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Sunday, July 28, 2013

New Issue: International Journal of Interactive Mobile Technologies Vol 7, No 3 (2013)

International Journal of Interactive Mobile Technologies (iJIM) has just published its latest issue at  http://www.i-jim.org
Have a look at the Table of Contents.

Review the Table of Contents below and then visit the website to review articles and items of interest.


Table of Contents


Papers 

MIMO-OFDM Systems Performance Enhancement Based Peaks Detection Algorithm
By Omar Daoud, Qadri Hamarsheh and Wael Al-Sawalmeh

Abstract
This work proposes a new algorithm to enhance the performance of the speaker verification over the communication systems based Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) - Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) techniques. The algorithm mainly tackles and overcomes the effect of the high Peak-to-Average Power Ratio problem that is found in OFDM systems, MIMO-OFDM combination has been developed to meet the rapidly increment in the users demand such as the ubiquitous transmission, imposing new multimedia applications and wireless services. In this algorithm, wavelets techniques have been used to denoise the affected OFDM symbol by high PAPR values. After that and based on adaptive threshold method the local maxima and minima will be determined and replaced by the average of them and their surrounding neighbors; Denoise OFDM and Replace PAPR (DORP).
A system performance investigation process will be accomplished based on both of numerical method and MATLAB simulation. Moreover, a comparison has been made to check the validity of our proposition either with our previously published work or with the literature. Although, the achieved results show that the proposed work has lower PAPR values; an additional complexity has been added to transceiver’s structure. Moreover, and as a result to the comparison with the conventional systems, the bit error rate (BER) performance has been improved for the same bandwidth occupancy.
As a validity process a comparison has been made with the current values found in the literature and we have achieved around 30% PAPR extra reduction. That is in addition to around 90% verification rate and noise immunity.


A Mobile Shared Workspace Supporting Healthcare Task Cooperative Planning

By Fouzi Lezzar

Abstract
In a health care environment, in which task planning process is fundamentally a collaborative task that requires the participation of many health care professionals with different skills working simultaneously on same cases. However, most recent healthcare research has focused on methods mainly based on communication, rather than collaboration supports. We followed then a CSCW-based planning approach which constitutes an evolution of planning environments toward new shared workspaces supporting collaboration. Our work led us first, to analyse the related tasks in an Algerian maternity ward in order to highlight the vital collaborative medical tasks that need to be modelled. The following sections outline basic design concepts of our mobile collaborative planning system, which is designed to provide a flexible group interaction support for care coordination and continuity. 

A Holistic Virtual Laboratory on Wireless Communications and Sensor Networks

By Christos K Liaskos, George C Koutitas and Ioannis P Vlahavas 

Abstract
Virtual laboratories have evolved into an adequately mature educational tool for multiple fields of study. Their use is especially beneficial to modern topics such as modern wireless communications. Related solutions in this field explored various approaches and architectures in designing such a virtual environment. The presented software package combines these fragmentary conclusions to a holistic and extensible laboratory architecture. Classic and modern topics, such as propagation, green networking, indoor communications and sensor networks are discussed through interactive 2D/3D environments. The student is also introduced to field measurement procedures and ray tracing principles. Statistical assessment in the context of a postgraduate course in wireless communications demonstrates the educational benefits of the approach.
 

Undergraduate Students’ Adoption of Website-service Quality by Applying the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) in Jordan

