Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / Bibliography. Also available via the Internet.

Αρχικά θα μελετήσουμε κάποιες έννοιες σχετικές με το δίκτυο της κινητής τηλεφωνίας και θα ασχοληθούμε πιο συγκεκριμένα με τα υποσυστήματα που μεταφέρουν τα γραπτά μηνύματα κινητής τηλεφωνίας. Κύριο μέλημά μας όμως αποτελεί η ανάλυση του τρόπου αποθήκευσης των μηνυμάτων σε συσκευές κινητής τηλεφωνίας και πιο συγκεκριμένα σε συσκευές που έχουν εγκατεστημένο το λειτουργικό σύστημα Android. Θα μελετήσουμε το λειτουργικό σύστημα Android και θα δούμε ποια είναι τα σημαντικότερα πλεονεκτήματά του, ώστε ένας χρήστης να επιλέξει το συγκεκριμένο λειτουργικό σύστημα για τη συσκευή του, αλλά και γιατί αποτελεί πλέον κυρίαρχο λειτουργικό σύστημα για την ανάπτυξη μικροεφαρμογών από τους προγραμματιστές. Ως προς το λειτουργικό Android θα αναλύσουμε εκτενέστερα τον τρόπο αποθήκευσης των γραπτών μηνυμάτων και θα δούμε πως το Android δομεί το κείμενο των μηνυμάτων και τις διάφορες πληροφορίες που παρέχονται από το ίδιο το δίκτυο της κινητής τηλεφωνίας. Θα αναλύσουμε τα σύντομα γραπτά μηνύματα κινητής τηλεφωνίας, γνωστά και ως sms, που είναι η υπηρεσία σύμφωνα με την οποία οι χρήστες ανταλλάσσουν αποκλειστικά κείμενο διατυπώνοντας συναισθήματα, σκέψεις, καθώς και σημαντικές πληροφορίες. Οι πληροφορίες αυτές αποθηκεύονται στη συσκευή κάθε χρήστη και κάθε συσκευή αποτελεί το μοναδικό οικιακό αποθηκευτικό μέσο σε όλο το δίκτυο της κινητής τηλεφωνίας. Οι πληροφορίες που αποθηκεύεται στα sms, αποτελεί σύνθετο πρόβλημα ανάλυσης, καθώς απαρτίζεται από ελλιπής προτάσεις, μεικτό περιεχόμενο ελληνικών και greeklish γραμμάτων, καθώς και συντομογραφίες που ακολουθούν ένα προσωπικό τρόπο γραφής κάποιων λέξεων δίχως να ακολουθείται κάποια νόρμα σύνταξης, ορθογραφίας και συλλαβισμού στο κείμενο. Θα δούμε πως μπορούμε με κατάλληλο φιλτράρισμα της πληροφορίας των γραπτών μηνυμάτων να προσεγγίσουμε όσο το δυνατόν περισσότερο την ανθρώπινη λογική γραφής. Θα αναλύσουμε τα φιλτραρισμένα δεδομένα και θα περιγράψουμε πως μπορεί και ο ίδιος ο χρήστης να συμβάλλει σημαντικά στο φιλτράρισμα αυτό αποκλείοντας λέξεις της αρεσκείας του από τα σύνολο των δεδομένων που θα χρησιμοποιηθούν για ευρετηριοποίηση και πως αυτό επηρεάζει σημαντικά την απόδοση της αναζήτησης. Θα επικεντρωθούμε στις πιο διαδεδομένες δομές δεδομένων που χρησιμοποιούνται για ευρετηριοποίηση και θα αναλύσουμε ποια είναι η κατάλληλότερη δομή που πρέπει να χρησιμοποιηθεί στην περίπτωσή μας και πως αυτή τροποποιήθηκε για το σκοπό της μελέτης μας. Θα αναλύσουμε πως η μετατροπή αυτή αποτέλεσε σημαντική εξέλιξη στην απόδοση του ευρετηρίου μας και πως η αναζήτηση με τη χρήση του ανεστραμμένου ευρετηρίου που αναπτύξαμε απογειώνει την ταχύτητα ανάκτησης των δεδομένων των μηνυμάτων. Τέλος, παραθέτουμε την εφαρμογή που αναπτύξαμε με τη χρήση της γλώσσας προγραμματισμού Java για το λειτουργικό σύστημα Android που ενσωματώνει το ανεστραμμένο ευρετήριο που αναπτύξαμε και βοηθά στην αναζήτηση οποιασδήποτε πληροφορίας από τα γραπτά μηνύματα είτε απευθείας από τη βάση των μηνυμάτων του Android είτε χρησιμοποιώντας το ευρετήριο. / In the current thesis an inverted index was designed for Adroid sms messages which is speeding the information retrieval from the sms database.

