2016

12th Annual International Conference on Information Technology & Computer Science, 16-19 May 2016,
Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

Information
Technology &
Computer Science
Abstracts
Twelfth Annual International
Conference on Information
Technology & Computer Science,
16-19 May 2016, Athens, Greece

Edited by Gregory T. Papanikos

THE ATHENS INSTITUTE FOR EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

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12th Annual International Conference on Information Technology & Computer Science, 16-19 May 2016,
Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

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12th Annual International Conference on Information Technology & Computer Science, 16-19 May 2016,
Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

Information Technology &

Computer Science Abstracts
12th Annual International
Conference on Information
Technology & Computer
Science, 16-19 May 2016,
Athens, Greece
Edited by Gregory T. Papanikos

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 12th Annual International Conference on Information Technology & Computer Science, 16-19 May 2016,
Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

First Published in Athens, Greece by the Athens Institute for Education and
Research.

ISBN: 978-960-598-047-4
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored,
retrieved system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the
written permission of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of
binding or cover.

8 Valaoritou Street
Kolonaki, 10671 Athens, Greece
www.atiner.gr

©Copyright 2016 by the Athens Institute for Education and Research. The
individual essays remain the intellectual properties of the contributors.

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12th Annual International Conference on Information Technology & Computer Science, 16-19 May 2016,
Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

TABLE OF CONTENTS
(In Alphabetical Order by Author's Family name)

Preface 9
Conference Program 11
1. Accuracy of Machine Learning Algorithms in Detecting 14
DoS Attacks Types
Noureldien Abdelrahman Noureldien & Izzeldin M. Yousif
2. Mastering the Use of Tablet Technology in a Teacher 16
Preparation Curriculum
Mary Connor, Jon Cash & Lisa Battaglino
3. Changing Ways for a Better Education: A 3D Gamified 17
Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)
Luiz Corcini & Alvino Moser
4. Concept Maps as Facilitative Tools in E-Learning 18
Context Maria de Fatima Goulao
5. Organizing Knowledge in the Internet of Things (IoT) 19
Thomas Fehlmann
6. Design of a Mexican Spanish Synthesizer using HTS 21
Carlos Franco, Abel Herrera-Camacho & Fernando Del Rio-
Avila
7. Benefits of using ERP Simulations on Building 22
Information Literacy
Biswadip Ghosh
8. Storing Sensor Data in Different Database Architectures 23
Till Hanisch, Manfred Rossle & Rene Kuble
9. Model-Driven Framework to Develop the IoT-Based 24
Healthcare Applications
Nerijus Jusas, Algimantas Venckauskas & Vytautas Stuikys
10. A Survey of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Search 25
Algorithms and Their Efficiency When Applied to Path
Finding Problems
Erdal Kose
11. Enabling Technologies for Closed-Loop Lifecycle 26
Management of Intelligent Products & Assets
Dimitris Kiritsis
12. Is it Possible to Apply the Hemorheological Parameters 27
as Precursors of Recurrent Strokes?
Margarita Kruchinina, Andrey Gromov, Anna Rabko, Vladimir
Generalov & Konstantin Generalov
13. Video Formats. Yesterday and Tomorrow 29
Wolfram Laaser
14. Towards a Quality Assurance Framework for the 30
Assessment of on-Line Programmes: Developing
Indicators of Excellence for Developing Countries
Augustine Maruva Tirivangana
15. The Instructional Video in the Teaching Practice 31
Vassiliki Michou

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Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

16. A Comparative Study of Segmentation Techniques for 32

Brain Magnetic Resonance Images
Heba Mohsen, El-Sayed El-Dahshan, El-Sayed El-Horbaty &
Abdel-Badeeh Salem
17. Immersive 3D Technology in the Indigenous Scholar 33
Education
Alvino Moser, Yuri Berri Afonso & Germano Bruno Afonso
18. Instructional Digital Badges in an Online Masters 34
Degree Program
Timothy Newby
19. A Millimeter-Wave Dual-Band Phased Array for 35
Communications and Radar
Cam Nguyen, Jaeyoung Lee, Cuong Huynh, Donghyun Lee &
Juseok Bae
20. Empowering Women in Academia: A Novel Internet 37
Mediated PhD Program in Computer Science and
Information Technology
Izzeldin Osman
21. Algorithmic [Jigsaw] Puzzles in Computer Science 38
Education
Mary-Angela Papalaskari
22. Development of a Dynamic Power System Model of 39
Bhutan for Stability Investigations
Pravakar Pradhan & Axel Holst
23. Dynamic Laser Speckle on Biomedical and Biological 41
Applications
Hector Rabal, Eduardo Grumel & Marcelo Trivi
24. HCN: Low-Cost Networking for DIY Internet of Things 42
Jarogniew Rykowski
25. Production and Sharing of Learning Activities with 44
Technologies: Designing for Learning in Teacher
Formation Courses
Patricia Scherer Bassani & Rafael Vescovi Bassani
26. Identity Management and Access Control. Techniques 45
and Mechanisms for Managing Identity Management
and Access Control
Sotiris Skevoulis, Constantine Coutras & Manoj Syal
27. Virtual Education: Emancipatory or Oppressive? 46
Sarah Smetzer-Fox & Dilys Schoorman
28. The Effects of National Culture on the Implementation 47
of ISM Standards Based on the ISO 27001
Bahareh Shojaie, Hannes Federrath & Iman Saberi
29. Extending the Language of the Web for Dynamic 49
Content Integration
Peter Stoehr & Christin Seifert
30. Adapting Cellular Automata Simulation Techniques to 51
the Study of Democratization
Christopher Stuetzle & Gavril Bilev

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Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

31. Factors Influencing Learner Presence in Augmented- 52

Reality-Mediated Instruction
Chang-Hwa Wang
32. Knowledge Construction and Career Advancement in a 54
Massive Open Online Course in Nanotechnology and
Nanosensors
Abeer Watted & Miri Barak
33. Fan Improved Algorithm with Spatial and Temporal 55
Characteristics for Video Saliency Detection
Feng Qin Yu & Qing Fan
34. The Curriculum in the Digital Culture and the Process 56
of Formation: A Mediated Relation
Roseli Zen Cerny, Carla Cristina Dutra Búrigo, Marina Bazzo
de Espíndola & Nayara Cristine Müller Tosatti

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Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

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 12th Annual International Conference on Information Technology & Computer Science, 16-19 May 2016,
Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

Preface
This abstract book includes all the summaries of the papers
presented at the 12th Annual International Conference on Information
Technology & Computer Science, 16-19 May 2016, Athens, Greece,
organized by the Computer Research Unit of the Athens Institute for
Education and Research. In total there were 34 papers, coming from 12
different countries (Argentina, Bhutan, China, Egypt, Germany,
Lithuania, Mexico, Poland, Russia, Sudan, Switzerland, and USA). The
conference was organized into sessions that included areas of
Management Systems Development, Internet of Things, Industrial
Internet, Smart Factories and Industry 4.0, etc. As it is the publication
policy of the Institute, the papers presented in this conference will be
considered for publication in one of the books and/or journals of
ATINER.
The Institute was established in 1995 as an independent academic
organization with the mission to become a forum where academics and
researchers from all over the world could meet in Athens and exchange
ideas on their research and consider the future developments of their
fields of study. Our mission is to make ATHENS a place where
academics and researchers from all over the world meet to discuss the
developments of their discipline and present their work. To serve this
purpose, conferences are organized along the lines of well established
and well defined scientific disciplines. In addition, interdisciplinary
conferences are also organized because they serve the mission
statement of the Institute. Since 1995, ATINER has organized more than
150 international conferences and has published over 100 books.
Academically, the Institute is organized into four research divisions and
nineteen research units. Each research unit organizes at least one
annual conference and undertakes various small and large research
projects.
I would like to thank all the participants, the members of the
organizing and academic committee and most importantly the
administration staff of ATINER for putting this conference together.

Gregory T. Papanikos
President

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Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

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 12th Annual International Conference on Information Technology & Computer Science, 16-19 May 2016,
Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

FINAL CONFERENCE PROGRAM

12th Annual International Conference on Information Technology &
Computer Science, 16-19 May 2016, Athens, Greece

PROGRAM
Conference Venue: Titania Hotel, 52 Panepistimiou Avenue, Athens,
Greece
CONFERENCE PROGRAM
Monday 16 May 2016
(all sessions include 10 minutes break)
08:00-09:00 Registration and Refreshments
09:00-09:30 (ROOM E - Mezzanine Floor) Welcome & Opening Remarks
 Dr. Gregory T. Papanikos, President, ATINER.
 Dr. George Poulos, Vice-President of Research, ATINER & Emeritus Professor, University of South Africa,
South Africa.

