Showing papers by "Richard Harper published in 2015"

Scientists and software – surveying the species distribution modelling community

Abstract: Aim: Software use is ubiquitous in the species distribution modelling (SDM) domain; nearly every scientist working on SDM either uses or develops specialist SDM software; however, little is formally known about the prevalence or preference of one software over another. We seek to provide, for the first time, a 'snapshot' of SDM users, the methods they use and the questions they answer. Location: Global. Methods: We conducted a survey of over 300 SDM scientists to capture a snapshot of the community and used an extensive literature search of SDM papers in order to investigate the characteristics of the SDM community and its interactions with software developers in terms of co-authoring research publications. Results: Our results show that those members of the community who develop software and who are directly connected with developers are among the most highly connected and published authors in the field. We further show that the two most popular softwares for SDM lie at opposite ends of the 'use-complexity' continuum. Main conclusion: Given the importance of SDM research in a changing environment, with its increasing use in the policy domain, it is vital to be aware of what software and methodologies are being implemented. Here, we present a snapshot of the SDM community, the software and the methods being used.

Tying in comment sections: The production of meaning and sense on Facebook: The self-explicative organization of communication acts on and through Facebook

Abstract: This study investigates the organization of interaction through comments on the social networking site Facebook Facebook offers a range of affordances that allow communication between users These include written language in various settings (messaging, commenting, posting), as well as a range of non-verbal resources, such as uploading photos, sharing links, the "like"-button Our analysis focuses on the post+commenting section, which users treat as a quasi-conversational space Much as conversation is organized through the sequential unfolding of turns through time, the interaction in the comments section is organized according to a pattern that lets users "make sense" of the communication as a coherent exchange This comment organizing mechanism, which is enacted through tying practices, operates on written language rather than spoken, and so needs to accommodate different affordances than turn-taking does: it has to be able to co-ordinate contributions not just through time, but through space as well The theoretical significance of this research then is its exploration of a complex mechanism that is used by humans to maintain social order through writing and reading practices In particular, it takes into account how the context of the website shapes people's communication through the resources made available © 2015 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

RESEARCH Scientists and software - surveying the species distribution modelling community

Abstract: Aim Software use is ubiquitous in the species distribution modelling (SDM) domain; nearly every scientist working on SDM either uses or develops specialist SDM software; however, little is formally known about the prevalence or preference of one software over another. We seek to provide, for the first time, a ‘snapshot’ of SDM users, the methods they use and the questions they answer. Location Global. Methods We conducted a survey of over 300 SDM scientists to capture a snapshot of the community and used an extensive literature search of SDM papers in order to investigate the characteristics of the SDM community and its interactions with software developers in terms of co-authoring research publications. Results Our results show that those members of the community who develop software and who are directly connected with developers are among the most highly connected and published authors in the field. We further show that the two most popular softwares for SDM lie at opposite ends of the ‘use-complexity’ continuum. Main conclusion Given the importance of SDM research in a changing environment, with its increasing use in the policy domain, it is vital to be aware of what software and methodologies are being implemented. Here, we present a snapshot of the SDM community, the software and the methods being used.

Tying in comment sections: The production of meaning and sense on Facebook

Abstract: This study investigates the organisation of interaction through comments on the Social Networking Site Facebook. Facebook offers a range of affordances that allow communication between users. These include written language in various settings (messaging, commenting, posting), as well as a range of non-verbal resources, such as uploading photos, sharing links, the ‘like’-button. Our analysis focuses on the post+commenting section, which users treat as a quasi-conversational space. Much as conversation is organised through the sequential unfolding of turns through time, the interaction in the comments section is organised according to a pattern that lets users ‘make sense’ of the communication as a coherent exchange. This comment organising mechanism, which is enacted through tying practices, operates on written language rather than spoken, thus it needs to accommodate different affordances than turn-taking does: it has to be able to co-ordinate verbal contributions not just through time, but through space as well. The theoretical significance of this research then is its exploration of a complex mechanism that is used by humans to maintain social order through writing and reading practices. In particular, it takes into account how the context of the website shapes people’s communication through the resources made available.

Life through the lens: a qualitative investigation of human behaviour with an urban photography service

Abstract: The proliferation of computation in our everyday environment enables new types of interaction and communication devices. Understanding the dialogue between users and such technology is crucial to the success of future urban computing deployments. We investigate human behaviour in public spaces using a public photography service deployed on interactive public displays in an urban city. Through the analysis of user-generated snapshots we show that the service was rapidly appropriated outside its intended purpose, resulting in use that differs substantially from those previously documented in photography literature. We reflect on the reasons why the service was appropriated in this way and explore the evolution of photography in urban contexts. Ultimately, our findings help ground our understanding of human behaviour in urban spaces and thus contribute to the design of future Ubicomp deployments.

Proximate resource pooling in video/audio telecommunications

Abstract: A telecommunications device sends and receives messages comprising data about telecommunications resources and resource state of proximate devices. The telecommunications device has a processor configured to determine a proximate resource pool using at least the telecommunication resources of the other devices, and the state of the telecommunications resources of the other devices, the proximate resource pool comprising a list of content streams being generated by, or potentially being generated by, specified ones of the other devices. The processor is configured to receive instructions from one of the other devices, the instructions being to add, divert or stop a specified content stream of the proximate resource pool within a telecommunications activity ongoing at the device. In various examples, the processor is configured to execute the instructions responsive to the instructions being from a trusted device, or responsive to user authorization.

Sociomateriality and Design

Abstract: Design research and the literature on sociomateriality emerge out of different academic traditions but share a common interest in the material. A sociomaterial perspective allows us to account for the complex ways people mingle and mangle information systems of all sorts into their social endeavors to accomplish organizational tasks. But, how do we account for these sociomaterial phenomena in all their complexity when faced with the task of designing information systems? The panel brings together prominent researchers bridging the gap between design research and the current debate on sociomateriality. Each presenter addresses the challenges associated with informing grounded design work with insights from a highly abstract intellectual debate.

Development and integration of a Surveillance Monitoring solution to provide earlier detection of the deteriorating patient

Abstract: This paper presents recent improvement of a Wi-Fi based vital signs monitor used for in-hospital monitoring in medium-risk settings. Valuable insight into design strengths and weaknesses has been gained and device improvements have been confirmed with real-world use. Integration with intuitive central station software is considered with respect to balancing functionality and performance. Practical use of the early warning system in challenging clinical environments has enabled further understanding of the potential impact of the system. A tool to provide a convenient method of tracking patient condition and alerting on deterioration is offered.

Me For You’: Lessons About Everyday Video Messaging From Skype Qik

Abstract: In this position paper we outline the opportunities and challenges of pure asynchronous video messaging as an everyday utility. We recruited 53 users to try Skype Qik ‘in the wild’ for two weeks from its launch in October 2014. We found users orienting to an organizational principle that we term ‘Me For You’, a self-conscious yet creative orientation that allowed users to transform features of their everyday affairs into show-about-ables that can be subject to and warrant the interrogative gaze of a Qik recipient. We found that such acts implied a reciprocity that was valuable in some special contexts, while at other times proving dissonant with assumptions about mundane communicative practices between particular parties. To warrant another’s gaze requires artfulness, but in some relationships one might not want to demand that artfulness in return. We argue that richness is not a matter of mode but of perceived control, within which the morality of gaze represents an ongoing challenge for designing everyday telepresence.