Sally Smith

Recognize contextual situation in pervasive environments using process mining techniques

Research in pervasive computing and ambience intelligence aims to enable users to interact with the environment in a context-aware way. To achieve this, a complex set of features describing different aspects of the environment has to be captured and processed; in other words situation-awareness is needed. This article notes uniquely three points when modelling situations. Firstly, unlike most existing approaches, context information history should be considered when modelling the situations. We argue here that the current state cannot be understood in isolation from the previous states. Secondly, in order to track user’s behaviour there is a need to consider the context information available in the different domains the user visits. Thirdly, to identify situations it can be problematic to define situation patterns and looking for an exact match as most of the approaches does. We found that the combination of the flexibility of the user behaviour and automated capture of context events provide a very effective solution for contextual situation recognition. In this article we first provide a formalization of the situation recognition problem and then we focus on the potential use of process mining techniques for measuring situation alignment, i.e., comparing the real situations of users with the expected situations. To this end, we propose two ways to create and/or maintain the fit between them: linear temporal logic (LTL) analysis and conformance testing. We evaluate the effectiveness of the framework using a third party published smart home dataset. Our experiments prove the effectiveness of applying the proposed approach to recognizing situations in the flow of context information.

Apto: A MDD-Based Generic Framework for Context-Aware Deeply Adaptive Service-Based Processes

Context-awareness and adaptability are important and desirable properties of service-based processes designed to provide personalized services. Most of the existing approaches focus on the adaptation at the process instance level [1] which involves extending the standard Business Process Execution Language (BPEL) and its engine or creating their own process languages (e.g. [2]). However, the approach proposed here aims to apply an adaptation to processes modeled or developed without any adaptation possibility in mind and independently of specific usage contexts. In addition, most of the existing approaches tackle the adaptation on the process instance or definition levels by explicitly specifying some form of variation points. This, however, leads to a contradiction between how the architect logically views and interprets differences in the process family and the actual modeling constructs through which the logical differences must be expressed. We introduce the notion of an evolution fragment and evolution primitive to capture the variability in a more logical and independent way. Finally, the proposed approach intends to support the viewpoint of context-aware adaptation as a crosscutting concern with respect to the core “business logic” of the process. In this way, the design of the process core can be decoupled from the design of the adaptation logic. To this end, we leverage ideas from the domain of model-driven development (MDD) and generative programming.

An approach to domain-based scalable context management architecture in pervasive environments

In pervasive environments, context management systems are expected to administrate large volume of contextual information that is captured from spatial to nonspatial elements. Research in context-aware computing produced a number of middleware systems for context management to intermediate the communications between applications and context providers. In particular, in pervasive environments, the design of distributed storage, retrieval and propagation mechanisms of context information across domains is vital. In this paper, we propose a domain-based approach to address the requirements of scalable distributed context management, cross-domain efficient context information dissemination and domain-based privacy policy enforcement. We propose infinitum, a middleware architecture that incorporates the management and communication benefits of the Google Wave Federation Protocol, while also taking advantage of the semantic and inference benefits of ontology-based context models. This architecture establishes a robust cross-domain scalable context management and collaboration framework, which has been implemented and evaluated in a real-life application of “SMART University” to support virtual team collaboration.

CANDEL: Product Line Based Dynamic Context Management for Pervasive Applications

In a pervasive environment, it is essential for computing applications to be context-aware. However, one of the major challenges is the establishment of a generic and dynamic context model. Many different approaches to modeling the context exist, but an application- and domain-agnostic context model, that captures various types of context information and the dependencies between them, that could be reused and shared by different applications, and that can be dynamically changed when a shift in focus occurs, is missing. Therefore, we are interested in defining a structure for the dynamic management of context information. This paper describes our notion of context and proposes a distributed context management architecture that supports the development of context-aware applications. It presents CANDEL, a generic context information representation framework that considers the context as a dynamic product line composed of context primitives (CPs). Frame based software product line techniques are used together with OWL ontology to define CPs and to dynamically generate the current context model. Further, using Petri-Nets, we also show how this framework will be used to support context-aware adaptive pervasive applications.

A Perspective on Middleware-Oriented Context-Aware Pervasive Systems

The evolving concepts of mobile computing, context-awareness, and ambient intelligence are increasingly influencing users experience of services. Therefore, the goal of this paper is to provide an overview of recent developments and implementations of middleware-based pervasive systems, and to explore major challenges of implementing such systems. This paper also provides a comprehensive access to the literature of the emerging approaches and design strategies of middleware for providing users with personalized services taking into consideration their preferences and the overall operating context. Middleware systems were categorized according to their internal coordination model.

