Increasingly, virtual reality therapy (VRT) technologies are being used to augment pediatric rehabilitation. The mechanisms underlying success/failure of VRTs are not well understood. This thesis proposed an innovative 3-phase framework for evaluating VRT technologies with respect to neuroplasticity based on results of a scoping review of 21 studies. A case study was undertaken to demonstrate use of the framework to design and evaluate ‘Musical Steps’, a VRT technology aimed at promoting heel contact in toe-walking children. 5 therapists and 4 children were engaged in this study. The system accurately detected 88%(SD=7%) of heel contacts and was rated positively in usability testing (phase 1). Feasibility studies indicated that, while enjoyable, children did not understand the feedback provided and hence, heel contact was not increased (phase 2). These findings will direct future reiterations prior to evaluating clinical impact (phase 3). The proposed framework may enhance design and translation of therapeutically relevant VRTs.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This paper discusses factors that contribute to information technology (IT) investment not paying off as might have been expected. The main purpose is to describe this IT _productivity paradox. The paper explores ideas that align organizations' business strategies and information technology as a key to achieving improved productivity. Which are possible to properly measure in terms of the financial results? The main aims and objectives are to find out why managers invest in IT; whether there is a phenomenon such as an IT productivity paradox; whether IT pays off as expected; and how IT impacts on organizations. The study will investigate options for proper management of information technology and data structures. It is necessary to ascertain whether ensuring proper IT implementation has a positive impact on productivity, leading to increased innovation and performance. The research design builds on research done on the use of IT in organizations, usmg a qualitative research method. This research paper looks at organizational issues such as IT management styles, political and ethical issues, and work settings. The paper looks at organizations across the service and manufacturing sectors to determine their production, innovation, and profits into their existing organizational processes and how technology is interpreted. A group of IT users, IT managers and analysts were used as a sample to study the way IT managers and knowledge workers encounter information technology in organizations. The research method used in this research paper is called the informant approach, to take points of entry IT users would provide. This means that the interviewee, in this case the IT user was questioned on the use of information technology tools to gather information. In this study the aim was to conduct interviews with IT users and those they work with about their experiences. The sampling population was selected on the basis that they use this technology. In the data collection method a second interview was used to gather first-hand responses from the respondents to help me consolidate the information gathered to validate and ensure that it is reliable. The validity and reliability aspect of this research paper are based on the main sources of data and interpretation and adopts coding as the main technique of analysis. The internal reliability of this research methodology concern itself with the research methods that were used within this research paper. Measures to be taken in the paper are to obtain internal reliability in systematic gathering of data. The last part of this paper presents the conclusions and recommendations for changes to be made by managers and those investing in IT. IT managers should plan strategically when dealing with sales and marketers in order to put business needs before the needs of IT or systems. Technology should fit business needs rather than the business adjusted to fit the technology. IT should not cost an organization any additional profit it generates. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Belegging in Informasietegnologie skyn nie so betalend te wees as wat aanvanklik verwag is nie. Hierdie studie beskryf bogenoemde IT produktiwiteitsparadoks, en ondersoek faktore wat daartoe bydra. Verder word planne wat ten doel stel om organisasies se besigheidsstrategie en IT te laat saamwerk ten einde produktiwiteit te verhoog, ondersoek. Is dit moontlik om hierdie te meet in terme van finansiële resultate? Ander voornemens is om te bepaal waarom bestuurders in IT belê, is dit so betalend soos aanvanklik geskat is, hoe dit die maatskappy beïnvloed en bestaan daar werklik 'n verskynsel soos die IT produktiwiteitsparadoks? Hierdie studie sal moontlikhede ondersoek vir kundige bestuur van IT en datastrukture. Dit is nodig om vas te stel of die deeglike toepassing van IT 'n positiewe uitwerking het op vernuwende denke en produktiwiteit. Die navorsingsontwerp is gebaseer op navorsing wat reeds gedoen is oor die gebruik van IT in organisasies. In hierdie navorsing word ondersoek ingestel na organisatoriese kwessies soos IT bestuursmetodes, politieke en etiese invloede en werksomstandighede. Hierdie dokument neem maatskappye regoor die diens- en vervaardingsektore in oënskou ten opsigte van hul produksie, vernuwende idees en winsmarge, hoe hierdie aspekte inpas in hul huidige organisatoriese prosesse en hoe tegnologie interpreteer word. 'n Groep van IT gebruikers, IT bestuurders en analiste is as monster geneem, ten einde die manier waarop IT bestuurders en inligtingwerkers informasietegnologie teëkom in maatskappye te bestudeer. Die navorsingsmetode wat tydens hierdie studie gebruik is, word genoem die informantbenadering, wat behels om informasie te gebruik wat deur IT gebruikers verskaf word. Dit beteken dat die IT gebruiker ondervra word oor die gebruik van IT toerusting om informasie te versamel. Die doelwit was om onderhoude met IT gebruikers te voer, asook diegene met wie hulle saamwerk, in verband met hulondervindinge. Die steekproefpopulasie is gekies op grond daarvan dat hulle IT gebruik. In die datainsamelingsmetode is 'n tweede onderhoud gehou om eerstehandse menings van die respondente te verkry, met die doel om die informasie tot dusver te bevestig as betroubaar. Die geldigheid- en betroubaarheidsaspekte van hierdie dokument is gebaseer op die hoofbronne van data en vertolking en gebruik kodering as die primêre tegniek van analise. Die intrinsieke betroubaarheid van hierdie navorsingsmetode is gebaseer op die navorsingsmetodes wat gebruik is vir hierdie studie. Stappe is geneem tydens die studie om intrinsieke betroubaarheid te verkry deur die sistematiese verkryging van data. Die laaste deel van hierdie dokument bied die gevoltrekkings aan en ook voorstelle vir veranderings wat gemaak kan word deur bestuurders en diegene wat belê in IT. IT bestuurders behoort strategies te beplan wanneer hulle in aanraking kom met handelaars, om doelgerig die benodighede van die maatskappy te stel voor die benodigdhede van die IT en gepaardgaande sisteme. Tegnologie behoort in te pas by die benodigdhede van die maatskappyeerder dat die maatskappy hoef aan te pas by die tegnologie. IT behoort nie die maatskappy meer uit die sak te jaag as wat dit aan wins genereer nie.

