Online Collaborative System Research Articles

Conceptual Design of a 3D Visualization Platform for Ships Based on Digital Twin Technology

Addressing the challenges in the current ship’s lifecycle design process, such as high difficulty in information sharing and complex installation of design environments, this study proposes a concept design of a ship 3D visualization platform based on digital twin technology. It constructs a web-based ship 3D visualization platform with an interactive interface of realism. The aim is to avoid cumbersome client-side programs and provide a method to showcase and interact with ship 3D models on web pages. This method not only reduces the threshold for ordinary users but also significantly enhances the work efficiency of professional designers. Following the model construction theory of digital twin platforms, it utilizes WebGL technology and the Three.js library to build ship 3D scenes, achieving ship 3D visualization. Functional interaction among modules is implemented using JavaScript, establishing the digital twin of the ship. Test results indicate that the proposed concept design of the ship 3D visualization platform can preliminarily fulfill the basic requirements of achieving ship 3D display, rendering, and interaction on web platforms. The proposed method can support the development of ship online collaborative design systems based on front-end internet technologies.

Privacy-preserving policy evaluation in multi-party access control

Recent years have seen an increasing popularity of online collaborative systems like social networks and web-based collaboration platforms. Collaborative systems typically offer their users a digital environment in which they can work together and share resources and information. These resources and information might be sensitive and, thus, they should be protected from unauthorized accesses. Multi-party access control is emerging as a new paradigm for the protection of co-owned and co-managed resources, where the policies of all users involved in the management of a resource should be accounted for collaborative decision making. Existing approaches, however, only focus on the jointly protection of resources and do not address the protection of the individual user policies themselves, whose disclosure might leak sensitive information. In this work, we propose a privacy-preserving mechanism for the evaluation of multi-party access control policies, which preserves the confidentiality of user policies while remaining capable of making collaborative decisions. To this end, we design secure computation protocols for the evaluation of policies in protected form against an access query and realize such protocols using two privacy-preserving techniques, namely Homomorphic Encryption and Secure Functional Evaluation. We show the practical feasibility of our mechanism in terms of computation and communication costs through an experimental evaluation.

Quality appraisal of systematic reviews of interventions for children with cerebral palsy reveals critically low confidence.

To evaluate the methodological quality of recent systematic reviews of interventions for children with cerebral palsy in order to determine the level of confidence in the reviews' conclusions. A comprehensive search of 22 databases identified eligible systematic reviews with and without meta-analysis published worldwide from 2015 to 2019. We independently extracted data and used A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews-2 (AMSTAR-2) to appraise methodological quality. Eighty-three systematic reviews met strict eligibility criteria. Most were from Europe and Latin America and reported on rehabilitative interventions. AMSTAR-2 appraisal found critically low confidence in 88% (n=73) because of multiple and varied deficiencies. Only 7% (n=6) had no AMSTAR-2 critical domain deficiency. The number of systematic reviews increased fivefold from 2015 to 2019; however, quality did not improve over time. Most of these systematic reviews are considered unreliable according to AMSTAR-2. Current recommendations for treating children with CP based on these flawed systematic reviews need re-evaluation. Findings are comparable to reports from other areas of medicine, despite the general perception that systematic reviews are high-level evidence. The required use of current widely accepted guidance for conducting and reporting systematic reviews by authors, peer reviewers, and editors is critical to ensure reliable, unbiased, and transparent systematic reviews. What this paper adds Confidence was critically low in the conclusions of 88% of systematic reviews about interventions for children with cerebral palsy (CP). Quality issues in the sample were not limited to systematic reviews of non-randomized trials, or to those about certain populations of CP or interventions. The inclusion of meta-analysis did not improve the level of confidence in these systematic reviews. Numbers of systematic reviews on this topic increased over the 5 search years but their methodological quality did not improve.

