Computer Based Test using Speech Recognition System

Speech recognition system is a system that can converts audio signals into machine-readable format to provide interaction with the system. In this paper the speech recognition system is applied within the E –Learning system.  A headset microphone is interfaced to the computer system for speech production, a speech engine to help analyze each spoken text as programmed in the source code using XML format as the back end for stored text. This technique process data capturing more promptly than the existing process by keyboards or mouse, and can be used in working environment where these devices cannot be used and also for the disable learners that cannot use their hands or communicate through textual medium. Speech Recognition System is a developing technology and its application in this context is done within the Computer-Based Test as a pilot study.  The speech SDK (Software Development Kits) used has an inbuilt speech recognition engine and inbuilt simulator, the engine provides the speech recognizer that is able to recognize the user’s speech and integrate it with the inbuilt simulator. Keywords: Speech Recognition System, Computer Based Test, E-Learning Syste

Accessibility and Usage of Scholarly Information Sources by Faculty Members and Postgraduate Students of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

This study was aimed at developing an understanding of the scholarly information sources and services that faculty members and postgraduate students in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria accessed and used to support their research, teaching and learning. Three research questions and one hypothesis were formulated and tested with respect to types of Scholarly Information Sources (SIS) available, accessed and used by the Faculty Members (FM) and Postgraduate (PG) Students of Ahmadu Bello University, (A.B.U.), Zaria, Nigeria, in this study. A number of 868 samples comprising 487 FM and 381 PG students were drawn from the population and used as sample size for this study. The data collected, through questionnaire and observations, were analyzed using frequency distribution tables and percentages, while the hypothesis was tested using T-test for independent samples. The results show that academic/research libraries and the internet is the major SIS accessed by the FM and PG students in A.B.U., Zaria. In addition, printed matters as well as manuscripts were the most accessed and utilized Scholarly Information Sources in A.B.U., Zaria. Moreover, there is significant difference between the FM and PG students in their uses of Scholarly Information Sources. This study therefore concludes that internet has revolutionized the process by which information is being packaged, processed, stored and disseminated, as well as how users seek and access information, these notwithstanding, the academic and the research library is still very relevant to faculty members and PG students’ scholarly activities. Therefore, the universities, through their library systems, need to explore the advantages and opportunities offered by the application of Information and communication Technology (ICTs) in scholarly information delivery

Characteristics and Nature of Academic Staff’s User Experiences in Electronic Library Database Utilisation

Abstract Introduction. The use of electronic library databases (e-library databases) by academic staff is accepted globally as contributing immensely-to academic staff research work. However, based on one of the researchers’ experiences as a Subject Librarian as well as context-specific issues that arose from the existing literature, e-library databases are underutilised by academic staff at the University of Jos and similar institutions in North-Central Nigeria. Many previous studies on the use of e-library databases by academic staff in Nigerian universities were centred on the quantitative survey methodology, which lack in-depth perspectives of academics’ experiences. Thus, additional qualitative insights are necessary. Hence, this study aimed to improve our understanding of the personal/individual experiences affecting academic staff e-library database utilisation in universities in North-Central Nigeria, through ethnographic research. Method. The stratified sampling method was used in selecting participants. The researcher employed observation and semi-structured interviews to collect data from 44 academic staff selected from 22 faculties of the Universities and one system librarian from each of the university libraries. A constant comparative approach was used in the analysis of data. Results. The results revealed negative/unsatisfying experiences and a lack of interest in using e-library databases affected academics’ use of the e-library databases. The researcher discovered that online library database use and technology are generally less common to older academics but appear to be more familiar amongst the younger ones. Conclusion. Therefore, the study recommended that Academic Subject Librarians have to consider online library database design strategies to shore up the use rates. The university should also prioritise behavioural change

Automated classification of African embroidery patterns using cellular learning automata and support vector machines

Embroidery is the art that is majorly practised in Nigeria, which requires creativity and skills. However, differentiating between two standard embroidery patterns pose challenges to wearers of the patterns. This study developed a classification system to improve the embroiderer to user relationship. The specific characteristics are used as feature sets to classify two common African embroidery patterns (handmade and tinko) are shape, brightness, thickness and colour. The system developed and simulated in MATLAB 2016a environment employed Cellular Learning Automata (CLA) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) as its classifier. The classification performance of the proposed system was evaluated using precision, recall, and accuracy. The system obtained an average precision of 0.93, average recall of 0.81, and average accuracy of 0.97 in classifying the handmade and tinko embroidery patterns considered in this study. This study also presented an experimental result of three validation models for training and testing the dataset used in this study. The model developed an improved and refined embroiderer for eliminating stress related to the manual pattern identification process

