Introduction
Web 2d dan 3d menerangkan persekitaran tentang bagaimana perilaku manusia tentang model yang dibina untuk persekitaran tempat. Manakala web semantik menerangkan tentang penggunaan antologi dan adaptif . Melalui kebanyakkan maklumat akan diproses di komputer dan setiap maklumat dibahagikan kepada setiap sistem. Kedua-dua maklumat ini penting dalam meningkatkan ciri-ciri penggunaan web teknologi dalam kehidupan manusia. Melalui web 3d dan 2d manusia apat mengetahui tentang stuktur bangunan di kawasan yang mereka kehendaki. Manakala web semantik adalah untuk memudahkan penggunaan sistem web dengan penggunaan sistem antologi dan adaptif.
Pengaruh pada Adopsi Syarikat Teknologi Web. pula adalah dengan pengunaan sistem e-commerce.Sistem ini adalah berasaskan e-dagang. Iaitu syarikat boleh menjual produk mereka mnelalui internet dengan pantas. Ia berbeza pula dengan sistem web base teknologi kerana ia tertumpu kepada untuk menyimpan maklumat dalam rakaian internet di tempat tersebut dan juga penggunaan v-net yang berkesan. Penggunaan web teknologi mereka ini berebeza antara satu sama lain. Manakala journal yang ke 5 pula menerangkan tentang pengunaan web internet sebagai pelayar maklumat daripada sistem web server. Yang mengandungi berjuta data web .Ia adalah sistem Web Aktif Technologies.Pengenalan bagi web teknologi ni memiliki pelbagai kegunaan dan pemahaman ia yang tersendiri pada setiap journal yang berbeza.
Diskusi
Di dalam perbincangan tentang web teknologi ini. Terdapat 5 journal yang akan diterangkan .Antara tajuk journal adalah Integrating Web 2D and 3D Technologies for Architectural Visualization Model SVG, Using Semantic Web Technologies for Information Adaptation , Influences on the Corporate Adoption of Web Tecnology, Web-Based Technologies: Reaching their Ultimate Potential on Restricted Budgets, Web Active Technologies.Model SVG membolehkan kami untuk mengimbas dan mengubahnya menjadi
model tertentu yang terdiri daripada sel-sel dan kejuruteraan dalam sistem web 3d dan 2d. Penggunaan simulasi 3d dan 2d dalam web teknologi ini lebih kepada pemahaman manusia untuk mengalami pengalaman mereka dalam bentuk simulasi 3d dan 2d ini.
Ia menggunakan model SVG format bagi menukar model CAD itu.Kemudian kami akan mengunakan model kejuruteraan supaya menjadi model yang akan digunakan. Ia berbeza dengan semantik web yang mengunakan sistem adaptif untuk mencari maklumat pentin g yang dibincangkan dalam journal 2. Sebahagian besar digunakan semantik (dan juga pengetahuan) adalah perwakilan ontologi.Ia adalah mudah untuk berkongsi maklumat dengan banyak antara komputer sistem. Integrating Web 2D and 3D Technologies adalah model kognitif mendefinisikan keupayaan pengguna untuk mengakses dan menafsirkan model persekitaran model Ini adalah gabungan daripada empat komponen:iaitu untuk melihat ,mengakses, menterjemah dan mengakui pengunaan ia.Manakala sistem web semantik lebih kepada pengetahuan penalaran untuk fakta-fakta baru yang berasal dari ontologi dan pemprosesan pengetahuan yang digunakan misalnya untuk mengekstrak semantik daripada tidak berstruktur teks. kemampuan untuk merestrukturisasi pengetahuan secara spontan sesuai dengan respon adaptif dalam Web semantik.
Perbezaan juga berlaku dalam cara sistem penggunaan web teknologi antara journal 1 dan 2 ini. Antaranya Integrating Web 2D and 3D Technologies ini Mesin menjalankan langkah simulasi dengan langkah, dan pada setiap langkah waktu itu menambah pengguna dari pintu masuk dan bergerak semua pengguna dengan satu lan untuk mengetahui, melihat, mencari, dan terus bertambah. penilaian perilaku dan kejuruteraan manusia boleh dibuat lebih mudah dan terlihat sebelum persekitaran dibina.Jadi ia memudahkan manusia merasai persekitaran tempat tersebut sebelum merasainya dalam bentuk sebenar.Manakala sistem semantik pula pengguna boleh mendapatkan perasaan bahawa sistem tahu segalanya tentang dirinya dan mengetahui segalanya rahsia dan nyeri.Masalah ini telah dibahas tentang mesin carian seperti Google. Jadi penguna mudah untuk mendapatkan maklumat cepat daripada sistem semantik ini.Sistem semantik ini mempunyai kaedah lain seperti Anologi. Ada banyak model ontologi digunakan, biasanya dibagi menjadi pengetahuan deklaratif dan tatacara. Ia menerangkan tentang pengetahuan deklaratif yang merangkumi model domain pengguna dan model konteks. pengetahuan tatacara meliputi adaptasi dan model aktiviti .pelbagai jenis domain dan mereka menggunakan, semua orang boleh fokus detail objek yang berbeza dan mencipta ontologi yang berbeza . Dengan cara ini pemetaan dan penggabungan membolehkan berkongsi pengetahuan yang lebih baik.
Seterusnya 3 lagi journal menerangkan pelbagai kaedah yang berbeza dalam pengunaannya. Influences on the Corporate Adoption of Web Tecnology menerangkan tentang penggunaan web teknologi dalam sistem yang bersepadu dan pengurusan yang sistematik. Web based pula tentang pengunaan sistem rakaian V-net yang berkesan dalam penggunaan sistem yang sistematik juga.Manakala Web Active Technologies adalah untuk menguruskan perkhidmatan internet yang berkesan. Melalui sistem Influences on the Corporate Adoption of Web Tecnology telah munculnya Web authoring model tradisional , alat pengurusan meningkat keinginan untuk penerbitan segera, sehingga remeh keperluan perancangan yang teliti, tinjauan ke masa depan, dan sistematik desain metodologi. Sistem ini adalah untuk memudahkan proses menguruskan kandungan pada sebuah file system yang tidak boleh menyokong keperluan, dengan lebih daripada 10.000 dokumen. Tujuannya adalah mengembangkan maklumat rendah pemeliharaan sistem, dengan dikendalikan oleh pengguna akhir. Merrill Lynch adalah mengganti teks yang berpusat sistem maklumat Mainframe dengan pelanggan / pelayan dan sistem berasaskan web bersepadu di bawah satu shell antara muka pengguna grafik. Mankala sistem V-net pula tujuan utama kami adalah untuk meningkatkan aliran maklumat dan akses bagi masyarakat pentadbiran dan akademik dalam cara yang mudah dan kos efektif.sistem dengan kurva belajar yang lebih pendek dan sokongan yang lebih rendah dan
keperluan pemeliharaan dari aplikasi high-end. pendidikan bersaskan web. Perbezaan yang diperolehi dalam penggunaan web teknologi dalam 2 journal ini amat berlainan. Sistem V-net lebih kepada penngunaan rakaian maklumat manakala .Sistem Influences on the Corporate Adoption of Web Tecnology adalah untuk menempatkan data maklumat yang banyak. Ia juga bersambun g antara satu sama lain. Jadi keduanya penting dalam sistem web teknologi ini.
