Human Interaction in Learning Ecosystems based on Open Source Solutions

Technological ecosystems are software solutions based on the integration of heterogeneous software components through information flows in order to provide a set of services that each component separately does not offer, as well as to improve the user experience. In particular, the learning ecosystems are technological ecosystems focused on learning and knowledge management in different contexts such as educational institutions or companies. The ecosystem metaphor comes from biology field and it has transferred to technology field to highlight the evolving component of software. Taking into account the definitions of natural ecosystems, a technological ecosystem is a set of people and software components that play the role of organisms; a series of elements that allow the ecosystem works (hardware, networks, etc.); and a set of information flows that establish the relationships between the software components, and between these and the people involved in the ecosystem. Human factor has a main role in the definition and development of this kind of solutions. In previous works, a metamodel has been defined and validated to support Model-Driven Development of learning ecosystems based on Open Source software, but the interaction in the learning ecosystem should be defined in order to complete the proposal to improve the development process of technological ecosystems. This paper presents the definition and modelling of the human interaction in learning ecosystem

Do end users really have a place in the design arena when safe design is critical?

There is a global trend towards more highly automated traffic man-agement systems. Problematic to increased automation are the higher levels of system integration and associated complexity and uncertainty this brings. This study explored whether end-user participation in new project design and imple-mentation can contribute to the smooth and effective introduction of these new systems for railway control rooms. Results showed that almost all participants agreed that end-user input is important to the success of new technology. Howev-er, experiences shared by interviewed controllers highlighted that end-user partic-ipation in major projects is underutilized and that certain types of involvement or action can actively hinder the implementation process. The authors anticipate that the experiences of controllers can enhance decision-making associated with end-user participation during the introduction of new traffic management systems. The authors also anticipate that end-user participation will advance improved human system integration