Web accessibility for people with disabilities: an introduction forWeb developers

The article presents an overview of the topic of Web access for people with disabilities. First, we describe the four basic disabilities and explain the benefits of making sites accessible, as well as the reasons that more sites are not accessible. We review the relevant laws regarding Web access, and then discuss efforts being made by vendors and professional organizations, especially Microsoft and the World Wide Web Consortium, to encourage accessibility. Finally, we describe major resources that Web developers might consult to assist them in making their sites accessible to people with disabilities     

An introduction to Web Services

This paper provides an introduction to Web Services. A brief history of Web Services is given, leading into an overview of the key Web Services technologies. The paper describes the way in which the IT industry has embraced Web Services and the uses to which the technologies are currently being applied. It concludes with a view of the role of both the key developers and standards bodies in the creation of Web Services and discusses the ways in which this process needs to be supported in order for Web Services to evolve. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Web engineering: creating a discipline among disciplines

Web engineering is a discipline among disciplines, cutting across computer science, information systems, and software engineering, as well as benefiting from several non-IT specializations. Intertwining so many disciplines presents a unique problem for organization and development. The authors discuss Web engineering's classification, define its characteristics, and contrast its present issues with previous problems in information technology     

Wavelet transforms: an introduction

Wavelets and wavelet transforms are a relatively new topic in signal processing. Their development and, in particular, their application remains an active area of research. This paper presents a tutorial introduction to the theory, implementation and interpretation of the wavelet transform. The paper concentrates on the application of the wavelet transform to the time-scale (time-frequency) analysis of discrete signals. Examples are given of the analysis of basic test signals and of an actual electrocardiographic signal     

Super-audio CD: an introduction

Super-audio compact disc (SACD), conceived and developed by Philips and Sony, is viewed as the successor of the standard CD. In March 1999 the standard was set, and Scarlet Book version 1.0 was released. Since then, the format changed from an audiophile release format to a mass-consumer format. Not only does SACD provide an enhanced listening performance to the end-user, it also provides strong copy protection for the music industry. These aspects, in combination with a basic introduction in signal processing for super audio, are discussed The article is concluded with an overview of some of the latest developments in high-quality DSD generation.     

The growing algebraic presence in systems engineering: An introduction

A great deal of what systems engineers do is rooted firmly in the concepts of modern algebra. Despite this fact, however, systems manipulations have often been carried out with little or no awareness of their basic algebraic nature. However, recent years have witnessed a growing cognizance of the intrinsic presence of algebra in systems theory, and this recognition has led not just to further understanding of problems already solved but to unforeseen solutions of problems unsolved by the older, less formal methods. This paper is intended to introduce the art of recognizing the sorts of issues which may be clarified and resolved through the application of modern algebra. Among the topics discussed are modules, quotients, and tensors, together with illustrative applications.     

Experiences in engineering flexible Web services

The life-cycle of a World Wide Web service includes analysis, design, implementation and maintenance stages. Our experiences in building and maintaining the annual Vienna International Festival's Web site have led us to create engineering tools that cover all these phases     

Neural networks: an engineering perspective

The development and application of neural networks are presented from an engineering perspective. It is stated that neural computing is a collection of mathematical techniques that have been gaining growing acceptance as plug-compatible replacements for statistical and other data-modeling techniques. Two of these techniques, function approximation and clustering, are discussed. The forces shaping the future of neural networking systems, including plug compatibility, hybrid systems-neural computing concepts integrated with expert systems, fuzzy logic, and genetic algorithms-and application specification systems, are reviewed     

Block versus trellis: an introduction to coded modulation

Coded modulation has had a very significant impact on the communications scene in the decade or so since its introduction, finding practical applications from voice-band modems for telephone lines to deep-space communications. The paper introduces the principles of coded modulation and describes the two main schemes: block coded modulation (BCM) and trellis coded modulation (TCM). In particular it considers the argument between the proponents of BCM and TCM, and points out some pitfalls in the use of performance measures such as asymptotic coding gain for these schemes. It concludes that in terms of performance versus decoder complexity the schemes seem to be quite close, and the choice of the system designer may be determined by other factors     

Multinational data-privacy laws: an introduction for IT managers

Information-technology managers at United States companies are likely to be affected by recent legislation in the European Union and in Canada that restricts the transfer of citizens' personal information to countries that do not protect that information adequately. We argue that, from both ethical and pragmatic perspectives, USA businesses should reject the voluntary, self-certifying approach to data protection currently in favor in the United States. USA businesses should advocate instead for a European approach that mandates stronger data protection and establishes a government agency charged with enforcing it. If the USA adopted a European approach to data privacy, USA businesses would attract more customers and avoid the legal problems that are likely to result when European and Canadian data-privacy authorities begin to enforce their new laws vigorously.     

