Philip Davies - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Philip Davies

Certainty Theory stands as a counterpoint to scientific theory. Whereas scientific theories creat... more Certainty Theory stands as a counterpoint to scientific theory. Whereas scientific theories create challengeable ideas put forward for continual testing and falsification, in the sense described by Popper, Certainty Theory creates unchallengeable statements that are not testable but which drive social change. While the contrast between Scientific Theory and Certainty Theory could not be greater, the synthesis of the two leads to an explanation of revolutionary change first proposed by Kuhn. Starting from a definition of certainties as those statements, viewpoints and opinions which are held to be unquestionably true, it follows they cannot be debated, since the willingness to debate them invalidates their certainty. I examine the consequences of Certainty Theory, through a series of hypotheses, which explain the rationale and driving force behind social and scientific change. These hypotheses are 1. Certainties are not the same as truth and are not apprehended through reason and argument but through belief and commitment, 2 The human mind needs certainties to function rationally, 3 Certainty markers are laid down by activists and pressure groups, 4 Certainties generate tribal followings, 5 Tribes fight for their certainty markers, 6 Allegiance to the tribe is demonstrated through the public act of 'certainty-alignment' (virtue signalling), 7 Society is created when the majority of people accept the certainty markers of the tribe, 8 Certainties inhibit discussion and devalue free speech, 9 Certainty markers have a lifecycle, 10 Certainty markers are eventually overthrown and replaced by revolution. These hypotheses provide a testable explanation of social events which are not otherwise well understood. Further I propose Certainty Theory as the missing link between Popper and Kuhn.

The three domains of values (good and bad), virtues (right and wrong) and verisimilitude (true an... more The three domains of values (good and bad), virtues (right and wrong) and verisimilitude (true and false) are shown to arise from relationships between the self and objects, groups or the world. Whereas value shown to be subjective and verisimilitude is shown to be objective, virtue is shown to be halfway between subjective and objective and created by group or majority definition.

2016 IEEE International Conference on Computer and Information Technology (CIT), 2016

Native Web communication protocols are the pivotal components of Web services, applications and s... more Native Web communication protocols are the pivotal components of Web services, applications and systems. In particular, HTTP is a de facto protocol standard used in almost all Web services and systems. Consequently, it is one of the crucial protocols responsible for the performance of Web services and systems. HTTP/1.1 has been successfully deployed in Web services and systems for the last two decades. However, one of the most significant issues with HTTP/1.1 is the Round Trip Time and Web latency. To resolve this issue, two successor protocols SPDY and HTTP/2 have been developed recently, with some studies suggesting that SPDY improved the performance of Web services and systems, whilst some did not find significant improvements in the performance. HTTP/2 is a relatively new protocol and has yet to be tested with any rigour. Therefore, it is important to investigate the effects of these two enhanced protocols SPDY and HTTP/2 on the performance of Web services and systems. This paper conducts a number of practical investigations to evaluate the performance of Web services and systems with and without the support of SPDY and HTTP/2 protocols at the client and server. This study investigates the impact of SPDY and HTTP/2 on the overall performance of Web services and systems from the end-user's perspective.

2016 10th International Conference on Innovative Mobile and Internet Services in Ubiquitous Computing (IMIS), 2016

Wireless remote patient monitoring has the scope to improve patient experience while enabling dat... more Wireless remote patient monitoring has the scope to improve patient experience while enabling data transmission to support effective patient care. Dash7 and ZigBee are potential wireless technologies which can facilitate this. Dash7 or ZigBee, when integrated with a mobile phone accompanied by the patient, can overcome the problem of range limitation imposed by traditional wireless patient monitoring solutions. A wireless remote monitoring system using integrated Dash7 or ZigBee and mobile phone technologies is proposed. Reliability is a key requirement in patient monitoring systems. Signal interference can affect the reliability of wireless systems. This paper investigates signal interference on Dash7 and ZigBee in a multitechnology environment. We further consider some of the the ethical implications of using Context Aware systems and their impact upon privacy and show that such tracking systems are ethically feasible but may require additional patient consent.

We examine some technological aspects of cloud computing, focusing on virtualization applied to v... more We examine some technological aspects of cloud computing, focusing on virtualization applied to various data types including multimedia and identify the benefits & security concerns for a modern IT infrastructure. An experiment to migrate a live company server consisting of Microsoft Exchange e-mail and file server to a cloud infrastructure is conducted. The initial findings are that each process step needed to overcome security issues of server migration. The writers will propose improved approaches for modelling cloud-hosted multimedia applications, semantics and abstract data models.

Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, 2019

The increasing number of vehicles in the UK is putting high levels of strain upon the motorway's ... more The increasing number of vehicles in the UK is putting high levels of strain upon the motorway's infrastructure. Smart Motorways have been implemented in the UK using smart technology to try and reduce congestion. To test systems before they are physically built they are simulated using objects models and GIS data. This paper has modelled a new smart traffic light system for a slip road joining a smart motorway. The smart traffic light models have been simulated alongside Driver Behavior models. The driver behavior models have been designed to validate that the smart traffic light system can adapt to continuously fluctuating traffic flow. The smart traffic light system has been successfully validated and reduced the number of congestion alerts by 80% on the smart motorway.

Identifying what the student really wants from their course provides a method of controlling the ... more Identifying what the student really wants from their course provides a method of controlling the learning process. We contend that the prime student driver is the achievement of their qualification by gaining marks and not learning itself. We examine the effect of tying attendance directly to the achievement of marks. It is found that attendance improves from around 60% to 98.5%. Further methods are discussed which might have a direct affect on retention and achievement based on the identification of student wants

2017 31st International Conference on Advanced Information Networking and Applications Workshops (WAINA), 2017

This work explores the theoretical and practical performances of the two most recent IEEE standar... more This work explores the theoretical and practical performances of the two most recent IEEE standards, 802.11n and 802.11ac. Experiments were conducted to measure data rates to characterize performance effects of distance and interference between different channels. We conclude that the majority of test cases show 802.11ac achieved higher data rates than its predecessor, as expected. However, performance of 802.11ac decreased at a significantly faster rate with increasing distance from client to AP when compared to the decreasing performance experienced with 802.11n. Furthermore, 802.11n consistently achieved real data rates much closer to the theoretical data rate than did 802.11ac.

2015 IEEE 29th International Conference on Advanced Information Networking and Applications Workshops, 2015

System requirements for an intelligent, mobile blended learning environment (m-Learning) have bee... more System requirements for an intelligent, mobile blended learning environment (m-Learning) have been elicited. Theories of ontology modelling are developed. A context-aware adaption engine using explicit and implicit knowledge of the student profile model are proposed. The context in which learning occurs is shown to be represented by a set of functions that are contextually dependent on learning modelled as a multi connected ontology. The evaluated prototype implementation is a partially context aware m-Learning presentation system. It is concluded that the m-learning environment is beneficial to programme outcomes, mainly for students who learn according to the heutagogical model. Further work is underway to capture m-Learning requirements better suited to students employing the pedagogic learning model.

We investigate the requirements for an adaptive learning system. A conceptual model is explored w... more We investigate the requirements for an adaptive learning system. A conceptual model is explored which links together a student model, a tutor model and a knowledge model. We further consider the use of an adaptive engine which allows the system to respond to the needs of individual students, present learning objects according to the preferences of individual tutor styles, allows automatic self-exploration at the level of student maturity and encodes the curriculum in a form that is accessible to the adaptive engine. Our model accurately represents both the structure and content of learning objects in contrast with less structured data models implicit in ontological hierarchies.

Foreword The Fourth International Conferences on Advances in Multimedia [MMEDIA 2012], held betwe... more Foreword The Fourth International Conferences on Advances in Multimedia [MMEDIA 2012], held between April 29th and May 4th, 2012 in Chamonix / Mont Blanc, France, was an international forum for researchers, students, and professionals where to present recent research results on advances in multimedia, and mobile and ubiquitous multimedia. MMEDIA 2012 brought together experts from both academia and industry for the exchange of ideas and discussion on future challenges in multimedia fundamentals, mobile and ubiquitous multimedia, multimedia ontology, multimedia user-centered perception, multimedia services and applications, and mobile multimedia. The rapid growth of information on the Web, its ubiquity and pervasiveness, makes the www the biggest repository. While the volume of information may be useful, it creates new challenges for information retrieval, identification, understanding, selection, etc. Investigating new forms of platforms, tools, principles offered by Semantic Web ope...

