The digital divide, caused by several factors such as poverty and slow communication technologies, has offset the progression of many developing countries. However, with rapid changes in technology, a better collaboration among communities and governance based on the latest research in ICT and technology has begun to emerge. Employing Recent Technologies for Improved Digital Governance is an essential reference source that provides research on recent advances in the development, application, and impact of technologies for the initiative of digital governance. The book has a dual objective with the first objective being to encourage more research in deploying recent trends in the internet for deploying a collaborative digital governance. The second objective is to explore new possibilities using internet of things (IoT) and cloud/fog-based solutions for creating a collaboration between the governance and IT infrastructure. Featuring research on topics such as intelligent systems, social engineering, and cybersecurity, this book is ideally designed for policymakers, government officials, ICT specialists, researchers, academicians, industry professionals, and students.

New Edition: Introduction to Computational Earthquake Engineering (3rd Edition)Introduction to Computational Earthquake Engineering covers solid continuum mechanics, finite element method and stochastic modeling comprehensively, with the second and third chapters explaining the numerical simulation of strong ground motion and faulting, respectively. Stochastic modeling is used for uncertain underground structures, and advanced analytical methods for linear and non-linear stochastic models are presented. The verification of these methods by comparing the simulation results with observed data is then presented, and examples of numerical simulations which apply these methods to practical problems are generously provided. Furthermore three advanced topics of computational earthquake engineering are covered, detailing examples of applying computational science technology to earthquake engineering problems.

This book identifies and discusses critical issues of ICT innovation at both the macroeconomic and organisational levels, bringing together two hitherto independent fields of study: economics and information systems. The book takes stock of these two fields, highlighting their complementarity in contemporary issues such as business competitiveness and e-commerce, organisational change and industrial restructuring, information systems implementation and technology infrastructure building. The contributions cover a broad range of issues, from analysing policy approaches for fostering ICT innovation at a regional level, to examining the way in which ICT-based information systems and organisational practice are simultaneously shaped. The book elaborates an understanding of innovation as shaped largely in context, rather than 'diffused' from the place of its conception into the place of its implementation. The theoretical perspectives offered by the authors include institutional economics, evolutionary economics, social constructivism, and structuration theory. Collectively, the chapters of this book present ICT innovation as a dynamic process involving multiple actors in multiple locations, codified and tacit knowledge, and instrumental and situated behaviour. This pathbreaking book will be of enormous interest to students, researchers and academics specialising in economics, information systems and ICT innovation, as well as policy and management consultants involved in information systems and development.

The Handbook of Multimodal-Multisensor Interfaces provides the first authoritative resource on what has become the dominant paradigm for new computer interfaces- user input involving new media (speech, multi-touch, gestures, writing) embedded in multimodal-multisensor interfaces. These interfaces support smart phones, wearables, in-vehicle and robotic applications, and many other areas that are now highly competitive commercially. This edited collection is written by international experts and pioneers in the field. It provides a textbook, reference, and technology roadmap for professionals working in this and related areas. This first volume of the handbook presents relevant theory and neuroscience foundations for guiding the development of high-performance systems. Additional chapters discuss approaches to user modeling and interface designs that support user choice, that synergistically combine modalities with sensors, and that blend multimodal input and output. This volume also highlights an in-depth look at the most common multimodal-multisensor combinations-for example, touch and pen input, haptic and non-speech audio output, and speech-centric systems that co-process either gestures, pen input, gaze, or visible lip movements. A common theme throughout these chapters is supporting mobility and individual differences among users. These handbook chapters provide walk-through examples of system design and processing, information on tools and practical resources for developing and evaluating new systems, and terminology and tutorial support for mastering this emerging field. In the final section of this volume, experts exchange views on a timely and controversial challenge topic, and how they believe multimodal-multisensor interfaces should be designed in the future to most effectively advance human performance.

