Expert-seeking activity framework: A proposal

Expert seeking is an activity in which one seeks expertise from someone else in order to solve certain problems. When one realizes he or she requires helps to accomplish tasks that need new skills and knowledge, the process involves many elements including formulating goals and strategies, identifying and selecting expert databases, and expert-seeking systems. By incorporating these elements, we proposed an expert-seeking activity framework, which can be guidance for researchers to better understand the activities of expert seeking

Initial model based Malaysia regulations broadband technology over power line networks

Broadband over Power lines (BPL) is a technology that works by transmitting high frequency signals through the same power cable used for carrying electricity to households for high speed transmission of data.Currently, there are trials on BPL and commercial deployments underway and completed in several countries such as Europe countries, Australia and Korea.Even though, broadband technology is no longer considered as a new technological invention.But, the broadband adoption rate in Malaysia is still below expectation level as compared to many countries. Furthermore, there is lack of study that explores the BPL technology in Malaysia.Therefore, this paper is built an initial BPL network system model based on Malaysia BPL regulations and related researches in order to construct affordable communication technology that can increase household internet access penetration rate up to 75% as recommended in Malaysia National Broadband Initiative 2010

A study of nanoparticles as a drug carrier on the wall of Stenosed Arteries

The influences of nanoparticles as drug carriers on the walls of stenosed arteries are presented. In this study, three nanoparticles namely Fe3O4 , TiO2 and Cu were used. It is observed that the addition of Fe3O4 nanoparticles tends to reduce the resistance impedance of blood temperature in bell shaped stenosed arteries. The blood temperature increases slightly in the streamwise direction before the throat region. Thereafter, the blood temperature increases at a higher rate and reaches its maximum value at the stenosis throat. It is found that the temperature distribution is heavily dependent on parameters such as periodic body acceleration and Prandtl number

Current practices of self-employed knowledge teleworkers in managing work and family

The purpose of this study is to explore the practices of self-employed knowledge teleworkers in managing work and family life in order to attain balance.Effective ways in managing work and family could help self-employed knowledge teleworkers who are struggle to create harmony in the contexts of work and family life and may strengthen and enhance their business achievement. This study employed a qualitative methodology using a single case study of 76 self-employed teleworkers from the e-Homemakers organization in Malaysia.Three types of techniques in collecting data were used; 1) face to face interviews; 2) online open ended survey; and 3) observations of online discussion forum.The interpretative analysis technique was used to analyze the data. The results will provide insight into practices and development needs of knowledge teleworkers that may lead to the development of a guideline for individuals who choose to telework.This is also important to better understand the working arrangement, without incurring any family and personal problems, in balancing work and family life.Thus, this can further improve the quality of work-family life

A service oriented middleware for smart home and ambient assisted living

Due to the complexity issue of developing heterogeneous Wireless Sensor Network application such as limited reusability, non-scalability, tight coupling between platform and application, a new middleware needs to be introduced to solve these problems. A distributed system framework such as Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) can definitely resolve these issues. SOA framework is able to hide the complexity lower layer to the application programmer and also create modular programming that can support different platforms. This paper aims to provide the service oriented middleware that supports heterogeneous services in Smart Home and Ambient Assisted Living (SHAAL) application

Impact analysis on utilization of telecenter: The case of telecentre in Baling

The telecentre in Baling is established under the Universal Service Provision fund, aiming to provide community with broadband access and training programme focusing on e-application. Nevertheless, the impact of this initiative is yet to be studied. Thus,the undertaken study is aimed at examining the utilization and impact of Baling telecentre on the community. A total of 34 respondents were interviewed using structured questionnaires. Outcome of the study indicates that the telecentre has improved its community in certain senses. Lesson learned from the study is also discussed

The roles of some antecedents of broadband user behavioural intention among students in the rural areas through PLS-SEM

The insufficient broadband enabled-services in the rural areas have been identified among the reasons that prolong the behaviour of rural dwellers on the use of low-band internet while government agencies have started initiations to increase the use of broadband in the rural area.However, previous studies have failed to identify the roles played by antecedents of broadband user behavioural intention in the rural communities. Thus, this research investigates roles of some antecedents of broadband user behavioural intention in the rural areas by adapting UTAUT model.A quantitative research approach was employed by engaging 1,730 participants from 40 villages who are secondary school students that are living in rural areas of northern region of Malaysia.The result reveals that performance expectancy, effort expectancy and compatibility have large effect on broadband user behavioural intention in the rural areas, while social influence recorded medium effect.This implies that all the identified factors may help in determining the behavioural intention of users of broadband in the rural areas

Improving skills in rounding off the whole number

This study was conducted to address teaching and learning skills in rounding off a whole number. This study consisted of 15 years 4 students from the Kong Nan Chinese Primary School, Parit Raja, Johor, Malaysia. Initial survey to identify this problem was carried out by analyzing the exercise books and exercises in pre-test. Based on these analyses, a large number of students were not proficient in relevant skills. A ‘q’ technique was introduced as an approach in teaching and learning to help students master the skills of rounding whole numbers. In summary, this technique helps students to remember the sequence of processes and process in rounding numbers. A total of four sessions of teaching and learning activities that take less than an hour have been implemented specifically to help students to master this technique. Results of the implementation of these activities have shown very positive results among the students. Two post tests were carried out to see the effectiveness of techniques and the results shows that 100% of students were able to answer correctly at least three questions correctly. The t-test analysis was clearly showed the effectiveness of ‘q’ technique. This technique also indirectly helps to maintain and increase student interest in learning Mathematics. This is shown with the active involvement of students in answering questions given by the teacher

The benefits of and challenges faced by worldwide federal governments in implementing the telework program

Problem statement: In recent decades, the telework program implemented in advanced and developed countries, has started to draw the interests of many parties towards understanding their experiences.The efforts to understand telework benefits and challenges would serve as an important basis prior to considering the adoption any telework program by the federal government agencies.Books, websites and journals were the primary sources that allowed the conduct of intensive literature reviews to obtain a full understanding of the telework issue.In terms of benefits, employers gain the competitive edge; less disruption of operations and better services to remote communities.Employees could enjoy the flexible time schedule; better family dependent care; less commuting costs and time; and higher productivity. Society could enjoy new job creation; less environmental pollution and work redistribution. In contrast, the challenges experienced are insufficient central federal government funding; top management resistance; and the difficulty to measure employee productivity. No program offers 100 percent unlimited benefits.Telework, in this case, is no different.Nevertheless, no one size fits all. Further tailoring of telework policy to suit different government agencies’ specific needs is an important approach to ensure its success