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The recent emergence of intelligent agent technology and advances in information gathering have been the important steps forward in efficiently managing and using the vast amount of information now available on the Web to make informed decisions. There are, however, still many problems that need to be overcome in the information gathering research arena to enable the delivery of relevant information required by end users. Good decisions cannot be made without sufficient, timely, and correct information. Traditionally it is said that knowledge is power, however, nowadays sufficient, timely, and correct information is power. So gathering relevant information to meet user information needs is the crucial step for making good decisions. The ideal goal of information gathering is to obtain only the information that users need (no more and no less). However, the volume of information available, diversity formats of information, uncertainties of information, and distributed locations of information (e.g. World Wide Web) hinder the process of gathering the right information to meet the user needs. Specifically, two fundamental issues in regard to efficiency of information gathering are mismatch and overload. The mismatch means some information that meets user needs has not been gathered (or missed out), whereas, the overload means some gathered information is not what users need. Traditional information retrieval has been developed well in the past twenty years. The introduction of the Web has changed people's perceptions of information retrieval. Usually, the task of information retrieval is considered to have the function of leading the user to those documents that are relevant to his/her information needs. The similar function in information retrieval is to filter out the irrelevant documents (or called information filtering). Research into traditional information retrieval has provided many retrieval models and techniques to represent documents and queries. Nowadays, information is becoming highly distributed, and increasingly difficult to gather. On the other hand, people have found a lot of uncertainties that are contained in the user information needs. These motivate the need for research in agent-based information gathering. Agent-based information systems arise at this moment. In these kinds of systems, intelligent agents will get commitments from their users and act on the users behalf to gather the required information. They can easily retrieve the relevant information from highly distributed uncertain environments because of their merits of intelligent, autonomy and distribution. The current research for agent-based information gathering systems is divided into single agent gathering systems, and multi-agent gathering systems. In both research areas, there are still open problems to be solved so that agent-based information gathering systems can retrieve the uncertain information more effectively from the highly distributed environments. The aim of this thesis is to research the theoretical framework for intelligent agents to gather information from the Web. This research integrates the areas of information retrieval and intelligent agents. The specific research areas in this thesis are the development of an information filtering model for single agent systems, and the development of a dynamic belief model for information fusion for multi-agent systems. The research results are also supported by the construction of real information gathering agents (e.g., Job Agent) for the Internet to help users to gather useful information stored in Web sites. In such a framework, information gathering agents have abilities to describe (or learn) the user information needs, and act like users to retrieve, filter, and/or fuse the information. A rough set based information filtering model is developed to address the problem of overload. The new approach allows users to describe their information needs on user concept spaces rather than on document spaces, and it views a user information need as a rough set over the document space. The rough set decision theory is used to classify new documents into three regions: positive region, boundary region, and negative region. Two experiments are presented to verify this model, and it shows that the rough set based model provides an efficient approach to the overload problem. In this research, a dynamic belief model for information fusion in multi-agent environments is also developed. This model has a polynomial time complexity, and it has been proven that the fusion results are belief (mass) functions. By using this model, a collection fusion algorithm for information gathering agents is presented. The difficult problem for this research is the case where collections may be used by more than one agent. This algorithm, however, uses the technique of cooperation between agents, and provides a solution for this difficult problem in distributed information retrieval systems. This thesis presents the solutions to the theoretical problems in agent-based information gathering systems, including information filtering models, agent belief modeling, and collection fusions. It also presents solutions to some of the technical problems in agent-based information systems, such as document classification, the architecture for agent-based information gathering systems, and the decision in multiple agent environments. Such kinds of information gathering agents will gather relevant information from highly distributed uncertain environments.

