ALBERT

Notes: Purpose - The main objective of this study is to develop a framework for: identifying the reasons for using e-commerce; understanding the implications of e-commerce in companies; and implementing and applying e-commerce successfully for improved organizational competitiveness and success. Design/methodology/approach - A structured questionnaire was designed, pre-tested, modified, and used to capture data on e-commerce in Hong Kong. Based on the feedback from the pilot-test, the questionnaire was modified and a final questionnaire was developed and mailed to companies in Hong Kong. In the survey, conducted with Hong Kong companies, the perceived benefits and perceived barriers of e-commerce implementation are discussed. Findings - The conceptual model based on the analysis of literature and some reported case experiences is developed using the current issues that have been highlighted as important e-commerce success factors of implementation. The major factors that influence the application and implementation of e-commerce are: perceived usefulness of web; perceived barriers of the internet for e-commerce; usage of the internet; and perceived benefits of the internet for e-commerce. In addition to this, country-specific factors such as culture, technology competency, government policy, educational level, influence the level of application of e-commerce. Practical implications - The framework is the result of the validation of the theoretical model, together with the conclusions of the empirical analysis conducted in Hong Kong. The empirical analysis supported some of the assumptions of the theoretical model, whereas others were not supported. Based on the feedback received from respondents, the model has been revised to reflect these practical considerations. Originality/value - Little research has been done to address the perceived benefits and potential barriers to e-commerce implementation in Hong Kong. This study is a timely and important one in that examines the current status of e-commerce implementation in Hong Kong. A generic framework is presented with the objective of supporting the application and implementation of the internet for e-commerce.

Notes: Purpose - Although the wireless internet attracts more and more interest from marketers and researchers, there is little empirical evidence of multinational corporations' (MNCs) adoption of push-type mobile advertising in global markets. The aim of this study is to fill this research gap, by conducting an empirical survey of the perceptions of MNCs operating in Europe regarding SMS-based mobile advertising adoption. Design/methodology/approach - The study proposes six basic constructs which are thought to influence MNCs' decision-making process on mobile advertising adoption. On this base, a structured questionnaire is developed. The data are obtained by telephone interviews from 53 senior executives of MNCs' subsidiaries in Spain. Findings - Hierarchical regression analysis reveals that branding strategy, facilitating conditions, and security and costs are the strongest determinants of MNCs' mobile advertising adoption. Furthermore, discriminant analysis indicates that Japanese, American, and European firms are statistically classifiable according to their cultural affiliation in terms of their perceptions of mobile advertising adoption. Japanese firms are the least willing to use mobile advertising, while their American counterparts are the most motivated in this regard. Originality/value - While SMS-based mobile marketing has been receiving an increasing attention from both academics and practitioners, there exists little empirical research on this area. In this vein, this study contributes to the literature in two ways. First, the study proposes a conceptual research model based on six basic constructs, which incorporate both theoretical and practical perspectives. Second, the model is tested by empirical data obtained from top managers of MNCs' subsidiaries operating in a European market. The findings of this study thus offer useful insights based on their "hands-on" experience.

Notes: Purpose - To describe consumers' heuristic and analytical searches for a pre-purchase information acquisition, and to assess the correspondence of flexibility of information task and the information found with a search. Design/methodology/approach - Propositions based on current research in web use and consumer studies. Tracked records of searches are used for descriptive analysis of transitional patterns in the data. Regression is used for statistical verification of the information provided by searches. Findings - Consumer searches center on chaining events, indicating heavy reliance on hyperlink navigation between web sites. Formal searches are seldom used, although when employed, tend to have a high level of diagnosticity. The emphasis on heuristic behavior is logical, as the way consumer information is currently presented on the internet rewards for this type of behavior. Use of heuristic search increases the likelihood of access to flexibly presented information. Research limitations/implications - Consumers favor heuristic trial-and-error searches even in focused fact-finding search tasks, which are typically considered the domain of analytical seeking. Consumers seem to benefit most from apparently inefficient, reactive and heuristic searches, because these are more likely to provide information in a format that the consumer can adapt. Convenience sample limits generalizability of findings. Originality/value - While there is an increasing body of knowledge concerning internet use for finding information, fewer studies have focused on consumer uses of the web in search. This paper provides new information of online consumers, an increasingly important topic.

Notes: Purpose - To provide a thorough analysis of the role of the internet in survey research and to discuss the implications of online surveys becoming such a major force in research. Design/methodology/approach - The paper is divided into four major sections: an analysis of the strengths and potential weaknesses of online surveys; a comparison of online surveys with other survey formats; a discussion on the best uses for online surveys and how their potential weaknesses may be moderated; and an overview of the online survey services being offered by the world's largest research firms. Findings - If conducted properly, online surveys have significant advantages over other formats. However, it is imperative that the potential weaknesses of online surveys be mitigated and that online surveys only be used when appropriate. Outsourcing of online survey functions is growing in popularity. Practical implications - The paper provides a very useful source of information and impartial advice for any professional who is considering the use of online surveys. Originality/value - The paper synthesizes the vast literature related to online surveys, presents original material related to survey methodology, and offers a number of recommendations.

Notes: Purpose - To arouse the public awareness of online gaming-related crimes and other societal influences so that these problems can be solved through education, laws and appropriate technologies. Design/methodology/approach - A total of 613 criminal cases of online gaming crimes that happened in Taiwan during 2002 were gathered and analyzed. They were analyzed for special features then focusing on the tendency for online gaming crime. Related prosecutions, offenders, victims, criminal methods, and so on, were analyzed. Findings - According to our analysis of online gaming characteristics in Taiwan, the majority of online gaming crime is theft (73.7 percent) and fraud (20.2 percent). The crime scene is mainly in internet cafés (54.8 percent). Most crimes are committed within the 12:00 to 14:00 time period (11.9 percent). Identity theft (43.4 percent) and social engineering (43.9 percent) are the major criminal means. The offenders (95.8 percent) and victims (87.8 percent) are mainly male and offenders always proceed alone (88.3 percent). The age of offenders is quite low (63.3 percent in the age range of 15-20), and 8.3 percent of offenders are under 15 years old. The offenders are mostly students (46.7 percent) and the unemployed (24 percent), most of them (81.9 percent) not having criminal records. The type of game giving rise to most of the criminal cases is Lineage Online (93.3 percent). The average value of the online gaming loss is about US$459 and 34.3 percent of criminal loss is between $100 and $300. Research limitations/implications - These criminal cases were retrieved from Taiwan in 2002. Some criminal behavior may have been limited to a certain area or a certain period. Practical implications - Provides a useful source of information and constructive advice for the public who will sense the seriousness and influence of online gaming crimes. Further, this topic may have implications on e-commence, e-services, or web-based activities beyond gaming. Originality/value - Since there is little published research in this area, this paper provides the public with a good and original introduction to a topic of growing importance.

Notes: Purpose - This work aims to probe how interface designers concerned with human-computer interaction of community networks might use the theoretical constructs of social capital and activity awareness. Design/methodology/approach - A design model for community network interfaces is introduced that reconciles various computer-mediated communication research contributions with support for typical community network scenarios of use. Using this model, an inspection is performed on existing community network implementations (available December 2002) and then the adequacy of the model for informing the design process is examined. Findings - Based on the insight gained through this analysis, a generic prototype and new user evaluation method are introduced that allow survey of user reaction to community network design elements under differing conditions. It is shown how results obtained through this method frame a value-chain understanding of conceptual tradeoffs. Research limitations/implications - To demonstrate the new user evaluation method in an analysis of critical design tradeoffs, the issues of persistent virtual identity implementation and usage motivation are probed. However, the evaluation method must be validated with other issues and tested by researchers that were not part of its creation process. Practical implications - Contributions from this paper include tools (a design model, a generic prototype, and an evaluation method) linking theory with community design artifacts, building on previous work. Evaluators now have indicators for assessing community informatics. Originality/value - Interface designers of community networks and those interested in social capital theory will appreciate the link between practice and theory provided by this approach.

Notes: Purpose - E-consumers consistently complain that the internet is frustratingly slow. Most existing research on this phenomenon is based on the concept of "download delay", that is, the time required for a web page to fully download to the e-consumer's computer screen. This paper reports on an exploratory study of the phenomenon of waiting for service on the internet with the intention of extending the narrow conceptualisation of the phenomenon of "download delay" to a more user-based perspective of waiting on the internet. Design/methodology/approach - The study is based on a qualitative research methodology. The research methods are seven asynchronous virtual focus groups involving 126 intensive internet users over 17 days and 92 participants who maintained personal diaries of waiting on the internet over a nine-week period. Findings - A new definition of waiting on the internet is proposed based on extensive virtual focus group research. Subsequently, 14 distinct types of internet waiting situations are identified based on the analysis of a total of 1,041 waiting situations as reported by the participants in the study. Practical implications - A number of practical implications for various functional areas of the business are outlined. Conceptual and methodological contributions are also made. Originality/value - The study is the first to present a broader conceptualisation of waiting on the internet from an e-consumer perspective and based on empirical research. All previous research has been based on just one type of online waiting, i.e. waiting for web pages to download to the user's screen. This paper presents 13 "new" types of waiting situations on the internet.

Notes: Purpose - Using Internet Archive's Wayback Machine, higher education web sites were retrospectively analyzed to study the effects that technological advances in web design have had on accessibility for persons with disabilities. Design/methodology/approach - A convenience sample of higher education web sites was studied for years 1997-2002. The homepage and pages 1-level down were evaluated. Web accessibility barrier (WAB) and complexity scores were calculated. Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine trends in the data and Pearson's correlation (r) was computed to evaluate the relationship between accessibility and complexity. Findings - Higher education web sites become progressively inaccessible as complexity increases. Research limitations/implications - The WAB score is a proxy of web accessibility. While the WAB score can give an indication of the accessibility of a web site, it cannot differentiate between barriers posing minimal limitations and those posing absolute inaccessibility. A future study is planned to have users with disabilities examine web sites with differing WAB scores to correlate how well the WAB score is gauging accessibility of web sites from the perspective of the user. Practical implications - Findings from studies such as this can lead to improved guidelines, policies, and overall awareness of web accessibility for persons with disabilities. Originality/value - There are limited studies that have taken a longitudinal look at the accessibility of web sites and explored the reasons for the trend of decreasing accessibility.

Notes: Purpose - The objective of the paper is to identify the factors that encourage consumers to adopt internet banking services in Thailand and to use the study's findings to develop strategies for banks on how to maximize the rate of adoption. Design/methodology/approach - Quantitative research with a sample size of 600 achieved by sending questionnaires to 15 people in each of 40 large companies in Bangkok. The study is based on the Decomposed Planned Behaviour. Findings - The attitudinal factors that appear to encourage the adoption of internet banking in Thailand most are "Features of the web site" and "Perceived usefulness", while the most significant impediment to adoption is a perceived behavioural control, namely "External environment". The significant moderating factors are gender, educational level, income, internet experience and internet banking experience, but not age. Research limitations/implications - In this study, encouragement factors are those that are able to be controlled by banks, while impediment factors are those that are not able to be controlled. Practical implications - It is essential for banks to facilitate encouragement and restrict impediment factors. In addition to the direct "push" from internet banks (in respect of the encouragement factors), indirect persuasion should be carried out as a "pull" mechanism (in respect of the impediment factors). Originality/value - The study identified a number of specific strategies that Thai banks could follow to maximize the adoption of internet banking.

Notes: Purpose - The purposes of this study are to examine internet users' perception of potential harm among a list of products available on internet auction sites, to discuss the influence of the third-person effect on internet users' pro-regulatory attitudes, and to investigate the effects of users' characteristics and perceived harm on their attitudes toward regulation of online auction industry. Design/methodology/approach - An online questionnaire survey was designed and employed to collect information about internet users' third-person effect perception, pro-regulatory attitudes toward internet auction sites, and control variables such as demographics, internet usage, and innovative characteristics. A convenience sample of 592 internet users was recruited to take part in this study. Findings - Internet users' perceptual differences are statistically significant between the estimated influence on self, teenagers, and other adults for each product. Perceived harm to self consistently predicts internet users' pro-regulatory attitudes, but not for teenagers and other adults. Perceived harm to self also predicts pro-regulatory attitudes toward these web sites, even after controlling for potential confounding variables. Research limitations/implications - The study is limited by its convenient sampling method and measurement of internet users' actual and intended behavior. Nevertheless, because internet users play a complex role of buyers, sellers, and possible victims on auction sites, it is important to examine perceptions and motivations underlying their support for regulating online auction industry. Originality/value - The integrated approach of mass communication, electronic commerce activities, and public policy-making perspectives ensures that future regulatory proposal of online auction industry will be comprehensive.