Starting from two propositions, 1. The observer is part of reality and 2. Observers are independe... more Starting from two propositions, 1. The observer is part of reality and 2. Observers are independent of each other, we develop an approach to Hume’s problem of scepticism. We show that despite all knowledge coming through subjective perceptions we can nevertheless construct objective or transitive knowledge through relationships between entities, rather than the entities themselves. We posited that some phenomena of the real world are transitive and some are not. Transitive phenomena are transferable between observers without change and are thus independent of observation. Transitive phenomena are relative quantities. Relative quantities are observational invariants and form the building blocks of our objective world. We show objective knowledge is developed from relative quantities whereas subjective knowledge is rooted in absolute quantities. The recognition that transitive quantities are invariants of observation gives them an independence from which we can construct an objective ...

In this paper we are concerned with the ethical implications of using Context aware RFID for Asse... more In this paper we are concerned with the ethical implications of using Context aware RFID for Asset management. We consider work place use of RFID to manage assets and its impact upon staff privacy. We conduct surveys and interviews to determine staff views on closely monitored asset management. We discover that in the main staff are happy with this kind of monitoring of equipment using RFID systems. The conclusion shows that functional asset maintenance is feasible conceptually and ethically.

Requirements elicitation for a multimedia presentation system for e-learning led the writers to p... more Requirements elicitation for a multimedia presentation system for e-learning led the writers to propose a video segmentation process that adapts learning materials through online interventions between the student and tutor. The tutor tailors audio/visual segments by dynamically inserting new fragments that provide supplementary updates in response to questions from students. A survey of advanced adaptive approaches revealed that processing of manually or automatically generated metadata would provide better adaptation. Automated use of metadata requires storage and processing of context dependent ontology hierarchies that describe the semantics of the curriculum. Data and semantic models needed to adaptively process multimedia presentations in real-time are derived. The design models are implemented using HTML, XML and Flash. The authors conclude that the use of context-based rules that process meta-level descriptions of segmented multimedia components stored according to a bounded ...

Proceedings of the 2020 3rd International Conference on Big Data Technologies, 2020

Business process improvement evaluation enables performance indicators to be used alongside proce... more Business process improvement evaluation enables performance indicators to be used alongside process improvement techniques in order to quantitatively compare measurement information between the as-is and to-be processes. Limitations of the present methods of business process improvement indicate there is scope for looking at the problem in a different way. Business processes are commonly modelled as diagrams which at their fundamental level are complex networks. This suggests the question as to whether complex network analysis (CNA) has anything to contribute to business process improvement. We develop a technique of projecting a business process model onto the subspace of a complex network and identify the measurable concepts that can be useful in business process improvement. The measurable concepts from CNA are combined with Time and Cost metrics from the simulation technique to visualize and track improvement efforts and satisfy improvement requirements.

The use of multimedia presentations within learning environments is described and guidelines for ... more The use of multimedia presentations within learning environments is described and guidelines for the design of good E-Learning systems are identified. It is argued that a linear sequential presentation of knowledge segments is effective, but that the user is provided with optional links to relevant segments during the presentation. The synchronisation of multiple media is considered and the design of a prototype E-Learning system is discussed. The segmentation of material is then discussed and how the information can be stored in a data repository consider with respect to the requirement of accessing linked segments. Finally, the nature of adaptivity is discussed leading to a discussion of the salient parts of an adaptive multimedia presentation system.

In this paper we describe a new family of algebras which in the case of n = 2 reduces to the Ferm... more In this paper we describe a new family of algebras which in the case of n = 2 reduces to the Fermion algebra and in the limiting case of n tends to infinity reduces to the Boson algebra. These generalized algebras describe particles which obey a generalized exclusion principle, limiting state occupation to (n-1) and obeying a generalized particle statistics.

We discuss the relation between the q-number approach to quantum mechanics suggested by Dirac and... more We discuss the relation between the q-number approach to quantum mechanics suggested by Dirac and the notion of “pregeometry” introduced by Wheeler. By associating the q-numbers with the elements of an algebra and regarding the primitive idempotents as “generalized points”, we suggest an approach that may make it possible to dispense with an a priori given space-time manifold. In this

ArXiv, 2011

Ontologies have been used for the purpose of bringing system and consistency to subject and knowl... more Ontologies have been used for the purpose of bringing system and consistency to subject and knowledge areas. We present a criticism of the present mathematical structure of ontologies and indicate that they are not sufficient in their present form to represent the many different valid expressions of a subject knowledge domain. We propose an alternative structure for ontologies based on a richer multi connected complex network which contains the present ontology structure as a projection. We demonstrate how this new multi connected ontology should be represented as an asymmetric probability matrix.

