An Ontology Engineering Approach to User Profiling for Virtual Tours of Museums and Galleries

This paper describes a study of the development of a hierarchical ontology for producing and maintaining personalized profiles to improve the experience of visitors to virtual art galleries and museums. The paper begins by describing some of the features of virtual exhibitions and offers examples of virtual tours that the reader may wish to examine in more detail. The paper then discusses the ontology engineering (OE) approach and domain modelling languages (e.g. KACTUS, SENSUS and METHONTOLOGY). It then follows a basic OE approach to define classes for a cultural heritage virtual tour and to produce a Visitor Profile Ontology that is hierarchical and has static and dynamic elements. It concludes by suggesting ways in which the ontology may be automated to provide a richer, more immersive personalized visitor experience

The Determinants of Cloud Computing Adoption in Saudi Arabia

There is a large volume of published studies investigating the factors that affect cloud adoption. However, there are very few studies which investigate cloud computing adoption in technologically developing countries and one focus of the research was to examine whether the factors which influence cloud computing adoption in technologically developed countries also apply in technologically developing countries. The research presented in this paper in this paper builds on the diffusion of innovation theory (DOI) and the Technology-organisation-environment (TOE) framework in order to investigate the factors which influence cloud computing adoption. Fourteen hypothesis were developed from the literature based on cloud adoption and were examined in the research. DOI and TOE. Data was collected by using a web-based questionnaire and was analysed using a range of statistical measures. This paper discusses the design and implementation of the study, the data analysis and conclusions from the analysis and compares the findings of this study with the findings of similar studies in technologically developed countries. The study show that there are some similarities as well as some differences in the factors that affect cloud computing adoption between technologically developed countries and technologically developing countrie

A Knowledge Management-based Decision-making Model for Planning Patient Discharge in the UK National Health Service

The UK National Health Service (NHS) is faced with problems of managing patient discharge and preventing the problems that result from it such as frequent readmissions, delayed discharge, long waiting lists, bed blocking and other such consequences. The problem is exacerbated by the growth in size, complexity and the number of chronic diseases in the NHS. In addition, there is an increase in demand for high quality care, processes and planning. Effective Discharge Planning (DP) requires practitioners to have appropriate, patient personalised and updated knowledge in order to be able to make informed and holistic decisions about a patients' discharge. This research examines the role that Knowledge Management (KM) plays in planning an effective discharge plan. The research examines existing ways in which DP is currently carried out, the stakeholders involved in the DP process and highlights areas requiring further improvement. This research also examines KM models in healthcare and integrates KM with DP in the form of a KM based DP model. The model was developed based on primary research carried out on the stakeholders of DP along with secondary research. The model intends to highlight the nuances that require focusing on, and provides a seamless overview allowing healthcare personnel to impeccably plan the discharge of a patient with the involvement of both patients and their carers. The KM-based DP model is validated by the actors involved in planning the discharge i. e. healthcare personnel. Patients and carers too are involved in DP; however their involvement is focused on their knowledge and experiences influencing the decisions being made. Healthcare personnel such as doctors, nurses and administrators are however actively involved in planning the discharge

On the Nature of Singularities in Plane Symmetric Scalar Field Cosmologies

The nature of the initial singularity in spatially compact plane symmetric scalar field cosmologies is investigated. It is shown that this singularity is crushing and velocity dominated and that the Kretschmann scalar diverges uniformly as it is approached. The last fact means in particular that a maximal globally hyperbolic spacetime in this class cannot be extended towards the past through a Cauchy horizon. A subclass of these spacetimes is identified for which the singularity is isotropic.Comment: 7 pages, MPA-AR-94-

An Empirical Case Study of Knowledge Transfer within an Organization

The paper focuses on how the knowledge is being transferred from peer to peer in an organization. Knowledge can be transferred in a number of ways. Knowledge is being considered as the essential resource by most of the organizations. Knowledge gives the richness to the organization, has to be managed to fulfill its aims and targets. Knowledge of individual / organization can be improved by transferring it. We also emphasize the knowledge transformation between entities to discover the central aspect of knowledge transfer by considering two different IT companies as a case study