Vnet harus lebih dari sekadar sistem portal. v-net direka oleh pelayan untuk pelbagai cara kegunaan. V-net adalah aplikasi yang kompleks dan unik dalam relatif jumlah masa yang singkat. Influences on the Corporate Adoption of Web Tecnology dapat meminimumkan sistem sokongan personel. Web ini juga dokumen penting yang berkaitan dengan untuk fungsi kejadian, pengurusan, penghantaran, dan muat turun. Ia juga meningkatkan fungsi untuk menguruskan koleksi, fungsi pengurusan dokumen penyokong seperti kawalan akses, struktur dan kandungan kawalan versi, kawalan konkurensi, notis perubahan, dan fungsi pengurusan link mengintegrasikan dalam pelayan Web.Manakala Journal 5 yang terakhir menerangkan tentang teknologi internet aktif. Web aktif berkembang dalam arah berikut iaitu perkhidmatan web, Semantic Web dan fungsional tunggal kosa kata XML. XML fungsional menyokong penghantaran lebih cepat daripada aplikasi di atas.Internet aktif adalah aplikasi penting dalam menguruskan sistem perhidmatan web. Ia adalah sebuah model perkhidmatan yang menggambarkan sifat yang melibatkan pelaksanaan perkhidmatan yang berkesan. Jadi perbezaan antara ketiga journal ini juga adalah berkait rapat antara satu sama lain dalam web teknologi.Iaitu menyimpan data , membuat rakaian dan mengruskan maklumat web.
REKOMENDASI
Pengaruh Pembangunan Teknologi
Salah satu faktor yang sangat mencabar pencipta teknologi baru telah tersedianya maklumat tentang bagaimana membuat teknologi ini boleh diakses. Sangat sedikit yang profesional, atau seharusnya diharapkan memiliki, kepercayaan untuk memiliki kesedaran yang cukup tentang implikasi aksesibilitas desain mereka. Journal 1 menerangkan tentang pengunaan teknologi baru virtual 3d dan 2d dalam simulasi pergerakkan.Ia juga melaksanakan SVG, yang merupakan bahasa untuk menerangkan graf dua dimensi dalam XML. Model Virtual pengguna merangkumi tiga komponen utama: pemodelan geometrik dan kawalan gerak, kognitif pemodelan, dan pemodelan perilaku. Pemodelan geometrik dan kawalan gerakan Virtual Pengguna menerangkan tentang pemodelan geometrik merangkumi 2D dan 3D modeling . Untuk tujuan ujian, ia menggunakan hanya dua
Virtual Pengguna: Bob dan Nancy. . Mesin simulasi menggunakan toolkit Batik SVG dengan
Java2D rendering mesin, dan Document Object Model (DOM) untuk melintasi pohon elemen desain. Mencipta usabilitybased model persekitaran. Kami bermula dari lapisan berasaskan CAD model, dan model dikonversi ke model SVG menengah. Ia berbeza dengan journal 2 yan g mengunakan teknologi Adaptif Web dan Ontologi. Ia juga persamaan pengunaan teknologi dari journal 5 . Kebanyakan penggunaan adaptasi adalah penting dalam e-learning. Belajar program boleh disesuaikan dengan keutamaan masing-masing pelajar, ramalan, belajar perkembangan dan gaya kognitif. web adaptif dapat memberikan pelbagai detail jumlah dan kandungan untuk jururawat dan doktor.
Ontologi pula sebagai perwakilan konseptualisasi bersama domain tertentu dan menyatakan itu sebagai komponen utama semantik web. OWL digunakan dalam sistem belajar teknik, di mana sistem menghasilkan ontologi baru atau validasi yang ada satu. Ada beberapa alat untuk merancang ontologi, Konteks model campur dengan model pengguna, definisi hirarki konsep penting dan keterangan sifat masing-masing Konsep. Para ontologi ditakrifkan dalam DAML-MINYAK atau OWL (Web Ontologi Language), Journal 3 mengunakan teknologi TGA membolehkan dalaman kumpulan pemasaran untuk menyampaikan maklumat pemasaran dalam banyak format dan media untuk kewangan perunding melalui intranet. Manakala journal 4 mengunakan sistem v-net.
Dalam web teknologi ini ada 3 tahap adaptasi.
persembahan( contohnya teks, audio)
kandungan (teks)
navigation(buton,loyaut)
Pengunaan yang lain dalam journal web teknologi keseluruhan
Perkhidmatan web , model Web, adaptasi, v-net aplikasi, Semantic Web dan web keselamatan aktif palatform.
Perkhidmatan web
hujah dikodekan ke dalam Unified Resource Identifier (URI) perkhidmatan, dan hasil yang dibungkus dalam XML dokumen yang pelayan menghantar kembali.permintaan dokumen web memainkan peranan pemprosesan transaksi, antrian permintaan, menerbitkan-melanggan notis event, standard untuk pengekodan maklumat, pendaftar perkhidmatan untuk pengenalan dan keterangan
model web
Ada banyak model kandungan adaptif (e-belajar) sistem seperti SACS Model atau aham.sualisasi, struktur .Dalam model mengikut Wikipedia Adaptive Kandungan System (SACS) ada dua pengguna peranan: Administrator dan Mahasiswa.
V-net Aplikasi
VRECORD
VRecord mempunyai kemampuan untuk arkib, update, dan mengambil nota pantas dan mudah. maklumat disimpan kosisten,
VCLASS
VClass merupakan alat akademik yang inovatif. Dengan menggunakan VClass ciri streaming, profesor memberikan para pelajar mereka dengan video versi kelas mereka
VCalendar
VCalendar memeluwap jumlah sangat besar maklumat tentang janji, tugas, dan peristiwa ke dalam format yang dikendalikan dan mudah diakses. Untuk mudah menguruskan tugas seharian.
VAdvising
VAdvising beberapa mengintegrasikan aplikasi yang ada seperti VCalendar, dan VRecord.bukan sekadar kenalan pelajar dengan guru tetapi sebagai pembangunan akedemik dan perancangan dan program.
Web keselamatan aktif platform
Arsitektur ini berorientasikan untuk memberikan dua ciri penting: monitoring mempercayai sistem kelenjar, dan replikasi dalam maklumat penting.menggunakan ontologi untuk menganalisis parameter dari OS, firewall, komponen antivirus, database pencerobohan dan sebagainya. Mereka tidak akan mengancam sistem keselamatan dengan adanya sistem ini. Justeru itu pengunaan anti-virus dan security penting bagi mengesan penceroboh internet.
Kesimpulan
Kombinasi dari kesimpulan yang dapat dilihat daripada 5 journal adalah. Pengunaan teknologi web daripada kelima journal ini adalah berinteraksi antara satu sama lain. Antaranya adalah Integrating Web 2D and 3D Technologies for Architectural Visualization Model SVG memperlihatkan tentang perilaku manusia dalam sistem simulasi 3d dan 2d . Dengan itu maklumat yang di simpan penting dalam pengunaan sistem Influences on the Corporate Adoption of Web Tecnology. Seterusnya journal 5 menerangkan tentang pengurusan maklumat. Dan journal 4 tentang rakaian maklumat daripada sistem v-net. Manakala journal 2 menerangkan tentang perkonsian maklumat yang mudah. Jadi setiap web teknologi ini adalah amat penting dalam kehidupan manusia. Ia membantu manusia menjalankan aktiviti seharian tanpa kesukaran menghadapinya. Dalam alaf yang baru ini pengunaan web teknologi akan terus berkembang pesat. Dengan adanya sistem ini manusia dapat berhubung dengan pantas dan mudah.
Sabtu, 15 Mei 2010
web active
ACTIVE INTERNET TECHNOLOGIES
Active Internet allows intermediate routers to perform calculations and provide results
up to the application layer. Web applications can inject programs into the Internet [3]. The
most important applications of active Internet stems directly from the need to manage and
monitor the network. Additionally new protocols and innovative cost-effective technologies
are employed at intermediate nodes [4]. In this section we distinguish three approaches to
active networks:
•permanent processing - a program resides in a network core node and is executed
providing some services to the application layer;
•indirect computation invocation: the router or switch analyses the packets that
could contain call to some program that is part of the router functionality;
•direct processing: the packet contains a small program that has to be executed
directly by the router.