As human beings we are continually interacting with the landscape, and have been doing so throughout the entire course of our evolution. This thesis specifically investigates the way in which hunter-gatherers negotiate and interact with their landscapes, focusing on three patterns of behaviour: wayfinding, mapmaking and territoriality. An examination of the relevant international literature reveals that globally, hunter-gatherer groups both past and present share a number of similarities with regard to their wayfinding and mapmaking techniques, territorial behaviour. A case study of Maori interaction with the landscape of prehistoric and protohistoric Te Wai Pounamu [the South Island] provides further support for the central argument that hunter-gatherers collectively negotiate and interact with the landscape in distinctive ways. This is contrasted with the interaction of European explorers and travellers with the 19th century landscape of Te Wai Pounamu in Chapter 5. It is determined that hunter-gatherers use detailed cognitive or 'mental' maps to navigate their way through a range of landscape from dense forests to barren plains. These maps often consist of sequences of place names that represent trails. These cognitive maps are most commonly developed through direct interaction with the landscape, but can also be formed vicariously through ephemeral maps drawn with the purpose of communicating geographical knowledge. Prior to European contact, little importance seems to have been given to artefactual or 'permanent' maps within hunter-gatherer societies as the process of mapmaking was generally regarded as more significant than the actual product. Although the literature on hunter-gatherer territoriality is complex and in some cases conflicting, it is contended that among a number of hunter-gatherer groups, including prehistoric and protohistoric Maori in Te Wai Pounamu, interaction and negotiation with the landscape was/is not restricted to exclusive territories marked by rigidly defined boundaries. Among these groups, a specific method of territoriality known as 'social boundry defence' was/is employed. This involves controlling access to the social group inhabiting an area rather than access to the area itself, as with groups utilising the territorial method of 'perimeter defence'.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Southern Methodist University, 2004. / Advisers: Fred Wendorf, Lewis Binford. Includes bibliographical references.

Computer use at work has risen considerably over the past fifteen years and is currently a relatively common phenomenon when 76 percent of women and 72 percent of men using the computer in their daily work (SCB Arbetsmiljörapport 2009).According to Gulliksen and Göransson (2009), Sweden is one of the countries which are more advanced in the procurement of computer systems at work. He means that Sweden has unique opportunities and conditions for user participation in the development of computer systems, when the user has the right to influence their working environment through a law in the Work Environment Act. The paper examines the importance of user involvement in system development and the Swedish company's approach and experience of user involvement. To highlight and explore the importance of user involvement, there has been a case study in which users have been representative of the development process. The case study has been conducted on a case company where the system IST analys was in need of a new interface. The development process has been as such that the developers have worked out their requirements before users have been interviewed and had to give their requirements. This is to compare the requirements of developers and users and whether users gave useful requirements.To investigate the Swedish company's approach to user participation has a questionnaire sent out and it has also been a discussion with two experienced system developers. The conclusion has been that it is advantageous to user participation in systems development but that it is important to have a controlled process that allows users to not steer too much.

