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This study demonstrated how computer-mediated communication (CMC) threaded discussions are affected by the level of interactivity in an Asynchronous Learning Network (ALN). An aggregate measure of thread depth was used to identify factors that contribute to increased interactivity. Observations from multiple sections of an online course using this measure provided support for the Community of Inquiry Model. It was shown that the number of instructor messages in a single thread was highly correlated to increased interactivity. A strategy for achieving higher levels of interactivity was proposed and shown to be effective in a second set of online courses. Guided by the Community of Inquiry Model, an implementation approach was developed using inquiry-based learning tailored for an ALN. Keywords: Asynchronous Learning Networks, Computer-Mediated Communication, Integrative Complexity Theory, Community of Inquiry, Inquiry-based Learning, INTRODUCTION There is a consistently observed pattern by online instructors that some students, in order to comply with course requirements for minimum involvement in asynchronous learning networks (ALNs), will post [...]

A vital necessity for any kind of inertial navigation system (INS) is the alignment of its axis with the vehicle body frame (VBF). Civilian vehicle navigation has strict requirements with respect to cost, size, reliability, and ease of implementation of the system. Microelectromechanical system (MEMS) inertial sensors have satisfied the cost and size requirements for civilian vehicle navigation; however, reliability and ease of implementation of these low-cost and miniaturized navigation systems are still parts of major research and investigation. This paper focuses on an important aspect of the ease of implementation for inertial sensors. From a civilian user perspective, accurately aligning the inertial system with respect to the vehicle, before every use, is not a desirable quality for a portable navigation system. In addition, it is not realistic to assume that even a careful user can achieve good alignment accuracy of the system. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of misaligmnent errors that will produce errors in initial alignment and affect the navigation accuracy for two different inertial systems. The inertial systems are classified according to the number of sensors used in the system. The first system consists of three gyros and three accelerometers [full inertial measurement unit (IMU)], whereas the second system only has one gyro and two horizontal accelerometers (partial IMU). Index Terms--Alignment, Global Positioning System (GPS) and inertial navigation system (INS) integration, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) inertial sensors, portable navigation system.

A computer-mediated deception study features an experiment involving an interactive interview of deceitful applicants for a fictitious scholarship. The findings suggest that interviewers, who used interactive media probe, were able to detect lie, irrespective of the communication media people used.

Studies of online environments estimate that the majority of members in online forums do not contribute to ongoing discussions and only observe or 'lurk' (e.g., Nonnecke & Preece, 2000). Despite the prevalence of this form of information acquisition, direct comparisons between the experiences of these 'observers' (or 'lurkers') and active participants are lacking. The present research draws on previous research examining perceptual differences between participants and observers as well as social information processing theory (Walther, 1992) and reports on three studies examining such differences in computer-mediated communication (CMC). Study 1 examined the effects in the context of interpersonal interaction in synchronous CIVIC. Study 2 examined the effects in the context of group interaction in both synchronous and asynchronous CMC. Study 3 replicated and extended the results of the previous studies across two time periods. The overall results (a) support the presence of participant--observer differences in CMC, (b) show that the presence of anticipated future interaction moderates said differences, and (c) provide mixed evidence that participant and observer interpretations of relational messages converge over time. Keywords: Social Information Processing Theory; Participant--Observer Effects; Relational Communication; Computer-Mediated Communication

Little attention has been paid to knowledge as a context of computer-mediated communication (CMC) and to differences in meaning attributed to the same message when located in different contexts. Drawing on concepts in anthropological usage and on those used in other disciplines, especially the constructs of 'common ground' and 'relational cultures,' this paper addresses that gap. It examines in instant messaging, a particular mode of computer-mediated communication, how individuals with different kinds of knowledge interpret online interaction. KEY WORDS: Common ground; Computer-mediated communication; Context; Instant message (IM); Online interaction; Relational culture

