Information Communication Technologies

Abstruct -We show that the operational transconductance amplifier (OTA), as the active element in basic building blocks, can be efficiently used for programmable nonlinear continuous-time function synthesis. Two efficient nonlinear function synthesis approaches are presented. The first approach is a rational approximation and the second is a piecewise-linear approach. Test circuits have been fabricated using a 3-pm pwell CMOS process. The flexibility of the designed and tested circuits was confirmed. We will present a number of nonlinear OTA circuits and will discuss two nonlinear analog function synthesis techniques based On these OTA basic One synthesis approach approximation functions and the other uses a piecewise-linear approximation. Actual circuit implementations will be presented as well as the experimental results from several 3-pm p-well CMOS ,

The article presents the basic concept of competitive learning in neural networks. Provides the main machine learning learning models and applications. The analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of these models is carried out. The geometric interpretation of competitive learning is presented in terms of mathematical formulas, as well as the behavior of neurons in this model. Neural systems are described as a powerful tool and driver in the field of modern Internet technologies, in data science and big (meta) data.

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Introduction. Today, there is an acute problem of training a new type of specialist, successfully developing in the
digital space, striving to improve in the field of modern digital technologies. Digital literacy is moving into the
category of an independent type of literacy and is becoming an integral part of the professional competence of a
future specialist. The aim of the study is to develop and present a model of contextual education of digital literacy
to students on the example of disciplines of philological cycle.
Materials and methods of research. The research is based on the provisions of normative documents on
education, on the methodological principles of the leading approaches to the role of the environment and activity
in personal development (competence-based, systemic, activity-based, personal), on the analysis of scientific
judgments about the essence of digital literacy and digital technologies in philology. The theoretical study takes
into account the methodology of context-oriented education, within which the formation of the most relevant
digital skills of students of the philological profile of training (basic and professional), which are part of digital
literacy, takes place.
The results of the study. The areas of future professional activity of philological students are highlighted, including
work with digital text, programming, communication in a digital environment, production of media content and
the field of applied philology (editorial and expert). Skills in these areas form the basis of digital literacy. In search
of effective ways to teach digital literacy, the authors turn to a contextual approach. The proposed model of
contextual education includes targeted, theoretical and methodological, content-methodical, activity-based and
effective components. The content component of this model is defined as a composition of educational activities
with integrated quasi-professional and educational-professional digital literacy skills. As a result, the process of
transformation of educational activity into professional activity is supposed to be tracked by the advanced level of
digital literacy achieved by students.
Conclusion. The results of the study will improve the learning process of philology students using information and
communication technologies, and achieve a high level of development of their digital literacy. The materials can
be useful in assessing the levels of formation of this type of literacy.

This study evaluated the effectiveness of various teaching methods for teaching indigenous languages reading to grade one learners, including the phonic method, syllabic approach, and whole word method. The findings revealed that the syllabic approach was the most effective method, while the current methods used in Bulawayo central district were leading to grade one learner's failure. To address this, the researcher designed the Triple S model, which combines a syllabic approach, spellings, and sentences to teach indigenous languages reading. The study demonstrated the effectiveness of the Triple S model, showing that learners taught using this method mastered indigenous language reading skills faster. The study recommends the adoption of the Triple S model as the suitable method for teaching indigenous languages to grade one learners. This study highlights the need for training specialist teachers in areas with shortages of teachers who can speak the language of the province. The qualitative research method was employed, generating data through interviews, document analysis, and lesson observations. The findings and recommendations provide valuable insights for stakeholders, aiming to improve the teaching of indigenous languages to grade one learners.

The oscillatory neural networks are kind of networks that try to model the behavior of the biological neurons in the part of the nervous system responsible of the vision processing. These networks are developing fast in the applications of image processing. Although they consume a lot of processing time by computer simulations, their implementation on integrated circuit is still in the early stages. We develop a MOS transistor circuit that implements Ellias-Grossberg (EG) oscillatory model. This development came on three stages: the behavioral simulation stage, the pre-circuit level stage and the transistor level implementation stage. The behavior of the three levels of implementation is compared.

