即時通訊(Instant Messaging，IM)和部落格(Blog)是近來廣受應用的社會性軟體(Social Software, SS)。面對網路世代的發展趨勢，圖書資訊學界亦開始探討網路科技對資訊服務所帶來的衝擊，特別是以年輕族群為服務對象的大學圖書館，若能適當地利用社會性軟體，不僅可做為館員與使用者溝通的橋樑，亦有助於館員組織其工作，成為促進圖書館在網路時代拓展服務和提高價值地位之利器。 本研究旨在瞭解社會性軟體在大學圖書館的應用，以即時通訊和部落格為研究對象，探討國內大學圖書館員的使用情況，並分析館員對兩者應用於圖書資訊領域之看法，進而針對美國與臺灣地區大學圖書館的即時通訊參考服務和圖書館部落格進行分析，藉以做為圖書資訊領域整合及應用社會性軟體於資訊服務和工作業務之參考。在研究方法上，透過「文獻分析法」、「網路問卷調查法」和「個案研究法」，從量化與質化的方式，探討及分析即時通訊與部落格的使用情況、應用看法及建置模式。 本研究發現：一、我國大學圖書館員多已使用即時通訊，惟以私人用途為主。二、即時通訊可做為圖書館組織溝通及數位參考服務之用。三、圖書館應用即時通訊為資訊服務發展趨勢，但亟需重視人力及管理之配套措施。四、我國大學圖書館員已有建置個人部落格經驗，並多採用免費服務平臺。五、大學圖書館建置部落格，做為圖書館服務的延伸。六、圖書館部落格可做為資訊服務的新入口，但須同時配合人力資源、教育訓練與維護管理等考量。七、美國大學圖書館在即時通訊參考服務與圖書館部落格發展上已具規模，可供國內未來應用參考。八、即時通訊參考服務應提供多種軟體類型及跨假日之彈性服務方式，以供使用者擇取。九、圖書館部落格應善用各種部落格功能，與圖書館服務的結合，拓展資訊服務的能見度。 最後建議：一、大學圖書館應積極推動與行銷即時通訊參考服務，實踐圖書館數位參考服務理念。二、針對館員的即時通訊參考服務技巧與能力加以訓練，培育參考諮詢服務優質人選。三、利用即時通訊暢通組織交流，並研訂明確管理辦法，以提升館內同仁協調合作績效。四、建置圖書館部落格，拓展圖書館實體與虛擬服務機會。五、圖書館部落格應結合RSS功能及連結圖書資訊領域部落格，開展即時和新穎的資訊服務。六、開設不同層次的部落格教育與訓練課程，培養館員管理維護知能。七、掌握和分析社會性軟體之發展和應用趨勢，並定期審核與評估實施效益。八、圖書資訊學教育應開設社會性軟體相關課程，鼓勵師生學習和使用。 / Instant Messaging (IM) and Blog are two kinds of the Social Software extensively used recently. While facing the trend and development of network generation, the field of library and information science also began to discuss the impact of network technology on information services, especially the academic libraries of serving young undergraduate. If used appropriately, social software not only can bridge the communications between librarians and users, but also benefit librarians to organize their works effectively. Moreover, it can become the powerful tool of facilitating libraries to extend services and enhance value in the network age. The purpose of this study is to investigate the applications of social software in the academic libraries. Using IM and Blog as subjects, the study tries to understand how academic librarians use those two social software, analyze their viewpoint of applying both in the field of library and information science, and further discuss the issues of using IM reference services and Library Blog at the academic libraries in the United States and Taiwan for the application of social software in the field of library and information science. The “Internet questionnaire” and “Case study” were used, followed by quantitative and qualitative method to discuss and analyze the use, viewpoint and the application models of IM and Blog. The findings shows: (1) Academic librarians had used IM extensively, but rather for personal matters; (2) IM can be used for communications among library organizations and digital references services; (3) IM application is the trend of information services, but manpower issues and management must be addressed; (4) Academic librarians had experiences in Blog establishment and most librarians built their Blog based on free service platforms; (5) Library Blog can be used for the extension of library services; (6) Library Blog could be a new portal of information service, but the human resources, maintenance, management and education training need to be seriously considered; (7) The application of IM reference services and Library Blogs had been highly developed in American academic libraries which can be good models for the libraries in Taiwan; (8) The IM reference service would achieve better success if it goes across work day an holiday, and provides diversified software , downloading and manuals for users’s option; (9) Library Blog shall well employ Blog functions to combine with library services and enhance the visibility of information services. Finally, the conclusions were made: (1) Academic libraries should actively promote IM reference services; (2) Training librarians for IM reference service skills, develop talented person for reference consulting services; (3) Using IM to communicate and coordinate among library staffs; (4) Establish Library Blog to provide virtual service; (5) Library Blog should properly use RSS and link the Blogs within the field of library and information science to develop real-time and innovative information services; (6) Design Blog educational training courses for different levels to develop maintaining and managerial skills of librarians; (7) Observing the trend of social software development and evaluate its implementation periodically; (8) Library and information science schools should conduct course on social software, and encourage teachers and students to apply it effectively.

