Η εμφάνιση του Internet και των νέων τεχνολογιών έχει επιφέρει σημαντικές αλλαγές σε όλους τους τομείς του παραδοσιακού εκπαιδευτικού συστήματος. Η παρούσα διπλωματική εργασία πραγματεύεται τη μελέτη των διαφορετικών περιπτώσεων λογισμικών υποδομής, που έχουν υλοποιηθεί για εφαρμογές υποστήριξης της διαδικασίας μαθησιακής εξέτασης και αξιολόγησης στον Παγκόσμιο Ιστό. Υπάρχουν δύο κυρίως κατηγορίες λογισμικών υποδομής για εφαρμογές διαδικτυακής εξέτασης, οι οποίες είναι τα αυτόνομα πακέτα λογισμικού (stand-alone software) και τα Web-based λογισμικά. Σε ό,τι αφορά το κόστος, τα λογισμικά διακρίνονται σε λογισμικά ανοιχτού κώδικα (open source software) και σε εμπορικά διαθέσιμα λογισμικά (commercially distributed software). Στη συγκεκριμένη διπλωματική εργασία, ερευνώνται οι επικρατέστερες περιπτώσεις λογισμικού που είναι Web based και ελεύθερα διαθέσιμες. Μελετούνται διεξοδικά οι δυνατότητες και οι ελλείψεις κάθε περίπτωσης και γίνεται σύγκριση μεταξύ των διαφορετικών λογισμικών υποδομής. / Given the increasingly widespread growth of Open and Distance Learning Education, it is justifiable to discuss the main reasons that online examination systems exist and tend to grow rapidly. For this reason, we examine the way that Web-based Assessment and online examination software works and the quality of the services that offers. In this paper, we describe the similarities and the differences between three main online examination systems, TCExam, Pareeksha and PHPTestManager. The above mentioned comparison focuses on the tasks and activities that each system offers. We also investigate the reasons for the increasing abandonment of the traditional Pen-and-Paper Testing by Web-based Assessment systems.

Στόχος της παρούσας διπλωματικής εργασίας είναι να γίνει μια μελέτη πάνω στο υπάρχον λογισμικό για τη δημιουργία και υποστήριξη ερωτηματολογίων στον Παγκόσμιο Ιστό. Θα μελετηθούν οι δυνατότητες που προσφέρουν τα διαδικτυακά ερωτηματολόγια όπως επίσης και οι περιορισμοί τους και θα παρουσιαστούν τα κριτήρια που μπορούν να βοηθήσουν έναν ερευνητή να επιλέξει το κατάλληλο για την έρευνά του εργαλείο ανάπτυξης και υποστήριξης online ερωτηματολογίων. Στη συνέχεια θα γίνει μια παρουσίαση κάποιων open source εργαλείων δημιουργίας και υποστήριξης διαδικτυακών ερωτηματολογίων και θα γίνει μία σύγκριση μεταξύ αυτών. Θα παρουσιαστεί μια πιλοτική εφαρμογή, χρησιμοποιώντας το επιλεγμένο ως ισχυρότερο open source εργαλείο από τα παραπάνω και κατά τη δημιουργία του ερωτηματολογίου θα γίνει και παρουσίαση του συγκεκριμένου εργαλείου. / The aim of this paper is to examine the existant software for online surveys.The benefits of the web-based surveys will be examined as well as their limitations and the criteria for choosing the appropriate tool for each research are going to be presented. There will also be presented some open source tools for online surveys and following that, these tools are going to be compared with each other. At the end of this paper with the chosen as the most powerful tool of the above, a survey is going to be created and at the same time the characteristics of this software will be demonstrated.

The aim of this bachelor thesis is to examine how librarians experience migration to an open source integrated library system (ILS) in order to analyze how humans and technology influence each other, in line with a socio-technical perspective. We therefore examine how the librarians’ attitudes change during the migration process, what difficulties and possibilities they see in each phase and what the significance of open source is in this context. The method used in this study is qualitative interviews with librarians in one public library and one university library that migrated to the ILS Koha on the same day. The theoretical framework is a socio-technical perspective and actor-network theory. To analyze the result, Michel Callon’s translation was applied to the empirical data. The results of this study show that the librarians interviewed had indifferent or positive attitudes towards Koha. We could also see that those who had roles with more responsibility in the library often showed a greater interest in the problems and community surrounding Koha. The public library experienced significantly more problems with the migration which resulted in a tough transition but did not alter their attitudes.

