich source of inspiration to lay
the foundations for novel software construction paradigms that provide
stability as much as openness.Comment: No. RR-7952 (2012
Reflecting on the usability of research on culture in designing interaction
The concept of culture has been attractive to producers of interactive\ud
systems who are willing to design useful and relevant solutions to users\ud
increasingly located in culturally diverse contexts. Despite a substantial body of\ud
research on culture and technology, interaction designers have not always been\ud
able to apply these research outputs to effectively define requirements for\ud
culturally diverse users. This paper frames this issue as one of understanding of\ud
the different paradigms underpinning the cultural models being applied to\ud
interface development and research. Drawing on different social science theories,\ud
the authors discuss top-down and bottom-up perspectives in the study of usersā\ud
cultural differences and discuss the extent to which each provides usable design\ud
knowledge. The case is made for combining bottom-up and top-down perspectives\ud
into a sociotechnical approach that can produce knowledge useful and usable by\ud
interaction designers. This is illustrated with a case study about the design of\ud
interactive systems for farmers in rural Kenya
Using ontologies to support and critique decisions
Supporting decision making in the working environment has long being pursued by practitioners across a variety of fields, ranging from sociology and operational research to cognitive and computer scientists. A number of computer-supported systems and various technologies have been used over the years, but as we move into more global and flexible organisational structures, new technologies and challenges arise. In this paper, I argue for an ontology-based solution and present some of the early prototypes we have been developing, assess their impact on the decision making process and elaborate on the costs involved
On Agent-Based Software Engineering
Agent-based computing represents an exciting new synthesis both for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and, more generally, Computer Science. It has the potential to significantly improve the theory and the practice of modeling, designing, and implementing computer systems. Yet, to date, there has been little systematic analysis of what makes the agent-based approach such an appealing and powerful computational model. Moreover, even less effort has been devoted to discussing the inherent disadvantages that stem from adopting an agent-oriented view. Here both sets of issues are explored. The standpoint of this analysis is the role of agent-based software in solving complex, real-world problems. In particular, it will be argued that the development of robust and scalable software systems requires autonomous agents that can complete their objectives while situated in a dynamic and uncertain environment, that can engage in rich, high-level social interactions, and that can operate within flexible organisational structures
Handbook for Learning-centred evaluation of Computer-facilitated learning projects in higher education
This handbook supports a project funded by the Australian Government Committee for University Teaching and Staff Development (CUTSD). The amended project title is āStaff Development in Evaluation of Technology-based Teaching Development Projects: An Action Inquiry Approachā.
The project is hosted by Murdoch University on behalf of the Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education (ASCILITE), as a consortium of 11 universities.
The rationale of the project is to guide a group of university staff through the evaluation of a Computer-facilitated Learning (CFL1) project by a process of action inquiry and mentoring, supported by the practical and theoretical material contained in this handbook
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