Vi är två lärarstudenter som har funnit det mycket intressant att studera barn i åldrarnaett till tre år och deras språkutveckling i förskolan, vi har valt att fokusera vår studiekring samlingen som forum för språkutveckling. Under vår verksamhetsförlagda del avutbildningen har vi sett att förskollärare ser på samlingen på olika sätt och att den intealltid ses som ett pedagogiskt verktyg att stimulera barnens språkliga utveckling. Dåbarngrupperna blir större och det kan vara svårt att ge varje enskilt barn denuppmärksamhet som krävs för att stimulera barnets språkliga utveckling vill vi peka påsamlingen som arbetsmetod. Vi har valt att observera tre förskollärare samt genomföraintervjuer med dessa tre, vi valde tre utbildade förskollärare med olika långarbetslivserfarenhet. Vi ville se hur de agerade i samlingen samt ta reda på vad de görför att främja barnens språkutveckling i samlingen. Det vi såg under våra observationervar att det förekom både sång och lek, men att man inte såg samlingen som ett verktygutan mer som ett sätt att underhålla eller informera barnen. Vi har studerat vad somfinns skrivet om samlingen som pedagogiskt verktyg vid barns språkliga utveckling ochfunnit att man med fördel kan nyttja samlingen genom att leka ordlekar, läsa och låtabarnen prata inför sina kompisar på det sätt som förskolläraren vill. Här har manmöjlighet att gå in och styra det som man vill att barnen ska ta del av och öva på mengöra det på ett sätt som blir roligt för barnen. Vi har diskuterat och jämfört vårt resultatmed det som tidigare pedagoger och filosofer har skrivit. Vi vill med den här studienuppmuntra till att se samlingen som ett verktyg som har stor potential i dagensförskolearbete, samt att det är viktigt att inte glömma de allra minsta barnen genom attbara ha samlingar som fokuserar på de äldre barnen utan arbeta med samlingar för allaåldrar. / We are two teacher students that have found it to be very interesting to study children inthe ages between one and three and their language development in preschool. We havechosen two put our focus on the gathering as a forum for linguistic development.During our trainee work of our education we have seen that preschool teachers look atthe gathering in different ways, and that they don´t always see it as a pedagogical tool tohelp children in with their linguistic development. When the amount of childrenincreases in the ward it can be difficult teach child the attention needed to stimulate thechild`s language development, we want to draw attention to the gathering. We chose toobserve three pre-school teachers and conduct interviews with these three, we selectedthree trained preschool teachers with varying lengths of work experience. We wanted tosee how they acted in the gatherings and find out what they did to promote children'slanguage development in the gathering. What we saw during our observations was thatthere were both singing and playing, but the pre-school teachers did not see thecollection as a tool but more as a way to entertain and inform children. We have studiedwhat is written about the gathering as an educational tool for children's languagedevelopment and found that it can advantageously utilize the gathering by playing wordgames, reading, and let the children talk to their friends in a way that the pre-schoolteacher would. Here they have the opportunity to step in and control what they wanttheir children to take part and practice but do so in a way that is fun for the kids. Wehave discussed and compared our results with what previously researchers andphilosophers have written. We want to encourage this study to see the collection as atool that has great potential in today's pre-school work, and that it is important not toforget the very youngest children just by having gathering that focus on the olderchildren, but working with collections of all ages.

Dongsha Island has Taiwan¡¦s only well developed and integrated coral atoll ecosystem. The numbers of fish species and coral varieties in its waters have topped 679 and 286 respectively, which illustrates its biodiversity and wealth of fishery resources; therefore, it has drawn plenty of Chinese fishing boats to illegally enter into the area for fishing. Over the years, the fishery resources and terrain ecology of the Dongsha Island have been damaged as a result of illegal fishing. On the other hand, even though Taiwan¡¦s Coast Guard Administration in charge of patrolling the waters of the Dongsha Marine National Park, due to the vast sea area and varying depths of the atoll, the effect of the law enforcement on the vessels is limited, and cannot provide effective deterrence. By using existing information technology to gain knowledge on the distribution of the Chinese fishing boats, this study proposes to make the most of the limited law enforcement capacity to enhance the efficiency of law enforcement. With the coastal radar station established by Taiwan¡¦s Coast Guard Administration in 2003, this study scanned the waters around the clock and digitally journalized the data regarding times and locations of the voyages of the fishing boats, to further explore the time and space distribution of the Chinese fishing boats at the Dongsha atoll. Based on the annual, quarterly, monthly, day to night and tidal periods, five periods in total, this study used the Geographic Information System (GIS) to map out the distribution of the Chinese fishing boats, and probed into the distribution patterns in different times and spaces. The results will provide a scientific reference for law enforcement; it is hoped that the law will be effectively enforced and the ecological environment will be well preserved under limited resources. The study results indicate that the Chinese fishing boats operating at the Dongsha atoll are mainly small boats; a large boat can carry 10 to 30 small boats. Furthermore, the fishery catches are mainly live fish, sea cucumbers and conches, and are mostly carried back to the port by transport vessels for sale. The Chinese fishing boats often gather at two hot spots of the south atoll platform and the north atoll platform. In terms of the distribution of seasonal gathering, the study found that most of the Chinese fishing boats return home for the Chinese New Year holiday, the gathering density is higher during full moon periods and the gathering may slightly move towards the north when affected by the southwest monsoon. These results can serve as an important reference for Dongsha Marine National Park¡¦s resource management and Coast Guard Administration¡¦s sea area law enforcement.

