Introducing a new technology to enhance community sustainability: An investigation of the possibilities of sun spots

The introduction of the Sun SPOT, Small Programmable Object Technology, developed by Sun Microsystems has been depicted as providing a revolutionary change in cyber physical interaction. Based on Sun Java Micro Edition (ME), this sensor technology has the potential to be used across a number of discipline areas to interface with systems, the environment and biological domains. This paper will outline the potential of Sun SPOTs to enhance community sustainability. An action based research project was carried out to investigate the potential uses of these technologies and develop a prototype system as a proof of concept. The research will compare Sun SPOTs with similar technologies, provide an assessment of the technology, and propose a number of possible implementations of the technology to enhance community sustainability

Network engineering for C-Commerce innovation: the role of trust

The idea that social networks play an important role in knowledge diffusion of innovation has a long pedigree in innovation theory. In his Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theory, Rogers (1995) argued that in the information network of the organization, managerial champions and opinion leaders could affect both organizational acceptance and also the velocity of adoption of innovation. In Small to Medium Enterprise (SME) C-commerce innovation, the role of such social factors has been understood in terms of ‘embedded network structure’ (Braun, 2003) that impacts on clustering behavior. This article explores the use of quantitative Social Network Analysis (SNA) to model the nature and consequences of relations based on trust in a Small to Medium Size Tourism Enterprise (SMTE) C-commerce innovation case study context

Use of information and communication technology (ICT) tools by rural famers in Ratnagiri District of Maharashtra, India

This study made an attitude assessment of farmers from the rural villages of Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra in the dissemination of agricultural information using Information and Communication technologies. A structured questionnaire and interviews were used to gather information on a number of aspects related to the use of ICT from randomly selected farmers from one Tehsil and key stakeholders (government officials and agricultural industry workers). Two different questionnaires were provided to farmers and key stakeholders. The questionnaire completed by the farmer participants sought general demographic data, education level and information concerning household income and their agricultural activities. Information related to the use of ICT tools in the agricultural sector such as kind of ICT tools, preference of ICT tools, source of getting information, belief on the sources of information, preferences for types of information and the frequency and timings of its delivery. The credibility and applicability of the information that farmers received, the kind of support that was available and their overall expectations from the use of ICT tools was recorded. Key stakeholders were also asked same questions related to demographic data, level of education and the use of ICT tools in the agricultural sector. Additional information concerning their job position, their work experience and what knowledge they required to improve their performance were also recorded. Additionally, stakeholders commented on the challenges that they face when accessing agricultural information and their opinion on improving information delivery. This paper will report on an examination of relationships between the usage of ICT tools and determining factors such as gender, land ownership and technology preference. Findings from this study will be used to develop a framework and system which may more effectively deliver agricultural information and assist farmers to make better decisions about their agricultural activities

An Artificial Neural Network for Predicting Crops Yield in Nepal

This paper examines the application of artificial neural networks (ANNs) for predicting crop yields for an agricultural region in Nepal. The neural network algorithm has become an effective data mining tool and the outcome produced by this algorithm is considered to be less error prone than other computer science techniques. The backpropagation algorithm which iteratively finds a suitable weight value is considered for computing the error derivative. Agricultural data was collected from thirteen years from paddy field cultivation in the Siraha district, an eastern region in Nepal, and used for this investigation of neural networks. Additionally, climatic parameters including rainfall, maximum temperature and minimum temperature along with the fertilizer use were also used as input values. The experiment shows that the trained neural network produced a minimum error which indicated that the test model is capable of predicting crops yield in Nepal

A survey of image processing techniques for agriculture

Computer technologies have been shown to improve agricultural productivity in a number of ways. One technique which is emerging as a useful tool is image processing. This paper presents a short survey on using image processing techniques to assist researchers and farmers to improve agricultural practices. Image processing has been used to assist with precision agriculture practices, weed and herbicide technologies, monitoring plant growth and plant nutrition management. This paper highlights the future potential for image processing for different agricultural industry contexts

Decision Support System Data for Farmer Decision Making

The capacity of farmers and agricultural scientists to be able to make in-season decisions is dependent on accurate climate, soil and plant data. This paper will provide a review of the types of environmental and crop data that can be collected by sensors which can used for decision support systems (DSS) or be further interrogated for real time data mining and analysis. This paper also presents a review of the data requirements for agricultural decision making by firstly reviewing decision support frameworks and agricultural DSSs, data acquisition, sensors for data acquisition and examples of data incorporation for agricultural DSSs

ICTs for Agricultural Extension: A study in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra, India