Intercarrier bandwidth exchange: an engineering framework

A mismatch between demand and supply for bandwidth is common in transport carrier networks. This mismatch is generally a result of the disparity between a carrier's capacity buildout and its anticipated customer demand. A carrier with temporary bandwidth deficit or lack of presence in a geographical region and a carrier with surplus capacity in the right locations can be brought together by the emerging bandwidth exchange technology. Bandwidth exchange offers a win-win solution, in which the carrier with a deficit avoids losing revenue by buying capacity from the carrier with surplus, and the latter makes additional revenue by retail sale of its excess capacity. While the concept of real-time purchase and exchange of bandwidth has attracted a lot of attention, many technical challenges stand in the way of making it a reality. The purpose of this article is to provide an engineering framework for enabling real-time bandwidth exchange with committed quality of service and service level agreement among transport carriers. Special emphasis is given to identifying the architectural requirements and the enabling infrastructure necessary for building a viable bandwidth exchange that can be used for creating revenue out of surplus stranded capacity. Indepth analysis of cross-carrier service level agreement specification, capacity publication, route design, and service provisioning are also provided in the article.     

Client and legacy integration in object oriented Web engineering

To be successful, e-commerce and Web information systems depend on systematic analysis and design processes. Even more important, our method is based on standard techniques like UML, XML, and Corba. It also allows for the integration of different kinds of clients from Java over HTML to WAP into a distributed environment. Through the smooth integration of highly heterogeneous legacy software and databases, our object oriented Web design provides techniques to achieve this goal     

系统安全工程能力成熟模型评估方法

系统安全工程能力成熟模型评估方法（SSAM）是利用系统安全工程能力成熟模型（SSE－CMM）评价组织的过程能力或企业的系统安全工程功能的方法，本文结合SSAM的结构介绍了使用SSAM的基本过程和思想。     

OpenWebServer: an adaptive Web server using software patterns

The explosive growth of the Web requires servers to be extensible and configurable. This article describes our adaptive Web server, OpenWebServer, which uses the Reflection architectural pattern. The server supports the dynamic adoption of functionality, such as introducing additional protocols, modifying execution policies, and tuning system performance. This is achieved by specifying and coordinating metaobjects that represent various aspects within the Web server. We present a Java version of OpenWebServer, and describe its design using Reflection and other design patterns: Singleton, Bridge, Mediator, Observer, and Decorator. These patterns provide a better-factored design and allow the Web server to evolve continually beyond static and monolithic servers     

Digital IF filter technology for 3G systems: an introduction

Contemporary digital communication systems such as those being developed for the deployment of third-generation cellular require ever increasing performance levels in their signal processing chains to extract higher data rates and to provide decreasing price/performance ratios. Additionally, communication systems like 3G that must support multimode flexibility, such as the software radio, must be able to reconfigure their signal processing chains while keeping circuit complexity to a minimum. Given these constraints, DSP is the only viable alternative for baseband processing and digital IF processing. DSP is in many cases the only viable alternative to analog IF processing. Digital IF affords greater flexibility and higher performance in terms of attenuation and selectivity. It also offers better time and environment stability and lower equipment production costs than traditional analog techniques     

Asynchronous learning networks: an information-technology-basedinfrastructure for engineering education

This paper describes the state of the art in the field of asynchronous learning networks (ALNs). Widespread adoption of ALN methods is expected to transform the way engineering education is conducted. Information-technology-enabled communication and dissemination capabilities are likely to impact the economics of engineering education, access to engineering education,the roles of faculty and students, timing and methods of education, the development of students' technical and communication skills, and the ways that traditional engineering students and lifelong learners interact with industry and alumni