1 online resource (viii, 155 leaves) / This study explores the ways in which female entrepreneurs in Zambia and South Africa use their cellular phones, as well as their interests and needs in using this technology. The findings in this study are therefore crucial to the body of knowledge on programmes that seek to uplift women's lives through the deployment of ICTs, since current policies do not make full provision for the use of mobile phones in female entrepreneurship. Information on female entrepreneurs and cellular phones was collected in the literature review. The scrutiny of various literature sources and the analysis of the responses from the interviews with the female entrepreneurs were carried out to arrive at answers to the following research questions: 1. Can telecommunications (specifically, cellular phones) increase the participation of women in the economy? 2. What are the consumer habits of female entrepreneur cellular phone users in Zambia and South Africa? 3. Are the communication needs of business women in Zambia and South Africa adequately met? 4. What are the obstacles that female entrepreneurs in Zambia and South Africa face in the use of cellular phones? 5. What are the similarities and differences in the consumer habits of female entrepreneur cellular phone users in Zambia and South Africa? In order to gather information on the consumer habits of female entrepreneurs in Zambia and South Africa, a survey was conducted of 100 female entrepreneurs. The female entrepreneurs identified in this survey consist of female business owners with no more than 50 employees each, from Gauteng Province in South Africa, and Lusaka Province in Zambia. The female entrepreneurs were identified through the accidental sampling technique, and a structured questionnaire was used to collect information from them. The findings of the investigation reveal that cellular phones have the potential to increase the participation of women in mainstream economic activity, since they are a useful means of communication that allow women from diverse backgrounds to communicate easily for both business and social purposes. Accordingly, national policy-makers in South Africa and Zambia need to investigate further the potential of using cellular phone or similar technology to empower small-scale businesswomen. The investigation also shows that the cellular phone consumer habits of female entrepreneurs in Zambia and South Africa differ when it comes to using cellular phones for business and social communication purposes. More Zambian women indicated that they use their cellular phones in business operations, while South African women showed a tendency to use their phones more for social purposes. The results of this investigation further illustrate that despite the importance in value which the mobile phone has for women entrepreneurs in both Zambia and South Africa, the communication needs of women's entrepreneurship are not adequately met. The main obstacles in meeting the communication needs of female entrepreneurs in Zambia and South Africa are inadequate network coverage and high prices. The study shows that a number of women (52,2%) indicated that they are inhibited from effective communication services and therefore resort to borrowing other people's mobile phones. The lack of empirical studies on the use of telecommunications by female entrepreneurs in both Zambia and South Africa attests to the fact that women's entrepreneurship is still an area that requires in-depth investigation. If various development efforts are to meet their targets, clearly the area of women's entrepreneurship and how various ICTs such as cellular phones are used therein needs urgent investigation. / Communication Sciences / M. A. (International Communication)

Submitted by Noeme Timbo (noeme.timbo@metodista.br) on 2016-08-16T17:53:10Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Ana Graciela Mendes Fernandes da Fonseca Voltolini.pdf: 3241377 bytes, checksum: 25fd43a67cfbf4260a323ff1fff1e3e9 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-16T17:53:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Ana Graciela Mendes Fernandes da Fonseca Voltolini.pdf: 3241377 bytes, checksum: 25fd43a67cfbf4260a323ff1fff1e3e9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-04-11 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The research considers the propagation of mobile phones and smartphones and the consequences of this fact on possibilities for teaching and learning. Communication apparatus have always been linked to the teaching-learning process. However, with the most intense development, in recent decades, of the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), this relation has gained new contours. The Internet arises, the evolution of computing machines and, recently, the explosion of mobile devices, providing new