Position-based System Research Articles

Screen-Based Sports Simulation Using Acoustic Source Localization

In this paper, we introduce a novel acoustic source localization in a three-dimensional (3D) space, based on a direction estimation technique. Assuming an acoustic source at a distance from adjacent microphones, its waves spread in a planar form called a planar wavefront. In our system, the directions and steering angles between the acoustic source and the microphone array are estimated based on a planar wavefront model using a delay and sum beamforming (DSBF) system and an array of two-dimensional (2D) microelectromechanical system (MEMS) microphones. The proposed system is designed with parallel processing hardware for real-time performance and implemented using a cost-effective field programmable gate array (FPGA) and a micro control unit (MCU). As shown in the experimental results, the localization errors of the proposed system were less than 3 cm when an impulsive acoustic source was generated over 1 m away from the microphone array, which is comparable to a position-based system with reduced computational complexity. On the basis of the high accuracy and real-time performance of localizing an impulsive acoustic source, such as striking a ball, the proposed system can be applied to screen-based sports simulation.

A Criteria-Based Approach to Evaluating Road User Charging Systems

A set of important criteria to consider when evaluating potential road user charging system (RUCS) are identified. These criteria are grouped into five categories: charging precision, system costs & societal benefits, flexibility & modifiability, operational aspects, and security & privacy. The criteria are then used in a comparative analysis of five RUCS candidates for heavy goods vehicles. Two solutions are position-based systems and one is based on tachographs. The two remaining solutions are based on fuel taxes. For each of the solutions we estimate how well it fulfils each of the criteria. One way of making general comparisons of the approaches is to give each of the criteria a specific weight corresponding to how important it is. We show that these weights heavily influence the outcome of the comparison. We conclude by pointing out a number of important issues needing attention in the process of developing RUCS.

Extrinsic motivation, PSM and labour market characteristics: a multilevel model of public sector employment preference in 26 countries

Research findings have been contradictory with respect to the determinants of why people choose a public sector job. In this article we use an internationally comparative design with data from 26 countries to explain public sector employment preference. The study shows that on the individual level, public service motivation and extrinsic motivation are both important drivers for this preference. Intrinsic motivation, in turn, is negatively related to people’s inclination to work for the public sector. Moreover, having a lower income and lower education is associated with a greater preference for public sector employment. This suggests that working for the public sector is seen as a good and safe career option. Our results furthermore show that variation in this preference can only partly be explained by country differences. Nevertheless, in countries with a career- rather than position-based system of public employment, people are more likely to prefer public employment. Points for practitioners Attracting the best and brightest to work for the public sector requires an insight into why people prefer public over private sector employment. This article looks at what makes people prefer public sector employment in 26 countries. Findings reveal that public service motivation (helping other people, being useful to society) and extrinsic motives (job security, a high income, opportunities for advancement) play an important role in this preference. Still, there are considerable differences between countries. In countries with a career-based system of public employment, working in the public sector is seen as more attractive.

Implement the RFID Position Based System of Automatic Tablets Packaging Machine for Patient Safety

Patient safety has been regarded as the most important quality policy of hospital management. The medicine dispensing definitely plays an influential role in the Joint Commission International Accreditation Standards. The problem we are going to discuss in this paper is that the function of detecting mistakes does not exist in the Automatic Tablets packaging machine (ATPM) in the hospital pharmacy department when the pharmacists implement the replenishment of cassettes. In this situation, there are higher possibilities of placing the wrong cassettes back to the wrong positions, so that the human errors will lead to a crucial impact on total inpatients undoubtedly. Therefore, this study aims to design the RFID (Radio frequency identification) position based system (PBS) for the ATPM with passive high frequency (HF) model. At first, we placed the HF tags on each cassette and installed the HF readers on the cabinets for each position. Then, the system works on the reading loop to verify ID numbers and positions on each cassette. Next, the system would detect whether the orbit opens or not and controls the readers' working power consumption for drug storage temperature. Finally, we use the RFID PBS of the ATPM to achieve the goal of avoiding the medication errors at any time for patient safety.

Balancing between the career and position-based systems. Some aspects of recent developments in civil service legislation in Hungary

This article analyses some aspects of the wavering course the Hungarian civil service is taking between the career and position-based systems. Since the turn of the new millennium a number of new measures have been introduced in civil service legislation. These reforms have pushed the employment system of the civil service in two directions simultaneously. While some of the new elements have aimed at dismantling what had been a quite typical career-based system, others have further entrenched it. These very frequent, detailed, but less than consistent amendments to the civil service legislation have resulted in a climate of uncertainty. It remains to be seen which tendency will prevail in the coming years.

Merit Protection in the Australian Public Service: A Comparative Perspective

Both Australia and the United States have reconfigured their public personnel systems to include a central personnel agency and a merit protection agency, but major differences exist in the operations of the latter bodies. The Australian Merit Protection and Review Agency (MPRA) uses a variety of committees to deal with appeals on personnel actions, with promotions being the primary subject of the appeals. Differences between the two countries in the types of appeals and in the appeal processes, themselves, are discussed. In the future, enforcing merit will become more complex as the position-based system yields to a more fluid personnel system.