In dieser Dissertation werden verschiedene Anforderungen an sicheres Cloud Computing untersucht. Insbesondere geht es dabei um die Analyse bestehender Forschungs- und Lösungsansätze zum Schutz von Daten und Prozessen in Cloud-Umgebungen und um die Bewertung ihrer Praxistauglichkeit. Die Basis für die Vergleichbarkeit stellen spezifizierte Kriterien dar, nach denen die untersuchten Technologien bewertet werden. Hauptziel dieser Arbeit ist zu zeigen, auf welche Weise technische Forschungsansätze verglichen werden können, um auf dieser Grundlage eine Bewertung ihrer Eignung in der Praxis zu ermöglichen. Hierzu werden zunächst relevante Teilbereiche der Cloud Computing Sicherheit aufgezeigt, deren Lösungsstrategien im Kontext der Arbeit diskutiert und State-of-the-Art Methoden evaluiert. Die Aussage zur Praxistauglichkeit ergibt sich dabei aus dem Verhältnis des potenziellen Nutzens zu den damit verbundene erwartenden Kosten. Der potenzielle Nutzen ist dabei als Zusammenführung der gebotenen Leistungsfähigkeit, Sicherheit und Funktionalität der untersuchten Technologie definiert. Zur objektiven Bewertung setzten sich diese drei Größen aus spezifizierten Kriterien zusammen, deren Informationen direkt aus den untersuchten Forschungsarbeiten stammen. Die zu erwartenden Kosten ergeben sich aus Kostenschlüsseln für Technologie, Betrieb und Entwicklung. In dieser Arbeit sollen die zugleich spezifizierten Evaluierungskriterien sowie die Konstellation der obig eingeführten Begriffe ausführlich erläutert und bewertet werden. Für die bessere Abschätzung der Eignung in der Praxis wird in der Arbeit eine angepasste SWOT-Analyse für die identifizierten relevanten Teilbereiche durchgeführt. Neben der Definition der Praktikabilitätsaussage, stellt dies die zweite Innovation dieser Arbeit dar. Das konkrete Ziel dieser Analyse ist es, die Vergleichbarkeit zwischen den Teilbereichen zu erhöhen und so die Strategieplanung zur Entwicklung sicherer Cloud Computing Lösungen zu verbessern.

Despite widespread use of web-based e-learning applications, insufficient attention is paid to their usability. There is a need to conduct evaluation using one or more of the various usability evaluation methods. Given that heuristic evaluation is known to be easy to use and cost effective, this study investigates the extent to which it can identify usability problems in a web-based e-learning application at a tertiary institution. In a comparative case study, heuristic evaluation by experts and survey evaluation among end users (learners) are conducted and the results of the two compared. Following literature studies in e-learning - particularly web-based learning - and usability, the researcher generates an extensive set of criteria/heuristics and uses it in the two evaluations. The object of evaluation is a website for a 3rd year Information Systems course. The findings indicate a high correspondence between the results of the two evaluations, demonstrating that heuristic evaluation is an appropriate, effective and sufficient usability evaluation method, as well as relatively easy to conduct. It identified a high percentage of usability problems. / Computing / M.Sc. (Information Systems)

The use of interactive e-learning tutorials is an effective form of teaching and learning. It is therefore important that attention is paid to their usability. This research relates to the evaluation of a CD-based e-learning tutorial for learning Business English, with the aims of investigating its usability and identifying problems. Particular attention is paid to aspects that hinder the learner from achieving the learning objectives. The study uses two usability evaluation methods (UEMs), namely controlled usability testing in an HCI laboratory and a user questionnaire survey. The main aim of the study is to compare the findings and determine the impact of using two methods in combination. The first outcome of the research was a synthesized framework of evaluation criteria that was applied in the two UEMs. Secondly, findings of the evaluations indicated that two UEMs identified similar problems, thus confirming their reliability in usability evaluation. Another finding was instances where one method produced results not obtained by the other, which shows the complementary value of two different UEMs. A third benefit of the study was that it identified usability problems in the target system. / Information Systems / MA (Information Systems)

