Telematics, teleconferencing and education

‘Telematics’ refers to the transmission of information over a distance. In the context of three theoretical perspectives - technological determinism, symbolic interactionism and information theory - the author discusses the impact of telematics in education on the learner, the content learned, and the learning process.     

Growth in teleconferencing: Looking beyond the rhetoric of readiness

The authors, addressing the question of why teleconferencing has not yet been implemented on the scale envisaged in the early 1970s, outline readiness factors and enabling forces relevant to teleconferencing growth. They argue that the optimistic demand forecasts were based on the assumption that the readiness factors would rapidly evolved into enabling forces. However, enabling forces are only beginning to emerge and the authors describe how these new forces could prompt the use of teleconferencing on a large scale.     

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。     

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.     

Teleconferencing in Japan : Use of audio conference systems and evolution towards video

The author considers the impacts of teleconferencing on business organizations in Japan. The findings presented are based on a survey of six companies currently using audio conferencing systems. It was found that real-time information exchange and speedy decision making were the chief benefits. While some time had been saved by reduced business travel, overall substitution for travel had not occurred. Several companies intend to install further audio systems, or plan to introduce video facilities in light of the disadvantages of audio, even though this involves considerable expenditure. Thus, given the potential for more economical systems with new digital sampling technology, the outlook for video is promising.     

管理创新与互动

创新包括技术创新与管理创新两个方面,两者互为补充、互为促进。也就是说,在管理创新与技术创新之间存在互动关系。     

为『神舟』七号全程护航

2008年9月25日晚,举世瞩目的“神舟”七号载人航天飞船发射升空,3人飞行、航天员出舱、释放伴飞小卫星,这些都标志中国载人航天又将攀升到一个新的高度。     

Migration and food consumption patterns in Ghana

This paper examines the link between migration and food consumption patterns in Ghana, which has a history of widespread migration and high levels of poverty. Data from 4130 households from the nationally representative 2005/2006 Ghana Living Standards Survey are used for the analysis. Since migrants self-select into migration, an instrumental variable approach is taken to analyze the relationship between migration and total food expenditures per capita, food expenditures across a range of food categories and shares of food expenditures across these categories. Overall, the results indicate that migration does not substantially affect total food expenditures per capita, and has minimal noticeable effect on food expenditure patterns. Looking at results in different settings, the analysis indicates that only in high migration regions does migration appear to increase overall food expenditures resulting in a shift towards the consumption of potentially less nutritious categories of food, such as sugar and beverages and eating out of the home. The results raise questions about the value of migration for improving the food consumption of migrant sending households.     

Interaction in business relationships: A time perspective

Interaction is central to the relationship framework in business markets. Yet there is some theoretical imprecision with regard to the way interaction works in time. Clarification of this nexus further develops the interaction concept and provides theoretical support for the dynamic view of business relationships being developed by the industrial marketing and purchasing (IMP) group.The role of time as a backdrop for interaction is elaborated in conjunction with the cognitive ability of humans to arrive at an understanding of interfirm interaction. This elaboration extends the concept of horizontal relationship time (i.e., past, present, future), illustrates constraints on interfirm interaction, and analytically distinguishes between interaction as exchange versus adaptation while also displaying the importance of the actor in business relationships. In addition, theoretical grounds are provided for dismissing business relationship life cycle theories. Finally, the cognitive nature of time and relationships provides a means for theory development and management implications free from cultural and normative overtones.     

Gendered patterns in computing work in the late 1990s

Computing is one of the most growing industries offering many opportunities for employment and advancement. Furthermore it is one of the newest industries which comprises of mainly young firms and relatively freshly constituted forms of working practices. Using empirical work in the UK, this paper presents and asesses gendered patterns of work and employment in the computing sector whilst comparing it to other traditionally male-dominated sectors.     

Communication patterns in small R & D projects

An empirical investigation was carried out on the pattern and role of communication in two ongoing applied research projects in one of the national laboratories of the C. S. I. R., India. The overall objectives of the study were: (1) to investigate the communication pattern and its relationship with parameters like hierarchy, educational status and social relations: (2) to identify ‘technological gatekeepers’ and ‘isolates’ and study their characteristics and roles; (3) to study the role of informal communication vis-à-vis formal communication in problem-solving and idea-generation. In this paper, the first two aspects are discussed: the role of informal communication in problem-solving and idea-generation will be published in a subsequent paper.     

江苏省能源消费与经济增长的互动关系研究

本文依据1985~2009年江苏省能源消费总量和GDP的统计数据,运用协整理论,格兰杰因果关系检验,并在建立VAR模型的基础上进行脉冲响应函数和方差分析,对能源消费与经济增长的互动关系进行定量分析。结果表明,江苏省能源消费与GDP之间存在长期稳定的均衡关系,并存在从能源消费到经济增长的单向因果关系。为保持江苏省经济持续、快速、健康发展,必须运用各种措施,通过政策的有机组合实现能源消费与经济增长的协调发展。     

An examination of industry exit patterns

Exit, like entry, must be unobstructed so that resource reallocation does follow changing market conditions. Indices of two potential barriers to exit are created in order to study their relationship to observed industry exit patterns. One, an index of the structural barrier, reflects the durability and specificity of the assets needed to produce the product. The other, an index of the corporate strategy barrier, reflects the complementarity of one product with other products the firms produce. The results strongly suggest that these barriers do impede the flow of resources out of certain industries.     

Actor roles and role patterns influencing innovation in living labs

Innovation networks are embodied and shaped by their participants. This paper examines actors' roles in living labs, which are defined as networks of open innovation. The study utilizes four approaches to roles: structuralist, symbolic interactionist, resource-based, and action-based approaches. Our empirical analysis of 26 living labs in four different countries identifies a number of actor roles associated with open innovation. In addition, it reveals four role patterns characteristic of living labs: (i) ambidexterity, (ii) reciprocity, (iii) temporality, and (iv) multiplicity. These patterns distinguish actor collaboration in networks characterized by heterogeneous actors, the coexistence of individual and shared motives, high degree of openness, and user involvement. Scholars and practitioners of innovation learn that understanding of role patterns in living labs can contribute to building, utilization, and orchestration of open innovation networks.     

Communication patterns in two UK R & D laboratories

The literature shows that two patterns of communication exist in an R&D environment, one dominated by a project system and the other directly related to distance. A study was made of the communication patterns of two laboratories about to merge. The study was able to show that differences do exist between the two laboratories, mainly because of the geographical differences on the two sites, but overall communication patterns were similar. These patterns showed that the number of communications did drop off with distance but work contacts and a project system override the distance factor.     

Communication patterns in two UK R & D laboratories

Abstract The literature shows that two patterns of communication exist in an R&D environment, one dominated by a project system and the other directly related to distance. A study was made of the communication patterns of two laboratories about to merge. The study was able to show that differences do exist between the two laboratories, mainly because of the geographical differences on the two sites, but overall communication patterns were similar. These patterns showed that the number of communications did drop off with distance but work contacts and a project system override the distance factor.