Different road users follow different behaviors and intentions in the trajectories that they traverse. Predicting the intent of these road users at intersections would not only help increase the comfort of drive in autonomous vehicles, but also help detect potential accidents. In this thesis, the research objective is to build models that predicts future positions of road users (pedestrians,cyclists and autonomous shuttles) by capturing behaviors endemic to different road users.  Firstly, a constant velocity state space model is used as a benchmark for intent prediction, with a fresh approach to estimate parameters from the data through the EM algorithm. Then, a neural network based LSTM sequence modeling architecture is used to better capture the dynamics of road user movement and their dependence on the spatial area. Inspired by the recent success of transformers and attention in text mining, we then propose a mechanism to capture the road users' social behavior amongst their neighbors. To achieve this, past trajectories of different road users are forward propagated through the LSTM network to obtain representative feature vectors for each road users' behaviour. These feature vectors are then passed through an attention-layer to obtain representations that incorporate information from other road users' feature vectors, which are in-turn used to predict future positions for every road user in the frame. It is seen that the attention based LSTM model slightly outperforms the plain LSTM models, while both substantially outperform the constant velocity model. A comparative qualitative analysis is performed to assess the behaviors that are captured/missed by the different models. The thesis concludes with a dissection of the behaviors captured by the attention module.

In this study, research was conducted on the information needs of Unisa students. Most distance students do not personally visit the library, which makes it difficult for librarians to determine whether or not they are meeting their needs. The library plays an important support role in any university, especially in the open distance learning context. It is therefore important for librarians serving distance learners to continually evaluate their services in order to see if they are still meeting their client’s needs. The aim of this study was to determine if students are aware of the library services to which they are entitled, and if the library is successfully reaching and assisting remote students, and how its services can be improved. Questionnaires were posted to students, and interviews were conducted with on-campus students and staff. Chapter 1 covers the orientation and background to the study. Chapter 2 discusses the research methods used to collect information. In Chapter 3, the library needs of distance learners were discussed, while Chapter 4 presented a discussion of the findings drawn from the questionnaires and interviews, and Chapter 5 makes recommendations based upon these findings. It was found that some of the students surveyed were not aware of their library privileges. It is recommended that the Unisa library employ better strategies to market the library services available to students. Furthermore, the library needs to find better ways to reach out to remote students who have no access to information and communications technology upon which the modern library is so reliant.

New mass media impact on the nature of public communication and the use and gratification of existing mass media because each new medium is used and experienced differently. As a new mass medium, the Internet offers different forms of communication, such as Internet Relay Chat, Multi-User Dungeons and chatrooms. It has also combined traditional mass media, namely print, radio and television, into a single powerful medium. Due to the fact that the Internet is still an emerging medium, its long-term effects on the nature of public communication and traditional mass media warrants ongoing investigation. The first part (Part A) of this dissertation situates the Internet chronologically within the development of traditional mass media and their impact on public communication. Part B investigates Internet use among a group of professionals in South Africa. The objective is to identify how they use the Internet and the gratification they derive from it. / Communication Science / M.A. (Communication)

