Showing papers by "Open University of Catalonia published in 2009"
22 Jun 2009
TL;DR: Treedoc is described, a novel CRDT design for cooperative text editing where the identifiers of Treedoc atoms are selected from a dense space and the results with traces from existing edit histories are validated.
Abstract: A Commutative Replicated Data Type (CRDT) is one where all concurrent operations commute. The replicas of a CRDT converge automatically, without complex concurrency control. This paper describes Treedoc, a novel CRDT design for cooperative text editing. An essential property is that the identifiers of Treedoc atoms are selected from a dense space. We discuss practical alternatives for implementing the identifier space based on an extended binary tree. We also discuss storage alternatives for data and meta-data, and mechanisms for compacting the tree. In the best case, Treedoc incurs no overhead with respect to a linear text buffer. We validate the results with traces from existing edit histories.
229 citations
TL;DR: Older people's adoption of IT needs to be treated as more than merely a question of usability, and attitudes, experience of use, and perceived benefits are also key aspects that must be taken into account.
Abstract: This study examined the use that older, regular users of computers make of information and computer technology in their daily lives. Opinions from such users were obtained regarding what they want these technologies to offer them in the future. By means of a discussion group and an online questionnaire, our critical case examined a group of mature senior students from the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (online learning) who have used computers and the Internet in their activities. In general, the participants needed to know the function of the tool beforehand and to have continued support and confidence. In particular, they need the certainty that the future technology will allow them to maintain their independence and autonomy. Older people's adoption of IT needs to be treated as more than merely a question of usability. Attitudes, experience of use, and perceived benefits are also key aspects that must be taken into account.
186 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a referential framework for university teacher roles and competencies in online learning environments, with a view to assisting in the design of professional development activities.
Abstract: The aim of this article is to clarify the university teacher roles and competencies in online learning environments, with a view to assisting in the design of professional development activities. This referential framework results from an extensive review of the literature and from analysing professional development designed in different European universities. It is worth mentioning that the definitions that will be produced do not refer to standards of teacher performance; on the contrary, we would like to emphasise the notion of socially situated competencies which are derived from the roles and tasks attributed to university teachers in online learning environments, without losing track of the dialectics and integrity of their exercise.
145 citations
TL;DR: It is speculated that such unsolicited advice might function at the ideological level to induct the new user into the mores of the group, not only in the kind of support it countenances giving, but into the very meaning of bipolarity itself.
Abstract: How does a newly diagnosed user get inducted into a forum dedicated to people suffering from bipolar disorder? Is their opening message "matched" by the forum's reply? We add to the literature on social support online by using conversation analysis (CA) to explore an apparent contradiction between a new user's first post and forum members' replies with ostensibly unsolicited advice. CA reveals the intimate relation between turns in sequence, an aspect of online communication largely ignored in existing work on social support. Seen from this perspective, giving unsolicited advice, although apparently a "mismatch," turns out to be a consequence of the open design of the new user's initial posting. We speculate that such unsolicited advice might function at the ideological level to induct the new user into the mores of the group, not only in the kind of support it countenances giving, but into the very meaning of bipolarity itself.
138 citations
TL;DR: The results of this study support a biopsychosocial perspective for whiplash disorders and test if fear of movement is a mediator in the relation between catastrophizing and pain‐related disability/depression as has been suggested by the fear‐avoidance model.
89 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, an alternative application of e-portfolio in a university student assessment context is presented, where a concept based on student collaboration (called netfolio) is developed, that differs from the classical e-Portfolio concept.
Abstract: This paper presents an alternative application of e-portfolio in a university student assessment context. A concept based on student collaboration (called netfolio) is developed, that differs from the classical e-portfolio concept. The use of a netfolio, a network of student e-portfolios, in a virtual classroom is explained through an exploratory study. A netfolio is more than a group of e-portfolios because it offers students a better understanding of learning objectives and promotes self-revision through participation in assessment of other students’ learning, as indicated through their portfolios. Class student e-portfolios are interconnected in a unique netfolio such that each student assesses their peers’ work and at the same time is being assessed. This process creates a chain of co-evaluators, facilitating a mutual and progressive improvement process. Results about teachers’ and students’ mutual feedback are presented and the benefits of the process in terms of academic achievements are analysed.
