Personal Computer Utilization Research Articles

REAL-TIME PLOTTING OF BIOMEDICAL SIGNALS IN APPLICATIONS UTILIZING WINDOWS PRESENTATION FOUNDATION TECHNOLOGY

Abstract: Utilization of personal computers in medicine requires strong emphasis on software performance. Contemporary programming languages give engineers great flexibility in developing applications. Since these technologies are more and more complex, there is a need to analyze methods of achieving desired results taking into account time requirements. This paper focuses mainly on development of plotting module using Windows Presentation Foundation library, which is one of the newest tool for software developers. Aspects of plotter creation for technologically limited screen are covered and conclusions are summarized giving recommendations regarding the topic. General methods of drawing signal on a raster surface are also discussed. Since medical signals in monitoring range consist of frequencies up to about 100 Hz, one has to take into account aspects of signal scaling in order to not to make its important parts invisible. The main problem is that personal computer screen, e.g. a monitor, is purely digital in nature; actually it is the set of pixels (consisting of three components). Because resolution is limited, the signal must be limited in frequency to the range which can be shown at a given plotting speed. This paper describes these aspects of signal plotting as well as the method for virtually increasing pixel resolution by using particular components of a pixel. This paper is a summary giving a general idea of the capabilities of the above mentioned WPF technology and the basis for creating such programs using methods such as: WriteableBitmap method, DrawingVisual method, Canvas Method type 1, Canvas Method type 2.

An exploratory study on academic staff perception towards blended learning in higher education

As the years progresses, higher education has move towards implementing Blended Learning (BL) which is a combination of face-to-face and online mode of teaching and learning which have continued to advance in institutions all over the world. Accordingly, it is important to investigate the factors that may influence lecturers’ perception towards BL approaches. Likewise, there are fewer studies that explored BL in lecturers’ perspective. Therefore, this study proposed a framework based on Model of Personal Computer Utilization (MPCU) theory to examine the factors that influence lecturers’ perception of BL to improve teaching quality in higher education. A total of 413 lecturers across universities, colleges, and polytechnics responded to an online survey questionnaire. Statistical Package for Social Science and Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modelling was utilized for data analysis. The results suggest that social factors affect towards use, complexity, job fit, long term consequences, facilitating conditions, and Information Technology (IT) experience significantly influences lecturers’ perception towards using BL initiatives to improve academic activities in higher education. Findings from this article support institutions in developing an understanding of the factors that can be considered to improve teaching design, as well as in improving IT for teaching and learning purposes.

Determinants of Teachers’ Attitude toward Microlecture: Evidence from Elementary and Secondary Schools

We study the factors that determine teachers’ behavioral intention to adopt microlecture. We collect 500 survey responses across elementary and secondary schools in China and propose a model based on three previous works: Technology Acceptance Model 3 (TAM 3), Innovation Diffusion Theory and Model of Personal Computer Utilization (MPCU). Our results show that perceived usefulness is a significant determinant for teachers’ attitude toward microlecture. Perceived ease of use and output quality significantly influence perceived usefulness, with the latter being more significant. Additionally, external control and computer self-efficacy are found to be factors that influence perceived usefulness. External control is a more significant contributor to perceived usefulness. Overall, our model accounts for 57.1% of variability in teachers’ intention to use microlecture. Out of 11 formulated hypotheses, 6 are supported by the data. The results provide valuable implications for ways to increase teachers’ acceptance of microlecture.

教材開発におけるパーソナルコンピュータの利用について : PC-KWIC高校英語教科書の用例検索システム

教材開発におけるパーソナルコンピュータの利用について : PC-KWIC高校英語教科書の用例検索システム

Diagnosis of Enzyme Inhibition Using Excel Solver: A Combined Dry and Wet Laboratory Exercise

In enzyme kinetic studies, linear transformations of the Michaelis–Menten equation, such as the Lineweaver–Burk double-reciprocal transformation, present some constraints. The linear transformation distorts the experimental error and the relationship between x and y axes; consequently, linear regression of transformed data is less accurate when compared with methodologies that use nonlinear regression. However, linear transformations are widely used. Explanations for this are the facility to determine model parameters by hand calculations, and until recently, the use of nonlinear regression was difficult as specialized software was not readily available to most scientists and students. Because utilization of personal computers is widespread, these constraints are no longer applicable. This work describes how to perform nonlinear regression with the Solver supplement of Microsoft Office Excel. It is easy to use and to view the results graphically. The F-test was applied to discriminate between models. These methodologies are important in any biochemistry syllabus and can be used to create an active-learning environment where students discriminate between different kinetic models and explore their own experimental results based on several hypotheses.

Perception of African Youth on Personal Computer Utilization

The tendency to pursue innovativeness and adopt new technologies has been found more likely with younger individuals and a strong relationship between attitude and personal computer (PC) utilization has been found. However, research in these areas is mainly focused on high-income countries. Do these findings hold for low-income countries? What are the perceptions of African youth on the factors that impact PC use? There is a dearth of micro-level studies that promote understanding about the behavior of individuals in low-income countries. This study looked at demographic data including age, gender, grade level, region, and prior experience among 228 youth from Ethiopia and Rwanda. PC utilization constructs including complexity, long-term consequences, and facilitating conditions were studied. The author found access to PCs at least three times a week and providing structured computer training programs as major factor for increased PC utilization. Computer centers with more female instructors were found to have larger female enrollment. The author also found younger groups (15 year olds and younger) disagreed about PC utilization factors. Implications and directions for future research are also included.