The broad aim of this research was to assess the decision-usefulness of environmental reports produced by South African companies that are listed on the Johanessburg Securities Exchange (JSE) to users of the reports. The study was motivated by a lack of research on the decision-usefulness of environmental reports in South Africa. The study was conducted in two phases. The first phase in form of a content analysis evaluated the decision-usefulness of the environmental reports of top 100 JSE-listed South African companies using a control list and a judgement scale. The second phase in form of a questionnaire survey was aimed at determining, the information needs of users of environmental reports produced by South African companies (that are listed on the JSE), the extent to which they read and employ the reports for making decisions. In addition, this phase was meant to ascertain the degree of users' satisfaction with the decision-usefulness of the environmental reports as well as elicit their suggestions on ways of improving the reports. Furthermore, the second phase was aimed at determining the users’ perception of the relative importance of environmental reports as well as ascertaining whether there was an expectation gap between the users and the preparers of the reports with regard to their decision-usefulness. The results of the content analysis phase of the study indicate that the environmental reports of the sampled companies were decision-useful, however their decision-usefulness varied widely. Although decision-useful, the environmental reports of the sampled companies were not comparable. In addition, the environmental reports of companies from sectors with a significant impact on the environment, and those of large companies were more decision-useful than the reports of companies from sectors with an insignificant impact on the environment and those of smaller companies. The results of the questionnaire survey phase of the study indicate that users prefer balanced environmental reports that disclose both negative and positive aspects that identify and describe key relevant issues, that are specific and contain accurate information, and that provide future oriented information. In addition, users prefer environmental reports that identify and address key stakeholders and their concerns, demonstrate the integration of environmental issues into core business processes, and that compare quantitative impacts against best practice. Furthermore, the results also indicate that users do read environmental reports, mostly from companies’ websites Portable Document Format (PDF) annual reports and that they mostly use the environmental reports for research, their own knowledge, and to hold companies accountable. However, users are not fully satisfied with the decision-usefulness of the environmental reports as they feel that there is a need to improve the reports in order to make them more decision-useful. The results also indicate that users perceive environmental reports to be more important than any other type of reports, most notably the financial reports. Comparing the responses of the users to those of preparers on various issues pertaining to the decision-usefulness of environmental reports, significant differences were found between the views of the two groups. These differences provide ample evidence that is consistent with the existence of an environmental reporting expectation gap in South Africa. This study makes several original contributions to environmental reporting literature, most notable of which is that, it is the first study in the South African context to empirically evaluate the quality (decision-usefulness) of environmental reports in line with the accounting conceptual frameworks and the GRI guidelines combined. By so doing, the study introduces to the academic literature an extensive five dimensional qualitative characteristic framework for evaluating the quality (decision-usefulness) of environmental reports. In addition, the study uniquely employs the decision-usefulness theory to provide insights into the environmental reporting practices of South African companies that are listed on the JSE. In so doing, it re-contextualises the theory that is typically employed in explaining financial reporting, and demonstrates its applicability in explaining the decision-usefulness of the environmental reporting practices of South African companies that are listed on the JSE. / Accounting / D. Com. (Accounting)

Background: The past two decades have witnessed transition from in-patient hospital settings to Community and Home Based Care in Zimbabwe. This is because of an increase in the number of people developing chronic health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and cancers, and thus needing longer treatment durations. The increase in chronic conditions has mainly been attributed to the increase in incidence and prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune-deficiency Syndrome in Sub-Saharan Africa. Many Governments, including that of Zimbabwe, endorsed and promoted community and home based care to provide a continuum of care to the chronically ill. Despite the implementation of Community and Home Based Care programmes, no studies known to the researcher have been done to investigate the congruency of service users’ needs and the programme goals. Purpose: The purpose of the study is twofold; firstly to explore whether Community and Home Based Care interventions provide services that effectively meet users’ goals in a dynamic social environment and secondly, to develop guidelines for enhancing care provision as well as congruency of service users’ needs and programme goals. Methods: A mixed-method approach combining qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis was used. Concurrent collection of data with equal status was placed on both qualitative and quantitative data. For qualitative data interviews and focus groups were used with home based care service users, family care givers, and health providers. Structured questionnaires were used for the quantitative data. Framework: Imogene King’s Interacting Systems Framework and Theory of Goal Attainment were adopted to guide the study. These were utilised because of the assumption that mutual agreement on goals for effective care can be achieved through nurse-client interactions and communication Research findings: Community and Home Based Care programme in Zimbabwe does not comprehensively meet the needs of its service users. Service users have diverse needs and goals depending on the specific condition and symptoms they experience. They perceive access to medication for symptom management and pain control, food and financial stability, as priority needs. The study found that nursing services provided in Community and Home Based Care generally align with the physical needs of service users and was deficient in addressing the socio-economic and psycho-social needs of service users. Conclusion: No single sector can achieve the users’ and the programme`s goals of quality health on its own. The goals may only be realised when other stakeholders and relevant sectors contribute to the Community and Home Based Care programme, which requires diverse resources. Guidelines to enhance integration of Community and Home Based Care with social services were developed. / Health Studies / D.Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