abstract: Free/Libre Open Source Software (FLOSS) is the product of volunteers collaborating to build software in an open, public manner. The large number of FLOSS projects, combined with the data that is inherently archived with this online process, make studying this phenomenon attractive. Some FLOSS projects are very functional, well-known, and successful, such as Linux, the Apache Web Server, and Firefox. However, for every successful FLOSS project there are 100's of projects that are unsuccessful. These projects fail to attract sufficient interest from developers and users and become inactive or abandoned before useful functionality is achieved. The goal of this research is to better understand the open source development process and gain insight into why some FLOSS projects succeed while others fail. This dissertation presents an agent-based model of the FLOSS development process. The model is built around the concept that projects must manage to attract contributions from a limited pool of participants in order to progress. In the model developer and user agents select from a landscape of competing FLOSS projects based on perceived utility. Via the selections that are made and subsequent contributions, some projects are propelled to success while others remain stagnant and inactive. Findings from a diverse set of empirical studies of FLOSS projects are used to formulate the model, which is then calibrated on empirical data from multiple sources of public FLOSS data. The model is able to reproduce key characteristics observed in the FLOSS domain and is capable of making accurate predictions. The model is used to gain a better understanding of the FLOSS development process, including what it means for FLOSS projects to be successful and what conditions increase the probability of project success. It is shown that FLOSS is a producer-driven process, and project factors that are important for developers selecting projects are identified. In addition, it is shown that projects are sensitive to when core developers make contributions, and the exhibited bandwagon effects mean that some projects will be successful regardless of competing projects. Recommendations for improving software engineering in general based on the positive characteristics of FLOSS are also presented. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Computer Science 2011

3D printers are a type of digital fabrication tool being used by communities committed to shared software, hardware, and digital designs. This shared digital knowledge can be understood as an emerging common resource for the fabrication of physical goods and services. Yet the knowledge associated with physical resources used in 3D printing is less understood. This thesis explores what factors enable or prevent knowledge about physical materials entering the commons. 3D printing, with its particular configuration of digital and physical goods, offers a unique angle to advance the field of commons scholarship. This thesis elaborates the use of commons theory for traversing the boundary between knowledge associated with physical materials and digital content from the perspective of 3D printer users. Particular contributions are made to the branch of knowledge commons theory: notably, how design rules in technological systems can be used to theorise boundaries; how differentiating between the nature of underlying resources can help explain the inclusion of knowledge in the commons; and, how patterns of user engagement with types of knowledge in the commons can be studied over time. To develop these contributions I employ theory on the design rules of technological architecture, and use insights from the study of peer production in online communities. Empirical data comes from a qualitative study of users of Fab Labs, community workshops for digital fabrication, as well as from a quantitative study of the online user forum for the Ultimaker 3D printer.

Nesta dissertação são descritas as diferentes práticas culturais que compõem a comunidade brasileira de Software Livre e de Código Aberto com o objetivo de demonstrar como são criados os laços entre agentes para a constituição de redes. Com base no trabalho de dois anos e meio de pesquisa, assumimos o ângulo das práticas culturais e do reconhecimento de agentes para problematizar a oposição binária que domina grande parte do debate sobre altruísmo e interesse próprio em economias da dádiva. Ao centrarmos o foco nas redes de trabalho e prestígio, procuramos demonstrar quão heterogênea é a malha de redes da comunidade F/LOSS brasileira. As orientações teóricas e metodológicas da antropologia do dom de Caillé e da antropologia da tecnologia de Ingold e Pfaffenberger foram combinadas para a investigação da conformação da comunidade brasileira em três domínios experienciais: o técnico, o político e o cultural. O trabalho de pesquisa foi conduzido nos encontros nacionais da comunidade brasileira, bem como através das listas de discussão, wikis, blogs, portais de notícias e conversas informais na rede IRC Freenode. O desenvolvimento da pesquisa aponta para o surgimento de uma nova cultura tecnopolítica no Brasil, produto de práticas políticas e técnicas intimamente relacionadas ao Software Livre e de Código Aberto. / In this thesis, I turn to various agents in the Brazilian Free and Open Software community - developers, evangelists, politicians, and users - in order to discuss how gift economy works to shape commitments among them for the building of networks. Drawing on two and a half years of research, I take the angle of cultural practices and prestige to problematize the binary opposition between altruism and self-interest that dominates much of the literature. By focusing on social networks and the production of prestige, I am able to demonstrate how heterogeneous the composition of social networks are for the Brazilian economy of F/LOSS sharing. The theoretical and methodological orientation of Caillé's "Anthropologie du Don" and Pfaffenberger's and Ingold's "Anthropology of Technology" were combined to describe the community of Brazilian agents, engaged in three experiential domains: technical (producers), political (agents that promote F/OSS in the federal government), and cultural (artists whose work is empowered by F/OSS and the concept of Free Culture). The research work was conducted during the gatherings of F/OSS community in Brazil, as well as in electronic mailing lists, wikis, Internet sites and informal discussions via IRC. The development of the research points to the emergence of a new technical and political culture in Brazil, embodied by the "free software movement" therefore articulating political, cultural and technological practices.

