OpenUCT :: Browsing by Subject "Information Technology"

Browsing by Subject "Information Technology"

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Open Access
A comparative study of recurrent neural networks and statistical techniques for forecasting the stock prices of JSE-listed securities
(2022) Galant, Rushin; Marais, Patrick
As machine learning has developed, the attention of stock price forecasters has slowly shifted from traditional statistical forecasting techniques towards machine learning techniques. This study investigated whether machine learning techniques, in particular, recurrent neural networks, do indeed provide greater forecasting accuracy than traditional statistical techniques on the Johannesburg Securities' Exchanges' top forty stocks. The Johannesburg Securities Exchange represents the largest and most developed stock exchange in Africa, though limited research has been performed on the application of machine learning in forecasting stock prices on this exchange. Simple recurrent neural networks, Gated Recurrent Units and Long-Short Term Memory Units were thoroughly evaluated with a Convolutional Neural Network and a random forest were used as machine learning benchmarks. Historical data was collected for the period 2 January 2019 to 29 May 2020, with the 2019 calendar year being used as the training dataset. Both a train once and a Walkforward configuration were used. The number of input observations utilised were varied from four to fifteen observations whilst making forecasts from one up to ten timesteps into the future. The Mean Percentage Error was utilised to measure forecasting accuracy. Different configurations of the Neural Network models were assessed, including considering whether bidirectionality improved forecasting accuracy. The neural networks were run using two different datasets, the historical stock prices on its own and the historical stock prices with the market index (the JSE All Share Index) to determine whether including the market index improves forecasting accuracy. The study found that bidirectional neural networks provided more accurate forecasts than neural networks that did not incorporate bidirectionality. In particular, the Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory provided the greatest forecasting accuracy for one step forecast whilst the Bidirectional GRU was more accurate two to eight time steps into the future with the Bidirectional LSTM model being more accurate for nine and ten time steps into the future. However, the classical statistical model, the theta method, significantly outperformed all machine learning models. This is likely the result of the unforeseen impact of the covid-19 pandemic on financial markets that would not have been factored into the training sets of the machine learning algorithms. . . .
Open Access
A comparison of a factor-based investment strategy and machine learning for predicting excess returns on the JSE
(2018) Drue, Stefan; Moodley, Deshendran
This study investigated the application of Machine Learning to portfolio selection by comparing the application of a Factor Based Investment strategy to one using a Support Vector Machine performing a classification task. The Factor Based Strategy uses regression in order to identify factors correlated to returns, by regressing excess returns against the factor values using historical data from the JSE. A portfolio-sort method is used to construct portfolios. The machine learning model was trained on historical share data from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. The model was tasked with classifying whether a share over or under performed relative to the market. Shares were ranked according to probability of over-performance and divided into equally weighted quartiles. The excess return of the top and bottom quartiles was used to calculate portfolio payoff, which is the basis for comparison. The experiments were divided into time periods to assess the consistency of the factors over different market conditions. The time periods were defined as pre-financial crisis, during the financial crisis, post financial crisis and over the full period. The study was conducted in the context of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Historical data was collected for a 15-year period - from May 2003 to May 2018 - on the constituents of the All Share Index (ALSI). A rolling window methodology was used where the training and testing window was shifted with each iteration over the data. This allowed for a larger number of predictions to be made and for a greater period of comparison with the factorbased strategy. Fourteen factors were used individually as the basis for portfolio construction. While combinations of factors into Quality, Value and Liquidity and Leverage categories was used to investigate the effect of additional inputs into the model. Furthermore, experiments using all factors together were performed. It was found that a single factor FBI can consistently outperform the market, a multi factor FBI also provided consistent excess returns, but the SVM provided consistently larger excess returns with a wide range of factor inputs and beat the FBI in 12 of the 14 different experiments over different time periods.
Open Access
Acquired status in free and open source software user groups
(2010) Matavire, Rangarirai; Brown, Irwin
This study represents a seamless weaving of new and previously seemingly unrelated concepts on Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) participation into an integrated substantive framework. The research demonstrates how patterns of behaviour amongst FOSS participants serve as currency for the acquisition of status. Stages of the Basic Social Process (BSP) that lead to the resolution of the status concern are proposed. The core elements of the BSP are found to be Joining, Learning, Locating, Cultivating and Consolidating. These constructs represent the non-linear stages which the members of the community encountered in their FOSS journey towards acquiring status. The conditions for variation of the constructs are also addressed in this study.