products and converged services. In this context, mobile and smartphones have been used and recommended for support and complement of the teaching-learning process: the so-called Mobile Learning. This segment grows due to the rapid expansion and cheapening of these technologies in society. To scientifically verify this relation, a qualitative research was performed, exploratory type, with two projects of mobile learning underway in Brazil, the Palma - Literacy Mother Language Program and School with Cell Phone. So, from the data from the research, we have identified some aspects related to the use of mobile phones and smartphones for the process of teaching and learning that contribute to the understanding of this field still under construction in Brazil. The use of these devices as support for teaching and learning processes in the studied projects is outlined by aspects technology, public and context and new technologies and mobile learning. The device aspect unfolds in dimensions as dissemination, multi-functionality and accessibility support the proposals, still favor characteristics identified as important to the process of teaching and learning nowadays, as mobility and portability. The projects analyzed show potential and appropriate methodology to the context for which they were created and applied. However, the research indicated that while cellphones and smartphones represent the pinnacle of technological convergence and are considered extremely popular and accessible in contemporary society, with concrete possibilities as in the analyzed projects, failed to gain a solid position as a tool for teaching and learning. Such indication is due, according to the research, to lack of: support, practices show extremely dependent on public or private initiative for its extent and continuity; awareness for the use of available technologies, do not consider the device of the students and a plan that that includes, enables and encourages the use of these devices. Moreover, the research also highlights the need for a critical view of the use and function of technology in these processes. / A pesquisa considera a difusão de celulares e smartphones e as consequências deste fato em possibilidades para o ensino-aprendizagem. Aparatos de comunicação sempre estiveram ligados ao processo de ensino-aprendizagem. Entretanto, com o desenvolvimento mais intenso, nas últimas décadas, das Tecnologias de Informação e Comunicação (TIC), essa relação vem ganhando novos contornos. Surge a Internet, a evolução das máquinas computacionais e, recentemente, a explosão dos dispositivos móveis, fornecendo novos produtos e serviços convergentes. Nesse contexto, celulares e smartphones tem sido utilizados e recomendados para apoio e complemento do processo de ensino-aprendizagem: a chamada Aprendizagem Móvel. Esse ramo cresce devido à rápida expansão e barateamento dessas tecnologias na sociedade. Para verificar cientificamente essa relação foi realizada uma pesquisa de natureza qualitativa, do tipo exploratória, com dois projetos de Aprendizagem Móvel em andamento no Brasil, o Palma – Programa de Alfabetização na Língua Materna e o Escola Com Celular – ECC. Assim, a partir dos dados provenientes da pesquisa, identificamos alguns aspectos relacionados ao uso de celulares e smartphones para o processo de ensino-aprendizagem que contribuem na compreensão desse campo ainda em construção no Brasil. O uso desses dispositivos como suporte para processos de ensino-aprendizagem nos projetos estudados é delineado pelos aspectos tecnologia, dispositivo, público e contexto e novas tecnologias e Aprendizagem Móvel. O aspecto dispositivo desdobra-se em dimensões como disseminação, multifuncionalidade e acessibilidade que embasam os projetos, ainda favorece características apontadas como importantes para o processo de ensino-aprendizagem na atualidade, como mobilidade e portabilidade. Os projetos pesquisados demonstram potencial e metodologia adequada aos contextos para os quais foram criados e aplicados. Entretanto, a pesquisa indicou que ao mesmo tempo em que celulares e smartphones representam o ápice da convergência tecnológica e são considerados extremamente populares e acessíveis na sociedade contemporânea, com possibilidades concretas como nos projetos estudados, não conseguiram conquistar uma posição sólida como suporte para o ensino-aprendizagem. Tal indicação se deve, de acordo com o corpus, à carência de alguns fatores, como: fomento, as práticas se mostram extremamente dependentes da iniciativa pública ou privada para sua extensão e continuidade; sensibilização para o uso de tecnologias disponíveis, não consideram o aparelho dos próprios alunos e um planejamento que inclua, capacite e incentive o uso desses dispositivos. Além disso, a pesquisa também destaca a necessidade de uma visão crítica do uso e papel da tecnologia nesses processos.