88 citations
22 May 2009
88 citations
TL;DR: For instance, taking pictures or filming videos of strangers in public places and showing them in webs like Flickr or YouTube, or making self-portraits available to strangers in instant messenger, social network sites, or photo blogs are becoming a current practice for a growing number of Internet users as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Digital photography is contributing to the renegotiation of the public and private divide and to the transformation of privacy and intimacy, especially with the convergence of digital cameras, mobile phones, and web sites. This convergence contributes to the redefinition of public and private and to the transformation of their boundaries, which have always been subject to historical and geographical change. Taking pictures or filming videos of strangers in public places and showing them in webs like Flickr or YouTube, or making self-portraits available to strangers in instant messenger, social network sites, or photo blogs are becoming a current practice for a growing number of Internet users. Both are examples of the intertwining of online and offline practices, experiences, and meanings that challenge the traditional concepts of the public and the private. Uses of digital images play a role in the way people perform being a stranger and in the way they relate to strangers, online and offline. The mere claims about the privatization of the public space or the public disclosure of intimacy do not account for all these practices, situations, and attitudes, as they are not a simple translation of behaviors and codes from one realm to the other.
87 citations
TL;DR: These techniques are able to determine, at design-time, when and how each constraint must be checked at runtime to avoid irrelevant verifications and can be integrated in a model-driven development framework to automatically generate a final implementation that automatically checks all constraints in an incremental way.
86 citations
TL;DR: According to logistic regression analysis, the predictive factors of dropping out were: being treated in a particular centre, the involvement of more than one therapist in treatment, having no previous history of psychiatric disorders, being young and being male.
65 citations
16 Mar 2009
TL;DR: The aim of this paper is to describe the importance of SOA in telemedicine through distributed system architecture design and implementation, which is developed in .Net platform using external web services.
Abstract: Interoperability in telemedicine system is one of the major concern in telemedicine health care system. It is difficult to design exact and flexible interoperable architecture in telemedicine which transmit data and exchange information between systems to systems. The Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) is playing major role in the development of such system which helps to exchange the information between similar and dissimilar telemedicine applications.Using SOA and external web services, the issue of interoperability can be resolved. The aim of this paper is to describe the importance of SOA in telemedicine through distributed system architecture design and implementation,which is developed in .Net platform using external web services.The architecture of telemedicine system which we have developed is comprises of three layers that are Presentation Layer, Business Logic Layer and Data Layer.
TL;DR: To explore the opportunities and challenges of the Web 2.0 within the health care system and to identify the gap between the potential of these online activities and applications and the empirical data, analysis of online surveys to physicians, nurses, pharmacist and patient support groups and static web shot analysis of 1240 web pages reveals a scenario away from 2.
Abstract: The Internet has become one of the main drivers of e-health Whilst its impact and potential is being analysed, the Web 20 phenomenon has reached the health field and has emerged as a buzzword that people use to describe a wide range of online activities and applications The aims of this article are: to explore the opportunities and challenges of the Web 20 within the health care system and to identify the gap between the potential of these online activities and applications and the empirical data The analysis is based on: online surveys to physicians, nurses, pharmacist and patient support groups; static web shot analysis of 1240 web pages and exploration of the most popular Web 20 initiatives The empirical results contrast with the Web 20 trends identified Whereas the main characteristic of the Web 20 is the opportunity for social interaction, the health care system at large could currently be characterised by: a lack of interactive communication technologies available on the Internet; a lack of professional production of health care information on the Internet, and a lack of interaction between these professionals and patients on the Internet These results reveal a scenario away from 20 trends
TL;DR: The culture-economy articulation has occurred largely within the confines of economic geography as mentioned in this paper, and much attention has been diverted into caricaturized discussions over caricatures of the culture economy.
Abstract: Discussions about the culture-economy articulation have occurred largely within the confines of economic geography. In addition, much attention has been diverted into caricaturized discussions over...
16 Feb 2009
TL;DR: This paper presents an automatic method based on Constraint Programming to verify UML models extended with OCL constraints and operation contracts, expressed as a set of operations defined by means of pre/postcondition contracts.
Abstract: In current model-driven development approaches, software models are the primary artifacts of the development process. Therefore, assessment of their correctness is a key issue to ensure the quality of the final application. Research on model consistency has focused mostly on the models' static aspects. Instead, this paper addresses the verification of their dynamic aspects, expressed as a set of operations defined by means of pre/postcondition contracts.
This paper presents an automatic method based on Constraint Programming to verify UML models extended with OCL constraints and operation contracts. In our approach, both static and dynamic aspects are translated into a Constraint Satisfaction Problem. Then, compliance of the operations with respect to several correctness properties such as operation executability or determinism are formally verified.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors argue that extensive use of temporary employment may create a climate of job insecurity among permanent workers in a specific organization, and that this climate is likely conditional upon the proportion of temporary workers in the organization.
