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This paper seeks to present a comparative study of the traditional usability‐testing process and the re‐engineered usability‐testing process for live multimedia systems.

Provides an overview of current usability‐testing techniques and usability laboratory configurations, and identifies some gaps in the traditional usability‐testing approach.

Traditional usability‐testing procedures are suitable for testing systems in the static environment but prove to be sub‐optimal in testing systems for dynamic (real‐time) environments.

The traditional set‐up is compared with innovative laboratory configuration, which consists of three computer systems: the test system in the middle augmented by two systems on either side that function as the scenario presenter and the data collection system. The re‐engineered usability‐testing process streamlined usability experiments and reduced the task completion times.

Online services have replaced many services that were delivered through other avenues. However, adoption of them has varied significantly. This paper seeks to expand on technology adoption theories by integrating them with those exploring service innovation and attempts to explore factors that help or hinder the attitude towards using online services. Thus, the study aims to provide insight into attributes to which developers and designers of such services should pay attention.

The study accomplishes the purpose stated above through testing a framework that was developed as a result of critical literature review, interviews, a brainstorming session, an expert focus group and a final large‐scale survey. A set of prototypes was developed as alternative interfaces for the online service.

In addition to finding that usefulness and ease of use are affecting the intention to use in the case of online services, the paper also identified that users were positively influenced by their acquaintances, commercials and related news about online ticket reservation positively. Self‐efficacy was also identified as a positive factor. However, a significant relationship between other elements of the user interface, such as task or user characteristics, could not be identified.

There is an increased interest in better service design and development. In the case of online services, developing better user interfaces by different technologies is critical, because capabilities of user interface add a lot to the information technology (IT) adoption process. So putting emphasis on better marketing and user training would help the adoption of online services.

There were a number of hypotheses that were not supported in the paper. Further data collection may help to explore the role of user and service characteristics better.

The study integrates technology adoption and market research theories to assess service innovation.

This study aims to investigate the differences in spatial ability between students with a math learning disability and their normal peers.

To investigate these differences two groups, (60 students with a math learning disability) and (60 normal students) from fifth grade with a mean age (10.6 years) were administered with spatial ability test along with an IQ test. Students with a math learning disability were chosen using measures of the following: math learning disability questionnaire developed from learning disability evaluation scale – renormed second edition (LDES-R²) (McCarney and Arthaud, 2007) and the Quick Neurological Screening Test (Mutti et al., 2012), in addition to their marks in formal math tests in school.

Comparison between the two groups in four aspects of spatial ability resulted in obvious differences in each aspect of spatial ability (spatial relations, mental rotation, spatial visualization and spatial orientation); these differences were clear, especially in mental rotation and spatial visualization.

This paper contributes to gain more insights into the characteristics of pupils with a math learning disability, the nature of spatial abilities and its effect on a math learning disability. Moreover, the results suggest spatial ability to be an important diagnose factor to distinguish and identify students with a math learning disability, and that spatial ability is strongly relevant to math achievement. The results have significant implications for success in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics domain.

Rice is considered a high glycemic index food. However, the overall glycemic response to whole foods differs based on the presence of co‐components, cooking or processing technique, starch composition, and amount of food consumed. The purpose of this paper is to observe the relative glycemic impact (RGI) of foods based on postprandial glycemic response to equal quantities of test foods and standard‐bread expressed as glycemic bread equivalent (GBE), using rice and its products.

In total, five clinically healthy adult volunteers were fed 50 g test foods and bread on different days after an overnight fast. Blood sugar and insulin levels at fasting state and at 30, 60, 90 and 120 min after consuming food were recorded and corresponding area under the curve was calculated.

The GBE was highest for puffed rice at 107 g, whereas same amount of rice kheer and plain boiled rice induced glycemic response equivalent to 19.5 g and 11 g of bread, respectively. RGI of puffed rice was found to be significantly higher than that of rice kheer and boiled rice (p<0.01). Similarly, the total insulinemic effect of puffed rice (71 g) was found to be significantly higher than that of rice (6 g, p<0.01) and rice kheer (19 g, p<0.05).

Despite being prepared from common raw ingredient, all the three test foods produced varied glycemic and insulin responses. This can be attributed to the different processing conditions, change in nutrient composition and total quantity consumed.

