4101 research outputs found
Sort by
First-Person Shooters: Immersion and Attention
No full text'First-Person Shooter computer games are designed to be immersive experiences yet the phenomenon of immersion is little understood. This article surveys theories of immersion in virtual worlds and examines FPS game elements that might contribute to the state. The roles of attention and positive feedback in facilitating player immersion in FPS games is explored. In particular, the role of selective attention is highlighted before the article finishes with a discussion on the design of immersion in FPS games using the principles presented here.
Wheelchair occupant kinematics during a rail carriage crash
No full textOver recent years, a number of legislative tools and codes of practice have been put in place to provide wheelchair users with greater access and freedom of using trains. However, much more is still needed to be done to improve the safety of wheelchair occupants (WOs) while on board. In the United Kingdom, under the Disability Discrimination Act, only approved dimensions are the minimum requirements for use of a wheelchair in a rail carriage. This paper seeks to provide an analysis of the experimental kinematics of a WO under frontal impact tests carried out using a 57 kg dummy subjected to a sudden stop generating a pulse of about 15 g, which is less than the ECE M1 vehicle category. However, this is more severe than the 5 g pulse that covers both the European Commission's TSI and prEN 15227 with regards to train crashes. Results of frontal impacts are presented where the resulting kinematic characteristics are used to assess the potential injury severity of the occupant. A loaded sled with a combined mass of about 200 kg was accelerated horizontally to 3.3 m/s and suddenly stopped using a rigid barrier to simulate the worst loading condition. Eight restraint scenarios are covered. These form the basis for making recommendations considering the safety of a WO during a crash of a rail carriage. The baseline scenario constitutes not securing the wheelchair and not restraining the occupant. This also represents the worst case for injury potential. The ideal scenario involves securing the wheelchair and restraining the occupant using a three-point occupant restraint system. The paper concludes by providing recommendations for seating configurations to improve the survivability of a WO during a crash in a railway vehicle
Development of a business-to-business critical success factors (B2B CSFs) framework for Chinese SMEs
No full textPurpose - The purpose of this paper is to critically explore business-to-business critical success factors (B2B CSFs) for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in the Chinese B2B marketplace, evaluate the findings, and use the generated CSFs to propose a framework to assist in the marketing management of B2B in China. The proposed framework provides a guideline for academics and practitioners and highlights the significant role of each factor in developing and sustaining effective B2B electronic commerce (B2B e-commerce) practice for SMEs.
Design/methodology/approach - The proposed framework is constructed by combining the empirical findings and B2B literature. The quantitative (online survey) was targeted at, proprietors, chief executive officers, managing directors, general managers, sales/marketing managers and export managers in selected SMEs that participated in B2B electronic marketplace (B2B e-marketplace) in China. The data received from the recipients were processed on SPSS to conduct factor analysis to identify whether a factor structure underlies the correlations between a number of variables.
Findings - The findings are indicative of two sets of internal and external critical factors, including: successful customer relationships, supply chain facilities, global competition, information system/information technology (IS/IT) infrastructure and performances, information visibility, top management support and commitment, government encouragement and commitment, security and trust, and cultural consideration.
Practical implications - SME managers can derive a better understanding and measurement of marketing activities that appropriately balance between traditional and B2B e-commerce practice. At the same time, the CSF can be integrated into the companies to determine the level of marketing performance in B2B e-marketplace.
Originality/value - The paper's findings provide new theoretical grounds for research into B2B relationships in the digital business environment. The paper also provides an empirical assessment of the essential components in B2B e-commerce adaptation, and implications for the means to prioritize CSF
Transmission line modelling for multi-gigabit serial interfaces
No full textModern Computer systems increasingly use high-speed multi-gigabit/second (GB/s) serial printed circuit board (PCB) interconnects in order to transfer data between components, both on board, to daughter cards and across backplanes. As the transmission speeds increase it is becoming increasingly more difficult in terms of time and money, to measure the integrity of the received signals and engineers are reliant on simulation to ensure low bit error rate (BER) communication. Transmission line losses are one of major limiting factor in terms of distance capability and speed of operation for these modern high speed serial communication systems. Therefore the accurate modelling of losses in PCBs has recently become an area of intense investigation.Dielectric models have been formulated, containing the physics of the dielectric loss mechanism that predict the experimentally observed behaviour of the woven glass and resin construction of the composite laminate. At the frequencies excited in high speed digital serial links, the current flows predominantly at the surface of the conductor due to the skin effect and is thus strongly affected by any atomic scale surface roughness. Several new models have been proposed that deal with the additional losses caused by surface roughness, as the frequencies of the serial interconnect increase.Simulation work has been carried out for multi-GB/s interconnects with the new aforementioned conductor loss models demonstrating improvements in accuracy and better agreement with experimental data
Review of ‘Gender and the Science of Difference: Cultural Politics of Contemporary Science and Medicine’ Edited by Jill A Fisher
No full textA review of 'Gendered Spaces and Digital Discourse: Framing Women’s Relationship with the Internet'. Author: Cindy Royal.
No full textEnhancing employee's satisfaction and job motivators : a case study in Asia Commercial Bank.
No full textIn the accession of WTO, Vietnamese companies are on the way towards a market – oriented economy and international integration. In regard to HRM, it is necessary to apply efficiency approach in order to attain and attract best employees. It is suggested that employees’ satisfaction strongly related to business performances. The research will examine to extent to which it has employed and developed effective HRM practices for contributing to organizational performance and obtaining the strategic objectives in the new age. In the case study of the author’ company, Asia Commercial Bank, this research will provide the critical evaluation of HRM policies of ACB by using the SHRM theories approach. The paper will suggest available solutions for strategic human resource management in order to enhancing employees’ satisfaction. The recommendations focus on compensations, training and development policies to improve individual performance
Graded observations of training teacher practice: Analysis of grades by ethnicity: Initial teacher training programmes, full time study 2010-11
No full textSolidly Mounted Resonators with Carbon Nanotube Electrodes for Biosensing Applications
No full textThe work reported here shows a direct experimental comparison of the sensitivities of AlN solidly mounted resonators (SMR)-based biosensors fabricated with standard metal electrodes and with carbon nanotube electrodes. SMRs resonating at frequencies around 1.75 GHz have been fabricated, some devices using a thin film of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as the top electrode material and some identical devices using a chromium/gold electrode. Protein solutions with different concentrations were loaded on the top of the resonators and their responses to mass-load from physically adsorbed coatings were investigated. Results show that resonators using CNTs as the top electrode material exhibited higher frequency change for a given load due to the higher active surface area of a thin film of interconnecting CNTs compared to that of a metal thin film electrode and hence exhibited greater mass loading sensitivity. It is therefore concluded that the use of CNT electrodes on resonators for their use as gravimetric biosensors is viable and worthwhile