As the number of information system users increases, we are witnessing a related increase in the complexity and the diversity of their applications. The increasing functional complexity amplifies the degree of functional and technical understanding required of the user to make productive use of the application tools. Emerging technologies, increased and varied user interests and radical changes in the nature of applications give rise to the opportunity and necessity to re-examine the proper apportionment of cognitive responsibilities in human-system interaction. We present a framework for the examination of the allocation of cognitive responsibilities in information systems. These cognitive tasks involve skills associated with the models and tools that are provided by information systems and the domain knowledge and problem knowledge that are associated with the user. The term cognitor is introduced to refer to a cognitive capacity for assuming such responsibilities. These capacities are resident in the human user and they are now feasible in information system architectures. Illustrations are given of how this framework can be used in understanding and assessing the apportionment of responsibilities. Implications of shifting and redistributing cognitive task from the system-user environment to the system environment are discussed. Metrics are provided to assess the degree of change under alternative architectures. An architecture for the design of alternative responsibility allocations, named Reapportionment of Cognitive Activities, (RCA), is presented. The architecture describes knowledge and responsibilities associated with facilitating dynamic allocation of cognitive responsibilities. Knowledge bases are used to support and describe alternative apportionments. RCA illustrates how knowledge representations, search techniques and dialogue management can be combined to accommodate multiple cooperating cognitors, each assuming unique roles, in an effort to share the responsibilities associated with the use of an information system. A design process for responsibility allocation is outlined. Examples of alternative responsibility allocation feasible within this architecture are provided. Cases implementing the architecture are described. We advocate treating the allocation of cognitive responsibilities as a design variable and illustrate through the architecture and the cases the elements necessary in reapportioning these responsibilities in information systems dialogues.

The main objectives of this dissertation are the following. The first objective is concerned with the stabilization of large-scale systems by a decentralized control. The fundamental idea behind this type of control is the stabilization of the isolated subsystems of a large-scale system in such a way that the global stability requirement is also satisfied. For this purpose, a new stability criterion is introduced to identify a class of interconnected systems that can be stabilized by local state feedback. In addition to this, two specific classes of interconnections are presented for which the overall system stability can be ensured by a decentralized approach. A new constructive procedure for the design of decentralized controllers for the identified classes of large-scale systems is discussed. The principal advantages of this design procedure are that it requires a minimal amount of computation and is a systematic procedure eliminating the trial and error arguments as in the earlier methods. The second objective of the dissertation is to investigate the problem of the stabilization of a class of large-scale systems which are composed of identical subsystems and identical interconnections. For this class of systems, certain significant theorems, concerning the qualitative properties are introduced. Following the guidelines set forth by the above theorems, a few different schemes for the decentralized and multilevel control of the aforementioned class of large-scale interconnected systems are presented. The third objective concerns the development of a few different schemes for the design of an asymptotic state estimator for large-scale systems described as interconnections of several low-order subsystems. The most attractive feature of the present schemes is that the majority of the necessary computations are performed at the subsystem level only, thereby leading to a simple and practicable estimator design. Finally, all the above results are illustrated by numerical examples. Further, a comparison study is conducted to show the advantages of the methods and the results in this dissertation in comparison with some results available in the literature.

The increasing complexity of decision situations has required organizations to integrate more types of expertise and consider more criteria for effective group decision making. Researchers have begun to examine how computer based support in the form of a Group Decision Support System (GDSS) can enhance the process and outcomes of decision making groups. This dissertation investigated the impact of GDSS for strategic planning impact analysis. The GDSS was based on the Stakeholder Identification and Assumption Surfacing Model. A controlled laboratory experiment was used to compare the process and outcomes of 4-person groups which had GDSS support, comparable manual support, and no support. The experimental task was a policy statement requiring undergraduates to have a personal computer for admittance to a business college. Groups were asked to determine a list of the most critical stakeholders who would be impacted by the policy, and their assumptions regarding the policy statement. Measures were taken on decision outcomes (decision quality, decision time, and satisfaction with the outcomes) and decision process variables (quantity of unique alternatives, distribution of individual participation, and satisfaction with the process). Additionally, observational data was recorded through the use of videotape recordings of the sessions. The major findings of the study are: (1) Decision quality is enhanced when groups use a structured methodology; (2) Decision time was shortest in the unstructured groups, with GDSS groups finishing somewhat faster than manual structured groups; (3) Satisfaction with the outcomes was not different between structured and unstructured groups, however it was higher in the GDSS groups compared to the structured manual groups; (4) Quantity of unique alternatives was much higher in the groups using a structured methodology; (5) Distribution of individual participation was more equal in groups using a structured methodology; and (6) Satisfaction with the process was not different between structured and unstructured groups, however the GDSS groups were more satisfied than the structured manual groups.