09:30-11:30 Session I (ROOM E - Mezzanine Floor): Colloquium on Online and Distance Education*
Chair: Olga Gkounta, Researcher, ATINER.
1. Timothy Newby, Professor, Purdue University, USA. Instructional Digital Badges in an Online Masters Degree
Program. (Colloquium on Online & Distance Education)
2. Sarah Smetzer-Fox, Manager of Educational Technology and Ph.D. Student, California Institute of Integral
Studies and Florida Atlantic University, USA & Dilys Schoorman, Professor, Florida Atlantic University, USA.
Virtual Education: Emancipatory or Oppressive? (Colloquium on Online & Distance Education)
3. Vassiliki Michou, Educational Engineer, University Pierre and Marie Curie, France. The Instructional Video in
the Teaching Practice.
4. *Augustine Maruva Tirivangana, Director, Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (ZIMCHE), Zimbabwe.
Towards a Quality Assurance Framework for the Assessment of on-Line Programmes: Developing Indicators of
Excellence for Developing Countries. (Colloquium on Online & Distance Education)
*This session is jointly offered with the Human Development Research Division of ATINER

11:30-13:00 Session II (ROOM E - Mezzanine Floor): Educational Technology I*

Chair: *Christine Conley-Sowels, Professor, Ferris State University, USA.
1. Chang-Hwa Wang, Professor, National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan. Factors Influencing Learner
Presence in Augmented-Reality-Mediated Instruction.
2. *Wolfram Laaser, FormerAkademischer Direktor, Fern Universität in Hagen, Germany. Video Formats.
Yesterday and Tomorrow.
3. Abeer Watted, Ph.D. Student, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Israel & Miri Barak, Assistant Professor,
Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Israel. Knowledge Construction and Career Advancement in a Massive
Open Online Course in Nanotechnology and Nanosensors.
4. Maria de Fatima Goulao, Assistant Professor, Universidade Aberta, Portugal. Concept Maps as Facilitative
Tools in E-Learning Context. (Monday, before lunch)
5. Bahareh Shojaie, Ph.D. Candidate, The University of Hamburg, Germany, Hannes Federrath, Professor, The
University of Hamburg, Germany & Iman Saberi, Ph.D. Student, Technical University of Hamburg, Germany.
The Effects of National Culture on the Implementation of ISM Standards Based on the ISO 27001.
6. Roseli Zen Cerny, Professor, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil, Carla Cristina Dutra Búrigo,
Professor, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil, Marina Bazzo de Espíndola, Professor, Federal
University of Santa Catarina, Brazil & Nayara Cristine Müller Tosatti, Student, Federal University of Santa
Catarina, Brazil. The Curriculum in the Digital Culture and the Process of Formation: A Mediated Relation.
*This session is jointly offered with the Human Development Research Division of ATINER

13:00-14:30 Session III (ROOM E - Mezzanine Floor): Internet of Things, Industrial Internet, Smart Factories and
Industry 4.0
Chair: Till Hanisch, Professor, BW State University, Heidenheim, Germany.
1. *Dimitris Kiritsis, Professor, EPFL - École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland. Enabling
Technologies for Closed-Loop Lifecycle Management of Intelligent Products & Assets. (COMIND)
2. *Jarogniew Rykowski, Professor, Poznań University of Economics and Business, Poland. HCN: Low-Cost
Networking for DIY Internet of Things. (COMIND)
3. Nerijus Jusas, Ph.D. Student, Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania, Algimantas Venckauskas, Professor,

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Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania & Vytautas Stuikys, Professor, Kaunas University of Technology,
Lithuania. Model-Driven Framework to Develop the IoT-Based Healthcare Applications. (COMIND)

14:30-15:30 Lunch

15:30-17:00 Session IV (ROOM E - Mezzanine Floor): Management Systems Development I

Chair: *Dimitris Kiritsis, Professor, EPFL - École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland.
1. *Peter Stoehr, Professor, University of Applied Science Hof, Germany & Christin Seifert, Research Assistant,
University of Passau, Germany. Extending the Language of the Web for Dynamic Content Integration.
2. Noureldien Abdelrahman Noureldien, Dean, Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology,
University of Science and Technology, Sudan & Izzeldin M. Yousif, Postgraduate Student, University of
Science and Technology, Sudan. Accuracy of Machine Learning Algorithms in Detecting DoS Attacks Types.

17:00 -18:30 Session V (ROOM E - Mezzanine Floor): Cloud, Internet, Management Systems
Chair: *Jarogniew Rykowski, Professor, Poznań University of Economics and Business, Poland.
1. Cam Nguyen, Professor, Texas A&M University, USA, Jaeyoung Lee, Research Associate, Texas A&M
University, USA, Cuong Huynh, Research Associate, Texas A&M University, USA, Donghyun Lee, Research
Associate, Texas A&M University, USA & Juseok Bae, Research Assistant, Texas A&M University, USA. A
Millimeter-Wave Dual-Band Phased Array for Communications and Radar.
2. Mary-Angela Papalaskari, Assistant Professor, Villanova University, USA. Algorithmic [Jigsaw] Puzzles in
Computer Science Education.
3. *Thomas Fehlmann, Senior Researcher, Euro Project Office AG, Switzerland. Organizing Knowledge in the
Internet of Things (IoT).

18:30-20:00 Session VI (ROOM E - Mezzanine Floor): Management Systems

Chair: *Peter Stoehr, Professor, University of Applied Science Hof, Germany.
1. *Till Hanisch, Professor, BW State University, Heidenheim, Germany, Manfred Rossle, Professor, University
of Applied Sciences Aalen, Germany & Rene Kubler, Research Fellow, University of Applied Sciences Aalen,
Germany. Storing Sensor Data in Different Database Architectures.
2. Biswadip Ghosh, Associate Professor, Metropolitan State University of Denver, USA. Benefits of using ERP
Simulations on Building Information Literacy.
3. Carlos Franco, Ph.D. Student, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico (UNAM), Mexico, Abel Herrera-
Camacho, Professor, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico (UNAM), Mexico & Fernando Del Rio-
Avila, Research Assistant, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico (UNAM), Mexico. Design of a Mexican
Spanish Synthesizer using HTS.

21:00-23:00 Greek Night and Dinner (Details during registration)

Tuesday 17 May 2016

(all sessions include 10 minutes break)

08:00-10:00 Session VII (ROOM E - Mezzanine Floor): Management Systems Development II

Chair: *Thomas Fehlmann, Senior Researcher, Euro Project Office AG, Switzerland.
1. Sotiris Skevoulis, Professor and Chair, Software Engineering Program, Pace University, USA, Constantine
Coutras, Professor, Montclair State University, USA & Manoj Syal, IT Developer, Citigroup, Inc., USA.
Identity Management and Access Control. Techniques and Mechanisms for Managing Identity Management and
Access Control.
2. Feng Qin Yu, Professor, Jiangnan University, China & Qing Fan, Graduate Student, Jiangnan University,
China. Improved Algorithm with Spatial and Temporal Characteristics for Video Saliency Detection.
3. Christopher Stuetzle, Assistant Professor, Merrimack College, USA & Gavril Bilev, Assistant Professor,
Merrimack College, USA. Adapting Cellular Automata Simulation Techniques to the Study of Democratization.

10:00-11:30 Session VIII (ROOM E - Mezzanine Floor): Knowledge Computing in the Bio-Medical and Digital
Health
Chair: Christopher Stuetzle, Assistant Professor, Merrimack College, USA.
1. Heba Mohsen, Assistant Lecturer, Future University, Egypt, El-Sayed El-Dahshan, Professor, Egyptian E-Learning
University, Egypt, El-Sayed El-Horbaty, Professor, Ain Shams University, Egypt & Abdel-Badeeh Salem, Professor,
Ain Shams University, Egypt. A Comparative Study of Segmentation Techniques for Brain Magnetic Resonance
Images. (COMMED)
2. Margarita Kruchinina, Leading Researcher, Federal State Budgetary of Scientific Institution “Institution of Internal and

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Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

Preventive Medicine”, Russia, Andrey Gromov, Senior Researcher, Federal State Budgetary of Scientific Institution
“Institution of Internal and Preventive Medicine”, Russia, Anna Rabko, Cardiologist, Federal State Budgetary of
Scientific Institution “Institution of Internal and Preventive Medicine”, Russia, Vladimir Generalov, Leading
Researcher, Federal State Budgetary of Scientific Institution “Institution of Internal and Preventive Medicine”, Russia
& Konstantin Generalov, Programmer, Researcher, The State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology
VECTOR, Russia. Is it Possible to Apply the Hemorheological Parameters as Precursors of Recurrent Strokes.
3. *Hector Rabal, Principal Researcher, Centro de Investigaciones Opticas, Argentina, Nelly Cap, Researcher, Centro de
Investigaciones Opticas, Argentina, Eduardo Grumel, Researcher, Centro de Investigaciones Opticas, Argentina &
Marcelo Trivi, Researcher, Centro de Investigaciones Opticas, Argentina. Dynamic Laser Speckle on Biomedical and
Biological Applications. (COMMED)

11:30-14:30 Urban Walk (Details during registration)

14:30-15:30 Lunch

15:30-17:00 Session IX (ROOM E - Mezzanine Floor): Educational Technology II*

Chair: Panagiotis Petratos, Vice-President of Information Communications Technology, ATINER & Fellow, Institution of
Engineering and Technology & Professor, Department of Computer Information
Systems, California State University, Stanislaus, USA.
1. Patricia Scherer Bassani, Professor, Feevale University, Brazil & Rafael Vescovi Bassani, Professor, Unisinos
University, Brazil. Production and Sharing of Learning Activities with Technologies: Designing for Learning in
Teacher Formation Courses.
2. Alvino Moser, Vice Rector and Professor, UNINTER, Brazil, Yuri Berri Afonso, MSc Student, UNINTER,
Brazil & Germano Bruno Afonso, Professor, UNINTER, Brazil. Immersive 3D Technology in the Indigenous
Scholar Education.
3. Mary Connor, Associate Professor, Bridgewater State University, USA, *Jon Cash, Assistant Professor,
Bridgewater State University, USA & Lisa Battaglino, Dean, College of Education and Allied Studies,
Bridgewater State University, USA. Mastering the Use of Tablet Technology in a Teacher Preparation
Curriculum.
4. Luiz Corcini, MSc Student, UNINTER, Brazil, Luciano Medeiros, Professor, UNINTER, Brazil & Alvino
Moser, Vice Rector and Professor, UNINTER, Brazil. Changing Ways for a Better Education: A 3D Gamified
Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).
*This session is jointly offered with the Human Development Research Division of ATINER

17:00-18:30 Session X (ROOM E - Mezzanine Floor): Management Systems Development III

Chair: *Hector Rabal, Principal Researcher, Centro de Investigaciones Opticas, Argentina.
1. *Izzeldin Osman, Emeritus Professor, Sudan University of Science and Technology, Sudan. Empowering
Women in Academia: A Novel Internet Mediated PhD Program in Computer Science and Information
Technology.
2. Erdal Kose, Lecturer, Fairleigh Dickinson University, USA. A Survey of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Search
Algorithms and Their Efficiency When Applied to Path Finding Problems. (Tuesday May 17, 2016)
3. Pravakar Pradhan, Associate Lecturer, Royal University of Bhutan, Bhutan & Axel Holst, University of
Rostock, Germany. Development of a Dynamic Power System Model of Bhutan for Stability Investigations.

