Ronald J. Vetter’s research while affiliated with University of North Carolina Wilmington and other places

We introduce GridNexus, a graphical system for creating and executing scientific workflows in a grid environment 1. . GridNexus allows the user to assemble complex processes involving data retrieval, analysis and visualization by building a directed acyclic graph in a visual environment. Workflows in GridNexus are described by a script written in a language called JXPL. The script can be executed either locally or in a remote managed-job environment. GridNexus enables the composition of larger software modules from smaller ones to build very complex tasks and separates the graphical user interface (GUI) from execution of the workflow. This increases system flexibility while retaining interactive capabilities. We compare our approach with that of similar projects, and provide an assessment of the system by highlighting two real-world scientific applications that have taken advantage of the GridNexus environment.

The lessons learnt to implement metadata standard for learning objects from iLumina digital library are discussed. The iLumina digital library funded by the National Science Foundation, contains undergraduate teaching materials in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. To assist with the placement or resources within iLumina, three levels of taxonomies, discipline, subject, and topic are created. Decision regarding implementation of the metadata elements and associated vocabularies are influenced by the fact that responsibility for cataloging would eventually shift from trained catalogers to less-experienced submitters of resources.

A convergence of technologies is giving small computing platforms, such as the pocket PC the ability to support telecommunications, audio and video applications, mathematical computations, word processing, electronic spreadsheets, and standard PDA functions. Wrapped into a single device, the handheld can replace all the traditional electronic hardware students commonly carry in their backpacks. Unfortunately, few high-quality educational applications are currently available for handhelds, especially in mathematics and science. The authors' extensive experience with commercially available and homegrown software suggests that using handhelds engages students more fully. Yet handheld technology also has many shortcomings. To address these deficiencies, they are developing a mobile learning environment designed to foster collaboration in a virtual learning community.

Advances in e-commerce have resulted in significant progress towards strategies, requirements, and development of e-commerce applications. However, nearly all e-commerce applications envisioned and developed so far assume fixed or stationary users with ...

Advances in e-commerce have resulted in significant progress towards strategies, requirements, and development of e-commerce applications. However, nearly all e-commerce applications envisioned and developed so far assume fixed or stationary users with wired infrastructure. We envision many new e-commerce applications that will be possible and significantly benefit from emerging wireless and mobile networks. To allow designers, developers, and researchers to strategize and create mobile commerce applications, we propose a four- level integrated framework for mobile commerce. Since there are potentially an unlimited number of mobile commerce applications, we attempt to identify several important classes of applications such as mobile financial applications, mobile inventory management, proactive service management, product location and search, and wireless re-engineering. We discuss how to successfully define, architect, and implement the necessary hardware/software infrastructure in support of mobile commerce. Also, to make mobile commerce applications a reality, we address networking requirements, discuss support from wireless carriers, and present some open research problems.

Many states-and more particularly rural states-have trou-ble funding technology in education even when state tech-nology coordinators know the benefit each technology initia-tive will provide to its students. Furthermore, many teachers lack training in computer technology, and they do not have the time, resources, or opportunity to explore it on their own. In the case of North Dakota, a partial answer to the funding question came from a $287,000 grant to North Dakota State University's School of Education from the USWEST Foun-dation in 1995. The grant was used to fund a multifaceted project designed to assist K-12 teachers integrate multimedia educational tools into their day-to-day teaching (Hosskisson & Stammen, 1997; Nelson & Sologuk, 1996).

First Page of the Article

Electronic commerce continues to see phenomenal growth, but so far most e-commerce development involves wired infrastructures. The authors believe emerging wireless and mobile networks will provide new avenues for growth, creating new opportunities in mobile commerce. According to the GartnerGroup, a market research firm, by 2004 at least 40 percent of consumer-to-business e-commerce will come from smart phones using the wireless application protocol (WAP). Based on a study by the Wireless Data and Computing Service, a division of Strategy Analytics, the annual mobile commerce market may rise to $200 billion by 2004. The authors provide a mobile commerce framework to illustrate potential applications such as mobile inventory management, product location and search, proactive service management, and mobile entertainment. They also describe the wireless user and networking infrastructure, emerging W3C standards, and the open and global WAP specification