Notes: Purpose - First, to theoretically justify and empirically test the sequence of effects based on the standard learning hierarchy to explain consumers' online buying-related responses. Second, to analyse the moderating role that consumers' internet expertise can play on the formation of both their affective and buying-related responses towards this medium. Design/methodology/approach - This study poses a conceptual model which is tested by means of LISREL. The data used come from a questionnaire applied to American and Spanish internet users. These two countries have been selected taking into account their differences regarding their degree of internet expertise. Findings - The modelling approach appears to be adequate to explain online consumer behaviour. Moreover, different levels of consumers' internet expertise determines, in general, the predominance of the central or the peripheral route within the formation of their affective and behavioural responses to this medium. Research limitations/implications - This study provides a relevant contribution to the field of consumer behaviour on the internet. It presents an extensive literature review; it introduces new concepts and new relations among them; it successfully adapts classic consumer theories, i.e. the CAB paradigm and the Elaboration Likelihood Model - to the electronic market context; and it has a cross-national vision. Practical implications - It shows how any virtual firm which endeavours to understand consumers' shopping behaviour in its web site should consider these general issues in conjunction with the rest of the specific factors and variables related to it. Originality/value - This is one of the first studies which, on the one hand, theoretically integrates in a model the following concepts: beliefs and attitude towards the internet, trust in internet shopping and online shopping, and on the other, demonstrates that the degree of internet expertise plays an essential role in determining how consumers process and form their affective and buying-related responses on the internet.

Notes: Purpose - To propose a model of a privacy-enhanced catalogue search system (PECSS) in an attempt to address privacy threats to consumers, who search for products and services on the world wide web. Design/methodology/approach - The model extends an agent-based architecture for electronic catalogue mediation by supplementing it with a privacy enhancement mechanism. This mechanism introduces fake queries into the original stream of user queries, in an attempt to reduce the similarity between the actual interests of users ("internal user profile") and the interests as observed by potential eavesdroppers on the web ("external user profile"). A prototype was constructed to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the model. Findings - The evaluation of the model indicates that, by generating five fake queries per each original user query, the user's profile is hidden most effectively from any potential eavesdropper. Future research is needed to identify the optimal glossary of fake queries for various clients. The model also should be tested against various attacks perpetrated against the mixed stream of original and fake queries (i.e. statistical clustering). Research limitations/implications - The model's feasibility was evaluated through a prototype. It was not empirically tested against various statistical methods used by intruders to reveal the original queries. Practical implications - A useful architecture for electronic commerce providers, internet service providers (ISP) and individual clients who are concerned with their privacy and wish to minimize their dependencies on third-party security providers. Originality/value - The contribution of the PECSS model stems from the fact that, as the internet gradually transforms into a non-free service, anonymous browsing cannot be employed any more to protect consumers' privacy, and therefore other approaches should be explored. Moreover, unlike other approaches, our model does not rely on the honesty of any third mediators and proxies that are also exposed to the interests of the client. In addition, the proposed model is scalable as it is installed on the user's computer.

Notes: Purpose - To use the theory of planned behavior (TPB) as a theoretical framework to explore in depth the range of beliefs held by consumers about internet shopping in general and internet grocery shopping in particular. Design/methodology/approach - Seven focus group interviews, four in the United Kingdom and three in Denmark, were conducted among consumers with different degrees of experience with internet grocery shopping. This diversification of respondents was chosen to capture a broad range of the consumer beliefs that predict intentions to buy groceries online or not. The TPB framework was used to construct the interview guide that was followed in all focus groups. Findings - An unexpected result of the explorative study was that the seven groups consisting of more or less experienced internet shoppers differed only little in their pool of beliefs (outcome and control beliefs). Beliefs about internet grocery shopping, positive as well as negative, were remarkably congruent across groups. In the minds of consumers, internet grocery shopping is an advantage compared with conventional grocery shopping in terms of convenience, product range and price. Disadvantages, which could act as mental barriers, are, for instance, the risk of receiving inferior quality groceries and the loss of the recreational aspect of grocery shopping. Research limitations/implications - An important potential limitation of this research is the choice of focus groups as research methodology, which can prevent the elicitation of certain types of beliefs. If important beliefs concern issues of a more sensitive, personal character they are not likely to be mentioned in a focus group. Another limitation is the explorative nature of the research, which makes it impossible to attach weights to the importance of the elicited beliefs in predicting internet shopping behavior. Practical implications - The findings could be used to direct attention to consumer beliefs about internet grocery shopping which have the potential of acting as barriers to this line of e-commerce. Originality/value - To shed some light on the role of consumers in an underperforming and understudied branch of internet retailing. Barriers in the consumers' minds to shop for groceries online are identified using an established theoretical framework.

Notes: Purpose - The objective of this paper is to investigate the legal and technical reasons why a declaration of will, denoted by a digital signature, can be cancelled and how this cancellation can be technically achieved. Design/methodology/approach - Proposes a technical framework for establishing a signature revocation mechanism based on special data structures, the signature revocation tokens (SRT), and investigates the alternatives for disseminating the signature status information (SSI) to the relying parties. Findings - A relying party has to take into consideration the possible existence of a signature revocation, in order to decide on the validity of a digital signature. A scheme based on a central public repository for the archival and distribution of signature revocation tokens exhibits significant advantages against other alternatives. Originality/value - Identifies various intrinsic problems of the digital signature creation process that raise several questions on whether the signer performs a conscious and wilful act, although he/she is held liable for this action. The law faces the eventual right of the signer to claim a revocation of a previously made declaration of will, especially in cases of an error, fraud or duress.

Notes: Purpose - To analyze the relationship between corporate image and consumer trust in the context of financial services distribution. Design/methodology/approach - This paper analyzes the causal relationship that exists between corporate image and consumer trust in the financial services distribution through traditional channels, as well as over the internet. This paper also analyzes the moderating effect of relationship duration on the influence of the corporate image on trust. Findings - The results obtained show that in distribution through traditional channels no significant differences exist in the intensity of the effect of the image on trust in terms of the relationship duration. Nevertheless, significant differences in the financial services distribution over the internet have been observed. Practical implications - The significant influence that image exerts on consumer trust shows us that corporate image becomes a key tool for the management of trust in financial services distribution. Originality/value - Despite the importance that researchers have assigned to the variables of corporate image and trust, much of the work so far is in the initial phase of development. Thus, the majority of the works have been approached from a fundamentally theoretical perspective, or else the empirical testing has been carried out in an indirect way, based on factors that form part of the image or are related to it. Because of this, today there is no research that has empirically evaluated the role played by corporate image in the levels of trust of the consumer of financial services.

Notes: Purpose - To analyze empirically the transaction profitability derived from sporadic and frequent customers in the e-retailing sector of minor home appliances in Brazil. Design/methodology/approach - A company's database was analyzed quantitatively to assess the transaction profitability derived from sporadic and frequent customers purchasing via the firm's digital channel, namely its web site. Besides, qualitative evidence was also collected from interviews with the main professionals involved in marketing and e-commerce in the firm and through analysis of the company's web site and e-mail communications with customers. Findings - The commercial transaction profitability associated with sporadic customers can be higher than that derived from frequent purchasers. Research limitations/implications - The study concentrated on a single company within a specific industry (minor home appliance e-retailing) based in a specific country, namely Brazil. Practical implications - The benefits of web consumer retention would only seem to be advantageous for digital companies that are client-centric, which can interact with these consumers. Furthermore, the mere fact of using transactional practices, low differentiation between products and the emphasis on promotion of price on the web would seem to increase sensitivity to price on the part of the consumers, particularly those who make purchases more frequently. Originality/value - To enable practitioners and academics to grasp fully the real value of frequent and sporadic clients, in order to allow digital companies to develop coherent strategies for them.

Notes: Purpose - The web is now a significant component of the recruitment and job search process. However, very little is known about how companies and job seekers use the web, and the ultimate effectiveness of this process. The specific research questions guiding this study are: how do people search for job-related information on the web? How effective are these searches? And how likely are job seekers to find an appropriate job posting or application? Design/methodology/approach - The data used to examine these questions come from job seekers submitting job-related queries to a major web search engine at three points in time over a five-year period. Findings - Results indicate that individuals seeking job information generally submit only one query with several terms and over 45 percent of job-seeking queries contain a specific location reference. Of the documents retrieved, findings suggest that only 52 percent are relevant and only 40 percent of job-specific searches retrieve job postings. Research limitations/implications - This study provides an important contribution to web research and online recruiting literature. The data come from actual web searches, providing a realistic glimpse into how job seekers are actually using the web. Practical implications - The results of this research can assist organizations in seeking to use the web as part of their recruiting efforts, in designing corporate recruiting web sites, and in developing web systems to support job seeking and recruiting. Originality/value - This research is one of the first studies to investigate job searching on the web using longitudinal real world data.

Notes: Purpose - To analyse the web acceptance and usage between goal-directed users and experiential users, incorporating intrinsic motives to improve the particular and explanatory TAM (technology acceptance model) value - traditionally related to extrinsic motives. Design/methodology/approach - A survey instrument was used to gather data to test the relationships shown in the research model. Data were collected from a sample of online questionnaires filled out by subscribers located in three discussion-mailing lists - administered by RedIris - about different topics (e.g. experimental sciences, social sciences and humanities). A structural equation modeling (SEM), specifically partial least squares (PLS), is proposed to assess the relationships between the constructs together with the predictive power of the research model. Findings - The empirical development suggests that there is scope for further extension of TAM to adapt to the web-based usage and its profitable consequences. The article may help to further the empirical research and to clarify and examine a web acceptance and usage model. In general, experiential and goal-directed behaviours moderate the key relationships in the model. Experiential and goal-directed users do not weigh extrinsic and intrinsic motives in the same way when on the web. Goal-directed users are more driven by instrumental factors and focused on their decision-making process while experiential users are more motivated by process.. Research limitations/implications - First, constructs of enjoyment and concentration are used to define flow. However, because of the flow definition's conceptual-vagueness, operationalising the flow construct has been questioned in the previous empirical works. Second, the cross-sectional study is also an important limitation. Since the users' perception and intention can change over time, it is important to measure these quantities at several points of time. Third, the sample sizes are relatively small. Fourth, the model needs to be tested with more objective measures to compare possible divergences. Finally, the model clearly does not include all the relevant variables. Practical implications - The results could be used to explain and to improve the experiential and goal-directed users' experience of being and to return to the web. Originality/value - The value of this study is to reveal the moderating influences of browsing-modes on relationship between flow and TAM-beliefs on the web, and, also, how the flow impacts the attitude and intention to use web between experiential and goal-directed users.

Notes: Purpose - To contribute to the development of a theoretically grounded measure of organizational internet use (OIU) by conceptualizing and operationalizing it as a theoretical construct, and by empirically assessing its reliability and validity Design/methodology/approach - The focal construct OIU was conceptualized as an abstract collective object with three components, forming an index with formative, causal indicators. A multi-method research design - including a cross-sectional drop-and-collect survey among small technology-based firms (STBFs) in Germany and an observational study of web sites - was applied to assess empirically the theoretically developed construct OIU. This was achieved by using the component-based partial least squares (PLS) structural modeling technique using PLS-Graph. Findings - The empirical assessment of the scale, applied to the international business domain, proved to be reliable and valid in the structural model and across assessment methods. Research limitations/implications - The focal construct was assessed among a very specific population. This limits the claims that can be made with regard to applying it in other industries, countries, and firms. Future research should address this by applying OIU in maximally different research contexts. Practical implications - The developed construct has important implications for both managers and researchers. It should help in assessing levels of organizational internet use in a consistent fashion across populations and studies. It can be used for benchmarking purposes - of specific interest to managers - and it can be used to explore antecedents and consequences of organizational internet use - of specific interest to researchers. Originality/value - Internet research is moving from anecdotal and exuberant internet euphoria to internet pessimism to internet realism. Only theoretically grounded, reliable and valid measures can support such a required transition. With this paper we have made an initial contribution for such a development to occur.

Notes: Purpose - To identify controls that can harness the power and capabilities of instant messengers (IM) while minimizing potential security risks. Design/methodology/approach - A risk analysis method and (CIS)2 model are used. Findings - IM is a great tool for enterprise productivity. However, it has so many risks, but one could identify and control these risks with technical and managerial countermeasures. Research limitations/implications - This paper fails to provide detailed and specific risks of commercial IMs, and the case study provided in this paper focuses on the technical rather than managerial issues. Practical implications - A very helpful case study which provides general risks and controls of recent IMs for the security officers of various organizations. Originality/value - This paper outlined the risks of IM and potential controls for securing public IM in the workplace.

Notes: Purpose - Provide a secure solution for web services (WS). A new interoperable and distributed access control for WS is presented. Design/methodology/approach - Based on the separation of the access control (AC) and authorization function. Findings - Mechanisms presented allow seamless integration of external authorization entities in the AC system. The Semantic Policy Language (SPL) developed facilitates specification of policies and semantic policy validation. SPL specifications are modular and can be composed without ambiguity. Also addressed was the problem of the association of policies to resources (WS or their operations) in a dynamic, flexible and automated way. Research limitations/implications - The ACProxy component is currently under development. Ongoing work is focused on achieving a richer "use control" for some types of WS. Practical implications - Administrators of WS can specify AC policies and validate them to find syntactic and semantic errors. Components for automated validation of policies at different levels are included. This ensures that the AC policies produce the desired effects, facilitating the creation and maintenance of policies. It also provides mechanisms for the use of interoperable authorizations. Originality/value - A practical system that provides a secure solution to AC for WS. To the best of one's knowledge, no other system provides mechanisms for semantic validation of policies based on external authorization entities. Likewise, the mechanisms for interoperability of external authorization entities are also novel. The system provides content-based access control and a secure, decentralized and dynamic solution for authorization that facilitates the management of complex systems and enhances the overall security of the AC.

