Articles
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agent-based simulation autonomic computing autopoiesis collaboration community networks coordination deal digital business ecosystem digital ecosystems dynamic models evolutionary environment governance infrastructures internet spectatorship keystone knowledge management knowledge network knowledge transfer mathematical biology media choice morphogenesis networked knowledge spaces networks p2p peer-to-peer networks pipeline processing systems r-m system rule system scale-free networks scientific networks service-oriented architecture simulation social network analysis socio-technical perspective sociology of digital communities visualisation
A Visualisation System for a Peer-to-Peer Information Space
Abstract: Peer-to-peer (P2P) networks provide new opportunities and challenges for distributing and using data and services without a centralised design. An interesting use case for P2P systems is the interplay of information repository and data visualisation applications. In this article, we investigate the potential of distributed information and data processing services and evaluate their applicability in visualisation systems. In short, we generalise our previous work of a pipeline-based client-server visualisation system, decentralising the pipeline components over a service network. We analyse this architecture with respect to the requirements of both P2P information repositories and visualisation applications, in the context of the required use cases. Finally, we demonstrate the technical implementation via pre-studies and discuss P2P knowledge as a complementary topic for P2P visualisations. The work is based on an ongoing research project that will deliver a component-based P2P visualisation system, in a European network of excellence thriving to establish a distributed open knowledge system as a digital ecosystem, based on the ideology of open source communities.
Keywords: visualisation, peer-to-peer networks, pipeline processing systems, digital ecosystems
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Presented in Session 3: Dynamic models and visualisations on Wednesday October 8th. See presentation slides in PDF format.
Appropriateness of Communication and Collaboration Tools in an International Virtual Research Community
Abstract: In research communities, the use of information and communication technology (ICT) is part of daily routines, especially in multi-institutional research projects. Appropriate media choice is an important dimension of effective communication and successful collaboration. The central aim of this paper is to study the perceived appropriateness of different communication tools (online and offline) in relation to specific tasks within OPAALS. Results drawn from an online survey reveal a differentiated picture: On the one hand, face-to face interaction, face-to-face group meetings and email are the collaboration tools perceived to be most appropriate in general. On the other hand, regarding the dissemination of information within the community, mailing lists and wikis are regarded to be most appropriate.
Keywords: media choice, collaboration
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Presented in Session 1: Knowledge, collaboration, and governance on Tuesday October 7th. See presentation slides in PDF format.
Business models and technologies for wireless community networks
Abstract: The objective of this tutorial is to cover the most important aspects of planning, building and operating community network infrastructures – the technical, legal, regulatory and economic ones – in a single integrated treatment. This way the various specialists interested or involved in this area – engineers, economists, business managers, legal experts, public administration officers, researchers - can get acquainted with the complete “picture” before getting deeper involved in their respective fields of activity and interest.
Presented on Tuesday October 7th. See presentation slides in PPT format.
Dynamic social network modeling and perspectives in OPAALS frameworks
Abstract: Social Networks Analysis (SNA) plays an important role in OPAALS, since it is subject in many WPs and their tasks, in a way that results and conclusions from a specific research problem are interchangeable among different research frameworks. This paper intends to present a suggestion for SNA over panel data, based on a statistical and dynamic perspective, rather than purely static and mathematical. The difference is in the fact that probabilistic components are included in the model allowing quantification of some parameters that can have direct or indirect influence over the network behavior. Knowledge about those parameters could give important information on how networks behaves and evolve, based on the influence of covariates (variables), and then how we could simulate more realistic scenarios. Some purposes about the utilization in OPAALS tasks are discussed.
Keywords: social network analysis, dynamic models, simulation
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Presented in Session 3: Dynamic models and visualisations on Wednesday October 8th.
