Spectral efficiency in reference-signal-assisted low-power wireless communication

Expressions relating spectral efficiency, power and Doppler spectrum are derived for low-power Rayleighfaded wireless channels with proper complex signaling. Noside information on the state of the channel is assumed at the receiver. Rather, periodic reference signals are postulated inaccordance with the functioning of most wireless systems. In contrast with most previous studies, which relied on block-fading channel models, a continuous-fading model is adopted. This embeds the Doppler spectrum directly in thederived expressions thereby imbuing them with practical significance.

Optimum pilot overhead in wireless communication: a unified treatment of continuous and block-fading channels

The optimization of the pilot overhead in wireless fading channels is investigated, and the dependence of this overhead on various system parameters of interest (e.g., fading rate, signal-to-noise ratio) is quantified. The achievable pilot-based spectral efficiency is expanded with respect to the fading rate about the no-fading point, which leads to an accurate order expansion for the pilot overhead. This expansion identifies that the pilot overhead, as well as the spectral efficiency penalty with respect to a reference system with genie-aided CSI (channel state information) at the receiver, depend on the square root of the normalized Doppler frequency. It is also shown that the widely-usedblock fading model is a special case of more accurate continuous fading models in terms of the achievable pilot-based spectral efficiency. Furthermore, it is established that the overhead optimization for multiantenna systems is effectively the same as for single-antenna systems with thenormalized Doppler frequency multiplied by the number of transmit antennas.

The effect of information and communication technology on global paper consumption

The objective of this thesis is to find out how information and communication technology affects the global consumption of printing and writing papers. Another objective is to find out, whether there are differences between paper grades in these effects. The empirical analysis is conducted by linear regression analysis using three sets of country-level panel data from 1990-2006. Data set of newsprint contains 95 countries, data set of uncoated woodfree paper 61 countries and data set of coated mechanical paper 42 countries. The material is based on paper consumption data of RISI’s Industry Statistics Database and on the information and communication technology data of GMID-database. Results indicate that number of Internet users has statistically significant negative effect on the consumption of newsprint and on the consumption of coated mechanical paper and number of mobile telephone users has positive effect on the consumptions of these papers. Results also indicate that information and communication technologies have only small effect on consumption of uncoated woodfree paper or no significant effect at all, but these results are more uncertain to some extent.

Studying the recent situation of information and communication technology industry

Globaalinen liiketoimintaympäristö on muutoksessa. Uudet teknologiat muuttavat toimintaympäristöä ja talouden säännöt muuttuvat nopeasti. Uusia liiketoimintamalleja tarvitaan. Tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli analysoida tieto- ja viestintäteollisuuden (ICT-teollisuus) nykytilannetta strategisesta ja kilpailuanalyyttisestä näkökulmasta, sekä luoda kuva ICT-teollisuudesta ja sen suurista pelureista Euroopassa ja USA:ssa. Tutkimus analysoi viittä suurta ICT-alan yritystä. Tutkimus oli luonteeltaan sekä kvalitatiivinen että kvantitatiivinen. Yrityksiä analysoitiin käyttäen numeerista ja laadullista materiaalia. Tutkimus perustui kirjallisuuteen, artikkeleihin, tutkimusraportteihin, yritysten internet-kotisivuihin ja vuosikertomuksiin. Tutkimuksen tuloksena voitiin löytää sekä yhtäläisyyksiä että eroavaisuuksia yritysten liiketoimintamallien ja taloudellisen menestymisen väliltä.