Open Access
Adoption of a visual model for temporal database representation
(2016) Shunmugam, Tamindran; Keet, Catharina; Kuttel, Michelle Mary
Today, in the world of information technology, conceptual model representation of database schemas is challenging for users both in the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and the Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) domain. The primary way to resolve this issue, in both domains, is to use a model that is concise, interpretable and clear to understand, yet encompasses all of the required information to be able to clearly define the database. A temporal database is understood as a database capable of supporting reasoning of time-based data for e.g.: a temporal database can answer questions such as: - for what period was Mrs Jones single before she got married? On the other hand, an atemporal database stores data that is valid today and has no history. In the thesis, I looked at different theoretical temporal visual conceptual models proposed by temporal researchers and aimed, by means of a user-survey consisting of business users, to ascertain towards which models users a preference has. I further asked the users for firstly; whether they prefer textual or graphical representations for the entities, attributes and constraints represented by the visual models, or secondly; whether there is a preference for a specific graphical icon for the temporal entities and lastly; to ascertain if the users show a preference towards a specific theoretical temporal conceptual model. The methodology employed to reach my goal in this thesis, is one of experiments on business users with knowledge enhancements after each experiment. Users were to perform a task, and then based on analysis of the task results, they are taught additional temporal aspects so as improve their knowledge before the next experiment commences. The ultimate aim was to extract a visual conceptual model preference from business users with enhanced knowledge of temporal aspects. This is the first work done in this field and thus will aid researchers in future work, as they will have a temporal conceptual model that promotes effective communication, understandability and interpretability.
Open Access
An application of brain-based education principles with ICT as a cognitive tool: a case study of grade 6 decimal instruction at Sunlands Primary School
(2015) Le Roux, Zelda Joy; Mbogho, Audrey J W
The larger population of South African learners do not learn effectively and struggle with low academic achievements currently. This can be attributed to various factors such as frequent changes in the curriculum, underqualified educators, ineffective teaching methods and barriers to learning existing in classrooms today. Learners need extra support, including cognitive support, but in reality the heavy workload of educators may prevent them from giving learners the needed support. If support is given, it is minimal or not effective enough. Computer technologies may afford both educators and learners such opportunities when used as a cognitive tool in activities that provide the needed support. This research is concerned with the use of computer technology as a cognitive tool to activate learners' cognitive processes, thus enhancing learning, based on Brain Based Education principles. The objective is to lay the foundation in using computer technologies as cognitive tools in educators' teaching practice and instructional design to make teaching and learning more effective, interactive, real world based, giving meaning to what is learnt and to enhance understanding.
Open Access
An automatic marker for vector graphics drawing tasks
(2016) Bunn, Tristan; Marais, Patrick
In recent years, the SVG file format has grown increasingly popular, largely due to its widespread adoption as the standard image format for vector graphics on the World Wide Web. However, vector graphics predate the modern Web, having served an important role in graphic and computer-aided design for decades prior to SVG's adoption as a web standard. Vector graphics are just as - if not more - relevant than ever today. As a result, training in vector graphics software, particularly in graphic and other creative design fields, forms an important part of the skills development necessary to enter the industry. This study explored the feasibility of a web application that can automatically mark/assess drawing tasks completed in popular vector graphics editors such as Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW, and Inkscape. This prototype has been developed using a collection of front-end and back-end web technologies, requiring that users need only a standards-compliant, modern web browser to submit tasks for assessment. Testing was carried out to assess how the application handled SVG markup produced by different users and vector graphics drawing software; and whether the assessment/scoring of submitted tasks was inline with that of a human marker. While some refinement is required, the application assessed six different tasks, submitted eleven times over by as many individuals, and for the greater part was successful in reporting scores in line with that of the researcher. As a prototype, serving as a proof of concept, the project proved the automatic marker a feasible concept. Exactly how marks should be assigned, for which criteria, and how much instruction should be provided are aspects for further study; along with support for curved path segments, and automatic task generation.
Open Access
Bridging the digital divide in African post-conflict countries : a case study of the DRC cities of Kinshasa and Kananga
(2007) Maketa, Lutete Thomas; Mbogho, Audrey J W
The digital divide is largely seen as the main problem that developing economies and societies must overcome to gain economic productivity and social welfare. In this document we state that modern western perception of the digital divide lured advancement of lCT into developing countries especially in Africa. lCT must not be seen as a goal in itself but as a means to service human needs. This study attempts to analyze the willingness of people to adopt existing lCT infrastructures and the factors impeding its use in the DRC's cities of Kinshasa and Kananga.