The ubiquitous nature of mobile phones and their popularity has led to opportunistic value added services (VAS), such as mobile money, riding on this phenomenon to be implemented. Several studies have been done to find factors that influence the adoption of mobile money and other information systems. The thesis looks at factors determining the uptake of mobile money over cellular networks with a special emphasis on aspects relating to perceived security even though other factors namely perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, perceived trust and perceived cost were also looked at. The research further looks at the security threats introduced to mobile money by virtue of the nature, architecture, standards and protocols of Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM). The model employed for this research was the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). Literature review was done on the security of GSM. Data was collected from a sample population around Harare, Zimbabwe using physical questionnaires. Statistical tests were performed on the collected data to find the significance of each construct to mobile money adoption. The research has found positive correlation between perceived security concerns and the adoption of money mobile money services over cellular networks. Perceived usefulness was found to be the most important factor in the adoption of mobile money. The research also found that customers need to trust the network service provider and the systems in use for them to adopt mobile money. Other factors driving consumer adoption were found to be perceived ease of use and perceived cost. The findings show that players who intend to introduce mobile money should strive to offer secure and useful systems that are trustworthy without making the service expensive or difficult to use. Literature review done showed that there is a possibility of compromising mobile money transactions done over GSM

In this work, chitin (CTN), chitosan (CTS) and activated carbon (AC) were used as adsorbents to recover metals (Au, Ni and Cu) from leachates of mobile phone wastes. The mobile phone wastes (contactors) were collected and characterized. The metals were extracted by thiourea leaching. The adsorption of metals from the leachates was studied according to the kinetic and equilibrium viewpoints. It was found that the contactors were composed by Au, Ni, Cu and Sn. The thiourea leaching provided extraction percentages of 68.6% for Au, 22.1% for Ni and 2.8% for Cu. Sn was not extracted. The leachate presented 17.5 mg L��1 of Au, 324.9 mg L��1 of Ni and 573.1 mg L��1 of Cu. The adsorption was fast, being the maximum time to attain the equilibrium of 120 min. The adsorption of Au, Ni and Cu onto CTN and AC followed the Langmuir model, while, the adsorption of these metals onto CTS followed the Freundlich model. Removal percentages higher than 95% were obtained for all metals, depending of the type and amount of adsorbent. It was demonstrated that the adsorption onto chitin, chitosan and activated carbon can be an alternative to recover valuable metals and purify the leachates of mobile phone wastes. / Neste trabalho, quitina, quitosana e carvão ativado foram utilizados como adsorventes para recuperar metais (Au, Ni e Cu) de lixiviados de contactores de telefones celulares. Os contactores foram coletados e caracterizados. Os metais foram extraídos por lixiviação com tioureia. A adsorção dos metais dos lixiviados foi estudada de acordo com a cinética e o equilíbrio. Verificou-se que os contactores são compostos por Au, Ni, Cu e Sn. A lixiviação com tioureia forneceu percentuais de extração de 68,6% para o Au, 22,1% para o Ni e 2,8% para o cobre. O Sn não foi extraído. O lixiviado apresentou 17,5 mg L-1 de Au, 324,9 mg L-1 de Ni e 573,1 mg L-1 de Cu. A adsorção foi rápida, sendo o tempo máximo para alcançar o equilíbrio de 120 min. A adsorção de Au, Ni e Cu sobre quitina e carvão ativado seguiu o modelo de Langmuir, enquanto que, a adsorção destes metais com a quitosana seguiu o modelo de Freundlich. Percentuais de remoção superiores a 95% foram obtidos para todos os metais, dependendo do tipo e da quantidade de adsorvente. Demonstrou-se que a adsorção em quitina, quitosana e carvão ativado pode ser uma alternativa para recuperar metais valiosos e purificar os lixiviados de resíduos de telefones celulares.