Older consumers adopting information and communication technology: Evaluating opportunities for health care applications

The purpose of this dissertation is to analyse older consumers' adoption of information and communication technology innovations, assess the effect of aging related characteristic, and evaluate older consumers' willingness to apply these technologies in health care services. This topic is considered important, because the population in Finland (as in other welfare states) is aging and thus offers a possibility for marketers, but on the other hand threatens society with increasing costs for healthcare. Innovation adoption has been under research from several aspects in both organizational and consumer research. In the consumer behaviour, several theories have been developed to predict consumer responses to innovation. The present dissertation carefully reviews previous research and takes a closer look at the theory of planned behaviour, technology acceptance model and diffusion of innovations perspective. It is here suggested that there is a possibility that these theories can be combined and complemented to predict the adoption of ICT innovations among aging consumers, taking the aging related personal characteristics into account. In fact, there are very few studies that have concentrated on aging consumers in the innovation research, and thus there was a clear indent for the present research. ICT in the health care context has been studied mainly from the organizational point of view. If the technology is thus applied for the communication between the individual end-user and service provider, the end-user cannot be shrugged off. The present dissertation uses empirical evidence from a survey targeted to 55-79 year old people from one city in Southern-Carelia. The empirical analysis of the research model was mainly based on structural equation modelling that has been found very useful on estimating causal relationships. The tested models were targeted to predict the adoption stage of personal computers and mobile phones, and the adoption intention of future health services that apply these devices for communication. The present dissertation succeeded in modelling the adoption behaviour of mobile phones and PCs as well as adoption intentions of future services. Perceived health status and three components behind it (depression, functional ability, and cognitive ability) were found to influence perception of technology anxiety. Better health leads to less anxiety. The effect of age was assessed as a control variable, in order to evaluate its effect compared to health characteristics. Age influenced technology perceptions, but to lesser extent compared to health. The analyses suggest that the major determinant for current technology adoption is perceived behavioural control, and additionally technology anxiety that indirectly inhibit adoption through perceived control. When focusing on future service intentions, the key issue is perceived usefulness that needs to be highlighted when new services are launched. Besides usefulness, the perception of online service reliability is important and affects the intentions indirectly. To conclude older consumers' adoption behaviour is influenced by health status and age, but also by the perceptions of anxiety and behavioural control. On the other hand, launching new types of health services for aging consumers is possible after the service is perceived reliable and useful.

Utilizing Near Field Communication in Health Care

In this master’s thesis, possibilities to utilize Near Field Communication (NFC) technology in health care applications are examined. NFC is a short-range wireless communication technology that enables the exchange of data between devices. Main components in NFC are tag, which contains data, a NFC reader device, which can be for instance embedded to mobile phone and also act as a tag, and an antennae in both tag and reader. In this work NFC technology is discussed and its utilization in health care information systems that are in use or in trial. Utilization of information technology in health care field is examined superficially. In this thesis, a system utilizing NFC is designed and its requirements and architecture presented. NFC is used in identification of care worker. When care worker arrives at the house of a patient, she brings the NFC-enabled mobile phone near NFC tag. This sends information to the application server. This information contains the time of arrival and patient and location identifier. When care worker leaves the place, she repeats the procedure. Information gathered can be used in reporting and real time tracking.

Association between Information and Communication Technology Usage and the Quality of Sleep among School-Aged Children during a School Week

ilm OKM 2013

Impact of Information Communication Technology (ICT) on Professional Development and Educational Needs of Library Professionals in the Universities of Kerala

The shift from print to digital information has a high impact on all components of the academic library system in India especially the users, services and the staff. Though information is considered as an important resource, the use of ICT tools to collect and disseminate information has been in a slow pace in majority of the University libraries This may be due to various factors like insufficient funds, inadequate staff trained in handling computers and software packages, administrative concerns etc. In Kerala, automation has been initiated in almost all University libraries using library automation software and is under different stages of completion. There are not much studies conducted about the effects of information communication technologies on the professional activities of library professionals in the universities in Kerala. It is important to evaluate whether progress in ICT has had any impact on the library profession in these highest educational institutions. The aim of the study is to assess whether the developments in information communication technologies have any influence on the library professionals’ professional development, and the need for further education and training in the profession and evaluate their skills in handling developments in ICT. The total population of the study is 252 including the permanently employed professional library staff in central libraries and departmental libraries in the main campuses of the universities under study. This is almost a census study of the defined population of users. The questionnaire method was adopted for collection of data for this study, supplemented by interviews of Librarians to gather additional information. Library Professionals have a positive approach towards ICT applications and services in Libraries, but majority do not have the opportunities to develop their skills and competencies in their work environment. To develop competitive personnel in a technologically advanced world, high priority must be given to develop competence in ICT applications, library management and soft skills in library professionals, by the University administrators and Library associations. Library science schools and teaching departments across the country have to take significant steps to revise library science curriculum, and incorporate significant changes to achieve the demands and challenges of library science profession.