WEB ACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES
Active Web is evolving in the following directions: Web services, Semantic Web and
functional single-vocabulary XML. Several Web initiatives and industry projects convert
Web space into active computing paradigm. Web services provide the functions of the
active Web, Semantic Web defines the data types and semantic between them, the
functional XML supports faster delivery of the applications over the Web [2].
Web services
The Web service paradigm is based on two classical models of Internet applications:
the Web model (Web browsers make document requests to Web servers), and the remote
method invocation (a host invokes a method on another host). In the Web service model,
the Web document request plays the role of method invocation, arguments are encoded
into the Unified Resource Identifier (URI) of the service, and results are packed in an XML
document that the server sends back. In addition, the Web service architecture
incorporates functions that are important for distributed computing: transaction processing, request queuing, publish-subscribe event notification, standards for encoding the information, registries for service identification and description, etc.
Semantic Web
The composition of Web services requires the existing services to be encoded in a
semantic form, defined in Semantic Web initiatives [13] The Semantic Web service model
is based on the description, invocation and execution of individual services, each
consisting of several operations. The manipulation of Web services by software
applications is the objective of the Semantic Web, where the complex tasks are formulated
as concepts and relationships between them.
Semantic concepts and relationships are declared in an ontology. Ontology is a
document or a file that formally defines relations among terms [9]. The ontology consists of
hierarchical definitions of important concepts and description of the properties of each
concept. The ontologies are defined in DAML-OIL or OWL (Web Ontology Language),
which is an ontology language describing the primitives in XML and RDF/RDF Schema.
The services are represented as classes (concepts). Knowledge about a service is
comprised of two classes: service profile and service model. A service profile is a class
that describes what a service requires and what it provides. A service model is a class that
describes properties that concern the service implementation.
ACTIVE WEB SECURITY PLATFORM
We propose here the first architectural characteristics of a combined active platform
based both on security Web services and active Internet components. The architecture is
oriented to provide two important characteristics: monitoring of the trustworthiness of
the system nodes, and secure replication of the critical information.
In this paper we present a method for using semantic web to create monitoring web
services that select security information internally and estimate the level of the
trustworthiness (Figure 4). The first type of web service – local trust service - uses
ontologies to analyze parameters from the OS, firewalls, antivirus components, database
invasion and so on. The second type, monitoring web service, is incorporated in a trusted
centre. It corresponds with the system nodes and selects confirmation that they are not
object of security threats.
Active Internet allows intermediate routers to perform calculations and provide results
up to the application layer. Web applications can inject programs into the Internet [3]. The
most important applications of active Internet stems directly from the need to manage and
monitor the network. Additionally new protocols and innovative cost-effective technologies
are employed at intermediate nodes [4]. In this section we distinguish three approaches to
active networks:
•permanent processing - a program resides in a network core node and is executed
providing some services to the application layer;
•indirect computation invocation: the router or switch analyses the packets that
could contain call to some program that is part of the router functionality;
•direct processing: the packet contains a small program that has to be executed
directly by the router.
WEB ACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES
Active Web is evolving in the following directions: Web services, Semantic Web and
functional single-vocabulary XML. Several Web initiatives and industry projects convert
Web space into active computing paradigm. Web services provide the functions of the
active Web, Semantic Web defines the data types and semantic between them, the
functional XML supports faster delivery of the applications over the Web [2].
Web services
The Web service paradigm is based on two classical models of Internet applications:
the Web model (Web browsers make document requests to Web servers), and the remote
method invocation (a host invokes a method on another host). In the Web service model,
the Web document request plays the role of method invocation, arguments are encoded
into the Unified Resource Identifier (URI) of the service, and results are packed in an XML
document that the server sends back. In addition, the Web service architecture
incorporates functions that are important for distributed computing: transaction processing, request queuing, publish-subscribe event notification, standards for encoding the information, registries for service identification and description, etc.
Semantic Web
The composition of Web services requires the existing services to be encoded in a
semantic form, defined in Semantic Web initiatives [13] The Semantic Web service model
is based on the description, invocation and execution of individual services, each
consisting of several operations. The manipulation of Web services by software
applications is the objective of the Semantic Web, where the complex tasks are formulated
as concepts and relationships between them.
Semantic concepts and relationships are declared in an ontology. Ontology is a
document or a file that formally defines relations among terms [9]. The ontology consists of
hierarchical definitions of important concepts and description of the properties of each
concept. The ontologies are defined in DAML-OIL or OWL (Web Ontology Language),
which is an ontology language describing the primitives in XML and RDF/RDF Schema.
The services are represented as classes (concepts). Knowledge about a service is
comprised of two classes: service profile and service model. A service profile is a class
that describes what a service requires and what it provides. A service model is a class that
describes properties that concern the service implementation.
ACTIVE WEB SECURITY PLATFORM
We propose here the first architectural characteristics of a combined active platform
based both on security Web services and active Internet components. The architecture is
oriented to provide two important characteristics: monitoring of the trustworthiness of
the system nodes, and secure replication of the critical information.
In this paper we present a method for using semantic web to create monitoring web
services that select security information internally and estimate the level of the
trustworthiness (Figure 4). The first type of web service – local trust service - uses
ontologies to analyze parameters from the OS, firewalls, antivirus components, database
invasion and so on. The second type, monitoring web service, is incorporated in a trusted
centre. It corresponds with the system nodes and selects confirmation that they are not
object of security threats.
web base
WHAT IS VNET?
One of our primary goals is to enhance the information flow and
access for both the administrative and academic communities in a
manner that is easy and cost effective. To this end, we want a
system with a shorter learning curve and lower support and
maintenance requirements than high-end applications. Other
web-based solutions in the educational market offer
implementation costs in our budget range, but their features do
not meet our requirements.
To be effective VNet has to be more than just a portal system. It
also needs to be a system platform that is very similar in design,
capabilities, and features to the Windows or Apple operating
systems. The major difference is that all VNet applications are
designed to run from the server, and they will mainly be accessed
through a web browser. Hence, VNet is a “web operating system
platform” with most of the basic capabilities a user may expect
from a traditional OS. That is, it has a desktop, applications,
development environment, and a built-in security system.
CAPABILITIES SUMMARY
VNet connects to all major databases (Oracle, MySQL,
Access, Sybase, Filemaker and others).
The server side and client side are compatible with the most
popular operating systems on the market (Windows, OS X
and Linux).
It has a secured and encrypted communication environment
including a virtual file management system that allows higher
file security.
It is mostly based on open source applications that allow
most of the built-in functionality of VNet to be available to
developers for modifications.
APPLICATIONS
VNet’s fast and efficient application development environment
has allowed us to create complex and unique applications in a
relatively short amount of time. We have been able to include
high-end features that are only available from prohibitively
expensive commercial applications. Currently, we have 16 fully
developed applications and others are under design.
VNet applications currently include: VDesktop (user customized
web environment), VAdmin (admin management), VContacts
(contact management), VCalendar (calendar and scheduling),
VRecord (records tracking), VHome (web user file management
environment), VHomepage (web page automated design), VClass
(electronic course management), VReservation (room and
equipment reservation system), VResource (electronic
publishing), VPublication (publication and search engine system),
VNews (news publication), VPurchase (purchasing management),
VReport (report generation), VAdvising (tools for advisor record
keeping and management).
VRECORD
VRecord provides the ability to archive, update, and retrieve
records quickly and easily. Input methods can be web form
submissions or scanned document attachments; yet the
information is stored in a consistent format for easy retrieval and
update purposes.
FigureVRecord also provides a view window with information on the
user’s academic and administration records and notifications of
the processing status of previously submitted documents. In
addition, VRecord can be used as a powerful tool to publish
encrypted web forms instantly.
VCLASS
VClass is an innovative academic tool. By using the VClass
streaming feature, professors provide their students with video
versions of their class lectures through the web without technical
intervention by technical staff. In addition, professors have the
ability to post any course related material such as notifications,
notes, practice problems, and much more on the Internet with the
click of a button.