21:00- 22:30 Dinner (Details during registration)

Wednesday 18 May 2016

Cruise: (Details during registration)

Thursday 19 May 2016

Delphi Visit: (Details during registration)

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Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

Noureldien Abdelrahman Noureldien

Dean, Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology,
University of Science and Technology, Sudan
&
Izzeldin M. Yousif
Postgraduate Student, University of Science and Technology, Sudan

Accuracy of Machine Learning Algorithms in Detecting

DoS Attacks Types

Intrusion detection systems are commonly used as a major security

tool to detect and prevent networks from malicious attacks. Intrusion
detection systems are classified either as misuse or anomaly detection
systems.
Anomaly based intrusion detection systems are categorized into
three basic techniques, statistical based, knowledge based and machine
learning based.
On the other hand, networks attacks are generally classified into four
classes. Probes, which are attacks targeting information gathering.
Denial of Service (DoS), which are attacks that either denies resource
access to legitimate users or render system unresponsive. Remote to
Local (R2L), these are attacks in which an attacker bypass security
controls and execute commands on the system as legitimate user, and
User to Root (U2R), the attacks in which a legitimate user can bypass
security controls to gain root user privileges.
Out of these four classes, DoS is the known to be the most common
and serious network attack. DoS attack class constitutes various attacks
such as, Smurf, Neptune, Land, Back, teardrop, and TCP SYN flooding.
Accordingly, building intrusion detection systems to detect DoS attacks
becomes an interested research area and many machine learning based
intrusion detection systems have been proposed.
To attain a machine learning-based intrusion detection system with
high detection accuracy of specific DoS attack type, detection accuracy
of individual machine learning algorithm to that DoS type must be
measured.
In this paper we examine the detection accuracy of a set of selected
machine learning algorithms that belongs to different supervised
techniques in detecting different DoS attack types. The selected
algorithms are PART, BayesNet, IBK, Logistic, J48, Random Committee
and InputMapped.
The experimental work is carried out using NSL-KDD dataset and
WEKA as a data mining tool. The results show that the best algorithm
in detecting the Smurf attack is the Random Committee with an
accuracy of 98.6161%, and the best algorithm in detecting The Neptune

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attack is the PART algorithm with an accuracy of 98.5539, and on the

average PART algorithm is the best algorithm in detecting DoS attacks
while InputMapped algorithm is the worst.

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Mary Connor
Associate Professor, Bridgewater State University, USA
Jon Cash
Assistant Professor, Bridgewater State University, USA
&
Lisa Battaglino
Dean, College of Education and Allied Studies, Bridgewater State
University, USA

Mastering the Use of Tablet Technology in a Teacher

Preparation Curriculum

Current technology, including iPads and other tablets are used

extensivelyin public schools in the United States. This has become a
critical issue in universities preparing future teachers. Student teachers
must enter the student teaching site and eventually the workplace with
training and innovative approaches for leveraging tablet technology. At
Bridgewater State University, the oldest permanently situated college of
teacher education in the United States, a bold move has been made to
give each faculty member an iPad and require each junior, senior and
graduate student in the College of Education and Allied Studies to own
a tablet. The challenge is to ensure that faculty, “digital immigrants”
are trained and motivated to use the new technology in ways that
enhance and expand upon traditional teaching and learning techniques.
Education majors, often considered “digital natives” are at ease with
the technology but need guidance in using it to create cutting edge
instruction for their future students. This presentation is a description
of the year long journey of 3 professors to move from a point of fear
and ignorance regarding the use of tablets to competence and
confidence in the potential of using tablets in the university curriculum.

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Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

Luiz Corcini
MSc Student, UNINTER, Brazil
Luciano Medeiros
Professor, UNINTER, Brazil
&
Alvino Moser
Vice Rector and Professor, UNINTER, Brazil

Changing Ways for a Better Education: A 3D Gamified

Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)

It is widely proven that the NICTs require educators and teacher’s

new attitudes and methodologies.Digital young people crave for faster
response to their actions; contextualization, objectivity and applicability
in the subject matter in the classroom; connectivity and interaction with
their peers and prefer doing based learning.
This requires teacher’s accommodation effort, overcoming the
assimilation to reinvent and transform before in catalysts and mentors
than transmitters, exploiting the full potential of digital media, rather
than assimilating them, guided by constructivism, socio-interactionism
and connectivism.
These assumptions guide the project of creating a gamified 3D
virtual learning environment that uses an open-source server platform
for hosting virtual worlds and meta-verse. An Intelligent Tutor System
(ITS), developed in PHP language, to guide and monitor, in a
pedagogical way, the students in the virtual campus. The 3D virtual
learning environment’s interface to the STI will be done by a web server
and for data storage will used the relational database.
In this 3D Gamified Environment the student will be able to explore
a virtual campus, with activity rooms (that follow the curriculum
requirements), library (documents, links, videos, websites, games),
study room, interaction environments and codesign and he (the
student) will be constantly challenged to solve tasks, carry out or
complete surveys, submit proposals, among others.
As a result we expect a better motivation and knowledge retention
by students, because he (the student) will be unwittingly being
monitored, challenged and constantly guided by the STI that, as a coach
makes his players, will monitor and verify performance, stimulate
curiosity and drive the resolution of tasks to awaken and maintain
student interest in their path in the learning process, overcoming their
limitations and reaching goals.

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Maria de Fatima Goulao

Assistant Professor, Universidade Aberta, Portugal

Concept Maps as Facilitative Tools in E-Learning Context

Background: The e-learning contexts appeals to the autonomy of the

learner in the construction of knowledge. The teacher has a very
important role in designing environments that are appropriate for the
development of this competence. Furthermore, the proposed tasks, and
the methodologies as well, have a significant impact on the
achievement of this goal.
Purpose of Study: Our study aimed to understand how the use of
concept maps it is perceived, as a working method in the construction
of individual knowledge and in helping to collaborative work.
Research Methods: The students worked over a semester with this
approach. One maps were prepared in groups, and in the other one,
maps were prepared individually. At the end of the semester it was
requested for them to answer a questionnaire regarding the relevance
of the concept maps in different aspects, including the construction of
knowledge. The questionnaire was composed of 3 parts.
Findings: Preliminary results of this study indicate a positive
evaluation of concept maps, particularly in the construction,
representation and organization of knowledge. They help to simplify
complex realities, promoting collaborative work and learning.
As a general observation, concept maps were considered a tool that
allows a better understanding and representation of the different
themes contents. However, the construction of concept maps in group
is a more complex process.
Conclusions: This study and its preliminary results show the
potential of this working tool, as well as the methodology adopted by
us to promote not only individual learning but also collaborative work.
Based on this evidence we will adopt the same methodology in other
themes and with other groups of students, in order, to strengthen or
find other work tracks.

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Thomas Fehlmann
Senior Researcher, Euro Project Office AG, Switzerland

Organizing Knowledge in the Internet of Things (IoT)

Today, we embark on a new conquest of Ilion: The Internet of Things

(IoT). It was already difficult to learn how to develop software
properly. Only recently it had been understood that agile methods are
the only ones capable of handling the complexity of developing
software against unknown customer requirements. What has paved the
way for agile understood that the aim of software development is not
only the well-engineered code but understanding the needs of the
customer and translating them into a language that machines
understand. For traditional civil engineers, this looks frightening
An even more challenging quest is to master the multitude of
intelligent things around us. Things talk to each other, exchange
information affecting behavior out of direct human control. It is already
common experience that cars block for good because some internal
intelligent network decided the car is out of service. Medicine cupboard
deny access because the software cannot authenticate the doctor. Self-
driven cars crash because different manufacturers build them. How
avoiding that our intelligent things close us out of our homes, decide
blocking the fridge because we ate too much and reveal to our consort
the birthday gift we secretly prepared?
There is a political way how to deal with arising problems – ignore,
or blame others for them – and there is a scientific way. The scientific
way is finding a theory that explains the world of IoT, and apply it to
practice (Russo). Such a theory is available: it is the theory of
Combinatory Logic, part of constructive mathematics. It proved its
usefulness in over forty years of practical industrial applications.
Engeler, based on research by Barendregt, published the main
theoretical result in one of the shortest paper (four pages only) ever
published in Algebra Universalis (1981). Hofstra and other continued
the research. On the other side of the scientific world, Akao and other
Japanese scientists developed around the same time Comprehensive
Quality Function Deployment (QFD) to make Japanese economy more
competitive. They put the theory into practice. Sure they were
successful, and all other proper applications of QFD as well, because
the theory is sound.
Combinatory logic lays the theoretical foundations for managing
complexity in the IoT. An example of such complexity is safety of self-
controlled cars; another one is making the IoT helpful and enjoyable for
humans. Just as Euclid’s geometry, from the University of Alexandria,
made the transition from agricultural to urban living possible since 300

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 12th Annual International Conference on Information Technology & Computer Science, 16-19 May 2016,
Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

BC, now is the time to use combinatory logic for the transition from
industrial production to value creation by intelligent things.
This paper explains in very short terms, what a model of
combinatory logics is and how currently QFD implements such a model
in practice. It explains how to model IoT collections as combinatory
algebras and discuss new approaches base on theory for predicting
strange and unforeseeable conditions, and how the “things” behave
under them. Although this cannot solve the Turing halting problem, it
approximates safety and security of IoT collections up to some defined
level.