The relevance of emoji in social media marketing has attracted tremendous interest from academics and marketing professionals alike ever since emoji became a fixed component in user-to-user and business-to-user communication on online platforms such as Instagram and Facebook. Using a quantitative research approach in the form of a self-administered online survey in an experimental setting, the purpose of this study is to investigate what type of emoji positively impacts consumer behaviour, purchase intention, and user interaction in tourism-related Instagram posts. This research is novel in that it bridges the usage of emoji in the context of social media and tourism. The findings support tourism managers in the practical use of emoji for social media marketing campaigns on Instagram and show that (positive) face emoji evoke more positive emotions than non-face emoji.

American region also has been characterized by the widespread use of new communication technologies, particularly online social media (Valenzuela et al., 2012). The role of social media in activism merits attention from a communication perspective-especially from an alternative communication perspective in light of mainstream media's marginalization of protesters (McLeod & Hertog, 1999)-because of the way the online communication processes themselves have become the forms of organization (Bennett & Segerberg, 2012) and even the sites where collective action occurs (Lievrouw, 2011). While most of the paradigms in previous social movement scholarship tend to provide scant attention to the role of the media in social change, the networked society (Castells, 1996) in which we now live demands a deeper understanding of new technologies used in activism, especially considering that this wave of technology-centric collective action seems to have created "a media world that places the mass media at the margins, and elevates purveyors of social technology from NGOs to Flickr to prominent roles" (Segerberg & Bennett, 2011, p. 205). In other words, when it comes to protests and other types of collective action, online social media, rather than mainstream media, seem to be the go-to source for information (Segerberg & Bennett, 2011).

This dissertation explores whether and how alternative media in El Salvador incorporated information communication technologies (ICTs) for social change, and whether incorporating said technologies changed citizen participation not only in the media process itself, but also in a broader discursive sphere as well as civic and political life. Within the context of a digitally divided region, this project employed ethnographic methods-including in-depth interviews, participant-observation, and a content analysis-to interrogate the perceived potential value of ICTs in alternative media for contesting power, contributing to social change, and opening spaces for citizen participation in technology and through technology. This research is merely a beginning stage in learning how digital communication tools influence alternative media practices, and what that means for participation, mobilization and empowerment. This study contributes to burgeoning literature focused on communication for social change and technologies by adding an international focus, and by furthering our understanding of under what circumstances alternative media can Chapter 1: Introduction Recent protest activity around the world-whether the Arab Spring, Occupy Wall Street movement, Los Indignados in Spain, or student protesters in Chile-is notable for the way in which social media play a fundamental role in organizing, perhaps even

Članek obravnava vpliv rabe informacijsko-komunikacijskih tehnologij na migracij­ski proces. V tem smislu poudarja časovno-prostorsko neodvisno delovanje, ki ga te tehnologije omogočajo. Poleg tega, da tovrstno delovanje povzroča prehod od območne k omrežni organizaciji družbe, migrantom omogoča, da fizično oddaljene izvorne domovine emocionalno in družbeno nikoli ne zapustijo, kar se ne sklada z dosedanjim sociološkim portretom migranta. Na teh izhodiščih prispevek med drugim odpira vprašanje o ponovnem premisleku koncepta migranta, in sicer v pogojih omrežne družbe.

This study examines the relationship between instructional interaction and student persistence among adult students in online courses. A survey research methodology was used to examine the frequency and the method of instructional interaction in online courses, student attitudes regarding instructional interaction, and the reasons online students provide for persisting in, or withdrawing from, online courses. The results indicate that student perceptions regarding the contribution of asynchronous, discussion forum use combined with frequent use of asynchronous discussion account for 26% of the variance in course persistence rates. Consistent with the literature on adult student dropout, the findings identify additional situational and institutional barriers to persistence among students in online courses. The findings suggest that strategies to facilitate student persistence in online courses should address online instructional techniques, faculty development, technology development, and program development.

It is widely known that nurses are pivotal in coordinating and communicating patient care information in the complex network of healthcare professionals and service delivery. Yet, despite their pivotal role, information communication technologies have historically rarely been designed around nurses' operational needs. This could explain the poor integration of technologies into nursing work processes and consequent rejection by nursing professionals. The complex nature of acute care delivery in hospitals and the frequently interrupted patterns of nursing work suggest that nurses require flexible intelligent systems that can support and adapt to their variable workflow patterns. This study is designed to explore nurses' initial reactions to a new integrated point of care solution for acute healthcare contexts. We report on the first stage of a longitudinal project to use an innovative approach involving nurses in the development and refinement of this solution. Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology was used to evaluate acceptability of the proposed system by nurses.

