Anthropomorphic teleoperation: Controlling remote manipulators with the DataGlove

A two phase effort was conducted to assess the capabilities and limitations of the DataGlove, a lightweight glove input device that can output signals in real-time based on hand shape, orientation, and movement. The first phase was a period for system integration, checkout, and familiarization in a virtual environment. The second phase was a formal experiment using the DataGlove as input device to control the protoflight manipulator arm (PFMA) - a large telerobotic arm with an 8-ft reach. The first phase was used to explore and understand how the DataGlove functions in a virtual environment, build a virtual PFMA, and consider and select a reasonable teleoperation control methodology. Twelve volunteers (six males and six females) participated in a 2 x 3 (x 2) full-factorial formal experiment using the DataGlove to control the PFMA in a simple retraction, slewing, and insertion task. Two within-subjects variables, time delay (0, 1, and 2 seconds) and PFMA wrist flexibility (rigid/flexible), were manipulated. Gender served as a blocking variable. A main effect of time delay was found for slewing and total task times. Correlations among questionnaire responses, and between questionnaire responses and session mean scores and gender were computed. The experimental data were also compared with data collected in another study that used a six degree-of-freedom handcontroller to control the PFMA in the same task. It was concluded that the DataGlove is a legitimate teleoperations input device that provides a natural, intuitive user interface. From an operational point of view, it compares favorably with other 'standard' telerobotic input devices and should be considered in future trades in teleoperation systems' designs

Theory of a general class of dissipative processes

General theory of dissipative periodic processes for systems defined by partial, functional, or neutral differential equation

Revisiting Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Needed for Development and Delivery Project Staff

This paper is grounded on the proposition that quality and timeliness of provisioning business information system solutions can be advanced by staffing development projects with personnel based on appropriate task related Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Personal Characteristics (KSA-P). Defining a standard repeatable process for such staffing decisions requires a consistent classification scheme for the KSA-Ps, which this paper develops through a meta-analysis of the relevant literature. A nominal group of CIOs and consulting principals provide additional support for the validity of the classification scheme. The role of general and specific experience in skill and ability development is explored. Implications and future directions of the research are discussed

Practice review in peak period rail network management: Sydney and San Francisco Bay area

The paper reviews current rail peak demand management approaches in Sydney and San Francisco through a practice review approach. Sydney and the San Francisco Bay Area offer two cases in the management of rail passenger demand in peak periods and beyond. By reviewing a range of strategies in use and under consideration, a broader picture emerges of the potential options and solutions available. In Sydney, certain lines are facing challenging peak-period scenarios, in which the rail system is severely overcrowded and perhaps unable to deliver greater capacity without major infrastructure upgrades. The paper reviews the state of practice in Sydney - tracking the peak demand problem and considering the management, pricing and communication strategies that are currently in place and emerging. In San Francisco, similar scenarios of peak-capacity are faced, with infrastructure bottlenecks at critical locations and potential operational constraints on the horizon in a region with a growing population. From these case study examples, suggestions are drawn for a suite of strategy options to assist transport agencies and rail operators to address peak demand issues through a managed and structured approach

Hot phonon decay in supported and suspended exfoliated graphene

Near infrared pump-probe spectroscopy has been used to measure the ultrafast dynamics of photoexcited charge carriers in monolayer and multilayer graphene. We observe two decay processes occurring on 100 fs and 2 ps timescales. The first is attributed to the rapid electron-phonon thermalisation in the system. The second timescale is found to be due to the slow decay of hot phonons. Using a simple theoretical model we calculate the hot phonon decay rate and show that it is significantly faster in monolayer flakes than in multilayer ones. In contrast to recent claims, we show that this enhanced decay rate is not due to the coupling to substrate phonons, since we have also seen the same effect in suspended flakes. Possible intrinsic decay mechanisms that could cause such an effect are discussed.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Towards a Reference Architecture of Intent for Information Systems Strategic Alignment

Enterprise architecture enables strategic alignment through creation of a unified business and IS view of the target state of the business. Using a design science approach, this paper proposes an intent-based technique as an extension to existing modeling techniques for strategic alignment. The proposed approach defines a reference architecture of enterprise intent that includes vocabulary, rules, and structure for development of purposefully aligned strategic-level enterprise architecture. The proposed approach results in interacting hierarchies that can be analyzed through network science approaches

The environment and host haloes of the brightest z~6 Lyman-break galaxies

By studying the large-scale structure of the bright high-redshift Lyman-break galaxy (LBG) population it is possible to gain an insight into the role of environment in galaxy formation physics in the early Universe. We measure the clustering of a sample of bright (-22.7<M_UV<-21.125) LBGs at z~6 and use a halo occupation distribution (HOD) model to measure their typical halo masses. We find that the clustering amplitude and corresponding HOD fits suggests that these sources are highly biased (b~8) objects in the densest regions of the high-redshift Universe. Coupled with the observed rapid evolution of the number density of these objects, our results suggest that the shape of high luminosity end of the luminosity function is related to feedback processes or dust obscuration in the early Universe - as opposed to a scenario where these sources are predominantly rare instances of the much more numerous M_UV ~ -19 population of galaxies caught in a particularly vigorous period of star formation. There is a slight tension between the number densities and clustering measurements, which we interpret this as a signal that a refinement of the model halo bias relation at high redshifts or the incorporation of quasi-linear effects may be needed for future attempts at modelling the clustering and number counts. Finally, the difference in number density between the fields (UltraVISTA has a surface density ~1.8 times greater than UDS) is shown to be consistent with the cosmic variance implied by the clustering measurements.Comment: 19 pages, 8 figures, accepted MNRAS 23rd March 201

Improving the Alignment Between IT Projects and Strategic Initiatives: The Target State Specfic Outcome (TSSO) Method

There is little direct evidence that information systems (IS) deliver measurable value at the organizational level. This inability to measure IS value is often caused by an inability to directly allocate beneficial financial outcomes to IS. Therefore, an alternative approach to determining IS value is required. This paper builds on Kaplan and Norton’s third-generation balanced score card to measure IS value. The authors propose a causal Target State Specific Outcome (TSSO) model to achieve the required IS alignment with strategic initiative objectives and measures

Non-Linear Effects of Information Systems Innovation

This study investigates the impact of innovation on users of an evolving Information Systems (IS) product. Building on two different streams of research, Levitts (198) Total Product Concept and the Three Factor theory (Kano. 1984) this study identifies three types of innovation: Basic, Expected and Augmented. The impact of introducing these innovations on user satisfaction was found to be dependent on the level of user satisfaction (performance) before the innovations were introduced and the type of innovation. Basic innovations impacted user satisfaction positively when the current level of performance of the IS product was low but not when the current level of performance was high. Expected and Augmented innovations impacted user satisfaction when the current level of performance was high but not when the current level of performance was low. This finding has interesting implications for practice and future research