Notes: Purpose - The increasing number of M-internet subscribers and the fast growing revenue proves the great potential of M-internet as well as the enormous business opportunity in Korea. The success in this business is dependent on understanding the concerns of customers and identifying the factors that promote the use of M-internet. Thus, this paper aims to examine the human motivations underlying individual behavioral intention to use M-internet in Korea. Design/methodology/approach - Employs TAM (technology acceptance model) as the base model and develops a more comprehensive version of TAM to better reflect M-internet context. The model employs perceived playfulness, contents quality, system quality, internet experience and perceived price level, in addition to perceived usefulness and ease of use. Investigates the causal relationships among the constructs used in this revised TAM and identifies the direct and indirect causal role of the constructs in developing the intention to use M-internet. Findings - Finds that attitude toward M-internet is the most significant factor in predicting the behavioral intention to use M-internet. Also identifies the positive role of the perceived playfulness and the negative role of perceived price level in developing the attitude as well as the intention. The positive causal relationships of "perceived contents quality - perceived usefulness", "perceived system quality– perceived usefulness" and "internet experience–perceived ease of use" were also witnessed. Practical implications - Considering the explosive growth of the M-internet market, well-established business strategy in M-internet will deliver great success to the mobile operators. Thus, understanding comprehensive causal relationship among the constructs used in this revised TAM would help managers to better implement the strategic ramifications in promoting M-internet. Originality/value - Develops a more comprehensive version of TAM to better reflect M-internet context in Korea, adding five new constructs and identifies the role of the construct in promoting the use of M-internet.

Notes: Purpose - This study aims to present a new web page recommendation system that can help users to reduce navigational time on the internet. Design/methodology/approach - The proposed design is based on the primacy effect of browsing behavior, that users prefer top ranking items in search results. This approach is intuitive and requires no training data at all. Findings - A user study showed that users are more satisfied with the proposed search methods than with general search engines using hot keywords. Moreover, two performance measures confirmed that the proposed search methods out-perform other metasearch and search engines. Research limitations/implications - The research has limitations and future work is planned along several directions. First, the search methods implemented are primarily based on the keyword match between the contents of web pages and the user query items. Using the semantic web to recommend concepts and items relevant to the user query might be very helpful in finding the exact contents that users want, particularly when the users do not have enough knowledge about the domains in which they are searching. Second, offering a mechanism that groups search results to improve the way search results are segmented and displayed also assists users to locate the contents they need. Finally, more user feedback is needed to fine-tune the search parameters including a and ß to improve the performance. Practical implications - The proposed model can be used to improve the search performance of any search engine. Originality/value - First, compared with the democratic voting procedure used by metasearch engines, search engine vector voting (SVV) enables a specific combination of search parameters, denoted as a and ß, to be applied to a voted search engine, so that users can either narrow or expand their search results to meet their search preferences. Second, unlike page quality analysis, the hyperlink prediction (HLP) determines qualified pages by simply measuring their user behavior function (UBF) values, and thus takes less computing power. Finally, the advantages of HLP over statistical analysis are that it does not need training data, and it can target both multi-site and site-specific analysis.

Notes: Purpose - This paper aims to show that information and evidence found in the XML-based environment of web services can allow web services providers to gain a sense of the trustworthiness of web services requestors over time. Design/methodology/approach - A literature review on trust in web services environment is provided. Trust management models, and an existing trust specification for web services are discussed. Next, a conceptual framework for web services trust formation is presented. Findings - The paper makes explicit types of information that can be used for trust formation. Web services providers are given the ability to trust requestors autonomously by making use of information that is published through web services standards, defined over and above a web services interface. The approach incorporates elements of social trust as it is concerned with more than cryptographic controls. It has mechanisms that allow a web services provider to manage trust autonomously, enabling different types of trust for different situations. Research limitations/implications - A conceptual framework for trust formation has been defined that identifies a proposal for trust calculation. The paper does not address the implementation of the framework, and calculation of trust over information categories. Practical implications - The paper identifies a practical approach to autonomous web services trust by making use of web services standards such as WS-Policy and WSMetadataExchange. Originality/value - This paper identifies a taxonomy of trust information that can be used to make explicit the requirements for web services trust.

Notes: Purpose - The primary purpose was to learn about different variables of an integrated strategy associated with choosing to supply through business-to-business (B2B) intermediaries and apply the variables to a series of cases. Design/methodology/approach - A literature review served as a basis to develop an integrated model. A combination of primary and secondary research was conducted to apply the concepts of the model to different internet trading exchanges. Findings - Each trade exchange offers a different set of customers and suppliers vying for business opportunities. There are no common platforms for software and hardware. If a small company is interested in trading through an internet exchange, they want to select based on the variables identified that best meet their needs and integrate with their business strategy. Research limitations/implications - The focus was on industrial products and may not be applicable to consumer products. Practical implications - Suppliers must carefully operate in the future by evaluating each customer and determining which trade exchanges will provide them with the greatest benefit at the lowest cost. The infrastructure investment is an unavoidable cost that cannot be forgone unless the supplier wants to discontinue providing to most of its customers. The supplier needs to look at all aspects identified in the integrated business model and the foundation and facilitation for success lie in the information management of the entire entity. Originality/value - This paper takes the existing body of knowledge and applies it to the development of an integrated e-business model for industrial suppliers used to compare different internet trading exchanges.

Notes: Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to provide a framework for enhancing security policy management in the Grid. Design/methodology/approach - The Grid security policy reconciliation problem is presented. A generic view on the security policy notion is adopted and the security policy ontology notion is introduced and used. Findings - In the course of this work it was found that, in order to enhance security policy management in the Grid, Grid entities should have the ability to negotiate their security policies. It was also found that, in order to achieve security policy negotiation, effective security policy semantics manipulation towards security policy reconciliation is needed. Finally, it was established, through the use of an example, that if appropriate means are used for security policy reconciliation then incompatible security policy representations can be transformed into compatible ones. Research limitations/implications - Research limitations stem from the adoption of a generic view on the security policy notion and the selection of identification and authentication security policies as the focal point of the proposed framework. Research implications include the possibility of examining how existing security policy reconciliation models can be incorporated in this generic framework. The possibility of investigating how such a framework can lead to a security policy knowledge management tool for Grid administrators is also demonstrated. Practical implications - Practical implications of this work include the establishment of a common framework for security information exchange between Grid entities. Originality/value - This paper proposes a framework for enhancing security policy management in the Grid. The proposed framework can be used by researchers as a reference and by security experts in order to reduce ambiguity concerning the interpretation of security policies expressed in different forms, by negotiating Grid entities.

Notes: Purpose - To carry out a practical experiment into the feasibility of service orientation to achieve a dynamic, late-binding service architecture. Design/methodology/approach - Literature view to provide a foundation in standards and measure anecdotal opinion regarding service orientation. The review informed an architectural design based on real world requirements from a multinational mobile telecommunications organisation moving toward portal-based services. The architectural implementation took place in a lab-based setting and tested with third-party services that were integrated into the architecture dynamically to test the late bound requirements of the infrastructure. The experimental approach also enabled the testing of the opinions formed regarding service orientation. Findings - The main outcome of the study related to the open, standards-based nature purported to be possible with service orientation. The findings on the study highlighted some major problems in interoperability and operational efficiency of service-oriented technologies when applied to a complex architecture framework. Research limitations/implications - Currently this represents the findings of a single study based on a specific set of requirements. In order to generalise, further study is needed and currently ongoing. Practical implications - The study has high implications for people wishing to approach service orientation as a means to integrate both new and legacy systems. The work raises a lot of questions about the supposed ease of integration. Originality/value - The work contributes to a growing body of work examining and evaluating the usefulness of service orientation.

Notes: Purpose - To show how a combination of hard and soft project and change management methodologies guided successful in-house development of a campus-wide information system. Design/methodology/approach - A case study of the methodologies and management structures that guided the development is presented. Findings - Applying a combination of the dynamic systems development method, rapid prototyping, PRINCE 2, Checkland's soft systems methodologies and change management helped to develop a product that met user needs, offered value for money and was delivered on time. Practical implications - The case study shows that the advantages of formal governance brought by PRINCE 2 can be retained in a softer environment where user needs generate work packages and stage gates. Originality/value - There is widespread evidence that more than half of all IT projects fail and that the softer people issues are essential for success. The paper presents an example of fusing softer approaches with formal governance. It should interest programme and project managers, senior sponsors, software developers and usability specialists.

Notes: Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to study the impact of a web-based constructivist learning environment, which was developed based on a course given to students in the Faculty of Creative Multimedia (FCM) on student learning. Design/methodology/approach - In this paper, a web-based multimedia-mediated project was developed based on an Internet Applications course where students were taught to use specific web authoring tools to solve a web-related problem. The mode of learning was geared towards a student-centred, constructivist learning perspective where students were active learners, worked in a group environment and constructed knowledge and understanding in their learning process. An online survey was given to the students to assess their reactions towards this learning environment. Findings - The results obtained were positive and satisfactory. In this learning process, students were able to understand the problem, work collaboratively, construct their own solutions, and determine their own learning outcomes. Feedback on the online survey provided further support of the students' positive attitudes towards this learning environment. Research limitations/implications - The implications of this research study are that students found that the web-based learning environment allowed them to be more active participants in their learning process, increasing their critical and creative thinking skills as well as improving their problem-solving skills. They learned "how to learn" and developed several learning skills such as communication, teamwork, collaboration and presentation, as well as achieving ownership of these learning outcomes. The use of multimedia- and web-based tools for their project allowed them to be innovative in their presentations, making the project more fun for them. Practical implications - This research provides educators with an innovative approach to teaching with technology, and students with a more effective learning environment. Originality/value - This paper fulfils Malaysia's MSC initiative to include ICT in the classroom teaching environment and to focus on learner-centred teaching and learning strategies. This constructivist-based learning environment also enabled students to build their problem-solving and collaborative skills as well as their creative and critical thinking abilities in order to meet the rising demands of twenty-first century organisations.

Notes: Purpose - This paper reports a study conducted longitudinally to investigate group communication media choice and the use of a web-based learning tool, as well as other types of communication media, such as e-mail, telephone, and face-to-face, for communication and collaboration to complete given tasks. Design/methodology/approach - This study was designed following the case study research methodology and design of Yin. Longitudinal observation was made on groups in their naturalistic research setting. Twenty-three groups of four or five students working on five similar tasks were selected as the unit of analysis. Findings - The findings showed that groups' choice-making process of communication media evolved over a period of time. A pattern of group communication emerged, namely face-to-face, virtual, and mixed (the use of both face-to-face and virtual communication). The three group communication categories were significantly different in performance, with the mixed category performing the highest in terms of grade. Research limitations/implications - The limitations of this study are related to the case study methodology and the subjectivity of some interpretations. Practical implications - The findings should assist in the design of both on-campus and distance learning course modules to facilitate learning through group project or assignment. The findings should also assist the design and implementation of the e-learning systems and tools that are acceptable to users. Originality/value - The study provides insight into how such ICT applications can be made useful and effective, and why, when given the freedom to choose, the use of a web-based tool is the least attempted for communication.

Notes: Purpose - To discuss how Hong Kong university libraries can help young professors and PhD students publish their articles in SCI (Science Citation Index) and SSCI (Social Science Citation Index) journals. Design/methodology/approach - With reference to the opinions of experts on how to publish work successfully, this paper provides practical advice for university libraries in Hong Kong. Findings - After collecting the opinions of experts and browsing the web sites of many university libraries throughout the world, suggests that Hong Kong universities can offer a variety of services in supporting research. The university libraries may build up electronic resources to gather more research information and journals information for helping young professors and PhD students publish their works. Practical implications - To provide very useful and practical advice for Hong Kong university libraries when facing the new challenge in support of research. Originality/value - During recent years, the Hong Kong universities have been facing budget cuts from the government, and have been placed under the pressure of transforming into centers of excellence and establishing themselves among the best in the world. This paper offers practical help to Hong Kong university libraries such as how to play an active and important role in providing a greater support service for young professors and PhD students that will help in the development of their academic careers.