The purpose of this paper is to argue that (1) that the hard problem of consciousness is concerne... more The purpose of this paper is to argue that (1) that the hard problem of consciousness is concerned with subjective experience; (2) subjective experience arises from the measure of absolute quantities directly by our senses; (3) objective experience, on the other hand, arises from the measure of relative quantities which are invariant to perception; (4) only relative quantities can be shared with others; (5) consequently the hard problem is forever locked inside the head of each individual and can never be discussed, explained or shared with another. (6) Accordingly, no theory can, in principle, be formulated to explain it. What is the problem? David Chalmers divides the problem of consciousness into the easy problems and the hard problem [ CITATION Dav96 \l 2057 ][ CITATION Dav10 \l 2057 ]. The easy problems are not easy in the sense that the answers are obvious or readily solved. Rather they are easy in the sense that there exists, at least in principle, an approach that can be taken and a way they can be solved even if the route is long and tedious. The hard problem on the other hand not only has no obvious solution, it doesn't even have a suggested mechanism for how it could be solved. The conceptual structure to approach the problem doesn't exist. The easy problems concern questions such as "How is a particular action explained by neural mechanics?", "how is behaviour is controlled?", "how are mental states described?" or "how can we model brain function?" etc. These kinds of problems are open to methodological approach and continue to be investigated. The hard problem of consciousness, says Chalmers, is the inner problem of experience and includes questions such as, "where does the quality of deep blue come from?", "How do we explain the sensation of hearing middle c?" and "Where does the rich experience of inner life come from?"[ CITATION Dav96 \l 2057 ] These two problem types, the hard and the easy problems, are often confused. There is sometimes a claim to solve the hard problem when all the time it is only the easy problem which is being addressed. Chalmers identifies this confusion and expresses his own frustration at it. "It is common to see a paper on consciousness begin with an invocation of the mystery of consciousness, noting the strange intangibility and ineffability of subjectivity and worrying that so far we have no theory of the phenomenon. Here the topic is clearly the hard problem-the problem of experience. In the second half of the paper the tone becomes more optimistic and the author's own theory of consciousness is outlined. Upon examination this theory turns out to be a theory of the more straightforward phenomena-of reportability, of introspective access or whatever. At the close, the author declares that consciousness has turned out to be tractable after all, but the reader is left feeling like the victim of bait-and-switch. The hard problem remains untouched." [ CITATION Dav10 \l 2057 ] This paper is about the hard problem. It has nothing to say about the easy problems but what it does say is not encouraging or hopeful. The claim here is that the hard problem is intractable and will forever remain intractable. It is intractable in the sense that it is impossible to make experience objective and if it cannot be made objective it cannot be shared with another and cannot be the subject of dialogue, discussion or theory because a solution is impossible in principle. It is locked inside the head of each individual and can never be released. We argue that the only things which can be objectively known are the relationships between things. The hard problem is not about the relation between things but "things as they are" and these are absolutes which cannot be objectively known.

Certainty Theory stands as a counterpoint to scientific theory. Whereas scientific theories creat... more Certainty Theory stands as a counterpoint to scientific theory. Whereas scientific theories create challengeable ideas put forward for continual testing and falsification, in the sense described by Popper, Certainty Theory creates unchallengeable statements that are not testable but which drive social change. While the contrast between Scientific Theory and Certainty Theory could not be greater, the synthesis of the two leads to an explanation of revolutionary change first proposed by Kuhn. Starting from a definition of certainties as those statements, viewpoints and opinions which are held to be unquestionably true, it follows they cannot be debated, since the willingness to debate them invalidates their certainty. I examine the consequences of Certainty Theory, through a series of hypotheses, which explain the rationale and driving force behind social and scientific change. These hypotheses are 1. Certainties are not the same as truth and are not apprehended through reason and argument but through belief and commitment, 2 The human mind needs certainties to function rationally, 3 Certainty markers are laid down by activists and pressure groups, 4 Certainties generate tribal followings, 5 Tribes fight for their certainty markers, 6 Allegiance to the tribe is demonstrated through the public act of 'certainty-alignment' (virtue signalling), 7 Society is created when the majority of people accept the certainty markers of the tribe, 8 Certainties inhibit discussion and devalue free speech, 9 Certainty markers have a lifecycle, 10 Certainty markers are eventually overthrown and replaced by revolution. These hypotheses provide a testable explanation of social events which are not otherwise well understood. Further I propose Certainty Theory as the missing link between Popper and Kuhn.