Digitization of AM radio systems promises a revival of the currently underutilized broadcasting bands below 30 MHz. Its prospects are near-FM sound quality, automatic tuning, and interference-free reception. Using skywave propagation in some of the bands, a potentially very large area can be covered by a single transmitter if the appropriate frequency and power are chosen. In this paper, we compare mobile and stationary reception at various frequencies, investigate the correlation between solar sunspot activity and reception quality, and analyze how non-audio data service can efficiently be broadcast with digital radio systems in the AM bands. Restrictions regarding the antenna size together with varying ionospheric conditions and and man-made noise make the reception of radio transmissions below 30 MHz in a car a challenging problem. Using the Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) system, a total of 58 measurements were conducted both in rural and urban environments in fall 2005, most of them in the 49 m, 41 m and 17 m short wave bands, but also in long wave and medium wave bands. A stationary reference receiver recorded data of the same transmission in parallel with the mobile measurements. Comparison of both data sets allowed for a detailed analysis of the impact of mobility on the reception quality. The results show that particularly in rural areas, mobile reception is indeed reliable and perceived as high quality. Only when ionospheric disturbances push signals to just above the required Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR), in-car reception fades more frequently than at a stationary receiver. In urban and industrial areas, shadowing effects (tunnels, large buildings) and man-made noise (power lines, etc.) cause even more frequent dropouts. Thus most of the problems known from analog AM reception in cars will remain the same for digital broadcasting. However, where it works, the digital audio quality is clearly superior to that of analog AM. Therefore, we believe that digital radio in the AM bands is a valuable complement to other digital broadcast services, e.g. by augmenting their coverage in rural areas, where network deployments for higher frequencies may economically not be feasible. Further, the data features-although limited-make digital broadcasting in the AM bands an interesting candidate for telematics and traffic information services covering very large areas. Index Terms--Digital broadcasting, digital radio mondiale, DRM, long wave, medium wave, mobile data, mobile radio, propagation, short wave, telematics.

The aim of this article is to show that a better awareness of the relationship between written and spoken communication can help the writer to improve his/her effectiveness. The focus will be on written texts that precede (formal and informal) discussions. The analysis will start with a description of the differences between orality and literacy. We shall deal with the functions of orality-based texts for the readers. Then we shall move to the writing process and explain how orality can find a place in this process, how it can be linked to creativity, and how it affects the way we plan the writing process. An oral way of writing is related to an important feature of speaking, namely fluency; but it also means a specific receiver orientation, dynamic rather than static and social rather than individual. Computer mediated communication could influence a more oral approach to written texts.

As scholars and practitioners have endeavored to develop computer-based tools that foster effective communication and collaboration in groups, anonymity has played a key role. Anonymity purportedly minimizes status differences, liberates team members from a fear of retribution, and makes members feel more comfortable contributing to discussions. Yet these benefits may be outweighed by the impact of anonymity on receiver perceptions and behavior. Two competing hypotheses, drawn from adaptive structuration theory, were tested in this study to determine the impact of anonymity on receiver perceptions of sources and messages in computer-mediated group communication. The results of the multilevel models offer evidence in support of the discounting hypothesis and suggest that anonymity provided by electronic meeting systems may undermine source credibility and influence. Keywords: adaptive structuration theory; anonymity; anonymous communication; computer-mediated communication; credibility; decision making; electronic meeting system; group communication; group support system; social influence

The author assessed satisfaction and performance on 3 tasks (idea generation, intellective, judgment) among 75 dyads (N = 150) working through 1 of 3 modes of communication (instant messaging, videoconferencing, face to face). The author based predictions on the Media Naturalness Theory (N. Kock, 2001, 2002) and on findings from past researchers (e.g., D. M. DeRosa, C. Smith, & D. A. Hantula, in press) of the interaction between tasks and media. The present author did not identify task performance differences, although satisfaction with the medium was lower among those dyads communicating through an instant-messaging system than among those interacting face to face or through videoconferencing. The findings support the Media Naturalness Theory. The author discussed them in relation to the participants' frequent use of instant messaging and their familiarity with new communication media. Key words: dyads, media satisfaction, organizational communication, COMPUTER-MEDIATED COMMUNICATION (CMC) has permeated our professional and personal lives. Advances in technology have made computer-aided media, such as e-mail and instant messaging, common modes of communication for people in [...]