Figure
VCALENDAR
VCalendar condenses the overwhelming amount of information
regarding appointments, tasks, and events into a manageable and easily accessible format. This application enables the user to sort
all the necessary and important day-to-day functions, to manage
workflow, and to list daily tasks and campus announcements.
VAdvising
VAdvising integrates several of the existing applications such as
VCalendar, and VRecord. The application not only facilitates
advising contact between students and advisors, but it also permits
the creation of databases critical to student academic development
planning and program. VAdvising has the ability to generate
reports based not only on the data created by the user but also
information from other databases; therefore, it provides faculty,
academic programs managers, and administrators a quick, costeffective
means of generating assessments, institutional
effectiveness reports, and other documents central to institutional
strategic planning and student academic management.
As an advising tool VAdvising makes it possible for students to
set up appointments with their advisors and to keep track of each
session. The advisor has his or her own portfolio in which they
manage their appointments, pull up a snapshot of the student’s
academic record from the student records system, see the
student’s request sheet which lists the issues to be discussed, and
make entries into a journal in which the outcomes of the academic
intervention for that session is recorded.
338
ADVANTAGES OVER TRADITIONAL
OPERATING SYSTEMS AND
APPLICATION PLATFORMS
VNet applications run on most popular operating systems
(Windows, OSX and Linux) without modifications.
It allows simpler network access
It has a higher level of scalability and security.
Productivity enhancement offered by VNet enables our
Institution to save time and money.
Users and developers can now focus less on technical
challenges and more on creative and business advancements.
It has a shorter learning curve with reduced overall cost for
data-intensive applications.
IMPACT OF VNET
College of NSM web presence has increased dramatically.
Total hits increased from approximately 2.3 million/year in
2002 to close to 14 million/year in 2003 (+600% increase).
Total unique users increased from around 25,000 in 2002 to
more than 110,000 in 2003(+440% increase).
One of our initial VNet applications, VClass, has
revolutionized the educational environment at UH. Since its
implementation, there has been an exponential increase in the number of faculty publishing course materials and some have gone as far as streaming classes on the Web on a daily basis.
Students have benefited enormously! Research studying the
effectiveness of VNet is currently being conducted at the
University of Houston. The preliminary results indicated
that streaming classes on a daily basis improved average test
scores in science classes by 5-10% percent.
Administrative applications such as VPurchase and VReport
are helping research by simplifying the processing of
preparing purchase orders for research supplies and
equipment. Faculty can now approve purchases from
anywhere in the world.
Collaboration between departments has increased and
duplication of technology efforts has decreased dramatically.
IT funding from external resources to the College has
increased substantially.
VTC is identified at the University as a leader in
technological development. Other colleges and academic
programs within the campus are benefiting from these
efforts.
One of our primary goals is to enhance the information flow and
access for both the administrative and academic communities in a
manner that is easy and cost effective. To this end, we want a
system with a shorter learning curve and lower support and
maintenance requirements than high-end applications. Other
web-based solutions in the educational market offer
implementation costs in our budget range, but their features do
not meet our requirements.
To be effective VNet has to be more than just a portal system. It
also needs to be a system platform that is very similar in design,
capabilities, and features to the Windows or Apple operating
systems. The major difference is that all VNet applications are
designed to run from the server, and they will mainly be accessed
through a web browser. Hence, VNet is a “web operating system
platform” with most of the basic capabilities a user may expect
from a traditional OS. That is, it has a desktop, applications,
development environment, and a built-in security system.
CAPABILITIES SUMMARY
VNet connects to all major databases (Oracle, MySQL,
Access, Sybase, Filemaker and others).
The server side and client side are compatible with the most
popular operating systems on the market (Windows, OS X
and Linux).
It has a secured and encrypted communication environment
including a virtual file management system that allows higher
file security.
It is mostly based on open source applications that allow
most of the built-in functionality of VNet to be available to
developers for modifications.
APPLICATIONS
VNet’s fast and efficient application development environment
has allowed us to create complex and unique applications in a
relatively short amount of time. We have been able to include
high-end features that are only available from prohibitively
expensive commercial applications. Currently, we have 16 fully
developed applications and others are under design.
VNet applications currently include: VDesktop (user customized
web environment), VAdmin (admin management), VContacts
(contact management), VCalendar (calendar and scheduling),
VRecord (records tracking), VHome (web user file management
environment), VHomepage (web page automated design), VClass
(electronic course management), VReservation (room and
equipment reservation system), VResource (electronic
publishing), VPublication (publication and search engine system),
VNews (news publication), VPurchase (purchasing management),
VReport (report generation), VAdvising (tools for advisor record
keeping and management).
VRECORD
VRecord provides the ability to archive, update, and retrieve
records quickly and easily. Input methods can be web form
submissions or scanned document attachments; yet the
information is stored in a consistent format for easy retrieval and
update purposes.
FigureVRecord also provides a view window with information on the
user’s academic and administration records and notifications of
the processing status of previously submitted documents. In
addition, VRecord can be used as a powerful tool to publish
encrypted web forms instantly.
VCLASS
VClass is an innovative academic tool. By using the VClass
streaming feature, professors provide their students with video
versions of their class lectures through the web without technical
intervention by technical staff. In addition, professors have the
ability to post any course related material such as notifications,
notes, practice problems, and much more on the Internet with the
click of a button.
Figure
VCALENDAR
VCalendar condenses the overwhelming amount of information
regarding appointments, tasks, and events into a manageable and easily accessible format. This application enables the user to sort
all the necessary and important day-to-day functions, to manage
workflow, and to list daily tasks and campus announcements.
VAdvising
VAdvising integrates several of the existing applications such as
VCalendar, and VRecord. The application not only facilitates
advising contact between students and advisors, but it also permits
the creation of databases critical to student academic development
planning and program. VAdvising has the ability to generate
reports based not only on the data created by the user but also
information from other databases; therefore, it provides faculty,
academic programs managers, and administrators a quick, costeffective
means of generating assessments, institutional
effectiveness reports, and other documents central to institutional
strategic planning and student academic management.
As an advising tool VAdvising makes it possible for students to
set up appointments with their advisors and to keep track of each
session. The advisor has his or her own portfolio in which they
manage their appointments, pull up a snapshot of the student’s
academic record from the student records system, see the
student’s request sheet which lists the issues to be discussed, and
make entries into a journal in which the outcomes of the academic
intervention for that session is recorded.
338
ADVANTAGES OVER TRADITIONAL
OPERATING SYSTEMS AND
APPLICATION PLATFORMS
VNet applications run on most popular operating systems
(Windows, OSX and Linux) without modifications.
It allows simpler network access
It has a higher level of scalability and security.
Productivity enhancement offered by VNet enables our
Institution to save time and money.
Users and developers can now focus less on technical
challenges and more on creative and business advancements.
It has a shorter learning curve with reduced overall cost for
data-intensive applications.
IMPACT OF VNET
College of NSM web presence has increased dramatically.
Total hits increased from approximately 2.3 million/year in
2002 to close to 14 million/year in 2003 (+600% increase).
Total unique users increased from around 25,000 in 2002 to
more than 110,000 in 2003(+440% increase).
One of our initial VNet applications, VClass, has
revolutionized the educational environment at UH. Since its
implementation, there has been an exponential increase in the number of faculty publishing course materials and some have gone as far as streaming classes on the Web on a daily basis.
Students have benefited enormously! Research studying the
effectiveness of VNet is currently being conducted at the
University of Houston. The preliminary results indicated
that streaming classes on a daily basis improved average test
scores in science classes by 5-10% percent.
Administrative applications such as VPurchase and VReport
are helping research by simplifying the processing of
preparing purchase orders for research supplies and
equipment. Faculty can now approve purchases from
anywhere in the world.
Collaboration between departments has increased and
duplication of technology efforts has decreased dramatically.
IT funding from external resources to the College has
increased substantially.