Notes: Purpose - Seeks to show that the software development process is based on the premise to provide an enhanced e-learning environment by supporting individual learning styles and preferences through the use of emerging adaptive technologies that also enable performance evaluation in the context of meeting agreed learning outcomes. Design/methodology/approach - The design methodology adopts a case study approach that follows the design and implementation of a learner management system. Findings - Web-based intelligent tutoring systems, aimed at compensating for the absence of a real world tutor have to date mostly concentrated on providing assistance in a particular subject domain and not focused on the problem of utilising content represented as learning objects across multi-subject domains. This paper describes the creation of a non-dictatorial tutoring system that has been developed at NTP Information Solutions Ltd. A visualisation tool has bee4n created called "learning navigator" to help learners to visualise the best path through assignable units extracted from a learning repository. Practical implications - The system is currently able to suggest new paths that take into account learning styles through learner performance, learner previous experience and learning objectives. Future work will include extending this criterion to take into account further individual learning preferences. Originality/value - The sharable content objects (SCOs) approach to the software solution extends the internationally recognised SCORM development standards. As a consequence the paper contributes to international e-learning standards development but also extends current knowledge of the role of adaptive technologies in supporting learning styles and preferences.

Notes: Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to present a management tool that helps to achieve the objectives of the plan for info-tech systems and communications of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria for the 2003-2006 period. Design/methodology/approach - The methodology used in this case is nothing if not practical. The chosen tool involved university members who put it into practice and the results were observed. Findings - Finds that a practical instrument, which appeals to the users' real needs, can overcome their objections to change and their apprehension of technological innovation. Research limitations/implications - As in all individual case studies - and this is no exception - the methodology chosen circumscribes to some extent the research and its results, which therefore cannot be automatically applied generally elsewhere. Practical implications - Users' interests are paramount and preparation of the technology involved must be given the utmost attention over a considerable period of time. Originality/value - University members have here a user-friendly means of effecting e-administration simply and easily.

Notes: Purpose - To examine whether students have higher retention rates of material when they participate in online quizzes or online alternative student-centered assignments on the material presented in the F2F class. Design/methodology/approach - Reviews the literature; and analyzes data from the implementation of both types of assessment for the online sessions of the course (student-centered and faculty-centered) as correlated with mid-term and final examination scores. Findings - A significant difference was found on both mid-term and final examination scores by participants and non-participants in the assessments. A significant difference was not found in the participation levels in the various assessment types. In addition, a minimal relationship was found between the assessment type and the act of participating in the assessment. The assessment type was not found to have a significant effect, though the participation in the assessment type did have an effect. Research limitations/implications - Only two terms' worth of students, in one course, were examined. The assessments were not analyzed for equivalence in their coverage of the materials. Further research is needed on types of activities and level of participation, types of participation and level of learning, and participation scale grade rather than a yes/no method, are correlated. Practical implications - Provides a very useful source of information, guidance, and support for instructors considering the use of online assessments in their hybrid courses. Originality/value - This paper fulfils an identified need in the usage of alternative assessments and offers practical help to faculty teaching a theatre arts hybrid class.

Notes: Purpose - Investigating the social structure in online courses helps in designing for and facilitating student support and retention. Aims to provide data showing how course design and use of social software technologies provided social and collaborative learning opportunities for online students. Design/methodology/approach - A study of computer-mediated groups that utilized social media technologies and a web-based collaborative model in an online program. Participants were put into groups and observed as they constructed knowledge using both online dialogue (synchronous and asynchronous) and social media technologies as tools to support their learning. Findings - The integration of web-based learning communities and collaborative group assignments into the course design has a positive influence on student retention in online courses. Research limitations/implications - The research was limited to the online student population at Pepperdine University, and did not include data or research from similar online programs at other universities. Future research should include data collected from students outside the USA to find out what role cultural mores, attitudes, and gender play. Practical implications - Provides curriculum design strategies that foster community, utilize social/ participatory media, and support online student learning and retention through effective course design. Originality/value - Current research on distance learning curriculum has focused on the instructor's perspective. It is felt that research from the student's perspective can also yield some valuable insights for online course design.

Notes: Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to present an e-learning content adaptation toolkit - ELCAT - that helps to achieve the objectives of the KTP project No. 3509. Design/methodology/approach - The chosen methodology is absolutely practical. The tool was put into motion and results were observed as university and the collaborating company members started using it and getting results out of it. Findings - The methodology and the practical approach developed in the research facilitate e-learning practices and the developed software enables the utilisation of legacy e-learning material on the internet and world wide web. It also helps to break the resistance to change and the fears stemming from new technologies when a useful tool taught with the idea of what users really need is given to users. Research limitations/implications - As usual in all case studies, the results of this research are limited by the methodology, since results have to be reviewed carefully before applying them to other tools or universities. Practical implications - It is absolutely fundamental to take users' needs into account and implementation of technology tools should be properly planned across time. Originality/value - The paper presents an easy-to-use tool that allows university community members to carry out e-administration processes in a very simple and easy manner.

Notes: Purpose - One of the greatest challenges facing any intelligent tutoring system is being able to adapt its behaviour based on the student's current knowledge level, ability, needs and wishes within a course. This paper aims to present a framework of BDI agents within an agent-based intelligent tutoring system (ABITS). Design/methodology/approach - A conceptual discussion approach is taken. Findings - The agents provide the core reasoning ability. In particular, the paper demonstrates how the system sources and refines a particular set of commonly available data. Also shows how these data are incorporated into the agents' belief set so that they may adapt their behaviour to support individual students. Originality/value - Provides a framework that can improve learning procedures for future users of ABITS.

Notes: Purpose - Aims to investigate reactions to online delivery, student perceptions of the rates and depth of participation, and levels of engagement with the learning process in a Western Australian University. Design/methodology/approach - The sample for this study comprised 108 students who were enrolled in both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. An interpretative method was adopted using a case study approach, with groups of internal and external students within one education department. This method was more appropriate than a more quantitative approach. Findings - The results indicated that, while the students were technically competent overall, issues associated with equity and access varied between the groups and also between students enrolled in the same units. The sample had also re-conceptualised the notion of "personal" which moved beyond simple physical proximity to enable the students to create their own community of learners. Originality/value - Addresses the challenge for universities and instructional designers on how to increase the level and depth of interactivity in the online environment to further empower students to become independent learners.

Notes: Purpose - With a philosophical stance in relation to education, this paper aims to discuss different understandings of participation in an information and communication technology (ICT)-supported distance-based teacher education program in Sweden. Design/methodology/approach - The paper is based on early results from two studies, both of which involved a group of teacher-trainees, with one interview and one questionnaire. Findings - The findings indicate that there is a need to be explicit about the ontological assumptions inherent in the intended use of ICT. The conclusion is that the program in question is built on assumptions of realism and that ICT lays the ground for individual participation and works to tell the students apart. Originality/value - Helps in understanding how ICT, and its use, can have different effects on different groups.

Notes: Purpose - This report seeks to address the preliminary findings from a large-scale study of the different ways in which the asynchronous discussion forum (ADF) is being used in the online learning environment. Design/methodology/approach - A conceptual approach is taken. Findings - The structural and functional variation of the ADF is depicted within a framework of institutional and instructional models. Epistemological distinctions are made with respect to the role of the instructor, student requirements, and the assessment of student learning. Originality/value - The paper brings to light fundamental aspects of instructional quality and best practices involving the use of the ADF.

Notes: Purpose - The aim of this work is to implement bootstrapping methods into software tools, based on Java. Design/methodology/approach - This paper presents a category of software e-tools aimed at simulating laboratory works and experiments. Findings - Both students and teaching staff use traditional statistical methods to infer the truth from sample data gathered in laboratory experiments. However, the repeated laboratory experiments mean the consumption of a great deal of substances and reactants. At the same time, there are some ethically motivated reasons to reduce the number of animals used in experimentation. Using a bootstrapping tool and computer power, the experimenter can repeat the original experiment on computer, obtaining pseudo-data as plausible as those obtained from the original experiment. Originality/value - Provides data on implementing bootstrapping methods into software e-tools, simulating laboratory experiments in didactic and research activities.

Notes: Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to explore both accessibility and usability and examine the inhibitors and methods to evaluate site accessibility. Design techniques which improve end-user access and site interactivity, demonstrated by practical examples, are also studied. Design/methodology/approach - Assesses various web sites for accessibility and usability. Findings - Criteria are determined by which to assess accessibility and usability of web sites. Originality/value - Disability is an important consideration in the development of contemporary web sites. By understanding the needs of all users, not only those with disabilities, organisations may begin the process of advancing both accessibility and usability and integrating these elements into their web development strategies.

Notes: Purpose - This study was conducted to examine how proficiencies, motivation, and training impact the success of faculty development for web-based instruction (WBI) at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in the USA. Design/methodology/approach - Data in this mixed-design exploratory study came from responses to an online questionnaire and follow-up interviews. Seven four-year public HBCUs that offered online curricula and provided faculty development opportunities in various forms such as workshops and seminars were examined. Findings - The results of the study indicated that faculty were proficient in basic technologies, but less proficient in more demanding technologies; provision of incentives such as time off to attend training was motivating for WBI participation; and faculty preferred individualized training and workshops. Research limitations/implications - Successful faculty development is as a complex process that involves several integrated components which should be viewed as an intentional, ongoing, and systemic process. Nonetheless, it plays an important role, particularly if programs are available to help faculty link effective delivery in their own teaching and research areas. Practical implications - Meaningful faculty development should be extendable to all instruction, whether in-class, web-based, or web-enhanced. Faculty development opportunities extending beyond the basic uses of technology and seeking connections between curriculum, pedagogy, technology, and administration to technology success is paramount. Originality/value - Feedback from this study can serve as a resource for decision-making about WBI projects. The results of the study should provide data and information that supports the technological mission of institutions.

Notes: Purpose - To provide administrators at an Australian university with data on the feasibility of redirecting under-utilised computer laboratories facilities into a distributed high performance computing facility. Design/methodology/approach - The individual log-in records for each computer located in the computer laboratories at the university were investigated. The log-in data were investigated over a 24-hour/seven day a week period between June 2001 and August 2003. The data were analysed in terms of student access to the computer facilities during "normal" business hours, weekend times, and the semester breaks. Findings - The computer laboratories were hugely under-utilised, with less than 10 per cent of all log-ins occurring during off peak times (7 pm-8 am). Similarly, only weekends were likewise under-utilised. This strongly suggests that this spare computer capacity could be used for alternate means during these times. Research limitations/implications - Future research needs to determine whether the needs of the general computer laboratory user who requires a stable and secure system can coexist with the users of a high performance computer facility where different software and differently configured computer systems are required. Practical implications - This research has the potential for universities to utilise more effectively their computer laboratory resources by allocating under-utilised resources into other projects, such as to a high performance computing facility (HPCF). The cost of these re-allocated resources would be a fraction of the cost compared to a scenario in which a separate dedicated HPCF had to be provided. Originality/value - This paper suggests an alternate utilisation of the spare computing laboratory resources available at many universities.

Notes: Purpose - Aims to outline the issues and debates about a five-week fully online staff development programme piloted in the University of Paisley, Scotland. Design/methodology/approach - A case study was the approach taken. Findings - The programme was designed to introduce lecturers to the theoretical and pedagogical issues surrounding online tutoring, while allowing them to get to grips with the delivery technology. The programme also provided academic staff with the opportunity to explore their attitudes towards using Computer-Mediated Communications (CMC) in their teaching and to reflect on how they could utilise it to enhance their face-to-face teaching activities. Staff found the programme challenging but they also appreciated the opportunity to take part. Some reported feeling much more confident about using the technology. Originality/value - Provides information on a programme designed to introduce face-to-face lecturers to the theoretical and pedagogical issues surrounding online tutoring while allowing them to become familiar with the technology.

Notes: Purpose - To determine what factors influence faculty's decisions to use technology in their classes, what factors prevent them from use, and whether there are differences among faculty by gender, ethnicity, rank, sub-areas, etc. in using instructional technology. Design/methodology/approach - A survey instrument was used to measure attitudes toward technology among accounting educators. The instrument included three separate sections. The first section was devoted to examining factors that could influence faculty's opinion to use technology for teaching. The second section focused on issues that could possibly discourage faculty from use of technology. For these two sections a five-point Likert scale was developed with possible responses ranging from "not important" to "critically important". The third and final section was designed to provide demographic information for classification purposes and testing of the research questions. Findings - The results demonstrate that while accounting faculty value technology greatly and do use it in teaching, significant differences exist in their views toward it. Several factors were found to influence faculty's attitudes toward integration of technology. Conversely, there are other factors that tend to hamper widespread integration. Research limitations/implications - The research was conducted among US accounting faculty, which perhaps limits its usefulness elsewhere or in other disciplines Practical implications - University-sponsored incentive programs and financial support could encourage faculty to further incorporate technology and its various dimensions in their classes. Furthermore, administrators should make the necessary arrangements for faculty to attend training seminars designed to provide them with technical support. Originality/value - This study provides empirical evidence that is useful to both faculty and administrators in integrating technology in education.

Notes: Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to explore behavioral processes involved in internet technology acceptance and use with a sample in India, a developing country that can potentially benefit from greater participation in the web economy. Design/methodology/approach - User experience was incorporated into the technology acceptance model (TAM) and the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) to predict intentions to use the internet as well as self-reported usage. Data were collected from 269 college students with a questionnaire methodology. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was applied to test each theory, as well as user experience, and the variables' interactive effects on the criterion of internet usage intentions. Findings - Both TAM and TPB were supported in their predictions of internet use intentions and usage. Although a main effect for user experience did not emerge, it did significantly interact with components of both theoretical models, suggesting that it has a complex influence on internet user intentions. Research limitations/implications - The self-report criteria are a limitation. Future research should employ more objective measures of internet use. Also, antecedents of internet use might be explored in other developing economies. Practical implications - To encourage internet usage intentions, it appears worthwhile to create in potential users a sense that the technology is useful, easy to use, and that others have expectations regarding its usage. Originality/value - Findings suggest that theories of technology acceptance developed in the Western world may also apply in India.