Diffusion, substitution and competition dynamism inside the ICT market: The case of Japan

Under the new information society paradigm that emerged in the 1990s, contrary to its conspicuous achievement as an industrial society, Japan is experiencing a vicious cycle between non-elastic institutions and insufficient utilization of the potential benefits of information and communication technology (ICT). However, a dramatic deployment of mobile telephones with Internet access service such as NTT DoCoMo's i-mode service in the late 1990s provides encouragement that, once the potential is exploited, Japan's institutional systems can effectively stimulate the self-propagating nature of ICT. The rapid deployment of Internet Protocol (IP) mobile service in Japan can be attributed to worldwide advances in the utilization of personal computers (PCs) and the Internet. Thus, a complex technology web triggered by the dramatic advancement of PCs and the Internet and co-evolving diffusion, substitution and competition dynamism has emerged in the global ICT market, particularly in Japan's mobile communication business. The above observations prompt the hypothetical view that, despite a lack of institutional elasticity, recent advances in Japan's IP mobile service deployment can be attributed to a co-evolutionary dynamism between diffusion, substitution and competition inside the ICT market. Thus, policy questions could be how to create such a co-evolutionary dynamism by means of ICT innovation, enriched functions, reduced price and competitive environment. In order to demonstrate the foregoing hypothesis, an empirical analysis of the mechanism co-evolving diffusion, substitution and competition dynamism inside Japan's ICT market is attempted by utilizing four types of diffusion models identical to respective diffusion dynamics.

The influence of attitudes on personal computer utilization among knowledge workers: the case of Saudi Arabia

Since the introduction of personal computers (PCs) in the early 1980s, Saudi Arabia has made major investments in PCs to match its rapidly growing economy. As a result, the PC business has become one of the fastest growing sectors in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Our paper reports on the results of a study which investigates the relationships between end-users' attitudes and PC utilization among knowledge workers in the context of Saudi Arabia. To gain a better understanding of the factors that influence the use of PCs, we adopted Triandis' theory which suggests that behavior is determined by attitudes, social norms, habits and expected consequences of behavior. Our study is based on previous efforts to test the theory's validity in Saudi Arabia. Our results suggest that PC utilization is determined by individual attitudes, personal characteristics, such as PC experience, facilitating conditions, such as PC access and social factors. We also observed that respondents to our questionnaire differ in the level of importance they attribute to the factors hypothesized as influencing PC utilization compared to Canadian respondents in a previous study.

An empirical investigation on factors affecting the acceptance of CASE by systems developers

This paper presents the findings of an empirical study of factors affecting the acceptance of CASE by systems developers. Based on two research models (technology acceptance and personal computer utilization) recently published in IS literature, an integrated model which consists of six variables and incorporates key elements of both models was developed to examine determinants of CASE acceptance. The findings indicate that ease of use has the largest influence on CASE acceptance, followed by long-term consequences. Both transitional support and near-term usefulness do not have a significant direct effect on the acceptance but exhibit their indirect influence through ease of use and/or long-term consequences. The implementation gap was found to have a relatively small and negative effect on CASE acceptance through its influence on ease of use, near-term usefulness, and long-term consequences. Implications of the findings, from both a research and a managerial perspective are discussed in this paper.

Influence of Experience on Personal Computer Utilization: Testing a Conceptual Model

:The influence of prior experience on personal computer utilization was examined through an extension of a conceptual model developed and tested previously. Respondents were classified on the basis of their self-reported skill level and length of time having used personal computers. Three competing ways of modeling the influence of experience were tested: (1) a direct influence, (2) an indirect influence through six distinct altitude and belief components, and (3) a moderating influence on the relations between the attitude/belief components and utilization. The results suggested that experience influenced utilization directly, that indirect influences were present but less pronounced, and that the moderating influence of experience on the relations between five of six antecedent constructs and utilization was generally quite strong. For researchers, the implications are that prior experience with an information technology (In is an iimportant factor to include when developing, testing, or applying models of IT adoption and use. For practitioners, the results highlight the importance of emphasizing applilcability of the information technology to the current job and professional development early in the adoption process, with more emphasis on future benefits as experience is gained.

ＸＶＩ． 放射線管理におけるコンピュータ利用 ６． 電離放射線健康診断におけるパーソナルコンピュータの利用

ＸＶＩ． 放射線管理におけるコンピュータ利用 ６． 電離放射線健康診断におけるパーソナルコンピュータの利用

A study of personal computer utilization by managers

Personal computer (PC) utilization has become an important concern due to the PC's widespread and rapid implementation in the work place. A field study evaluated the responses of 105 managers who were PC users. The research model viewed PC utilization as a function of organizational, personal, computer system, and process attributes. Analysis was performed using Pearson correlations and one-way analysis of variance. The two items with the strongest and most consistent correlation with reported computer use time were user satisfaction with (1) the computer system's contribution to job performance and (2) their level of competence with the system. These findings suggest that PC utilization can be interpreted as a function of its perceived costs and benefits.

The Italian Network for the allergenic pollen monitoring

The organization of the Italian Network for the Allergenic Pollen Monitoring is introduced. This Network is made up of 83 survey stations, 70 of which have operated regularly during 1988. They all carry out their activities utilizing the same methods, which are standardized by the Associazione Italiana di Aerobiologia (AIA). The spreading of the sampling and analysis methods worked out by AIA has been supported by preparatory and specialization courses held all over Italy and having as their goal the technical training of all station operators. The data transfer is primarily based on the utilization of Personal Computers with the aim of speeding up the building of the National Data Bank. Some specific stations, which better represent the Italian situation have been selected to join the European Aeroallergen Network.