Showing papers in "First Monday in 1997"
TL;DR: Protocols with application in important contracting areas, including credit, content rights management, payment systems, and contracts with bearer are discussed.
Abstract: Smart contracts combine protocols with user interfaces to formalize and secure relationships over computer networks. Objectives and principles for the design of these systems are derived from legal principles, economic theory, and theories of reliable and secure protocols. Similarities and differences between smart contracts and traditional business procedures based on written contracts, controls, and static forms are discussed. By using cryptographic and other security mechanisms, we can secure many algorithmically specifiable relationships from breach by principals, and from eavesdropping or malicious interference by third parties, up to considerations of time, user interface, and completeness of the algorithmic specification. This article discusses protocols with application in important contracting areas, including credit, content rights management, payment systems, and contracts with bearer.
1,495Â citations
TL;DR: If the Web and the Net can be viewed as spaces in which the authors will increasingly live their lives, the economic laws they will live under have to be natural to this new space.
Abstract: If the Web and the Net can be viewed as spaces in which we will increasingly live our lives, the economic laws we will live under have to be natural to this new space.
556Â citations
TL;DR: This paper attempts to illustrate the weaknesses in the TCP/IP protocol suite in both theoretical and practical examples.
Abstract: The TCP/IP protocol suite has a number of weaknesses that allow an attacker to leverage techniques in the form of covert channels to surreptitiously pass data in otherwise benign packets. This paper attempts to illustrate these weaknesses in both theoretical and practical examples.
327Â citations
TL;DR: Can electronic publications be operated at much lower costs than print journals, and still provide all the services that scholars require? That is the key question that is still in dispute as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Can electronic publications be operated at much lower costs than print journals, and still provide all the services that scholars require? That is the key question that is still in dispute. Available evidence shows that free or at least much less expensive journals are possible on the Net. It is probable that such journals will dominate in the area of basic scholarly publishing. However, the transition is likely to be complicated, since the scholarly publishing business is full of inertia and perverse economic incentives.
191Â citations
TL;DR: It turns out that even if the authors ignore this factor, per-use pricing is not a clear winner, and therefore when the preference effect is taken into account, subscription pricing is likely to dominate.
Abstract: Information goods have negligible marginal costs, and this will create possibilities for novel distribution and pricing methods. The main concern of this paper is with pricing of goods that are likely to be consumed in large quantities by individuals. For example, will software continue to be sold at a fixed price for each unit, or will it be paid for on the basis of usage? There is substantial evidence both from observing marketplace evolution and from surveys that customers overwhelmingly prefer subscription pricing. It turns out that even if we ignore this factor, per-use pricing is not a clear winner, and therefore when the preference effect is taken into account, subscription pricing is likely to dominate.
We model competitive pricing between two companies that supply essentially equivalent services (such as movies or word processing software). One company charges a fixed fee per unit, while the other charges on a per-use basis. Each is interested in maximizing its revenue. We consider instances of the models that have stable competitive equilibria between suppliers along with situations that are unstable and, in the absence of collusion, lead to ruinous price wars.
117Â citations
TL;DR: This study used content analysis to first identify the communication conventions and protocols that real-time, interactive electronic chat users developed in instructional settings and determined that the students recognized a need to use their communication convention and protocols to communicate clearly and minimize misunderstandings in their online transactions with others.
Abstract: The widespread use of computer conferencing for instructional purposes, both as an adjunct to and a replacement for the traditional classroom, has encouraged teachers and students alike to approach teaching and learning in ways that incorporate collaborative learning and the social construction of knowledge. Discussion and dialog between instructor and students and among students is a key feature of computer conferencing and the foundation of constructivist learning techniques. Computer conferencing can be used both asynchronously, which allows time for reflection between interactions, and synchronously, allowing real-time, interactive chats or open sessions among as many participants as are online simultaneously.
This study used content analysis to first identify the communication conventions and protocols that real-time, interactive electronic chat users developed in instructional settings. The study also determined that the students recognized a need to use their communication conventions and protocols to communicate clearly and minimize misunderstandings in their online transactions with others. The more obvious conventions included using keywords and names of individuals, shorthand techniques, non-verbal cues in text, and asking questions and seeking clarification.
