Conways Game of Life JavaScript Exercise

For students learning JavaScript programming, this exercise sets out a fairly complete template for a DHTML implementation of Life. Students have to program the missing sections of code and attempt the extra features described. Only I have the password to unlock the solution!

Gamification and the online retail experience

Purpose – As online retailing grows in importance there is increasing interest in the online customer experience. The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of gamification, the use of game mechanics, in enabling consumer engagement with online retailers. Design/methodology/approach – The research adopts a qualitative methodology carrying out 19 in-depth interviews with individuals who are frequent online shoppers. Findings – Findings support the importance of including game elements to enhance the retail experience. However, data also suggests that without appropriate management customers can subvert gamification strategies to create their own “games” which increases competitive pressure between retailers. Practical implications – The paper suggests ways in which retailers might more successfully “gamify” their online retail stores and reduce incidences of undesirable customer behaviour. Originality/value – This paper provides empirical support to the current paucity of research into the role of gamification in the context of the online retail experience.

A game theoretical approach to the evolution of structured communication codes

Structured meaning-signal mappings, i.e., mappings that preserve neighborhood relationships by associating similar signals with similar meanings, are advantageous in an environment where signals are corrupted by noise and sub-optimal meaning inferences are rewarded as well. The evolution of these mappings, however, cannot be explained within a traditional language evolutionary game scenario in which individuals meet randomly because the evolutionary dynamics is trapped in local maxima that do not reflect the structure of the meaning and signal spaces. Here we use a simple game theoretical model to show analytically that when individuals adopting the same communication code meet more frequently than individuals using different codes-a result of the spatial organization of the population-then advantageous linguistic innovations can spread and take over the population. In addition, we report results of simulations in which an individual can communicate only with its K nearest neighbors and show that the probability that the lineage of a mutant that uses a more efficient communication code becomes fixed decreases exponentially with increasing K. These findings support the mother tongue hypothesis that human language evolved as a communication system used among kin, especially between mothers and offspring.

Cultural differences, information and code systems

This paper explores an alternative way of framing information systems research on the role and impact of national culture. It argues that the widely accepted structural framework of Hofstede reduces interpretation to a simplistic categorical description which in many cases ignores differentiation within cultures. The alternative model suggests, that national culture can be better understood by seeking out the dominant codes that frame the discourse pervasive in a culture and understanding how that discourse affects the obvious social codes of ritual, custom and behavior and the textual codes which express the nature of that culture. This framework is applied to two different case studies—one in New Zealand and one in Thailand—to demonstrate its applicability.

Hybrid heuristic-waterfilling game theory approach in MC-CDMA resource allocation

This paper discusses the power allocation with fixed rate constraint problem in multi-carrier code division multiple access (MC-CDMA) networks, that has been solved through game theoretic perspective by the use of an iterative water-filling algorithm (IWFA). The problem is analyzed under various interference density configurations, and its reliability is studied in terms of solution existence and uniqueness. Moreover, numerical results reveal the approach shortcoming, thus a new method combining swarm intelligence and IWFA is proposed to make practicable the use of game theoretic approaches in realistic MC-CDMA systems scenarios. The contribution of this paper is twofold: (i) provide a complete analysis for the existence and uniqueness of the game solution, from simple to more realist and complex interference scenarios; (ii) propose a hybrid power allocation optimization method combining swarm intelligence, game theory and IWFA. To corroborate the effectiveness of the proposed method, an outage probability analysis in realistic interference scenarios, and a complexity comparison with the classical IWFA are presented. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Accessibilità delle mappe