即時通訊（Instant Messaging）盛行之今已十年，新聞產製也因引進新科技逐漸產生質變。鑑於即時通訊相關研究目前尚未觸及「新聞產製」領域，本研究嘗試初步探討即時通訊對新聞產製工作的影響，並希望藉此研究發現，提供新聞產業未來改進與檢討的參考。本研究描繪新聞記者於新聞產製過程中，如何運用即時通訊彼此溝通，以及如何對新聞產製過程造成影響，與出現哪些利益與弊端。 本研究採質化深度訪談，輔以圈內人記者身份，透過參與觀察，融入研究對象群時間一共四年，研究發現：(一)記者使用即時通訊的動機是基於完成新聞採訪任務、（二）記者新聞採訪工作仰賴即時通訊、(三)新聞室控制藉由新科技工具延伸、(四) 記者與消息來源之間的訊息傳遞，仍傾向使用傳統的「面訪、電訪」管道、尚未積極運用即時通訊、（五）用於新聞職場的即時通訊工具，仍具有個人私密領域的特性、(六) 新聞記者使用即時通訊交換訊息，出現新聞觀點同質化現象、（七）新聞產業精簡人力下，新聞圈默認同業間複製新聞與改寫現象。 本研究建議：(一)重新定位即時通訊工具於新聞產製過程的價值、(二)新聞界須正視新聞複製與觀點同質化現象、(三) 即時通訊納入新聞正規作業體系將成趨勢。 / Instant Messaging (IM) has been popular for a decade, and news production has changed due to IM. Since the research of IM does not reach out to the area of news production, this thesis is going to explore the influence of IM toward news production. The thesis will describe how journalists communicate with each other by IM through the news production process, and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using IM. This study is a qualitative research methods with deep views. Through participant observation of a inside journalist, it took 4 years to discover the results, which are (1) Journalists use IM is based on the motivation of complete news covering task, (2) Journalists rely on IM to complete the task of newsgathering, (3) "Social control in the news room" extends control by IM, (4) The communications and interactions between Journalists and the news sources is still traditional, which are interviewing, or by telephone, not IM, (5) Using IM in newsgathering is still has personal and private, (6) Journalists use IM to exchange information, news reporting appears the same point of view, (7) under the condition of downsizing manpower in the news industry, the press tacitly agreed to the phenomenon of “news copy and news rewrite”. The thesis recommended: (1) re-positioning IM in the process of news production value, (2) the Press must face up to the phenomenon of “news copy and the news viewpoint homogenization”,(3) IM into the news operating system will become a trend.

