Sobah Abbas Petersen

An agent-based approach to modelling virtual enterprises

This paper describes how virtual enterprises (VEs) can be modelled using the AGORA multi-agent architecture, designed for modelling and supporting cooperative work among distributed entities. The model consists of a structure of AGORAs and agents, where AGORAs are facilitators of cooperative work for agents and the agents represent the partners of the VE, the cooperative mechanisms and the service providers. The distributed and goal-oriented nature of the VE provides a strong motivation for the use of agents to model VEs. The main advantages of this approach are that the structure of AGORAs provides a homogeneous modelling environment throughout the life cycle of the VE, traceability of the VE activities and a history of the VE. In addition to these, it is important to point out that, agents being computational entities, the resulting model provides an easy and efficient passage from the model to the computational support that is required by the VE.

PALLAS: Personalised Language Learning on Mobile Devices

Mobile and ubiquitous learning facilitates language learners to continue their learning process outside the formal classroom, when and where they desire. While more and more learning resources are accessible via a mobile device, there is a challenge in providing access to appropriate personalised learning resources. Personalisation and contextualisation are often used as synonyms. In our work, we distinguish between these two concepts and consider personalisation as a part of contextualisation. This paper describes the PALLAS system which enables real life language learning scenarios by providing personalised and contextualised access to learning resources via a mobile device. The dynamic and static parameters for contextualisation and personalisation of language learning resources are discussed.

Language learning: from individual learners to communities

Mobile personal technologies are mostly used to support the mobile learners of a language by promoting anytime anywhere access to learning resources. In our work, we rather focus on the need to look at the communities where the learning takes place and is contextualised. This opens for a complementary usage of mobile technologies to promote anytime anywhere access to other people and the contextualisation of learning resources. In this paper, we present some initial scenarios illustrating different forms of mobility. We then identify key dimensions to understand mobility of learners across multiple communities and draw some initial implications for design of mobile technologies.

PERSONALIZED AND CONTEXTUALIZED LANGUAGE LEARNING: CHOOSE WHEN, WHERE AND WHAT

Mobile and ubiquitous learning facilitates language learners to continue their learning process outside the formal classroom, when and where they desire. While more and more learning resources are accessible via a mobile device, there is a challenge in providing access to appropriate personalized learning resources. This paper describes the PALLAS system which enables real life language learning scenarios by providing personalized and contextualized access to learning resources via a mobile device. The support provided to the learner includes tasks that are personalized and contextualized and tasks that are set by the teacher. Access to learning resources through integration with a Content Management System is also provided. An evaluation framework for mobile language learning systems and an evaluation of the system by three language teachers are included. The main contribution of this work is personalized and contextualized learning resources, where the resources are composed of a variety of sources. Some of the topics addressed in this paper focussed on personalization appears in (Petersen & Markiewicz, 2008).

Extended Enterprise Engineering—A Model-Based Framework

This paper describes the ideas behind an enterprise model-based framework for extended enterprise engineering. The frame work includes an extended enterprise engineering methodology, a reference model and a supporting environment for extended enter prise engineering. It covers the complete lifecycle of the extended enterprise. The approach is based on Active Knowledge Modeling and utilizes the experience of other enterprise modeling and enterprise engineering initiatives, such as GERAM. The uniqueness of the framework is achieved through the graphical representation and the user interface. It is modeled in an environ ment called METIS, which is a software product dedicated for enterprise modeling. The paper presents the objective of the framework and describes the main skeleton of the extended enterprise engineering framework. The ideas described in this paper came out of the enterprise modeling work done in the Globeman21 project.

Agent interaction protocols for the selection of partners for virtual enterprises

A Virtual Enterprise can be described as an organisational form that emerges when individual entities form a team to achieve a specific goal. The ability to assemble the best team is key to the success of the Virtual Enterprise and this imposes strong demands on its formation. In this paper, we present an agent-based model of a Virtual Enterprise, where the partners of a Virtual Enterprise are represented by software agents. We show how this model can support the different processes that are used in selecting the partners. We do this by analysing the agent interaction protocols for the different partner selection processes and by adapting it to provide the necessary agent-based support. We also describe the contents of the knowledge base of a single agent and how it can be used in the selection processes.

Contextually enriched competence model in the field of sustainable manufacturing for simulation style technology enhanced learning environments

In order to remain competitive, engineers need to acquire competences necessary to attain the sustainability objectives that are emerging in the manufacturing industry. The training of current and future engineers needs to achieve two criteria: the learners need to be able to apply the learning into complex, life-like situations and the learning outcomes need to be achieved rapidly. Competence-based and technology-enhanced learning (TEL) in general and serious games and simulations in particular have recently attracted a great deal of attention as they have the potential to deliver on both accounts. Designing learning content for simulation style competence-based TEL environments places special demands on competence modelling. Competences are traditionally defined and modelled using internal-to-individual factors such as knowledge, skills and attitudes. However, designing simulation style competence-based TEL environments, such as serious games, cannot be based solely on these factors. In work situations competences are performed neither in solitude nor isolation. Contextual factors such as organization processes, laws and norms, the market and available technologies significantly influence competence performance. As the simulations in question need to be life-like constructions of work situations the role of contextual factors is heightened. In addition, the content area of sustainable manufacturing is novel, which adds to the challenge. The two main innovative contributions that are presented in this paper are: (1) an enhanced competence modelling methodology which aids in identifying and structuring relevant contextual factors that have an impact on the performance of the competences in question, and (2) the output of applying this methodology, i.e. a contextually enriched competence model in the field of sustainable manufacturing that can be used to facilitate the design of the TEL content for serious games and simulations. The work presented in the paper is a part of the European Seventh Framework Programme Integrated Project TARGET, the main aim of which is to develop a new genre of TEL environments that can be effectively used in engineering education to support future engineers’ rapid competence development in the field of sustainable manufacturing.

Virtual enterprise formation and partner selection: an analysis using case studies

A Virtual Enterprise (VE) can be described as an organisational form that emerges when individual entities form a team of partners to achieve a specific goal. The ability to assemble the best team is critical to the success of the VE and this imposes strong demands on its formation. In this paper, we present an agent-based model of a VE, where the partners of a VE are represented by software agents. We show how this model can support the different processes that are used in industry for selecting the partners. Industrial case studies have been used to illustrate the different partner selection processes that are used in industry. The selection processes are analysed using Agent Interaction Protocols (AIP) to describe the interactions that take place between the different entities.

Model-driven visual requirements engineering

This paper describes the requirements handling process of a set of research projects, the ATHENA IP, and how this process is supported by modeling and visualizing requirement structures. First, users and external stakeholders register requirements through easy-to-use Web interfaces. Then developers and managers utilize an integrated modeling tool for visual classification, analysis, elicitation, and selection of requirements. In this paper, we show how advanced visualization techniques improve and support state-of-the-art within requirements handling. This requirement handling system was first applied in the UEML project, and a variant of it is in day-today use by a commercial software vendor and its customers. We finally describe the overall experiences from use of the system.

Virtual enterprise formation with agents - an approach to implementation

The formation of a virtual enterprise and the selection of its partners is an important process in the lifecycle of a virtual enterprise. In this paper, we present the virtual enterprise formation process as an agent interaction protocol and an approach to its implementation. We have focused on the selection of partners within the formation process in order to understand these interactions and the contents of the messages that are exchanged between the agents. Based on this, we describe how the AGORA multi-agent architecture can be used to support the formation of a virtual enterprise.