This study describes an assessment of attitudes of farmers from the Lanja tehsil of Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra in order to understand the information seeking behavior and reasons for the farmers seeking this agricultural information through different sources. To meet the objective of the study, a structured questionnaire and interviews were conducted to gather information on number of aspects related to the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) from 100 randomly selected framers. Additional semi- structured questionnaire and checklist was provided to the key stakeholders. The farmer based questionnaire sought demographic data, information requirement data and uses of ICT data. Key stakeholders were also asked similar information and information related to their job position, their work experience and what further knowledge they would require to improve their work performance. This paper reports on the analysis of demographic data, educational qualification, family background, income range, land ownership, use of ICT, source of getting information, belief on the sources of getting the information and the information required by the farmer. The study provides an insight into information needs of the villagers and their attitudes to whether the information may facilitate better decision making about their agricultural activities

Assessment of Climate Change Effect on Water Harvesting Structures in Rainfed Regions: Geospatial Data Mining Approach

Advances in the Information and Technologies (ICT) may assist researchers in the assessment of watershed development programmes by developing better visualization understanding of their impacts. GIS based research studies utilizing remote sensing images can facilitate in identifying the potential zones for watershed development and enable improved ground water resources. Effective watershed management is dependent on a number of factors such as demography, climate, soil, land use and topography and these are affected by changing climatic conditions. For example, changes in rainfall intensity and volume in rain fed areas can influence the effectiveness of the placement of watershed structures. Existing methods of impact assessment of watershed development, which are based on farmers’ interviews and traditional statistical analysis may explain the impact to a certain extent—the influences of drought or high rainfall conditions. However, with changing rainfall patterns and temperature regimes the effect of infiltration and evaporation of these watersheds needs further analysis. Novel geospatial data mining techniques could help in knowledge discovery and unknown pattern identification of the effects of these changes in rainfall and temperature patterns on the placement of watershed structures. An approach by utilizing these methods to simulate watershed development conditions in different climate conditions will help watershed management officials to make efficient and timely investments for placement of water harvesting structures using a more scientific assessment. Techniques such as spatial trend analysis help to visualize the changes in the ground water level, land use pattern at different rainfall situations. This approach could also help in studying the temporal changes at smaller intervals and with different intensities of rainfall in monsoonal and non-monsoon situations

Importance of Verification and Validation of Data Sources in Attaining Information Superiority

Information superiority has been defined as a state that is achieved when a competitive advantage is derived from the ability to exploit a superior information position. To achieve such a superior information position enterprises and nations, alike, must not only collect and record correct, accurate, timely and useful information but also ensure that information recorded is not lost to competitors due to lack of comprehensive security and leaks. Further, enterprises that aim to attain information superiority must also ensure mechanisms of validating and verifying information to reduce the chances of mis-information. Although, research has been carried out into ways to increase the security of information and detect leaks, not enough focus has been given to the key elements of information, namely data and context. This paper outlines the importance of data in contributing to information superiority and highlights the lack of data centric approach in attaining information superiority. The paper also discusses the importance of verification and back tracking of information to ascertain the data, its source and context in validating information for its correctness, validity and accuracy. A brief list of consequences of information leaks is also provided in the document to emphasize the importance of information security in the context of data collected. Further, this paper examines the McCumber model, which outlines the various states and elements of information, to accommodate a data centric, quantitative approach. Outlining simple protocols for verification of data in the information superiority context, this paper also highlights a few steps that can be taken to verify the sources of data

Empowering International and Culturally Diverse Honours and Project Students Through Mentoring Activities

This paper reports on an initiative to develop a successful school based student mentoring program in the context of a Computer Science based school which has a high proportion of international and culturally diverse student population. A review of literature was made of three areas of research related to mentoring and peer support. This provided evidence for the role of mentoring and peer support in empowering student learning, with particular emphasis on how mentoring can provide both social and academic support; on the role of mentoring in different contexts; within the Computer Science field and within an international and culturally diverse education perspective and finally on the role of and qualities required by the mentor in the mentoring process. The paper examines the findings from an email based survey of current and former members of student mentor group which has existed since 2003. The questionnaire was categorized into five sections including demographic information, factors influencing choice of the group, reflections onthe mentoring experience (joining the group, project activities), on commitments and skills development (commitments, interpersonal/interaction, improving skills) and additional support services. The overarching finding from the research was that the mentoring experience was a positive one for both mentor and mentees. The mentor group provided a supportive respectful environment which could offer both academic and technical skills development and provide social support. Students also identified the most important qualities and obligations that the mentor group leader should provide to include, subject knowledge and technical expertise, and quality traits of trustworthiness, intercultural understanding and friendliness. From the research findings a framework was proposed to support the implementation of a school based mentor group program. This is seen as beneficial to project and research students especially in an international and culturally diverse student population