M. Tech. Business Administration / This study aims to evaluate how the use of mobile messaging applications by small enterprises can help build sustainable businesses by assisting small enterprise owners to mobilise their services and products in order to take advantage of the rapid growing base of mobile consumers in Africa and beyond the continent. The common major constraints to the growth and development of SMMEs in developing countries include: limited access to finance, limited access to business training, technological limitations, limited access to markets, poor transport infrastructure and limited business management skills. It was further found that the lack of use of the different kinds of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) was attributed to issues around need, affordability, availability and access.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-25T20:21:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 GEORGE VERSAO FINAL p.pdf: 600430 bytes, checksum: 113989051c5b690930efb907ab67cfb6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-07-14 / nenhum / The present work has the objective to make an analysis on the process of Instant Messaging through Internet, searching an intrinsic vision of the way, the internet users, the processes and its surroundings. An historical vision of the evolution of process of this tool to have a clear notion of its use and usefulness in differentiated occasions. Moreover, internet users were analyzed in a social-demographic vision in order to get a panorama of this new type of emissary/receptor of text, raising all the thematic one of the chats in details. On the other hand, it was argued the possibility of the existence of the fancy through the creation and experimentation of alternative identities, beyond considerations on the existence of virtual communities. It is conclude that the instantaneous communication by Internet is a difficult platform of virtual sociability, although not to hinder, the exercise of the fancy by means of the construction of alternative identities. Also it is verified that this model of communication disfavors the formation of virtual communities widely / O presente trabalho tem o objetivo de fazer uma análise sobre o processo de comunicação instantânea via Internet, buscando uma visão intrínseca do meio, dos internautas, dos processos e sua abrangência. Buscou-se uma visão histórica de todo o processo evolutivo desta ferramenta, a fim de que se pudesse ter uma clara noção de seu uso e serventia em ocasiões diferenciadas. Além disso, analisou-se o internauta numa visão sócio-demográfica a fim de se obter um panorama desse novo tipo de emissor/receptor de texto, levantando toda a temática dos bate-papos em detalhes. Por outro lado, discutiu-se a possibilidade da existência da fantasia através da criação e experimentação de identidades alternativas, além de considerações sobre a existência de comunidades virtuais. Conclui-se que a comunicação instantânea via internet é uma plataforma de sociabilidade virtual que dificulta, apesar de não impedir, o exercício da fantasia por meio da construção de identidades alternativas. Também se verifica que este modelo de comunicação desfavorece amplamente a formação de comunidades virtuais

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-26T14:55:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 GEORGE VERSAO FINAL p.pdf: 600430 bytes, checksum: 113989051c5b690930efb907ab67cfb6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-07-14 / nenhum / The present work has the objective to make an analysis on the process of Instant Messaging through Internet, searching an intrinsic vision of the way, the internet users, the processes and its surroundings. An historical vision of the evolution of process of this tool to have a clear notion of its use and usefulness in differentiated occasions. Moreover, internet users were analyzed in a social-demographic vision in order to get a panorama of this new type of emissary/receptor of text, raising all the thematic one of the chats in details. On the other hand, it was argued the possibility of the existence of the fancy through the creation and experimentation of alternative identities, beyond considerations on the existence of virtual communities. It is conclude that the instantaneous communication by Internet is a difficult platform of virtual sociability, although not to hinder, the exercise of the fancy by means of the construction of alternative identities. Also it is verified that this model of communication disfavors the formation of virtual communities widely / O presente trabalho tem o objetivo de fazer uma análise sobre o processo de comunicação instantânea via Internet, buscando uma visão intrínseca do meio, dos internautas, dos processos e sua abrangência. Buscou-se uma visão histórica de todo o processo evolutivo desta ferramenta, a fim de que se pudesse ter uma clara noção de seu uso e serventia em ocasiões diferenciadas. Além disso, analisou-se o internauta numa visão sócio-demográfica a fim de se obter um panorama desse novo tipo de emissor/receptor de texto, levantando toda a temática dos bate-papos em detalhes. Por outro lado, discutiu-se a possibilidade da existência da fantasia através da criação e experimentação de identidades alternativas, além de considerações sobre a existência de comunidades virtuais. Conclui-se que a comunicação instantânea via internet é uma plataforma de sociabilidade virtual que dificulta, apesar de não impedir, o exercício da fantasia por meio da construção de identidades alternativas. Também se verifica que este modelo de comunicação desfavorece amplamente a formação de comunidades virtuais