Open Access
Bridging the digital divide in African post-conflict countries: a case study of the DRC cities in Kinshasa and Kananga
(2007) Thomas, Nakela Lutele; Mbogho, Audrey J W
The digital divide is largely seen as the main problem that developing economies and societies must overcome to gain economic productivity and social welfare. In this document we state that modern western perception of the digital divide lured advancement of ICT into developing countries especially in Africa. ICT must not be seen as a goal in itself but as a means to service human needs. This study attempts to analyze the willingness of people to adopt existing ICT infrastructures and the factors impeding its use in the DRC's cities of Kinshasa and Kananga
Open Access
Can health workers capture data using a generic mobile phone with sufficient accuracy for Capture at Source to be used for clinical research purposes?
(2014) Workman, Michael; Marsden, Gary; Hawkridge, Anthony
Objective: To determine the accuracy, measured by error rate, with which Clinical Research Workers (CRWs), with minimal experience in data entry, could capture data on a feature phone during an interview using two different mobile phone applications, compared to the accuracy with which they could record data on paper Case Report Forms (CRFs). Design: A comparative study was performed where 10 participating CRWs performed 90 mock interviews using either paper CRFs or one of two mobile phone applications. The phone applications were a commonly used open source application and an application custom built for this study that followed a simplified, less flexible user interface paradigm. The answers to the interview questions were randomly generated and provided to the interviewees in sealed envelopes prior to the scheduling of the mock interview. Error rates of the captured data were calculated relative to the randomly generated expected answers. Results and Conclusion: The study aimed to show that error rates of clinical research data captured using a mobile phone application would not be inferior to data recorded on paper CRFs. For the custom application, this desired result was not found unequivocally. An error in judgment when designing the custom phone application resulted in dates being captured in a manner unfamiliar to the study participants, leading to high error rates for this type of data. If this error is condoned by excluding the date type from the results for the custom application, the custom application is shown to be non-inferior, at the 95 confidence level, to standard paper forms when capturing data for clinical research.
Open Access
Communication tools for distance learning students
(2021) Cossa, Adele; Berman, Sonia
In distance learning, ICT tools are used to bridge the instructional gap caused by physical distance between the lecturer and the student. Therefore, more effective communication tools can help to enhance the success of a distance learning curriculum. Communication barriers such as disconnectedness, conceptual confusion and lack of social pressure to perform, can negatively affect the success of distance learning. Careful design and implementation of contextually appropriate communication tools is vital in a distance learning curriculum. The University of Cape Town (UCT) Conversion Masters in Information Technology (MIT) originally used a tool called Vula for communication between staff and students, as well as student-to-student communication. Vula is UCT's implementation of the Sakai learning management system. Between 2016 and 2018, a major shift was observed in the adoption and use of communication tools within the programme. There was a noticeable decrease in dialogue between students and lecturers on Vula, and an increase in student-to-student communication using WhatsApp. In 2018, the Slack communication tool wasintroduced to the MIT degree with the objective of increasing communication and collaboration between students and lecturers. This study investigates the adoption and use of the three communication tools (Vula, WhatsApp and Slack) within the context of the University of Cape Town MIT programme. The research aims to provide an understanding of communication needs and practice that can inform the design of distance learning programmes and enable them to harness the potential of social communication tool features. The study describes the nature of communication within the UCT MIT degree. The research also explores the functional features of the tools and how they are used, and the frequency of interaction on the various communication platforms within the MIT programme. This is complemented by a survey of current MIT students and their perceptions. The research analysed 2605 communication messages in Vula (UCT's name for the Sakai learning management system), Slack and WhatsApp communication tools over the three-year transition period 2016-2018. Feedback from a student survey, in which 11 respondents completed a questionnaire after an interview, is also presented. Based on questionnaire responses from MIT students, Vula is viewed as the best tool for administrative matters, WhatsApp is preferred for sharing information and checking on peers, and Slack is perceived as best for communication with all types of participants - students, lecturers and tutors. Most respondents rated WhatsApp as accessible, convenient and providing a good experience, while far fewer did so for Vula and Slack. WhatsApp was also seen to be the tool students used to reinforce or follow up on communications posted on the other tools.