VTC is identified at the University as a leader in
technological development. Other colleges and academic
programs within the campus are benefiting from these
efforts.
influnce
The Hatter went on in a mournful
tone, “And ever since then, time
won’t do a thing that I ask! It’s
always six o’clock now.” A
bright idea came into Alice’s head.
“Is that the reason so many tea-things
are put out here?” she asked. “Yes,
that’s it,” said the Hatter with a
sigh: “It’s always tea-time, and
we’ve no time to wash the things
between whiles.” “Then, you keep
moving round, I suppose?” said Alice. “Exactly so,” said
the Hatter: “as the things get used up.” “But, what happens
when you come to the beginning again?” Alice ventured
to ask. “Suppose we change the subject,” the March Hare
interrupted [5]. Frequent prototyping during our early efforts to
build a Web information system (WIS) reminded us
of the Hatter’s comment, “it’s always tea-time …”
We often changed design strategies to take advantage
of ever-changing Web technologies, making it difficult
to move forward with “no time to wash the things between whiles.” Also, the advent of easy-touse Web authoring and management tools increased
the desire for instant publishing, thereby trivializing
the need for careful planning, foresight, and a systematic
design methodology.
A Marketing Information System
Wonderland
Merrill Lynch provides financial management and
advisory services to millions of households and businesses.
Through its Trusted Global Advisor (TGA)
initiative, Merrill Lynch is replacing its text-based,
mainframe information systems with client/server
and Web-based systems integrated under a single
graphical user interface shell [6]. TGA enables internal
marketing groups to deliver marketing information
in many formats and media to financial
consultants via an intranet. Subsets of this information
may also be delivered to clients and the general
public.
The systems development team received the following
requirements:
COMMUNICATIONS
Integrating Document Management
and the Web
Alice Marries the Mad Hatter
The traditional Web model of authoring and managing
content on a file system could not support our
requirements, with over 10,000 documents. One
goal was developing a low-maintenance information
system, easily managed by end users. Responsibilities
would be delegated and dispersed to various
stakeholders in the organization. Marketing departments,
products and services groups, editorial, legal,
and technical staff would collaborate through a centralized
document repository, minimizing systems
support personnel.
System Architecture, Challenges,
and Issues
The Newlyweds
To build successful WIS, Bieber et al. [2] urged
developers to observe systematic design methodologies,
integration, and evaluation techniques. As we
describe the highlights of our design methodology within that structure. A challenge was in defining
roles and ACLs without becoming too complex. We
had to balance strict control and flexibility.
Related Work
Supporters of the Marriage
Bieber et al. [2, 3] compare the existing Web infrastructure
to second-generation computing languages.
They recommend incorporating third- and
fourth-generation hypermedia features into the
Web. In addition, the Web lacks in other equally
important functionality pertaining to document
creation, management, delivery, and retrieval. This
concern is also shared by Rein et al. [9] who identify
the need for enhanced functionality to manage
collections, support document management functions
such as access control, structural and content
version control, concurrency control, change notification,
and integrate link management functions
within Web servers. They call for integrating document
management functionality into the Web infrastructure.
Efforts of the IETF Working Group to define standards
for a distributed authoring and versioning protocol
for the Web (WEBDAV) are a step in the right
direction. Whitehead [11] describes the proposed
extensions to the HTTP protocol to provide meta
tone, “And ever since then, time
won’t do a thing that I ask! It’s
always six o’clock now.” A
bright idea came into Alice’s head.
“Is that the reason so many tea-things
are put out here?” she asked. “Yes,
that’s it,” said the Hatter with a
sigh: “It’s always tea-time, and
we’ve no time to wash the things
between whiles.” “Then, you keep
moving round, I suppose?” said Alice. “Exactly so,” said
the Hatter: “as the things get used up.” “But, what happens
when you come to the beginning again?” Alice ventured
to ask. “Suppose we change the subject,” the March Hare
interrupted [5]. Frequent prototyping during our early efforts to
build a Web information system (WIS) reminded us
of the Hatter’s comment, “it’s always tea-time …”
We often changed design strategies to take advantage
of ever-changing Web technologies, making it difficult
to move forward with “no time to wash the things between whiles.” Also, the advent of easy-touse Web authoring and management tools increased
the desire for instant publishing, thereby trivializing
the need for careful planning, foresight, and a systematic
design methodology.
A Marketing Information System
Wonderland
Merrill Lynch provides financial management and
advisory services to millions of households and businesses.
Through its Trusted Global Advisor (TGA)
initiative, Merrill Lynch is replacing its text-based,
mainframe information systems with client/server
and Web-based systems integrated under a single
graphical user interface shell [6]. TGA enables internal
marketing groups to deliver marketing information
in many formats and media to financial
consultants via an intranet. Subsets of this information
may also be delivered to clients and the general
public.
The systems development team received the following
requirements:
COMMUNICATIONS
Integrating Document Management
and the Web
Alice Marries the Mad Hatter
The traditional Web model of authoring and managing
content on a file system could not support our
requirements, with over 10,000 documents. One
goal was developing a low-maintenance information
system, easily managed by end users. Responsibilities
would be delegated and dispersed to various
stakeholders in the organization. Marketing departments,
products and services groups, editorial, legal,
and technical staff would collaborate through a centralized
document repository, minimizing systems
support personnel.
System Architecture, Challenges,
and Issues
The Newlyweds
To build successful WIS, Bieber et al. [2] urged
developers to observe systematic design methodologies,
integration, and evaluation techniques. As we
describe the highlights of our design methodology within that structure. A challenge was in defining
roles and ACLs without becoming too complex. We
had to balance strict control and flexibility.
Related Work
Supporters of the Marriage
Bieber et al. [2, 3] compare the existing Web infrastructure
to second-generation computing languages.
They recommend incorporating third- and
fourth-generation hypermedia features into the
Web. In addition, the Web lacks in other equally
important functionality pertaining to document
creation, management, delivery, and retrieval. This
concern is also shared by Rein et al. [9] who identify
the need for enhanced functionality to manage
collections, support document management functions
such as access control, structural and content
version control, concurrency control, change notification,
and integrate link management functions
within Web servers. They call for integrating document
management functionality into the Web infrastructure.
Efforts of the IETF Working Group to define standards
for a distributed authoring and versioning protocol
for the Web (WEBDAV) are a step in the right
direction. Whitehead [11] describes the proposed
extensions to the HTTP protocol to provide meta
SEMANTIC WEB
On the web there is need to equip content with some meta-information about its
meaning (semantics). Mostly used semantic (and also knowledge) representation are
ontologies. Tagging information with its meaning is useful for many reasons: content is
understandable and reusable by machines [6] and can be easily shared among computer
systems. Another profit of semantics is in information searching, because it enables
searching by meaning not only by keywords contained in content.
Further ontology topics are knowledge reasoning for deriving new facts from
ontologies and knowledge processing used e.g. for extracting semantics from unstructured
text. Another inspirable term from human brain researches is cognitive flexibility defined as
ability to restructure knowledge spontaneously according to adaptive response.
There is a challenge how to appropriately represent various types of knowledge and
domains and how to interact these types when generating adaptive content. Everyone can
express same thing differently.
ADAPTIVE WEB
Adaptive web is advanced content providing and presenting technique. It provides
information on the web according to specific needs of users or user groups [2]. Adaptive
web is opposite concept than unified generic content, same for everyone. There are two
crucial problems in adaptation, at first how to identify these needs and second how to map
those needs to available resources. Most important usage of adaptation is in e-learning.
Learning courses can be adapted to each student's preferences, foreknowledge, learning
progress and cognitive style. Let's give some examples: In first [3] we have ontology,
which is branching structure, representing some knowledge. Then we can generate
learning content, such as slides, in reasonable order using preorder DFS of ontology class'
tree and we can also generate multi-choice test with class-subclass and class-instance
questions derived from ontology. In second example adaptive web can provide different
amount and detail of content to nurse and to medicine doctor according to their
foreknowledge.
