Mahdi H. Miraz

Multilingual Website Usability Analysis Based on an International User Survey.

A study was undertaken to determine the important usability factors (UF) used in the English and the non-English version of a website. The important usability factors were determined, based on a detailed questionnaire used in an international survey. Analysis of the questionnaire found inequalities in the user satisfaction and a general dissatisfaction with the non-English version of the website. The study concluded that more care should be taken in creating the text, taking into account the cultural and linguistic background of the users and the use of graphics in multilingual websites.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Special Education System in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A Case Study

The focus of this paper is to study the current information and communication technology (ICT) in special education system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and reveal its issues. This research was conducted by the ministry of education (MOE), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and University of Hail. A qualitative approach was used to reveal the issues of information and communication technology and the special education system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The research was carried out by direct observations of a focus group, conducted during one-to-one sessions. The multiple case-study approach was adopted to increase the reliability of data, with the help of a team of researchers and tutors to reduce bias. In this study we have randomly selected 4 public secondary schools for boys having special education classes in Hail region in the KSA. In this study 50 special students 11 to 15 years old, 10 special educators and 4 special education administrators participated. Study revealed that special students (focused group) are facing huge amount of problems during their study and the ICT is not being used in full extent to help them to get education in order to live independently in future life.

Analysis of QoS of VoIP Traffic through WiFi-UMTS Networks.

Simulation of VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) traffic through UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System) and WiFi (IEEE 802.11x) alone and together are analysed for Quality of Service (QoS) performance. The average jitter of VoIP transiting the WiFi-UMTS network has been found to be lower than that of either solely through the WiFi and the UMTS networks. It is normally expected to be higher than traversing through the WiFi network only. Both the MOS (Mean Opinion Score) and the packet end-to-end delay were also found to be much lower than expected through the heterogeneous WiFi-UMTS network.

Blockchain Enabled Enhanced IoT Ecosystem Security

Blockchain (BC), the technology behind the Bitcoin cryptocurrency system, is starting to be adopted for ensuring enhanced security and privacy in the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem. Fervent research is currently being focused in both academia and industry in this domain. Proof of Work (PoW), a cryptographic puzzle, plays a vital role in ensuring BC security by maintaining a digital ledger of transactions, which are considered to be incorruptible. Furthermore, BC uses a changeable Public Key (PK) to record the identity of users, thus providing an extra layer of privacy. Not only in cryptocurrency has the successful adoption of the BC been implemented, but also in multifaceted non-monetary systems, such as in: distributed storage systems, proof of location and healthcare. Recent research articles and projects or applications were surveyed to assess the implementation of the BC for IoT Security and identify associated challenges and propose solutions for BC enabled enhanced security for the IoT ecosystem.

Internet of Nano-Things, Things and Everything: Future Growth Trends

The current statuses and future promises of the Internet of Things (IoT), Internet of Everything (IoE) and Internet of Nano-Things (IoNT) are extensively reviewed and a summarized survey is presented. The analysis clearly distinguishes between IoT and IoE, which are wrongly considered to be the same by many commentators. After evaluating the current trends of advancement in the fields of IoT, IoE and IoNT, this paper identifies the 21 most significant current and future challenges as well as scenarios for the possible future expansion of their applications. Despite possible negative aspects of these developments, there are grounds for general optimism about the coming technologies. Certainly, many tedious tasks can be taken over by IoT devices. However, the dangers of criminal and other nefarious activities, plus those of hardware and software errors, pose major challenges that are a priority for further research. Major specific priority issues for research are identified.

Success Criteria For Implementing Technology in Special Education: a Case Study.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has made a large investment in deploying technology to develop the infrastructure and resources for special education. The aims of the present research were to find out the rate of return of these investments in terms of success and, based on the findings, to propose a framework for success criteria. To achieve these aims, a mixed methodology-based research was conducted. Our study found that the use of technology in special education could not reach the desired level of implementation. We found that various success criteria such as professional experience and technology skills of special educators, administrative support, assistive hardware issues and assistive software issues, pedagogical issues, and teaching style are the key influencing factors of the implementation process.

Simulation and analysis of Quality of Service (QoS) parameters of Voice over IP (VoIP) traffic through heterogeneous networks

Identifying those causes and parameters that affect the Quality of Service (QoS) of Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) through heterogeneous networks such as WiFi, WiMAX and between them are carried out using the OPNET simulation tool. Optimization of the network for both intra- and inter-system traffic to mitigate the deterioration of the QoS are discussed. The average value of the jitter of the VoIP traffic traversing through the WiFi-WiMAX network was observed to be higher than that of utilizing WiFi alone at some points in time. It is routinely surmised to be less than that of transiting across the WiFi network only and obviously higher than passing through the increased bandwidth network of WiMAX. Moreover, both the values of the packet end-to-end delay and the Mean Opinion Score (MOS) were considerably higher than expected. The consequences of this optimization, leading to a solution, which can ameliorate the QoS over these networks are analyzed and offered as the conclusion of this ongoing research.

FINGER BASED TECHNIQUES FOR NONVISUAL TOUCHSCREEN TEXT ENTRY

This research proposes Finger Based Technique (FBT) for non-visual touch screen device interaction designed for blind users. Based on the proposed technique, the blind user can access virtual keys based on finger holding positions. Three different models have been proposed. They are Single Digit Finger-Digit Input (FDI), Double Digit FDI for digital text entry, and Finger-Text Input (FTI) for normal text entry. All the proposed models were implemented with voice feedback while enabling touch as the input gesture. The models were evaluated with 7 blind participants with Samsung Galaxy S2 apparatus. The results show that Single Digit FDI is substantially faster and more accurate than Double Digit FDI and iPhone voice-over. FTI also looks promising for text entry. Our study also reveals 11 accessible regions to place widgets for quick access by blind users in flat touch screen based smartphones. Identification of these accessible regions will promote dynamic interactions for blind users and serve as a usability design framework for touch screen applications.

Finger Based Technique (FBT): An Innovative System for Improved Usability for the Blind Users' Dynamic Interaction with Mobile Touch Screen Devices

This paper presents Finger Based Technique (FBT) prototypes, a novel interaction system for blind users, which is especially designed and developed for non-visual touch screen devices and their applications. The FBT prototypes were developed with virtual keys to be identified based on finger holding positions. Two different models namely the single digit FBT and double digit FBT were propounded. FBT technique were applied using two different phone dialer applications: a single digit virtual key for the single digit FBT model and a double digit virtual key with audio feedback enabling touch as input gesture for the later one. An evaluation with 7 blind participants showed that single digit FBT was significantly faster and more accurate than double digit FBT. In addition to that, single digit FBT was found to be much faster than iPhone VoiceOver entry speeds in performing similar tasks. Furthermore, our research also suggests 11 accessible regions for quick access or navigation in flat touch screen based smart phones for blind users. These accessible regions will serve as a usability design framework and facilitate the developers to place the widget for the blind user for dynamic interaction with the touch screen devices. As far as is known to the authors, this is a novel suggestion.