A Knowledge Based Decision Making Tool to Support Cloud Migration Decision Making

way that IT services are delivered within enterprises. Cloud computing promises to reduce the cost of computing services, provide on-demand computing resources and a pay per use model. However, there are numerous challenges for enterprises planning to migrate to a cloud computing environment as cloud computing impacts multiple aspects of enterprises and the implications of migration to the cloud vary between enterprises. This paper discusses the development of an holistic model to support strategic decision making for cloud computing migration. The proposed model uses a hybrid approach to support decision making, combining the analytical hierarchical approach (AHP) with Case Based Reasoning (CBR) to provide a knowledge based decision support model and takes into account five factors identified from the secondary research as covering all aspects of cloud migration decision making. The paper discusses the different phases of the model and describes the next stage of the research which will include the development of a prototype tool and use of the tool to evaluate the model in a real life contex

Higher Education Institutions and Work-Based Learning in the UK: Employer Engagement within a Tripartite Relationship

Higher education institutions (HEIs) in the UK are increasingly engaging in work-based learning. The tripartite relationship between the HEI, the employer and the employee is viewed to be of great significance in work-based learning, not only in the initial stages of procurement of a contract, but also in designing and delivering the programme to meet the employer and employee needs, and those of the HEI, to make the programmes successful. This paper is based on one theme related to a larger EU-funded project on work-based learning leading to qualifications. Based on in-depth interviews at a post-1992 university in the UK with a range of staff including executive, senior management, managerial, teaching and administrative staff, we focus on this theme, to analyse employer engagement from the perspective of the HEI. We recommend strategies to enhance the tripartite relationship for the benefit of those involved and to improve policy and practice in the field. These include a strategic approach to work-based learning and regarding it as an integral part of higher education activity rather than a supplementary pursuit

Clinical practice as research for a rare condition: Systematic research review of qualitative research exploring patients' experiences of penile cancer

Background: Penile cancer is a rare but destructive malignancy. The aim of this study was to identify published qualitative research exploring patients' experiences of being diagnosed and treated for penile cancer. As only one study met our inclusion criteria and yet there were five borderline studies, a secondary aim that emerged was to discuss those studies to see what, if anything, we could learn. Methods: We searched ASSIA, CINAHL, EMBASE, PUBMED/MEDLINE, PsycINFO & Web of Science and found 313 papers published since 1990. Two reviewers independently selected 17 papers for potential inclusion using titles and abstracts, which were obtained and independently assessed. A synthesis was not possible as only one study met our inclusion criteria. Five borderline studies, covering 4 countries, invited closer inspection because they are often reported in guidelines on penile cancer. Results: The 5 borderline studies reported using a mixed methods design combining a psychometric measure with interviews. Unfortunately, none of these studies reported the method or process used for analysing qualitative data or for integrating the interview and psychometric findings, making it difficult to understand the interview element of their research. Conclusions: If we are to understand and improve the long-term consequences of treatment for penile cancer, qualitative studies of patients’ experiences need to be conducted with high quality analysis and reporting. While pen-and-paper questionnaires may take up little of the time of clinicians conducting research about rare conditions, time could be better used by using methodologies that explore patients experiences

An Empirical Study of Icon Recognition in a Virtual Gallery Interface

This paper reports on an empirical study (an extension of a pilot study) that analyses the design of icons in a German 3-D virtual art gallery interface. It evaluates the extent to which a sample of typical computer users from a range of ages, educational attainments and employments can interpret the meaning of icons from the virtual interface taken ‘out of context’ and ‘in context’. The study assessed a sample of 21 icons representing the ‘action’, ‘information’ and ‘navigation’ functions of the virtual interface using a new Icon Recognition Testing method (IRT) developed by the researchers from existing usability test methods. The Icon Recognition Rate (IRR) of the icons was calculated and they were classified as ‘identifiable’, ‘mediocre’ or ‘vague’ in a novel and useful classification system. The IRT results show that the IRR of almost a quarter of the icons was below the ‘identifiable’ standard, which could seriously compromise the usability of a virtual interface. A comparison is made, using textual and thematic analysis, between the participants’ understanding of the icons’ meaning in and out of context and of the effect of positioning icons in relation to their virtual surroundings and of grouping them in tool bars. From the findings of the study, conclusions are drawn, and recommendations are made for economical icon redesign and replacement. It is suggested in the conclusions that further research is needed into how designers’ conceptual models can be better matched to users’ mental models in the design of virtual interfaces by bringing user profiles into the study