Reconfigurable edge as a service: enhancing edges using quality-based solutions

The server reconfiguration problem in edge computing under the constraints on QoS can become an integral part of the automatic-early analysis of the edge design. This paper proposes a constraint-based programming approach to introduce reconfigurable edge as a service (REaaS) for edge providers and businesses in order to automate efficient access to qualified edges. The approach guarantees the best-(re)configuration of services by addressing business QoS-based requirements in the form of a constraints-based solution at the early analysis phase. The proposed paradigm for REaaS is discussed in three phases including abstract meta-modeling, validation, and empirical analysis. We also provide automated support to generate clear visualization for edge servers in terms of QoS using a lightweight model checker, Alloy Analyzer. Using Alloy Analyzer, we separately explore the scalability and runtimes of an edge server (re)configuration on a running example and two real-world domains including online collaboration systems and smart homes. Furthermore, the performance of the proposed approach is discussed using three fully automatic SAT-solvers in terms of the runtime with different specified settings. Finally, the miss and hit ratios for different types of services at the same time are compared with a new proposed method that demonstrates % 9.7 hit ratio improvement after reconfiguration.

Taylor's Law in Innovation Processes.

Taylor’s law quantifies the scaling properties of the fluctuations of the number of innovations occurring in open systems. Urn-based modeling schemes have already proven to be effective in modeling this complex behaviour. Here, we present analytical estimations of Taylor’s law exponents in such models, by leveraging on their representation in terms of triangular urn models. We also highlight the correspondence of these models with Poisson–Dirichlet processes and demonstrate how a non-trivial Taylor’s law exponent is a kind of universal feature in systems related to human activities. We base this result on the analysis of four collections of data generated by human activity: (i) written language (from a Gutenberg corpus); (ii) an online music website (Last.fm); (iii) Twitter hashtags; (iv) an online collaborative tagging system (Del.icio.us). While Taylor’s law observed in the last two datasets agrees with the plain model predictions, we need to introduce a generalization to fully characterize the behaviour of the first two datasets, where temporal correlations are possibly more relevant. We suggest that Taylor’s law is a fundamental complement to Zipf’s and Heaps’ laws in unveiling the complex dynamical processes underlying the evolution of systems featuring innovation.

A MOBILE APPLICATION SUPPORTING CITIZENS TO RESPOND AND RESOLVE EMERGENCIES FASTER

Exploitation of modern Information and Communications Technology can raise awareness and efficiently support citizen initiatives and actions at a local level for facing emergency situations before they spread. Motivated by the recent destructive wildfires in Attica, Greece, we suggest Volunteer Network for Critical Situations (VNCS), an online collaborative system for immediate channeling and efficient diffusion of information about emergency situations based exclusively on the contribution of people / citizens located within a small range around the area where an incident occurs. Our objective is two-fold. On the one hand, we wish to demonstrate how advances in technology and communications can be exploited in order to strengthen social solidarity and social welfare. On the other hand, we wish to provide a practical solution, an online social service, for supporting citizens to turn awareness into action during critical situations prior to the intervention of special government agencies and mechanisms.

Visual and interactive tools for a multiple cross-reading of a database source

Interpreting the need to process complex data in contemporary research processes, the research group worked on developing a web-based tool that integrated the potential of the visual language of interactive infographics into the process of organizing documentary sources. After analysing the major tools currently used to search and catalogue data through online collaborative systems and the study of specific examples of data visualisation, the paper presents the project for an online platform that allows researchers to analyse and query data in order to create transversal readings and new narrations that make it possible to interpret the field of study in new and original ways.

The effects of the alternate writing and sketching brainstorming method on the creativity of undergraduate industrial design students in Taiwan