Emerging Problems in the Digital Business Ecosystem
Abstract: The current research and development in the ITC has opened new opportunities and threats for both large corporations and SMEs alike. Many SMEs see the new Digital Ecosystem as a new open frontier where they can enter, innovate and compete with large corporations on an equal footing. This paper examines the role of the large corporations (the keystones) in the digital ecosystem and presents arguments about the emergence of two major problems that if left unanswered will result in creation of major entry barriers for SMEs. It briefly examines the definition and role of the keystones in both the business and digital ecosystems, pointing to the historical tendency of large corporations to try to create entry barriers and hence creating monopolies.The current structure of the scale-free networks in digital ecosystems, if not changed, provides natural environment for the growth of a few super-nodes or hubs that can in time dominate the networks. Similarly, the current proposed frameworks: Business Transaction Protocol and Web Services transaction (WS-Atomic Transactions and WS-Business Activity) lay the foundation not only for the creation of future monopolies or oligopolies, but also for forcing the SMEs to lose their local autonomy.
Keywords: keystone, scale-free networks, service-oriented architecture, coordination, digital ecosystems
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Evaluation of two P2P-Approaches for a Distributed Simulation Framework
Abstract: The paper at hand describes the architecture and functionality of a distributed simulation and testing environment that is intended to simulate the interaction behaviour of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) based on biological similes, e.g. the mechanism of evolution and the structure of the peripheral nervous system in the human body. The simulation framework consists of functional compartments and is distributed in a P2P infrastructure that is built on top of two open-source projects, the ServENT and Soapod. This approach targets at a better performance and additional testing capabilities for the infrastructure. Furthermore, this paper contributes to the open-source projects of choice by evaluating, testing and implementing various services.
Keywords: digital business ecosystem, evolutionary environment, agent-based simulation, p2p
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Presented in Session 4: Autopoiesis and simulations on Wednesday October 8th.
Governance in the OPAALS Community
Abstract: This paper provides a theoretical overview of the field of governance with a special focus on the analytic perspectives concerning virtual research networks. We discuss network governance as translation of the classical socio-economic governance continuum of market and hierarchy into a hybrid model based on collaboration and trust, supported by explicit as well as implicit governance structures and processes. Furthermore we present some key results drawn from official OPAALS documents and from an ongoing online questionnaire study conducted in the OPAALS research community. The interpretation of these data gives an overview of the actual self-governance procedures and structures in an emerging research community. Furthermore, communication, interaction, and decision making structures are presented in the context of implicit and explicit rules that aim at building a transparent community based on collaboration.
Keywords: governance, digital ecosystems, networks, scientific networks, collaboration
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Presented in Session 1: Knowledge, collaboration, and governance on Tuesday October 7th. See presentation slides in PDF format.
Identifying and Capturing Knowledge from Networked Knowledge Spaces: Theoretical Insights and Applications
Abstract: Knowledge Management (KM) has emerged as a new research discipline within organizational management. Encouraging and controlling the flow of knowledge is the central notion. This paper aims to conceptualize the significance of three broad factors that lead to knowledge transfer: Nature and form of knowledge, knowledge spaces, ICT supported networking. The emphasis will be on the influence of network structure and models of knowledge transformation during the transfer of knowledge. Knowledge is said to be dynamically transforming between tacit and explicit forms. Transformation of knowledge at various stages of the organization is highly dependent upon its transmission network as well as interaction between the concerned members. The nature of transmission is directly dependent upon the nature and flow capacity of direct and indirect communication paths of the network through which interactive knowledge transmission takes place. Interaction among the members or knowledge nodes can be viewed in two basic forms: ‘receptive participation’ and ‘contributive participation’. There may be several instances where the combination of both at different levels can be observed and forms an environment of organizational learning. We attempt to develop a theoretical background for looking at KM from a network based perspective and identify the potential knowledge spaces. While networking these knowledge spaces, the structural features of the communication can play a vital role in creating an open access platform and promoting innovation. Technology and culture are the backbones of formal and informal communication where appropriate trade-off is required during designing the knowledge network and a fine synergetic balance between these two is necessary at the operational front. Networking knowledge gives a new dimension to organizational design and promotes a new research paradigm for the development of Digital Knowledge Ecosystems (DKEs). We apply learning from our study to develop a DKE in the Indian agriculture domain.
Keywords: knowledge management, knowledge transfer, knowledge network, networked knowledge spaces
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Presented in Session 1: Knowledge, collaboration, and governance on Tuesday October 7th.
Notes on Relational Biology and Elementary Category Theory
Abstract: This paper is the first step in an exploration of the mathematical modelling of autopoiesis, using Robert Rosen’s M -R system as a central reference point. Category theory is introduced only informally in order to render the material more accessible to a wider audience. Rather than breaking any new ground in terms of mathematical results the paper aims to contextualise the concepts discussed within digital ecosystems and autonomic computing research.