The three domains of values (good and bad), virtues (right and wrong) and verisimilitude (true an... more The three domains of values (good and bad), virtues (right and wrong) and verisimilitude (true and false) are shown to arise from relationships between the self and objects, groups or the world. Whereas value shown to be subjective and verisimilitude is shown to be objective, virtue is shown to be halfway between subjective and objective and created by group or majority definition.

2016 IEEE International Conference on Computer and Information Technology (CIT), 2016

Native Web communication protocols are the pivotal components of Web services, applications and s... more Native Web communication protocols are the pivotal components of Web services, applications and systems. In particular, HTTP is a de facto protocol standard used in almost all Web services and systems. Consequently, it is one of the crucial protocols responsible for the performance of Web services and systems. HTTP/1.1 has been successfully deployed in Web services and systems for the last two decades. However, one of the most significant issues with HTTP/1.1 is the Round Trip Time and Web latency. To resolve this issue, two successor protocols SPDY and HTTP/2 have been developed recently, with some studies suggesting that SPDY improved the performance of Web services and systems, whilst some did not find significant improvements in the performance. HTTP/2 is a relatively new protocol and has yet to be tested with any rigour. Therefore, it is important to investigate the effects of these two enhanced protocols SPDY and HTTP/2 on the performance of Web services and systems. This paper conducts a number of practical investigations to evaluate the performance of Web services and systems with and without the support of SPDY and HTTP/2 protocols at the client and server. This study investigates the impact of SPDY and HTTP/2 on the overall performance of Web services and systems from the end-user's perspective.

2016 10th International Conference on Innovative Mobile and Internet Services in Ubiquitous Computing (IMIS), 2016

Wireless remote patient monitoring has the scope to improve patient experience while enabling dat... more Wireless remote patient monitoring has the scope to improve patient experience while enabling data transmission to support effective patient care. Dash7 and ZigBee are potential wireless technologies which can facilitate this. Dash7 or ZigBee, when integrated with a mobile phone accompanied by the patient, can overcome the problem of range limitation imposed by traditional wireless patient monitoring solutions. A wireless remote monitoring system using integrated Dash7 or ZigBee and mobile phone technologies is proposed. Reliability is a key requirement in patient monitoring systems. Signal interference can affect the reliability of wireless systems. This paper investigates signal interference on Dash7 and ZigBee in a multitechnology environment. We further consider some of the the ethical implications of using Context Aware systems and their impact upon privacy and show that such tracking systems are ethically feasible but may require additional patient consent.

We examine some technological aspects of cloud computing, focusing on virtualization applied to v... more We examine some technological aspects of cloud computing, focusing on virtualization applied to various data types including multimedia and identify the benefits & security concerns for a modern IT infrastructure. An experiment to migrate a live company server consisting of Microsoft Exchange e-mail and file server to a cloud infrastructure is conducted. The initial findings are that each process step needed to overcome security issues of server migration. The writers will propose improved approaches for modelling cloud-hosted multimedia applications, semantics and abstract data models.

Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, 2019

The increasing number of vehicles in the UK is putting high levels of strain upon the motorway's ... more The increasing number of vehicles in the UK is putting high levels of strain upon the motorway's infrastructure. Smart Motorways have been implemented in the UK using smart technology to try and reduce congestion. To test systems before they are physically built they are simulated using objects models and GIS data. This paper has modelled a new smart traffic light system for a slip road joining a smart motorway. The smart traffic light models have been simulated alongside Driver Behavior models. The driver behavior models have been designed to validate that the smart traffic light system can adapt to continuously fluctuating traffic flow. The smart traffic light system has been successfully validated and reduced the number of congestion alerts by 80% on the smart motorway.