Creativity, one of the important abilities of industrial designers, can help with designing and realizing innovative products. Today, industrial designs require group collaboration as well. To stimulate group creativity effectively is an important issue in promoting the innovation of products. Both the 635 brainstorming method and the C-Sketch method are popular team-based divergent thinking techniques. The former uses words while the latter uses pictures as a way to stimulate group creativity. This study fuses the 635 brainstorming method and the C-Sketch method by alternatingly passing pictures and words in the divergent thinking phase to help group designers with stimulating and integrating their ideas from different aspects for developing innovative products. To help industrial designer groups collaborating to design innovative products, this study develops an online collaborative design system that could support several divergent thinking methods, including the hybrid technique proposed in this study. To evaluate the feasibility of this hybrid technique, this study conducts two experiments. For the results in the first experiment, using the proposed method, the originality and the elaboration of group creativity score significantly higher than that using the 635 brainstorming method, but the fluency and the flexibility do not. In the second experiment, using the proposed method, the originality and the elaboration of group creativity score significantly higher than that using the C-Sketch method, but the flexibility does not. Nevertheless, the C-Sketch method performs significantly better in the fluency of group creativity than that of the proposed method. The proposed method scores significantly higher than the 635 brainstorming method and the C-Sketch method do in improving designers’ creative thinking. Nevertheless, the measurements of the performances on the final products yield no significant differences between the proposed method and the 635 brainstorming method or the C-Sketch method.

Use Wiki for Building an On-Line Collaborative Learning

It is important step to use a new technology for collaborative learning. The aim of this research is to facilitate collaborative learning group, increase a skill of learning, extending the knowledge of wiki in building online web collaborative learning activities system of computer science departments, by development a standards learning using free collaborative Wikispaces. The built system is called ComWiki. The ComWiki is an online collaborative system for learning. Includes delegation and Coordinate of responsibilities between group of members and share their opinions and ideas. The responsibilities such as exchange of views and important information, experiences of different professors with interaction between them. This work is published in http://ccomwiki.wikispaces.com. ComWiki is used mechanism for adding a trust more than others by enhancing online cooperative and collaborative education in using a non-open source Wikispaces application. ComWiki support a protection media for all information to prevent changing by web users and ease of use. ComWiki has a different media of learning like pictures, videos, text, chatting.

Advancing distributed data management for the HydroShare hydrologic information system

HydroShare (https://www.hydroshare.org) is an online collaborative system to support the open sharing of hydrologic data, analytical tools, and computer models. Hydrologic data and models are often large, extending to multi-gigabyte or terabyte scale, and as a result, the scalability of centralized data management poses challenges for a system such as HydroShare. A distributed data management framework that enables distributed physical data storage and management in multiple locations thus becomes a necessity. We use the iRODS (Integrated Rule-Oriented Data System) data grid middleware as the distributed data storage and management back end in HydroShare. iRODS provides a unified virtual file system for distributed physical storages in multiple locations and enables data federation across geographically dispersed institutions around the world. In this paper, we describe the iRODS-based distributed data management approaches implemented in HydroShare to provide a practical demonstration of a production system for supporting big data in the environmental sciences.

Consensus dynamics in online collaboration systems

BackgroundIn this paper, we study the process of opinion dynamics and consensus building in online collaboration systems, in which users interact with each other following their common interests and their social profiles. Specifically, we are interested in how users similarity and their social status in the community, as well as the interplay of those two factors, influence the process of consensus dynamics.MethodsFor our study, we simulate the diffusion of opinions in collaboration systems using the well-known Naming Game model, which we extend by incorporating an interaction mechanism based on user similarity and user social status. We conduct our experiments on collaborative datasets extracted from the Web.ResultsOur findings reveal that when users are guided by their similarity to other users, the process of consensus building in online collaboration systems is delayed. A suitable increase of influence of user social status on their actions can in turn facilitate this process.ConclusionsIn summary, our results suggest that achieving an optimal consensus building process in collaboration systems requires an appropriate balance between those two factors.