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 12th Annual International Conference on Information Technology & Computer Science, 16-19 May 2016,
Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

Carlos Franco
Ph.D. Student, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico (UNAM),
Mexico
Abel Herrera-Camacho
Professor, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico (UNAM),
Mexico
&
Fernando Del Rio-Avila
Research Assistant, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico
(UNAM), Mexico

Design of a Mexican Spanish Synthesizer using HTS

Speech synthesis is at a superb research moment. At the beginning

of this century, the introduction of hidden markov models (hmm)
rocked new research at speech synthesis. The old synthesis systems
were adapted to work whit hmm’s, and were called hts systems.
At Mexico, the authors have adapted the hmm technique to Mexican
Spanish, the official language at this country. The last version of this
system was done with a professional speaker and in anechoic chamber.
We designed the text to include many allophones and be linguistic
balanced.
The process from text to phonemes text was designed according to
Spanish language rules. The Spanish orthography rules for all
worldwide Spanish language countries; however, we included many
regional rules for word or expressions abbreviations. The Mexican
Spanish phonetics have some regionals special phonemes, also
phonemes and words from ancient Mexican languages.
The design of trees were done in a similar way to others languages,
but including our special language characteristics. At the step, the
hmm’s are applied widely.
The standard or regular test of speech synthesis are the MOS test;
now we have introduced a new set of tests from language experts. The
way at these both tests can be mixed to obtain a score are not yet
designed; however the specific terms to evaluate our hts design from
the language experts is very rich and we are working how translate it in
an algorithm.
The MOS tests show significant improvement of speech quality of
our hts system compared to deterministic trees approachs.
When hts systems have been applied to English Language, many
authors perceive a buss noise characteristic; however, at Spanish in our
experiments the perceiving noise is not equivalent, it is a more complex
phenomena, it is described.

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 12th Annual International Conference on Information Technology & Computer Science, 16-19 May 2016,
Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

Biswadip Ghosh
Associate Professor, Metropolitan State University of Denver, USA

Benefits of using ERP Simulations on Building Information

Literacy

“Information literacy” refers to an understanding of how

information systems (IS) can be applied to solve cross functional
business problems. It involves mastering the knowledge of systematic
collection, organization, processing and distribution of data/information
and includes the transfer of that learning to designing new IS. These
competences are among the most sought after job skills for business
graduates. Understanding IS theory and grasping information and
communication technology skills are necessary to master “information
literacy”. Curriculum that helps build comprehension of the
interactions of parts of complex systems can support these cognitive
outcomes. Exposure to Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems,
because of their tight integration with inherent business processes,
challenges students to think cross-functionally and can develop
information literacy.
ERPSim is a simulation based educational tool that builds an
understanding about how ERP business software can be used to
execute and control integrated business processes. The ERPSim game
facilitates the students’ use of the SAP system to run the full business
cycle of a manufacturing company. The game requires the students to
receive and fulfill orders from customers by planning production,
acquiring raw materials and running manufacturing and distribution
processes.
Practical work with the ERPSim game in an “Introduction to IS”
course, when paired with the traditional theoretical discourse, can help
in learning the concepts of enterprise integration and build information
literacy. The goals of this longitudinal research study is to understand
the magnitude to which using ERPSim can complement IS theoretical
knowledge and improve cognitive outcomes of learning “information
literacy” and transferring that knowledge to information systems
planning. Based on survey results, this study finds that practical work
with ERPSim significantly increases “information literacy” among
students over alternative approaches of (i) only covering theoretical
concepts or (ii) covering theoretical concepts and practicums with
desktop productivity applications.

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 12th Annual International Conference on Information Technology & Computer Science, 16-19 May 2016,
Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

Till Hanisch
Professor, BW State University, Germany
Manfred Rossle
Professor, University of Applied Sciences Aalen, Germany
&
Rene Kubler
Research Fellow, University of Applied Sciences Aalen, Germany

Storing Sensor Data in Different Database Architectures

The Internet of Things comes along with a huge number of “things”

producing data. All collected mass data must be stored in real time for
actual data processing and future analysis. Almost every database on
the market has problems handling time series data. In the past that was
only a problem for a small group of users, but today and in the future
that will change: one important manifestation of the Internet of Things
are sensor networks, possibly large numbers of sensors generating data
in more or less fixed time intervals. Internet of Things applications have
to handle large amounts of time series data efficiently. There are many
different approaches for storing this kind of data like relational
databases, NoSQL databases, in-memory systems files and so on. This
paper benchmarks typical software platforms used in Internet of Things
scenarios especially regarding their ingestion rates and reveals
interesting results.

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 12th Annual International Conference on Information Technology & Computer Science, 16-19 May 2016,
Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

Nerijus Jusas
Ph.D. Student, Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania
Algimantas Venckauskas
Professor, Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania
&
Vytautas Stuikys
Professor, Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania

Model-Driven Framework to Develop the IoT-Based

Healthcare Applications

Health is one of the most important aspects of human life, and the
delivery model of healthcare will transform from the present hospital-
centric to the hospital-home-balanced in coming decades. This
healthcare transformation will face with a lot of problems and will
require new technologies. This healthcare transformation will face with
a lot of problems and will require new technologies. The objects of it
operates in an insecure environment and usually have an independent
battery power supply. Healthcare applications must cope not only with
energy consumption, but also with technical and capabilities for
adaptation and personalization requirements. The most important
requirement for IoT-based healthcare applications is security/privacy,
because vital information should be protected. Typically, the
functionality of the IoT-based healthcare applications are predefined by
the patient’s data, collected using sensor networks and then transferred
through the Internet for treatment and decision-making, unfortunately
and for data transferring is using wireless networks, which are less
secure than wired. Therefore, before creating the application these
requirements must be evaluated. We proposed the model-driven
framework to develop the IoT-based prototype and its reference
architecture for healthcare applications, which evaluates requirements
for security/privacy, energy consumptions and suggest the best
solution how healthcare application could be implemented. A proposed
framework applies known Product Line Engineering methods to
achieve a great deal of flexibility and reuse. The framework consists of
the multi-layered structure, at the top layer is a feature model-based
modelling and feature model transformation, and while at the bottom is
application software generation. The proposed framework was
validated by using the available tools, and an experimental application
to test some aspects the functionality of the reference architecture in
real time, was developed. The main contribution is the framework,
based on the feature-model, for IoT-based healthcare application
implementation, which describes the overall functionalities, while
focusing on the synergistic effect of security and energy issues.

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 12th Annual International Conference on Information Technology & Computer Science, 16-19 May 2016,
Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

Erdal Kose
Lecturer, Fairleigh Dickinson University, USA

A Survey of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Search Algorithms

and Their Efficiency When Applied to Path Finding
Problems

Search is a problem solving mechanism in AI, and the choice of

search procedure is a prescription for determining in what order the
nodes in a problem are to be generated and examined. The goal of the
search algorithms is to map a given start node to a target node. The
choice of search method, knowledge representation method, and the
programming language is significant for solving search problems. This
survey includes various Artificial Intelligence search algorithms and
their efficiency when applied to certain problems. The algorithms have
been classified as unidirectional - bidirectional algorithms, and
informed- heuristic algorithms.
We start our discussion by describing the AI problems which have a
well-known goal state, and a brief explanation of knowledge
representation methods. After that, we presented certain unidirectional
and bidirectional search algorithms and compared their efficiency.
Finally, we briefly described probabilistic methods.
The focus of this survey is to investigate diverse AI search algorithms
and compare their efficiency by applying to certain sliding puzzles such
as fifteen puzzle, donkey puzzle, and mazes.

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 12th Annual International Conference on Information Technology & Computer Science, 16-19 May 2016,
Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

Dimitris Kiritsis
Professor, EPFL - École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne,
Switzerland

Enabling Technologies for Closed-Loop Lifecycle

Management of Intelligent Products & Assets

ICT in general represents a set of key enabling technology to

manufacturing competence, competitiveness and jobs of modern
industrialised countries. The trend is towards more customised,
intelligent and networked products and systems, integrating
intelligence in miniaturised smart product embedded information
devices (PEID), such as RFID tags, embedded systems (including
sensors) and standards that enable the development of the so called
Cyber Physical Systems (CPS). In the coming years, and in the
perspective of Industry 4.0, the use of PEIDs and CPS will be extended
to a wide pallet of applications for manufacturing including real time
visualisation, predictive maintenance and decision making support in
general. These wider applications include the involvement of
consumers and users together with producers and service providers,
beyond traditional use of current product life-cycle management (PLM)
solutions. In this context the use of semantic technologies and
ontologies is becoming more and more popular in engineering
applications. Still, the use is limited in academia and applications are of
a small scale. In this paper we will present the research work done by at
the ICT for Sustainable Manufacturing group of the Swiss Federal
Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland, on the use of
ontology-based technologies for the life cycle management of products
and engineering assets. This research has been performed through a
number of PhD works partially financed by the European Framework
Program for research. It aims at providing both a wider understanding
of the benefits of applying such technologies in the complex
environment of asset life cycle management (ALM) and at providing a
platform for implementing ontology models in industrial
environments.

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 12th Annual International Conference on Information Technology & Computer Science, 16-19 May 2016,
Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

Margarita Kruchinina
Leading Researcher, Federal State Budgetary of Scientific Institution
“Institution of Internal and Preventive Medicine”, Russia
Andrey Gromov
Senior Researcher, Federal State Budgetary of Scientific Institution
“Institution of Internal and Preventive Medicine”, Russia
Anna Rabko
Cardiologist, Federal State Budgetary of Scientific Institution
“Institution of Internal and Preventive Medicine”, Russia
Vladimir Generalov
Leading Researcher, Federal State Budgetary of Scientific Institution
“Institution of Internal and Preventive Medicine”, Russia
&
Konstantin Generalov
Programmer, Researcher, The State Research Center of Virology and
Biotechnology VECTOR, Russia

Is it Possible to Apply the Hemorheological Parameters as

Precursors of Recurrent Strokes?

