Building information systems as universalized locals

We report on our experiences in a participatory design project to develop ICTs in a hospital ward working with deliberate self-harm patients. This project involves the creation and constant re-creation of socio-technical ensembles that satisfy the various, changing and often contradictory and conflicting needs in this context. Such systems are shaped in locally meaningful ways but nevertheless reach beyond their immediate context to gain wider importance and to be integrated with the larger environment. currently working on a participatory design project developing IT systems for psychiatrists working in a toxicology ward of a large general hospital. His research focuses on the local co-production of technologies which he currently explores in a production management context. His research interests lie in the field of human factors and interactive systems design, particularly approaches to IT systems design and development, the relationships between work and technology, and inter-disciplinary approaches to the design of dependable computing systems. carrying out a number of ethnomethodologically informed studies in a variety of applications. He holds a Ph.D. in ethnomethodology from the University of Manchester and is currently involved in research on computer-aided prompting systems for radiological work. He has interests in ethnomethodology, CSCW, SSK and the philosophy of social sciences. where he convenes an interdisciplinary research programme on ‘the social shaping of technology’.     

Conservation of temporal information by perceptual systems

Experiments in the auditory, visual, and vibratory modality employed two brief discriminably different stimuli, which were presented with temporal asynchronies unequivocally below the Hirsh-Sherrick threshold for performing temporal order judgments. A pair of such stimuli, experienced as a unitary perceptual event, is referred to as a “micropattern” composed of two “stimulus elements.” Ss could readily distinguish between two such micropatterns in which the temporal order of the stimulus elements was reversed. The discrimination was based on the perceptual dominance of the second stimulus element of each micropattern. This perceptual dominance was studied as a function of stimulus-element onset and offset asynchrony, the duration and intensity of the stimulus elements, and the difference (in frequency or wavelength) between the stimulus elements of a micropattern. The results suggest the existence of an operation of all perceptual systems in the time domain that acts to conserve information concerning the temporal order of the two stimulus elements at the expense of discriminatory acuity of the f’~rst element.     

Improving the performance of knowledge and information systems

Dick Kuiper, a rural sociologist, is a research associate with the Department of Extension Science, Wageningen, Agricultural University, Hollandseweg, 6706 KN Wageningen, The Netherlands. He is involved in research on agricultural knowledge and information systems.     

Entropy,information and predictability of evolutionary systems

We investigate first several entropy concepts, from static to dynamic entropy. Dynamic entropy is introduced as a measure of predictability. Then the relation between entropy and information is studied. Following Wiener information is considered as a non‐physical quantity, not matter or energy. Information is understood as a binary relation between a sender and a receiver. We differentiate between bound and free information. Information can be created by selforganization, historically it is connected with the origin of life. The structure and predictability of informational strings is investigated. For example we study symbolic sequences generated by evolution, as e.g. texts. It is shown that several information carriers show criticality connected with the existence of long‐range correlations, long memory in time and historical behaviour (self‐tuned criticality). The higher order Shannon entropies and the conditional entropies (dynamical entropies and there limit) are calculated, characteristic scaling laws are found.     

Function support as an information systems development paradigm

The function support paradigm of information systems development seeks to exploit the potential synergy that can be obtained by making the information processing system an integral part of organizational function. This requires for the information processing system to be embedded into the structure and dynamics underlying the function it supports. This is shown to be the case in natural systems, where the synergy is obtained through the compatibility of information processing with the structure and dynamics of the overall system.

Current approaches to the development of information systems do not consider, in a sufficiently explicit manner, the structure and dynamics of organizations as a determinant of their information processing requirements. As a consequence, the resulting information systems usually do not provide the required level of support. We argue that, to be effective, man‐made information systems must also be compatible with the organizational functions they support. The contribution of the information system to the adaptability of the organization as a whole is proposed as a broad but robust and effective measure of its effectiveness.     