More people are becoming involved in computer-mediated romantic relationships. These individuals inhabit an interesting relational niche because they engage in relationships that are perceived by some scholars as either nontraditional [...]

We investigated the construction of gender in chat groups. Four unacquainted persons chatted in two gender-anonymous conditions and a non-anonymous control condition. In one anonymous condition, the gender focus was made salient. The other groups did not know about the gender focus. All participants had to guess the gender of the others and give reasons for their decisions. Results suggest that (a) overall, 2/3 of gender guesses fit the sex category of the targets, (b) gender anonymity was more comfortable for women, (c) participants used mostly gender-stereotypic cues to infer gender, however, men and women used syntactic, semantic, and pragmatic cues (with different predictive value) to different degrees, (d) conversational behavior varied depending on gender anonymity, and (e) degree of gender salience was irrelevant for the use of gender as an organizing category. KEY WORDS: gender; language; chat; computer-mediated communication (CMC); small groups; stereotypes; cue analysis.

The behavioral indicators of deception in instant messaging (IM) setting were explored in a three-person group communication context using IM. The empirical results showed that three types of nonverbal behaviors and three types of verbal behaviors that were investigated could significantly differentiate deceivers from truth tellers.

Compact, low-cost antennas for multiband telematics applications on vehicles are described. The multifrequency band antennas are variations on the printed inverted-F antenna (PIFA) principle. One type of PIFA is a compact variation of a conventional antenna while the other is a novel planar version customized for different mounting positions such as bumpers, window, and roof mount. In both derivations the dimensions are small and have been specifically designed for low-cost production. Each antenna was designed for mobile telephone band coverage from 890 to 2100 MHz. Results from free-space simulations are included but more work needs to be carried out as the vehicles have a significant effect on antenna performance. On-vehicle tests are described where the antennas were placed on glass and plastic areas and integrated into an existing multipurpose roof mount antenna. Index Terms--Antennas, mobile antennas, multifrequency antennas, printed inverted-F antenna (PIFA), vehicle antennas.

Three experiments examined the effects of the influence agent's inferred sex and self-proclaimed competence on informational social influence in computer-mediated communication. In 2 (Participant Sex: Male vs. Female) x 2 (Parther's Character: Male vs. Female) x 2 (Partner's Self-Confidence: High vs. Low) mixed-design experiments, participants played a trivia game with an anonymous partner. When the partner's confidence was presented in quantitative form, its effect on conformity was more pronounced among men than among women (Experiment 1), whereas verbally expressed confidence induced stronger effects among women than among men (Experiment 2). In both experiments, where participants' own character mismatched their sex, partner's character did not affect conformity to partner's suggestions. By contrast, when participants' character correctly represented their sex (Experiment 3), partner's character; albeit arbitrarily assigned and thus not diagnostic of the person's sex, moderated conformity such that male-charactered partners elicited greater conformity than did female-charactered partners. Keywords: sex; informational social influence; quantitative vs. verbal data presentation; computer-mediated communication; expectation states theory; social identity model of deindividuation effects

This paper presents a Web-based system for managing a telematics laboratory network that supports practical activities in different courses from the Telecommunications Engineering degree in the Polytechnic Center (University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain). The system is used in two different ways: the teachers use it to design and apply the network configurations required in the laboratory for the selected practices, and the students use the system in the Network Management course to learn about Web-based network management, with special emphasis on simple network management protocol (SNMP) strategies. The network manager remotely controls and monitors computers and communication devices in the laboratory by using SNMP. The system is able to define (or load predefined) configurations by establishing the desired logical connections between the devices, segmenting the hubs, defining virtual circuits, etc. It also enables facilities to discover and depict the network configuration and to provide network management and monitoring and traps management. The system constitutes a helpful tool for the teachers to configure the laboratory network and also permits the students to apply their network management skills. Index Terms--Laboratory, network management, monitoring, simple network management protocol (SNMP), telematics, Web.

