Teleconferencing: is video valuable or is audio adequate?

Many telephone companies and administrations are developing audiovisual teleconference systems; by comparison audiographic systems are receiving attention almost exclusively from user organizations. The authors argue that although teleconferencing has had mixed success, with some installations being used often and judged successful while others are not, the existence of a visual channel showing the participants does not seem necessary. Many other factors likely to contribute to success are identified, which, as yet, have received little attention. It is recommended that they be studied through carefully monitored field trials.     

The role of mobile handsets in advanced network service evolution: Evidence from Japan

This paper aims at a better understanding of the mechanisms of mobile network service evolution through a closer examination of the context of mobile handsets. It aims first to establish quantitatively that mobile handsets are a determinant of mobile network service evolution patterns, and second, to develop a consistent perspective capable of explaining the evolution of various mobile network services. Despite the fact that mobile handsets are indispensable to users of mobile network services, surprisingly little is known about the role of these handsets in mobile network service evolution. This paper provides quantitative evidence of a positive relationship between intra-network-carrier penetration rates for mobile network service subscribers and mobile handsets designed for these services. The relationship is such that if one network service is diffused more than another, the mobile handsets related to the more diffused service are similarly more widely diffused in the market, and vice versa. The evidence is derived from an analysis of two mobile network services in Japan, mobile Internet and third generation mobile, initiated by NTT DoCoMo and KDDI. There are no existing studies that consistently explain the mechanisms of different mobile network service evolution patterns. Since the positive relationship that emerges from the analysis is consistent for both cases, by examining the mechanisms underlying this relationship, the paper develops an adequate and consistent perspective based on a constituent model reflecting the technological and competition structure of mobile network services. From this perspective, this positive relationship can be explained as the similarity or dissimilarity in essential technology ownership distribution across constituents. This perspective describes mobile network evolution in terms of changes in the distribution of essential technology ownership and, therefore, could be generalised more widely.     

On and off the beaten path: The evolution of four technological systems in Sweden

This paper examines four Swedish case studies of technological systems from the perspective of path dependence: what are the similarities and differences in this regard between factory automation, electronics and computers, biotechnology, and powder technology? What are the distinctive features in each system which set it apart from similar systems elsewhere, and what role does path dependence play in explaining these features? The essential function of technological systems is to capture, diffuse, and magnify spillovers of technical and organizational knowledge: therefore, the nature of knowledge (i.e., the characteristics of knowledge and how it can be transmitted) in each system determines what types of spillovers are likely to occur, as well as the mechanisms through which they occur. Other important influences are the initial conditions and the institutions (including both organizations and rules of the game).     

Land pressures,the evolution of farming systems,and development strategies in Africa: A synthesis

Evidence assembled in this special issue of Food Policy shows that rising rural population densities in parts of Africa are profoundly affecting farming systems and the region’s economies in ways that are underappreciated in current discourse on African development issues. This study synthesizes how people, markets and governments are responding to rising land pressures in Africa, drawing on key findings from the various contributions in this special issue. The papers herein revisit the issue of Boserupian agricultural intensification as an important response to land constraints, but they also go further than Boserup and her followers to explore broader responses to land constraints, including non-farm diversification, migration, and reduced fertility rates. Agricultural and rural development strategies in the region will need to more fully anticipate the implications of Africa’s rapidly changing land and demographic situation, and the immense challenges that mounting land pressures pose in the context of current evidence of unsustainable agricultural intensification, a rapidly rising labor force associated with the region’s current demographic conditions, and limited nonfarm job creation. These challenges are manageable but will require explicit policy actions to address the unique development challenges in densely populated rural areas.     

