Australian Computer Society: ACS Digital Library
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The Application of Intentional Subjective Properties and Mediated Communication Tools to Software Agents in Online Disputes Resolution Environments
Get PDFThis paper examines the use of subjective properties in modeling an architecture for cooperative agents using Agent Communication Language (ACL) that is used as a mediating tool for cooperative communication activities between and within software agents. The role that subjective and objective properties have in explaining and modeling agent internalization and externalization of ACL messages is investigated and related to Vygotsky’s developmental learning theories such as Mediated Activity Theory. A novel agent architecture ALMA (Agent Language Mediated Activity) based on the integration of agents’ subjective and objective properties within an agent communication activity framework will be presented. The relevance of software agents subjective properties in modeling applications such as e-Law Online Dispute Resolution for e-business contractual arrangements using natural language subject/object relation in their communication patterns will be discussed
The Management of Intuition
Get PDFHuman intuition and the creativity afforded by that intuition is an aspect of the essential human-ness of any Human Being. Heidegger refers to this essential humanness as Dasein. Collectively and individually therefore, Dasein - and from that, intuition - should be an organization’s greatest asset. It is accordingly, at least initially, difficult to understand why the management of almost all organizations do not pay more attention to the development of this asset. This paper examines a phenomenological approach to managing intuition. In particular, the paper examines the nature of Heidegger’s notion of Ding-an-sich (the thing-in-itself), a grasp of which, it is argued, is essential in coming to terms with the human capacity for intuition and creativity. The paper also offers a number of possibilities for managing intuition under the general heading of Thematic Management
The Role of Information Systems and Technology in Case Management: a case study in health and welfare insurance
Get PDFThis study reports the role of information system and technology (IST) in supporting case management at the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) of New Zealand. Case management is a managerial approach that seeks to gain improved business performance by enhancing both employee and customer satisfaction. Despite millions of dollars spent annually by health, social, and insurance agencies in automating case management, little research has been conducted into the role of IST in this practice. The findings of this study show that for ACC, IST’s most valuable role is enhancing the relationship between client and case manager rather than replacing it for, even after the addition of IST, the most valuable knowledge continues to accrue from the face to face interaction of client and case manager. The findings also show two distinct phases to the development of case managers as knowledge workers. The first phase focuses on control of the processes and the second on the delivery and sharing of information resources
Australian Hackers and Ethics
Get PDFThe aim of the paper is to look at the way hackers act and ways in which society can protect itself. The paper will show the current views and attitudes of hackers in an Australian context. The paper will also include a case study to show how a hacking incident can develop and how technology can be used to protect against hacking
Product Cost Management Structures: a review and neural network modelling
Get PDFThis paper reviews the growth of approaches in product costing and draws synergies with information management and resource planning systems, to investigate potential application of state of the art modelling techniques of neural networks. Increasing demands on costing systems to serve multiple decision-making objectives, have made it essential to use better techniques for analysis of available data. This need is highlighted in the paper. The approach of neural networks, which have several analogous facets to complement and aid the information demands of modern product costing, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) structures and the dominant-computing environment (for information management in the object oriented paradigm) form the domain for investigation. Simulated data is used in neural network applications across activities that consume resources and deliver products, to generate information for monitoring and control decisions. The results in application for feature extraction and variation detection and their implications are presented in the paper
Doing Ethics: A Universal Technique in an Accessibility Context
Get PDFWhether a student, a retiree or in professional practice, today one confronts many situations where it would be helpful to have a particular way of sifting through issues to determine appropriate courses of action.
Gordon Preece (2002) writing on a recent topical issue put it this way: 'The womb is like an ethical war-zone. Embryonic stem-cell research, deaf lesbians choosing deaf-babies, IVF embryos chosen and conceived to save existing children, single and lesbian women accessing IVF. Hardly a day goes by without a new ethical dilemma. The pace of technological change and precedent makes it almost impossible to keep up. '
This paper gives the background that gave rise to this technique, the process itself, and then makes use of exemplary scenarios to illustrate how the procedure can be useful to practitioners. One scenario illustrates the approach, while a second illustrates the value in designing appropriate scenarios. The paper ends with suggestions of how the technique, first used in a student context, can be extended to suit professionals from different disciplines as multi-disciplinary teams engage in activities such as building websites
Patterns of Programmers' Use of Computer-Mediated Communications Systems
Get PDFCommunication behavior of programmers plays an essential role in success of software development. Computer-mediated communication (CMC) system, such as e-mail, or the World Wide Web (WWW), have substantial implications for coordinating work of programmers. Yet, no studies have dealt systematically with CMC behaviors of programmers. Drawing upon theories in organizational studies, information science, computer-mediated communication and software engineering, this research examines what programmers accomplish through CMC systems.
Data were gathered from survey questionnaires mailed to 730 programmers, who are members of the Association of Computing Machinery (ACM) and are involved in a variety of programming work. Based on factor analysis, the study found that programmers use CMC systems (1) to achieve progress in work-related tasks (i.e., task-related purposes), (2) to satisfy their social and emotional needs (i.e., socio-emotional purposes), and (3) to explore for information (i.e., exploring purposes).
The findings of this research extend an insight into important patterns for which programmers use CMC systems. This insight has advanced theories of computer-mediated communication in the context of computer programmers. Also, practitioners, especially in software development, may use the results as guidelines in fostering a firm’s feasible network policy that fits with what their programming staff accomplish through computer-mediated communication
From Adoption to Use: the process of appropriating a mobile phone
Get PDFUsers appropriate a technology through a process of evaluation that results either in rejection or adoption, adaptation and integration of the technology into their everyday activities. Currently this process, and the influences on users’ decisions within that process, is poorly understood. This paper reports a research project that examines young people’s appropriation of mobile technologies. Thirty young Australians were supplied with a free WAP phone for a month and were tracked from their expectations, the initial encounter and the first month of use of a WAP phone. We found that the influences on their adoption of the phones were quite different to those on ongoing use and so the influences on adoption do not predict long-term use. It is clear that studying adoption is only one step towards understanding technology acceptance and use and that rejection of a technology, even one that is supplied free of cost, is an ever-present option
Designing Systems for E-Commerce
Get PDFEthics is an important element in all aspects of computing, but proves to be a real problem in the development and delivery of E-Commerce systems. There are many aspects of ethics that can affect E-Commerce systems, but often research is focused on the ethics after the E-Commerce system has been implemented, focusing on issues such as trust, privacy and disclosure.
This paper will discuss how ethical matters can affect the design of E-Commerce systems and how a framework designed for E-Commerce can be used to create and deliver effective, ethical E-Commerce systems