Adaptive web technology is also applicable in recommender systems, which analyze
usage of entities (services, products etc.) in order to point out additional relevant and
interesting information or entities. In sales terminology this is called cross-selling.
There are three levels of adaptation:
presentation
content
navigation
In presentation level type of media (e.g. text, audio) or its form (e.g. visualization,
structure) is adapted. Blind user receives audio content instead of text; graphical symbols
are replaced by text description for text terminals etc.
In content level amount and detail of information is adapted. Alternatively completely
different content can be provided for different inputs. Example of content adaptation was
mentioned above.
Last level of adaptation is navigation one. Links are enabled or disabled, visible or
hidden, reordered or annotated according to appropriate or recommended next steps in
content absorbing by user. When system realizes that all prerequisites are learned,
following course can be recommended. Well-known type of navigation adaptation is
semaphore technique. Links are annotated by red, yellow or green symbol according to
appropriateness of such link for current user.
Information is adapted by user and context inputs. User input is related to user model
ontology mentioned below. Main factors of user inputs are his/her preferences, desired
goals, cognitive and learning style, foreknowledge and learning progress.
Context input is related to context model ontology. It can be very close to user input
in some cases. Let's give some examples: content can be adapted to device and its
properties e.g. PDA or mobile phone due to its limited-size display, in second example
presentation can be adapted according to user handicap e.g. audio representation for blind
user instead of text. We can discuss whether handicap is context or user input, but we
consider division of user as inner input and context as outer input and reason this way that
handicap is not something that comes from user inside.
There are many models for adaptive content (e-learning) systems such as SACS
model [1] or AHAM.
In model according to Simple Adaptive Content System (SACS) there are two user
roles: Administrator and Student. Administrator configures the system and adds new
content. Student is browsing available content and his/her study state is monitored by
system in order to offering most appropriate content,
WHAT is adapted
ACCORDING TO WHAT
HOW is adaptation made
In earlier model WHAT was represented by domain model, describing adaptable
content, ACCORDING TO WHAT was represented by user model, describing user
preferences, foreknowledge, cognitive and learning style and learning progress. Finally HOW was represented by adaptation model, rules that defines adaptation process itself. In later model according to new needs model was modified: ACCORDING TO WHAT is divided into user and context model and HOW is divided into activity and adaptation model (see Figure 2). Context model describes outer inputs entering to adaptation
process. There can be privacy issue in adaptive web, because of conflict between most possible adaptation of content according to individual user on the one side and his/her privacy on the other side. User can get feeling that systems know everything about him/her and knows all his/her secrets and pains. This problem was discussed about adaptable search engines such as Google.
ONTOLOGY
Sampson [6] defines ontology as representation of shared conceptualization of
particular domain and declares it as major semantic web component.
Because of instances are not reusable, we need to represent knowledge itself [5].
Usual representation of knowledge is branching structure e.g. concept graph, semantic net or mind-map, so ontology is also branching, defining classes and properties. In graph representation generating of new domains can be made using graph transformations. There are many ontology models used, usually divided into declarative and procedural knowledge. Declarative knowledge includes domain model (content, WHAT level of AHAM) and user and context models (ACCORDING TO WHAT). Procedural knowledge includes adaptation and activity models (HOW).
User model captures learner profile, and provides the information on which adaptivity
is based [3]. There are many specifications to describe user model based on XML e.g.
UserML, which was not accepted by community anyway, OWL and RDF(S) and some special like PAPI, LIP and ACCLIP [5]. User model can be predefined, e.g. according to expected profiles of user or adaptive according to individual user’s behavior. User model can learn from actively provided information (like configuring preferences or collaborative tagging) or passively from user’s interaction and behavior.
Domain model is internally represented by RDF(S) or special Web Ontology
Language (OWL). Domain model (and even user model) can be also imported from relation database [7]. It could be hard to describe domains appropriately because of its vast heterogeneity. OWL is used in system learning techniques, where system is
generating new ontology or is validating existing one. There are some tools for designing ontology e.g. Protégé.
Context model interfere with user model, we can consider user's handicap is in
context model instead of user model. Another example of context model is target device dependence (content needs to be adapted for display with reduced color depth or for device with limited transfer rates). Activity and adaptation model are procedural types of knowledge and both describe HOW adapt the content. Adaptation model is set of rules usually mapping domain, user
and context model (domain) to adapted content parts (range). For its description rule
based languages such as Lisp or Prolog is used or there are special semantic web
languages e.g. RIF (Rule Interchange Format), which is used mainly for interchange and rule languages conversion; SWRL (Semantic Web Rule Language) or OCL (Object Constraint Language).
We should mention importance of ontology mapping and merging [4]. Because of
various types of domains and their using, everyone can focus different detail of object and create different ontology. Mapping helps to find relevant classes in both ontologies. In this way mapping and merging enables better knowledge sharing. There are some tools for ontology mapping e.g. Pellet plug-in into Protégé ontology designing software.
meaning (semantics). Mostly used semantic (and also knowledge) representation are
ontologies. Tagging information with its meaning is useful for many reasons: content is
understandable and reusable by machines [6] and can be easily shared among computer
systems. Another profit of semantics is in information searching, because it enables
searching by meaning not only by keywords contained in content.
Further ontology topics are knowledge reasoning for deriving new facts from
ontologies and knowledge processing used e.g. for extracting semantics from unstructured
text. Another inspirable term from human brain researches is cognitive flexibility defined as
ability to restructure knowledge spontaneously according to adaptive response.
There is a challenge how to appropriately represent various types of knowledge and
domains and how to interact these types when generating adaptive content. Everyone can
express same thing differently.
ADAPTIVE WEB
Adaptive web is advanced content providing and presenting technique. It provides
information on the web according to specific needs of users or user groups [2]. Adaptive
web is opposite concept than unified generic content, same for everyone. There are two
crucial problems in adaptation, at first how to identify these needs and second how to map
those needs to available resources. Most important usage of adaptation is in e-learning.
Learning courses can be adapted to each student's preferences, foreknowledge, learning
progress and cognitive style. Let's give some examples: In first [3] we have ontology,
which is branching structure, representing some knowledge. Then we can generate
learning content, such as slides, in reasonable order using preorder DFS of ontology class'
tree and we can also generate multi-choice test with class-subclass and class-instance
questions derived from ontology. In second example adaptive web can provide different
amount and detail of content to nurse and to medicine doctor according to their
foreknowledge.
Adaptive web technology is also applicable in recommender systems, which analyze
usage of entities (services, products etc.) in order to point out additional relevant and
interesting information or entities. In sales terminology this is called cross-selling.
There are three levels of adaptation:
presentation
content
navigation
In presentation level type of media (e.g. text, audio) or its form (e.g. visualization,
structure) is adapted. Blind user receives audio content instead of text; graphical symbols
are replaced by text description for text terminals etc.
In content level amount and detail of information is adapted. Alternatively completely
different content can be provided for different inputs. Example of content adaptation was
mentioned above.
Last level of adaptation is navigation one. Links are enabled or disabled, visible or
hidden, reordered or annotated according to appropriate or recommended next steps in
content absorbing by user. When system realizes that all prerequisites are learned,
following course can be recommended. Well-known type of navigation adaptation is
semaphore technique. Links are annotated by red, yellow or green symbol according to
appropriateness of such link for current user.
Information is adapted by user and context inputs. User input is related to user model
ontology mentioned below. Main factors of user inputs are his/her preferences, desired
goals, cognitive and learning style, foreknowledge and learning progress.
Context input is related to context model ontology. It can be very close to user input
in some cases. Let's give some examples: content can be adapted to device and its
properties e.g. PDA or mobile phone due to its limited-size display, in second example
presentation can be adapted according to user handicap e.g. audio representation for blind
user instead of text. We can discuss whether handicap is context or user input, but we
consider division of user as inner input and context as outer input and reason this way that
handicap is not something that comes from user inside.