It is widely known that nurses are pivotal in coordinating and communicating patient care information in the complex network of healthcare professionals and service delivery. Yet, despite their pivotal role, information communication technologies have historically rarely been designed around nurses' operational needs. This could explain the poor integration of technologies into nursing work processes and consequent rejection by nursing professionals. The complex nature of acute care delivery in hospitals and the frequently interrupted patterns of nursing work suggest that nurses require flexible intelligent systems that can support and adapt to their variable workflow patterns. This study is designed to explore nurses' initial reactions to a new integrated point of care solution for acute healthcare contexts. We report on the first stage of a longitudinal project to use an innovative approach involving nurses in the development and refinement of this solution. Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology was used to evaluate acceptability of the proposed system by nurses.

This chapter focuses on the use of groupware to support local governments in activities in the intelligence cycle. Local governments in The Netherlands have a central role in developing integral safety plans for their district. However, in the implementation of safety plans the contribution of partner organizations such as the fire department and police force is indispensable. Each of the partners may have its own priorities with

Despite the efficiency of the IP-multicast it has not been deployed in the whole Internet. The main reason is that the wide-area multicasting among the different autonomous systems (AS) has not been solved perfectly. The global address allocation is especially a problematic part of Internet-wide multicasting. This article addresses such problems in order to review the existing methods and the emerging research results (Hosszú, 2005).

This study was planned to examine potential challenges faced by teachers in the implementation of e-Learning in professional schools. The increasing desire to implement e-Learning programs and the incessant penetration of Information and Communication Technologies in the education sector motivated the researchers to carry out this study. Nevertheless, e-Learning is multi-dimensional and involve the use of new Information and Communication Technologies to learn. Consequently, strategies designed to address problems in this kind of education must consider the challenges faced by teachers in its implementation. A survey of 796 student-teachers drawn from eight primary government teacher training colleges and three higher teacher training colleges in Cameroon was carried out. Data were collected using a questionnaire that was carefully designed with respect to the indicators of the study. Results revealed that slow Internet lines or access speed constitute a serious challenge to effecti...

This study examines the relationship between instructional interaction and student persistence among adult students in online courses. A survey research methodology was used to examine the frequency and the method of instructional interaction in online courses, student attitudes regarding instructional interaction, and the reasons online students provide for persisting in, or withdrawing from, online courses. The results indicate that student perceptions regarding the contribution of asynchronous, discussion forum use combined with frequent use of asynchronous discussion account for 26% of the variance in course persistence rates. Consistent with the literature on adult student dropout, the findings identify additional situational and institutional barriers to persistence among students in online courses. The findings suggest that strategies to facilitate student persistence in online courses should address online instructional techniques, faculty development, technology development, and program development.

One of the key reflective aspects of modern society is the application of information communication technologies. According to SEB Bank and the information and communication technology company TEO [1] more people aged 65 and over are discovering the Internet and smart technology services to manage finances, communicate and spend their leisure time. Technological development has a large group of supporters even among seniors; however, many older adults have no skills and neither the intention nor the possibility to use digital devices which are critical for successful functioning in society. Escape from technological innovations in no way makes life easier. Modern smartphones can make life more enjoyable for seniors and to benefit society. The aim of this paper is to investigate seniors' opinions about the importance of increasing competence in smartphone usage in their daily lives. The investigation was conducted in two stages: 2018 April and 2018 September/October. During stage...

There is a rising trend in the use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) by academics to work after regular working hours. The dual nature of ICTs enhances work flexibility and also encourages academics to use ICTs to engage in supplemental work practices. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of family relationships on technologyassisted supplemental work and Work-Life Conflict (WLC) experienced by academics in a higher education institution in South Africa. Specifically, the moderating roles of marital status and children were taken into consideration in investigating the relationship between TASW and WLC. A quantitative research approach was adopted and an online survey was used collect data. The WLC scale and the TASW scale were as well used. The sample consisted of academics from a higher education in South Africa (n = 216). The results of the research revealed a significant relationship between TASW and WLC. TASW is a significant predictor of WLC. Furthermore, the results revealed that marital status and children significantly moderated the relationship between TASW and WLC. This study contributes further knowledge to the emerging field of research relating to TASW in a South African context. This study also emphasises the implications of using ICTs and their potential to encourage academics to extend their working hours. In particular, this study outlines the important role of marital status and children in influencing the relationship between TASW and WLC.

