Evolutionary Concepts in End User Productivity and Performance

Research on the influence of attitudes toward computers and end user performance has reported inconsistent results. The inconsistent results, at least in part, could be attributed to the lack of correspondence between the general nature of the attitude measure and the specific nature of the criterion, end user performance. Based on Ajzen and Fishbein’s (1980) behavioral intentions model, we argue that attitudes toward working with computers matches end user performance in terms of specificity and relevance, and therefore should be consistently related to end user performance. In this study, in addition to attitudes toward working with computers, the effects of goal setting and self-efficacy on end user performance were also tested. Results indicate that attitudes toward working with computers, goal setting and self-efficacy significantly influence end user performance. Strong support for attitudes, goal setting and self-efficacy indicate that end user performance can be substantially enhanced by shaping end users’ attitudes toward working with computers, teaching end users to set specific and challenging goals, and enhancing end users’ beliefs to effectively learn and use computing technology.

Interface consistency is an important basic concept in web design and has an effect on performance and satisfaction of end users. Consistency also has significant effects on the learning performance of both expert and novice end users. Consequently, the evaluation of consistency within a e-learning system and the ensuing eradication of irritating discrepancies in the user interface redesign is a big issue. In this paper, we report of our experiences with the Shadow Expert Technique (SET) during the evaluation of the consistency of the user interface of a large university learning management system. The main objective of this new usability evaluation method is to understand the interaction processes of end users with a specific system interface. Two teams of usability experts worked independently from each other in order to maximize the objectivity of the results. The outcome of this SET method is a list of recommended changes to improve the user interaction processes, hence to facilitate high consistency.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the impacts of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems on user performance (UP) in higher education institutions with a view to better understanding the ERP phenomenon in these institutions, and to determine whether or not these systems work well in such a complex environment. Design/methodology/approach – A quantitative methodology was used in this study and data were collected by means of a written questionnaire. Measurement items used in the operationalization of the study instrument were adopted from relevant prior research. Findings – The findings indicated that system quality, task technology fit and information quality are the most important factors that lead to better end UP. The provides evidence of the appropriateness of extending IS models as a useful way to give more powerful insights into user aspects and system impact. Research limitations/implications – Although the study factors explained a large portion of the variance in UP, there is a part of the variance that still remains unexplained. Practical implications – Vendors and designers must consider user needs and concerns in the design of ERP packages. Understanding user characteristics and their interaction will lead to better benefits. For example, if ERP users are predominantly individuals with little computer experience, the system designers should invest more in making the systems easier to use to facilitate more system impacts and benefits. Originality/value – There has been a general lack of awareness about the importance of evaluating ERP systems from a user perspective. Rather, the main focus of previous studies was either on critical factors and implementation issues and/or on user acceptance and satisfaction. This study underscores the importance of this issue and presents some insights into the benefits of ERP systems in higher education by taking lessons from IS theory in general.

Web applications have been spreading everywhere. However, this may have a number of drawbacks mostly related to usability issues. Therefore, the investigation of usability problems continues to improve these applications. In this study, usability metrics are used for web application interface evaluation. The relation between web application usability and end user performance is investigated. Many studies have evaluated interface usability in a number of sectors; however, studies on oil and gas web applications have been limited. In this study, two sessions with twelve participants were designed to obtain data directly from end users. The sessions were observation and user feedback sessions. The findings indicate a potential relation between system usability and end user performance in terms of effectiveness and satisfaction.

Package managers are a very important part of Linux distributions but we have noticed two weaknesses in them: They use pre-built packages that are not optimised for specific hardware and often they are too heavy for a specific need, or packagesmay require plenty of time and resources to be compiled. In this paper, we present a novel Linux package manager which uses cloud computing features to compile and distribute Linux packages without impacting the end user's performance. We also show how Portage, Gentoo's package manager can be optimised for customisation and performance, along with the cloud computing features to compile Linux packages more efficiently. All of this resulting in a new cloud-based Linux package manager that is built for better computing performance.