Can pay, should pay? Exploring employer and student perceptions of paid and unpaid placements:

Students can benefit from applying their emerging skillsets through a work placement, both in terms of consolidating their learning and in gaining a better appreciation of their subject area. However, the main motivation for students in completing a work placement is in their increased employability skills. The aim of this study is to identify the core issues underpinning the ‘paid versus unpaid’ student work debate through a unique opportunity to access student and employer experiences. The study explores motivations, experiences and outcomes from different placement models – both paid and unpaid – for students and employers. Using separate surveys for students and employers, drivers, motivations and experiences were explored. Employers from large multi-nationals to small- and medium-sized enterprises, from profit-making organisations to the third sector, took part in the study. Overall, the data support the argument that placements should be paid, highlighting the benefits accruing both to students and to employers from payment being a component of the placement experience. This is particularly the case when a placement is for an extended period of time and the work being undertaken is equivalent to that of a regular employee. However, the value of work experience to students, paid or unpaid, emerges strongly from the study, and so, finally, the article highlights issues and questions arising for the higher education sector.

Mapping Features to Context Information: Supporting Context Variability for Context-Aware Pervasive Applications

Context-aware computing is widely accepted as a promising paradigm to enable seamless computing. Several middlewares and ontology-based models for describing context information have been developed in order to support context-aware applications. However, the context variability, which refers to the possibility to infer or interpret different context information from different perspectives, has been neglected in the existing context modeling approaches. This paper presents an approach for context-aware software development based on a flexible product line based context model which significantly enhances reusability of context information by providing context variability constructs to satisfy different application needs.

Visualising the future: surfacing student perspectives on post-graduation prospects using rich pictures

ABSTRACT The gradual commodification of higher education in the context of an increased focus on graduate employability attributes together with evolving labour markets is creating challenges for universities and students alike. For universities, there has been significant investment in careers services and, through institution-wide initiatives, employability or graduate attribute development established to support graduate transitions into work. Meanwhile, for students, experience of part-time work together with pessimistic post-recession employment discourses are challenging the notion that a good degree guarantees their future career prospects. Simultaneously, decreasing financial support from the state has resulted in worrying levels of debt for new graduates. This pilot study was designed to gain a fresh perspective of how students imagine themselves following graduation. The study used rich pictures (RP) as a methodology to explore student views of life beyond university in the UK and Canada. Content analysis of the RPs provided insights into their thoughts and anxieties about potential challenges for the future. Students presented both positive and negative visions of their future, with success in achieving a respectable performance in their final degree as the key differentiator. The insights gained are discussed in the context of related research into students’ concerns and university initiatives to support students throughout higher education and then into graduate employment. The findings revealed student motivations, hopes and fears which can inform the development of impactful university interventions.

Towards graduate employment: exploring student identity through a university-wide employability project

Abstract Students have expectations of their university education leading to graduate careers, with universities investing considerable resources in institution-wide initiatives designed to enhance opportunities for student work placements and work-related learning. However, there are large variations between courses and disciplines in student uptake of these opportunities, with limited evidence explaining why this might be the case. Recognising recent approaches which consider student identity in transitions, this study explored student attitudes to work-related learning across a range of subject disciplines. The first phase of the study used in-class surveys (N = 199) to focus on students’ self-identification and perceptions of employability initiatives. Follow-up interviews were conducted to further explore themes emerging in the survey data. The study found that, while some students drew on resources for identity work in their recognition of and approach to work-related learning, access was limited, and university resources were not always recognised or effective. The findings have implications for the design of effective graduate employability initiatives.

Women in ICT: exploring professional Identity on an executive masters program.

Despite years of purposeful activity there is still a shortfall in the numbers of women enrolling onto computing courses in the UK and elsewhere, while many who join the profession then leave. This ‘leaky-pipeline’ phenomenon is a concern for employers and reduces the pool of role models for the next generation of women. Finding out more about how women move into computing roles and how their careers progress may help us understand the role of computer science education in improving the talent pipeline of women. The purpose of this study was to explore the experience of a small group of women in computing and technology roles as they undertook an innovative work-based MSc in Strategic ICT Leadership with a view to gaining insights into how they view themselves as ICT professionals to add to existing work on gender and ICT. The Masters course is designed for experienced ICT professionals and covers key concepts such as ICT strategy, governance and ICT system delivery as a means to develop personal leadership. The award is of value in terms of skills development and also external recognition for the students. Adopting the lens of identity as a way of framing their experiences, the study explores how these women construct and adapt their professional identities as their professional roles change. To ascertain how effective the course was in meeting its aim to transform the ways students self-identify as professionals, the paper reviews the literature on professional identity in the ICT sector and considers two specific research questions; how do women in ICT roles construct their professional identities as they move into leadership roles, and what factors contribute to the adaptation of identity? Semi-structured interviews deploying the life narrative approach uncovered insights into motivations and values held by women in leadership roles in ICT. Significantly, gender continues to impact the way professional women construct and redefine their identities as their careers develop. Professional identity was found to be closely aligned with organizational identity, with women showing clear commitment to organizational identities and allegiance to organizational mission and goals. The study also found that their leadership styles, in the absence of prototypical leaders, reflected their personal values. The importance of professional networks was highlighted and the course itself created new professional networks for the students. The study proposes that universities and employers should consider, through course innovation, the transformational potential of Executive Masters courses as a means to support individual self-definition as ICT leaders.