Open source products such as software development tools and server applications are gaining popularity among expert users. There is however a notable lag in adoption of desktop open source software among ordinary users especially in Africa. A number of critical factors such as performance expectancy, effort expectancy and facilitating conditions have been suggested as the determinants of Information and Communication Technologies adoption in general. This study deemed it important to establish if the above factors are the determinants of desktop open source software adoption in Africa. The study aimed to establish the Open Source Software adoption levels among university students in Kenya as well as the factors affecting Open Source Software adoption in this population. The author further aimed to assess the applicability of popular technology acceptance models in the adoption of the software in the population under study. The study employed literature review, quantitative and qualitative approaches. The study also used both descriptive and explanatory research designs in answering the research questions. The Extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology was used as a theoretical framework because it has synthesised all its major predecessors and accommodated all the predecessors constructs. The other reason The Extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology was used is because the model was developed specifically for predicting voluntary technology adoption. This study established that the adoption of Free Open Source Software products in Kenya is very low and existing literature revealed that this is also the case in other developing countries. The study concluded that the factors affecting adoption of desktop Open Source Software by Kenyan university students are usability, user training, Open Source Software compatibility, social influence, prior experience, social economic status, job market demands, proprietary software piracy culture and patent and copyright laws. Hence the study suggested that the existing technology adoption models are not appropriate in predicting technology adoption in an Africa setup. The study proposed and validated an appropriate model that fits in this context. / School of Computing / D.Phil. (Information Systems)

Nesta dissertação são descritas as diferentes práticas culturais que compõem a comunidade brasileira de Software Livre e de Código Aberto com o objetivo de demonstrar como são criados os laços entre agentes para a constituição de redes. Com base no trabalho de dois anos e meio de pesquisa, assumimos o ângulo das práticas culturais e do reconhecimento de agentes para problematizar a oposição binária que domina grande parte do debate sobre altruísmo e interesse próprio em economias da dádiva. Ao centrarmos o foco nas redes de trabalho e prestígio, procuramos demonstrar quão heterogênea é a malha de redes da comunidade F/LOSS brasileira. As orientações teóricas e metodológicas da antropologia do dom de Caillé e da antropologia da tecnologia de Ingold e Pfaffenberger foram combinadas para a investigação da conformação da comunidade brasileira em três domínios experienciais: o técnico, o político e o cultural. O trabalho de pesquisa foi conduzido nos encontros nacionais da comunidade brasileira, bem como através das listas de discussão, wikis, blogs, portais de notícias e conversas informais na rede IRC Freenode. O desenvolvimento da pesquisa aponta para o surgimento de uma nova cultura tecnopolítica no Brasil, produto de práticas políticas e técnicas intimamente relacionadas ao Software Livre e de Código Aberto. / In this thesis, I turn to various agents in the Brazilian Free and Open Software community - developers, evangelists, politicians, and users - in order to discuss how gift economy works to shape commitments among them for the building of networks. Drawing on two and a half years of research, I take the angle of cultural practices and prestige to problematize the binary opposition between altruism and self-interest that dominates much of the literature. By focusing on social networks and the production of prestige, I am able to demonstrate how heterogeneous the composition of social networks are for the Brazilian economy of F/LOSS sharing. The theoretical and methodological orientation of Caillé's "Anthropologie du Don" and Pfaffenberger's and Ingold's "Anthropology of Technology" were combined to describe the community of Brazilian agents, engaged in three experiential domains: technical (producers), political (agents that promote F/OSS in the federal government), and cultural (artists whose work is empowered by F/OSS and the concept of Free Culture). The research work was conducted during the gatherings of F/OSS community in Brazil, as well as in electronic mailing lists, wikis, Internet sites and informal discussions via IRC. The development of the research points to the emergence of a new technical and political culture in Brazil, embodied by the "free software movement" therefore articulating political, cultural and technological practices.