Notes: Purpose - This paper aims to describe the process and the outcome of a situation in which a professor of anatomy and physiology made supplemental use of a course management system (CMS) to assist with the instruction of 242 students. The purpose of this instructor's use of WebCT was to: increase student autonomy and improve access to information; improve student learning and achievement through the expert use of student "Self-Tests", which are an ungraded, interactive tutoring/quizzing feature; create a more active, student-centered learning environment. Design/methodology/approach - Features that were provided in the WebCT site include: student self-tests are ungraded, but act as a basic form of expert system or informative tutor by providing very specific feedback to answers students selected in this multiple choice experience. The feedback to each question was designed by the instructor, who advised students to use the system as a tutor by clicking on a variety of possible answers to gather new information. Comments on answers were designed to demonstrate to the student the "way of thinking" of a professional in the field. Current grade information for individual students. Schedule-related information on labs, due dates, etc. syllabus lecture audio. Findings - Findings suggest that the implementation of the WebCT self-tests contributed to the substantial increase in student test scores. Research limitations/implications - The implications are very exciting and far-reaching in that - through a fairly unobtrusive course re-design - the use of a CMS yielded a measurable improvement in student achievement. Practical implications - The use of these expert-system-like self-tests, gradebooks, and other CMS features has the potential to improve teaching and learning in all manner of courses, including those that are on-ground, blended, and fully online. Originality/value - This paper uses concrete data to demonstrate how a course management system was used to re-design traditional courses and how this re-design resulted in improved student achievement.

Notes: Purpose - To expose engineering students to using modern technologies, such as multimedia packages, to learn, visualize and solve engineering problems, such as in mechanics dynamics. Design/methodology/approach - A multimedia problem-solving prototype package is developed to help students solve an engineering problem in a step-by-step approach. A learning architecture model for developing an interactive technology-assisted problem solving (TAPS) package for visualizing engineering concepts has been discussed. Findings - The learning model was found to be easy to follow and use and the engineering package can be designed in an easy and visually appealing format. The TAPS package implemented and described in this paper could support and provide students with a better understanding of the basic concepts in an engineering mechanics dynamics course in particular. Research limitations/implications - The evaluation of the TAPS package materials comprised mainly quantitative methods which provided validation of the package approach for the acquisition of procedural skills and related basic concepts. More work is necessary to employ qualitative approaches for more detailed analysis of usability of particular materials of the TAPS package. Originality/value - The main originality of the paper can be seen from the development of the package that guides the student intelligently to solve the selected engineering problem. In addition, important user tools are also included which the user may need to use if necessary.

Notes: Purpose - Sets out to investigate the use of electronic resources by students and faculty of Ashesi University, Ghana, in order to determine the level of use, the type of information accessed and the effectiveness of the library's communication tools for information research. Design/methodology/approach - A questionnaire-based survey was utilized. It consisted of 16 questions to determine level of use, type of information accessed, assessment of library's communication tools, problems encountered when using electronic resources and ways to improve the provision of electronic information in the community. The questionnaire was distributed to all students, faculty and administrative staff in order to reduce the generalization of the results. The students were made up of four year groups categorized as YearGroupA, YearGroupB, YearGroupC, YearGroupD. The questionnaire was pre-tested on six students from three different year groups and some amendments were made. A total of 169 questionnaires were therefore distributed and 141 completed questionnaires were returned, giving an overall response rate of 83 per cent. Survey responses were coded and input into Excel for analysis. Findings - The study found that general computer usage for information access was high because of the University's state-of-the art IT infrastructure. Usage of some internet resources were also very high, whilst the use of scholarly databases was quite low. The low patronage was attributed to inadequate information about the existence of these library resources. The study recommends, among others, the introduction of information competency across the curriculum and/or the introduction of a one-unit course to be taught at all levels and the provision of more PCs on campus. Originality/value - Would be of value to library administrators considering how to determine level of use, type of information accessed, assessment of library's communication tools, problems encountered when using electronic resources and ways to improve the provision of electronic information.

Notes: Purpose - To discuss the considerable impact of video gaming on young players' decision-making and teamworking skills, and the belief that video games provide an invaluable "training camp" for business. Design/methodology/approach - An interview with John Beck, the author of the book Got Game: How a New Generation of Gamers Is Reshaping Business Forever, published by Harvard Business School Press in 2004. Findings - Emphasizes that most businesses are failing to recognize and capitalize on these skills. Predicts the shape and style of leadership in the future and suggests how businesses, and particularly "baby boomer" managers, can best begin to bridge the generation gap to unlock and build on the unprecedented strategic abilities of new, young employees. Originality/value - Offers the view that business and management training should recognize the skills and abilities of the gamer generation.

Notes: Purpose - Aims to examine a negotiation-oriented and partly web-based game "Surfing Global Change" (SGC) invented by the author based on didactics of self-managed learning and successfully implemented in WebCT. Design/methodology/approach - Along three historic generations of web-based teaching (WBT), the key functionalities of any platform (content, discussion and evaluation) are perceived to be utilized in a characteristic way depending on the prevalent didactic concepts. The changing roles of teacher and students are highlighted using the example of SGC Level 3, where students assess one another's competence, each trying to outdo the others in controversial arguments Findings - The outlay of Surfing Global Change aims at accomplishing sustainable results for complex themes. Thus SGC sets out to weigh out competition vs consensus, self-study vs team work, emphasizing one's own standpoint vs readiness to compromise, differentiation into details vs integration into a whole. SGC hence wants to mirror professional realities along five interactive game levels: learn content and pass quizzes; write and reflect a personal standpoint; win with a team in a competitive discussion; negotiate a complex consensus between teams; integrate views when recognizing and analyzing global long-term trends. Research limitations/implications - Some interactive assessment functionalities are still missing in current platforms. Practical implications - In advanced university courses the negotiation game SGC was repeatedly used as a procedural shell for interdisciplinary themes. Originality/value - The paper shows that a "communicative space" is created by utilising mainstream web platform technology, capable of transposing visions of "progressive education". The definition of three generations of WBT allows for a functional differentiation in the styles of using web-based tools.

Notes: Purpose - This study seeks to describe the planning and implementation in Finland of a campus-wide management information system using a rigorous planning methodology. Design/methodology/approach - The structure of the management information system is planned on the basis of the management process, where strategic management and the balanced scorecard approach have important roles. Findings - The balanced scorecard approach is useful not only in accomplishing the objectives, measures and targets of the institutional strategy but also in the planning of the management information system. Practical implications - The findings of the study are useful for educational administrators, project managers, software developers and usability specialists. Originality/value - This study contributes to the knowledge and practice of campus-wide information systems applying the balanced scorecard approach as a basis for the management information system to translate the strategy into action.

Notes: Purpose - To examine the influence of environmental factors (environmental uncertainty and trading partners' influence) and organizational factors (CEO/CIO relationship and internet-based IOS maturity) on the internet-based interorganizational systems (IIOS) planning success and whether more leads to superior organizational performance. Design/methodology/approach - Data gathered from 202 IS executives in large Taiwanese organizations were employed to test the relationships between the research model constructs. Moreover, the structural equation modeling technique was used to evaluate the research model. Findings - One of the environmental factors (trading partners' influence) and two organizational factors significantly influence the IIOS planning success. The results also indicate that the success of IIOS planning enables the firm to achieve organizational-level outcomes. Research limitations/implications - Future studies could seek an enhanced understanding of the effects on IIOS planning of the environmental and organizational factors investigated in this study through structured interviews and case studies of IS executives dealing with ongoing or recently completed IIOS planning projects. Practical implications - IIOS planning is an organizational and inter-organizational process. Top management and IS executives considering IIOS involves not only technical innovations, but also considerable environmental and organizational changes. Originality/value - This paper contributes to IIOS planning research by clarifying the effects of both environmental and organizational factors on the success of IIOS planning, and provides a valuable reference for e-business managers and IIOS planners, as well as researchers interested in IIOS planning and management.

Notes: Purpose - To overview and discuss the technical, economical, legal, and social reasons why public key infrastructures (PKIs) have failed so far, summarizing the lessons learned, and giving expectations about the future development of the field. Design/methodology/approach - A detailed analysis of the developments in the PKI field, pointing out the achievements so far and the issues that still remain unsolved. Findings - The possible reasons for the failure of PKI technology. Originality/value - Identifies and analyses the problems of PKIs considering the different perspectives, i.e. not only the technical issues but also other issues like the economical, legal, and social issues that have also influenced the failure of PKIs.

Notes: Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to test the relationship between the use of business to business (B2B) e-commerce enabling technologies and infrastructure, cooperative partnerships between trading partners, firm performance, and a "systems" view of strategy formulation processes. Design/methodology/approach - A structural model has been developed from a survey of Australian companies. This survey covered a broad range of issues relating to the strategic and operational aspects of the use and implementation of B2B e-commerce technologies. Findings - The data indicate that the process by which organisations formulate their strategic logic is an important determinant of both how resources are selected and deployed, and of business performance. At the same time, it is evident that these same resources are not likely to yield significant benefits without such a process, and in fact that their effectiveness is very much a function of the nature of this process. Research limitations/implications - This study has been limited to organizations operating in the Australian fast-moving consumer goods sector. The results therefore need to be read in this context, and it would be useful if these findings could be compared with those from other countries and different industry sectors. Practical implications - A practical implication of this study is that the nature and strength of the influence of this process are situational, in the case of this research due to the extent of implementation across the supply chain, and to the nature of business activity (or in other words - position in the supply chain). Originality/value - The importance of these findings for organisations looking to implement e-commerce related methodologies for the improved management of supply chains is that focusing on developing effective methods for developing strategy can be expected to yield better ultimate performance. This highlights the need to focus on strategy rather than concentrating on the technologies, supporting infrastructures, and trading partner relationships themselves.

Notes: Purpose - To extend the work of Rob Kling, whose research interests, and advocacy were at the center of a movement in analytical inquiry and empirical research now known as "social informatics". Design/methodology/approach - Reviews the work of those who engage in social informatics research to strengthen and further the conceptual perspective, analytical approaches, and intellectual contributions of social informatics. Findings - The vibrant and growing international community of active social informatics scholars has assembled a social informatics resource kit that includes: perspective lenses through which research data can be viewed critically; techniques for building theory and developing models from socially rich empirical data; and a common body of knowledge regarding the uses and effects of ICTs. Originality/value - The paper identifies opportunities to engage new scholars in social informatics discussions, and suggests new venues for promoting and extending the work of scholars already enrolled in the social informatics movement.

Notes: Purpose - This paper is intended to pay tribute to the inspiration provided by Rob Kling by showing how his ideas about social informatics in general and the use of web models in particular, have helped us to formulate and develop our own work in the field of information systems development methods. Design/methodology/approach - A conceptual discussion and approach are taken. Findings - Illustrates how Kling's advocacy of the need for a more holistic form of explanation of the behaviour of what he (and Walt Scacchi) termed "computer resources" gave shape to ideas emerging from others' action research studies at that time, and how his attempts to set the agenda for the emerging field of Social Informatics have informed subsequent developments in work in the area of methodological inquiry. Originality/value - Provides an evaluation of Kling's pioneering and inspirational work on information and communication technologies.

Notes: Purpose - To provide a view of Rob Kling's contribution to socio-technical studies of work. Design/methodology/approach - The five "big ideas" discussed are signature themes in Kling's own work in the informatics domain, and of his intellectual legacy. Findings - This paper conveys something of Kling's presence in social informatics (SI) thinking by focusing on a number of "big" ideas - "multiple points of view", "social choices", "the production lattice" (and its corollary, the problematization of the user), "socio-technical interaction networks", and "institutional truth regimes". Research limitations/implications - A growing research community has demonstrated the power of SI techniques. It is essential that this body of work is sustained and developed, demonstrating how to undertake investigation and observation, that is not driven by instrumentalism but is informed by and leads to "technological realism". Practical implications - The SI corpus, exposing the dangers of naïve instrumentalism as an approach to information systems design and management, can guide practitioners on how to unpack the history of what is in view. This may be a specific technology, a social formation, or a sociotechnical circumstance. Practitioners may draw on the concepts presented, not as a prescriptive toolkit, but rather as a sensitizing frame to assist those who wish to re-vision the workplace. Originality/value - Central to the successful utilisation of computers in work, we argue, is the continuing development of a portfolio of interpretive concepts (such as STINs, regimes of truth, production lattices) that can consolidate Rob Kling's "big" ideas that are the core of this paper.