L’obiettivo di questa tesi di laurea è quello di descrivere le principali caratteristiche delle mappe digitali e dei sistemi di navigazione che possono essere fruiti dagli utenti attraverso l’utilizzo di dispositivi con diverse caratteristiche (quali i dispositivi mobili, come smart phone, tablet, eccetera). Questi sistemi offrono dei servizi estremamente utili, che mirano a migliorare la mobilità e l’indipendenza dell’utente e, quindi, possono rappresentare un valido supporto agli utenti con disabilità che desiderano spostarsi negli ambienti urbani in modo autonomo. D’altra parte, i contenuti digitali e i servizi offerti dalle mappe e dai sistemi di navigazione possono comportare delle barriere tecnologiche che influenzano la fruizione e la navigazione da parte di questi utenti. Nell’ambito di questa tesi saranno descritte anche le caratteristiche tecniche delle mappe digitali e dei sistemi di navigazione, con particolare attenzione alle barriere tecnologiche che queste possono rappresentare per gli utenti con disabilità. Infine, l’obiettivo principale di questa tesi è quello di illustrare alcuni progetti di ricerca che offrono delle soluzioni e dei validi supporti agli utenti con differenti disabilità nell’accesso e nella fruizione delle mappe digitali e dei sistemi di navigazione. In particolare, saranno presentati i progetti di ricerca più interessanti e quelli che maggiormente hanno avuto un riscontro pratico, offrendo delle soluzioni effettivamente utilizzabili dagli utenti che fanno uso di determinate tecnologie assistive e che hanno vincoli e bisogni specifici. Nell’ambito di questa tesi sarà dato spazio anche a progetti che offrono agli utenti mappe tematiche (comunque accessibili) che mirano ad offrire informazioni sull’accessibilità urbana, consentendo, così, agli utenti di avere dati aggiuntivi e di migliorare ulteriormente la loro autonomia nel muoversi in città.

Teorie e tecniche della gamification applicate alla vita reale

Gli elementi ludici aiutano a comprendere i bisogni del mondo in cui viviamo e rendono meno noiose quelle attività che normalmente non gratificano in modo sufficiente un individuo; la gamification viene definita come l'utilizzo di elementi di gioco in contesti non di gioco. In questo elaborato viene analizzato come si è evoluto il rapporto tra essere umano e gioco, come si è arrivati a definire la gamification e quali sono le parti atomiche che la compongono. Si analizzano diversi casi di successo in cui è stata implementata la gamification ed infine viene analizzato il mio progetto personale ParcheggioGratuito, in cui applico metodologie di gamification per facilitare il meccanismo di ricerca del parcheggio nella propria città.

Gamification

Nowadays games are so popular that they have become an important part of our lives. Inspired by the motivational properties of games, some scholars made the proposal of applying game mechanics and elements into other fields thus emerged the concept of “Gamification”, along with various other popular concepts for the realization of the application. The effectiveness of gamification in improving user engagement and changing behaviors is demonstrated not only in theory but also in practice. This thesis aims to introduce the related concepts of gamification and the gamification design framework. In addition, this thesis introduces also the concept of MOOCs and the challenges faced by MOOCs platforms. Some of those challenges such as high dropout rate and low participation rate could be solved by gamification. Through creating a more interesting game experience and consequently fostering user motivation, high engagement will be ensured. Following this logic, this thesis explores how to use gamification on MOOCs platform to improve user engagement and the corresponding impacts. Despite of the lack of a quantitative analysis of the effects of gamification on MOOCs platform, the facts found and observed in this thesis support the effectiveness of gamification in improving user engagement on MOOCs platforms.

Dynamics of Spatial Game Theory Networks with Novel Modifications

Introduction: Advances in biotechnology have shed light on many biological processes. In biological networks, nodes are used to represent the function of individual entities within a system and have historically been studied in isolation. Network structure adds edges that enable communication between nodes. An emerging fieldis to combine node function and network structure to yield network function. One of the most complex networks known in biology is the neural network within the brain. Modeling neural function will require an understanding of networks, dynamics, andneurophysiology. It is with this work that modeling techniques will be developed to work at this complex intersection. Methods: Spatial game theory was developed by Nowak in the context of modeling evolutionary dynamics, or the way in which species evolve over time. Spatial game theory offers a two dimensional view of analyzingthe state of neighbors and updating based on the surroundings. Our work builds upon this foundation by studying evolutionary game theory networks with respect to neural networks. This novel concept is that neurons may adopt a particular strategy that will allow propagation of information. The strategy may therefore act as the mechanism for gating. Furthermore, the strategy of a neuron, as in a real brain, isimpacted by the strategy of its neighbors. The techniques of spatial game theory already established by Nowak are repeated to explain two basic cases and validate the implementation of code. Two novel modifications are introduced in Chapters 3 and 4 that build on this network and may reflect neural networks. Results: The introduction of two novel modifications, mutation and rewiring, in large parametricstudies resulted in dynamics that had an intermediate amount of nodes firing at any given time. Further, even small mutation rates result in different dynamics more representative of the ideal state hypothesized. Conclusions: In both modificationsto Nowak's model, the results demonstrate the network does not become locked into a particular global state of passing all information or blocking all information. It is hypothesized that normal brain function occurs within this intermediate range and that a number of diseases are the result of moving outside of this range.