This book argues that the Internet revolution should exert a far more significant influence on economic thinking and on the perception of law. The authors acknowledge that the economic analysis of law provides a potentially powerful framework for evaluating regulatory approaches to the Internet. However, they question the capacity of traditional law and economics models to define the scope of legal intervention, both in cyberspace and in other more traditional markets which have also been influenced by the recent technological revolution. The book examines the conventional application of law and economics, and contends that the new reality of cyberspace transforms the basic theoretical tenets of this approach and requires fresh conceptual thinking. It challenges fundamental concepts such as the notion of work as linked to the workplace, the notion of community as linked to geographical space, the sources of law and their traditional connection with the state, the belief that proxies and representatives are indispensable for collective action and public decision-making processes, and the role of technology and its relationship with the law. It covers the analysis of both economic and non-economic markets, and includes a thorough examination of legislation, case law and the academic literature relating to cyberspace. The authors conclude that there is pressing need for re-evaluating the analytical tools used to study the information environment, and propose an innovative approach for the role of technology within the law and economics framework. This book represents a groundbreaking attempt to critically analyze the suitability of traditional law and economics for the new digital environment. Scholars and students working in the field of law and economics, and lawyers interested in technology, intellectual property, cyberlaw and governance will find this a stimulating and thought-provoking volume.

The evolution of soft computing applications have offered a multitude of methodologies and techniques that are useful in facilitating new ways to address practical and real scenarios in a variety of fields. Exploring Innovative and Successful Applications of Soft Computing highlights the applications and conclusions associated with soft computing in different technological environments. Providing potential results based on new trends in the development of these services, this book aims to be a reference source for researchers, practitioners, and students interested in the most successful soft computing methods applied to recent problems.

Multi-Agent Applications with Evolutionary Computation and Biologically Inspired Technologies: Intelligent Techniques for Ubiquity and Optimization compiles numerous ongoing projects and research efforts in the design of agents in light of recent development in neurocognitive science and quantum physics. This innovative collection provides readers with interdisciplinary applications of multi-agents systems, ranging from economics to engineering.

This is a timely, self-contained introduction to the rapidly expanding field of quantum information and computation that avoids detailed mathematical proofs wherever possible. The author uses a mixed exposition between a popular and technical approach, connecting the standard results of the field with more recent developments.
A complete but not highly technical textbook for students of physics, mathematics, and computer science.

Recently, the event-based paradigm, a burgeoning technology receiving attention in research as well as industry, has gained momentum in the commercial world causing a need for further research in the field. Principles and Applications of Distributed Event-Based Systems showcases event-based systems in real-world applications, providing an overview of relevant terminology and content approachable for readers from a variety of backgrounds. Containing expert international contributions, this advanced publication provides professionals, researchers, and students in systems design with a rich compendium of latest applications in the field.

The book will benefit a reader with a background in physical sciences and applied mathematics interested in the mathematical models of genetic evolution. In the first chapter, we analyze several thought experiments based on a basic model of stochastic evolution of a single genomic site in the presence of the factors of random mutation, directional natural selection, and random genetic drift. In the second chapter, we present a more advanced theory for a large number of linked loci. In the third chapter, we include the effect of genetic recombination into account and find out the advantage of sexual reproduction for adaptation. These models are useful for the evolution of a broad range of asexual and sexual populations, including virus evolution in a host and a host population.

Advances in machine learning techniques and ever-increasing computing power has helped create a new generation of hardware and software technologies with practical applications for nearly every industry. As the progress has, in turn, excited the interest of venture investors, technology firms, and a growing number of clients, implementing intelligent automation in both physical and information systems has become a must in business. Handbook of Research on Smart Technology Models for Business and Industry is an essential reference source that discusses relevant abstract frameworks and the latest experimental research findings in theory, mathematical models, software applications, and prototypes in the area of smart technologies. Featuring research on topics such as digital security, renewable energy, and intelligence management, this book is ideally designed for machine learning specialists, industrial experts, data scientists, researchers, academicians, students, and business professionals seeking coverage on current smart technology models.