本研究主要是對上海的技術中介機構和資產評估事務所作初探性的研究，希望去實地瞭解目前中國大陸上海技術交易市場運作的狀況，及其技術鑑價相關機構。 　　在技術交易市場平台中有許多環節，本研究將著重於探討上海技術交易中介機構及其技術鑑價體系的運作情形，並瞭解其對於技術交易風險是否有機制去降低它；另一方面，也對其技術交易中的技術鑑價體系作深入的了解，包括其成立的背景、運作狀況及其使用之鑑價方法和程序為何。 　　訪談和資料收集後發現，中國大陸技術市場所扮演的角色主要為：溝通、評估、協調、組織。中國政府近年來大力推動技術交易、技術產權交易，配合各種優惠政策吸引技術、人才和資金，所以技術市場發展迅速蓬勃。評估的部分，技術鑑價為其資產評估的一部份，但是由於過去政治體制的影響，受限法令，流於形式，發展有限。主要技術成交價格由市場去決定。對於欲交易的技術的真實性與可靠性，有作初步的確認，但受限資源，並無法作深入的瞭解和把關，由欲購買技術者與技術賣方接觸詳談瞭解。 / In Mainland China, the government is promoting the “technology market” in order to push the technology into the market these years. The “technology market”, including STTE, Saviaq and technology transfer agent office, is a platform for technology transfer and exchange. This research surveys these intermediary organizations of technology transfer and exchange, and the technology evaluation organization in Shanghai. By visiting the STTE (Shanghai Technical Transfer Exchanger), Saviaq, Ke-Hua asset evaluation office and technology transfer agent office, this research wants to know how this platform work, and focuses on how they evaluate the technology and how these organizations work, the background of these organizations established and if the platform has the risk free prevent process in the dealing of technology transfer and exchange or not. 　　In Mainland China, the main function of “technology market” is offering an information platform of technology transfer and exchange. The Saviaq and STTE combine with many preferential treatment policies for pulling in the capital and the high educated people with the working experience in high technology industry. 　　The “technology market” in Mainland China is growing rapidly recently. This platform has four main functions: communication between the investors and the technology owner, evaluation of the technology, corresponding with the dealers, organizing and makes some activities to promote the technology transfer and exchange. 　　The technology evaluation is one part of capital evaluation. Because the political background of communism, the development of the capital evaluation industry is limited by the old government system and laws. The evaluation has no efficient for the dealer in the real market, it just a legal process of the technology transfer and exchange. The final price of the technology transfer and exchange is decided by the dealing. 　　About the evaluation and risk free prevent process of the technology transfer and exchange is not very sufficient. The “technology market” just does the simple identification of the reality of the technology because identifying the reality need profession and much manpower, but the resource is limited. The “technology market” is just a platform which offers the deal information to the members of their organization. The people can find the technology which they want to invest, and they can make detailed evaluation by themselves.

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Despite widespread use of web-based e-learning applications, insufficient attention is paid to their usability. There is a need to conduct evaluation using one or more of the various usability evaluation methods. Given that heuristic evaluation is known to be easy to use and cost effective, this study investigates the extent to which it can identify usability problems in a web-based e-learning application at a tertiary institution. In a comparative case study, heuristic evaluation by experts and survey evaluation among end users (learners) are conducted and the results of the two compared. Following literature studies in e-learning - particularly web-based learning - and usability, the researcher generates an extensive set of criteria/heuristics and uses it in the two evaluations. The object of evaluation is a website for a 3rd year Information Systems course. The findings indicate a high correspondence between the results of the two evaluations, demonstrating that heuristic evaluation is an appropriate, effective and sufficient usability evaluation method, as well as relatively easy to conduct. It identified a high percentage of usability problems. / Computing / M.Sc. (Information Systems)

The use of interactive e-learning tutorials is an effective form of teaching and learning. It is therefore important that attention is paid to their usability. This research relates to the evaluation of a CD-based e-learning tutorial for learning Business English, with the aims of investigating its usability and identifying problems. Particular attention is paid to aspects that hinder the learner from achieving the learning objectives. The study uses two usability evaluation methods (UEMs), namely controlled usability testing in an HCI laboratory and a user questionnaire survey. The main aim of the study is to compare the findings and determine the impact of using two methods in combination. The first outcome of the research was a synthesized framework of evaluation criteria that was applied in the two UEMs. Secondly, findings of the evaluations indicated that two UEMs identified similar problems, thus confirming their reliability in usability evaluation. Another finding was instances where one method produced results not obtained by the other, which shows the complementary value of two different UEMs. A third benefit of the study was that it identified usability problems in the target system. / Information Systems / MA (Information Systems)