Stable oxygen isotope record of Globigerinoides ruber of ODP Site 133-820 off the Great Barriere Reef

Oxygen-isotope ratio measurements are presented for the planktonic species Globigerinoides ruber collected from shallow-water, upper-slope sediments from Holes 820A and 820B in 280 m of water, on the seaward edge of the Great Barrier Reef. Correlation of the Site 820 isotope curve with deep-sea reference curves of the Pacific Ocean (Core V28-238, Hole 677A, Hole 607A) permits the definition of isotope stages 1 to 19 in the top 145 m of Holes 820A and 820B. However, paleontological data indicate that stages 4 and 7 might be missing and that two hiatuses occur at a depth of 8.05 to 12.1 and 34.55 to 35.8 mbsf. Using deep-sea Hole 677A as a reference for ice-volume variations, we determine the difference in isotopic signature between it and Site 820. We propose that this difference is a regional signal representing a progressive 4°C increase in surface-water temperature at Site 820. The proposed temperature change was initiated at about 400 k.y. and corresponds to a change from high-to-low frequency variations in Pleistocene isotope signals. We postulate that these changes may have catalyzed the growth of the Great Barrier Reef. The shift also coincides with changes in seismic character and some physical and chemical sediment characteristics.

Técnicas de Gamification para entregas de trabajos online: comprobaciones de la fase de análisis de la compilación

Este Trabajo de Fin de Grado (TFG) tiene el objetivo de aportar un sistema de enseñanza innovador, un sistema de enseñanza mediante el cual se consiga involucrar a los alumnos en tareas y prácticas en las que se adquieran conocimientos a la vez que se siente un ambiente de juego, es decir, que se consiga aprender de forma divertida. Está destinado al sistema educativo de la Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Informáticos de la Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, en concreto a las asignaturas relacionadas con los Procesadores de Lenguajes. La aplicación desarrollada en este trabajo está destinada tanto a los profesores de las asignaturas de Procesadores de Lenguajes como a los alumnos que tengan alguna relación con esas asignaturas, consiguiendo mayor interacción y diversión a la hora de realizar la tareas y prácticas de las asignaturas. Para los dos tipos de usuarios descritos anteriormente, la aplicación está configurada para que puedan identificarse mediante sus credenciales, comprobándose si los datos introducidos son correctos, y así poder acceder al sistema. Dependiendo de qué tipo de usuario se identifique, tendrá unas opciones u otras dentro del sistema. Los profesores podrán dar de alta, ver, modificar o dar de baja las configuraciones para los analizadores de los lenguajes correspondientes a las diferentes asignaturas que están configurados previamente en el sistema. Además, los profesores pueden dar de alta, ver, modificar o dar de baja los fragmentos de código que formarán los ficheros correspondientes a las plantillas de pruebas del analizador léxico que se les ofrece a los alumnos para realizar comprobaciones de las prácticas. Mediante la aplicación podrán establecer diferentes características y propiedades de los fragmentos que incorporen al sistema. Por otra parte, los alumnos podrán realizar la configuración del lenguaje, definido por los profesores, para la parte del analizador léxico de las prácticas. Esta configuración será guardada para el grupo al que corresponde el alumno, pudiendo realizar modificaciones cualquier miembro del grupo. De esta manera, se podrán posteriormente establecer las relaciones necesarias entre los elementos del lenguaje según la configuración de los profesores y los elementos referentes a las prácticas de los alumnos.Además, los alumnos podrán realizar comprobaciones de la parte léxica de sus prácticas mediante los ficheros que se generan por el sistema en función de sus opciones de práctica y los fragmentos añadidos por los profesores. De esta manera, se informará a los alumnos del éxito de las pruebas o bien de los fallos ocasionados con sus resultados, bien por el formato del archivo subido como resultado de la prueba o bien por el contenido incorrecto de este mismo. Todas las funciones que ofrece esta aplicación son completamente on-line y tendrán una interfaz llamativa y divertida, además de caracterizarse por su facilidad de uso y su comodidad. En el trabajo realizado para este proyecto se cumplen tanto las Pautas de Accesibilidad para Contenidos Web (WCAG 2.0), así como las propiedades de un código HTML 5 y CSS 3 de manera correcta, para así conseguir que los usuarios utilicen una aplicación fácil, cómoda y atractiva.---ABSTRACT---This Final Year Project (TFG) aims to contribute the educational system of the School of Computer Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Madrid, especially in subjects related with Language Processors. This project is an interactive learning system whose goal is to learn in an amusing environment. To realize this target, the system involves students, using environments of games in tasks and practices. The application developed in this project is designed for both professors of the subjects of Language Processors and students who have some relation to these subjects. This perspective achieve more interaction and a funny environment during the subject‘s tasks. The application is configured in order to the users can be identified by their credentials, checking whether the identification data are correct to have access to the system. According on what type of user is identified, they will have different options within the system. Professors will be able to register, modify or delete settings for the scanner of languages for all the subjects preconfigured in the system. Additionally, professors can register, show, modify or remove the code of the templates from scanner tests that are offered to students for testing the practical exercises. The professors may provide also different characteristics and properties of fragments incorporated in the system. Moreover, students can make the configuration of languages, getting in the systems by the administrators, for the scanner module of their practical exercises. This configuration will be saved for the group of the student. This model can also be changed by any group member. The system permits also establish later the relationships between the elements of language fixes by professors and elements developed by the students. Students could check the lexical part of their practical exercises through files that are created according to their practical options and the fragments added by professors. Thus students will be informed of success or failure in the uploaded files format and in the content of them. All functions provide by this application are completely on-line and will have a striking and funny interface, also characterized by its ease of use and comfort.The work reaches both the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.0), and the properties of an HTML 5 and CSS 3 code correctly, in order to get the users to get an easy, convenient application and attractive.

