Abstract: Educational games (EG) seem to have lots of potential due to digital games popularity and preferences of our younger generations of learners. However, most studies focus on game design and its effectiveness while little has been known about the factors that can affect users to accept or to reject EG for their learning. User acceptance research try to understand the determinants of information systems (IS) adoption among users by investigating both systems factors and users factors. Upon the lack of knowledge on acceptance factors for educational games, we seek to understand the issue. This study proposed a model of acceptance factors based on Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). We use original model (performance expectancy, effort expectancy and social influence) together with two new determinants (learning opportunities and enjoyment). We will also investigate the effect of gender and gaming experience that moderate the proposed factors.
Abstract: This paper examined the influence of matching
students- learning preferences with the teaching methodology
adopted, on their academic performance in an accounting course in
two types of learning environment in one university in Lebanon:
classes with PowerPoint (PPT) vs. conventional classes. Learning
preferences were either for PPT or for Conventional methodology. A
statistically significant increase in academic achievement is found in
the conventionally instructed group as compared to the group taught
with PPT. This low effectiveness of PPT might be attributed to the
learning preferences of Lebanese students. In the PPT group, better
academic performance was found among students with
learning/teaching match as compared with students with
learning/teaching mismatch. Since the majority of students display a
preference for the conventional methodology, the result might
suggest that Lebanese students- performance is not optimized by PPT
in the accounting classrooms, not because of PPT itself, but because
it is not matching the Lebanese students- learning preferences in such
a quantitative course.
Abstract: In the planning point of view, it is essential to have
mode choice, due to the massive amount of incurred in transportation
systems. The intercity travellers in Libya have distinct features, as
against travellers from other countries, which includes cultural and
socioeconomic factors. Consequently, the goal of this study is to
recognize the behavior of intercity travel using disaggregate models,
for projecting the demand of nation-level intercity travel in Libya.
Multinomial Logit Model for all the intercity trips has been
formulated to examine the national-level intercity transportation in
Libya. The Multinomial logit model was calibrated using nationwide
revealed preferences (RP) and stated preferences (SP) survey. The
model was developed for deference purpose of intercity trips (work,
social and recreational). The variables of the model have been
predicted based on maximum likelihood method. The data needed for
model development were obtained from all major intercity corridors
in Libya. The final sample size consisted of 1300 interviews. About
two-thirds of these data were used for model calibration, and the
remaining parts were used for model validation. This study, which is
the first of its kind in Libya, investigates the intercity traveler’s
mode-choice behavior. The intercity travel mode-choice model was
successfully calibrated and validated. The outcomes indicate that, the
overall model is effective and yields higher precision of estimation.
The proposed model is beneficial, due to the fact that, it is receptive
to a lot of variables, and can be employed to determine the impact of
modifications in the numerous characteristics on the need for various
travel modes. Estimations of the model might also be of valuable to
planners, who can estimate possibilities for various modes and
determine the impact of unique policy modifications on the need for
intercity travel.
Abstract: Present paper presents a parametric performancebased
design model for optimizing hospital design. The design model
operates with geometric input parameters defining the functional
requirements of the hospital and input parameters in terms of
performance objectives defining the design requirements and
preferences of the hospital with respect to performances. The design
model takes point of departure in the hospital functionalities as a set
of defined parameters and rules describing the design requirements
and preferences.
Abstract: Decision making preferences to certain criteria
usually focus on positive degrees without considering the negative
degrees. However, in real life situation, evaluation becomes more
comprehensive if negative degrees are considered concurrently.
Preference is expected to be more effective when considering both
positive and negative degrees of preference to evaluate the best
selection. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to propose the
conflicting bifuzzy preference relations in group decision making by
utilization of a novel score function. The conflicting bifuzzy
preference relation is obtained by introducing some modifications on
intuitionistic fuzzy preference relations. Releasing the intuitionistic
condition by taking into account positive and negative degrees
simultaneously and utilizing the novel score function are the main
modifications to establish the proposed preference model. The
proposed model is tested with a numerical example and proved to be
simple and practical. The four-step decision model shows the
efficiency of obtaining preference in group decision making.