Collaborative Activities Management System Model (CAMS) for Web-based Virtual Classrooms

Online collaborative learning systems have emerged as one of the most valuable aspects of e-learning systems. E-learning products that lack features for online collaboration among participants are deemed to be incomplete or sub-standard. Collaboration modules within an e-learning system consist of assets for group communication and work “spaces” and facilities. Activities within the collaborative framework of an e-learning system advances collaborative social interaction and the social construction of knowledge. Participants in an e-learning environment get involved in many activities which if not well coordinated could hamper collaboration instead of enhancing it. Therefore, the need to create measurable tools (models) that can coordinate these collaborative activities and provide up-to-date information or status of individual participant and group participants in collaborative activities within an e-learning environment has become inevitable. This work seeks to presents the design of activities management system model for online collaborative learning systems. The model contains some mathematical models for determining the level of involvements of a participant or groups in online classes (class attendance), discussions, project and polls. Their levels of participation are assigned weights and their aggregate value interpreted to give up-to-date status of their involvement in collaborative activities. The model is developed using WAMP tools.

Multidomain Model Integration for Online Collaborative System Design and Detailed Design of Complex Mechatronic Systems

Model integration enables the automated data flow of design changes between multidisciplinary models and improves the efficiency of collaborative multidisciplinary design. In this study, a geometry-related profile of SysML is first proposed to specify the geometric information of mechanical structure to support the generation of initial CAD models from SysML models. Second, a model comparison-based method is introduced to obtain the model changes to facilitate the incremental update between distributed heterogeneous models. Third, a multidisciplinary design optimization based method is introduced to deal with the design conflicts that hinder model integration during multidisciplinary design. Finally, a five-bar robot is used as a case study to demonstrate the whole proposed method.

Considerations regarding the design of an online collaborative audit system

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to introduce a new concept: the online collaborative audit system, and to design a prototype system at the national level for financial auditors, members of a supervisory body. Design/methodology/approach – Conceptualization, modelling, analysis, imagination, scientific abstraction and review of legislation are the research methods used. Findings – An online collaborative audit system is defined as an interorganizational system which uses the methods of collaborative intelligence among the stakeholders of the audit process (audit firms, auditees, supervision bodies) in a given geographical area (e.g. country) and which is based on the Internet. By assessing the design of the system, we could anticipate that an online collaborative system is feasible to implement. The main characteristics of an online collaborative audit system are geographical dispersion, collaboration between the stakeholders of the audit process, electronic management of the audit documents, online/continuous auditing and dynamic virtual teams, etc. Practical implications – The system presented in this paper aims to cover the research gap which exists in this area and also to produce a change of paradigm in the sense that nowadays the technology allows us to move the audit results to an integrated national platform for audit stakeholders. In this way, the transparency of audit results increases and the role of audit becomes more predictive compared with the traditional way of performing an audit. Compared with the research in the field, the system presented in this paper is innovative in the sense that it not only allows online auditing but also gathers the national audit community in a virtual environment, which allows information sharing and improvement of information access. Social implications – The online collaborative system for audit, which promotes collaboration between a large number of auditors and which is based on the networks of the supervision bodies, could be implemented not only by Romania, on which this research is based, but also by other countries. Originality/value – The online collaborative systems for audit, which promotes collaboration between a large number of auditors and which is based on the networks of the supervision bodies, could be implemented not only by Romania but also by other countries.

ONLINE COLLABORATION FOR PROGRAMMING: Assessing Students’ Cognitive Abilities

This study is primarily focused on assessing the students’ logical thinking and cognitive levels in an online collaborative environment. The aim is to investigate whether the online collaboration has significant impact to the students’ cognitive abilities. The assessment of the logical thinking involved the use of the online Group Assessment Logical Thinking (GALT) test that has been conducted in two phases; before and after the online collaborative activities. The sample of respondents for this study is sixty first year Diploma in Computer Science students from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Perlis, Malaysia where they were divided into fifteen collaborative groups. These collaborative groups were then engaged in a 3-hour session of collaborative activities via the Online Collaborative Learning System (OCLS). The results for this study has revealed that the online collaborative learning has significant impact to the students’ logical thinking levels with the increment of 21.7% high logical thinkers with p-value<0.05 (sig. 2-tailed). Meanwhile, the investigation of the students’ cognitive levels is being done by monitoring the students’ abilities to solve the given questions via OCLS. The questions have been previously constructed according to the Bloom’s taxonomy cognitive domain. The results have also revealed that the students at the early stage of learning programming are able to solve complex programming problems at the cognitive level Application and Analysis. There was also a strong correlation between students’ logical thinking skills with their abilities to solve problems in an online platform with r= 0.631, significant at 0.012.