A tendência de utilização de dados voluntários e colaborativos no contexto de fenômenos naturais é crescente. Esse fato, aliado aos alagamentos e inundações que ocorrem na cidade de São Paulo, traz a possibilidade de exploração sobre o modo voluntário e colaborativo de geração e transmissão do dado geográfico de forma dinâmica. Isso é proporcionado por tecnologias acessíveis à população, como a Internet, o GPS (Global Positioning System) e demais sistemas de localização embarcados em celulares. A presente pesquisa tem como objetivo a proposta de um esquema conceitual para um sistema dinâmico e colaborativo de mapeamento dos pontos alagados, cuja fonte de dados advém das pessoas equipadas com aparelhos celulares que permitem a sua localização. Os resultados apresentados correspondem aos esquemas conceituais do sistema, bem como ao protótipo Pontos de Alagamento - mapa disponibilizado via web com os pontos de alagamento da cidade, fornecidos no momento da ocorrência do evento por pessoas comuns. O protótipo foi desenvolvido por meio da plataforma livre e de código aberto Crowdmap/Ushahidi. O sistema foi avaliado através de um questionário respondido por usuários, os quais opinaram sobre a viabilidade do mesmo, bem como os ajustes que devem ser realizados para o uso efetivo da população. Constatou-se a complexidade e as particularidades da aplicação para alagamentos e inundações, em especial com relação à questão temporal. / The trend of using volunteered and crowd data in natural phenomenon contexts is growing. This fact coupled with flooding that occurred in the city of São Paulo, brings the possibility of exploration about the voluntary and collaborative approach to the generation and transmission of the geographic data dynamically. And these are provided by technologies accessible to the population, such as internet, GPS (Global Positioning System) and other positioning systems embedded in cell phones. This research aims to propose a conceptual scheme for a dynamic and collaborative mapping system of flooding, whose source of data corresponds to those equipped with mobile devices that enable location. The results correspond to the conceptual schemes of the system as well as the prototype Points of Flooding available map on the web with the points of flooding, provided at the time of the event by people. The prototype was developed through the free and open source platform Crowdmap/Ushahidi The system was evaluated by a questionnaire answered by users, who opined about the viability of this as well as the adjustments that must be done for the effective use by population. There has been a thoughtful analysis of the complexity and particularities of the application to flooding, particularly related to temporal issue.

The goal of this work is to demonstrate the value of students self-expression through visual and sound narratives, allowing an exploration of sense and reason. The work is focused on a participative action-research, developed with high school students, specifically grade 9th, in a total of 27 students from the public school system in the city of Santa Maria, RS. The research aims to answer the following question: What is the role of the individual in this socio-environmental context? This question leads to the search of a protagonist and co-authorship role in interpretation, creation and recreation of reality that fosters the development of autonomy, interdisciplinary and contextualization. This is achieved through the identification of themes using the research as a basis to build actions and find the answer related to the selected problem. The research was carried out in 2015 and its overall goal was to apply visual and oral expression and through them build perceptions and concepts that allows the expression of ideas and feelings, as well as establish actions through the use of mobile devices. The specific goals are: to identify environmental themes; to define the main environmental problems in the community we live; to come up with collaborative strategies to bring forth our reality for the better understanding of the environmental theme; to use the mobile phone as a supporter the collect and publish the data, to explore student s oral and visual expression through and to build strategies for the comprehension of the problem at hand as well their socialization with the local community. Mobile phones were used to register relevant data such as images, sound, testimonies, and also for internet research, proving that the use of technology in the classroom modifies the process of teaching and learning, giving value to the students and bringing new perspectives to the learning experience. The results obtained were: a lecture with the Veterinarian class from UFSM, the writing of a letter to the city hall informing them of the project underway in the school and in the community, as well as asking for support in the project s development. The writing of a final reflective text, the suggestions of solutions to the problem giving emphasis to the creation of a Facebook page to bring the groups suggestions together. The use of mobile phones, a device every day more present in our lives, is not only practical, multifunctional, portable and light, but is also allows faster access to information, which creates a link between the possibilities and conflicts that its use fosters inside the learning institutions. / O foco investigativo deste trabalho consiste na valorização da autoexpressão dos estudantes mediante narrativas visuais e sonoras, possibilitando, por meio da oralidade, explorar