Drug abuse - game without winners. A basic handbook for commanders. Second edition.

Mode of access: Internet.

Still Life: Game, Vegetables, Fruit, Cockatoo

Adriaen van Utrecht; 3 ft. 11 1/4 in. x 8 ft. 2 5/8 in.; oil on canvas

Folio from a Guy u Chawgan (The ball and the polo-mallet), verso: A polo game: the dervish and the shah on the polo field

7 41/64 in.x 4 27/32 in.; ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper

South Africa and the global game:football, apartheid and beyond

Firmly situating South African teams, players, and associations in the international framework in which they have to compete, South Africa and the Global Game: Football, Apartheid, and Beyond presents an interdisciplinary analysis of how and why South Africa underwent a remarkable transformation from a pariah in world sport to the first African host of a World Cup in 2010. Written by an eminent team of scholars, this special issue and book aims to examine the importance of football in South African society, revealing how the black oppression transformed a colonial game into a force for political, cultural and social liberation. It explores how the hosting of the 2010 World Cup aims to enhance the prestige of the post-apartheid nation, to generate economic growth and stimulate Pan-African pride. Among the themes dealt with are race and racism, class and gender dynamics, social identities, mass media and culture, and globalization. This collection of original and insightful essays will appeal to specialists in African Studies, Cultural Studies, and Sport Studies, as well as to non-specialist readers seeking to inform themselves ahead of the 2010 World Cup. This book was published as a special issue of Soccer and Society. 1. Introduction Peter Alegi and Chris Bolsmann Part 1: Past is Prologue – History of Football in South Africa 2. Football as Code: The Social Diffusion of ‘Soccer’ in South Africa Lloyd Hill 3. White Football in South Africa: Empire, Apartheid and Change, 1892 – 1977 Chris Bolsmann 4. A Biography of Darius Dhlomo: Transnational Footballer in the Era of Apartheid Peter Alegi 5. Women and Gender in South African Soccer Cynthia Fabrizio Pelak Part 2: Football Culture after Apartheid: Local and Transnational Dynamics 6. "You Must Support Chiefs: Pirates Already Have Two White Fans!" Race and Racial Discourse in South African Football Fandom Marc Fletcher 7. "It wasn’t that I did not like South African Football": Media, History, and Biography Sean Jacobs 8. Soccer in a Rugby Town: Restructuring Football in Stellenbosch Sylvain Cubizolles 9. Differing Trajectories: Football Development and Patterns of Player Migration in South Africa and Ghana Paul Darby and Eirik Solberg Part 3: The 2010 World Cup: Challenges and Opportunities 10. Football's Tsars: Proprietorship, Corporatism and Politics in the 2010 FIFA World Cup Scarlett Cornelissen 11. Sports as Cultural Diplomacy: The 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa’s Foreign Policy Sifiso Mxolisi Ndlovu 12. World Cup 2010: Africa’s Turn or the Turn on Africa? Ashwin Desai and Goolam Vahed 13. The 2010 FIFA World Cup: Critical Voices From Below Percy Ngonyama.