The aim of the work was to assess the possibility of using the
hemorheological parameters as precursors of recurrent strokes for
different pathogenetic variants of the disease.
We examined 214 patients (47.7+0.8 years) with stroke: 197 - with
ischemic, 17 - hemorrhagic one (162 - in the dynamics of the therapy).
Erythrocyte (Er) characteristics were studied by dielectrophoresis;
hemostatic parameters - by standard techniques.
Results. We revealed different hemorheological variants of stroke
during the first examination: 149 patients had "hard” Er on the
background of metabolic syndrome (the 1st group); 65 patients had
"fragile" cells on the background of connective tissue dysplasia, viral
infections (the 2nd group). Based on the data obtained different
emphasis was given to the courses of the administered therapy. In the
1st group, positive dynamics of the Er parameters was reflected by
increase of Er amplitude deformation, capacitance, dipole moment,
polarizability and decrease in conductivity, viscosity, rigidity (p<0,001-
0,05). In the 2nd group “+” dynamics was accompanied by the
increased polarizability at all frequencies, reducing relative
polarizability, aggregation, destruction indices while maintaining
sufficient plasticity (p<0,0001-0,03). Positive changes in Er parameters
were correlated with "+" dynamic on MRT, in hemostasis parameters,
reduction in neurological symptoms (r=0,72, p=0.03). Lack of positive
or negative dynamics of Er parameters (low deformability, high
aggregation, destruction indices, low membrane capacitance, dipole

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 12th Annual International Conference on Information Technology & Computer Science, 16-19 May 2016,
Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

moment, polarizability) in combination with high hematocrit, low

activity of platelet aggregation, protein-C-deficiency and high D-dimer
within the course of studies of patients correlated with the recurrence of
ischemic attacks, increased of hypoxia areas on MRT and neurological
symptoms (p<0,0001-0,02). When ROC curves were provided, the AUC
value was 0.828 in patients with strokes.
Conclusions. We identified different pathogenetic variants of stroke
which required different approaches to the therapy. Hemorheological
parameters were found to be the predictors of recurrent stroke.

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 12th Annual International Conference on Information Technology & Computer Science, 16-19 May 2016,
Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

Wolfram Laaser
FormerAkademischer Direktor, Fern Universität in Hagen, Germany

Video Formats. Yesterday and Tomorrow

In the actual debate about introducing MOOCs (Massive

Open Online Courses) as a teaching and learning environment audio
and video have been rediscovered as an important element for
presenting instructional content. In a recent report of Kaltura (2015) the
vision concerning the future of video in the web is summarized by the
following statements:

 Video will be a standard part of education.

 Videos role will grow beyond delivering content to students,
serving purposes of communication, feedback, student´s
assignments and portfolios.
 Video will continue to enable flipped learning and distance
learning.
 Video will enable innovative types of learning and teaching.
 Video will replace most of the textbooks.

The article will outline, that the function of audio visual media can
only be understood by first looking at past experience with successes
and failures. After going rapidly through some steps of development of
audio visual digital media, we then analyse the actual presentation
formats in the web. Special focus is put on recent discussions related to
the MOOC development.

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 12th Annual International Conference on Information Technology & Computer Science, 16-19 May 2016,
Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

Augustine Maruva Tirivangana

Director, Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (ZIMCHE),
Zimbabwe

Towards a Quality Assurance Framework for the

Assessment of on-Line Programmes: Developing Indicators
of Excellence for Developing Countries

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 12th Annual International Conference on Information Technology & Computer Science, 16-19 May 2016,
Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

Vassiliki Michou
Educational Engineer, University Pierre and Marie Curie, France

The Instructional Video in the Teaching Practice

This paper aims at discussing the difficulties and opportunities

related to the creation of educational videos, based on the comments
made by the teachers that contributed to their creation. For all the
people involved, educational videos pose a series of challenges, not
only on the pedagogical aspects. We would like to propose some
reflexions and thoughts generating from our experience within the
University Pierre and Marie Curie. From the simplest and possibly the
first use of instructional video as part of an enriched on-campus
teaching, to the personalized accompaniment of the student on a
learning management system in a distance learning course, there are
many options, and many insights on education.
Our choice within UPMC is the creation of online courses reserved
to a targeted audience, the SPOC (small private online courses). The
project that initially targets the distance students was the opportunity
for exchanges with many teachers on today’s pedagogical practices and
on their vision for tomorrow. We discuss the enhancements or
modifications that can be made in order to offer an active learning more
in line with the needs and expectations of today’s students.
This article is the first part of a research on the concrete evolution of
teaching practices in our university. Here we try to study the process of
the implementation of these new educational formulas. We present the
implications of the use of this new audiovisual and multimedia content
in the preparation of the course’s educational design and teachings. We
discuss how the teachers consider their role in this new context.

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 12th Annual International Conference on Information Technology & Computer Science, 16-19 May 2016,
Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

Heba Mohsen
Assistant Lecturer, Future University, Egypt
El-Sayed El-Dahshan
Professor, Egyptian E-Learning University, Egypt
El-Sayed El-Horbaty
Professor, Ain Shams University, Egypt
&
Abdel-Badeeh Salem
Professor, Ain Shams University, Egypt

A Comparative Study of Segmentation Techniques for

Brain Magnetic Resonance Images

Segmentation is a core process for automatic detection and

identification of brain tumors as it plays a vital role in extracting the
information of the image as measuring and visualizing the brain's
anatomical structures and analyzing the brain changes. From this point
the need for accurate and automatic segmentation techniques has risen
as manual segmentation is not a realistic solution and yet time
consuming. This paper examines the various automated segmentation
techniques used by researchers on brain magnetic resonance images
(MRI), giving detailed description for the most common techniques
used in the area of brain tumors. Moreover, we will discuss briefly the
differences, limitations, advantages and challenges of each technique
mentioned when being used on brain MRI to compare their efficiency in
this area and to put guidelines that should be considered when using
these techniques.

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 12th Annual International Conference on Information Technology & Computer Science, 16-19 May 2016,
Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

Alvino Moser
Vice Rector and Professor, UNINTER, Brazil
Yuri Berri Afonso
MSc Student, UNINTER, Brazil
&
Germano Bruno Afonso
Professor, UNINTER, Brazil

Immersive 3D Technology in the Indigenous Scholar

Education

In the last 20 years, there has been an effort to recover, transcribe and
interpret the traditional native Brazilian knowledge related to the
constellations, the moon, the sun, the planets and the cosmovision.
This study is the result of the application of NTIC (New Technologies
of Information and Communication) in order to use, within the native
Brazilian and Western school education, the traditional Brazilian native
knowledge that was recovered in a participative study.
The native Brazilians learn through their direct contact with nature.
The immersion with virtual reality 3D glasses satisfactorily simulates
this contact and can also enhance it.
Through the development of computer programming, modeling and
animation an “individual native Brazilian planetarium” has been built.
The planetarium makes possible, for whoever uses it, the virtual
visualization of the apparent motions of the sun, determine the solar
day, the cardinal points and the seasons the same way the Brazilian
natives see them in real life. Besides, it is possible to simulate the
celestial firmament with the constellations used by the Brazilian natives
as a calendar and as well as for other daily activities.
This planetarium is portable which allows taking it to far and hard to
reach places as well as places with no electricity, which are the places
where most Brazilian natives live. Thus, the Brazilian native knowledge
can be passed on, in outdoor activities, to both native and western
students.
It was realized that the students learning interest increases
significantly when the NTIC are used, especially when associated to the
real life.
Then, through the “virtual Brazilian native planetarium”, one of the
main purposes of education, which is the insertion of the student
directly and intentionally into the knowledge produced by the
humankind, was honored. Which, in this particular case, is the
traditional Brazilian native knowledge.

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 12th Annual International Conference on Information Technology & Computer Science, 16-19 May 2016,
Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

Timothy Newby
Professor, Purdue University, USA

Instructional Digital Badges in an Online Masters Degree

Program

Researchers have begun to examine the benefits of the use of digital

badges in education (e.g., Ahn, Pellicone, & Butler, 2014; Ostashewski &
Reid, 2015). In particular, the structure and the sequence of well-
constructed badges offers users an effective way to capture and review
potential learning paths while increasing desires for continued or
additional learning, to set goals, to build confidence in personal
performances, and to foster a sense of accomplishment. Badges may
also motivate users from a more extrinsic perspective by increasing
their effort invested in a task in order to receive a tangible reward or
status symbol of personal accomplishments that can be shown and
compared to the performances of others.
The high amount of structure and sequence within digital badges
may also prove to be effective for use within online distance education
courses. At Purdue University, a fully online Master of Science in
Education program has implemented a new set of instructional digital
badges that are available to their online students at all times while they
are enrolled in the program. This paper will discuss the design and
implementation process used to create a set of badges tailored
specifically for the online student and how that was accomplished
using the Purdue Passport system. In particular, focus will be on the
lessons learned from the design, development, implementation, and
evaluation of the badges.