Nesta dissertação são descritas as diferentes práticas culturais que compõem a comunidade brasileira de Software Livre e de Código Aberto com o objetivo de demonstrar como são criados os laços entre agentes para a constituição de redes. Com base no trabalho de dois anos e meio de pesquisa, assumimos o ângulo das práticas culturais e do reconhecimento de agentes para problematizar a oposição binária que domina grande parte do debate sobre altruísmo e interesse próprio em economias da dádiva. Ao centrarmos o foco nas redes de trabalho e prestígio, procuramos demonstrar quão heterogênea é a malha de redes da comunidade F/LOSS brasileira. As orientações teóricas e metodológicas da antropologia do dom de Caillé e da antropologia da tecnologia de Ingold e Pfaffenberger foram combinadas para a investigação da conformação da comunidade brasileira em três domínios experienciais: o técnico, o político e o cultural. O trabalho de pesquisa foi conduzido nos encontros nacionais da comunidade brasileira, bem como através das listas de discussão, wikis, blogs, portais de notícias e conversas informais na rede IRC Freenode. O desenvolvimento da pesquisa aponta para o surgimento de uma nova cultura tecnopolítica no Brasil, produto de práticas políticas e técnicas intimamente relacionadas ao Software Livre e de Código Aberto. / In this thesis, I turn to various agents in the Brazilian Free and Open Software community - developers, evangelists, politicians, and users - in order to discuss how gift economy works to shape commitments among them for the building of networks. Drawing on two and a half years of research, I take the angle of cultural practices and prestige to problematize the binary opposition between altruism and self-interest that dominates much of the literature. By focusing on social networks and the production of prestige, I am able to demonstrate how heterogeneous the composition of social networks are for the Brazilian economy of F/LOSS sharing. The theoretical and methodological orientation of Caillé's "Anthropologie du Don" and Pfaffenberger's and Ingold's "Anthropology of Technology" were combined to describe the community of Brazilian agents, engaged in three experiential domains: technical (producers), political (agents that promote F/OSS in the federal government), and cultural (artists whose work is empowered by F/OSS and the concept of Free Culture). The research work was conducted during the gatherings of F/OSS community in Brazil, as well as in electronic mailing lists, wikis, Internet sites and informal discussions via IRC. The development of the research points to the emergence of a new technical and political culture in Brazil, embodied by the "free software movement" therefore articulating political, cultural and technological practices.

Um processo de software é definido pelas diversas atividades comumente efetuadas durante o desenvolvimento de software, considerando que tais atividades sejam realizadas sob políticas bem definidas e procedimentos bem estabelecidos. Assim, existem diversos modelos de processo de desenvolvimento de software, que visam garantir a qualidade do produto desenvolvido por meio de tal processo. Identificando a necessidade de processos de software específicos para o desenvolvimento de software livre, devido aos modelos tradicionais não considerarem as características do desenvolvimento deste tipo de software, foi proposto no contexto do Projeto QualiPSo o modelo OMM (Open Source Maturity Model). Com o intuito de contribuir com o modelo OMM e a comunidade de software livre, esse trabalho teve como um de seus objetivos a análise do emprego de wikis no processo de desenvolvimento de software. Outro objetivo dessa pesquisa foi o desenvolvimento de uma ferramenta para mensurar o quanto de documentação e registro de Design Rationale tem sido realizado em uma wiki / A software process is defined by several activities commonly performed during the software development, whereas such activities are conducted under well defined policies and and well established procedures. Thus, there are various models of software development process designed to ensure the quality of the product developed through this processes. By identifying the need for software processes specific to the development of free software, due to traditional models do not consider the characteristics of this type of software, the OMM Model (Open Source Maturity Model) was proposed in the the QualiPSos project context. Aiming to contribute with the OMM model and free software community, one of this work objectives was the analysis of using wikis in the software development process. The other objective of this research was to develop a tool to measure how much documentation and registration of Design Rationale has been performed in a wiki