There are many models for adaptive content (e-learning) systems such as SACS
model [1] or AHAM.
In model according to Simple Adaptive Content System (SACS) there are two user
roles: Administrator and Student. Administrator configures the system and adds new
content. Student is browsing available content and his/her study state is monitored by
system in order to offering most appropriate content,
WHAT is adapted
ACCORDING TO WHAT
HOW is adaptation made
In earlier model WHAT was represented by domain model, describing adaptable
content, ACCORDING TO WHAT was represented by user model, describing user
preferences, foreknowledge, cognitive and learning style and learning progress. Finally HOW was represented by adaptation model, rules that defines adaptation process itself. In later model according to new needs model was modified: ACCORDING TO WHAT is divided into user and context model and HOW is divided into activity and adaptation model (see Figure 2). Context model describes outer inputs entering to adaptation
process. There can be privacy issue in adaptive web, because of conflict between most possible adaptation of content according to individual user on the one side and his/her privacy on the other side. User can get feeling that systems know everything about him/her and knows all his/her secrets and pains. This problem was discussed about adaptable search engines such as Google.
ONTOLOGY
Sampson [6] defines ontology as representation of shared conceptualization of
particular domain and declares it as major semantic web component.
Because of instances are not reusable, we need to represent knowledge itself [5].
Usual representation of knowledge is branching structure e.g. concept graph, semantic net or mind-map, so ontology is also branching, defining classes and properties. In graph representation generating of new domains can be made using graph transformations. There are many ontology models used, usually divided into declarative and procedural knowledge. Declarative knowledge includes domain model (content, WHAT level of AHAM) and user and context models (ACCORDING TO WHAT). Procedural knowledge includes adaptation and activity models (HOW).
User model captures learner profile, and provides the information on which adaptivity
is based [3]. There are many specifications to describe user model based on XML e.g.
UserML, which was not accepted by community anyway, OWL and RDF(S) and some special like PAPI, LIP and ACCLIP [5]. User model can be predefined, e.g. according to expected profiles of user or adaptive according to individual user’s behavior. User model can learn from actively provided information (like configuring preferences or collaborative tagging) or passively from user’s interaction and behavior.
Domain model is internally represented by RDF(S) or special Web Ontology
Language (OWL). Domain model (and even user model) can be also imported from relation database [7]. It could be hard to describe domains appropriately because of its vast heterogeneity. OWL is used in system learning techniques, where system is
generating new ontology or is validating existing one. There are some tools for designing ontology e.g. Protégé.
Context model interfere with user model, we can consider user's handicap is in
context model instead of user model. Another example of context model is target device dependence (content needs to be adapted for display with reduced color depth or for device with limited transfer rates). Activity and adaptation model are procedural types of knowledge and both describe HOW adapt the content. Adaptation model is set of rules usually mapping domain, user
and context model (domain) to adapted content parts (range). For its description rule
based languages such as Lisp or Prolog is used or there are special semantic web
languages e.g. RIF (Rule Interchange Format), which is used mainly for interchange and rule languages conversion; SWRL (Semantic Web Rule Language) or OCL (Object Constraint Language).
We should mention importance of ontology mapping and merging [4]. Because of
various types of domains and their using, everyone can focus different detail of object and create different ontology. Mapping helps to find relevant classes in both ontologies. In this way mapping and merging enables better knowledge sharing. There are some tools for ontology mapping e.g. Pellet plug-in into Protégé ontology designing software.
3d
Environment Modeling in SVG and X3D
We have developed a systematic approach to create the usabilitybased
environment model. We started from a layer-based CAD
model, and converted the model to an intermediate SVG model.
This SVG model allowed us to scan it and convert it into a
discrete model consisting of spatial cells. The cells are then
assigned usability properties according to their design element
types. The discrete space model is also in SVG format, which has
proven to be an effective data structure for environment models
and behavior simulation.
Environment Geometry Modeling
To make the case study simple without losing generality, we used
the popular layer-based DXF format to build the CAD model ofUtilizing CAD models makes our simulation practical and
eventually applicable to everyday design practice, which is the
ultimate objective of this research. Our approach, however, is not
tied to any particular CAD software. Rather, it is designed as a
reusable tool for working with traditional graphic models and
Building Information Models. To apply the simulation to design
practice, a designer needs minimal extra effort to follow a
naming convention for the components of CAD models, e.g.
layers in layer-based models, or objects in object-oriented
models, in which doors, walls, windows, etc. are presented as
layers or objects, respectively. By naming the design components
in an easy-to-follow convention and marking the components’ zbuffer
Environment Usability Modeling
We first convert the CAD model into an intermediate model in
SVG format, and then built a discrete spatial model, which
became our usability model.
To model usability information, we applied SVG, which is a
language for describing two-dimensional graphics in XML (W3C
Recommendation). Using a graphics formatter, a SVG document
can be presented in a graphical way, e.g. a design drawing
(Figure 4). The following advantages of SVG make it very useful
for creating the usability-based model for our simulation:
SVG is semantically rich: the graphical information is always
associated with meaningful textual information. It allows
representation of both graphical and non-graphical data in an
open, published XML schema. Thus a rectangle represents not
only a shape, but also the meaning, which can be a door, a
User Modeling in SVG and VRML (H-Anim)
The Virtual User model includes three major components: (1)
geometric modeling and motion control, (2) cognitive modeling,
and (3) behavioral modeling.
Geometric Modeling and Motion Control of
Virtual Users
Geometric modeling includes 2D and 3D modeling. 2D modeling
is used for behavioral simulation and 3D modeling is used for
behavioral visualization.
The Virtual User’s 2D model is a fairly abstract symbol used for
user model design and checking purposes in the simulation phase.
The Virtual User utilizes SVG format for the same purpose of
presenting both geometrical and non-geometrical information.
As shown in Figure 8, its graphical view is made of a filled circle
and a short line indicating the facing direction of a Virtual User.
Cognitive Modeling of Virtual Users
Cognitive modeling defines the users’ ability to access and
interpret the environment model. It is the combination of four
components: (1) “seeing,” i.e. accessing the relevant parts of the
environment model within a circular area in front of a user in
real-time, and translating them into terms that correspond to the
virtual user’s cognitive model, for such purposes as avoiding
collisions and recognizing an acquaintance or an object; (2)
“knowing” the entire environment in advance to help make basic
decision of what to do and how to behave, much like a frequent
visitor has knowledge about the location and orientation of
benches, so they can seek them out in order to sit on one; (3)
“finding” paths using A* algorithm, which is widely used for
searching the shortest path in games. We optimized A* in our
simulation to reduce the search space from the total number of
cells to a subset of cells within a rectangle with a user’s starting
and target points as corners; and (4) “counting” the duration of a
specific behavior, such as sitting, to make a decision about what
to do next: continue sitting or walk away.
Behavioral Modeling of Virtual Users
Behavioral modeling is the most critical issue underlying the
simulation because it must mimic closely how humans behave in
phase. Public distance is not affecting users’ movement because
other persons’ present can be seen only peripherally in this
distance
Sample scenarios
Combining all the four components: Artificial Life algorithms,
social spaces, environmental effects, and randomization, we built
a user model to simulate individual and group behaviors. The
implementation details will be discussed in Section 4.
The following two scenarios are intended to test how the
behavior simulation works. They reveal that many behavior
patterns can be simulated. For testing purposes, we used only two
Virtual Users: Bob and Nancy. The implementation is achieved
with VRML and Java through External Authoring Interface
(EAI).
Simulation Results
We integrated the environment model and the user model into our
behavior simulation in the run time through a simulation engine.