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 12th Annual International Conference on Information Technology & Computer Science, 16-19 May 2016,
Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

Cam Nguyen
Professor, Texas A&M University, USA
Jaeyoung Lee
Research Associate, Texas A&M University, USA
Cuong Huynh
Research Associate, Texas A&M University, USA
Donghyun Lee
Research Associate, Texas A&M University, USA
&
Juseok Bae
Research Assistant, Texas A&M University, USA

A Millimeter-Wave Dual-Band Phased Array for

Communications and Radar

Wireless communications and sensing have become an indispensable

part of our daily lives from communications, public service and safety,
consumer, industry, sports, gaming and entertainment, asset and
inventory management, banking to government and military
operations. As communications and sensing are poised to address
challenging problems to make our lives even better under
environments that can potentially disrupt them, like highly populated
urban areas, crowded surroundings, or moving platforms, considerable
difficulties emerge that greatly complicate communications and
sensing. Significantly improved communication and sensing
technologies become absolutely essential to address these challenges.
Phased arrays allow RF beams carrying the communication or
sensing information to be rapidly steered or intercepted from different
angles across areas with particular amplitude profiles electronically,
enabling swift single- or multi-point communications or sensing over
large areas or across many targets while avoiding potentially disrupting
obstacles. They are particularly attractive for creating robust
communication links for both line-of-sight (LOS) and non-line-of-sight
(NLOS) due to their high directivity and scanning ability.
In this talk, we will present a millimeter-wave dual-band phased-
array frontend capable of two-dimensional scanning with orthogonal
polarizations at 44 and 60 GHz. This phased array particularly resolves
the “RF signal leakage and isolation dilemma” encountered in the
existing phased-array systems. It integrates “electrically” the phased-
array functions in two separate millimeter-wave bands into a single
phased array operating concurrently in dual-band. These unique
features, not achievable with existing millimeter-wave phased arrays,
will push the phased-array system performance to a next level, while
reducing size and cost, and enhance the capability and applications for

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Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

wireless communications and sensing, particularly when multifunction,

multi-operation, multi-mission over complex environments with
miniature systems become essential. This phased array enables vast
communication and radar applications, either communication or radar
or both simultaneously - for instance, concurrent Earth-satellite/inter-
satellite communications, high-data-rate WPANs and HDMI, and
accurate, high-resolution, enhanced-coverage multi-target sensing.

36
 12th Annual International Conference on Information Technology & Computer Science, 16-19 May 2016,
Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

Izzeldin Osman
Emeritus Professor, Sudan University of Science and Technology
Sudan

Empowering Women in Academia: A Novel Internet

Mediated PhD Program in Computer Science and
Information Technology

Female lecturers in Sudanese universities and colleges holding

Master degrees in Information Technology or Computer Science have to
pursue PhD degrees locally in Sudan due to economic, social and
family obligations. The PhD degree is a mandatory requirement for the
promotion in academia. The severe brain drain experienced by the
country has led to a scarcity of qualified PhD supervisors in the
preferred modern narrow specializations. In the Sudan women
constitute a majority in the lower academic ranks in Computer Science
and IT departments but there is a sharp drop in their number in the
ranks requiring a PhD.
This paper describes the PhD program of Sudan University of
Science and Technology which employs ICT to empower women in
higher education through the utilization of the international human and
technical resources and providing PhD supervisors from renowned
universities all over the world. PhD students from all over Sudan and
the neighboring countries participate in lectures, seminars and receive
research supervision through an interactive software (WebEX)
providing audio, video and chat interactive facilities.
Students (female lecturers) pursue their studies from their homes or
offices in their home towns and have to come to the university once or
twice a year for face-to-face exams, discussions with supervisors or for
the presentation of progress seminars.
The program has entered its sixth year with about one hundred
women participating. Nine women have already graduated with PhD.
This experiment can be improved, modified and applied by GCC
universities for the benefit of GCC women.
A short video will be presented. Women graduates will tell their
success stories.

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 12th Annual International Conference on Information Technology & Computer Science, 16-19 May 2016,
Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

Mary-Angela Papalaskari
Assistant Professor, Villanova University, USA

Algorithmic [Jigsaw] Puzzles in Computer Science

Education

Educators and business leaders recognize that computer science is a

new basic skill necessary to educate a new generation of scientists, as
well as to prepare a large number of people for the increasingly
technological global job market. President Obama’s $4 billion
“Computer Science for All” 2016 initiative aims to empower all
American students from kindergarten through high school to learn
computer science and to be equipped with the computational thinking
skills they need to be creators in the digital economy, not just
consumers, and to be active citizens in a technology-driven world.
This paper discusses an approach to instilling computational
thinking through two kinds of puzzles:
1) Algorithmic puzzles, which can be used to illustrate specific
algorithm design strategies and are generally recognized as useful in
introducing computational thinking skills. Algorithmic puzzles have a
long history of use in education (beginning with Alcuin of York, river
crossing puzzles 800CE; see also Levitin & Levitin, “Algorithmic
Puzzles”, 2011 – first large-scale collection of algorithmic puzzles).
2) Algorithmic jigsaw puzzles, i.e., jigsaw puzzle-like exercises that
result in the construction of an algorithm, where students are
challenged to rearrange pseudocode elements in order to devise an
algorithm for solving a specific problem. We present examples of well-
known algorithms cast as algorithmic jigsaw puzzles and discuss their
use in formative assessment. Both algorithmic puzzles and algorithmic
jigsaw puzzles can play a significant role in educational settings,
specifically in the development of problem-solving skills and creativity.
Algorithmic jigsaw puzzles additionally help develop the ability of
students to express their ideas in a rigorous manner.
The paper presents results from the use puzzles in three different
levels of computer science courses at Villanova University.

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 12th Annual International Conference on Information Technology & Computer Science, 16-19 May 2016,
Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

Pravakar Pradhan
Associate Lecturer, Royal University of Bhutan, Bhutan
&
Axel Holst
University of Rostock, Germany

Development of a Dynamic Power System Model of

Bhutan for Stability Investigations

Bhutan is a small kingdom in south Asia, landlocked between China

and India in the Himalayas. Because of its geographical location,
Bhutan is endowed with huge hydropower potential. Only about 1.5
GW of the total 24 GW potential is utilized till date. However, rapid
development of new hydropower projects is being carried out. 10 GW
of additional generations is planned to be put in operation till the year
2020.
The existing hydropower plants (HPP) are being managed by Druk
Green Power Corporation (DGPC). Bhutan Power Corporation Limited
(BPC) is the power system operator of the Bhutan power network,
which is controlled via interconnection from the Indian grid. With
power demand growing rapidly the power network and the associated
increase in interconnection with the Indian grid, DGPC feels the urgent
need to ensure that its generating facilities are prepared to operate in
the fast changing network scenario [1]. BPC also needs to enhance its
current state of expertise on the dynamic and static studies of the
transmission network of Bhutan towards operating the system
optimally at present and the future with the expected network
expansion as per the National Transmission Grid Master Plan
(NTGMP).
This paper describes comprehensive modelling and simulation
method of a complete power system incorporating the HPP Chhukha
(with high pressure Pelton turbines and a complex control structure)
integrated with the transmission system of Bhutan. The complete
nonlinear model of HPP is developed in Matlab/Simulink software and
validated with the measured data. For validation of network elements
parameters, the model is developed in network simulation software
DIgSILENT PowerFactory and tested to match the actual system output
to the simulated output for making the model as close to reality as
possible through appropriate adjustment to the system parameters. To
conduct the necessary investigation concerning the behavior in island
mode operation and the transition process, HPP model is added to the
existing network model.
The paper shows some simulation results and describes findings;
firstly, for various contingencies (static and dynamic responses) of the

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Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

system and secondly, for optimal and efficient operation as well as for
planning the Bhutan Power system of future which is very strongly
interconnected to one of the largest electrical Grids: India. The paper
also evaluates the static and dynamic performance of its generating
units to ensure a safe and stable performance in interconnected as well
as islanded operation in case of faults.
At present the Eastern and Western Transmission Network of
Bhutan is only interconnected through lndia. There is a plan to
interconnect the network through the 220 kV line between Jigmeling
and Tsirang. Case studies on voltage stability of the entire system under
various operating conditions are conducted and recommendations to
improve the grid operating conditions and/or up-gradation to
improved voltage profile are given.
A research team consisting of experts from the Royal University of
Bhutan, the University of Rostock, DGPC and BPC was founded,
supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) within
the University-Business-Partnership Programme.

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 12th Annual International Conference on Information Technology & Computer Science, 16-19 May 2016,
Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

Hector Rabal
Principal Researcher, Centro de Investigaciones Opticas, Argentina
Nelly Cap
Researcher, Centro de Investigaciones Opticas, Argentina
Eduardo Grumel
Researcher, Centro de Investigaciones Opticas, Argentina
&
Marcelo Trivi
Researcher, Centro de Investigaciones Opticas, Argentina

Dynamic Laser Speckle on Biomedical and Biological

Applications

Dynamic laser speckle (DLS) is an optical technique that has been

used for several applications in biology, medicine and industry. It is
based on a scattering phenomenon occurring when coherent laser light
illuminates an active surface. The surface appears to be covered by tiny
bright and dark dots that fluctuate in a seemingly random way as for a
boiling liquid, according with the surface fluctuation. Thus, the study of
the temporary evolution of the speckle patterns may provide an
interesting tool to characterize the parameters involved in the sample
dynamic processes. Very important applications have been developed
in its use to monitor blood perfusion.
In this paper, we present a brief account of the basic concepts of both
the speckle phenomenon and the DLS techniques. Then, we show
several biomedical and biological applications developed by our group,
such as:
 Pharmacodynamics evaluation of parasite motility.
 Assessment of seed’s viability, bruising in fruits and detection of
fungi in seeds.
 Determination of maize hardness.
 Arterial pulse monitoring using speckle.
 Analysis of bacterial chemotactic responses towards attractors.
 Discrimination of motile bacteria from filamentous fungi
 Blood Clotting time Measurements.
 Monitoring Bacterial Colony Growth (Escherichia Coli and
Staphylococcus Aureus.