Notes: Purpose - Aims to describe systematically the characteristics of weblogs (blogs) - frequently modified web pages in which dated entries are listed in reverse chronological sequence and which are the latest genre of internet communication to attain widespread popularity. Design/methodology/approach - This paper presents the results of a quantitative content analysis of 203 randomly selected blogs, comparing the empirically observable features of the corpus with popular claims about the nature of blogs, and finding them to differ in a number of respects. Findings - Notably, blog authors, journalists and scholars alike exaggerate the extent to which blogs are interlinked, interactive, and oriented towards external events, and underestimate the importance of blogs as individualistic, intimate forms of self-expression. Originality/value - Based on the profile generated by the empirical analysis, considers the likely antecedents of the blog genre, situates it with respect to the dominant forms of digital communication on the internet today, and suggests possible developments of the use of blogs over time in response to changes in user behavior, technology, and the broader ecology of internet genres.

Notes: Purpose - To articulate the interpretations and adaptations of Grounded Theory made within the 2G method, and the motivations behind them. Design/methodology/approach - Literature review and conceptual approach reflecting on the authors' experience of having developed the 2G method. Findings - Identifies six adaptations of Grounded Theory as being of particular interest. Five relate to method procedures, namely: developing a core category; coding interview data; exposing evolving theories to stakeholders; developing multiple concept frameworks; and inter-linking concepts. The sixth relates to expectations on method users, and the tension between expertise relating to the phenomenon being analysed, and openness in interpreting the data. Research limitations/implications - Shows how Grounded Theory procedures have been adapted and used in IS methods. Specifically, the paper illustrates and makes explicit how a specific method (the 2G method) has evolved. Practical implications - Provides insights for users of Grounded Theory (GT) and developers of IS methods on how GT procedures have been interpreted and adapted in previous and the authors' own research. Originality/value - Provides insights into how Grounded Theory (GT) procedures have been adapted for use in other IS methods, with insights from the authors' own experience of having developed the 2G method. Reflects on the use of GT procedures in a number of case studies related to tool evaluation. Identifies six areas in which specific interpretations or adaptations of GT were considered necessary in the contexts in which the studies were undertaken, and justifies these six departures from standard interpretations of GT procedures.

Notes: Purpose - To develop a testable model for girls' career choices in technology fields based on past research and hypotheses about the future of the information technology (IT) workforce. Design/methodology/approach - Review and assimilation of literature from education, psychology, sociology, computer science, IT, and business in a model that identifies factors that can potentially influence a girl's choice towards or against IT careers. The factors are categorized into social factors (family, peers, and media), structural factors (computer use, teacher/counselor influence, same sex versus coeducational schools), and individual differences. The impact of culture on these various factors is also explored. Findings - The model indicates that parents, particularly fathers, are the key influencers of girls' choice of IT careers. Teachers and counselors provide little or no career direction. Hypotheses propose that early access to computers may reduce intimidation with technology and that same-sex education may serve to reduce career bias against IT. Research limitations/implications - While the model is multidisciplinary, much of research from which it draws is five to eight years old. Patterns of career choices, availability of technology, increased independence of women and girls, offshore/nearshore outsourcings of IT jobs are just some of the factors that may be insufficiently addressed in this study. Practical implications - A "Recommendations" section provides some practical steps to increase the involvement of girls in IT-related careers and activities at an early age. The article identifies cultural research as a limitation and ways to address this. Originality/value - The paper is an assimilation of literature from diverse fields and provides a testable model for research on gender and IT.

Notes: Purpose - The paper seeks to explore the impact of events in Software Process Improvement (SPI) environments based on a longitudinal study of a requirements management initiative at Ericsson. Design/methodology/approach - The paper presents the initiative from three perspectives - the improvement initiative, the targeted software practices, and the environment. Findings - SPI initiatives easily get interrupted, are side-tracked, and progress slowly due to changing environments. While most practitioners are painfully aware of this, the SPI literature has so far only touched on the issue. Agility principles would have helped Ericsson respond more effectively to events that impacted the initiative. Development of agile SPI practices requires coordination and alignment with other initiatives to develop agile software organizations. Originality/value - SPI has been adopted by many organizations to help them to deliver quality software. However, its success is a matter of debate and this paper deals with the issues involved.

Notes: Purpose - To identify, classify, and propose a preliminary theory of the value conflicts and social choices that arise in enterprise system use. Design/methodology/approach - Ethnographic case study of a medium-sized manufacturing firm, using a participant-observer approach. Findings - Three areas of value conflict are identified between functional areas: conflicts over work priorities, conflicts over dependency on the commitments of others, and conflicts over evaluation fairness. When participants perceived that the value conflicts were accommodated in a balanced and legitimate way, they chose to use information resources within the enterprise system. When the conflicts were perceived as too great, participants chose to ignore the enterprise system, or develop their own competing information resources. Research limitations/implications - This paper reports on theory building from one intensive case study. It implies, however, that previous attempts to account for the difficulty of enterprise resource planning (ERP) use have not focused enough on the social relationships between the functional areas that are tightly integrated through enterprise systems. Practical implications - The three value conflict questions (work priorities, dependency on commitments, and evaluation fairness) can be used to identify potential ERP problem areas, and to clarify the costs and benefits of different ERP choices for various functional areas. Originality/value - For information systems researchers and practitioners, this paper offers another means for identifying value conflicts and social choices in computerization, hopefully bringing us closer to Rob Kling's dream that computerization choices be made in a more socially benign way.

Notes: Purpose - To explain how genres structure temporal coordination in virtual teams over time. Design/methodology/approach - The first year e-mail archive of a small distributed software development start-up was coded and analyzed and these primary data were complemented with interviews of the key participants and examination of notes from the weekly phone meetings. Findings - In this paper, it is found that members of a small start-up organization temporally coordinated their dispersed activities through everyday communicative practices, thus accomplishing both the distributed development of a software system and the creation of a robust virtual team. In particular, the LC members used three specific genres - status reports, bug/error notifications, and update notifications - and one genre system - phone meeting management - to coordinate their distributed software development over time. Research limitations/implications - The study confirms the various suggestions from prior virtual team research that structuring communication and work process is an important mechanism for the temporal coordination of dispersed activities. In particular, an attempt has been made to show that the notions of genre and genre system are particularly useful to make sense of and analyze how such structuring actually occurs over time. Originality/value - In this paper, the research focus is shifted from how a given set of temporal coordination mechanisms affect team performance to how coordination mechanisms emerge, are stabilized, and adapted over time. It is also shown how the notion of genre may be used to shed light on the practices through which temporal coordination is accomplished in geographically distributed teams.

Notes: Purpose - The purpose of this article is to examine the structures and business models of electronic metals exchanges between 1995 and 2003. Design/methodology/approach - A dialectical institutional analysis is applied to understand the exchanges' responses to competing pressures for efficiency and legitimacy. Findings - Although efficiency is enabled by internet technologies that provide greater information transparency and access, public metals exchanges exhibited less ability to survive than private exchanges. It is argued that private exchanges survived because traders regarded them as more legitimate. Private exchange models allowed existing traditional relationships involving trust and privacy to continue, whereas public exchanges did not. Originality/value - The institutional analysis complements economic analyses of the role and structure of intermediaries in B2B electronic commerce.

Notes: Purpose - To develop a model that can explain the "government to e-government" transition process. Design/methodology/approach - Reviews the literature on and practice of e-government, as well as the related literature of strategic alignment and maturity models for technology adoption. Offers evidence for the model's validity through case-type material from the web sites of e-governments worldwide. Findings - Six transition paths can be identified, four of which are more likely to result in effective e-government transition. Research limitations/implications - Further work is needed to test the validity of the model. This could involve historical and longitudinal studies of the government to e-government transition process in different governments around the world. Practical implications - The transition model should be of value to e-government strategic planners who are seeking possible transition paths towards the effective development of e-government. Originality/value - The paper tackles the little investigated topic of the transition process through which governments must go as they shift from traditional government to e-government.

Notes: Purpose - This article aims to focus attention on users of information technology (IT), especially mobile telephony. It focuses on what people actually say about mobile technology but also aims to pay attention to what they do not talk about, what is found in the silence, especially with new technology when much can be taken for granted. This latter is, according to Foucault, even more important to understand. Design/methodology/approach - The research draws on empirical research through 11 semi-structured interviews and interviews with five focus groups, comprising between four and eight care assistants in each group. The interviews were with three women and three men between 25-70 years old, five female public sector middle managers and care assistants from five focus groups at social services departments in the north of Sweden. A Foucauldian approach is adopted to interpret the findings and explore how their locations within the circuits of socio-technical networks engender uncertainty with mobile technology. The present spread of IT reinforces a belief that people are integrated into the circuits of socio-technical networks. Findings - The findings suggest, on the one hand, that new technologies like mobile communication can be used to organise our everyday lives, whilst, on the other, there are risks with the new technologies, which can discipline discourses. Originality/value - These issues are discussed from a sociological and informatics perspective.

Notes: Purpose - To provide a social-theoretic framework which explains how e-commerce affects social conditions, such as availability of information and equality of access to information, influences actors' behavior, shapes e-commerce business models, and in turn impacts industry structure. Design/methodology/approach - Empirical investigation based on one-hour interviews with owners/managers of nine vehicle dealerships and six vehicle buyers in a large US metropolitan region. The hermeneutic method of understanding was used, involving a circular process from research design and attentiveness to data, to data collection and interpretation. This circular process exemplified the dialectic relationship between the theoretical framework (derived from Habermas's Theory of Communicative Action) and empirical data, through which interpretation and theoretical explanations grounded in the data emerged. Findings - Demonstrates that e-commerce gives rise to increasing competition among the dealers, decreasing prices and migration of competition to price, decreasing profitability of the average dealer, and erosion of traditional sources of competitive advantage. Moreover, e-commerce emancipates and empowers vehicle purchasers while reducing the power of automobile dealers. Research limitations/implications - The research findings focus on the effects of e-commerce on the automobile distribution industry. However, one could argue that a number of the findings extend to other retailing-based industries. Practical implications - The paper illustrates a research methodology that may be useful to study other e-commerce applications. Originality/value - This paper illustrates the application of Habermas's Theory of Communicative Action to studying the effect of e-commerce.

Notes: Purpose - This paper seeks to critique the notion of diffusionism. Design/methodology/approach - The notion of diffusionism provides a general way of understanding innovation and human progress. It is pervasive within IS research and practice. Generically, diffusionism denotes an asymmetrical view of innovation as originating exclusively in "progressive" centres, from which it spreads through an essentially passive recipient community. This model is pernicious, as it privileges an élite few over the majority, with the innovator/imitator dichotomy presented as natural, moral and inevitable. This paper analyses the notion of diffusionism in information systems (IS). Findings - The failure to find any empirical support for diffusionism reveals both its mythical character and its ideological rationale in lending moral legitimacy to colonialistic projects. Empirical examples demonstrate both the ubiquity of the diffusionist mindset in IS research and practice, and its linkage to pseudo-colonial activities in the home domain. Originality/value - The paper concludes by arguing for a more critical approach within IS research on innovation, the use of richer, process-based theories, and greater partnership with practitioners in order to close the research/practice gap.

Notes: Purpose - There is a need to understand both theoretically and empirically the dominant guiding principles that are becoming embedded in people's technologically mediated interactions and what the alternatives may be. Aims to provide an evaluation of the work of Rob Kling in helping to find guidance on these issues. Design/methodology/approach - The paper combines narrative with argument and analysis. Findings - How people communicate in different organisational contexts is informed by the way meanings are created (in this study, contractual understandings to supply material goods) and how various processes can be made to work in both offline and online environments. The results of this study illustrate one of Rob Kling's dictums: the social context of information and communication technologies (ICT) development matters. Originality/value - Provides a contribution to the literature on Kling's work on social informatics.

Notes: Purpose - To introduce the special issue on "Genres of digital documents." While there are many definitions of genre, most include consideration of the intended communicative purpose, form and sometimes expected content of a document. Most also include the notion of social acceptance, that a document is of a particular genre to the extent that it is recognized as such within a given discourse community. Design/methodology/approach - The article reviews the notion of document genre and its applicability to studies of digital documents and introduces the four articles in the special issue. Findings - Genre can be studied based on intrinsic genre attributes or on the extrinsic function that genre fulfills in human activities. Studies on intrinsic attributes include classifications of genres as clusters of attributes, though these classifications can be problematic because documents can be used in flexible ways. Also, new information technologies have enabled the appearance of novel genres. Studies on extrinsic function include ways to use genre for education or information accesses, as well as the use of genre as a lens for understanding communications in organizations. The four articles in the special issue illustrate these approaches. Originality/value - The paper provides a framework that organizes the range of research about genres of digital documents that should be helpful to those reading this research or planning their own studies.