Identifying what the student really wants from their course provides a method of controlling the ... more Identifying what the student really wants from their course provides a method of controlling the learning process. We contend that the prime student driver is the achievement of their qualification by gaining marks and not learning itself. We examine the effect of tying attendance directly to the achievement of marks. It is found that attendance improves from around 60% to 98.5%. Further methods are discussed which might have a direct affect on retention and achievement based on the identification of student wants

2017 31st International Conference on Advanced Information Networking and Applications Workshops (WAINA), 2017

This work explores the theoretical and practical performances of the two most recent IEEE standar... more This work explores the theoretical and practical performances of the two most recent IEEE standards, 802.11n and 802.11ac. Experiments were conducted to measure data rates to characterize performance effects of distance and interference between different channels. We conclude that the majority of test cases show 802.11ac achieved higher data rates than its predecessor, as expected. However, performance of 802.11ac decreased at a significantly faster rate with increasing distance from client to AP when compared to the decreasing performance experienced with 802.11n. Furthermore, 802.11n consistently achieved real data rates much closer to the theoretical data rate than did 802.11ac.

2015 IEEE 29th International Conference on Advanced Information Networking and Applications Workshops, 2015

System requirements for an intelligent, mobile blended learning environment (m-Learning) have bee... more System requirements for an intelligent, mobile blended learning environment (m-Learning) have been elicited. Theories of ontology modelling are developed. A context-aware adaption engine using explicit and implicit knowledge of the student profile model are proposed. The context in which learning occurs is shown to be represented by a set of functions that are contextually dependent on learning modelled as a multi connected ontology. The evaluated prototype implementation is a partially context aware m-Learning presentation system. It is concluded that the m-learning environment is beneficial to programme outcomes, mainly for students who learn according to the heutagogical model. Further work is underway to capture m-Learning requirements better suited to students employing the pedagogic learning model.

We investigate the requirements for an adaptive learning system. A conceptual model is explored w... more We investigate the requirements for an adaptive learning system. A conceptual model is explored which links together a student model, a tutor model and a knowledge model. We further consider the use of an adaptive engine which allows the system to respond to the needs of individual students, present learning objects according to the preferences of individual tutor styles, allows automatic self-exploration at the level of student maturity and encodes the curriculum in a form that is accessible to the adaptive engine. Our model accurately represents both the structure and content of learning objects in contrast with less structured data models implicit in ontological hierarchies.

Foreword The Fourth International Conferences on Advances in Multimedia [MMEDIA 2012], held betwe... more Foreword The Fourth International Conferences on Advances in Multimedia [MMEDIA 2012], held between April 29th and May 4th, 2012 in Chamonix / Mont Blanc, France, was an international forum for researchers, students, and professionals where to present recent research results on advances in multimedia, and mobile and ubiquitous multimedia. MMEDIA 2012 brought together experts from both academia and industry for the exchange of ideas and discussion on future challenges in multimedia fundamentals, mobile and ubiquitous multimedia, multimedia ontology, multimedia user-centered perception, multimedia services and applications, and mobile multimedia. The rapid growth of information on the Web, its ubiquity and pervasiveness, makes the www the biggest repository. While the volume of information may be useful, it creates new challenges for information retrieval, identification, understanding, selection, etc. Investigating new forms of platforms, tools, principles offered by Semantic Web ope...

Starting from two propositions, 1. The observer is part of reality and 2. Observers are independe... more Starting from two propositions, 1. The observer is part of reality and 2. Observers are independent of each other, we develop an approach to Hume’s problem of scepticism. We show that despite all knowledge coming through subjective perceptions we can nevertheless construct objective or transitive knowledge through relationships between entities, rather than the entities themselves. We posited that some phenomena of the real world are transitive and some are not. Transitive phenomena are transferable between observers without change and are thus independent of observation. Transitive phenomena are relative quantities. Relative quantities are observational invariants and form the building blocks of our objective world. We show objective knowledge is developed from relative quantities whereas subjective knowledge is rooted in absolute quantities. The recognition that transitive quantities are invariants of observation gives them an independence from which we can construct an objective ...

In this paper we are concerned with the ethical implications of using Context aware RFID for Asse... more In this paper we are concerned with the ethical implications of using Context aware RFID for Asset management. We consider work place use of RFID to manage assets and its impact upon staff privacy. We conduct surveys and interviews to determine staff views on closely monitored asset management. We discover that in the main staff are happy with this kind of monitoring of equipment using RFID systems. The conclusion shows that functional asset maintenance is feasible conceptually and ethically.

