Introduction to evolutionary computing in system design

In this chapter, an introduction on the use of evolutionary computing techniques, which are considered as global optimization and search techniques inspired from biological evolutions, in the domain of system design is presented. A variety of evolutionary computing techniques are first explained, and the motivations of using evolutionary computing techniques in tackling system design tasks are then discussed. In addition, a number of successful applications of evolutionary computing to system design tasks are described.

Accountability and the affective labour of teachers: a Marxist-Vygotskian perspective

This article addresses the issue of affective labour in education in the context of standards-based reforms and accountability. In particular, it focuses on neoliberal strategies of rationalization and control that produce a number of social pathologies, such as alienated teaching and learning and reified social relations between teachers and students. The article turns to affective labour as something that enables teachers to counteract these effects. This argument arises from the analysis of interviews with teachers who continue to generate and sustain the sociality of teaching and learning. Affect directs teachers’ commitment to practice that is governed by feeling, passion and the ethics of care. What gives affective labour such an important position is that it is both outside and beyond accountability and performativity measures. It is identified with the general pedagogical activity that cannot be structured by measuring devices such as students’ test scores or standards. The article concludes with the application of Vygotsky’s ideas about the role of affect in education and argues that affective labour has an expansive power of ontological freedom that cannot be controlled. of ontological freedom that cannot be controlled.

Internet and distributed computing advancements : theoretical frameworks and practical applications

This book is a vital compendium of chapters on the latest research within the field of distributed computing, capturing trends in the design and development of Internet and distributed computing systems that leverage autonomic principles and techniques. The chapters provided within this collection offer a holistic approach for the development of systems that can adapt themselves to meet requirements of performance, fault tolerance, reliability, security, and Quality of Service (QoS) without manual intervention.

Network and traffic engineering in emerging distributed computing applications

This book focuses on network management and traffic engineering for Internet and distributed computing technologies, as well as present emerging technology trends and advanced platform

Sensor-cloud computing : novel applications and research problems

Recent developments in sensor networks and cloud computing saw the emergence of a new platform called sensor-clouds. While the proposition of such a platform is to virtualise the management of physical sensor devices, we are seeing novel applications been created based on a new class of social sensors. Social sensors are effectively a human-device combination that sends torrent of data as a result of social interactions and social events. The data generated appear in different formats such as photographs, videos and short text messages. Unlike other sensor devices, social sensors operate on the control of individuals via their mobile devices such as a phone or a laptop. And unlike other sensors that generate data at a constant rate or format, social sensors generate data that are spurious and varied, often in response to events as individual as a dinner outing, or a news announcement of interests to the public. This collective presence of social data creates opportunities for novel applications never experienced before. This paper discusses such applications as a result of utilising social sensors within a sensor-cloud environment. Consequently, the associated research problems are also presented.

De-tooling technology : networked computing as an environment, purpose and medium for social action

Network technologies are very desirable for social action, allowing activists to achieve more with less, more quickly and with broader impact; on the other hand, the very advantages they bring are equally important to the world of contemporary capitalism that social action seeks to change. Thus, we must look beyond network technologies as the easy solution to every problem, and focus instead on the human relationships which might be enabled by them. This focus on relationships requires us to ‘de-tool’ information technology. Instead, for social action, it is more valuable to think of networked computing as part of the environment within which action can occur; an important purpose for such action; and as a medium that nurtures expression and engagement of self and belief.

Process in skill acquisition : motivation, interruptions, memory, affective states, and metacognition

Models of skill acquisition, such as Ackerman's (1988) theory of skill acquisition, largely ignore the experiences and dynamic internal processes of a person while learning a skill (e.g., how they feel, what strategies they are using, the role of the external environment). Riding and Powell (1993) suggested that the information-processing model (a common conceptualisation of learning and thinking) is an inadequate model to explain the complexities of human brain functions. These models are largely holistic, and do not provide detail about the qualitative aspects of a person's learning experience. This paper attempts to highlight the importance of a dynamic description of skill acquisition and to “unpack” the skill acquisition stages, with a focus given to process rather than performance or outcome. Learning more about what is going on “inside people's heads” whilst learning a skill, and what feelings or affective states are present, can inform both skill acquisition theory and various practical issues, such as why some training programs fail and some succeed. The role of emotions, motivation, environment, and other factors; the concepts of skill and ability; and various theories of skill acquisition are discussed. This highlights missing elements in the typical cognitive experimental focus. The concept of process itself is explored, with a focus on learning in general. Process-oriented factors such as motivation, memory, interruptions, emotion, and metacognition are investigated in relation to skilled performance. Areas for future research and some practical implications for training are outlined.

Mechanisms linking affective reactions to competition-related and competition-extraneous concerns in male martial artists

The main aim of this study was to examine affective linkages between competition-related and competition-extraneous concern domains. A secondary purpose was to establish the contributions of pre-competition affects to post-competition performance appraisals, independent of pre-competition performance expectations. Thirty-nine highly skilled male martial artists were assessed at five random times a day for a week and 1 h before a major competition on affective states and sources of concern. They also reported their performance expectations and post-competition performance appraisals. Affective states triggered by competition-related and competition-extraneous concerns persisted in time. Carry-over effects were stronger after reports of competition-related concerns, emphasizing the subjective importance of the competitive event. Although positive (enjoyment and surprise) and negative (sadness and guilt) affective spill-over was observed from competition-extraneous to competition-related concerns, the reverse held true only for disgust. These findings may be due to the athletes' ability to regulate affective reactions within a sporting setting, in particular. Spill-over from competition-extraneous to competition-related concerns is indicative of a lesser degree of control over work/study and family life. Given that average weekly negative affects and anger/disgust were independent predictors of post-competition performance appraisals, the phenomenon of spill-over and other affective linkage mechanisms in sport warrant further investigation.