在網路發達的數位經濟時代，數位學習越來越普及，且大多是以非同步線上學習為主，但是非同步線上學習面臨即時互動性不高的問題，如此情形下，學習者無法立即獲得回應，會降低其學習意願與學習成效；以「參與體驗式個案教學」為例，參與體驗式個案教學法主張透過學生角色扮演，進行個案模擬和討論來增強個人成長與在組織中互動運作的應變能力。本研究透過探討並描述「參與體驗式個案教學法」課程的情境，了解課程在上課前、中、後教師與學生的需求，規劃並實作一個學習社群導向、結合顧客關係管理、網路客服中心概念與Ｗiki共筆為基礎的數位學習系統去支援參與體驗式個案教學，建立客製化服務，讓學習內容被網路的成員所共同創造、分享、重新混合、重新定義，並傳遞出去，以及運用即時通訊來實踐立即性互動，改善學習者無法即時獲得回應而降低學習意願的問題。 本研究所建用來支援參與體驗式個案教學的雛型系統，其操作介面簡單易上手，且功能符合參與體驗式個案教學情境所需，是一個因教學制宜的系統，並且提供了即時通訊於其中，實踐了客製化、即時互動與數位學習社群的概念，同時也補足非同步線上學習的缺點，讓數位學習系統確實成為學生自主學習參與體驗式個案教學的輔助工具。

Based on the considerations presented by the Constitutional Court in the light of a specific case, this article addresses the discussion about the limit of intervention that the employer has to intercept and collect those communications that are protected by the secrecy of the law of the Communications of workers, establishing the possibility of implementing new control mechanisms that suspend any kind of expectation of confidentiality. / A partir de las consideraciones expuestas por el Tribunal Constitucional en atención a un caso en concreto, el presente artículo aborda la discusión sobre el límite de intervención que posee el empleador para interceptar y recaudar aquellas comunicaciones que se encuentran protegidas por el secreto al derecho de las comunicaciones de los trabajadores, estableciendo la posibilidad de implementar nuevos mecanismos de control que suspenden cualquier tipo de expectativa de confidencialidad.

Masters of Science / Communication tools such as text-based instant messaging, voice and video relay services, real-time video chat and mobile SMS and MMS have successfully been used among Deaf people. Several years of field research with a local Deaf community revealed that disadvantaged South African Deaf people preferred to communicate with both Deaf and hearing peers in South African Sign Language as opposed to text.Synchronous video chat and video relay services provided such opportunities. Both types of services are commonly available in developed regions, but not in developing countries like South Africa. This thesis reports on a workaround approach to design and develop an asynchronous video communication tool that adapted synchronous video codecs to store-and-forward video delivery. This novel asynchronous video tool provided high quality South African Sign Language video chat at the expense of some additional latency. Synchronous video codec adaptation consisted of comparing codecs,and choosing one to optimise in order to minimise latency and preserve video quality.Traditional quality of service metrics only addressed real-time video quality and related services. There was no such standard for asynchronous video communication. Therefore, we also enhanced traditional objective video quality metrics with subjective assessment metrics conducted with the local Deaf community.

The purpose of this project is to use Java technology to create an instant messenger application that could be used by any person who has the basic knowledge of working with a graphical user interface. The goal here is to develop an application that provides communication to users running different operating systems.

Virtual currencies and mobile banking are technology advancements that are receiving increased attention in the global community because of their accessibility, convenience and speed. However, this popularity comes with growing security concerns, like increasing frequency of identity theft, leading to bigger problems which put user anonymity at risk. One possible solution for these problems is using cryptography to enhance security of Bitcoin or other decentralised digital currency systems and to decrease frequency of attacks on either communication channels or system storage. This report outlines various methods and solutions targeting these issues and aims to understand their effectiveness. It also describes Secure Bitcoin Wallet, standard Bitcoin transactions client, enhanced with various security features and services.