The simulation engine first loads the environment model and
parses the model’s graphical and usability properties, then creates
a Virtual User group—a list that allows an unlimited number of
user models to be added into, and upon completion of a journey
removed from the list. The engine runs the simulation step by
step, and at each time step (one second) it adds users from the
entrances and moves all the users by one step. The Virtual Users
acquire environmental knowledge through the cognitive
processes (knowing, seeing, finding, and counting) so that the
users know, for example, where they can walk and where they
can sit. Then the engine lets the Virtual Users move following
behavior rules, e.g. shortest path, group movement rules, and
social spaces. The simulation engine uses Batik SVG toolkit with
Java2D rendering engine, and Document Object Model (DOM)
to traverse the design element tree of the environment model [see
Conclusions and Future Work
Our simulation has been considered by A/E/C experts a
significant topic dealing with evaluation of human spatial
behavior that can be made visible before construction. It raises
hopes that future modeling of users in designed environments
may be less crude than it is today. We expect, with our
environmental behavior simulation, human behavior analysis as
one of the most important aspects in environmental design can be
integrated into designers’ daily design practices seamlessly. The
evaluation of human spatial behavior can be made easier and
visible before the environment is built. This will encourage
designers to pay more attention to users and therefore innovative
environments concerning more about the needs of people can be
designed and built. We also expect in A/E/C industry, XML and
Web-based graphics technologies, because of their flexibility and
extensibility, will greatly facilitate the representation of design
information such as geometries, usability, materials or activities
such as design and construction.
We have developed a systematic approach to create the usabilitybased
environment model. We started from a layer-based CAD
model, and converted the model to an intermediate SVG model.
This SVG model allowed us to scan it and convert it into a
discrete model consisting of spatial cells. The cells are then
assigned usability properties according to their design element
types. The discrete space model is also in SVG format, which has
proven to be an effective data structure for environment models
and behavior simulation.
Environment Geometry Modeling
To make the case study simple without losing generality, we used
the popular layer-based DXF format to build the CAD model ofUtilizing CAD models makes our simulation practical and
eventually applicable to everyday design practice, which is the
ultimate objective of this research. Our approach, however, is not
tied to any particular CAD software. Rather, it is designed as a
reusable tool for working with traditional graphic models and
Building Information Models. To apply the simulation to design
practice, a designer needs minimal extra effort to follow a
naming convention for the components of CAD models, e.g.
layers in layer-based models, or objects in object-oriented
models, in which doors, walls, windows, etc. are presented as
layers or objects, respectively. By naming the design components
in an easy-to-follow convention and marking the components’ zbuffer
Environment Usability Modeling
We first convert the CAD model into an intermediate model in
SVG format, and then built a discrete spatial model, which
became our usability model.
To model usability information, we applied SVG, which is a
language for describing two-dimensional graphics in XML (W3C
Recommendation). Using a graphics formatter, a SVG document
can be presented in a graphical way, e.g. a design drawing
(Figure 4). The following advantages of SVG make it very useful
for creating the usability-based model for our simulation:
SVG is semantically rich: the graphical information is always
associated with meaningful textual information. It allows
representation of both graphical and non-graphical data in an
open, published XML schema. Thus a rectangle represents not
only a shape, but also the meaning, which can be a door, a
User Modeling in SVG and VRML (H-Anim)
The Virtual User model includes three major components: (1)
geometric modeling and motion control, (2) cognitive modeling,
and (3) behavioral modeling.
Geometric Modeling and Motion Control of
Virtual Users
Geometric modeling includes 2D and 3D modeling. 2D modeling
is used for behavioral simulation and 3D modeling is used for
behavioral visualization.
The Virtual User’s 2D model is a fairly abstract symbol used for
user model design and checking purposes in the simulation phase.
The Virtual User utilizes SVG format for the same purpose of
presenting both geometrical and non-geometrical information.
As shown in Figure 8, its graphical view is made of a filled circle
and a short line indicating the facing direction of a Virtual User.
Cognitive Modeling of Virtual Users
Cognitive modeling defines the users’ ability to access and
interpret the environment model. It is the combination of four
components: (1) “seeing,” i.e. accessing the relevant parts of the
environment model within a circular area in front of a user in
real-time, and translating them into terms that correspond to the
virtual user’s cognitive model, for such purposes as avoiding
collisions and recognizing an acquaintance or an object; (2)
“knowing” the entire environment in advance to help make basic
decision of what to do and how to behave, much like a frequent
visitor has knowledge about the location and orientation of
benches, so they can seek them out in order to sit on one; (3)
“finding” paths using A* algorithm, which is widely used for
searching the shortest path in games. We optimized A* in our
simulation to reduce the search space from the total number of
cells to a subset of cells within a rectangle with a user’s starting
and target points as corners; and (4) “counting” the duration of a
specific behavior, such as sitting, to make a decision about what
to do next: continue sitting or walk away.
Behavioral Modeling of Virtual Users
Behavioral modeling is the most critical issue underlying the
simulation because it must mimic closely how humans behave in
phase. Public distance is not affecting users’ movement because
other persons’ present can be seen only peripherally in this
distance
Sample scenarios
Combining all the four components: Artificial Life algorithms,
social spaces, environmental effects, and randomization, we built
a user model to simulate individual and group behaviors. The
implementation details will be discussed in Section 4.
The following two scenarios are intended to test how the
behavior simulation works. They reveal that many behavior
patterns can be simulated. For testing purposes, we used only two
Virtual Users: Bob and Nancy. The implementation is achieved
with VRML and Java through External Authoring Interface
(EAI).
Simulation Results
We integrated the environment model and the user model into our
behavior simulation in the run time through a simulation engine.
The simulation engine first loads the environment model and
parses the model’s graphical and usability properties, then creates
a Virtual User group—a list that allows an unlimited number of
user models to be added into, and upon completion of a journey
removed from the list. The engine runs the simulation step by
step, and at each time step (one second) it adds users from the
entrances and moves all the users by one step. The Virtual Users
acquire environmental knowledge through the cognitive
processes (knowing, seeing, finding, and counting) so that the
users know, for example, where they can walk and where they
can sit. Then the engine lets the Virtual Users move following
behavior rules, e.g. shortest path, group movement rules, and
social spaces. The simulation engine uses Batik SVG toolkit with
Java2D rendering engine, and Document Object Model (DOM)
to traverse the design element tree of the environment model [see
Conclusions and Future Work
Our simulation has been considered by A/E/C experts a
significant topic dealing with evaluation of human spatial
behavior that can be made visible before construction. It raises
hopes that future modeling of users in designed environments
may be less crude than it is today. We expect, with our
environmental behavior simulation, human behavior analysis as
one of the most important aspects in environmental design can be
integrated into designers’ daily design practices seamlessly. The
evaluation of human spatial behavior can be made easier and
visible before the environment is built. This will encourage
designers to pay more attention to users and therefore innovative
environments concerning more about the needs of people can be
designed and built. We also expect in A/E/C industry, XML and
Web-based graphics technologies, because of their flexibility and
extensibility, will greatly facilitate the representation of design
information such as geometries, usability, materials or activities
such as design and construction.
Jumaat, 14 Mei 2010
CONCLUSION
While the new techniques and paradigm of Web 2.0 present challenges to Web accessibility, there is much opportunity as well. New technologies bring new abilities, on which we should
capitalize while being response to potential new problems. Web 2.0 and Semantic Web, often viewed as alternatives to each other, actually help to solve each other’s problems. Web 2.0 brings
Interactivity and information sharing, while Semantic Web brings semantics to the process, beneficial to accessibility as well as to the robustness of the combined platform. This is a rich field in which accessibility advocates can work.
capitalize while being response to potential new problems. Web 2.0 and Semantic Web, often viewed as alternatives to each other, actually help to solve each other’s problems. Web 2.0 brings
Interactivity and information sharing, while Semantic Web brings semantics to the process, beneficial to accessibility as well as to the robustness of the combined platform. This is a rich field in which accessibility advocates can work.
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