The GBE values may constitute a simple and easy‐to‐use tool for consumers to select food in terms of their predicted glycemic and insulin responses, especially in the diabetic or insulin‐resistant group.

Online travel agencies (OTAs) have been offering tourists trip planning services (TPS) for more than a decade. However, they are less popular than other online travel services such as metasearch with price comparison. This study aims to investigate why TPS on the internet, although important to tourists, are not well accepted by young mainland Chinese tourists.

A trip planning service acceptance model (TPSAM) was constructed and tested by inviting participants to take part in a trial using the TPS of a China OTA and then participants were asked to complete a questionnaire based on their user experience. Partial least square technique was used to perform a path analysis on the model.

Social influence and effort expectancy have significant direct influence on reuse intention. Social influence increases the trust level of the tourists on the TPS and effort expectancy’s strong influence on joy suggest that a joyful and effortless experience is critical for tourists to consider reusing the TPS.

The findings could provide some insight to the OTAs on improving their TPS. For instance, OTAs should let tourists feel that the TPS requires little effort and is fun to use and more promotion is needed through social media.

Although trip planning is essential for tourists in achieving a delightful travel experience, few studies have examined the adoption of Web-based TPS. This study contributes to the literature by establishing a TPSAM and extends previous work by showing that a causal relationship exists between social influence and trust in the service acceptance context.

线上旅游代理（OTA）已经十多年为游客提供旅游计划服务（TPS）。然而, OTA比其他在线旅游服务相较则受欢迎程度下降, 比如价格比对的元搜索服务。本论文旨在研究网络TPS, 即便对游客重要, 但是为什么不受中国大陆年轻游客的欢迎。

本论文通过邀请受访者参与中国OTA提供的旅游计划服务试点样品, 并完成针对他们的用户体验的问卷, 来开发和测验这个旅游计划服务接受模型（TPSAM）。本论文采用PLS分析法来测验模型。

社会影响和努力预期对再使用意图起到直接影响。社会影响增强了游客对TPS的信任度, 努力预期对愉悦感有强烈影响, 这预示着对于游客而言, 一个愉悦的且不太费劲的体验对于再次使用TPS起到关键作用。

本论文研究结果对于OTA增强其TPS起到启示作用。比如, OTA应该让游客感受TPS不需要费很多力气来学习使用并且使用过程很有趣, 此外, 通过社交媒体来增强更多宣传是有必要的。

尽管旅游计划对游客而言获得愉快旅游体验是必要的, 然而, 很少文章研究线上TPS使用现象。本论文建立了TPSAM, 对理论做出贡献, 并且本论文对之前的文献做出扩展, 验证了服务接受背景下社会影响和信任之间的直接联系。

This paper seeks to describe the process used to develop the multimedia design and planning pyramid (MUDPY) ontology, and the role played by the MUDPY ontology as a planning, design and development tool in multimedia projects.

The MUDPY model was implemented for the semantic web by developing an ontology for it. This ontology facilitates defining the concepts existing in that domain, their attributes and the relationships between them.

The MUDPY ontology can guide developers through the various phases of a multimedia project in a systematic fashion by allowing them to create a project proposal, specify the functional requirements, decide on the navigational structure and create a storyboard, and thus create high‐quality projects.

The current system is a prototype. This MUDPY ontology can be extended by adding more classes in order to increase its functionality; for example, one can develop special plug‐in widgets to generate project reports required during multimedia project planning and design.

By using the MUDPY ontology, developers can follow a systematic process for project development, and better manage the complexity of multimedia projects.

The paper introduces the MUDPY model and its ontology, and shows a multimedia author the pathway to manage a multitude of concepts and assets required in a multimedia project.

The aim of this research is to foreground information and communication technology (ICT) as an innovative approach for sustainable tourism (ST) development of destinations. ICT is the technology required for information processing which facilitates data processing, information sharing, communication, searching and selection. This paper concentrates on the Abernathy and Clark model and its usefulness in applying ICT as innovative in managing ST.