Open Access
Computational analysis of Escherichia coli O25 and O25b carbohydrate antigens using the CHARMM36 and GLYCAM06 force fields
(2020) Fourie, Alexander Rees; Kuttel, Michelle
The emergence of ST131 extra-intestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli that are resistant to multiple antibiotics is a growing international health concern. Infections are common, treatment options for antibiotic resistant bacteria are limited and there is no vaccine available. Polysaccharides serve key functions in immune response to bacterial infection. The Opolysaccharides present on the cell surface of gram negative bacteria are antigenic and are associated with specific bacterial serogroups. These are, therefore, a potentially effective target for vaccines. Most ST131 E. coli isolates express the O25b antigen and monoclonal antibodies that are specific to it have been isolated. The chemical structure of O25b has been characterized and differentiated from that of the previously known O25 (or O25a) variety. Relatively little is known about the conformations of O25a and O25b and how they differ, however. As conformation is a factor in antigen-antibody binding, differences between the conformations of these two antigens may be relevant to further research into carbohydrate targeted vaccines and diagnosis techniques for ST131:O25b bacteria. The conformations of polysaccharides are typically dynamic in solution and are difficult to determine empirically. Molecular dynamics simulation provides a means of estimating polysaccharide conformation but the results are critically dependent on the quality of the selected force field. Carbohydrate force fields have matured over the past few decades and CHARMM36 and GLYCAM06 are used extensively for the analysis of bacterial polysaccharides. Studies that compare results from these two widely used force fields are, however, still quite rare. Here we use molecular dynamics simulations of unacetylated, 3 RU oligosaccharide extensions to compare the CHARMM36 and GLYCAM06 force fields and to present an initial analysis of the conformations of the O25a and O25b E. coli antigens. We then apply CHARMM36 molecular dynamics simulation to analogous O- and N- acetylated oligosaccharide extensions to gauge the effect of these groups on the conformations of the two antigens and to compare O25a and O25b. Despite some differences, our CHARMM36 and GLYCAM06 simulations are largely in agreement regarding the conformation of O25a trimers without O- or N-acetylation. Both force fields predict extended, linear antigen conformations. Differences between the two force fields are noted in our analogous study of O25b however: GLYCAM06 favors a collapsed, globular oligosaccharide over a more extended molecule favored by CHARMM36; CHARMM36 and GLYCAM06 predict different preferred dihedral values for a conformationally important, main-chain ɑ-L-Rhap-(1->3)- β-D-Glcp bond; GLYCAM06 favors an anti-Ψ, anti-ω orientation of a side-chain β-D-Glc-(1->6)-ɑD-Glc bond over an anti-Ψ, syn-ω orientation favored by CHARMM36. These findings are in agreement with other studies that indicate the collapse of some oligosaccharides into metastable globular conformations during simulations with GLYCAM06. Our CHARMM36 simulations of O- and N-acetylated, 3 RU oligosaccharide extensions of O25a and O25b indicate large differences between the conformations of the two antigens: First, the O25b trimer favors either a compressed or extended helical conformation in solution whereas the O25a trimer favors a single, extended conformation. Second, O25a and O25b exhibit notably different dihedral values for conformationally important glycosidic bonds that correspond with the reported structural differences between the two antigens. Third, O- and N-acetylation is found to facilitate rotation about a key ɑ-D-Glcp-(1->3)-ɑ-L-Rhap2Ac bond in O25b that, in turn, facilitates the formation of compressed, helical O25b conformations. These compressed conformations are stabilized by intramolecular hydrogen bonds that involve O- and N-acetyl groups. Finally, N-acetyl groups appear to be shielded on the inside of the compressed O25b helix whereas O-acetyl groups appear to be exposed on the outside of the molecule. We postulate that these large conformational differences provide a rationale for the clinically noted differences in cross reactivity of monoclonal antibodies for the O25a and O25b antigens.
Open Access
A cross-platform usability evaluation of 2D visual tagging systems
(2007) King, Samuel Olugbenga; Mbogho, Audrey J W
By encoding 2D bar codes that store URL links, SMS or plain text, 2D visual tags link infonnation about objects in the physical world to online or offline content. The existence of physical world hyperlinks in the fonn of 2D visual tags that are placed in the natural environment therefore makes new social and cultural interaction modes possible. Although 2D visual tagging systems have much potential to positively influence the way people, and Africans in particular, interact with the physical world, there has been no indepth evaluation or cross-platfonn usability assessment of available 2D visual tagging systems. Research in the field has primarily focused on the description and evaluation of prototype visual tagging applications. The deployment and use of 2D visual tagging systems have also not been comprehensively tested in Africa. To evaluate the 2D visual tagging paradigm, five 2D visual tagging systems were selected for this study.