Requirements elicitation for a multimedia presentation system for e-learning led the writers to p... more Requirements elicitation for a multimedia presentation system for e-learning led the writers to propose a video segmentation process that adapts learning materials through online interventions between the student and tutor. The tutor tailors audio/visual segments by dynamically inserting new fragments that provide supplementary updates in response to questions from students. A survey of advanced adaptive approaches revealed that processing of manually or automatically generated metadata would provide better adaptation. Automated use of metadata requires storage and processing of context dependent ontology hierarchies that describe the semantics of the curriculum. Data and semantic models needed to adaptively process multimedia presentations in real-time are derived. The design models are implemented using HTML, XML and Flash. The authors conclude that the use of context-based rules that process meta-level descriptions of segmented multimedia components stored according to a bounded ...

Proceedings of the 2020 3rd International Conference on Big Data Technologies, 2020

Business process improvement evaluation enables performance indicators to be used alongside proce... more Business process improvement evaluation enables performance indicators to be used alongside process improvement techniques in order to quantitatively compare measurement information between the as-is and to-be processes. Limitations of the present methods of business process improvement indicate there is scope for looking at the problem in a different way. Business processes are commonly modelled as diagrams which at their fundamental level are complex networks. This suggests the question as to whether complex network analysis (CNA) has anything to contribute to business process improvement. We develop a technique of projecting a business process model onto the subspace of a complex network and identify the measurable concepts that can be useful in business process improvement. The measurable concepts from CNA are combined with Time and Cost metrics from the simulation technique to visualize and track improvement efforts and satisfy improvement requirements.

The use of multimedia presentations within learning environments is described and guidelines for ... more The use of multimedia presentations within learning environments is described and guidelines for the design of good E-Learning systems are identified. It is argued that a linear sequential presentation of knowledge segments is effective, but that the user is provided with optional links to relevant segments during the presentation. The synchronisation of multiple media is considered and the design of a prototype E-Learning system is discussed. The segmentation of material is then discussed and how the information can be stored in a data repository consider with respect to the requirement of accessing linked segments. Finally, the nature of adaptivity is discussed leading to a discussion of the salient parts of an adaptive multimedia presentation system.

In this paper we describe a new family of algebras which in the case of n = 2 reduces to the Ferm... more In this paper we describe a new family of algebras which in the case of n = 2 reduces to the Fermion algebra and in the limiting case of n tends to infinity reduces to the Boson algebra. These generalized algebras describe particles which obey a generalized exclusion principle, limiting state occupation to (n-1) and obeying a generalized particle statistics.

We discuss the relation between the q-number approach to quantum mechanics suggested by Dirac and... more We discuss the relation between the q-number approach to quantum mechanics suggested by Dirac and the notion of “pregeometry” introduced by Wheeler. By associating the q-numbers with the elements of an algebra and regarding the primitive idempotents as “generalized points”, we suggest an approach that may make it possible to dispense with an a priori given space-time manifold. In this

ArXiv, 2011

Ontologies have been used for the purpose of bringing system and consistency to subject and knowl... more Ontologies have been used for the purpose of bringing system and consistency to subject and knowledge areas. We present a criticism of the present mathematical structure of ontologies and indicate that they are not sufficient in their present form to represent the many different valid expressions of a subject knowledge domain. We propose an alternative structure for ontologies based on a richer multi connected complex network which contains the present ontology structure as a projection. We demonstrate how this new multi connected ontology should be represented as an asymmetric probability matrix.