94Â citations
Journal Article•
72Â citations
TL;DR: The quantity of information available that is driving the need for improved search and retrieval engines and the combination of effective information retrieval techniques and autonomous, intelligent agents can improve the performance of short-term information retrieval in an existing search or retrieval engine is explored.
Abstract: The amount of information available via networks and databases has rapidly increased and continues to increase. Existing search and retrieval engines provide limited assistance to users in locating the relevant information that they need. Autonomous, intelligent agents may prove to be the needed item in transforming passive search and retrieval engines into active, personal assistants. This proposal explores the quantity of information available that is driving the need for improved search and retrieval engines. It then reviews current information retrieval literature and agency literature. Following these reviews, it proposes that the combination of effective information retrieval techniques and autonomous, intelligent agents can improve the performance of short-term information retrieval in an existing search or retrieval engine. A review of the current status of agents in various areas including information retrieval is also presented. The proposal then presents the objectives of this research, the methodology to achieve these objectives, and concludes with the contributions of this research and a short summary.
43Â citations
TL;DR: This paper will look at the strategic development of educational models that are designed to exploit current technological opportunities by placing the issues in context and challenging both new and traditional models.
Abstract: Many predictions have been made about the future of education, the demise of the classroom-based teacher, and an information technology lead revolution in schools, universities and organisations. Often it is espoused in glowing terms that push the agenda of equity and access. But what are the dangers, the impediments and costs in both human and quality terms? This paper will look at the strategic development of educational models that are designed to exploit current technological opportunities by placing the issues in context and challenging both new and traditional models.
31Â citations
TL;DR: A closer examination of the ways in which digital and printed scholarly journals are developed clearly indicates that most electronic journals are not all that different in their fundamental editorial processes than print as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: The diversity of electronic journals in the past five years has led some to predict the extinction of traditional academic journals, that a new "paradigm" is sweeping scholarship. A closer examination of the ways in which digital and printed scholarly journals are developed clearly indicates that most electronic journals are not all that different in their fundamental editorial processes than print. Hence future researchers will enjoy a rich variety of media to share ideas and data with colleagues, providing greater opportunities for communication, debate, and agreement.
26Â citations
TL;DR: Compares search performance and special features of eight robotic Internet search engines, which use a Web robot to retrieve a significant number of documents from the World Wide Web.
Abstract: Compares search performance and special features of eight robotic Internet search engines, which use a Web robot to retrieve a significant number of documents from the World Wide Web.
TL;DR: A universal, Internet-based, bibliographic and citation database that would link every scholarly work ever written - no matter how published - to every work that it cites andevery work that cites it is proposed.
Abstract: A universal, Internet-based, bibliographic and citation database would link every scholarly work ever written - no matter how published - to every work that it cites and every work that cites it. Such a database could revolutionize many aspects of scholarly communication: literature research, keeping current with new literature, evaluation of scholarly work, choice of publication venue, among others. Models are proposed for the cost-effective operational and technical organization of such a database as well as for a feasible initial goal: the semi-universal citation database
TL;DR: It is argued that in law as in other disciplines, the reach, dynamism and interactivity of the Internet offer opportunities for the development of new scholarly publishing paradigms - in particular, archives and "knowledge networks" - which have the potential to enrich and envigorate legal learning more than even the most progressive electronic legal journals.
Abstract: , Professor Archie Zariski asserted that, despite recent musings to the contrary, electronic legal periodicals have a bright future in the age of the Internet. This article challenges that contention, arguing that in law as in other disciplines, the reach, dynamism and interactivity of the Internet offer opportunities for the development of new scholarly publishing paradigms - in particular, archives and "knowledge networks" - which have the potential to enrich and envigorate legal learning more than even the most progressive electronic legal journals.
TL;DR: It is claimed that the integration between attention and action, and the creation of a related literacy are the keys to the sustainable growth of an attention economy.
Abstract: Building on the debate about the "attention economy" initiated by Michael Goldhaber and Rishab Aiyer Ghosh, I introduce the notion of valuing process, i.e. the process by which potential value can be translated in an economy. I show that the valuing processes applicable to attention depend on the nature of the media through which attention can be given and looked for. From there, I claim that the integration between attention and action, and the creation of a related literacy are the keys to the sustainable growth of an attention economy.
TL;DR: These developments may indeed lead to new kinds of communities emerging, where journalists act as facilitators, enlivening discussion on given topic for different groups in a given community.