ADVANCING LIBRARY AND INFORMATION LITERACY (LIL) IN THE NIGERIAN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

Information literacy is a pertinent aspect of any developing or developed society, hence the need to make it an integral part of the education system of any aspiring great society. This article x-rays the library and information literacy in the Nigerian educational system and how it can be advanced. Common approach to libraries in Nigerian educational system, which cuts across the primary, secondary and tertiary institutions, is seen as the reason for the laxity in library and information real time advancement. The article also looked at the discrepancies between the theory and practice in library literacy in accessing necessary information and the difficulties experienced in the process in the Nigerian educational system. The position of the National Education Policy (NPE), according to this article, should go beyond its theoretical placements and make the needed changes so as to practically accommodate the Library and Information Centres. This paper is based on the longitudinal (observatory) studies of the author aided with secondary data to buttress the positions made. It posits that the seeming laxity (common approach) of students’ literacy on library and information centres is primarily because of the lacuna at their early levels of education. Such gaps presented pertinent suggestions for improving library and information literacy. This prompted a useful yard stick for the paper to present workable recommendations that in its opinion will be of immense help to solving it

A Survey of Devices for Analyzing Electricity Consumption

In this paper, a review of the devices used in collecting, measuring, analyzing and monitoring electric power consumption are presented. These devices are an integral part of embedded systems. The relevant concepts related to challenges in the energy sector are presented, and one method of identifying solution to these challenges is by using a reliable power meter for collecting and monitoring electricity consumption. To obtain recommended devices for data collection and monitoring of electricity consumption, an extensive review of relevant power meters used for data collection is conducted. The information compiled focuses on some of the characteristics of these meters. In carrying out a comprehensive study of these devices, the qualities and benefits of these devices (ease of operation and installation, ability to monitor appliance usage in the building all day, and the ability to reset during power outages) are clearly identified

To investigate the influencing factors for sustainable packaging in a multinational SME supply chain

Sustainability has become a buzzword that occurs everywhere in this global economy. Governments continue to lay emphasis on its importance by steering policies favourably in that direction. Organisations, both public and private, are becoming more aware of the economic, social and environmental advantages it brings them in the global landscape in which they operate. Academic institutions have not been left behind, on the evidence of the volume of research in this area.The aim of this research has been to investigate the barriers and enablers to sustainable packaging within an international, closed loop supply chain of Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the food Industry. It is important to mention that two-thirds of all packaging is used in the food industry, and the close relationship between the food sector and packaging explains the focus of this research on the food sector.Whilst there has been research into sustainability or sustainable development, emphasis has always been on Multinational Enterprises (MNE). The role of Small- to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the global economy is significant, according to the statistics available. SMEs represent more than 99% and 80% of enterprises in the United Kingdom and the United States of America, respectively, and provide over 75 million jobs in the European Union. Furthermore, 90% of global businesses are SMEs. The research is therefore focused on Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs).The use of a qualitative approach for the study was justified by the focus on gaining a profound understanding of the barriers and enablers for sustainable packaging, for SMEs, in the real world. A case study strategy was also deemed to be appropriate because of the importance of contemporary events, over which the researcher has no control. In addition, the use of interviews, direct observation and the examination of documents as methods of data gathering was also justified in as much as the use of a number of approaches supported data triangulation, which thus strengthened the research.The intention of this research was to highlight the issues SMEs face when embarking on a sustainable packaging journey. This research has therefore contributed to the existing body of knowledge by investigating the various barriers that this type of organisation faces, and why. Existing barriers identified within the literature, as detailed in Chapter 2, and new findings detailed in Chapter 5, concerning the system, corruption and culture, make a contribution to the existing body of knowledge

Towards a scalable routing approach for mobile ad-hoc networks

The Internet is evolving towards a two-fold architecture that will comprise of traditional infrastructure based networks as well as emerging self organised autonomic peripheral networks. Such Internet peripheral networks are being termed as the Internet of things (IoT) whereby smart objects and devices will be connected together in a fully distributed fashion to provide ubiquitous services through pervasive networking. Mobile Ad hoc Networks (MANETs) is regarded as one of the pervasive self-organised networks that will play a major role in autonomic future internet communication. There are several well- known challenges to be addressed in order to enable MANET deployments of large islands of interconnected smart devices. Therefore, in this paper, we present a mathematical model based analysis of various well-known routing protocols for MANETs in order to determine the scalability of these protocols. This paper analyses the scalability of the routing protocols with respect to routing overhead required by approaches while also considering the packet delivery latency, which is an important Quality of Service (QoS) metric