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 12th Annual International Conference on Information Technology & Computer Science, 16-19 May 2016,
Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

Jarogniew Rykowski
Professor, Poznań University of Economics and Business, Poland

HCN:
Low-Cost Networking for DIY Internet of Things

In most nowadays networks, the transportation layer is quite

restricted to conform to certain standards such as Ethernet or WiFi.
Even if several protocols and hardware were proposed towards
efficient networking, still the area of Do-It-Yourself home (amateur)
networks is not covered. What should be taken into attention in this
case is wider incorporation of 2,4 GHz and 433/868 MHz radio
transceivers/receivers, traditional serial lines such as RS-232 and RS-
435, Bluetooth, Zigbee/xBee, and similar low-cost and short-range
communication links, linked together within a single communication
standard. As the radio range of these communication media is usually
restricted, multi-hop networking should be applied to extend the
signal-coverage area.
Due to the fact that typical DIY computers are very small, with
restricted resources such as limited memory (usually up to 2-3 kB) and
processing capabilities (8-bits CPUs with no co-processing units), the
networking protocol should be simple, however observing some
necessary features such as encryption for digital signage and privacy
protection. Also, the network should allow both addressable and
address-free information exchange, the latter preferably based on
broadcasting and multicasting, freely mixed according to application
area and end-user needs.
The goal of the paper is to propose such a method of small
networking called Home Computer Network (HCN). HCN protocol
stands for a flexible standard of generic, stateless information exchange
among two or more nodes, regardless the communication links on the
way from a sender node to all the receivers. Two addressing modes are
possible. In the address-free mode, the incoming message is to be
accepted by the receiving node based on message contents (semantic
description of the command expressed by the message). Once a
message is accepted, the node performs certain actions related to the
message. In parallel, the message is re-transmitted to other
communication channels (except the channel the message arrived by) to
be inspected by other nodes. To eliminate possible circles in
information flow, the repeated messages are identified and stopped,
based on unique descriptors of the messages.
In the addressable mode, the message is linked with an identifier of
the receiving node – such a message is accepted only by a certain node,
but anyway propagated in multi-hop mode by any other node.

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Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

Each message may be encrypted. Due to limited node resources,

simple however powerful encryption standard have been applied,
namely xxTEA algorithm, with pre-shared encryption key common for
all the nodes.
HCN makes it possible to automate the process of linking several
micro-controllers at home into a single consistent network, with limited
amount of programmers’ work and with very low-cost hardware such
as AVR-based computers, Raspberry boards, and similar DIY solutions.

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 12th Annual International Conference on Information Technology & Computer Science, 16-19 May 2016,
Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

Patricia Scherer Bassani

Professor, Feevale University, Brazil
&
Rafael Vescovi Bassani
Professor, Unisinos University, Brazil

Production and Sharing of Learning Activities with

Technologies: Designing for Learning in Teacher
Formation Courses

Studies about innovation in education show us that pedagogical

practices can enhance the way students apply their knowledge in real
situations which is something of great importance in the teacher
formation process.This study is complementary to an ongoing research
project called “Pedagogical practices on cyberspace” and aims to
promote the development and the documentation of learning activities
with technologies. The sharing of learning activities with the use of
technologies is in the center of the studies of the Learning Design
area.Learning activities can be shared through mediation artifacts and
this process enables the construction of an educational practices
database. Thus, these practices can be published and accessed by
different teachers who can reuse, modify, and validate them in different
contexts.The research, based on a qualitative approach, was conducted
in a teacher formation course, where undergraduate students were
majoring in Portuguese/English.This way, the activity with these
students aimed to promote the reflection on the use of digital
technologies in an educational setting and the production of learning
activities based on Learning Design concepts.Tools for development of
conceptual maps can be used as mediation artifacts based on graphical
representation.The students explored three different tools for the
development of conceptual maps(Mindomo, Cmaptools, andGoconqr).
Results show that the Learning Design approach can be explored in the
academiccontext with the use of conceptual maps as mediation
artifacts.Furthermore, the learning activities represented in conceptual
maps became available on the web and can be accessed by different
subjects and the practices can be adapted and reused in different
contexts.Summarizing, we understand that the proposed innovation
allows undergraduate students, throughout their whole course,to
experiment activities based on the fundamental principles of
cyberspace – produce, distribute, and share.

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 12th Annual International Conference on Information Technology & Computer Science, 16-19 May 2016,
Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

Sotiris Skevoulis
Professor and Chair, Software Engineering Program, Pace University,
USA
Constantine Coutras
Professor, Montclair State University, USA
&
Manoj Syal
IT Developer, Citigroup, Inc., USA

Identity Management and Access Control. Techniques and

Mechanisms for Managing Identity Management and
Access Control

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 12th Annual International Conference on Information Technology & Computer Science, 16-19 May 2016,
Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

Sarah Smetzer-Fox
Manager of Educational Technology and Ph.D. Student, California
Institute of Integral Studies and Florida Atlantic University, USA
&
Dilys Schoorman
Professor, Florida Atlantic University, USA

Virtual Education: Emancipatory or Oppressive?

Virtual education (VE) is viewed as an indicator of an institution’s

ability to adapt to changing realities and demands of an increasingly
digital world. Viewed as an option to increase access to educational
opportunities, customize/enhance individualization of learning, and
facilitate technological literacy, VE requires the attention of
knowledgeable researchers in critical assessments of its impact. While
critical theorists have drawn attention to the oppressive educational
practices brought about through neoliberal policies that engender
factory-like approaches to education in general, they have been
particularly concerned about the potential detriments of unbridled
proliferation of VE in schools and universities (Giroux, 2002; Noble,
1998). We draw upon critical scholars who have framed virtual
education within neoliberalism warning us about the corporatization of
education, knowledge commodification, and education as profit-
generating (Giroux, 2002). This perspective shifts education away from
its democratizing and humanizing potentiality to align with market-
driven values. Given VE’s proliferation, it is crucial that members of the
educational profession are aware of its oppressive and/or
emancipatory potentialities.
This autoethnographic study (Ellis, Adams, & Bochner, 2010) focuses
on the experiences and dialogic processes of a doctoral student and
professor as they explore the emancipatory/oppressive potentialities of
VE, with a view to reconceptualizing it as an opportunity to expand
access to liberatory pedagogy, rather than merely an extension of access
to education that is limiting, dehumanizing and potentially exploitative.
Both authors support critical pedagogy and the emancipatory potential
of VE, but are concerned about its current manifestations. The findings
feature insights that emerged as conscientization developed about the
policies/pedagogical procedures of virtual education. As public
funding dwindles, education institutions have embraced VE. As VE is
seemingly “inevitable”, it is our responsibility to think critically about
pedagogical integrity, intellectual property implications, knowledge as
commodity, standardization/academic freedom, teacher-as-technician
and student-as-consumer rather than accepting unbridled
implementation of VE.

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 12th Annual International Conference on Information Technology & Computer Science, 16-19 May 2016,
Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

Bahareh Shojaie
Ph.D. Candidate, The University of Hamburg, Germany
Hannes Federrath
Professor, The University of Hamburg, Germany
&
Iman Saberi
Ph.D. Student, Technical University of Hamburg, Germany

The Effects of National Culture on the Implementation of

ISM Standards Based on the ISO 27001

This paper analyses the reasons for creating national security

standards and laws in contrast to applying international security
standard ISO/IEC 27001, and classifies them based on the common
characteristics, such as historical background, national economy and
global activities. These national ISM (Information Security
Management) standards are popular among organisations because they
offer market assurance and IT governance by protecting sensitive
information in a structured way. ISO 27001 is the most adopted
international ISM standard by several countries and industries. The
main differences between the studied national standards and the ISO
27001 standard are investigated. Furthermore, this paper analyses the
reasons for low adoption rate of the ISO 27001 in the selected countries,
based on the 2014 survey carried out by the ISO/ IEC organisation. This
paper finds out the most relevant and applicable cultural dimensions to
this international standard, and defines new ways of enhancing ISMS
(Information Security Management System) long-term performance,
based on the ISO 27001. Recent literature has indicated that the
performance and selection of the ISO 27001 as well as several types of
best practices and national information security guidelines are
influenced by organisational types and national characteristics. For the
first time, this paper continues contributes to the literature by defining
the relationship between the studied national ISM standards and the
selected cultural dimensions. These analyses uncover national cultural
and socio-economic barriers, which should be taken into account
during future development of the ISO 27001 standard as well as when
measuring its effectiveness and adoption rate. Effectively implementing
the ISO 27001 requires a cultural change as it changes employees’
routine and communication devices, and cultural characteristics,
international trends as well as national economic power have to be
taken into account. One of the reasons for creating national standards
could be that the ISO 27001 is very general and tries to address every
organisational type regardless of its expertise or the national culture.
Another possible reason is that ISO 27001 didn’t exist at the time when

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Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

these standards were established. The main differences between these

national standards are the stakeholder description, the level of focus on
technical aspects, the policies development, risk management
formulation and IS safeguarding. However, the security process or
management duties are defined the same.

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 12th Annual International Conference on Information Technology & Computer Science, 16-19 May 2016,
Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

Peter Stoehr
Professor, University of Applied Science Hof, Germany
&
Christin Seifert
Research Assistant, University of Passau, Germany

Extending the Language of the Web for Dynamic Content

Integration

In this paper we present ongoing research on semi automatic

integration of dynamic information into web pages. This approach
allows web editors to insert search queries to define the dynamic
information. After creating a web page keeping its content up to date
requires human effort and leads to increased maintenance costs. For not
too complex web sites and well-defined dynamic data, e.g. data of a
weather forecast, an automated request to a database can be used to
keep the content up to date. As soon as the content of the web site is
more complex a simple one to one copying of information without
manual quality control is not feasible. Our approach forwards the
quality control process from the presentation of the web page to the
creation stage of the content. Instead of a server based approach we
propose a client based solution, the SeCH-Browser, for integrating
dynamic information into the web page; SeCH stands for Self
Embedding Characteristic Hyperlinks. The current version of the SeCH-
browser extends the normal way of handling web-pages by a four step
process: 1. While creating the HTML page, the author uses newly
defined HTML micro format tags to embed meta information in the
HTML code of the web page. This meta information describes a query
that is used at runtime to search the web for the dynamic information
that is included in the web page. Because the author has the full control
over this meta information he can ensure that the search will return
suitable results. 2. To improve quality of the search the meta
information is enriched by information describing the user of the SeCH-
browser (user profiles). 3. The SeCH-browser uses this combined
information, describing parts of the content of the web page and
information about the user, as an input for a web-based search for the
additional content. This search is done using an intelligent search-
engine. Currently the EEXCESSfederated recommender system
(http://www.eexcess.eu) is used for this search. 4. The response from
the search service is post-processed to display the enclosed information
as an overlay on top of original version of the HTML–page. The use of
HTML micro format tags combined with the SeCH-browser solves the
problem mentioned at the beginning. Because the definition of the
dynamic content is performed by the web author while creating the

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Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

web page additional maintenance efforts can be avoided. With the help
of this semi autonomic the editor of the web page is integrated in the
quality assurance process by selecting the appropriated key words for
the web search.