Abstract: Knowing consumers' preferences and perceptions of
the sensory evaluation of drink products are very significant to
manufacturers and retailers alike. With no appropriate sensory
analysis, there is a high risk of market disappointment. This paper
aims to rank the selected coffee products and also to determine the
best of quality attribute through sensory evaluation using fuzzy
decision making model. Three products of coffee drinks were used
for sensory evaluation. Data were collected from thirty judges at a
hypermarket in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia. The judges were asked
to specify their sensory evaluation in linguistic terms of the quality
attributes of colour, smell, taste and mouth feel for each product and
also the weight of each quality attribute. Five fuzzy linguistic terms
represent the quality attributes were introduced prior analysing. The
judgment membership function and the weights were compared to
rank the products and also to determine the best quality attribute. The
product of Indoc was judged as the first in ranking and 'taste' as the
best quality attribute. These implicate the importance of sensory
evaluation in identifying consumers- preferences and also the
competency of fuzzy approach in decision making.
Abstract: Automobile Industry has great importance in the
Spanish economy (8,7 % of the active Spanish population is
employed in this sector).The above mentioned sector has been one of
the principal sectors affected by the current economic crisis,
consistently, the budgets in advertising have been severely limited
(46,9 % less in the period of reference), these needs of reduction
have originated a substantial change in the advertising strategy (from
2007 the increase of the advertising investment in Internet is 251,6
%), and increase profitability. The growing use of social media by
consumers therefore makes online consumer conversations an
attractive additional format for Automobile firms to promote
products at a lower cost. This research analyzes the relation between
the activity in Social Media and the design in the car industry,
looking for relations between strategies of design based on Social
Media and sales and a channel of information for companies to know
what the consumer preferences. For this ongoing research we used a
longitudinal withdrawal of information has been used using
information of panel. Managerial and research implications of the
finding are discussed.
Abstract: The ever increasing use of World Wide Web in the
existing network, results in poor performance. Several techniques
have been developed for reducing web traffic by compressing the size
of the file, saving the web pages at the client side, changing the burst
nature of traffic into constant rate etc. No single method was
adequate enough to access the document instantly through the
Internet. In this paper, adaptive hybrid algorithms are developed for
reducing web traffic. Intelligent agents are used for monitoring the
web traffic. Depending upon the bandwidth usage, user-s preferences,
server and browser capabilities, intelligent agents use the best
techniques to achieve maximum traffic reduction. Web caching,
compression, filtering, optimization of HTML tags, and traffic
dispersion are incorporated into this adaptive selection. Using this
new hybrid technique, latency is reduced to 20 – 60 % and cache hit
ratio is increased 40 – 82 %.
Abstract: The number of framework conceived for e-learning
constantly increase, unfortunately the creators of learning materials
and educational institutions engaged in e-formation adopt a
“proprietor" approach, where the developed products (courses,
activities, exercises, etc.) can be exploited only in the framework
where they were conceived, their uses in the other learning
environments requires a greedy adaptation in terms of time and
effort. Each one proposes courses whose organization, contents,
modes of interaction and presentations are unique for all learners,
unfortunately the latter are heterogeneous and are not interested by
the same information, but only by services or documents adapted to
their needs. Currently the new tendency for the framework
conceived for e-learning, is the interoperability of learning materials,
several standards exist (DCMI (Dublin Core Metadata Initiative)[2],
LOM (Learning Objects Meta data)[1], SCORM (Shareable Content
Object Reference Model)[6][7][8], ARIADNE (Alliance of Remote
Instructional Authoring and Distribution Networks for Europe)[9],
CANCORE (Canadian Core Learning Resource Metadata
Application Profiles)[3]), they converge all to the idea of learning
objects. They are also interested in the adaptation of the learning
materials according to the learners- profile. This article proposes an
approach for the composition of courses adapted to the various
profiles (knowledge, preferences, objectives) of learners, based on
two ontologies (domain to teach and educational) and the learning
objects.
Abstract: Kobe City is a metropolis including large suburbs, where housing communities have been developed for many years. People have been recently moving to the urban areas and the suburbs are losing their power to attract population. At the same time, many blocks of high-rise flats have being built near railway stations adjoining town centers, and are drawing people of all generations. Residents with different lifestyle preferences are making good use of town centers and city centers based on effective railway services to live together happily in a household as well as the same flats. Thus railway services can play an essential role in sustainable urban development.