A Quasi-Omnidirectional Antenna for Modern Wireless Communication Gadgets

A compact, planar, wideband antenna designed by modifying the coplanar waveguide is presented in this letter. The proposed antenna finds a wide range of applications including advanced wireless systems (AWS), DCS-1800, DCS-1900/PCS/PHS, WiBro, BlueTooth/WLAN/WiBree/ZigBee, DMB, Global Star Satellite Phones, and digital cordless phones. Wide bandwidth > 75% centered at 2.50 GHz, quasi-omnidirectional radiation coverage along with moderate gain and efficiency are the salient features of the antenna. A prototype fabricated on a substrate with dielectric constant 4.4 and thickness 1.6 mm occupies an area of (31times 64) mm2. Details of antenna design and discussions on the effect of various antenna parameters on the radiation characteristics are presented.

ICT and literacy : information and communication technology, media, reading and writing.

Se examina la alfabetización en relación con una amplia variedad de nuevas tecnologías y medios de comunicación, especialmente, los llamados 'libros que hablan', el correo electrónico, la edición en video y los materiales multimedia y 'en línea'. En cada caso, los diferentes autores se basan en las investigaciones más recientes para explicar las implicaciones que suponen para la práctica educativa y la política. En este proceso, muestran la necesidad de reflexionar conjuntamente todos aquellos que proporcionan educación, orientación y recursos a los jóvenes.

IGCSE information and communication technology.

Explicaciones y muchas actividades, tanto en el texto como en el CD-ROM, facilitan a los estudiantes la preparación de la teoría escrita y de los dos documentos de la práctica de IGCSE en información y tecnología de la comunicación. El CD contiene los archivos para las tareas y actividades, así como preguntas y respuestas del modelo de examen. Tiene glosario.

Information and communication technology for Edexcel applied AS level single award.

Esta escrito para apoyar las nueva especificación Edexcel AS en las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación (ICT). Su contenido se estructura en tres unidades: la edad de la información; la economía digital; y el trabajador del conocimiento.

The Minimum core for information and communication technology : knowledge, understanding and personal skills.

Guía práctica sobre tecnologías de la información y la comunicación para profesores en formación (nivel bachillerato). Les permite identificar y desarrollar sus propias habilidades tecnológicas aplicadas a la enseñanza y al mismo tiempo apoyar la evolución de los alumnos. Contiene todas las áreas claves de conocimiento, compresión y habilidades personales, además de analizar en un contexto amplio cómo las habilidades tecnológicas en información y comunicación se adquieren y se desarrollan a nivel personal, social y cultural. El contenido está adaptado para la obtención de los certificados QTLS (Qualified Teacher, Learning and Skills) y ATLS (Associate Teacher, Learning and Skills).

Information and communication technology for ISEB certificate of achievement (ages 8-13).

Libro de texto para alumnos de Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación de enseñanza primaria y primer ciclo de enseñanza secundaria, orientado a la consecución del certificado de ISEB (Information Systems Examinations Board). Está estructurado en seis módulos: presentación de la información (procesadores de texto y software de presentación de contenidos), tratamiento de datos, gráficos, programación y sistemas de control, uso de ordenadores, Internet y correo electrónico (búsqueda de información, diseño de páginas web y e-mail). Incluye un cd-rom con material de apoyo para el desarrollo de los contenidos del libro.