Public libraries, globally, are adopting the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in order to improve services to the users. ICTs in public libraries are enhancing services to the users by ensuring that services are available to them quickly and efficiently. ICTs in public libraries include computers and their Internet-based facilities, printers, photocopiers, laminators, faxes, telephones, televisions, compact discs, (CDs) and digital video discs (DVDs). This study focussed on the utilisation of ICTs in public libraries at Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM). The general aim of the study was to assess the utilisation of ICTs at EMM public libraries by the users. Both qualitative and quantitative research approaches through a survey research method were deployed. The study targeted all public libraries at Ekurhuleni and within the libraries; library users and control librarians (librarians in charge of libraries at Ekurhuleni) were targeted. Control librarians participated in the study as key informants. The researcher needed to find out if they would corroborate what users said. There is a total of 43 public libraries at Ekurhuleni and eight were included in this study. These eight libraries were selected through stratified sampling. Out of 24033 registered users at Ekurhuleni libraries, 332 were randomly selected to take part in the study. All eight control librarians of participating libraries were included in the study. The total response rate for the targeted library users was 51% (170). The findings of this study indicate that although ICTs in EMM libraries are highly utilised, staff attitudes, cost of ICTs services, users’ lack of ICTs knowledge and skills, slowness of ICTs and power failure, make it difficult for users to maximise the full benefits offered by ICTs. The study recommended that the cost of ICTs services be reduced, customer care workshops and ICTs training be prioritised for staff, structured ICTs training programmes be developed for library users, users’ access time to Internet be extended, subscription to online databases be prioritised, Internet bandwidth be increased, uninterrupted power supply be installed in libraries and that positions be created for librarians specialising on ICTs. / Information Science / MA (Information Science)

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Computer-based virtual worlds are increasingly used for activities which previously required physical environments. However, in its mainstream form, such a virtual world provides output on a graphical display and is thus inaccessible to a blind user. To achieve accessibility for blind users, an alternative to graphical output must be used. Audio and text are two output methods that can be considered. However, when using audio, care must be taken not to overload the audio channel. Channel overloading is possible with audio since it is not a selective output medium like the visual channel, that is, the user cannot choose what he/she wants to hear. Text should also be treated as audio, since a blind user consumes textual information as synthesized speech. In this research we discuss one possible solution to the problem of channel overloading, by the use of multiple exploration and navigation tools. These tools should allow the user to shape the information provided as audio output. Specially, we discuss the development of a virtual world client called Perspective, enabling non-visual access to virtual worlds by the use of multiple navigation and exploration tools. Perspective also serves as a framework for tool implementation and evaluation. Finally we give recommendations for improvements to current virtual world building practices and protocols, as to work toward an accessibility standard. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Rekenaargebaseerde virtuele wêrelde word toenemend gebruik vir aktiwiteite wat voorheen fiesiese omgewings benodig het. Tog verskaf so 'n virtuele wêreld, in sy standaard vorm, afvoer as 'n grafiese beeld en is dus ontoeganklik vir 'n blinde gebruiker. Om toeganklikheid vir blinde gebruikers te bewerkstellig, moet 'n alternatief vir die grafiese beeld gebruik word. Klank en teks is twee alternatiewe wat beskou kan word. Tog moet klank versigtig gebruik word, aangesien die klankkanaal oorlaai kan word. Die klankkanaal kan oorlaai word aangesien dit nie 'n selektiewe kanaal soos die visuele kanaal is nie, met ander woorde, die gebruiker kan nie kies wat hy/sy wil hoor nie. Teks moet ook as klank beskou word, aangesien 'n blinde gebruiker teks in die vorm van gesintetiseerde spraak inneem. Met hierdie navorsing bespreek ons een oplossing vir die probleem van kanaaloorlading, deur die gebruik van verskeie navigasie- en verkenningsgereedskapstukke. Hierdie gereedskapstukke behoort die gebruiker in staat te stel om die inligting wat as klank oorgedra word, te bepaal. Ons bespreek spesi ek die ontwikkeling van 'n virtuele wêreld-kliënt genaamd Perspective, wat nie-visuele toegang tot virtuele wêrelde bewerkstellig deur die gebruik van meervoudige navigasie- en verkenningsgereedskapstukke. Perspective dien ook as 'n raamwerk vir die ontwikkeling en evaluering van gereedskapstukke. Laastens verskaf ons voorstelle vir verbeteringe van die boutegnieke en protokolle van huidige virtuele wêrelde, as eerste stap na 'n toeganklikheidsstandaard vir virtuele wêrelde.