Abstract: How does the Internet affect journalism? The Internet will not replace journalism and the media but provide a new channel of communication in parallel to the more traditional print forms. Multi-dimensional online newspapers will give journalists the opportunity to write to diverse audiences without concerns for space and length of text. This diversity will parallel an overall increase in diversity in the media. These developments may indeed lead to new kinds of communities emerging, where journalists act as facilitators, enlivening discussion on given topic for different groups in a given community.
TL;DR: This paper analyzes how commerce and banking will be affected by the Internet, with particular attention to existing international frameworks for taxation.
Abstract: This paper analyzes how commerce and banking will be affected by the Internet, with particular attention to existing international frameworks for taxation. Domestic tax laws are shown to be unable to adequately control the emergence of a "new international trade route". Individual and Corporate Residency laws, Tax Avoidance and Evasion, Laundering, Crossborder-Shopping, and the Transfer of Technology will be discussed in relation to taxation laws, particularly the United States' and Canada's.
TL;DR: WebMonitor, a tool for evaluating and understanding server performance, is described, and new results for realistic workloads are presented, showing that in a Web server saturated by client requests, up to 90% of the time spent handling HTTP requests is spent in the kernel.
Abstract: Server performance has become a crucial issue for improving the overall performance of the World-Wide Web. This paper describes WebMonitor, a tool for evaluating and understanding server performance, and presents new results for realistic workloads.
WebMonitor measures activity and resource consumption, both within the kernel and in HTTP processes running in user space. WebMonitor is implemented using an efficient combination of sampling and event-driven techniques that exhibit low overhead. Our initial implementation is for the Apache World-Wide Web server running on the Linux operating system. We demonstrate the utility of WebMonitor by measuring and understanding the performance of a Pentium-based PC acting as a dedicated WWW server. Our workloads use file size distributions with a heavy tail. This captures the fact that Web servers must concurrently handle some requests for large audio and video files, and a large number of requests for small documents, containing text or images.
Our results show that in a Web server saturated by client requests, up to 90% of the time spent handling HTTP requests is spent in the kernel. These results emphasize the important role of operating system implementation in determining Web server performance. It also suggests the need for new operating system implementations that are designed to perform well when running on Web servers.
TL;DR: The author argues that self-publication by scholars on their own Web sites is not an adequate substitute for the peer reviewing and active dissemination which can be provided by an ejournal**.
Abstract: This article considers the future of scholarly electronic journals (or ejournals) in the light of their short history with a particular focus on the discipline of law*. The author argues that self-publication by scholars on their own Web sites is not an adequate substitute for the peer reviewing and active dissemination which can be provided by an ejournal**. E Law - Murdoch University Electronic Journal of Law is used as an example of what such journals can contribute.
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TL;DR: The Web challenges the authority of the professor in the classroom by democratizing information as mentioned in this paper, which shifts the focus from professor and lecture to student and information, and the culture of higher education is likely to be profoundly changed.
Abstract: The Web challenges the authority of the professor in the classroom by democratizing information. It shifts the focus from professor and lecture to student and information. The culture of higher education is likely to be profoundly changed as a result.
TL;DR: Public libraries in the United States are under a great deal of pressure from community groups and others to "filter" or otherwise supervise Internet access for children, leading to the American Library Association's recently developed strong policy against filtering mechanisms.
Abstract: Public libraries in the United States are under a great deal of pressure from community groups and others to "filter" or otherwise supervise Internet access for children. This demand has led a variety of libraries to take different approaches, leading to the American Library Association's recently developed strong policy against filtering mechanisms. In the absence of empirical evidence in a wide variety of libraries on information loss directly as a result of filters, librarians have worked towards compromises of both professional directives and community demands. Libraries and librarians recognize their allegiance to their communities and their profession by developing strategies that meet the concerns of both parents and colleagues, without compromising First Amendment guarantees of free speech.
TL;DR: The author examines positions taken by the American Library Association and others and reviews the choices and consequences of various filtering products, concluding that libraries must retain responsibility for their offerings but also protect First Amendment rights.
Abstract: The use of filters to block those Internet sites that some public libraries and/or communities deem undesirable has caused an uproar within the profession as various viewpoints vie for ascendancy. The author examines positions taken by the American Library Association and others and reviews the choices and consequences of various filtering products. She concludes that libraries must retain responsibility for their offerings but also protect First Amendment rights.