Two experiments investigated if and how visual representation of interactants affects depersonalization and conformity to group norms in anonymous computer-mediated communication (CMC). In Experiment 1, a 2 (intergroup versus interpersonal) x 2 (same character versus different character) between-subjects design experiment (N = 60), each participant made a decision about social dilemmas after seeing two other (ostensible) participants' unanimous opinions and then exchanged supporting arguments. Consistent with the Social Identity model of Deindividuation Effects (SIDE), when the group level of self-identity was rendered salient in an intergroup encounter, uniform virtual appearance of CMC partners triggered depersonalization and subsequent conformity behavior. By contrast, when the personal dimension of the self was salient, standardized representation tended to reduce conformity. To elucidate the mediation process, Experiment 2 investigated the causal links between depersonalization, group identification, and conformity. The results show that depersonalization accentuated adherence to group norms, both directly and indirectly via group identification.

Research on computer-mediated discussion (CMD) empirically supported concerns about inequality and marginalization of women in online discussions. The range of discourse strategies and dialogue genres that male and female prospective teachers used during discussion on educational issues in CMD groups is examined.

This paper presents REAL (Remotely Accessible Laboratory), a virtual laboratory accessible through the Internet. The objective of REAL is to provide remote access to a mobile robots infrastructure. REAL has been implemented as a new generation telecommunication service, not as a commonplace World Wide Web (WWW) application. As such, it employs a sophisticated access framework, a communication infrastructure able to support multimedia flows, and a component-based software construction. The architecture of REAL relies on open standards, such as WWW and its related technologies (HTTP, HTML, XML, Java, etc.) and a common object request broker architecture (CORBA). Index Terms--Robotics, scientific and engineering applications, software architectures, telecommunication applications, telematics.

Two experiments addressed the questions of if and how normative social influence operates in anonymous computer-mediated communication (CMC) and human-computer interaction (HCI). In Experiment 1, a 2 (public response vs. private response) x 2 (one interactant vs. four interactants) x 3 (textbox vs. stick figure vs. animated character) mixed-design experiment (N = 72), we investigated how conformity pressure operates in a simulated CMC setting. Each participant was asked to make a decision in hypothetical social dilemmas after being presented with a unanimous opinion by other (ostensible) participants. The experiment examined how the visual representation of interaction partners on the screen moderates this social influence process. Group conformity effects were shown to be more salient when the participant's responses were allegedly seen by others, compared to when the responses were given in private. In addition, participants attributed greater competence, social attractiveness, and trustworthiness to partners represented by anthropomorphic characters than those represented by textboxes or stick figures. Experiment 2 replicated Experiment 1, replacing interaction with a computer(s) rather than (ostensible) people, to create an interaction setting in which no normative pressure was expected to occur. The perception of interaction partner (human vs. computer) moderated the group conformity effect such that people expressed greater public agreement with human partners than with computers. No such difference was found for the private expression of opinion. As expected, the number of computer agents did not affect participants' opinions whether the responses were given in private or in public, while visual representation had a significant impact on both conformity measures and source perception variables.

Telematics is defined as the use of computers to receive, store, and distribute information over a telecommunications system. Telematics, using wireless technologies, will be increasingly used to facilitate safe, efficient travel for people and their vehicles.

Research in telematics, also known as computer-mediated communication (CMC), has shown significant gender differences when compared to face-to-face communication. Women produced more messages, greater opinion change, and more opinions and agreements when communicating face-to-face than during CMC.