The role of information systems in total quality management

This paper presents a conceptual model for describing the role of information systems in a Total Quality Management (TQM) organization and contrasts it with one for a traditional business firm. The model, based on systems theory, provides a framework for understanding the principles of TQM and their effects on information systems (IS). This paper suggests that TQM introduces changes in the firm’s feedback loop and creates new requirements for the IS function. The TQM system model is also used for analyzing and comparing TQM with business reengineering. He received his Ph.D. from The Claremont Graduate School, Claremont, California.     

Virtual HR: The impact of information technology on the human resource professional

Accelerated investment and innovation in information technology (IT) offers prospects for conducting business in ways that are radically different from the past. Despite the growing presence of IT within organizations, however, we do not have a clear understanding of how IT impacts the role of professionals. We address this issue by investigating how jobs in one professional occupational segment, human resources (HR) professionals are influenced by extensive use of IT within the human resource department. Specifically, we examine how HR professionals handle HR information as well as the expectations placed on them resulting from an increased reliance on IT. Our findings suggest that IT enables HR professionals to more efficiently access and disseminate information while it also influences what is expected of them. Implications and future directions are discussed.     

On the archetypes in information systems development: An exploration

In this paper I examine possible archetypes that embody the role that systems analyst play in different models of systems development and briefly review attendant epistemological and ontological assumptions.     

The political economy of information exchange politics and property rights in the development and use of interorganizational information systems

Interorganizational information systems are information systems that cross organizational boundaries. Information managers and system developers often assume that the more integrated these information systems are, the more successful the system will be. Such an assumption is indeed intuitively appealing, and, from a technological standpoint, readily understandable. In practice, development and use of integrated information systems that cross organizational boundaries often result in confusing power struggles, politicking, and sometimes manifest sabotage. Based on economic and political organization theory, this article concludes that data ownership and incentives, rather than integration, are of vital importance for the success of interorganizational information systems. He has studied Public Administration and Policy Science (Twente University, the Netherlands) and received his Ph. D. in Management and Organization Science in 1999 (Groningen University, the Netherlands). His research interests include information management and interorganizational relations, especially in the public sector.     

A comparison of information processing and dynamical systems perspectives on problem solving

Abstract

This article compares the information processing and dynamical systems perspectives on problem solving. Key theoretical constructs of the information-processing perspective include “searching” a “problem space” by using “heuristics” that produce “incremental” changes such as reaching a “subgoal” to solve a puzzle. Key theoretical constructs of the dynamical-systems perspective include “positive attractors”, “negative attractors”, and “latent attractors” that can cause large “nonincremental” changes in the possibility of a solution through the “emergence” of new ideas and beliefs that can resolve a conflict. The proposed alignment maps dynamical-system constructs to information-processing constructs: state space to problem space, negative attractor to impasse, positive attractor to productive subgoal, latent attractor to implicit cognition, and nonincremental change to insight. The purpose of the mapping is to explore similarities and differences between these constructs. Research from cognitive and social psychology illustrates how using constructs from both perspectives is helpful. The concluding section on Future Directions recommends an agenda based on three objectives: (1) create ontologies to organise current knowledge, (2) conduct research to obtain new knowledge, and (3) provide education to inform students about this knowledge.     

Preserved learning of novel information in amnesia: Evidence for multiple memory systems

Four of five patients with marked global amnesia, and others with new learning impairments, showed normal processing facilitation for novel stimuli (nonwords) and/or for familiar stimuli (words) on a word/nonword (lexical) decision task. The data are interpreted as a reflection of the learning capabilities of in-line neural processing stages with multiple, distinct, informational codes. These in-line learning processes are separate from the recognition/recall memory impaired by amygdalohippocampal/dosomedial thalamic damage, but probably supplement such memory in some tasks in normal individuals. Preserved learning of novel information seems incompatible with explanations of spared learning in amnesia that are based on the episodic/semantic or memory/habit distinctions, but is consistent with the procedural/declarative hypothesis.     