Organizing principles, exchange relationships, and technology affordance of underserved communities in emerging markets are different from privileged communities, which have been the focus in traditional information systems literature. This paper investigates mobile ICT and knowledge sharing in a rural farming community in India. Our qualitative field study reveals that value creating and value claiming norms are key enablers of knowledge sharing in underserved communities. The findings also identify the communication mechanisms and challenges of mobile ICT innovations that foster knowledge sharing among dispersed underserved communities. We discuss the implications for theory and suggest a practical guide to enhance knowledge sharing in underserved communities.

The term "smartgrid" refers to the power system that integrates new digital measurements, new digital control devices, and communication technology. The first step toward this goal is to establish a two-way communication infrastructure for the purpose of data delivery among data resources, system actuators and control centers. Phasor measurement unit (PMU) is a kind of new data resources that are widely used in power systems, recently. On the other hand, state estimation (SE) is basis application in control centers and it is known as kernel of other smartgrid applications. This study aims to plan a communication infrastructure that creates communication routes from PMUs of a SE to the control center in a power network. To do this, a new concept is introduced to power system communication called dependent communication system (DCS). A DCS has been made by independent transmission media (e.g. optical power grand wire), which is typically attached to the power systems. In thi...

The aim of this paper is to indicate the relations between company’s value added (VA) and intangible assets. Authors declare that Intellectual capital (IC) is one of the most relevant intangibles for a company, and the concept with measurement, and the relation with value creation is necessary for modern markets. Since relationship between IC elements and VA are complicated, this paper is aimed to create a usable dynamic model for building company’s value added through intellectual capital. The model is incorporating that outputs from IC elements are not homogeneously received and made some contributions to dynamic nature of IC relation and VA. Variables that will help companies to evaluate contribution of each element of IC are added to the model. This paper emphasizes the importance of a company’s IC and the positive interaction between them in generating profits for company.

This paper contributes to an ongoing discussion in the research community regarding the role of new technology in the lives of those experiencing homelessness. Ask Izzy is a mobile web app designed to help people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless find the services they need. Since deployment in 2016, it is now attracting over 10,000 users each month. We explore the perceptions towards the design and use of Ask Izzy with a specific focus on emotional concerns. We interviewed 30 participants who were either homeless, ex-homeless, service providers or software developers of the web application. Seven themes emerged from the analysis that appeared to act as barriers or enablers to the uptake of the technology. We discuss how these themes are associated with aspects of technology design or an associated experience with a service provider. We also contrast the views of those who are homeless with service providers. We believe these themes will provoke discussion and be useful...

Ссылка для цитирования этой статьи: Чечева Н.А. Развитие soft skills у курсантов в процессе обучения иностранному языку // Интернет-журнал «Мир науки», 2018 №5, https://mir-nauki.com/PDF/73PDMN518.pdf (доступ свободный). Загл. с экрана. Яз. рус., англ.

Ссылка для цитирования этой статьи: Чечева Н.А. Развитие soft skills у курсантов в процессе обучения иностранному языку // Интернет-журнал «Мир науки», 2018 №5, https://mir-nauki.com/PDF/73PDMN518.pdf (доступ свободный). Загл. с экрана. Яз. рус., англ.

The aim of this paper is to indicate the relations between company’s value added (VA) and intangible assets. Authors declare that Intellectual capital (IC) is one of the most relevant intangibles for a company, and the concept with measurement, and the relation with value creation is necessary for modern markets. Since relationship between IC elements and VA are complicated, this paper is aimed to create a usable dynamic model for building company’s value added through intellectual capital. The model is incorporating that outputs from IC elements are not homogeneously received and made some contributions to dynamic nature of IC relation and VA. Variables that will help companies to evaluate contribution of each element of IC are added to the model. This paper emphasizes the importance of a company’s IC and the positive interaction between them in generating profits for company.

The article analyses possibilities of application of information communication technologies (ICT) during music lessons. The results of the conducted research are presented: the frequency of using ICT by music teachers is revealed; the purpose of using ICT is discussed; the preparation of music teachers and their abilities to use ICT are determined; the most proven means of ICT are compared and positive and negative factors of applying ICT during music lessons are presented. The research data allow to state that teachers apply various ICT means and computer programs but not all the potential of information technologies is employed.