Open Access
Decision tree classifiers for incident call data sets
(2017) Igboamalu, Frank Nonso; Berman, Sonia
Information technology (IT) has become one of the key technologies for economic and social development in any organization. Therefore the management of Information technology incidents, and particularly in the area of resolving the problem very fast, is of concern to Information technology managers. Delays can result when incorrect subjects are assigned to Information technology incident calls: because the person sent to remedy the problem has the wrong expertise or has not brought with them the software or hardware they need to help that user. In the case study used for this work, there are no management checks in place to verify the assigning of incident description subjects. This research aims to develop a method that will tackle the problem of wrongly assigned subjects for incident descriptions. In particular, this study explores the Information technology incident calls database of an oil and gas company as a case study. The approach was to explore the Information technology incident descriptions and their assigned subjects; thereafter the correctly-assigned records were used for training decision tree classification algorithms using Waikato Environment for Knowledge Analysis (WEKA) software. Finally, the records incorrectly assigned a subject by human operators were used for testing. The J48 algorithm gave the best performance and accuracy, and was able to correctly assign subjects to 81% of the records wrongly classified by human operators.
Open Access
Designing an effective user interface for the Android tablet environment
(2015) Chang, Genevieve; Kuttel, Michelle Mary
With over 1.3 million applications on the Android marketplace, there is increasing competition between mobile applications for customer sales. As usability is a significant factor in an application's success, many mobile developers refer to the Android design guidelines when designing the user interface (UI). These principles help to provide consistency of navigation and aesthetics, with the rest of the Android platform. However, misinterpretation of the abstract guidelines may mean that patterns and elements selected to organise content of an application do not improve the usability. Therefore, usability tests would be beneficial to ensure that an application meets objectives efficiently and improve on user experience. Usability testing is an important and crucial step in the mobile development process Many freelance developers, however, have limited resources for usability testing, even though the advantages of usability feedback during initial development stages are clear and can save time and money in the long-run. In this thesis, we investigate which method of usability testing is most useful for resource constrained mobile developers. To test the efficacy of Android guidelines, three alternate designs of a unique Android tablet application, Glycano, are developed. High-fidelity paper prototypes were presented to end-users for usability testing and to usability experts for heuristic evaluations. Both usability and heuristic tests demonstrated that following the Android guidelines aids in user familiarity and learnability. Regardless of the different UI designs of the three mockups, Android guidelines provided an initial level of usability by providing familiarity to proficient users and an intuitiveness of certain patterns to new users. However, efficiency in building Glycano schematics was an issue that arose consistently. Testing with end-users and experts, revealed several navigational problems. Usability experts uncovered more general UI problems than the end-user group, who focused more on the content of the application. More refinements and suggestions of additional features to enhance usability and user experience were provided by the experts. Use of usability experts would therefore be most advantageous in initial design stages of an application. Feedback from usability testing is, however, also beneficial and is more valuable than not performing any test at all.
Open Access
An efficient management system for large digital object collections
(2011) Van Niekerk, Kathryn; Suleman, Hussein
Cultures evolve continuously, and it is therefore vital to track and record these changes, and most importantly of all, manage the resulting huge mass of data such as images, video clips, audio recordings and documents. This thesis examines the design of a Web-based solution, hereafter referred to as the Information Management System (IMS), to handle the efficient, accurate and secure management of a large number of objects.
Open Access
Enhancing colour-coded poll sheets using computer vision as a viable Audience Response System (ARS) in Africa
(2018) Muchaneta, Irikidzai Zorodzai; Gain, James; Marais, Patrick
Audience Response Systems (ARS) give a facilitator accurate feedback on a question posed to the listeners. The most common form of ARS are clickers; Clickers are handheld response gadgets that act as a medium of communication between the students and facilitator. Clickers are prohibitively expensive creating a need to innovate low-cost alternatives with high accuracy. This study builds on earlier research by Gain (2013) which aims to show that computer vision and coloured poll sheets can be an alternative to clicker based ARS. This thesis examines a proposal to create an alternative to clickers applicable to the African context, where the main deterrent is cost. This thesis studies the computer vision structures of feature detection, extraction and recognition. In this research project, an experimental study was conducted using various lecture theatres with students ranging from 50 - 150. Python and OpenCV tools were used to analyze the photographs and document the performance as well as observing the different conditions in which to acquire results. The research had an average detection rate of 75% this points to a promising alternative audience response system as measured by time, cost and error rate. Further work on the capture of the poll sheet would significantly increase this result. With regards to cost, the computer vision coloured poll sheet alternative is significantly cheaper than clickers.