Notes: Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to account for the genre characteristics of non-linear, multi-modal, web-mediated documents. It involves a two-dimensional view on genres that allows one to account for the fact that digital genres act not only as text but also as medium. Design/methodology/approach - The theoretical framework of the article is the Swalesian genre theory used in academic settings all over the world to investigate the relationship between discourse and social practice and to teach genre conventions to students of language and communication. Up till now most genre research has focused on the characteristics of "printed" texts, whereas less has been done to apply the genre theory to digital genres. Findings - The article discusses the characteristics of digital genres, notably the media constraints that have a significant effect on the production and reception of digital genres and suggests an extension of the Swalesian genre model that takes the digital characteristics into account. Research limitations/implications - The suggestion for a revised genre model is not based on an extensive empirical study of various types of web sites. The observation is restricted to a limited number of commercial web sites. Originality/value - The article proposes new insights into the concept of genre adapting traditional models of genre theory to web-mediated texts. A revised two-dimensional genre model incorporating media elements into the concept of genre thus takes account of the particular characteristics of the navigation and reading elements of web-mediated genres.

Notes: Purpose - To examine the evolution of the online newspaper genre in Scandinavia. To provide an understanding of the institutional context in which online newspapers initially were produced and modified over time. Design/methodology/approach - A longitudinal study of three different types of newspapers in three Scandinavian countries. The study is based on interviews with newspaper representatives conducted during recurring visits in 1996, 1999 and 2002, and web page analysis of their online newspapers. Findings - The study illustrates how online newspapers have established a number of communicative practices significant for recognizing them as a distinct digital genre, and it outlines a set of institutional factors shaping the ongoing change of these newspapers. In addition, the study demonstrates the emergence of sequential interdependencies between online and printed news. Originality/value - The focus on Scandinavian newspapers in this paper complements studies conducted in other parts of the world regarding online newspaper genre evolution.

Notes: Purpose - The paper aims to show, through the case of Jordan, how e-government is difficult to implement, given the characteristics of the local administration, the socio-economic context and the dynamics of the technological infrastructure. It also aims to ascertain more generally whether the marketisation of the state, embedded in e-government, makes sense as the paramount approach to improve democracy and foster development. Design/methodology/approach - Describes how the Kingdom of Jordan, as a case study of an innovative and extensive application of e-government ideas and models, provides a paradigmatic example of how ICTs are being introduced in economically less developed countries and identifies the risks of failure in implementation. Based on the empirical evidence provided by the case, examines the more general implications of e-government and new public management in the transformation of the relationship between the state and citizen. Findings - The transformation of citizens into customers is problematic, and the correlation between good governance and minimal state with development can hardly be demonstrated historically. Originality/value - The paper puts forward a new interpretation centred on the newly established link between aid and security. In this light, e-government appears to be one of the new tools for the rich metropolitan states to govern "at a distance" (through sophisticated methodologies and technologies) the potentially dangerous, weak, borderland states.

Notes: Purpose - Bench-top wind tunnels are used extensively by the US Air Force for calibrating anemometers. As anemometers have improved, the need for reduced uncertainties in the bench-top wind tunnels was required. A three-pronged approach was used to reduce low velocity uncertainties by a factor of 2-3.Design/methodology/approach - The reduction in velocity uncertainties was achieved by upgrading the wind tunnel instrumentation that measured the pressure and differential pressure and by improving the velocity calibration of the bench-top wind tunnel. A detailed uncertainty analysis was performed to determine how much the instrumentation needed to improve. A laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV) was used to calibrate each wind tunnel at low velocities.Findings - The uncertainty analysis indicated that the main contributors to the velocity uncertainty were the differential pressure and the pressure measurements. These two process instruments were upgraded to reduce their individual uncertainties by a factor of 2. Additionally each bench-top wind tunnel was calibrated using the LDV with special emphasis on flows from 0.15-3.0?m/s. In all, nine wind tunnels were calibrated and the upgraded systems exhibited a reduction in uncertainties in the low flow region of a factor of 2-3.Originality/value - A need to reduce velocity uncertainties in bench-top wind tunnels was a requirement for the US Air Force calibration program. Upgraded instrumentation and individual calibration with an LDV provided the needed reduction. In the low flow region of 0.15 to 3.0?m/s, uncertainties were reduced by a factor of 2-3.

Notes: Purpose - Describes the properties and uses of a new colour-change chemical for laser-printing of human and machine-readable data. Design/methodology/approach - Presents the characteristics and modes of application of the chemical, its advantages over the current techniques of inkjet printing and laser-marking, and a number of applications which show its distinctive features. Findings - This chemical gives faster throughput and better print clarity than existing laser scribing processes, and opens up new anti-counterfeiting techniques. Originality/value - Draws attention to an invention that will make an impact on factory date-coding procedures.

Notes: Purpose - To examine the possibilities for dry calibration or in situ calibration for flowmeters in the field. Design/methodology/approach - Reviews history and current situation with regard to in situ/dry calibration of flowmeters. Its acceptability for modern flowmeters is considered. Various options are considered to achieve dry calibration or in situ calibration. The possibility of action at a distance via the internet, for example, naturally follows from these developments. Findings - The paper concludes that this development is likely to be of importance to manufacturers. It will need to be addressed by certification authorities. Originality/value - The concepts will reduce the cost of calibration and the discussion should be of value to research workers, industry and government.

Notes: Purpose - Feathermoss is ubiquitous in the boreal forest and across various land-cover types of the arctic and subarctic. A variety of affordable commercial sensors for soil moisture content measurement have recently become available and are in use in such regions, often in conjunction with fire-susceptibility or ecological studies. Few come supplied with calibrations suitable or suggested for soils high in organics. Aims to test seven of these sensors for use in feathermoss, seeking calibrations between sensor output and volumetric water content. Design/methodology/approach - Measurements from seven sensors installed in live, dead and burned feathermoss samples, drying in a controlled manner, were compared to moisture content measurements. Empirical calibrations of sensor output to water content were determined. Findings - Almost all of the sensors tested were suitable for measuring the moss sample water content, and a unique calibration for each sensor for this material is presented. Differences in sensor design lead to changes in sensitivity as a function of volumetric water content, affecting the spatial averaging over the soil measurement volume. Research limitations/implications - The wide range of electromagnetic sensors available include frequency and time domain designs with variations in wave guide and sensor geometry, the location of sensor electronics and operating frequency. Practical implications - This study provides information for extending the use of electromagnetic sensors to feathermoss. Originality/value - A comparison of volumetric water content sensor mechanics and design is of general interest to researchers measuring soil water content. In particular, researchers working in wetlands, boreal forests and tundra regions will be able to apply these results.

Notes: Purpose - Reviews some of the improvements in image sensor technology that are yielding applications in the medical field. Design/methodology/approach - Discusses the characteristics and gives examples of cameras and imaging sensors used in endoscopy, microscopy, pharmaceutical label inspection and X-radiography. Reviews some innovative camera-based products for endoscopy, skin imaging and health monitoring. Findings - Improvements in camera resolution, miniaturisation and interfacing are widening the applications in medical imaging and enabling the development of some exciting new products addressing the needs of patients and medical staff. Originality/value - Identifies some suppliers of medical imaging devices and their applications.

Notes: Purpose - The paper outlines a new approach for positioning a patient on the treatment table for radiation therapy sessions. The vision approach utilizes lasers and cameras for positioning and has several advantages over the conventional methods. Design/methodology/approach - The positioning is accomplished by comparison of a set of computed tomography (CT) contours (acquired from the patient) with a set of corresponding contours acquired by a 3D vision system from the same region of the patient's body. The overall positioning error calculated by the iterative closest point algorithm is used to reorient the treatment table. Various issues related to the acquisition and generation of the 3D spatial data are discussed. Findings - Positioning is accurate and can detect small movement in the patient's position. Research limitations/implications - Testing was done on a cast of a human torso and additional testing is required on in a hospital environment to fully test the efficiency of the approach. Practical implications - The method merges data readily available from standard CT imaging systems and 3D imaging systems. Therefore, the additional hardware requirements are minimal. The system integrates well with existing hardware, software and treatment practices. Originality/value - The method introduces a new approach to patient positioning employing a combination of sensor technologies. The approach is accurate, reliable, consumes less time and most importantly prevents the use of X-rays for patient positioning.

Notes: Purpose - To provide an overview of the similarity-based modeling (SBM) technology and review its application to condition monitoring of rotating equipment using features calculated from vibration sensor signals. Design/methodology/approach - Concentrates on the practical capabilities and underlying technology of SBM. Examines the effectiveness of it as an approach to detect and diagnose faults in an electric motor-driven shaft during variable speed operating conditions. Findings - The SBM is a non-parametric pattern recognition technology developed by SmartSignal that is applied generally to multivariate condition monitoring problems. A vibration sensor is monitored by first transforming the digitized time domain sensor signal into relevant features over time. These features are monitored continuously in real time to detect any discernable differences from normality. The deviations in turn, produce fault signatures in time-feature space that aid in fault diagnosis. Originality/value - Gives information on an approach that employs a multivariate similarity-based modeling technique to characterize the expected behavior of vibration signal features which enables the detection of incipient faults in rotating machinery.

Notes: Purpose - This paper reports on a novel load cell and a novel torque transducer having stiffness and potential overload capability some ten times that of existing load cells and torque transducers based on the resistance strain gauges. Design/methodology/approach - Describes the practical capabilities and technology - the design, construction and characterisation. Findings - Both the load cell and the torque transducer use recently developed metallic triple beam resonators with thick-film lead zirconate titanate (PZT) drives and pickups. The advantages of this technology are frequency output, high overload capability, high sensitivity, high resolution, and low-cost manufacture. Both the load cell and torque transducer output large changes in frequency (〉500?Hz for relatively low changes in strain level i.e. 〈200 microstrain for the load cell and 〈400 microstrain for the torque transducer), providing high sensitivity and high overload capability. Practical implications - Load cells and torque transducers employing the new metallic resonators are expected to be far more robust than those using metallic resistance strain gauges. Originality/value - Focuses on an instrument with important features of use in many applications.

Notes: Purpose - To draw attention to some recent developments in machine vision equipment. Design/methodology/approach - Presents advances in light emitting diode (LED) lighting, cameras and software, and gives examples of new products and their capabilities. Findings - New thermal management techniques allow LED lights to take over many machine vision illumination systems. Lights and cameras can be ruggedised to withstand wash down. Standard interfacing is being adopted for machine vision cameras. Originality/value - Highlights some new products which have applications including the food industry.

Notes: Purpose - A prototype gas prover was constructed to serve as the Italian primary standard for gas flow rates in the range 0.1?ml/min to 2?l/min. The new prover is used to calibrate high-quality industrial standards, as well as the MFCs used in microelectronic fabrications and preparation of reference gas mixtures.Design/methodology/approach - The prover measures gas volume transfers caused by displacements of a 120?mm dia. motor-operated piston, which is introduced into a temperature-controlled chamber containing up to 3?l of the required working gas at near ambient conditions. Gas delivery is made at constant rate, whereas possibly variable incoming flows are measured at constant pressure. Displacements of the piston are measured by an optical interferometer.Findings - The analysis shows that standard uncertainty ranges between 0.013 and 0.03 percent. Owing to the very accurate control and measurement of both pressures and temperatures, these figures refer equally to volume and mass flowrate. Experimental comparisons with similar national standards at LNE-France and NIST-USA confirmed the consistency of measurement results in the three Nations.Research limitations/implications - The gas prover should be used with inert gases only.Practical implications - The national industrial gas standards and the best flow transducers can now be calibrated accurately down to unprecedented flowrate values.Originality/value - The need for measurement of extremely low gas flows is quite recent, therefore possibly less than ten primary national standards are available today worldwide. Several completely different principles and designs have been developed; description of design and performance of each instrument is important to assess their respective merits. The described apparatus is innovative as regards measurement range, accuracy and control techniques.

Notes: Purpose - To discuss the application of direct part marking identification (DPMI) using 2D matrix codes, the use of which is increasing in industries as diverse as automotive and medical instruments.Design/methodology/approach - The benefits of 2D codes are explained, emphasising that they have sufficient storage capacity to provide data for tracking a part during its manufacture and through the supply chain and allow traceability throughout its lifetime. It describes the operation of Cognex, one of the leading manufacturers of ID products and also the world's largest supplier of machine vision systems is Cognex. It explains that initially the electronics industry exploited Cognex' code reading technology and an application at a German board manufacturer is described. Another system, at a diesel engine injector manufacturer in France, has 42 Cognex systems reading 2D codes and guiding robots in assembly. Also described is a new range of Cognex hand-held and fixed-mount 1D and 2D code readers "loaded" with software that allows reading in difficult conditions and with degraded or partially obscured codes.Findings - The DPMI market has expanded into industries other than automotive, which has prompted Cognex to establish a new division of ID products.Originality/value - The paper emphasises the importance of 2D codes in product traceability and indicates how vision technology is being utilised to read these codes even under difficult conditions.

Notes: Purpose - The need for an instrumented grinding system that addresses the requirements of ductile regime machining of brittle materials is implemented. The static and dynamic stiffness of the structural loop of the grinding system meets or exceeds those of previous researchers. An instrumented spindle is introduced which features capacitance gages embedded in the stator of an air bearing spindle. Design/methodology/approach - The instrumented spindle is demonstrated to provide valuable force feedback for fine grinding and is capable of resolving intra-revolution force components. Tests are performed to demonstrate the use of the instrumented spindle for ductile grinding of brittle materials with superabrasive wheels. Findings - The results of the test show that the instrumented spindle is capable of determining intra-revolution force components for square alumina-titanium carbide wafers. Originality/value - Outlines some important work developing and building instrumented spindles to aid the precision grinding industry.