End user computing (EUC) has become an essential component of successful knowledge management. To maintain their competitive advantage, organisations need to ensure that EUC is productive. Consequently, the problems encountered by end users in composing queries need to be minimised. In constructing queries, end users need to identify the columns, constraints, and aggregation level. They must then accurately translate these requirements into the appropriate constructs in the query language. The accurate translation of each requirement poses a challenge to end users due to the ontological gap between the representation of concepts in the real world and constructs available in the information system. This research examines the factors that influence end user performance in addressing SQL challenges. Ontology and cognitive psychology literature relating to memory schemas and semantic cues provide the theoretical basis for this research. A laboratory experiment was conducted with sixty-six students enrolled in introductory database subjects. The results demonstrate that end user familiarity with a particular SQL challenge has a positive relationship with query performance. The presence of semantic cues in the information request also has a substantial impact on query performance. These results provide assistance relative to improving end user training and designing query interfaces. Making these improvements will enhance both the efficiency and effectiveness of EUC.

It is known that end users of products and services sometimes innovate, and that innovations developed by users sometimes become the basis for important newcommercial products and services. It has also been argued and to some extent shown that such innovations will be found concentrated in a “lead user” segment of the user community. However, neither the characteristics of innovating users nor the scope of the community that they “lead” has been explored in depth. In this paper, we explore the characteristics of innovation, innovators, and innovation sharing by library users of OPAC information search systems in Australia. This market has capable users, but it is nonetheless clearly a “follower” with respect to worldwide technological advance. Wefind that 26% of users in this local market nonetheless do modify their OPACs in both major and minor ways, and that OPAC manufacturers judge many of these user modifications to be of commercial interest. We find that we can distinguish modifying from nonmodifying users on the basis of a number of factors, including their “leading-edge status” and their in-house technical capabilities. We find that many innovating users freely share their innovations with others, and find that we can distinguish users that share information about their modifications from users that do not. We conclude by considering some implications of our findings for idea generation practices in marketing.

IoT (Internet-of-things) platforms can connect sensors and devices along supply chains of production and logistics systems, as well as end users of products, allowing for co-designed and customized solutions. This paper aims to present perspectives for the IoT-based integration of manufacturing lines. More specifically, it will address the implementation of these platforms for the cyber-physical integration of distributed and highly automated manufacturing lines of customized items. A Systematic Literature Review was conducted in order to identify the main characteristics of the research area and to cluster research and practical perspectives. As results, bibliometric analysis has evidenced the continuous growth of the research area and the most important scientific journals publishing content related to IoT-based platforms for distributed manufacturing lines. In the content analysis, the perspectives are clustered in: (i) conceptual propositions and requirements, (ii) new methods and models for supporting decision-making, (iii) development of technology-based approaches, and (iv) empirical studies. As conclusion, the paper wraps up with the description of interesting avenues from both a scientific and a praxis-oriented point-of-view.

Yeast derivatives including yeast cell wall components are promising alternatives to antibiotics with respect to the promotion of health and performance in livestock, based on their capacity to bind enteropathogenic bacteria and to beneficially modulate the immune system. However, these mode(s) of action both in vitro and in vivo are still not well understood. Furthermore, standardization and reproducibility of in vitro techniques (microbiology, cell culture assays) are critical features for the application of yeast derivatives as well as for the proof of effectiveness. Yeast cell wall products are suggested as anti-adhesive agents and are thus proposed to prevent attachment of certain intestinal bacteria by providing alternative adhesion sites to enterobacteria, which contain mannose-specific type I fimbriae such as Escherichia coli or Salmonella spp. and which is well documented. Various in vitro assay techniques have become of paramount importance for biotechnological research since they allow for determination and quantification of potential mode(s) of action. However, in vitro assays may be criticized by product end users as not accurately reflecting in vivo responses. Pro and cons of different assays and their bias will be discussed specifically regarding yeast cell wall components and adhesion of enteropathogenic bacteria. Immunomodulation is a therapeutic approach intervening in auto-regulating processes of the defense system. Yeast derivatives such as beta-glucans are proposed to interact with cells of the innate immune system by receptor recognition. Controversial data in literature and mode(s) of action are reviewed and discussed here.