Thesis (MScPhysio)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Aims: To assess the effect of a vertical height adjustment of the chair and visual display unit (VDU) on work related upper quadrant musculoskeletal pain (WRUQMP) and sitting comfort in computer users. The upper quadrant refers to the occiput, cervical and upper thoracic spine including the clavicles and scapulae. Methods: An N=1 study was conducted using the ABC design whereby an ergonomic workstation adjustment, of VDU and chair height, was compared to the subject’s usual workstation settings. Pain and sitting comfort were measured using visual analogue scales (VAS). The subject was assessed over the four week phases as she performed her typical VDU work. The results were compiled and tabulated. Results: Both the mean and variance in pain intensity decreased after the workstation intervention. A deterioration was noted in sitting comfort. Conclusion: The vertical height adjustment of the chair and VDU may have contributed to a decrease in WRUQMP in this subject. This safe, economical workstation intervention may be a practical management option for the computer user suffering from WRUQMP. Further research into the measurement of comfort whilst sitting at a computer workstation, is recommended. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Doelwitte: Om die effek te bepaal van n vertikale aanpassing van die stoel en beeldskerm van rekenaargebruikers op werksverwandte boonste kwadrant muskuloskeletale pyn en sitgemak. Die boonste kwadrant verwys na die oksiput, servikale en boonste torakale werwelkolom en sluit ook die klavikel en skapula in. Methode: Die N=1 studie is onderneem met gebruik van die ABC ontwerp in terme waarvan n ergonomiese aanpassing van stoel en beeldskerm vergelyk is met die normale gebruik van die deelnemer. Pyn en sitgemak is gemeet deur die gebruik van die Visueel analoogskaal. Die interwensies is ge-evalueer oor vierweekfases tydens normale rekenaar gebruik van die deelnemer. Die resultate is saamgestel en getabuleer. Uitkoms: Beide die gemiddelde en veranderlike pynintensiteit het verminder nadat die werkstasie aangepas is. Geen verbetering in sitgemak is opgemerk nie. Gevolgtrekking: Die vertikale hoogte-aanpassing van die stoel en beeldskerm het moontlik bygedra tot die verminderde pynvlakke in hierdie deelnemer. Hierdie veilige, ekonomiese verstelling is moontlik n praktiese beheeropsie vir rekenaargebruikers wat werksverwandte boonste kwadrant muskuloskeletale pyn verduur. Verder studie in die meet en waarneming van sitgemak tydens rekenaarwerk is nodig.

本文試圖釐清總督府圖書館建立之歷史脈絡，同時以「閱覽者」為問題中心而出發，透過統計與史料呈現，試圖勾陳出閱覽者的身分，以及閱覽者如何與為何使用圖書館，進一步讓該館閱覽者使用圖書館的歷史，得以呈現。 　　經由本文，發現下列五點，茲陳列如下。首先，該館藏書與閱覽者使用藏書方向，出現些微差異。該館藏書以和漢書為主。觀察和漢書的歷年度藏書部分，主要以「總類」、「文學、語學」等類為主；然而，依照歷年閱覽借閱累計總量排序，最受館內成人閱覽者愛好之分類，依次為「文學、語學」、「總類」等類。可發現，藏書方向與閱覽者使用方向，呈現不一致的結果。 其次，館內閱覽者以內地男性學生為大宗，館外閱覽者則量上最高者為本島男性。閱覽者職業表現方面，館內閱覽者中，以學生占絕對多數，館外閱覽者則未見資料。 　　再者，閱覽者實際使用表現中，「準備考試」是館內閱覽者使用該館的主要行為，可以看到許多內地男學生以預備考試為目的，來使用圖書館硬體和館藏中的參考書籍。館外閱覽者則暫時未得見普遍動機。 　　還有，在硬體部分，在圖書館初期，閱覽者使用圖書館時，常得面臨到座位不足的問題。同時，在圖書館營運後期逐漸嚴重的藏書區不足之問題，乃至該館缺乏餐廳和休息室，加上採光和通風不良，及缺乏防火設備等，都是閱覽者使用時所面臨到的困難。特別是營運後期進館人次屢創高峰，當閱覽者湧入時，人聲、木屐、鞋子所造成的聲響，產生整體圖書館整體閱讀環境水準不良的情況。 　　最後，自本文研究中，總督府圖書館閱覽者在該館營運期間，由於「閱讀」的行為，因而與圖書館產生了相應的互動結果。對大部分的圖書館閱覽者而言，欲使用的只是圖書館的設備，以幫助自己通過考試，而圖書館館藏或者活動，是其自身動機獲得滿足後，空閒時才考慮是否使用。也就是說，閱覽者在其總督府圖書館的使用歷程中，擁有一定的主動空間，可以選擇使用該館的方式，而非服膺圖書館自社會教育出發，必然存在教化功能的命題，或純然而無條件接受社會教育之教化。在此，歷史行動者的主體性似乎隱約得見。 / This study aims to uncover the history of the readers in the library of Office of the Taiwan Governor-General during Japanese colonial period. We want to investigate the readers in this library would be consisted of whom and what reason. By analyzing the tones of statistics data and historical material from the library, we find out the readers’ occupations and motivations eventually. With this reach, there are five points need to be mentioned. First, collection of books which stored by the library are indirect to readers’ favorite categories. Observing the data, we exposed the library had collected the category “General” most, and then is “literature and language”. In contrast, the most favorite books in this library are “literature and language”. It would be known that there is different between collection in library and readers’ favorite books. Second, in this library, most readers are Japanese male students. Comparing to this, most outside readers who use the circle service（巡迴書庫） were Taiwanese male, and it is pity that we don’t know the exactly occupation of these outside reader because of data locking. Furthermore, what were the real activities when readers were in the library？It is very interesting that preparing examinations were the main behavior. Most of Japanese male students used the equipment and the books to prepare the subjects for examinations. Unfortunately, the circle service readers’ purpose had not been discovered yet. Fourth, this building of library did not build as a library’ standard in the beginning. Therefore, readers faced the problem that they would not find enough seats inner the library. As time pass by, problem got worse. The library had been confronted with more locking problems as storage for collection, restaurants, restrooms and fire-avoiding equipment. In addition, the library was not well-ventilated and without plenty of light. Based on these conditions, readers had experienced the uncomfortable environment when they entered the library. Especially in the busy day, there were a lot of noises from human voices and stepping sounds. In the end of all, the behavior of the readers in this library did not follow the rules designed by the library officers specifically. However, to most readers, they used the equipment and books in order to pass examination they faced. After their purposes were fulfilled, they would consider using the services and other books in their second choices. The exactly readers were not a lot, it made a space that readers in this library not just purely obeying the intention which was from the library officers or the government policy. On the whole of our analyzing result, readers owned their subjective to complete their personal objective, in this view of part, we would have one more peek of the readers as the real subjective in history.