Notes: Purpose - This article provides details of recent research in France and Germany which has extended the operational range of the laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) technique through the use of a transportable terawatt laser, the "Teramobile". Design/methodology/approach - The high power of the Teramobile's laser generates self-guided filaments of light which overcome the diffraction limit that restricts the range of conventional pulsed laser sources in air to around 100?m. The system can deliver laser intensities of around 1013?W/cm2 to locations at a distance of several kilometer without focusing. It has been used in a variant of the LIBS technique termed remote filament-induced breakdown spectroscopy (R-FIBS). Findings - Experiments have shown that the R-FIBS technique can analyse metal samples for elemental composition at a range of up to 180?m. Further work offers prospects to extend the range to as much as 1?km. Originality/value - This research illustrates that a transportable terawatt laser can be used as the source in the new R-FIBS technique, suggesting many remote sensing analytical applications such as environmental monitoring, detecting chemical and biological warfare agents, monitoring the composition of molten metals and identifying radioactive waste.

Notes: Purpose - This paper discusses the size and structure of the global biosensor market which is presently dominated by medical applications. Design/methodology/approach - It considers a number of recent developments based on nanotechnology. Findings - Identifies homeland security as an emerging area offering significant prospects for technological innovation and market growth. Originality/value - Of interest to those concerned with technology developments.

Notes: Purpose - The sensitivity of orifice plate metering to poorly conditioned and swirling flows are subjects of concerns to flow meter users and manufacturers. The distortions caused by pipe fittings and pipe installations upstream of the orifice plate are major sources of this type of non-standard flows. These distortions will alter the accuracy of metering up to an unacceptable degree.Design/methodology/approach - The design of orifice plate meters that are independent of the initial flow conditions of the upstream is a major object of flow metering. Either using a long straight pipe or a flow conditioner upstream of an orifice plate usually achieves this goal. The effect of cone swirler flow conditioner for both standard and non-standard flow conditions has been carried out in the experimental rig. The measuring of mass flow rate under different conditions and different Reynolds numbers were used to establish a change in discharge coefficient relative to a standard one.Findings - The experimental results using the cone swirler flow conditioner showed that the combination of an orifice plate and cone swirler flow conditioner is broadly insensitive to upstream disturbances. The results clearly show that this flow conditioner can attenuate the effect of both swirling and asymmetric flows on metering to an acceptable level.Originality/value - Previous work on the orifice plate has shown that the concept has promise. The results of using a combination of a cone swirler and orifice plate for non-standard flow conditions including swirling flow and asymmetric flow show this package can preserve the accuracy of metering up to the level required in the standards, providing that a new discharge coefficient is used for the combined swirler and orifice plate.

Notes: Purpose - Owing to the technology growth, especially in Microsystems technology and Nanotechnology, new products will provide new ways to sense variables that are crucial for product improvement and system reliability. A big concern of the scientific community is the measurement of low level flow measurements, especially for the biomedical and/or systems on a chip approaches.Design/methodology/approach - A new flow meter concept design consists of a surface micromachined sensor having an optical high reflective mirror made of gold, which is attached to unique cantilever designs that bend due to the drag force of mass flow. The bending of the cantilevers produces the mirror to approach/depart from an optical fiber end-tip. The reflective light to fiber is modulated using a Fabry-Perot interferometry technique to determine the mirror separation to the fiber, which corresponds to the mass flow.Findings - The new concept design shows a big potential approach to measure low flow measurements for air, gas and liquids of low viscosity. The results of this concept, through finite element analysis, show that the material used to build the sensor, makes them excellent candidates for fabrication. The stresses of the materials and allowable (readable) bending are among the tolerances of such materials/construction-design. The sensor is not affected by electromagnetic interference and does not require electrical currents to sense, i.e. it is perfectly suited for biomedical and low mass-flow sensing such as lab-on-chip applications.Originality/value - Among all approaches to sense low flow measurements, most of them need either "big" turbine approaches (dimensions over 1?cm diameter), or the need of an electrical approach needed in the end measurement sensor. This work proposes a non-electrical approach.

Notes: Purpose - To present two non-contact methods of measuring vibrations and impact events. Design/methodology/approach - The paper concentrates on the practical capabilities and underlying technology of commercial high-speed CMOS cameras and laser Doppler vibrometers. Findings - The instruments are used to analyse modes of failure and to test quality in a very wide range of products. They are also used to develop safety and protective devices, and to study natural phenomena. Originality/value - A practical guide to the tools available, with some example applications of interest to production engineers.

Notes: Purpose - This paper describes a recent collaborative project involving the development of a multiplexed fibre Bragg grating (FBG) sensor system for structural integrity monitoring. Design/methodology/approach - The system is described and field trials on both conventional and novel composite bridges are discussed. A FBG sensor-based structural monitoring system was developed, based on a fluorescent fibre as the optical source. It used a tuneable, fibre-coupled, Fabry-Perot filter, actuated by piezoelectric transducers and operated over the bandwidth of the source at up to 250 scans/second. Light from the source was filtered and reflected back from the Bragg gratings, through optical couplers, to eight photodiode detectors. These detected the resulting time-domain spectra of the sensors in each of the serially connected sensor arrays. The system was tested at City University and then subjected to trials on the Mjosund road bridge in Norway and on West Mill bridge in Oxfordshire, UK, which is the first bridge to be fabricated from a new type of composite material. Findings - During the Norwegian trials the system was arranged with four or five FBG sensors per channel giving a total of 32 measurement points with eight parallel channels. Twelve conventional foil strain gauges and a number of thermocouples were also installed. Different static and dynamic loads were applied over a period of 18 months and the results showed that the thermally compensated strain data obtained optically matched those from the resistive gauges to within 〈5?µ?. During the construction stage of the Oxfordshire bridge, sections of the decking and longitudinal composite support beams were instrumented with 40 FBG sensors with temperature compensation, placed at pre-selected sites of maximum strain. These exhibited a resolution of ±5?µ? and an operating range of over ±2,000?µ?. Originality/value - This research has shown that multiplexed, multi-point FBG sensor systems can accurately and reliably monitor both static and dynamic strains in large structures over a range of temperatures and for extended periods of time.

Notes: Purpose - To describe the development of and experience with a system that tracks the position of knocks and taps atop a large sheet of glass for use as an inexpensive retrofit that can make large windows into interactive interfaces. Design/methodology/approach - The structural-acoustic wavefront coming from the impact is simultaneously recorded by four contact piezoelectric pickups mounted near the sheet's corners. A digital signal processor extracts relevant characteristics from these signals, such as amplitudes, frequency components, and differential timings, which are used to estimate the location of the hit and derive other parameters, including a degree of confidence in the position accuracy, the strike intensity and the nature of each hit (e.g. knuckle knock, metal tap, or fist bang - our system responds to any kind of impact). A set of heuristically-guided rules are employed to compare the waveforms recorded by different sensors and determine the differential timing. Findings - Across sensitive areas ranging up to 2×2?m, we have obtained position resolutions of s=2.5?cm for 1/4?in. tempered glass and s=3-4?cm for 1?cm thick shatterproof glass. Our system delivers 65?ms latency, hence is essentially real time. The system has been installed in several public settings, and has proven to be very robust. Research limitations/implications - Suggestions are given for doing everything in software and not using the DSP. Analytical compensation of the dispersion would probably yield better precision but require more computation time. Practical implications - As this system requires only simple hardware, it needs no special adaptation of the glass pane, and allows all tracking transducers to be mounted on the inner surface, hence it is quite easy and inexpensive to deploy as a retrofit to existing windows. This opens many applications, such as an interactive storefront, with content controlled by knocks on the display window, an interactive museum display case, or a vending machine where one can select by tapping directly above the desired item. Originality/value - As large displays become less costly and more common, systems like these can make them interactive. This paper details our approach.

Notes: Purpose - To describe a new substrate for use in surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Design/methodology/approach - Novel SERS substrates have been produced by the nanometre-scale patterning of gold surfaces on silicon. This forms photonic crystals which tightly control the physics of the surface enhanced Raman amplification process, producing consistent SERS signals. Findings - It has been shown that these substrates can increase significantly the sensitivity and reproducibility of SERS. Originality/value - These substrates will allow SERS to be used in critical applications requiring high sensitivity detection of chemical compounds such as security, forensics, healthcare and environmental monitoring.

Notes: Purpose - To describe the function and use of the GreenSeeker™ active remote sensor used to detect crop nitrogen status. Design/methodology/approach - In this paper, the GreenSeeker active remote sensor and its use in irrigated maize production systems will be described. A brief discussion of the science of using remote sensing for studying plants is presented. Additionally, a summary of observations collected from field trials is presented. Findings - The GreenSeeker active sensor has tremendous potential for accurately characterizing crop variability for site-specific N rate determinations in the Western Great Plains region of the United States. Originality/value - This paper discusses the GreenSeeker active sensor for detecting crop variability. Data from the GreenSeeker can be used to make site-specific nitrogen fertilizer applications which may lead to improved nitrogen use efficiency.

Notes: Purpose - Examines some of the recent technical developments that are leading to a wider use of powerful methods in medical microscopy. Design/methodology/approach - Reviews some of the microscopic techniques relevant to medicine, then looks at hardware developments in microscopes, filters and cameras. Findings - Highly sophisticated techniques such as time-resolved fluorescence measurements are now incorporated in turnkey instruments, using picosecond diode lasers for accurate measurement of fluorescent lifetimes. Advances in optical fibre coating technology in the telecoms field have led to improved filters for fluorescence microscopy, and imaging allows the detection of non-visible wavelengths and very low light levels. Many microscopes are modular, so that users can upgrade to further capabilities at will. Automatic medical diagnosis software is coming onto the market. Originality/value - Highlights the hardware and software developments that are enabling powerful microscopic methodologies to enter into general use.

Notes: Purpose - To describe a new high sensitivity, nanotechnology-based technique for detecting DNA and disease-related proteins. Design/methodology/approach - Gold nanoparticles and magnetic microparticles are bound to single-stranded DNA molecules that are complementary to segments of the target DNA. The nanoparticles also link to hundreds of strands of "barcode" DNA and in the presence of the target, each molecule binds to a gold nanoparticle and a magnetic microparticle. Applying a magnetic field enables the separation of the target molecules and their attachments. The DNA is removed from the molecules and detected by a chip-based DNA procedure. As each nanoparticle links to a large number of strands of DNA, the method amplifies the signal from each target molecule. The technique can also detect proteins by replacing the complimentary DNA with antibodies. Findings - This research shows that this technique can detect very low concentrations of DNA and proteins. Ten copies of anthrax DNA were detected in 30?µl of solution, a sensitivity comparable to polymerase chain reaction, and 18-20 PSA molecules were detected in a 10?µl sample, a level of detection that is six orders of magnitude more sensitive than conventional assays. Recent research has also shown that the assay can detect ADDLs, which are biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease. The technologies are now being commercialised by Nanosphere, Inc. Originality/value - These developments offer prospects in a wide range of clinical applications such as the rapid and simple diagnosis of a variety of diseases and single nucleotide polymorphisms tests for the detection of hypercoagulation disorders. Other potential applications include homeland security and environmental monitoring.

Notes: Purpose - Aims to report on a new trend of research and development in the wireless capsule endoscope. Design/methodology/approach - Presents a conceptual design of a wireless capsule endoscope having new features like navigation control, self-propulsion, higher rate image transmission, acquisition of samples, application of medications and so forth. Findings - The basic principle has been verified by experiments. Seems promising. Research limitations/implications - Yet to need a lot of effort for commercialization. Practical implications - If successful, it will provide another way of least invasive medical treatment that must reduce pain of patients drastically. Originality/value - Taking advantage of the state-of-the-art micro-technology it suggests a further step beyond the current wireless capsule endoscope.

Notes: Purpose - Computer tomography (CT) for 3D reconstruction entails a huge number of coplanar fan-beam projections for each of a large number of 2D slice images, and excessive radiation intensities and dosages. For some applications its rate of throughput is also inadequate. A technique for overcoming these limitations is outlined.Design methodology/approach - A novel method to reconstruct 3D surface models of objects is presented, using, typically, ten, 2D projective images. These images are generated by relative motion between this set of objects and a set of ten fanbeam X-ray sources and sensors, with their viewing axes suitably distributed in 2D angular space.Findings - The method entails a radiation dosage several orders of magnitude lower than CT, and requires far less computational power. Experimental results are given to illustrate the capability of the techniquePractical implications - The substantially lower cost of the method and, more particularly, its dramatically lower irradiation make it relevant to many applications precluded by current techniquesOriginality/value - The method can be used in many applications such as aircraft hold-luggage screening, 3D industrial modelling and measurement, and it should also have important applications to medical diagnosis and surgery.