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With the ever-growing quantity of data available on the Internet and the development of new techniques to gain novel insights on the web of data, more attention must be given to the integration methods used. While the data extraction techniques have developed considerably with the rise of new automation tools that can be used even by persons without a software engineering background, the problem arises on integrating this data required for the analysis. In order to be able to gain valuable knowledge not only from a local perspective, but also from a global, enterprise-wide point of view and even from outside the borders of the organization, this data must first be integrated to a common storage capability of the business. The problem arises from the way most of the database management systems are designed, which in the early days of their development, it wasn’t anticipated such an explosion of information from so many heterogeneous data sources. Moreover, there is an ongoing race on tapping into new information in places unexplored before, thus gaining valuable competitive advantage over other businesses. The problem of data integration is even more challenging in the case of web-based data sources due to the high frequency of changes that occur, meaning that solutions which works today are not guaranteed to work properly tomorrow.

The “buzz” surrounding cryptocurrencies in online media last year has led to an increased interest in the topic as a possible source for investments. This paper aims to identify the key success factors for an m-learning cryptocurrency application that explains blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies for non-tech savvy people. The research methodology used for this paper applies the experimental method and probative logic. A survey was conducted among 128 participants, the target population being composed of people who have an interest in cryptocurrencies and who are involved in online crypto communities. The results of the study show that the people who invest in cryptocurrencies are usually those who have a high income and who possess other investment methods as well. When it comes to analyzing the mobile applications success factors, the study revealed that there are no significant differences between people who have cryptocurrency investments and those who do not in ranking mobile apps success factors. Also, besides cryptocurrency training the news and prices are among the most important features of an m-learning cryptocurrency application and on that account such an app must include them. The originality of this study comes from addressing an innovative topic as the research in this field is scarce. Furthermore, this paper raises awareness towards the necessity of educating people on this topic, on the need to research before investing in a specific project.

One of the key processes of an open University Information System concerns managing the student exchange activities. In this paper we will try to address the challenges regarding modelling and implementation when integrating such a process by crossing different information systems. Our approach will leverage SOA architecture by using BPM in order to structure and build the service orchestration level.

BPM initiatives and SOA approaches emerged and developed as distinct efforts although they could be perceived as the two sides of the same coin in the context of online business and information systems. Thus, inherently, their modeling perspectives met (or collided) and generated some frameworks and languages like SOAML or SOAMF. Starting from these standards and initiatives we will propose a methodological approach that could lead to a feasible implementation of web service integration in a formal Business Process context.

The user interface (UI) layer is considered one of the key components of software applications since it connects their end-users to functionalities. Well-engineered and robust software applications could eventually fail to be adopted due to a weak UI layer. In the current market, when creating sites, UI designers have to determine how to plan the best interface according to the devices of the users, namely desktops, laptops, tablets or smartphones. Having this in mind, the current paper aims to present the adaptive UIX Layer for a University Information SOA-Bus (UISB) – a topic discussed in previous works [1], [2]. In this respect, we reviewed the literature on responsive and adaptive web design in order to identify the best front-end approach to the UISB. According to our findings, there is a strong debate in the academic field as well in the IT business in what concerns UI design. Recent interests have shown that the new trend in drafting the front-end layer is choosing between a responsive and an adaptive design. While arguments provided by both sides have failed to ease the decision makers’ choices on what type of design to choose, we aim to bring some light on the subject by proposing different layers for the UISB.

The quality of the smartphone’s camera enables us to capture high quality pictures at a high resolution, so we can perform different types of recognition on these images. Face detection is one of these types of recognition that is very common in our society. We use it every day on Facebook to tag friends in our pictures. It is also used in video games alongside Kinect concept, or in security to allow the access to private places only to authorized persons. These are just some examples of using facial recognition, because in modern society, detection and facial recognition tend to surround us everywhere. The aim of this article is to create an appli-cation for smartphones that can recognize human faces. The main goal of this application is to grant access to certain areas or rooms only to certain authorized persons. For example, we can speak here of hospitals or educational institutions where there are rooms where only certain employees can enter. Of course, this type of application can cover a wide range of uses, such as helping people suffering from Alzheimer's to recognize the people they loved, to fill gaps persons who can’t remember the names of their relatives or for example to automatically capture the face of our own children when they smile.

Nowadays, architectural software systems are increasingly important because they can determine the success of the entire system. In this article we intend to rigorously analyze the most common types of systems architectures and present a personal opinion about the specifics of the university architecture. After analyzing monolithic architectures, SOA architecture and those of the micro- based services, we present specific issues and specific criteria for the university software systems. Each type of architecture is rundown and analyzed according to specific academic challenges. During the analysis, we took into account the factors that determine the success of each architecture and also the common causes of failure. At the end of the article, we objectively decide which architecture is best suited to be implemented in the university area.

During the last years, the evolution of mobile applications allowed the developers to become more and more creative. In this way, we can imagine many applications models with a real impact in the real life. In this article we are trying to present a case study for a monitoring sys-tem using the Android platform and the benefits of computer networks. We use the power of mobile sockets and mobile threads, integrating them in a complex architecture in order to ob-tain a real monitoring system. As an immediate application, we propose a baby monitoring sys-tems so that the children could be remotely supervised by their parents. The case study is based on an Android mobile client-server architecture and also uses the capabilities offered by the phone’s speaker and microphone. We intend to have a robust application and that’s why we in-itially preferred Network Service Discovery and Android P2P, but these functionalities are im-plemented starting with Android 4.1. So, we emulated all these functionalities by using a model based on sockets and server sockets.

The introduction of new materials as Power Point presentations are the most convenient way of teaching a course or to display a scientific paper. In order to support this function, most schools, universities, institutions, are equipped with projectors and computers. For controlling the presentation of the materials, the persons that are in charge with the presentation use, in most cases, both the keyboard of the computer as well as the mouse for the slides, thing that burdens, in a way, the direct communication (face to face) with the audience. Of course, the invention of the wireless mouse allowed a sort of freedom in controlling from the distance the digital materials. Although there seems to appear a certain impediment: in order to be used, the mouse requires to be placed on a flat surface. This article aims at creating a new application prototype that will manipulate, only through the means of a light-beam instrument (laser fascicle), both the actions of the mouse as well as some of the elements offered by the keyboard on a certain application or presentation. The light fascicle will be „connected” to a calculus system only through the images that were captured by a simple webcam.

Information and communication technologies are designed to support and anticipate the continuing changes of the information society, while outlining new economic, social and cultural dimensions. We see the growth of new business models whose aim is to remove traditional barriers and improve the value of goods and services. Information is a strategic resource and its manipulation raises new problems for all entities involved in the process. Information and communication technologies should be a stable support in managing the flow of data and support the integrity, confidentiality and availability. Concepts such as eBusiness, eCommerce, Software as a Service, Cloud Computing and Social Media are based on web technologies consisting of complex languages, protocols and standards, built around client-server architecture. One of the most used technologies in mobile applications are the Web Services defined as an application model supported by any operating system able to provide certain functionalities using Internet technologies to promote interoperability between various appli-cations and platforms. Web services use HTTP, XML, SSL, SMTP and SOAP, because their stability has proven over the years. Their functionalities are highly variable, with Web services applications exchange type, weather, arithmetic or authentication services. In this article we will talk about SOAP and REST architectures for web services in mobile applications and we will also provide some practical examples based on Android platform.