Abstract: Extensive use of temporary employment may create a climate of job insecurity among permanent workers in a specific organization. This climate is likely conditional upon the proportion of temporary ...
01 Jan 2009
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors analyse the concept of "innovation" in the sphere of higher education, through the model of open innovation deployed by Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (uoc).
Abstract: The main goal of this article is to analyse the concept of «innovation» in the sphere of higher education, through the model of open innovation deployed by Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (uoc). Nowadays, the challenge that the university system is facing is differentiation, both in research and in teaching. And a project concerning innovation must fulfill that need for strategic differentiation. The project carried out by uoc is a model of strategic innovation. Its aim is to be open to the reception of collaborative experience and knowledge produced in the area in which virtual learning environments are created. It also aims at positioning the university as an institution that creates knowledge in a workframe of constant change and improvement.
20 Apr 2009
TL;DR: A novel approach is proposed that brings three main contributions with regard to the methods used for telescopic units: first, no multi-cycle timing analysis is required to ensure the correctness of the circuit; second, the method can be applied to large circuits; third, the circuit can be optimized for the most frequent input patterns.
Abstract: Variable-latency designs may improve the performance of those circuits in which the worst-case delay paths are infrequently activated. Telescopic units emerged as a scheme to automatically synthesize variable-latency circuits. In this paper, a novel approach is proposed that brings three main contributions with regard to the methods used for telescopic units: first, no multi-cycle timing analysis is required to ensure the correctness of the circuit; second, the method can be applied to large circuits; third, the circuit can be optimized for the most frequent input patterns. The approach is based on finding approximations of critical nodes in the netlist that substitute the exact behavior. Two cycles are required when the approximations are not correct. These approximations can be obtained by the simulation of traces applied to the circuit. Experimental results on selected examples show a tangible speed-up (15%) with a small area overhead (3%).
03 Jun 2009
TL;DR: A novel approach to interactive playgrounds is presented by describing the physical and interaction design of a new platform: the Interactive Slide, which can provide a fertile ground for creative, leisure and educational applications and experiences.
Abstract: The incipient research on interactive playgrounds is a promising field that can enhance in many ways growth, health and education of children and youngsters. In this paper, we present a novel approach to interactive playgrounds by describing the physical and interaction design of a new platform: the Interactive Slide. We concentrate on the main design issues and relate the acceptance of this platform; specifically through two applications that we have designed for it: one for children 4 to 8 years and a second for youngsters 10 to 14. This platform can provide a fertile ground for creative, leisure and educational applications and experiences. However, our main focus is on countering lack of physical activity and lack of socialization in children, which are important issues in all developed countries (and some underdeveloped ones) and especially important in Europe because of their accelerated pace of incidence.
TL;DR: The experimental results show that the suggested audio watermarking technique has very high capacity, without significant perceptual distortion and provides robustness against common audio signal processing such as echo, add noise, filtering, resampling and MPEG compression
Abstract: An audio watermarking technique in the frequency domain which takes advantage of interpolation is proposed. Interpolated FFT samples are used to generate imperceptible marks. The experimental results show that the suggested method has very high capacity (about 3kbps), without significant perceptual distortion (ODG about -0.5) and provides robustness against common audio signal processing such as echo, add noise, filtering, resampling and MPEG compression (MP3). Depending on the specific application, the tuning parameters could be selected adaptively to achieve even more capacity and better transparency.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a diferents experiencies universitaries d'innovacio amb programari social per a la formacio del professorat universitari davant dels nous reptes de l'espai europeu d'educacio superior.
Abstract: L'article presenta diferents experiencies universitaries d'innovacio amb programari social per a la formacio del professorat universitari davant dels nous reptes de l'espai europeu. En la primera part del treball, es desenvolupen a grans trets algunes pinzellades de l'espai europeu d'educacio superior (EESS). A continuacio, es detallen diferents experiencies universitaries que s'han dut a terme en el curs academic 2008-2009. Finalment, mostrem alguns comentaris, aprenentatges i valoracions fets pels mateixos estudiants relatius a aquestes experiencies.
TL;DR: The role of Mediterranean diet as a part of Human Culture and Intangible Cultural Heritage is discussed in this paper, where a new point of view that will be capital in the future discussions about the Mediterranean diet, their challenges and their future perspectives.