By Mohammed-Issa Riad Jaradat and Marie Banikhaled

Abstract
Websites design and quality becomes a critical success factor especially for Electronic University (E-University) and/or Mobile University (M-University) as a part of E-Government and/or M-Government; because websites are the main interface between the universities and its students and stakeholders. This study presents factors that affect undergraduate students’ adoption of website-service quality by applying the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) in Jordan. The proposed model was empirically tested using data collected from a survey containing 24 questions. Out of the 450 questionnaires that were randomly distributed, 422 were returned (93.8%). The structural equation modeling technique (SEM), by using the WarpPLS 3.0 software, was used to evaluate the causal model. Results show that student adoption and use of university website services can be predicted from the students’ behavioral intentions, which are affected significantly by performance expectancy and effort expectancy. The results show that social influence, website quality, and facilitating conditions have no direct significant effect on behavioral intention to use university website services even they have a medium grand mean for the scores of responses statements. Finally, as an ultimate aspiration, it was found that there is a direct effect between behavioral intention and actual behavioral to use university website services. Furthermore, the authors hope that understanding the underlying assumptions and theoretical constructs through the use of the UTAUT will assist developers in building, developing and maintaining a university website.

Reliability in Situated Simulations
       
By Una Johanne Engmark

Abstract
This paper demonstrates how the mediation of situated simulations (sitsims) might disseminate an enhanced sense of reality for the user – regardless of the actual amount of authenticity in the reconstruction. Therefore, it will be argued, for sitsims to serve their potential as tools for learning, documentation, source criticism and visualisation of uncertainty is key. In order to increase the reliability of sitsims, this paper suggest an extended use of the accompanying website; a continuation of encouraging user-generated links; and more visualisations of alternative interpretations. Additionally, it provides suggestion for further research on ways to improve reliability by 1) allowing users to alter structures without being constrained by fixed values, and 2) employing colour-coding based on level of documentation. 

Information and Mobile Technologies for Promoting Maternal-Child Health Care Status in Rural Areas of Jordan


By Edward Jaser

Abstract
Rural communities in developing countries, due to its geographical and demographic conditions, are faced with many challenges. One of the most pressing challenges which affect the life and welfare of citizens in these communities are health awareness and health services. It is essential to research efficient and cost effective methods to tackle these challenges and be appropriate for developing countries with limited resources. In this paper, we report our findings from implementing a number of ICT interventions to promote maternal-child health care status in rural areas of Jordan. Collected feedback demonstrates the benefits of such system in supporting government activities.

Using Mobile Technology for Fostering Intellectual Engagement

By Armando Paulino Preciado Babb, Candace Saar, Chenoa Marcotte, Jim Brandon and Sharon Friesen 

Abstract
Student engagement, and in particular intellectual engagement, has been identified as a key factor in learning at the high school level. While this type of engagement has an impact on student learning in fields related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), it also has a positive impact on the learning of other disciplines such as English, Fine Arts, and Social Sciences. This report describes a set of projects co-designed by teachers and education specialists aimed at engaging students intellectually in each major high school subject area. Student use of mobile technologies, in this case the iPad2, features prominently in each of these projects. Interviews with teachers and students were conducted in order to identify evidence of intellectual engagement, as well as students’ interactions with the mobile device. Data from a survey was also used to identify the level of engagement of students involved in these projects.

Bringing Remote Labs and Mobile Learning together   
Dominik May, Claudius Terkowsky, Tobias Haertel and Christian Pleul

Abstract
Within laboratories in Engineering Education students have the chance to do own experiments and by that gain own experiences in their learning processes – means that they are an adequate opportunity to implement experiential and research based learning. Recently finished research projects - e.g. like the PeTEX project done by universities in Dortmund (Germany), Palermo (Italy) and Stockholm (Sweden) – implemented an opportunity to do experiential learning by using real laboratory equipment without being physically in the laboratory but having access via the internet. A question in this context is, how students can document their learning process and show to others (teachers and/or other students), what they have been doing. Making the whole environment available for mobile devices so that students have access from virtually everywhere and every time is the consequent further development. With this work in progress paper we show what kind of role e-portfolios can play in the learning process and which kind of scenarios are possible using the software on mobile devices. Furthermore, we show that the combination of experiential learning and the use of e-portfolios offer a great potential to promote the learners’ creativity. This unique combination of topics is realized within one subtask of the project “ELLI – Excellent Teaching and Learning in Engineering Education” at TU Dortmund University.

Enjoy your reading!   

Source: International Journal of Interactive Mobile Technologies