The purpose of this paper is to argue that (1) that the hard problem of consciousness is concerne... more The purpose of this paper is to argue that (1) that the hard problem of consciousness is concerned with subjective experience; (2) subjective experience arises from the measure of absolute quantities directly by our senses; (3) objective experience, on the other hand, arises from the measure of relative quantities which are invariant to perception; (4) only relative quantities can be shared with others; (5) consequently the hard problem is forever locked inside the head of each individual and can never be discussed, explained or shared with another. (6) Accordingly, no theory can, in principle, be formulated to explain it. What is the problem? David Chalmers divides the problem of consciousness into the easy problems and the hard problem [ CITATION Dav96 \l 2057 ][ CITATION Dav10 \l 2057 ]. The easy problems are not easy in the sense that the answers are obvious or readily solved. Rather they are easy in the sense that there exists, at least in principle, an approach that can be taken and a way they can be solved even if the route is long and tedious. The hard problem on the other hand not only has no obvious solution, it doesn't even have a suggested mechanism for how it could be solved. The conceptual structure to approach the problem doesn't exist. The easy problems concern questions such as "How is a particular action explained by neural mechanics?", "how is behaviour is controlled?", "how are mental states described?" or "how can we model brain function?" etc. These kinds of problems are open to methodological approach and continue to be investigated. The hard problem of consciousness, says Chalmers, is the inner problem of experience and includes questions such as, "where does the quality of deep blue come from?", "How do we explain the sensation of hearing middle c?" and "Where does the rich experience of inner life come from?"[ CITATION Dav96 \l 2057 ] These two problem types, the hard and the easy problems, are often confused. There is sometimes a claim to solve the hard problem when all the time it is only the easy problem which is being addressed. Chalmers identifies this confusion and expresses his own frustration at it. "It is common to see a paper on consciousness begin with an invocation of the mystery of consciousness, noting the strange intangibility and ineffability of subjectivity and worrying that so far we have no theory of the phenomenon. Here the topic is clearly the hard problem-the problem of experience. In the second half of the paper the tone becomes more optimistic and the author's own theory of consciousness is outlined. Upon examination this theory turns out to be a theory of the more straightforward phenomena-of reportability, of introspective access or whatever. At the close, the author declares that consciousness has turned out to be tractable after all, but the reader is left feeling like the victim of bait-and-switch. The hard problem remains untouched." [ CITATION Dav10 \l 2057 ] This paper is about the hard problem. It has nothing to say about the easy problems but what it does say is not encouraging or hopeful. The claim here is that the hard problem is intractable and will forever remain intractable. It is intractable in the sense that it is impossible to make experience objective and if it cannot be made objective it cannot be shared with another and cannot be the subject of dialogue, discussion or theory because a solution is impossible in principle. It is locked inside the head of each individual and can never be released. We argue that the only things which can be objectively known are the relationships between things. The hard problem is not about the relation between things but "things as they are" and these are absolutes which cannot be objectively known.

This paper makes the case that a collective partition is created whenever people are treated on t... more This paper makes the case that a collective partition is created whenever people are treated on the basis of their group characteristics rather than as individuals. The argument is that the use of group characteristics is a fundamental error and the major cause of collective human suffering. The argument is supported by a series of historical examples illustrating the point that treating people as members of group partitions society, antagonises people and fosters hostility. Present day collective partitions are identified and the language of "oppressors" and "oppressed" shown to be the main driver of group partitioning. Suggestions are given as to why group partitions are thought to be moral and beneficial when they are in fact the opposite. Several solutions to the problem of collective partitioning are given and methods for its dismantling are proposed.

We review the public accreditation reports of 11 Chiropractic institutions which were evaluated b... more We review the public accreditation reports of 11 Chiropractic institutions which were evaluated by the European Council on Chiropractic Education and reveal themes which are reflected in the outcomes of the reports. These themes arise from the analysis of key areas of commendations, recommendations, and causes for concern. The identification of these themes is advantageous to institutions as they provide not only a guide for good practice but also an alert against those issues which are the most common problems and allow institutions to be proactive in addressing them. We conclude with two checklists to enable institutions to quickly determine whether they have avoided the common errors and what they might consider doing to take them beyond merely acceptable standards.

The purpose of this paper is to argue that (1) that the hard problem of consciousness is concerne... more The purpose of this paper is to argue that (1) that the hard problem of consciousness is concerned with subjective experience; (2) subjective experience arises from the measure of absolute quantities directly by our senses; (3) objective experience, on the other hand, arises from the measure of relative quantities which are invariant to perception; (4) only relative quantities can be shared with others; (5) consequently the hard problem is forever locked inside the head of each individual and can never be discussed, explained or shared with another. (6) Accordingly, no theory can, in principle, be formulated to explain it.

Starting from two propositions, 1. The observer is part of reality and 2. Observers are independe... more Starting from two propositions, 1. The observer is part of reality and 2. Observers are independent of each other, we develop an approach to Hume's problem of scepticism. We show that despite all knowledge coming through subjective perceptions we can nevertheless construct objective or transitive knowledge through relationships between entities, rather than the entities themselves. We posited that some phenomena of the real world are transitive and some are not. Transitive phenomena are transferable between observers without change and are thus independent of observation. Transitive phenomena are relative quantities (,) Relative quantities are observational invariants and form the building blocks of our objective world. We show objective knowledge is developed from relative quantities whereas subjective knowledge is rooted in absolute quantities. The recognition that transitive quantities are invariants of observation gives them an independence from which we can construct an objective world.