Abstract: The aim of the present article is to discuss the role of the Mediterranean diet as a part of Human Culture and Intangible Cultural Heritage. Until the present, Mediterranean diet has been observed as a healthy model of medical behaviour. After its proposal as a Cultural Heritage of the Humanity at UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), Mediterranean diet is actually being observed as a part of Mediterranean culture and starting its concept as an equivalent of Mediterranean Cultural Food System or Mediterranean Culinary System. At the candidacy of Mediterranean diet as a World Cultural Intangible Heritage to be presented at UNESCO in 2008, this new conception is making sense. A new point of view that will be capital in the future discussions about the Mediterranean diet, their challenges and their future perspectives.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a field of discourse on corporate social responsibility in Spanish Parliament, focusing on its main actors, the central topics on its agendas, the conflicts that are appearing, and how they are being dealt with.
Abstract: The discourse on CRS began late in Spain. Its permeation into political institutions also began later than in many Western countries. The Spanish government neither contributed nor reacted to the green paper Corporate social responsibility. A business contribution to sustainable development, published by the European Commission in 2002. However, the publication of this document gave the definitive impulse for the start of the Spanish debate on CSR. After this initial impulse, the debate rapidly developed into a consolidated field of discourse. This field is the object of the present paper. Here, we seek to elaborate on a concept of corporate social citizenship viewed as a “field of discourse”, which is being produced by an epistemic community, at Spanish yet also at a global level. Thus, we seek to depict the contours of the Spanish discourse on CSR, researching its evolution over the last 5 years. We focus on its main actors, the central topics on its agendas, the conflicts that are appearing, and how they are being dealt with. In order to achieve these objectives, we focus primarily on the transcription of 61 speeches made by different stakeholders at the Spanish Parliament during 2005. This initiative of the Spanish Parliament is unique of its kind. A special sub-commission was created to discuss the role that Spanish public institutions should play regarding corporate social responsibility. Sixty-one experts from different areas (academia, business, trade unions, and NGOs) were invited to present their views on CSR. Members of the sub-commission had the opportunity to discuss with these experts the nature, limits, results and evolution of CSR, seeking with special interest their opinions on the role that the Spanish Government should play in the consolidation of CSR in Spain. The thesis of this paper is that through an exhaustive analysis of the transcriptions of these interventions at the Spanish Parliament, we can identify who constitutes the Spanish epistemic community on CSR. We can also trace the main contours of this field of discourse, to identify the main actors in its development (particularly, of course, on the binding point between CRS and government) and the main issues discussed, as well as the “hot topics”. The presentation will also locate the uniqueness of this debate generated in parliament within the context of the wider Spanish debate on CSR.
01 Jan 2009
TL;DR: Given a CVRP instance, the SR-GCWS algorithm incorporates a randomness criterion to the classical Clarke and Wright Savings heuristic and starts an iterative process in order to obtain a set of alternative solutions, each of which outperforms the CWS algorithm.
Abstract: In this paper we present SR-GCWS, a simulation-based algorithm for the Capacitated Vehicle Routing Problem (CVRP). Given a CVRP instance, the SR-GCWS algorithm incorporates a randomness criterion to the classical Clarke and Wright Savings (CWS) heuristic and starts an iterative process in order to obtain a set of alternative solutions, each of which outperforms the CWS algorithm. Thus, a random but oriented local search of the space of solutions is performed, and a list of “good alternative solutions” is obtained. We can then consider several properties per solution other than aprioristic costs, such as visual attractiveness, number of trucks employed, load balance among routes, environmental costs, etc. This allows the decision-maker to consider multiple solution characteristics other than just those defined by the aprioristic objective function. Therefore, our methodology provides more flexibility during the routing selection process, which may help to improve the quality of service offered to clients. Several tests have been performed to discuss the effectiveness of this approach.
01 Jan 2009
01 Jan 2009
29 Dec 2009
TL;DR: In the context of the European Higher Education Area, it is necessary to encourage the use of self-assessment tools as a complement of the continuous assessment activities as discussed by the authors, where students are able to train and put into practice the different competencies needed to be achieved at the end of each subject or course.
Abstract: RESUMEN En el contexto del aprendizaje a lo largo de toda la vida y del aprendizaje autonomo, caracteristicos del Espacio Europeo de Educacion Superior, es preciso fomentar la autoevaluacion formativa, como complemento a la evaluacion continua. Mediante este tipo de autoevaluacion, el estudiante puede ir aplicando los conocimientos y ejercitando las diferentes competencias a alcanzar en cada asignatura. Con lo cual, estara en mejor disposicion de ser evaluado durante y, en su caso, al final del proceso de aprendizaje. Las actividades de autoevaluacion deben estar disenadas para que sean utiles para los estudiantes (formato, contenido, complejidad…), siendo especialmente importante el retorno inmediato, lo mas detallado posible, que se proporciona al estudiante sobre los resultados obtenidos. ABSTRACT In the context of the lifelong learning and the autonomous learning, both concepts typical of the European Higher Education Area, it is necessary to encourage the use of self-assessment tools as a complement of the continuous assessment activities. Working with this kind of self-assessment tools, students are able to train and put into practice the different competencies needed to be achieved at the end of each subject or course. This means that students will be better prepared to be assessed not only at the end but also during all the learning process. Self-assessment activities have to be designed to be totally useful for the students (taking into account the format, content, complexity...), and being especially important the immediate feedback, detailed as much as possible, that students get about their results.