Like most of the jurisdictions highlighted in this edition, the Northern Territory of Australia has a large Indigenous population who live in small communities isolated from major service centres and urban areas. A digital divide has long existed for residents there but with the rollout of the Internet enabled "Next G" mobile phone network from 2006, along with other technology infrastructure upgrades, residents are going through a rapid 'catch up' in personal technology ownership and use. The new network allows for both reliable communications with the outside world as well as broadband access to the Internet. Studies elsewhere highlight potential for these gateways into the global world to bring about changed aspirations and behaviours in relation to life choices for education, employment and where to live, particularly amongst young people. In this study we explore the early outcomes in relation to these themes from the uptake and use of information communication technologies by residents of three remote Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory of Australia. The results suggest that technology, particularly the mobile phone, is already changing people's lives, bringing with it opportunities and possibly negative consequences. The research demonstrates the value of observing and commentating on the process of technology adoption as a lens for reconsidering how we might perceive Indigenous disadvantage and its turnaround.

Information communication technologies have permeated new consumer markets at remarkable speeds with mobile devices like laptops and mobile phones diffusing rapidly to even the most remote and economically marginalised populations. In small and remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory of Australia, residents have until recently been isolated from these symbols and facilitators of globalisation. But rapid diffusion there raises important questions about their possible impacts on migration as users develop aspirations to be engaged in the global world. Drawing on research into technology diffusion and use by Indigenous citizens, and migration research for the same, we critically review these 'technologies of change' for their propensity to globalise remote Aboriginal spatiality. From this a conceptualised model for the fourth Aboriginal migration transition is presented as an extension to current understandings about remote Aboriginal spatiality. Findings also question current research paradigms and implicit assumptions of policy where the potential for Aboriginal Australians to become global citizens and adopt migration practices accordingly is downplayed.

A n approach t o t h e design of high-frequency monolithic voltage-controlled oscillators using operational transconductance amplifiers a n d capacitors is given. Results from two 3 p m C M O S prototypes are presented. B o t h frequency a n d amplitude of t h e oscillations can be t u n e d by means of control voltages. Programmable oscillator frequencies u p to 56.1Mhz a r e obtained, t h e amplitudes being adjustable between 1 v peak-to-peak a n d 100mv peak-to-peak. Total Harmonic Distortions from 2.8% down to 0.2% have been experimentally measured in t h e laboratory.

An important basis for information support of educational activities is the effective presentation of knowledge and standardization of training tasks based on ontological models of learned subject areas. The competence approach to the organization of the educational process and the requirements for the training of specialists from the point view of enterprises and organizations, in which they will carry out their professional activities, requires the development of a comprehensive model of educational processes and objects that are participating in them, based on high-level abstractions. On the basis of the results obtained in this work, the methodology of informational support of educational activities was further developed on the basis of: organizing the educational process and standardization of education based on a categorical-ontological approach; construction and use of relevant on tologies and knowledge bases; automation of data processing by forming and executing queries to ...

The aim of the study is to explore the extent of automation of public libraries in SouthWest , Nigeria. Library automation refers to the application of information communication technologies (ICTs) in the day to day operations of the library [4]. Using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), the study will adopt a mixed methods approach. Survey research design will be adopted. Simple random sampling will be used to select respondents for the study. Data will be collected using both questionnaires and interviews. The area of study will be SouthWest , Nigeria. There are five states in this region but only three, namely Ogun, Oyo and Lagos States, will be involved in the study. There are several branches of public library in each state. However, only the headquarters usually referred to as the Library Board will be the focus of this study. Each of these three state public libraries selected has a systems librarian and a state librarian also referred to as the director of library services. The state librarian and systems librarian in each library will be interviewed. Questionnaires will also be administered to other professional and para professional staff as well as the library patrons. Quantitative data will be analysed using SPSS, while qualitative data from the interview schedule will be analysed using thematic content analysis. The researcher believes that results from this study would make Nigerian public libraries aware of strategies that can be put in place to leap frog automation stages and adopt current technologies. The study results will help understand how libraries can benefit from a wide range of automated services so as to become relevant and remain so in an era where libraries are competing with an aggressive information industry. In addition, the study is expected to provide a useful framework for the development of information communication technology (ICT) policies in Nigerian public libraries. Furthermore, this study will contribute to literature on technology adoption and acceptance in public libraries in the context of a developing country.