An online survey was administered to destination managers and to eTourism experts. Destination managers were selected as they were identified as the person responsible for the overall management of a Destination Management Organisation. eTourism experts were identified as someone who possesses special expertise, knowledge and skills on ICT applications to tourism and offered expertise on which ranged from such areas as electronic distribution, recommender systems, user-generated content, online communities, mobile technology, technology acceptance, tourism networks and Web 2.0. This was followed by semi-structured interviews.

These ICT tools were found to be innovative for information management and distribution for critical decision-making. Innovation was fostered through the use of ICT for ST by leading to a better understanding of the tourism product, monitoring, measuring and evaluating, forecasting trends, developing partnerships and engaging and supporting stakeholder relationships. ICT would provide novel ways of approaching marketing, energy monitoring, waste management, and communication for destinations.

This research is important in demonstrating the value that technology can have to ST and further develops the work on tourism innovation theory.

The spread of economic global integration in the last 50 years has resulted in the recent emergence of global labour markets. Ageing populations and skill shortages have placed significant pressure upon Australia's economic sustainability and survival in a global economy. The global race for talent has seen the emergence of skilled migration as a key element in Australia's strategy to address major human capital trends and issues and to source pools of talent considered highly skilled or in demand. This paper seeks to address these issues.

This paper draws together research on skilled migration in the Australian context and the factors that explain use of Australia's 457 visa scheme by organisations for attracting and recruiting talent. Data from a survey of members of the Australian Human Resources Institute (n=1,045) is analysed using logistic regression.

The results show that larger, goods producing, organisations with skills shortages are more likely to employ skilled migrants, while not‐for‐profit and regional organisations are less likely. Sponsorship of 457 visa workers for permanent residency is more likely in larger, regional organisations willing to pay above market rates to fill long‐term vacancies and seeking to attract international skills and knowledge but less likely in public organisations.

The study has limitations related to the fact that the sample is limited to Australian members of a human resource professional body.

There is very little literature on the use of temporary skilled migration by organisations from a HRM perspective. The findings shed light upon the extent of employer‐sponsored temporary skilled migration as a talent sourcing strategy in a range of industries and organisations across Australia.

This study is a follow‐up to the previous studies undertaken by the authors. The paper aims to develop a set of valid and reliable performance indicators to evaluate the environmental quality of a project in order to minimise the adverse impacts of urban renewal projects on the environment.

First, a brief introduction to the most critical environmentally sustainable factors that should be considered when planning an urban renewal project is provided. Then this study identifies criteria for the selection of indicators, and develops appropriate indicators and a corresponding points‐scoring system for six major environmental design criteria through a comprehensive literature review and with the help of a number of experts from industry and academia.

This study proposes a set of environmental performance indicators and a corresponding points‐scoring system for the assessment model derived in a previous study. A total of 12 indicators have been developed for six design criteria (i.e. two indicators per criterion) in which both quantitative and qualitative indicators are derived, and five different scales are adopted to score individual assessment indicators.

By developing relevant indicators, the parties concerned can easily identify whether a renewal project meets pre‐determined planning initiatives and environmental objectives. Once deficiencies are noted, the relevant parties can take immediate action to rectify and refine the design accordingly. It is expected that the environmental performance of a renewal project can be evaluated effectively against the benchmarks through the assessment process.

Energy use in urban areas has turned a subject of local and worldwide interest over the last few years, especially emphasized by the correlated greenhouse gases emissions. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the overall energy efficiency potential and emissions resulting from integrated solutions in urban energy planning, in the scale of districts and neighbourhoods in Brazil.

The approach is based on the description and the application of a method to analyse energy performance of urban areas and support their planning. It is a quantitative bottom-up method and involves urban morphology, urban mobility, buildings and energy supply systems. Procedures are applied to the case study of Agua Branca urban development area, located in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

In the case of Agua Branca area, energy efficiency measures in buildings have shown to be very important mostly for the buildings economies themselves. For the area as a whole, strategies in promoting public transport are more effective in terms of energy efficiency and also to decrease pollutant emissions.

Literature review has shown there is a lack of approaches and procedures able to support urban energy planning at a community scale. The bottom-up method presented in this paper integrates a plenty of disaggregated and multisectoral parameters at the same stage in urban planning and shows that is possible to identify the most promising actions by building overall performance indexes.