Forecasting promising technology using analysis of patent information:Focused on next generation mobile communications

In order to forecast promising technologies in the field of next generation mobile communication, various patent indicators were analyzed such as citation per patent, patent family information, patent share, increase rate, and patent activity. These indicators were quantified into several indexes and then integrated into an evaluation score to provide promising technologies. As a result of the suggested patent analysis, four technologies out of twenty two in details classification were selected, which showed outstanding technology competitiveness, high patent share and increasing rates as well as high recent-patent-ratios and triad-patent-family-ratios. Each of the selected technologies scored more than 10 points in total, and the following four technologies were suggested as promising ones in the field of next generation mobile communication: 1) 3GPP based mobile communication, 2) beyond 4G mobile communication, 3) IEEE 802.16 based mobile communication, which are in medium classification of broadband mobile communication system, and 4) testing/certification system of mobile communication, which is in medium classification of mobile communication testing/certification system.

Developing the information-seeking behavior scale for undergraduates

Purpose: The aim of this paper is to develop a standardized and reliable measurement tool for assessing information-seeking behavior of undergraduate students.Design/methodology/approach: Based on information literacy and information-seeking behavior theories, expert advice and students' interview, items of undergraduates' informationseeking behavior indicators were selected. With the analysis of homogeneity reliability, item analysis and factor analysis, this study constructs an assessment system to evaluate reliability and validity of the scale.Findings: The information-seeking behavior scale for undergraduates has divided undergraduates' information-seeking behavior into seven dimensions, which include 46 items. The reliability analysis of Cronbach's α was 0.910, and the coefficient of split-half reliability was0.817. The results of factor analysis showed that Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin(KMO) was 0.864,which indicates 55.536% of the total variation could be explained by the above seven dimensions.Research limitations: Due to a small sample size and limited sample distribution, further research need be conducted in an expanded sample size in order to explore the application scope of this evaluation system; in addition, the stability of the scale also need be confirmed.Practical implications: The paper sets up an information-seeking behavior evaluation system for undergraduates and explores the characteristics of their information-seeking behavior.This study provides guidance for the development of future information literacy education and the improvement of the information literacy level of undergraduates.Originality/value: An information-seeking behavior scale for undergraduates has been developed, which comprehensively covers information need, information source, information evaluation, information retrieval, information management, information utilization and information morality. The scale is proved to have good reliability, validity, popularity anddiscrimination that it is qualified to be an assessment tool of information-seeking behavior for Chinese undergraduates.

Mapping informal settlement indicators using object-oriented analysis in the Middle East

Mapping informal settlements is crucial for resource and utility management and planning.In 2003,the UN-Habitat developed a process for mapping and monitoring urban inequality to support reporting against the sustainable development goals(SDGs).Informal settlement indicators are used as a framework to carry out image analysis,and include vegetation extent,lacunarity of housing structures/vacant land,road segment type and materials,texture measures of built-up areas,roofing extent of built-up areas and dwelling size.Objectbased image analysis(OBIA)methods are recommended to identify informal settlements.This paper documents the application of OBIA to map informal settlements,drawing on the ontology of Kohli et al.(2012)and the indicators of Owen and Wong(2013)for a Middle Eastern city.Three informal settlements with different land use histories were selected to represent old and new informal settlements in the city of Jeddah,Saudi Arabia.Vegetation extent was the most successful indicator detected,with 100% producer accuracy and over 84% user accuracy,followed by the road network,with 84% producer and user accuracies in older informal settlements and 73% producer accuracy and 96% user accuracy across all case studies.Lacunarity of housing structures/vacant land was detected well in informal settlements.The texture measure indicator was detected using GLCM_(Ent)(R)with low producer accuracy across all case studies.The roofing extent of the built-up area is detected with better producer and user accuracies than texture measures.The dwellings size indicator generally failed to distinguish formal from informal settlements.Informal and formal were distinguished with an overall accuracy of 83%.This research concludes that OBIA is a useful method to map informal settlement indicators in Middle Eastern cities.However,a generic ruleset for mapping informal settlements remains elusive,and each indicator requires significant localised‘tuning’.