21 Sep 2009
TL;DR: In this article, a repaso de los acontecimientos que han marcado a la sociedad en su conjunto hasta las ultimas decadas del siglo, caracterizada por la socia del conocimiento donde los avances y evolucion de las tecnologias de la informacion and la comunicacion, han generado grandes transformaciones and beneficios in muchos sectores, en los que la educacion juega un papel m
Abstract: El presente articulo da cuenta de que el cambio es el rasgo distintivo de la sociedad actual. Haciendo un repaso de los acontecimientos que han marcado a la sociedad en su conjunto hasta las ultimas decadas del siglo, caracterizada por la sociedad del conocimiento donde los avances y evolucion de las tecnologias de la informacion y la comunicacion, han generado grandes transformaciones y beneficios en muchos sectores, en los que la educacion juega un papel muy importante. Destacando que en el ambito de la educacion, aunque existen muchos nuevos postulados teoricos y pedagogias que apuntan hacia una transformacion del sistema educativo, esta no se ha llevado cabo de forma integral, en esencia la educacion permanece igual. Se describen algunos planteamientos para la innovacion de la practica educativa y la transformacion del perfil del profesor universitario, con la finalidad de dar respuesta a las demandas de las sociedades del conocimiento. Las instituciones de educacion superior en Mexico estan sufriendo un proceso de transformacion, donde sin duda el profesor enfrentara grandes retos para redisenar las funciones de su practica educativa.
TL;DR: In this article, a multivariate GARCH model was used to analyze volatility transmission between the US and Eurozone stock markets considering the financial market responses to the September 11, March 11 and July 7 terrorist attacks.
Abstract: The objective of this study is to analyse volatility transmission between the US and Eurozone stock markets considering the financial market responses to the September 11, March 11 and July 7 terrorist attacks. In order to do this, we use a multivariate GARCH model and take into account the asymmetric volatility phenomenon, the non-synchronous trading problem and the turmoil periods themselves. Moreover, a graphical analysis of the Asymmetric Volatility Impulse-Response Functions (AVIRF) is introduced, which takes into consideration the financial market responses to the terrorist attacks. Results suggest that there is bidirectional and asymmetric volatility transmission and show the different impacts that terrorist attacks had on both markets.
TL;DR: This study demonstrates that with smart geometrical configuration of the sensors, rotation and translation of the oars and boat can be obtained and shows the application potential of this technologies in sports.
Abstract: In this paper, we take a hard look at the performance of REMOTE, a sensor network based application that provides a detailed picture of a boat movement, individual rower performance, or his/her performance compared with other crew members. The application analyzes data gathered with a WSN strategically deployed over a boat to obtain information on the boat and oar movements. Functionalities of REMOTE are compared to those of RowX [1] outdoor instrument, a commercial wired sensor instrument designed for similar purposes. This study demonstrates that with smart geometrical configuration of the sensors, rotation and translation of the oars and boat can be obtained. Three different tests are performed: laboratory calibration allows us to become familiar with the accelerometer readings and validate the theory, ergometer tests which help us to set the acquisition parameters, and on boat tests shows the application potential of this technologies in sports.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss whether telework constitutes a useful work-life balance strategy for women teleworkers with dependants and show that the discourse of the women interviewed about telework is not homogeneous, compact or linear, but includes plenty of contradictions, paradoxes and tensions.
Abstract: In this article we discuss whether telework constitutes a useful work-life balance strategy for women teleworkers with dependants. From our analysis we show that the discourse of the women interviewed about telework is not homogeneous, compact or linear, but includes plenty of contradictions, paradoxes and tensions. This fact reinforces telework’s enormous polysemy: it liberates and enslaves, it is a trap and an opportunity, it fulfills and can mean self-sacrifice. But, despite this rich complexity, our women informants agree on one particular matter: telework’s risks and possibly pernicious effects cannot hide either its advantages for work-life balance or the benefits it brings, at least in some cases, to one's personal life.