<div class="section abstract"><div class="htmlview paragraph">The testing of vision sensor-based Advanced Driver Assistance (ADA) systems and Electronic Control Units (ECUs) is quickly becoming a major requirement in the automotive industry. ADA ECU development teams require a verification and validation (V&V) infrastructure early in the development cycle, and traditional approaches are not suitable for this purpose. This paper proposes the design of an integrated test suite for the functional and real-time testing of ADA algorithms and ECUs. The proposed test suite consists of a hardware bridge built using a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), a Universal Serial Bus (USB) 3.0 interface, and a software application running on the Personal Computer (PC). By using an FPGA to build the hardware bridge, we get a compact, real-time, and reconfigurable platform to support the desired test requirements. The USB3.0 interface is specifically proposed to support the high data rates evident in ADA systems based on multiple vision sensor and sensor fusion technologies. The PC-based software application has a modular, extensible, and scalable architecture to support current and future test requirements, as well as several features that improve the end user's productivity. The proposed test suite can be used for: (a) acquisition and storage of sensor data (recording mode), (b) visualization of stored sensor data (replay mode), (c) offline evaluation and improvement of ADA algorithms (functional test mode), (d) online testing of advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) ECUs (real-time test mode). The major contribution of this paper is the design proposal for supporting the real-time test mode for laboratory testing of ADA ECUs, and it concludes with a qualitative discussion of potential enhancements.</div></div>

Wireless systems using low-power wireless communication protocol are rapidly gain popularity in the license-free industrial scientific, and medical (ISM) frequency bands. One such emerging trend in ISM frequency bands is home automation. Historically, all the home devices were once unconnected, today are now being connected either by a wired or wireless connection. The low-power wireless communication protocols enable integration of all the digital home devices into a single system and enhance end user product experience. The rapid prototyping of these end user product using programmable radio system such as software-defined radio (SDR) has been the game-changer in the field of home automation. In this article, we present an overview of popular ISM bands in different regions of the world. Furthermore, we analyze the signals from the wireless electric switch using a software-defined radio in 433 MHz ISM band.

T h i s paper addresses the impacts of new communication technology on both standards and protocols used on ground networks for distribution and use of data and inforniation collected or generated as part of the space program. The basic thcme is that protocols and network architectures should be different depending on the type and use of the data being transmitted. No universal standard will exist which will satisfy all data networking requirements. Standards should be established within communities of interest at the higher layers and network architectures chosen that support the intended use of the data. Finally, system architectures will need to be established that will take advantage of the advances in communication technology and support the various standards needed witllin a community. Classification of Data Transmission D o e s '-rr B efore considering network architectures, it is important to look at the characteristics of the data intended for transmission. One of the most important characteristics is how the data changes in time with rcspect to content and value. For example, data including product specifications, catalogues, reports, test results, application programs, etc. can exist for long periods of time without significant change. Surely additions can be made, but the basic content is the same. Other data, however, can change rapidly with time. As examples consider data representing the status of any scheduled or contended resource such as airplane seats or telephone trunks. The point of the above discussion is that data content can change with time over a wide range and that systems designed to access the data can and should take advantage of this characteristic. The second characteristic of data variability is that of value. Naturally the time value of the data is a function of the intended use. A weather map needed for forecasting realizes an hourly decline in value as forecasts generally span hours to days. The same map used For instructional or analysis purposes can retain its value For indefinite periods. Likewise, data used to make a decision loscs value after the decision is made but the same data used to justify a decision rctains value as long as justification is needed. Finally, data that is needed for a step in some process that cannot proceed until thc data is obtaincd has a time value related to the cost or value of the process. Realizing the time variability of data in both content and value, it is important to consider two different network objectives for the transmission of data. The first network objective is that of minimizing network delay in the dclivery of a unit of data from a source to a destination. The type of data transmission that has this objective is termed Response Time Critical or RTC data transmission. The reason delay is important is that for this type of data transmission, it. is assumcd that people or processes become non-productive while the data is in transit. Thus by minimizing the network delay, the end user productivity is increased. The second network objective is that of minimizing cost or the time needed to complete a transmission. If network transmission costs are usage sensitive with respect to time, then minimizing the time to complete a transmission is the same as minimizing the cost. Thus maximizing the utilization OF a resource through high efficiency is the network objective for a class of data traffic termed Throughput Critical. For this class of traffic, costs can also be impacted by using resources during low rate periods or alternate means of transmission such as mailing a laser disk with data that is not rapidly changing or decreasing in value with time. Present Networking Approach M o s t data networks in existence today share an architectural trait that they rely on a ftxed network topology. This means that the networks are composed of network processors (that switch and route data packets) and ftxed trunks that carry the transmissions between the processors. Local area networks are an exception as they can share the transmission media among many processors. The major reason for this architecture is that transmission costs were the predominate cost of the network and because of analog technology, the only method to obtain reasonable bandwidth was with dedicated circuits. Once the step was taken to obtain the dcdicated bandwidth, then the issue of how to get reasonable utilization had to be addressed if any type of cost control was desired. The packet netCopyright@1987 by the American I n s t i t u t e of Aeronautics and Astronautics. ~ n c . A l l r ights

