Said Baadel

Overlapping clustering: A review

Data Clustering or unsupervised classification is one of the main research area in Data Mining. Partitioning Clustering involves the partitioning of n objects into k clusters. Many clustering algorithms use hard (crisp) partitioning techniques where each object is assigned to one cluster. Other algorithms utilise overlapping techniques where an object may belong to one or more clusters. Partitioning algorithms that overlap include the commonly used Fuzzy K-means and its variations. Other more recent algorithms reviewed in this paper are: the Overlapping K-Means (OKM), Weighted OKM (WOKM), the Overlapping Partitioning Cluster (OPC), and the Multi-Cluster Overlapping K-means Extension (MCOKE). This review focuses on the above mentioned partitioning methods and future direction in overlapping clustering is highlighted in this paper.

Facial Recognition Cane for the Visually Impaired

The modern era is accompanied by various traditional mobility aids which help visually impaired to stay independent and enabling them detecting the objects and scanning surroundings. The use of haptic touch, as well as ultrasound, is embedded in today’s smart canes which detect obstacles up to 3 m distance, GPS navigation, informs the user through Bluetooth and earpiece, and guide the visually impaired to direct from one location to another. The evolution of this technology has motivated the integration of inexpensive camera technology within the cane for facial recognition purposes. The concept of developing this intelligent smart cane which would detect obstacles from up to 10 m as well as recognises friends and family faces, was envisioned by students at Birmingham City University. The developments in this product and adopted technologies guide a visually impaired user to detect obstacles and to find an alternative route while at the same time try to recognize any family or friends within the vicinity. These have been reflected in this research paper along with the limitations and wider issues which may come up when adopting the high-tech advances.

Global Triumph or Exploitation of Security and Privacy Concerns in E-Learning Systems

This paper identifies the causes of privacy concerns which emerged when an educational institution launched an automated proctoring technology to examine E-Learners. In the modern era of information, privacy is an integral concern due to its fluid, dynamic and complex nature. In certain situations where it is very difficult to understand the privacy concerns, privacy is often misunderstood by the interactive systems designers. The qualitative data in this research was collected using content analysis approach from 120 online bloggers and useful insights were found; those that pertained to the privacy concerns for E-Learners. The findings revealed both practical and theoretical implications for both the institutions offering online courses and organization designing tools for proctoring.

Technology Adoption and Diffusion in the Gulf: Some Challenges

In todays technologically advanced world, it is crucial that instructors continuously stay up to date with the ever changing uses of technology in the classroom. Technologies transform the way instructors conduct their lectures and present course material, thereby fundamentally altering the way students learn. It is essential that some challenges such as training needs, funding, and dealing with perceptions are addressed and aligned with one another in order to facilitate technology adoption in institutions of higher education. These challenges are discussed in this paper in the context of gulf countries.

Managerial Recruitment Issues in China: The Expatriate Factor

With China becoming the world’s largest economy, it must somehow manage the existing human capital. The problem lies in the lack of managerial talent currently located in China. This paper attempts to look how China is currently recruiting managers and examines the factors hindering the recruitment of Chinese-born and expatriate managers. China is recruiting managers using the same methods as the Western world. However, a strong emphasis is put on a factor known as guanxi. The shortage of Chinese-born managers can be attributed to financial reasons and the lack of education and government commitment. China’s culture is a major factor hindering the success of expatriates as well as the organizational structure in China because of the socialist culture. These issues must be addressed to attract managers into China to successfully compete in a globalized economy.

Weathering the Storm: Financial Variable as a Key Influence to Entrepreneurial Venture Survival Over Time in Canada

Each year numerous new small businesses confidently enter the marketplace but a vast majority of these firms will fail to survive beyond their tenth birthday. Past studies have focused on a variety of external factors such as geographic location and industry size. Despite the effects these variables play over time, a great amount of decisions are made internally and thus it is imperative to consider their impact on survival rates. Young firms with little experience can be heavily disadvantaged when attempting to gain funding within financial markets. Evidence indicates that a vast number of new small firms are forced to rely on equity financing, specifically in the form of internal resources. Beyond retained earnings, firms must rely on social networks in an attempt to solidify relationships with potential investors. Firms require capital to fund future growth but face barriers as turning a profit initially can be quite challenging. This chapter takes an in-depth look into one crucial internal variable, financing, and statistically analyzes its effect on the survival of small entrepreneurial ventures. The objective entails uncovering the causation for such internal downfall and providing such an insight may greatly assist small firms to compete and grow in their respected industries, therefore substantially increasing their chance of survival.

Clustering Countries According to Their Cultural Proximity and Similarity

Clustering countries mathematically according to Geert Hofstede’s cultural proximity and similarity factors is one way of classifying regional communities into well-defined cultural categories. Trying to test this statement mathematically shows that classifying countries or cultures remains complex. The approach shows a lack of an overall scheme and even when common variables exist, it seems that random and coincidental similarity weighs strongly on most variables used in the model. The results emphasize the need for more research in order to support the model.