A fuzzy semantic information retrieval system for transactional applications

In this paper, we present an information retrieval system based on the concept of fuzzy logic to relate vague and uncertain objects with un-sharp boundaries. The simple but comprehensive user interface of the system permits the entering of uncertain specifications in query forms. The system was modelled and simulated in a Matlab environment; its implementation was carried out using Borland C++ Builder. The result of the performance measure of the system using precision and recall rates is encouraging. Similarly, the smaller amount of more precise information retrieved by the system will positively impact the response time perceived by the users

A Case for the Adoption of an In-Memory Based Technique for Healthcare Big Data Management

In healthcare organizations, the amount of data that are generated daily are on the increase with every visit by patient. The generated data through vital signs’ readings such as body temperature, pulse rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, body weight among others are now accumulated into big data. Recently, the growth of data is averaged at about 35 percent annually. The implication is that the amount of storage needed to hold the data doubles within a period of three years. No doubt, if these data are processed and analyzed properly, it holds immense value in diagnosis and predictive medical conditions. However, the ever increasing volume of data has brought with it some big challenges. One of such is how healthcare organizations are going to store and access the vast amount of inherent information. In this paper, we discussed the need for storing medical Big Data in the main memory (In-Memory) as a way of addressing storage and access to information challenges of big data in health care delivery system.  With current trends in technology advancement, there is an availability of storage systems with increased memory capacities. The storage of data in main memory can achieve a performance improvement of up to a factor of 100,000 or more. With this achievable performance, In-Memory Data Management proves to be a viable option

Theory, practice and policy: An inquiry into the uptake of HCI practices in the software industry of a developing country

With almost four decades of existence as a community, human–computer interaction (HCI) practice has yet to diffuse into a large range of software industries globally. A review of existing literature suggests that the diffusion of HCI practices in software organizations lacks theoretical guidance. Although many studies have tried to facilitate HCI uptake by the software industry, there are scarce studies that consider HCI practices as innovations that software organizations could or should adopt. Furthermore, there appears to be a lack of structure in the facilitation of HCI methodological development within the specialized emerging regions field such as Sub-Saharan Africa. In order to address this gap, an exploratory investigation regarding the state of uptake of HCI practices in Nigeria is conducted. The aim of this article is to improve our understanding regarding the state of HCI uptake in developing countries and the challenges prevailing. The findings show that HCI practice still remains within its infancy stage in most software companies. Universities are also lacking the required knowledge transfer of HCI to the students, and in effect themselves contributing to the lack of HCI skills in industry. Furthermore, government policies are in need of refinement and end-users’ involvement in software development is not prioritized

An adaptive fuzzy information retrieval model to improve response time perceived by e-commerce clients

In this paper, an adaptive fuzzy logic-based information retrieval model is presented to enable users retrieve exact and specific information they sort after. The proposed IR model takes into consideration the limited bandwidth between ISP and its users; and the characteristics (processor speed, memory size, resolution, availability of anti-virus, etc.) of clients' devices in ensuring that a customer has a fruitful and eventful session while conducting business online. The model was designed using unified modelling language and implemented using Borland JBuilder. A performance evaluation of the proposed information retrieval system using two evaluation measures was conducted. The experimental result indicated that the model has an acceptable performance. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

An intelligent Quality of Service brokering model for e-commerce

A fuzzy logic based Quality of Service (QoS) brokering model for e-commerce to manage system and network resources is presented in this study. This model takes into consideration limited bandwidth between clients and their Internet Service Providers; and similarly the client's system capabilities. The QoS brokering system was modelled, developed, and simulated using Matlab 7.0. Its performance was evaluated using two QoS performance metrics namely the response time and the throughput. The proposed QoS brokering model is simple to implement as well as robust due to the nature of fuzzy controller. Simulation results of the proposed QoS brokering system demonstrate the effectiveness of the model in managing resources optimally and also improving the user-perceived QoS of e-commerce application. © 2009

Information systems development as an activity

Activity theory has inspired a number of theoretical reflections on what information systems (IS) and information systems development (ISD) are about (e.g., Bertelsen 2000; Bødker 1991

Activity analysis as a method for information systems development: general introduction and experiments from Nigeria and Finland

This paper investigates if the Activity-Theoretical methods of work development used by Engeström and others can be transformed into a day-to-day methodology for information systems practitioners. We first present and justify our theoretical framework of Activity Analysis and Development fairly extensively. In the second part we compare work development with information systems development and argue that in its less technological areas, the latter can potentially use the same methodologies as the former. In the third part, small experiments on using Activity Analysis during the earliest phases of information systems development in Nigeria and Finland are reported. In conclusion, we argue that the experiments were encouraging, but the methodology needs to be supported by further illustrative examples and training material. We argue that compared to currently used methods in the earliest and latest “phases” of systems development, Activity Analysis and Development is comprehensive, theoretically well founded, detailed and practicable

Towards an interpretative integrative framework to conceptualise social processes in large information systems implementations

This paper develops a new interpretative framework to study large information systems implementations. This framework is used to make explicit the various links between the implementation process, the wider organisation and external context. This framework is applied to a substantive case to integrate relevant organisational levels and distinct activity domains, as well as the interconnections between those levels and domains through time. More specifically, the paper extends a previous substantive case analysis with an interpretivist conceptualisation and theory triangulation in order to uncover the deeper structure and meanings embedded in a major information systems (IS) implementation process. The research scope of the IS implementation ranged from initial project formulation, to system development and management training, managing support from key stakeholders, and marginal system use. The substantive case, which has been published elsewhere [33], is based on a national information systems initiative to support the decentralisation and modernisation of management functions in health districts of the Ministry of Public Health in Ecuador. A key objective of this paper is to build a process theory of IS implementation, situated within the context of the substantive case study