As adult learners and educators pioneer the use of technology in the new century, attention has been focused on developing strategic approaches to effectively integrate adult learning and technology in different learning environments. Integrating Adult Learning and Technologies for Effective Education: Strategic Approaches provides innovative instructional approaches as well as relevant theoretical frameworks and the latest empirical research findings in the area of adult learning and technology. This compelling body of research aids professionals in improving instructional training strategies to educate traditional and non-traditional students in today's information age.

This book discusses various applications of machine learning using a new approach, the dynamic wavelet fingerprint technique, to identify features for machine learning and pattern classification in time-domain signals. Whether for medical imaging or structural health monitoring, it develops analysis techniques and measurement technologies for the quantitative characterization of materials, tissues and structures by non-invasive means. Intelligent Feature Selection for Machine Learning using the Dynamic Wavelet Fingerprint begins by providing background information on machine learning and the wavelet fingerprint technique. It then progresses through six technical chapters, applying the methods discussed to particular real-world problems. Theses chapters are presented in such a way that they can be read on their own, depending on the reader's area of interest, or read together to provide a comprehensive overview of the topic. Given its scope, the book will be of interest to practitioners, engineers and researchers seeking to leverage the latest advances in machine learning in order to develop solutions to practical problems in structural health monitoring, medical imaging, autonomous vehicles, wireless technology, and historical conservation.

Artificial Higher Order Neural Networks (HONNs) significantly change the research methodology that is used in economics and business areas for nonlinear data simulation and prediction. With the important advances in HONNs, it becomes imperative to remain knowledgeable about its benefits and improvements. Artificial Higher Order Neural Networks for Economics and Business is the first book to provide practical education and applications for the millions of professionals working in economics, accounting, finance and other business areas on HONNs and the ease of their usage to obtain more accurate application results. This source provides significant, informative advancements in the subject and introduces the concepts of HONN group models and adaptive HONNs.

Consisting of an integrated technology platform, enterprise information systems enable organizations to integrate and coordinate all business processes, offering a strategic area of focus. ""Enterprise Information Systems for Business Integration in SMEs: Technological, Organizational, and Social Dimensions"" discusses the main issues, challenges, opportunities, and trends related to the impact of IT on every part of organizational and inter-organizational environments. Containing expert international contributions by leading field researchers, this publication provides readers with the most relevant findings in the topic of enterprise information systems.

We live in an increasingly interconnected and highly sophisticated society, where the Internet has led to tremendous improvements in the efficiency and effectiveness of public services. The Handbook of Research on E-Services in the Public Sector: E-Government Strategies and Advancements illustrates how technology in e-government saves individuals significant amounts of time and money, while adding value to citizens' experiences with government, thus better serving their needs. This handbook provides comprehensive coverage of the issues facing managers, consultants, and practitioners in e-government and assists them in formulating ICT strategies for use within their field. These new strategies will enable them to implement collaborative policy initiatives within the private, public, and non-profit sectors to ultimately eliminate the global digital divide.

System administration is about the design, running and maintenance of human-computer systems. Examples of human-computer systems include business enterprises, service institutions and any extensive machinery that is operated by, or interacts with human beings. System administration is often thought of as the technological side of a system: the architecture, construction and optimization of the collaborating parts, but it also occasionally touches on softer factors such as user assistance (help desks), ethical considerations in deploying a system, and the larger implications of its design for others who come into contact with it.
This book summarizes the state of research and practice in this emerging field of network and system administration, in an anthology of chapters written by the top academics in the field. The authors include members of the IST-EMANICS Network of Excellence in Network Management.
This book will be a valuable reference work for researchers and senior system managers wanting to understand the essentials of system administration, whether in practical application of a data center or in the design of new systems and data centers.
- Covers data center planning and design
- Discusses configuration management
- Illustrates business modeling and system administration
- Provides the latest theoretical developments