The overall pattern of the evolution of information in dissipative,material systems

I have argued for the reality of a second law of infodynamics. That is, that the information carrying capacity in a system, as viewed from within, must continue to increase as long as the system supports internal observation. I will be concerned here with matters of scale, as well as with system senescence (rigidity produced by the asymptotic approach to maximum information storage within a system). My major categories derive from a view of system development, and are: immaturity, maturity and senescence. As an immature system grows in size, It deploys information over ever smaller scales as it transforms from the vagueness of immaturity toward ever more definite embodiment. This eventually results in an information overload, gradually eroding system adaptability as it increasingly inhibits the variety of system responses by limiting its ability to further qualify stored information;     

虚拟与"虚拟实在"

"虚拟"是这个时代的热门词,也是当下文化的关键词.在三亿多的网民中,很多人见面时的问候语从"吃过没有"变为"魔兽了吗"抑或"摘菜了没有",网络虚拟生活已经成为国人乃至世人一种必不可少的生活方式.二十年前美国学者迈克海姆写过一本关于虚拟实在的书,大约十年前引入国内,引发了国内学者关于"虚拟实在"的研究和讨论.但由于当时国内的信息技术尚未普及,网民数量稀少,所以他的书和这场讨论未能引起社会轰动并深入持久下去.如今恰逢读网时代,我们重拾"虚拟实在",重新探讨它的形而上以及与"虚拟"的区别与联系,因为它是我们在谈及当下文化时绝不能回避和忽略的问题.     

Driver glance behavior towards displayed images on in-vehicle information systems under real driving conditions

Intelligent vehicle technologies like driver assistance systems and in-vehicle information systems, enhance convenience of the driving experience for drivers and passengers. At the same time, these systems may increase driver distraction and workload. Guidelines developed for this purpose include principles, methods, and assessments which are widely agreed upon, with some being singled out for a particular recommendation or requirement. Especially the display of graphical or photographic images are generally assumed to distract the driver from safely operating the vehicle and should be blocked during driving under all circumstances (so called per se lock outs). This study investigates the effect of displaying graphical and photographical images during driving on driveŕs glance behavior during real-world driving. Findings presented in this paper provide empirical evidence for the unobtrusiveness of these stimuli: Participants didn’t exhibit longer glance durations towards in-vehicle information systems, nor a deterioration of driver distraction parameters such as total eyes off road time and long glance proportion when being compared to driving without displaying any photographic images.     

Color coding information: assessing alternative coding systems using independent brightness and hue dimensions

Can independent dimensions of brightness and hue be used in a combined digital information code? This issue was addressed by developing 2 color-coding systems and testing them on informed and naive participants in signal beam detection and classification experiments for simulated sonar displays. Each coding system's results showed both groups efficiently used encoded information that varied simultaneously along the 2 dimensions of brightness and hue. Findings support the proposed procedures for developing color information codes and the validity of such information codes across different populations. Applied significance of these results is provided by the test of principled methods of color-code construction and the demonstration that extending the information content of user interfaces beyond 1 dimension is feasible in practice.     

Virtual killing

Debates that revolve around the topic of morality and fiction rarely explicitly treat virtual worlds like, for example, Second Life. The reason for this disregard cannot be that all users of virtual worlds only do the right thing while online—for they sometimes even virtually kill each other. Is it wrong to kill other people in a virtual world? It depends. This essay analyzes on what it depends, why it is that killing people in a virtual world sometimes is wrong, and how different virtual killings are wrong in different ways. I argue that killing people online is wrong if it is an instance of deliberately and non-consensually evoking disagreeable emotions in others. Establishing this conclusion requires substantial conceptual work, as virtual worlds feature new kinds of fictional agency, particular emotional responses to fiction, and unique ways in which the fiction of the virtual world relates to the wrongness of the killing.