In the light of technological, economical and social changes, the problems of overall occupation of people and continuous growth of economy become more important and complex. It is universally accepted that continuous development of people's knowledge and skills, investment in education and vocational training are the main factors stimulating the economical and social development of the state. This paper analysis the situation of implementation of distance learning in vocational training system, the organizational and financial problems of distance education and their solving methods.

Achieving the promised business benefits of an IT system is intimately tied to the continued incorporation of the system into the work practices it is intended to support. While much is known about different social, cognitive, and technical factors that influence initial adoption and use, less is known about the role of emotional factors in users' behaviors. Through an in-depth field study conducted in two North American universities, we examine the role of emotions in how specific IT use patterns emerge. We find that there are five different characteristics of an IT stimulus event (cues) that, when interacting in a reinforcing manner, elicit a single class of emotions (uniform affective responses) and, when interacting in an oppositional manner, elicit mixed emotions (ambivalent affective responses). While users respond to uniform emotions with clear adaptation strategies, they deal with ambivalent emotions by combining different adaptation behaviors, a vacillating strategy between emphasizing positive and negative aspects of the stimulus. Surprisingly, these ambivalent emotions and vacillating strategies can lead to active and positive user engagement, exhibited in task and tool adaptation behaviors and improvisational use patterns that, despite their nonconformity to terms of use, can have positive organizational implications.

Bokan Madina Yerzhankyzy, 4th year student of the International University of information technologies. Bayanbay Arnur, 4th year student of the International University of information technologies. Nurbekkyzy Altynnur, 4th year student of the International University of information technologies. Satybaldyieva Ryskhan Zhakanovna, Associate Professor of the Department "Information systems", candidate of technical Sciences. УДК 517.958:531.72 Токмухамедова Ф.К. Международный университет информационных технологий Алматы, Казахстан Научные руководители: Нуртас М., Алпар С.Д. ЧИСЛЕННОЕ РЕШЕНИЕ ПОРОУПРУГОГО ВОЛНОВОГО УРАВНЕНИЯ С ИСПОЛЬЗОВАНИЕМ МЕТОДА КОНЕЧНЫХ ЭЛЕМЕНТОВ Аннотация. В данной статье исследуется проблема акустики в пористых средах в трех отдельных областях. В каждой области предполагается, что материалы обладают разными физическими свойствами. Геометрия пор, вязкость жидкости располагаются в середине двух упругих областей. В этой задаче сначала рассматривается решение дифференциальных уравнений. Математическая модель этих физических явлений описывается начально-краевыми задачами для сложных систем дифференциальных уравнений в частных производных. Ключевые слова: математическое моделирование, уравнение акустики, метод конечных элементов, пороупругая среда.

Women and the elderly living in semi-arid environments of Kenya are vulnerable to the frequent exposure to impacts of changing climate and need to access climate information and support services to build their adaptive capacity. This study characterised the channels through which these vulnerable people (women aged 24 to 60 years; elderly men and women aged at least 65 years) in a semi arid area of Kenya access climate information and support services from data collected from randomly selected sample in cross sectional survey using structured questionnaire. Over 70% of both women and the elderly perceived change in rainfall, drought, floods, human and livestock diseases to have been "severe" to "very severe" over the last five years. Majority of women (68.8.5%) most preferred radio while the elderly (83%) most preferred indigenous knowledge to access climate information and support services. Women consistently rated radio higher (P<0.05) than the elderly for delivering reliable information, explaining details and use of local language understood to them. However, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) indicated that comprehensive informing on climatic hazards and support services for adaptation to changing climate is from extension service unlike the other channels which delivered information only on climatic hazards. The study concluded that combination of extension agents, radio and local administration would be more effective for disseminating climate information and support services to vulnerable people in marginal areas. Capacity building for extension service is needed in interpretation of weather data to enable them effectively disseminate climate information and support services to vulnerable people of arid and semi-arid environments.