os sentidos e a razão. Trabalhou-se numa perspectiva de pesquisa-ação participativa, desenvolvida com os estudantes do Ensino Fundamental, séries finais, especificamente o 8º ano, envolvendo um total de 27 estudantes, de uma escola pública da rede Estadual no município de Santa Maria RS. A proposta busca responder a questão: Qual é o papel do indivíduo inserido neste contexto socioambiental? Tal questionamento direciona para a busca de um papel de protagonismo e co-autoria na interpretação, criação e recriação da realidade, potencializando o desenvolvimento da autonomia, interdisciplinaridade e contextualização, mediante a identificação de temas utilizando a pesquisa como base para construir as ações e encontrar as resposta com relação a problematização selecionada. A pesquisa se desenvolveu no ano de 2015, tendo como objetivo geral: utilizar a expressão oral e visual e, através delas, construir percepções e conceitos que possibilitem a expressão de idéias e sentimentos, além de estruturar as ações, mediante a utilização dos dispositivos móveis. Os objetivos específicos são: Identificar temas ambientais; levantar os principais problemas ambientais na comunidade onde vivemos; elaborar de forma colaborativa estratégias de resgate da realidade para a compreensão do tema ambiental; utilizar os dispositivos móveis como suporte para a coleta e divulgação dos dados da pesquisa; explorar a partir dos dispositivos móveis a expressão oral e visual dos estudantes e construir estratégias para a compreensão do problema estudado, bem como sua socialização com a comunidade local. Os celulares seriam utilizados para registrar os dados relevantes como imagens, som, os relatos e pesquisar na internet, comprovando que o uso das tecnologias na sala de aula modifica o processo de ensinar e aprender, valorizando o estudante e trazendo novas perspectivas para o aprendizado. Os resultados obtidos foram: palestra com o curso da Veterinária da UFSM, elaboração de uma carta para a prefeitura de Santa Maria, informando sobre o trabalho que desenvolvíamos na escola e comunidade, como também solicitar apoio no desenvolvimento do mesmo, criação de um texto conclusivo, elaboração de propostas para a solução do problema, destacando a criação da página no facebook como sugestão chave para englobar as proposições dos grupos. O uso de dispositivos móveis, cada vez mais presentes na vida cotidiana, além de ser prático, multifuncional, portátil e leve, permite potencializar o acesso a informação, criando um link entre possibilidades e conflitos que o seu uso provoca no interior das instituições de ensino.

M.Ed. (Ict in Education) / South African learners are underperforming in Mathematics. Annual National Assessments for grade 9 and grade 12 results in Mathematics are shocking according to the Ministry of Education. This study investigates informal learning as an alternative method of addressing underperformance in Mathematics in South African schools. Informal learning with the use of mobile technology enhances engagement in Mathematics learning. The participants of this study had access to Nokia MoMaths on their mobile phones. A quantitative survey research was conducted in four schools in Sedibeng West. The data was analysed using SPSS version 20.0. Results indicated a positive relationship between engagement and informal mobile mathematics learning.

The study looked at the viability of using mobile phones by an academic health library to provide health information to rural women. It is understood that Mobile phones have become household items thereby providing an opportunity for organisation to use them for information delivery. Access to information by individuals is essential in reducing people’s levels of uncertainty especially in matters that relate to growth and survival such as health. The central research question upon which this study was based was, “How can an academic library adopt the use of mobile phones as an information delivery device to enhance access to health information for rural women?” with sub-questions focusing on information needs and sources of health information for women and the adaptation of mobile services within the library. It further looked at appropriate partnership needed in developing mobile services for health information delivery. Reviewed literature revealed that mobile phones are already being used by several organisations in making available information. In particular academic libraries have embraced the mobile revolution by creating mobile services for their users. A qualitative approach was adopted for this study and interviews were used for all the three categories of respondents, who are rural women from Buyengo sub-county, health workers from Kakaire health centre iv and librarians from Albert Cook Medical Library. Findings from the study have shown that in the information era where one’s survival is highly dependent upon information, rural women do not have access to credible sources of health information despite the fact that they have high demand for health information because of the soaring disease burden in rural areas. The study without doubt has led to the establishment that the use of mobile phones to fill this gap is a cost effective and life saving venture which if well set up and implemented will add to the global programmes initiated with the aim of reducing child mortality, maternal deaths and combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases. / Mini Dissertation (MIT)--University of Pretoria, 2015. / Information Science / MIT / Unrestricted