高层住宅应用太阳能光热系统技术解析与实施方案研究

为了实现高层居住型建筑普及应用太阳能光热系统,从而获得低成本的热水供应,通过研究高层建筑的楼顶形状和结构特点,设计了一种太阳能集中式光热交换系统,可以极大地提高热水储量、提高光热转换效率、增加热水的利用率。详细阐述了实施本系统所设计的储水加热、分户计量及二次辅热、热水自动循环控制等关键技术的设计思路与实施方案,并通过多角度可行性分析论证了本系统应用与推广的广阔前景。     

音频文件中信息隐藏技术研究及其实现

介绍了几种常见的基于音频的信息隐藏技术,并对这些方法进行了比较和分析,最后给出了一个在WAV声音文件中具体实现信息隐藏的方法。     

巨舰扬帆--柯达图文影像集团的革命性重组

在今天的图文影像领域,如果说可以提供完整的传统和数字印刷解决方案,那么就当属柯达了。过去的两年,柯达共投资24亿美元在数码印刷领域进行了并购。尤其是在完成对Creo的收购之后,柯达GCG将成为柯达现有团队中最大的组成部分。随着KPG、Encad、柯达万印、Nex Press、Creo等5位     

ITU conference in Nairobi: Confrontation or mutual understanding?

This article discusses decisions taken at the Nairobi Plenipotentiary Conference on the technical cooperation activities of the International Telecommunication Union, and relates them to other important ITU activities. Proposals for a new regulatory framework for telecommunication services to be considered at the forthcoming World Administrative Telegraph and Telephone Conference are also examined.     

Telephone and cable companies: Rivals or partners in video distribution?

This paper examines the evolving relationships between telephone and cable companies in light of changes in video distribution technologies, costs and regulations. It covers the technological requirements for multichannel video transmission, telco plans for local video distribution and the prospects for hybrid cable/telco services. Competition between the two industries in the USA seems likely in the 1990s.     

Advertising in streaming video: An integrative literature review and research agenda

Streaming video (SV), such as YouTube, is a new media widely used nowadays. Nevertheless, there is a lack of knowledge about advertising in SV. In view of this, through a search in the rich depository of the Scopus database, this article presents the first integrative literature review about advertising in SV. Searching every article and conference paper related to the topic published until May 04, 2020, 59 studies were found and classified into two main topics: marketing studies (35), mostly focused on evaluating or exploring advertising in SV, and computational studies (24), focusing on the development of systems for the insertion of ads into SV. All knowledge present in these studies was summarized so that readers (both scholars and practitioners) could have easy access to the main contributions and information present in each study. Moreover, future research directions in six main themes are presented through a research agenda.     

Telecommunications reforms in China: towards an analytical framework

This paper reviews and analyzes changing telecommunications policies in China since the inception of the so-called “Open Policy”. It is argued that these changes should be understood as the results of a delicate balance between (1) government considerations (including the state's desire to provide universal coverage, control the telecommunications industry and, more recently, improve the efficiency of state-owned enterprises), (2) the call from foreigners (sometimes made through their governments) to open China's telecommunications industry and to seek profits, and (3) the overwhelming demand of the Chinese population and the business sector (including foreign firms operating in China) to have freer and more rapid movement of information. Over time, the interplay of these forces has led to the liberalization of China's telecommunications industry. These moves towards liberalization took place in four stages. During stages one (Pre-1994) and two (1994–1997), only half-hearted reforms were introduced to separate government administration from business enterprises and to foster very weak domestic competition. During stage three (1998–1999), there were reforms to the regulatory framework and measures towards liberalization. From 2000 onwards, a solid legal foundation was laid after nearly a decade of gradual reform. Moreover, there has been some remarkable organizational restructuring since June 2001.     

中加“玩具安全研讨会”在青岛举行

今天．国家质检总局和加拿大卫生部在青岛联合举办“玩具安全研讨会”。国家质检总局、加拿大卫生部、中国检验检疫科学研究院、出口玩具生产企业及各地出人境检验检疫局150多名代表参加了此次研讨会。     

DBS policymaking in Japan : An interpretive history

Despite Japan's successful experimentation with DBS technology, fundamental conflicts of interest between NHK and Japan's commercial broadcasters continue to chart an uncertain course for the future of Japan's DBS programme. This study traces the history of DBS policy-making in Japan, focusing on the role of the conflict between the two power groups in shaping Japanese DBS policy. The author highlights important policy considerations and discusses how the conflict between NHK and the commercial broadcasters must be resolved in order for Japan's DBS programme to be successfully implemented.     

链接:中、日、韩RFID产业的发展

2005年是美国沃尔玛和国防部引爆的"RFID应用元年",对于亚洲来说同样也是至关重要的一年.与欧美企业主导型不同的是,亚洲的RFID产业表现出一种政府主导、企业跟进的发展模式.