This paper proposes an architecture to provide seamless reporting over heterogeneous networks while focusing on the End-to-End information exchange and Quality of Experience analysis. For this purpose, it is presented a reporting architecture based on IEEE 802.21, where the reports are seamless exchanged through new extended IEEE 802.21 messages. This approach, besides saving on overhead of service and end-users reporting, is able to seamless support reporting through heterogeneous technologies, in multiple layers, while integrating both actions of reporting and network reaction, through IEEE 802.21. This new framework balances the impact of the signaling over the network load, representing a good lightweight trade off when comparing to other solutions, while still being able to deploy new business cases.

A comprehensive reference book codifying the various standards releases for High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) wireless technologyHSPA evolution has maintained its prominence through Releases 7-11 but the evolution is coming to an end with Release 12, with the focus moving to LTE. However, HSPA network and terminal sales will continue for many years: HSPA is expected to remain as the number one radio access technology from the sales point of view far beyond 2015. This timely book examines the complete HSPA evolution, and will be the ultimate long term reference for HSPA evolution.Headed by the successful editing team of Holma, Toskala and Tapia, industry experts look at HSPA evolution including complete Release 11 and the main additions in Release 12. They describe 3GPP definitions, field measurement, expected performance, practical optimization guidelines and the implications to the devices and to the networks. The book also covers MIMO antenna solutions and multicarrier evolution to provide higher data rates. Dedicated chapters include Continuous Packet Connectivity and High Speed Common Channels which provide major improvement to the smartphone capacity, end user performance and power consumption. The book assumes basic understanding of mobile communications yet the material is presented in an understandable way which can be enjoyed without any pre-information about MIMO or other technology solutions.A comprehensive reference book codifying the various standards releases for High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) wireless technologyLeading editor and contributor team focusing their expertise on 3GPP features and performance, including Self Organizing Networks, LTE Interworking, Smartphone Optimization and Voice EvolutionDedicated chapter covering VoIP over HSPA, recognizing that telephony will continue to bring most of the revenues to mobile operators in the near futureIncludes tables, figures and plots illustrating the concepts or simulation results, to aid readers understanding of the topicAn essential resource for R&D engineers by network, terminal and chip set vendors, network engineers with operators, application developers, regulators.

The security of computer systems often relies upon decisions and actions of end users. In this paper, we set out to investigate users' susceptibility to cybercriminal attacks by concentrating at the most fundamental component governing user behavior-the human brain. We introduce a novel neuroscience-based study methodology to inform the design of user-centered security systems as it relates to cybercrime. In particular, we report on an functional magnetic resonance imaging study measuring users' security performance and underlying neural activity with respect to two critical security tasks: (1) distinguishing between a legitimate and a phishing website and (2) heeding security (malware) warnings. We identify the neural markers that might be controlling users' performance in these tasks, and establish relationships between brain activity and behavioral performance as well as between users' personality traits and security behavior. Our results provide a largely positive perspective on users' capability and performance vis-à-vis these crucial security tasks. First, we show that users exhibit significant brain activity in key regions associated with decision-making, attention, and problem-solving (phishing and malware warnings) as well as language comprehension and reading (malware warnings), which means that users are actively engaged in these security tasks. Second, we demonstrate that certain individual traits, such as impulsivity measured via an established questionnaire, are associated with a significant negative effect on brain activation in these tasks. Third, we discover a high degree of correlation in brain activity (in decision-making regions) across phishing detection and malware warnings tasks, which implies that users' behavior in one task may potentially be predicted by their behavior in the other. Fourth, we discover high functional connectivity among the core regions of the brain, while users performed the phishing detection task. Finally, we discuss the broader impacts and implications of our work on the field of user-centered security, including the domain of security education, targeted security training, and security screening.