Strategies for Improving Open Source Software Usability

2011 ◽  
pp. 218-232
Author(s):  
Luyin Zhao ◽  
Fadi P. Deek ◽  
James A. McHugh
Keyword(s):  
Open Source ◽  
Open Source Software ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Source Model ◽  
User Acceptance ◽  
Fundamental Characteristic ◽  
Learning Method ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Software Usability ◽  
Usability Problems

The Open Source Software (OSS) movement has had enormous impact on how software is created and continues to attract interest from researchers, software developers and users. A factor that may be inhibiting OSS from achieving greater success is usability, a fundamental characteristic to user acceptance of software. Motivated by the uniquely user-driven nature of the open source model and the extensive user base that participates in OSS projects, the authors propose an exploratory learning method and an associated web-based inspection environment that enables non-experts to contribute to open source usability inspection. This tool uses pattern-based usability guidelines to help identify usability knowledge during inspection. The method emphasizes outlining and exploration features which the authors have formally evaluated and the results of which are described. Data collected from a qualitative study indicates positive impact of the proposed method in helping end-users inspect software and achieve better results in discovering usability problems.

Strategies for Improving Open Source Software Usability

2009 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 49-64
Author(s):  
Luyin Zhao ◽  
Fadi P. Deek ◽  
James A. McHugh
Keyword(s):  
Open Source ◽  
Open Source Software ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Source Model ◽  
User Acceptance ◽  
Exploratory Learning ◽  
Software Developers ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Software Usability ◽  
Usability Problems

The Open Source Software (OSS) movement has had enormous impact on how software is created and continues to attract interest from researchers, software developers and users. A factor that may be inhibiting OSS from achieving greater success is usability, a fundamental characteristic to user acceptance of software. Motivated by the uniquely user-driven nature of the open source model and the extensive user base that participates in OSS projects, the authors propose an exploratory learning method and an associated web-based inspection environment that enables non-experts to contribute to open source usability inspection. This tool uses patternbased usability guidelines to help identify usability knowledge during inspection. The method emphasizes outlining and exploration features which the authors have formally evaluated and the results of which are described. Data collected from a qualitative study indicates positive impact of the proposed method in helping end-users inspect software and achieve better results in discovering usability problems.

Web Based GIS Application using Open Source Software for Sharing Geospatial Data

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 1224-1228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debasish Chakraborty ◽  
◽  
Debanjan Sarkar ◽  
Shubham Agarwal ◽  
Dibyendu Dutta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Open Source ◽  
Open Source Software ◽  
Geospatial Data ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Gis Application

scholarly journals Trust and Community in Open Source Software Production

2004 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Margit Osterloh ◽  
Sandra Rota
Keyword(s):  
Open Source ◽  
Open Source Software ◽  
Extrinsic Motivation ◽  
Source Model ◽  
Private Ownership ◽  
Complex Interplay ◽  
Software Production ◽  
Innovation Model ◽  
The Commons ◽  
Low Costs

AbstractOpen source software production is a successful new innovation model which disproves that only private ownership of intellectual property rights fosters innovations. It is analyzed here under which conditions the open source model may be successful in general. We show that a complex interplay of situational, motivational, and institutional factors have to be taken into account to understand how to manage the ‘tragedy of the commons’ as well as the ‘tragedy of the anticommons’. It is argued that the success of this new innovation model is greatly facilitated by a well balanced portfolio of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, low costs for contributors and governance mechanisms that do not crowd out intrinsic motivation.

Adoption and Use of Open Source Infrastructure Software by Large Corporations

2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
RadhaKanta Mahapatra ◽  
Rashid Manzar ◽  
Vikram S. Bhadauria
Keyword(s):  
Open Source ◽  
Open Source Software ◽  
Source Model ◽  
Early Adopter ◽  
Business Organizations ◽  
Adoption Decision ◽  
Software Adoption ◽  
Continued Use ◽  
Large Corporations ◽  
Proprietary Product

Adoption and continuance of use of open source infrastructure software by large business organizations is not well understood. This study fills this gap in research by conducting a longitudinal investigation of the adoption and use of MySQL by two large corporations. One organization, an early adopter, adopted and used MySQL for several years before reverting back to a proprietary product. The other, a late adopter, made an initial adoption decision but didn't deploy it in mission critical applications. Interestingly, free software and freedom to access and modify the source code, the hallmark of the open source model, were not found to be significant in promoting adoption. In contrast, high quality maintenance support and timely product enhancement to keep up with user needs were considered critical for initial adoption and continued use of software. The study also demonstrates the need to investigate continuance of use to get a complete picture of open source software adoption and use by organizations.