Financial pressures and an increasingly diverse patient population have made it challenging for healthcare providers to administer education programs that adequately inform patients prior to any significant health-related intervention. Ineffective education results in patients making decisions without adequate knowledge which could increase anxiety and frustration and reduce patient satisfaction with the healthcare experience. Interactive, computer-based education (ICBE) programs may offer providers a solution that will enhance their education processes. ICBE programs require fewer resources; can be scripted in multiple languages; and have the power to actively engage the patient in the learning experience by integrating auditory, visual, and interactive learning strategies.The objective of this research was to determine if ICBE program use influenced hospital patients' perception of satisfaction. The research was conducted at a small hospital located in a Midwest urban setting. The 84 patients scheduled for knee and hip surgery who volunteered to enroll were randomly assigned to either a treatment group that used the ICBE program or a control group. All patients completed a satisfaction survey instrument after their surgery.A t test indicated that there was not a significant mean difference between the treatment and control groups t(71) = 1.001, p = .16. In addition, the individual predictor variables used in a regression analysis, Age (R2 = .005), College Degree (R2 = .003), and Use of the Emmi program (R2 = .011) and the combined model (R2 = .019) did not provide any meaningful predictive value related to patient satisfaction and the results for each variable and the combined model were not significant (F3, 80 = .526, p = .666).The patient satisfaction survey scores were very high indicating a considerable ceiling effect and the ICBE program had little chance of demonstrating a statistically significant or practically important effect. Although the study results did not support a relationship between ICBE program use and patient satisfaction, an analysis of the research and information obtained from the literature reviews provided valuable additions to the literature including a best practices model that may be beneficial to future researchers and users of ICBE programs.

No description available.

The aim of this study was to investigate how timing training by Interactive Metronome ® (IM) affects motor timing and rhythmicity in soccer players. Twenty-four female soccer players (age 19 ± 2.8) participated, and were randomly assigned to either a control or an IM training group. All participants took part in a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) session before the start of the training period, to find out what brain areas are activated during different tempos. The fMRI outcomes indicate that some of the active areas are the inferior parietal cortex (BA 40), frontal/SMA and precentral cortex and postcentral (BA 6) and inferior frontal cortex (BA 45). Pre- and post-measurements of motor timing deviation and variability was made. The result shows that after four week of IM training a significant improvement of motor timing was found for the IM group in comparison to the control group. The findings indicate that timing training can improve timing ability in healthy sport perpetrators.

No description available.

A portfolio of electronic music compositions employing adaptable controllers, graphic notation, and custom software performance environments. The portfolio is comprised of scores, recordings, and supporting software and audio files for the following: Short Circuit; Sample & Hold; Mute | Solo; NCTRN; Radio | Silence; and Please use the tramps provided. Supplementary files include alternative audio and video recordings of some of the works listed above, additional software documentation, and a video recording of a structured improvisation featuring the controllers and software used in this portfolio.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 25-28, 1993 / Riviera Hotel and Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada / This paper describes the Launcher Instrumentation and Data Acquisition System (LIDAS) that has been developed for real-time monitoring and simultaneous recording of a diverse set of data buses on a moving MLRS launcher. The launcher onboard instrumentation consists of a central Bus Data Conversion Module (BDCM) and several specialized, intelligent "break-in" boxes. The break-in boxes collect and tag the data by using the IRIG-B standard time-code, and transfer them to the BDCM using a unique asynchronous scheme. The BDCM is built around an Intel 80960CA processor board in a VME bus environment. It coordinates all the data traffic and also stores selected data to an onboard Flash ROM data storage unit. The data from different MLRS buses are combined into a 1 megabits per second RS4-22 serial stream and telemetered to a ground station, where the user interface is provided through an IBM PC/AT type computer with touch-screen controls. The developed PC software offers several data monitoring options with engineering-unit conversions and allows simultaneous recording on a hard-disk. Because of its interactive capabilities, the system is also well suited for personnel training.

This paper explores the artistic theories of social practice and examines the artwork of Michael Rakowitz, Carmen Loch and Ernesto Neto to observe the ways artists can expand traditional understandings of art. Looking at art therapy and the ways that participation in art can make art more accessible and functional, this paper also outlines a project which functions to bring comfort to participants and expand boundaries of art through individually shaped personal experiences.