TL;DR: A commentary on the Attention economy by Michael Goldhaber evaluating economic concepts in the context of the information age.
Abstract: A commentary on the Attention economy by Michael Goldhaber evaluating economic concepts in the context of the information age.
TL;DR: The present article provides a real example on how a small academic revue takes advantage of some new possibilities but shows also the new problems encountered using them.
Abstract: The development of electronic publishing has often been described as beneficial for authors, readers, and publishers. The present article provides a real example on how a small academic revue takes advantage of some new possibilities but shows also the new problems encountered using them. It turns out to be not always so easy and not always to the benefit of its subscribers to change a publication mode from print to electronic. Some technical aspects are discussed and the special economical model for the electronic version is presented.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: The Web challenges the authority of the professor in the classroom by democratizing information and shifts the focus from professor and lecture to student and information.
Abstract: The Web challenges the authority of the professor in the classroom by democratizing information. It shifts the focus from professor and lecture to student and information. The culture of higher education is likely to be profoundly changed as a result.
TL;DR: This paper will address practical steps toward balancing the demands of the fast lane of rapidly changing and evolving client/server technologies and user expectations with the responsibility of long term information management and preservation by reflecting on a number of testbed projects at the University of Illinois at Chicago University Library.
Abstract: Internet users have come to expect that the Internet is the place to go for quick access to current information. Indeed, as a recent user of a Web site maintained at the UIC Library comments [1], anything but current information is a sign of mismanagement and irresponsibility on the part of the content provider. As this user asserts, the World Wide Web is the place to for quick access to current information and the print medium is better suited to older information. Perhaps this response is a reflection of the relative newness of the medium. Many users come to the Internet with naive expectations about the quality and extent of information on the Internet. They do not understand the often intricate and constantly shifting issues involved in digitizing information for the client/server-based Internet, nor do they think of electronic life span of digital information. As a librarian involved in a number of digital information projects, the question of how to digitize information for the long term (more than the next six months) is the starting point for any project. Obviously librarians working as Web site designers and information managers want their sites to be as aesthetically pleasing, useable, accurate and dynanmic as current technologies allow. But how do we balance the demands of the fast lane of rapidly changing and evolving client/server technologies and user expectations with the responsibility of long term information management and preservation? This paper will address practical steps toward balancing these questions by reflecting on a number of testbed projects at the University of Illinois at Chicago University Library.
TL;DR: The intent is to test whether electronic publishing will meet several needs of the archaeological community, including a more robust presentation of archaeological data, prompt publication, and collaboration between researchers working on related excavation projects.
Abstract: DigMaster is an online experiment in the publication of archaeological materials. The intent is to test whether electronic publishing will meet several needs of the archaeological community, including a more robust presentation of archaeological data, prompt publication, and collaboration between researchers working on related excavation projects.
TL;DR: The conclusion is that documentary editing needs to re-orient itself to using new technologies to provide access to the archival documents managed by the editorial projects.
Abstract: Within the past six months a debate has ensued about the utility of documentary letterpress editions in the late twentieth century as a means for preserving archival records of the United States. The catalyst for this debate was the decision by the U. S. National Historical Publications and Records Commission to revise its funding priorities away from the documentary editions in favor of state regrant projects and research and development in electronic recordkeeping systems. Much of the debate about this proposed change focused on the value of traditional printed sources in the Information Age. This essay looks at this debate in three contexts: the nature of documentary editing; the relationships and respective missions of historians, documentary editors, and archivists; and the nature of records and recordkeeping technologies. My perspective is that of an archivist, and my conclusion is that documentary editing needs to re-orient itself to using new technologies to provide access to the archival documents managed by the editorial projects.
TL;DR: A model is presented which will enhance and extend agents' abilities, but will also improve the way the Internet can be used to obtain or offer information and services on it.
Abstract: Software agents are a rapidly developing area of research. However, to many it is unclear what agents are and what they can (and maybe cannot) do. In the first part, this thesis will provide an overview of these, and many other agent-related theoretical and practical aspects. Besides that, a model is presented which will enhance and extend agents' abilities, but will also improve the way the Internet can be used to obtain or offer information and services on it. The second part is all about trends and developments. On the basis of past and present developments of the most important, relevant and involved parties and factors, future trends and developments are extrapolated and predicted.