隨著資訊科技的蓬勃發展，使用者的資訊搜尋行為有了新面貌，線上公用目錄亦面臨重大轉變及挑戰。圖書館界應站在使用者角度來思考，設計及建置一個使用者滿意的線上公用目錄系統。國際圖書館協會聯盟（IFLA）在2005年提出的《Guidelines for Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) Displays》報告中，認為線上公用目錄的設計該有其原則，尤其應該考慮到使用者的需求。 　　本研究旨在從使用者角度出發，建構一套適合國內大專院校圖書館線上公用目錄的設計原則。本論文參考國內外線上公用目錄設計內容，除了參酌IFLA的原則基礎外，並融入其他學者專家、機構團體對於未來線上公用目錄的意見及建議，彙整一套從使用者角度思考的線上公用目錄設計原則草案。為了獲取使用者的意見，本研究共舉辦三場焦點團體訪談，藉由使用者的想法來修正草案內容，再將修正後之草案，經由分別針對學生與館員的問卷調查，來進行最後的原則項目清單之確認。 　　根據研究結果，確認使用者認同的線上公用目錄設計原則總計六大類35項原則。該六大類分別為「使用者需求」、「介面設計」、「內容及資料安排」、「檢索技術」、「個人化服務」及「資源整合」，並依平均數高低區分為不同重要性。未來圖書館員與廠商欲進行線上公用目錄設計的溝通，或評鑑線上公用目錄時可作為參考之用；並經由本研究發現使用者與館員的想法差異相當大，圖書館在建置線上公用目錄前應更瞭解使用者的資訊使用行為及習慣。 / The behavior of users’ information search has changed in the past years in accordance with the development of information technology. Therefore, Open Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) is facing great transformation and challenges. Libraries should design and construct an OPAC system from users’ perspective. In 2005, a report from International Federation of Library Association and Institution (IFLA) titled “Guidelines for Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) Displays” outlined principles in designing OPAC and highlighted the importance of users’ need. This study aims to offer a draft of design guidelines of OPAC for universities and colleges in Taiwan. It refers to IFLA guidance, local and abroad interfaces of OPACs, and blends in the feedback from scholars and educational institutions on the OPAC design. It also held three focus groups in order to gauge users’ views on how to improve the drafted guidelines. Then the revised guidelines were used to conduct further questionnaires on librarians and students. From there, it gave birth to the final guidelines. The analysis of the study came up six major categories and 35 principles. The six categories are: users’ need, design interface, content and information arrangement, retrieval technique, personalized service and information integration. This study could serve as the future guidance when librarians are in talks with vendors in their OPAC design, and when the evaluation of OPAC system is needed. This study also revealed that there is a gap between the opinion of users and librarians. Libraries should thus pay more attention in understanding what users want when constructing OPAC.