No description available.

<p>Vi är två lärarstudenter som har funnit det mycket intressant att studera barn i åldrarnaett till tre år och deras språkutveckling i förskolan, vi har valt att fokusera vår studiekring samlingen som forum för språkutveckling. Under vår verksamhetsförlagda del avutbildningen har vi sett att förskollärare ser på samlingen på olika sätt och att den intealltid ses som ett pedagogiskt verktyg att stimulera barnens språkliga utveckling. Dåbarngrupperna blir större och det kan vara svårt att ge varje enskilt barn denuppmärksamhet som krävs för att stimulera barnets språkliga utveckling vill vi peka påsamlingen som arbetsmetod. Vi har valt att observera tre förskollärare samt genomföraintervjuer med dessa tre, vi valde tre utbildade förskollärare med olika långarbetslivserfarenhet. Vi ville se hur de agerade i samlingen samt ta reda på vad de görför att främja barnens språkutveckling i samlingen. Det vi såg under våra observationervar att det förekom både sång och lek, men att man inte såg samlingen som ett verktygutan mer som ett sätt att underhålla eller informera barnen. Vi har studerat vad somfinns skrivet om samlingen som pedagogiskt verktyg vid barns språkliga utveckling ochfunnit att man med fördel kan nyttja samlingen genom att leka ordlekar, läsa och låtabarnen prata inför sina kompisar på det sätt som förskolläraren vill. Här har manmöjlighet att gå in och styra det som man vill att barnen ska ta del av och öva på mengöra det på ett sätt som blir roligt för barnen. Vi har diskuterat och jämfört vårt resultatmed det som tidigare pedagoger och filosofer har skrivit. Vi vill med den här studienuppmuntra till att se samlingen som ett verktyg som har stor potential i dagensförskolearbete, samt att det är viktigt att inte glömma de allra minsta barnen genom attbara ha samlingar som fokuserar på de äldre barnen utan arbeta med samlingar för allaåldrar.</p> / <p>We are two teacher students that have found it to be very interesting to study children inthe ages between one and three and their language development in preschool. We havechosen two put our focus on the gathering as a forum for linguistic development.During our trainee work of our education we have seen that preschool teachers look atthe gathering in different ways, and that they don´t always see it as a pedagogical tool tohelp children in with their linguistic development. When the amount of childrenincreases in the ward it can be difficult teach child the attention needed to stimulate thechild`s language development, we want to draw attention to the gathering. We chose toobserve three pre-school teachers and conduct interviews with these three, we selectedthree trained preschool teachers with varying lengths of work experience. We wanted tosee how they acted in the gatherings and find out what they did to promote children'slanguage development in the gathering. What we saw during our observations was thatthere were both singing and playing, but the pre-school teachers did not see thecollection as a tool but more as a way to entertain and inform children. We have studiedwhat is written about the gathering as an educational tool for children's languagedevelopment and found that it can advantageously utilize the gathering by playing wordgames, reading, and let the children talk to their friends in a way that the pre-schoolteacher would. Here they have the opportunity to step in and control what they wanttheir children to take part and practice but do so in a way that is fun for the kids. Wehave discussed and compared our results with what previously researchers andphilosophers have written. We want to encourage this study to see the collection as atool that has great potential in today's pre-school work, and that it is important not toforget the very youngest children just by having gathering that focus on the olderchildren, but working with collections of all ages.</p>

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2003. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 294-327).