Keywords: r-m system, autopoiesis, digital ecosystems, autonomic computing, mathematical biology
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Presented in Session 4: Autopoiesis and simulations on Wednesday October 8th. See presentation slides in PDF format.
Sociology of Digital Communities: Bridging the Gap between Theories of “Internet Spectatorship” and “Rule System Theory”
Abstract: Social life is regulated by rules. The order of norms regulating human behavior is considered as the central aspect of society by various scholars. Durkheim considered ‘social fact’ primarily in normative terms. Here in this paper we try to explore the relationship between theories of ‘axionormative’ order worked out by Tom Burns and his group broadly under evasion of rules and theories of internet spectatorship. The relevance of these theories to the emerging discipline of Sociology of Digital Communities is discussed. Broadly, normative changes refer to the replacement or modification of one or more components of the normative structure: norms, values, roles, institutions, institutional complexes. The change of established norms from one state to another is a normative deviation leading to normative morphogenesis. One of the ways through which normative morphogenesis occurs is via norm evasion. There are various mechanisms through which norm evasion occurs at a societal level. One such modality is norm substitution. This primarily occurs when old norms remain in force but evasion occurs because of the magnitude of its scale and occurrence. In the contemporary era, self imagery plays a crucial role in the axionormative order of the society. The quest for a homophiliac search among digital communities has been pointed out by a few scholars. In this context digital content and internet has become a site for structural elaboration through modalities of spectatorship. Based on our field interaction with different actors involved in the use of an ICT facilitated Knowledge architecture in the agricultural domain, we argue that the process involved in the structuration of digital communities involves principles of normative evasion based on certain rule systems of digital communities. The structural elaboration principles that are likely to set up an emergent ‘digital communities rule system’ are mediated both through the observational power of the spectator (internet spectatorship) and knowledgeability of the agents.
Keywords: sociology of digital communities, rule system, morphogenesis, internet spectatorship, deal
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Presented in Session 2: Networks, sociology, and coordination on Tuesday October 7th.
State of the Art of DE Research
Presented on Tuesday October 7th. See presentation slides in PDF format.
The Community Networks and Digital Ecosystems Relationship
Abstract: This paper presents the possible relationships between Digital Ecosystem and Community Networks. Community Networks emerged from the '80s and '90s computer based community services and today are acquiring more understandings related to the public and the business worlds. Digital Ecosystems is a new concept emerging before any empirical declination. Therefore it is not clear nor simple to understand how the two entities could help each other. We suggest to analyse and compare them by using the Socio-Technical Infrastructures theory. In order to reach this goal a theoretical framework to support the description of these phenomena is presented by relying upon a set of shared dimensions. This intends to make translatable two realities that have important points of contact and potential synergies, as well as non-secondary differences. What we found is that Community Networks could provide community participation methodologies and ubiquitous broadband infrastructures to enable Digital Ecosystems' advanced services, while those services could increase the potential of CNs. The paper ends with some suggestions for future Digital Ecosystems research: improve the empirical and the policy research, and consider DEs application other than business ones.
Keywords: community networks, digital ecosystems, socio-technical perspective, infrastructures
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Presented in Session 2: Networks, sociology, and coordination on Tuesday October 7th.
W3C Semantic Web technologies for the OKS
Abstract: Definition of the Open Knowledge Space (OKS) benefits from understanding the state of the art Semantic Web technologies. Build on top of the Architecture of the World Wide Web, Semantic Web technologies provide the enabling interoperability standards for, e.g., semantic searches. In this tutorial, we briefly introduce the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Semantic Web activity, the related core technologies, and consider their applicability in the OKS.
Presented on Tuesday October 7th. See presentation slides in PDF format.
Web Open Standards and Digital Ecosystems
Abstract: Daniel Dardailler (http://w3.org/people/danield), W3C Associate Chairman, will present his views on how the various community processes put in place in the last twenty years to cater for the Internet and Web standard development, and their evolution in the more recent field of Internet Governance, affect the future Digital Ecosystem.
Presented on Wednesday October 8th. See presentation slides.