Online Collaboration Model Using Systems Thinking to Enhance Leadership of Agricultural Undergraduate Students: The Conceptual Model

The purpose of this study was to develop a conceptual model about online collaboration using system thinking process to enhance leadership by a reviewing and synthesizing of the literature concerning about online collaboration tools, system thinking, and leadership skill in agricultural undergraduate students. The framework was presented in three elements which composed of 1) communication, 2) a mechanism for sharing documents, and 3) searching and matching social network members and six steps which consisted of 1) define the problem, 2) analyze factors 3) draw the map 4) research data 5) improve by a group 6) summarize and deploy.

Fundamentals and Paradoxes of Law which Regulates the Religious Education in Public Schools of Rio de Janeiro

The purpose of this study was to develop a conceptual model about online collaboration using system thinking process to enhance leadership by a reviewing and synthesizing of the literature concerning about online collaboration tools, system thinking, and leadership skill in agricultural undergraduate students. The framework was presented in three elements which composed of 1) communication, 2) a mechanism for sharing documents, and 3) searching and matching social network members and six steps which consisted of 1) define the problem, 2) analyze factors 3) draw the map 4) research data 5) improve by a group 6) summarize and deploy.

The Changing Culture of Humanities Scholarship: Iteration, Recursion, and Versions in Scholarly Collaboration Environments

The non-linear and iterative nature of scholarly research processes presents complexities with respect to how online collaborative systems manage versions both within interfaces and at the back end. This article maps out a two-part framework for thinking about versions and versioning in the context of contemporary scholarship and data preservation. The first presents four notable qualities of digital textuality that are intensified by the digital turn, and the second considers technical considerations flowing from these characteristics. The authors argue that the management of large humanities data sets and the design of associated interfaces, tools, and infrastructure need to recognize and preserve the dynamic, living nature of digital cultural artifacts and of scholarship on culture.

Synchronous Interaction in Online Learning Environments with Adobe Connect Pro

Universities now have the potential of Web 2.0 technologies to facilitate learning opportunities to support, communicate and interact with learners of all ages from all over the world. This study focuses on the use of an online collaboration and virtual classroom system, Adobe Connect Pro, in an undergraduate distance learning programme of an international university. Virtual classroom's 74 students of the online Web Programming course including the content of .NET programming with Visual Studio 2012 participated in the study. Course's perceived teaching and learning quality, interaction, instructor's support, live tutorials, technical issues and challenges are reported as the key dimensions of the synchronous e-learning environments.

Designing Prototype Model of an Online Collaborative Learning System for Introductory Computer Programming Course

This paper discusses the design of the prototype model of the online collaborative learning system for introductory computer programming course. The methodology used involves three phases which are the data collection, analysis and design and the implementation phase. Initially, fifty respondents from the first year students of the Diploma in Computer Science in Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Perlis, Malaysia have been randomly selected to participate in the data collection phase in order to investigate the students’ interests, learning styles as well as their learning preferences. The results have shown the need for the development of online small group discussions that could facilitate online communication and collaboration from dispersed location, hence encouraging distance learning education. A design of a structure model for an online collaborative learning system has been constructed in order to support the online collaborative learning activities in a virtual environment. The logical designs of the Online Collaborative Learning System or OCLS are being designed using the object-oriented models which are the use-case model and class diagram in order to show the concise processes of virtual “Think-Pair-Share” collaborative activities. The “Think-Pair-Share” collaborative learning technique that is being used in the design structures has been chosen because of its simplicity and relatively low-risk. Later, the physical design of the prototype model is being constructed using the Web-based technologies which are the MySQL database, PHP and Apache web server. This paper also discusses the impact of the online collaborative learning system towards the students’ performance where analysis has shown that the t-test result had a significant value of 0.01, which is less than 0.05 (sig. 2-tailed).