Information and communication technology (ICT) has the potential to revolutionize teaching and learning as well as school administration, yet little is known about the maturity of ICT planning in schools and the manner in which schools plan for the acquisition and use of these technologies in the educational environment. However, as school investments in ICT increase and they become more reliant on ICT, effective planning becomes more central to schools' ability to maximize their use of technology. This research examines ICT planning in schools and proposes a four-stage model of the evolution of ICT planning maturity in schools. The model emerges from case studies conducted in eight New Zealand primary schools and provides insight into the nature of ICT planning in schools and the factors that contribute to planning maturity.

Art therapists help to access and awaken their clients' personal, latent creativity by promoting art making by the client (Snyder, 1997). Art Therapists aid clients by re-establishing creative thought and flow. They encourage the use of art materials, assist with the engagement in the art-making processes, and facilitate reflection on art made in the context of psychotherapy (Lombardi, 2014). Exercising creativity in therapy is an effective way to develop problem-solving and original thinking approaches, and it ultimately enables clients to generalize these skills towards other areas of life (Lowenfeld & Brittain, 1987). It is not uncommon for people to lose touch with creativity as a result of coping with life stressors, transitions or trauma. Through engagement with art making in art therapy, clients can potentially address psychological blockages that might inhibit or prevent access to creative thinking.

This study examines educators’ perceived barriers to technology integration and the relationship to education reform. Educators and administrators from four elementary schools in Washington State were interviewed in their classrooms during a three month period. The schools differed in size, location and social economic status and reported variances in their Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) scores. While all of the schools reported similar barriers to the use of educational technology, distinct differences appeared between those schools that had done long range planning during the reform process and those that had not. Specifically, staff in the two schools that coordinated curricula, performance standards and a variety of assessment tools while simultaneously allowing teachers the flexibility to alter the curricula were more likely to state personal responsibility for student learning, and they were also more likely to have overcome barriers to the use of technology.

espanolLa globalizacion ha supuesto un cambio en los estilos de interaccion comunicativa, cada vez mas mediada digitalmente. Por ello, aquellos que encuentran dificultades en el acceso o manejo de las nuevas tecnologias de la informacion y la comunicacion (personas situadas en la brecha digital) se encuentran en claro riesgo de exclusion social. El colectivo de personas mayores debe adquirir competencias de manejo de estas herramientas como recurso para el envejecimiento activo. Los programas Universitarios de Mayores pueden ser un recurso para la adquisicion y entrenamiento de competencias digitales; en este contexto, se describe una experiencia de entrenamiento de competencias de alfabetizacion digital mediante aprendizaje colaborativo con una metodologia de Aprendizaje Basado en Problemas. Los resultados de la intervencion muestran que los mayores pueden aprender y aprenden competencias para la identificacion de contenidos a adquirir, su busqueda en la red, analisis y manejo; asi...

Organisations are being forced to invest heavily in the deployment of information systems (IS) to obtain value and benefit in the new knowledge-based environment. Organisational intranets are being used as the platform for developing and deploying critical business applications to support business operations and managerial decision-making across the Internet-worked enterprise. Executive Information Systems (EIS) grew out of the information needs of executives. Web-based technologies are causing a revisit to existing information technology (IT) implementation models, including those for EIS. Some technologies include intranet, Internet, extranet, ecommerce business-to-business (B2B), e-commerce business-to-consumer (B2C), wireless application protocol (WAP), including other mobile technologies. The author conducted a survey of 31 well-established organisations in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, which successfully implemented EIS. A validated survey instrument IGI PUBLISHING

This quantitative study surveyed 538 adults in isolated rural settings in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, to examine whether telecenters operated by the nonprofit organization Gems of the Earth improve digital literacy and promote social change. Using multivariate logistic regression, the study examined how individuals use information and communication technologies (ICTs) at the telecenter, and tested for predictors of their use. The findings confirm that these rural communities use ICTs for entertainment, to engage in civic participation, and to practice professional skills. The findings suggest that digital inclusion impacts these isolated communities by creating opportunities that may foster human development.

The analysis of contextual information in search engine query logs is an important, yet difficult task. Users submit few queries, and search multiple topics sometimes with closely related context. Identification of topic changes within a search session is an important branch of contextual information analysis. The purpose of this study is to propose a topic identification algorithm using neural networks. A sample from the Excite data log i s selected to train the neural network and then the neural network is used to identify topic changes in the data log. As a result, 76% of topic shifts and 92% of topic continuations are identified correctly.