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Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

Christopher Stuetzle
Assistant Professor, Merrimack College, USA
&
Gavril Bilev
Assistant Professor, Merrimack College, USA

Adapting Cellular Automata Simulation Techniques to the

Study of Democratization

This work adapts popular techniques in cellular automata theory and

application to the study of the spread of Democracy in the world, or
Democratization. Much work in Comparative Politics has focused on
determining the most important factors that lead to a country's regime
(government) being either Autocratic or Democratic. We use a cellular
automata-based simulation to model the spread of democracy from
1945 to 2011 (years for which comparison data is available), whose time
steps are individual years. The two primary sources of influence on a
country's regime value are Internal and External. Internal influence is
determined by the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country in
question as well as a linear fitting of known data for a variety of
parameters (including the country's stability, religious populations, and
age), and the external influence is set by the regime value of all
countries (weighted by their Internal influences) within its
'neighborhood.' Our simulation treats each country as a cell whose state
is governed by a linear weighting between Internal and External
influences, and its resistance to change by its own GDP (the higher it is,
the more resistant to regime change).
A parameter sweep method is employed to test ranges of the
parameters (each unique set of parameter values is called a parameter
set) used to determine the regime score of each country each time step.
These tested parameters are weights on internal vs. external influence,
neighborhood sizes, neighborhood types, extent to which outside
democracies are considered, and stability weighting. Each parameter
set produces a configuration of the world in 2011 that is compared
against the actual world configuration and a series of error values are
calculated using Percent Correct, Moran's I, and Percent Democratic.
1000 trials are run for each parameter set and the median regime values
are used. The global minimum error for each metric is calculated,
determining the parameter set that most resembles those which are
responsible for democratization in the world.

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 12th Annual International Conference on Information Technology & Computer Science, 16-19 May 2016,
Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

Chang-Hwa Wang
Professor, National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan

Factors Influencing Learner Presence in Augmented-

Reality-Mediated Instruction

Nowadays, augmented reality (AR) techniques have been well

developed. AR prevails over other complicated virtual reality tools by
its nature of low-cost and easy-to-operate. AR technology is capable of
superimposing virtual objects to the real scenes. Augmented virtual
objects are able to display information, exhibit 3D figures, or simulate
phenomena that are abstract or impractical to present in real
instructional settings, therefore AR-facilitated instruction has been
claimed to have much educational values. Although past research
results seem to support that AR-facilitated instructional could improve
learning performances, others challenge that virtual presentations of
instructional messages could not completely replace the life experiences
as some learners may not fully be immersed in a real/virtual mixed
learning environment. Some researchers asserted that learner’s level of
presence in a mixed-reality learning (MRL) environment should be
considered in designing adequate MRL materials. We believe a
satisfactory MRL learning experience could increase learner’s level of
presence.
In this study, we assume that in an AR-facilitated learning process,
satisfaction of AR learning experience would affect learner’s level of
presence, and learner’s level of presence would affect the learning
outcome. A game-type AR learning process was developed with the
instructional content on “Carbon Footprint”, which embeds with
several abstract concepts and is suitable for being delivered through
AR-mediated learning processes. An experiment was implemented
with 71 5th and 6th grades elementary students. Three sets of research
instruments were developed- a learning achievement test sheet, an
inventory measuring learner presence in AR environment, and a
questionnaire acquiring learner’s satisfaction on AR learning
experiences. Learning achievement test items include all issues taught
in AR learning process; learner presence inventory consists of three
factors- the AR presence, the learning presence, and the time presence;
and learner satisfaction questionnaire consists of learning experience
and interaction experience. Pilot tests were done for these instruments
to examine the reliabilities. The reliabilities of these three instruments
were all above .75. Instructional material was carefully developed with
expert’s inspections for content validity. During the experiments,
tablets were used for triggering and displaying AR objects that
distributing questions refer to the trigger images and providing clues

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Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

that helped to answer the question. The total instructional time is 70

minutes including pretest, eliciting motivation, the AR instruction, and
posttest.
60 validated data were collected and statistically analyzed, partial
correlation and independent t-test were employed. The results
indicated that the levels of learner presence in AR instructional
environment are significantly different between highest 27% and lowest
27% of learner presence. It is also a significant correlation between level
of presence and learner satisfaction on AR learning experience. No
significant result was found in correlation between overall level of
presence and learning achievement. However, there was a significant
correlation in the low learner presence group. We conclude that
learner’s satisfaction of AR learning experience affects their levels of
presence in AR learning process, and the level of presence particularly
affects the learning achievement for the low learner presence group.
These preliminary results indicated that the more satisfactory for the
AR experience, the higher the level of learner presence in the mix-
reality environment, consequently results in better learning outcomes
for the low presence learners

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 12th Annual International Conference on Information Technology & Computer Science, 16-19 May 2016,
Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

Abeer Watted
Ph.D. Student, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Israel
&
Miri Barak
Assistant Professor, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Israel

Knowledge Construction and Career Advancement in a

Massive Open Online Course in Nanotechnology and
Nanosensors

The growing popularity of massive open online courses (MOOCs)

introduces an alternative to traditional higher education. However,
there is yet little evidence regarding the extents to which MOOCs
promote personal knowledge and professional careers among adult
learners. Guided by the constructivist theory, this study was set to
examine the role of MOOCs in the process of knowledge construction
and career advancement of science and engineering students or
employees. We compared between two groups of MOOC learners who
successfully completed the course: University students (N = 28) who
took the course for credit points, and general participants (N = 58). The
research two null hypotheses were: H1. MOOC students are more likely
to acquire specific knowledge for professional advancement compare to
university students, and H2. University students are more likely to
receive higher grades compared to MOOC students. The 'mixed
methods' design was employed for data collection, analysis, and
interpretation. The quantitative approach followed the pretest posttest
design, in which data was collected via online questionnaires. The
qualitative approach included a content analysis study in which semi-
structured interviews and digital documents were examined. Findings
indicated that both the MOOC and the university students asserted
similar inclination toward acquiring specific knowledge for
professional advancement; thus the first null hypothesis can be rejected.
In addition, there were no significant differences between the groups in
their gained knowledge or final grades; thus the second null hypothesis
can also be rejected.

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 12th Annual International Conference on Information Technology & Computer Science, 16-19 May 2016,
Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

Feng Qin Yu
Professor, Jiangnan University, China
&
Qing Fan
Graduate Student, Jiangnan University, China

Improved Algorithm with Spatial and Temporal

Characteristics for Video Saliency Detection

In order to reflect salient regions in video sequence accurately, a

spatiotemporal saliency detection algorithm integrated with motion
characteristic is proposed. First, use SLIC segmentation algorithm to
segment each frame into super-pixels blocks and to maintain the target
boundary structure and then to extract the color histogram as the
feature for each block. Then, on the one hand, use algorithm of optical
flow vector regional construct to compute temporal saliency. On the
other hand, in view of the global contrast model ignores the
characteristics of spatial distribution, compute spatial saliency by
joining the color spatial distribution. Finally, use an adaptive fusion
strategy to merge the temporal saliency map and the spatial saliency
map into final spatiotemporal saliency map. Simulation experiment
results demonstrate that proposed method is able to extract salient
target with clear outline in dynamic scenes.

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 12th Annual International Conference on Information Technology & Computer Science, 16-19 May 2016,
Athens, Greece: Abstract Book

Roseli Zen Cerny

Professor, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
Carla Cristina Dutra Búrigo
Professor, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
Marina Bazzo de Espíndola
Professor, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
&
Nayara Cristine Müller Tosatti
Student, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil

The Curriculum in the Digital Culture and the Process of

Formation: A Mediated Relation

The present paper aims to comprehend the way the authors of

didactic materials of a distance education course conceive the mediated
relation in the constitution process of the curriculum in the digital
culture and the process of formation. This work is a part of a broader
research which objectives to follow and to analyze the process of
management and of development of a postgraduate certificate in
Education in the Digital Culture offered as a distance education course
by a Brazilian university. The conceptions of curriculum and of
formation in the digital culture are essentially lapped and they pervade
the relation between the education and the process of culture, where the
Digital Information and Communication Technologies (DICT) are also
present. This study is a qualitative research, a Study Case, which
explore the potentialities and the constraints interacting in the process
of formation in and for the digital culture, from the view of the authors
of didactic materials for the commented Course. For collecting the
information, we had semi-structured interviews with the authors -
professors of universities and teachers of basic schools. Therefore,
facing the challenge of empowering the school in the processes of
formation in the digital culture and of the digital culture in schools, we
comprehend it is priority and relevant that the school express itself
collectively, as a collective and social practice, with the aim to rethink
itself as from the integration of the DICT in its pedagogical practice.
This means taking the school as a collective which is often asking itself,
which rethink its practices, which is concerned about its formative
needs and which in this process promotes its formation, as a social
institution. We recognize the formation as a process which, such as, is
given in certain cultural contexts, whether in formal spaces or not, but
all lapped in the culture. Thus, the formation is naturally linked to the
digital culture.

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