Open Access
Enterprise architecture driven design of an artefact to support strategic Information Technology decision-making of Small Enterprises in Nigeria and South Africa
(2018) Alhassan, Mohammed; Brown, Irwin
Information Technology (IT) is inevitably influencing the way enterprises operate, compete, and grow. The contemporary disruption has not excluded small companies. Small enterprises play a significant role in the growth of every economy but are hindered by limited skills, time, and money. The attributes of small enterprises influence the strategic and day-to-day operations. Small enterprise owners are often the managers who make the strategic decisions in order to solve specific problems. The decision style of small enterprise owner-managers limits the leveraging of IT. To ensure the sustainability of small enterprises in a contemporary business ecosystem, it is pertinent to strategise IT investment decisions. Enterprise architecture is a well-known approach to business and IT alignment. This study aimsto discover and develop how the complex enterprise architecture principles can strategise the IT decisionmaking process in small enterprises with limited resources and informal structures. The pragmatic philosophic stance was the premise for understanding the decision challenges and the development of a roadmap to intervene the problems the researcher identified. The Vaishnavi and Kuechler design science research methodology guided this study. The qualitative research approach was employed to collect verbal data with eleven small enterprise ownermanagers to understand the processes and the challenges of making IT decision in small enterprises. A thematic analysis of the findings revealed that lack of formalisation, limited information, and lack of IT skill created a critical bottleneck of IT investment decisions in small enterprises. An enterprise architecture-driven framework was developed to overcome the bounded rationality approach to IT choices in small enterprises. The framework holistically assesses organisational business-IT capabilities, constraints, and criteria to guide the decisionmaker's choice. The characteristics of small enterprises limit the successful implementation of the enterprise architecture-driven framework as a theoretical guideline for making optimal IT decisions in small enterprises. This study further developed an online IT decision-assistive tool informed by the framework. The instantiation artefact was demonstrated with six small enterprise owners from Nigeria and South Africa. The findings affirmed the prospect, potential, and relevance of an enterprise architecture-driven artefact as a tool to optimise strategic IT decisions in small manufacturing, service, and retail enterprises. The artefact developed in this study provided a practical intervention to the challenges of IT investment decisions in small enterprises.
Open Access
Evaluation of the competence and attitudes of primary care physicians towards information technology
(2000) Vogelzang, Barnabas Heinrich; Boonzaier, David; Cook, Donald
The aim of this project was to produce some principles that would assist software developers (SD's) in the design of software for South African general medical practitioners (GP's). The author wanted to give SD's a cognitive model of general medical practice in the hope that this will improve the relevancy of future medical software. This cognitive model is in the form of a set of principles that SD's can keep in mind when developing software for GP's. An evaluation was done of the attitudes and competence of GP's towards information technology. This was done via detailed telephonic interviews, which were analyzed in order to deduce these principles.
Open Access
Evaluation of the usability and usefulness of automatic speech recognition among users in South Africa
(2011) Florence, Idowu Modupeola; Mbogho, Audrey J W
An automatic speech recognition (ASR) system is a software application which recognizes human speech, processes it as input, and displays a text version of the speech as output or uses the input as commands for another application's usage. ASR can either be speaker-dependent or speaker-independent. A speaker-dependent ASR system required every user to perform training before its usage, while speaker-independent ASR requires no prior training before usage...This study involved the evaluation of commercially available English ASR systems, establishing their usability and usefulness among different language groups in South Africa which use English as a common language. Of particular interest was the effect of African accents on the performance of the ASR systems. ASR technology is widely used and researched in the developed world with reported recognition accuracy of up to 99%. However, English spoken with African accents may have adverse effect on the recognition accuracy...
Open Access
Expert system adjudication of hospital data in HIV disease management
(2012) Joseph, Asma; Berman, Sonia
HIV Disease Management Programs (DMP's) are comprehensive programs that are designed to manage the HIV infected patient's treatment in an integrated manner.