Embedded Real-Time Linux for Cable Robot Control

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederick M. Proctor ◽  
William P. Shackleford
Keyword(s):  
Open Source ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Open Source Software ◽  
Hard Disk Drives ◽  
Source Model ◽  
Disk Drives ◽  
Deterministic Scheduling ◽  
Cable Robot ◽  
Real Time Computing ◽  
Embedded Applications

Linux is a version of the Unix operating system distributed according to the open source model. Programmers are free to adapt the source code for their purposes, but are required to make their modifications or enhancements available as open source software as well. This model has fostered the widespread adoption of Linux for typical Unix server and workstation roles, and also in more arcane applications such as embedded or real-time computing. Embedded applications typically run in small physical and computing footprints, usually without fragile peripherals like hard disk drives. Special configurations are required to support these limited environments. Real-time applications require guarantees that tasks will execute within their deadlines, something not possible in general with the normal Linux scheduler. Real-time extensions to Linux enable deterministic scheduling, at task periods at tens of microseconds. This paper describes embedded and real-time Linux, and an application for distributed control of a Stewart Platform cable robot. Special Linux configuration requirements are detailed, and the architecture for teleoperated control of the cable robot is presented, with emphasis on the resolved-rate control of the suspended platform.

scholarly journals Using Open-Source Software for Sign Language Learning and Assessment

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (19) ◽  
pp. 188
Author(s):  
Tobias Haug ◽  
Sarah Ebling
Keyword(s):  
Adult Learners ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Open Source ◽  
Sign Language ◽  
Open Source Software ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Swiss German ◽  
Feedback Questionnaire ◽  
The Web

This study reports on the use of an open-source software for sign language learning and (self-)assessment. A Yes/No vocabulary size test for Swiss German Sign Language (Deutschschweizerische Gebärdensprache, DSGS) was developed, targeting beginning adult learners. The Web-based test, which can be used for self-assessment or placement purposes, was administered to 20 DSGS adult learners of ages 24 to 55 (M = 39.3). The learners filled out a background questionnaire, took the Yes/No test tests, and filled out a feedback questionnaire. The comments provided by the learners about the suitability of the Web-based DSGS vocabulary self-assessment instrument provided concrete feedback towards improvement of the system.

scholarly journals WEB MAPPING ARCHITECTURES BASED ON OPEN SPECIFICATIONS AND FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE IN THE WATER DOMAIN

2017 ◽  
Vol IV-2/W4 ◽  
pp. 23-30
Author(s):  
C. Arias Muñoz ◽  
M. A. Brovelli ◽  
C. E. Kilsedar ◽  
R. Moreno-Sanchez ◽  
D. Oxoli
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Open Source ◽  
Open Source Software ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
End User ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Web Mapping ◽  
Related Data ◽  
Data Formats ◽  
Information Assets

The availability of water-related data and information across different geographical and jurisdictional scales is of critical importance for the conservation and management of water resources in the 21<sup>st</sup> century. Today information assets are often found fragmented across multiple agencies that use incompatible data formats and procedures for data collection, storage, maintenance, analysis, and distribution. The growing adoption of Web mapping systems in the water domain is reducing the gap between data availability and its practical use and accessibility. Nevertheless, more attention must be given to the design and development of these systems to achieve high levels of interoperability and usability while fulfilling different end user informational needs. This paper first presents a brief overview of technologies used in the water domain, and then presents three examples of Web mapping architectures based on free and open source software (FOSS) and the use of open specifications (OS) that address different users’ needs for data sharing, visualization, manipulation, scenario simulations, and map production. The purpose of the paper is to illustrate how the latest developments in OS for geospatial and water-related data collection, storage, and sharing, combined with the use of mature FOSS projects facilitate the creation of sophisticated interoperable Web-based information systems in the water domain.

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