Fred L. Kitchens

An exploratory study of groupware use in the knowledge management process

– Aims to explore the relationships between groupware use and the knowledge management process., – The activities comprising the knowledge management process are conceptualized as: knowledge creation, knowledge maintenance, knowledge distribution, and knowledge review and revision. The data for this exploratory study were gathered through a telephone survey of managers at Fortune 1000 firm divisions. Based on the prior literature, it was expected that use of certain types of groupware and certain aspects of the knowledge management process would be significantly associated with each other., – The results of this exploratory study show that the groupware tools which enhance or support traditional aural media were significantly associated with most of the knowledge management processes we identified. However, e‐mail is the sole groupware tool that is significantly associated with knowledge distribution., – As an exploratory study, this research highlights some interesting trends in the knowledge management process, and suggests multiple lines of future research.

A new approach for mobile communication: web services using flexible services architecture

Web services are driving the next generation of mobile computing applications by providing a thick abstraction layer that masks the operating systems for any given device from the developer. Major platform vendors are now rolling out revolutionary tools aimed at simplifying the creation and deployment of web services. The authors have created a mobile web service based on the flexible services architecture model for mobile communication. This paper presents a new approach to building flexible services architecture (FSA) based web services, and outlines the details of a sample web service that the authors have developed using the flexible services architecture. The translator web service developed by the authors demonstrates the flexibility and applicability of the FSA. This approach could be quite helpful for developing any web service and for building mobile communication applications.

Financial implications of artificial Neural Networks in automobile insurance underwriting

In the insurance business, two things are considered when analysing losses: frequency of loss and severity of loss. Previous research investigated the use of artificial Neural Networks (NNs) to develop models as aids to the insurance underwriter when determining acceptability and price on insurance policies. This paper is a preliminary investigation into the financial impact of NN models as tools in underwriting of private passenger automobile insurance policies. Results indicate that an artificial NN underwriting model outperformed a linear model and a logistic model. Further research and investigation is warranted in this area.

Web services model for mobile, distance and distributed learning using service-oriented architecture

This paper describes web services and service-oriented architecture and how these new technologies could be exploited to develop integrated software for mobile, distance and distributed learning. The paper also provides details of a prototype translator web service that authors have developed in order to demonstrate the concept.

Emergency preparation and mobile notification through cluster computing

This paper aims to modify and improve the Helbing model to simulate urban settings during emergencies. Using a cluster computer, mass numbers of pedestrians can be modelled as they flee a virtual urban environment. A mobile system is proposed for informing pedestrians of the safest and quickest exit routes.

Cluster-computing as a multidisciplinary instructional tool for business courses

Business schools are often criticised for teaching students high-level theories while providing very little project-based experience. Employers are seeking employees with knowledge not only of business concepts and theories, but also experience in applying theoretical knowledge to a hands-on, project-based experience. The authors have addressed this complaint by building a cluster computer that was used as a multidisciplinary instructional tool to provide students a hands-on learning opportunity. Beyond its use in an MIS course in clustering techniques and applications, the cluster was used an a multidisciplinary instructional tool in other business courses. Such courses include networking, programming, introduction to MIS, security, statistics, artificial intelligence, advanced database, system analysis and design and other areas. This paper presents details of cluster computing and how cluster computing as a multidisciplinary instructional tool could be exploited to provide students with hands-on learning opportunities. The analysis suggests that the experiment had a positive impact on student learning.

An exploratory study of student confidence in using electronic books as learning tools

This paper examines differences in college student confidence towards using electronic books between 2007 and 2009 based on parental income. This study was done in response to the growing concern over the cost of textbooks and the increase in the use of e-textbooks to counteract that cost. This study shows that despite a lack of a gap between comfort of use of computers, students whose parents income is above the national median income are more confident in learning from electronic books than students whose parents income is not. Not only is this gap existent but it widened between 2007 and 2009 despite the growing confidence in the use of electronic books by both groups.

Forecasting opening stock prices by integrating signal processing and the artificial neural network: an exploratory study

This study applies the use of an integrated signal processing technique with artificial neural network to evaluate its effectiveness in predicting individual stock pricing. The technique was previously used to predict stock market behaviour with an effective average prediction accuracy of 96.7%. We apply it to individual stocks to determine whether the model has similar predictive accuracy for individual stocks and to determine whether the accuracy matters based on the longevity of the stock availability. Archived data of Kohls, JCPenneys, Apple and Blackberry were used for training and testing the proposed model. The results strongly support the effectiveness of the proposed model with an overall average prediction accuracy of 79%. This accuracy suggests that with additional study, a better model may be possible. This exploratory study expands current forecasting research by applying a recent stock market forecasting method to individual stock price forecasting.

Factors influencing college students' confidence in using electronic books as learning tools

An earlier version of this paper was presented at the 2011 IEEE International Symposium on Technology and Society (ISTAS) at Saint Xavier University in Chicago, Illinois (and printed in the 2011 ISTAS proceedings). This paper examines factors in college student confidence in using electronic books as learning tools between 2007 and 2009. The study was done in response to the growing concern over the cost of textbooks and the increase in the use of e-textbooks to counteract that cost. This study shows that despite a lack of a gap between comfort of use of computers, students whose parents income is above the national median income are more confident in learning from electronic books than students whose parents income is not. Not only is this gap existent but it widened between 2007 and 2009 despite the growing confidence in the use of electronic books by both groups. The results of this study suggests that this gap, and its concomitant widening, could be associated with exposure to computer classes in high school and the choice of major.