Experiences with information locator services

Over the last few years, governments and other organizations have been using new technologies to create networked Information Locator Services that help people find information resources. These services not only enhance access to information, but also are designed to support fundamental information policy principles. This article relates experiences in developing and promoting services interoperable with the Global Information Locator Service standard that has now been adopted and promoted in many forums worldwide. The article describes sample implementations and touches on the strategic choices made in public policy, standards, and technology. Ten recommendations are offered for successful implementation of an Information Locator Service. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.     

eParticipation practices and mechanisms of influence: An investigation of public policymaking

This paper investigates eParticipation practices and the mechanisms of influence that help promote changes in public policy formulation. We use the perspective of power as a lens for our investigation. We analyze eParticipation processes in the drafting of three public mobility policies in major Brazilian cities. Based on comparative and retrospective cases, we propose a processual framework for understanding eParticipation practices and the mechanisms used over time to influence decision-making. We show how the actors involved, tools chosen, platform design, interactions on the platform, mediation, and mechanisms used by engaged citizens and the government influence public policymaking. Our study contributes to the literature concerning eParticipation with an original processual framework to explain actors' practices and the mechanisms of influence on policymaking in digital participation spaces. Additionally, we broaden the discussion regarding the complementarity between possession and practice views of power. We argue that a better understanding of the eParticipation platform interactions that influence public policy decisions requires attention to formal authority and critical resource control. However, it is also necessary to recognize the interactions and mechanisms implemented in practice. Our findings are helpful for policymakers seeking to create effective participatory processes while considering citizens' opinions.     

Analysis of Statistical Question Classification for Fact-Based Questions

Question classification systems play an important role in question answering systems and can be used in a wide range of other domains. The goal of question classification is to accurately assign labels to questions based on expected answer type. Most approaches in the past have relied on matching questions against hand-crafted rules. However, rules require laborious effort to create and often suffer from being too specific. Statistical question classification methods overcome these issues by employing machine learning techniques. We empirically show that a statistical approach is robust and achieves good performance on three diverse data sets with little or no hand tuning. Furthermore, we examine the role different syntactic and semantic features have on performance. We find that semantic features tend to increase performance more than purely syntactic features. Finally, we analyze common causes of misclassification error and provide insight into ways they may be overcome.     

Regulating artificial intelligence: Proposal for a global solution

With increasing ubiquity of artificial intelligence (AI) in modern societies, individual countries and the international community are working hard to create an innovation-friendly, yet safe, regulatory environment. Adequate regulation is key to maximize the benefits and minimize the risks stemming from AI technologies. Developing regulatory frameworks is, however, challenging due to AI's global reach, agency problems present in regulation, and the existence of widespread misconceptions about the very notion of regulation. This paper makes three claims: (1) Based on interdisciplinary insights, we show that AI-related challenges cannot be tackled effectively without sincere international coordination supported by robust, consistent domestic, regional, and international governance arrangements. (2) Against this backdrop, we propose the establishment of an international AI governance framework to spearhead initiatives to create a consistent, global enabling regulatory environment, which is necessary for the successful and responsible adoption of AI technologies. To facilitate the practical implementation of our recommendation, we provide a simplified impact assessment on regulatory architecture and governance design options, appropriate to the scope of the paper. (3) We draw attention to communication challenges, which we believe are underestimated barriers hindering contemporary efforts to develop AI regulatory regimes. We argue that a fundamental change of mindset regarding the nature of regulation is necessary to remove these, and put forward some recommendations on how to achieve this.     

A path-dependence perspective on the adoption of Internet of Things: Evidence from early adopters of smart and connected sensors in the United States

As an integral part of the Internet of Things (IoT), smart and connected sensors are emerging information and communication technologies that collect and transmit real-time data from various urban domains to inform decision-making. While smart sensors and IoT technologies have great potential to transform public service provision, their adoption in the public sector seems to be slow and incremental. Using cross-sectional data of 65 large and mid-sized cities in the United States, we examine what affects local governments' adoption of smart and connected sensors. We propose a path-dependence explanation for the incremental adoption and test if a local government's sensor adoption behavior is shaped by its existing policy priorities and managerial practices in related fields. Our results show that local governments' early adoption of smart sensors is likely to stem from their needs in specific policy domains. We also find that a local government's historical paths on urban sustainability and data-driven decision-making practices can predict its trajectory of sensor deployment, in terms of the scope and the integration of smart sensors across different urban domains. Surprisingly, a local government's e-government progressiveness is not a significant predictor. Our results confirm the incremental change in smart sensor adoption and provide implications for local governments' IoT planning.     

Research and usage of collection level metadata in Chinese digital libraries

The World Wide Web and other information technologies have deeply changed our information environment and influenced how we index and access the information we need. The library is a good example of this revolution. Instead of a building that holds books, the library is evolving into an electronic portal to digital materials from across the globe. Facing so many distributed and heterogeneous digital resources, layered metadata are efficient but sophisticated tools that make it easier to find the best information resources. In recent years many types of item-level metadata with which people are familiar have appeared. In contrast to item-level metadata, collection level metadata has not been broadly used, especially in China. By illustrating what a collection is and why we should create collection level metadata, we introduce the research and usage of collection level metadata in China and analyze the problems and limitations of the metadata being used. Some suggestions as to its use are also mentioned.     

国外开放政府数据政策以及图书馆作用的综述

[目的/意义]图书馆在知识社会发展中扮演着重要角色,政府数据开放共享有利于人们利用数据创造知识,分析政策要素可以协助图书馆在收集、管理、处理、服务上厘清权益问题并制订实施方案。[方法/过程]调研国外开放政府数据政策,从执行方案、权责声明、服务政策三个方面综述政策要素,并以综述结果为基础分析图书馆的作用。[结果/结论]完善的政策体系有助于数据共享,而且图书馆可以协助推动良好实践,其中政策要素包括:执行方案(界定政策范围、组织推进小组、明确执行任务)、权责声明(建立问责机制、遵循既有法规、坚持开放边界)、服务政策(规划基础设施、提出服务要求、设定屏蔽原则)等。     

公共部门信息资源增值开发利用效率研究述评

公共部门信息资源蕴含着极大的经济价值和社会价值,是具有市场开发前景的特殊信息资源。本文以国内外公共部门信息资源增值开发利用效率为研究对象,分析国内外相关研究进展。研究发现,公共部门信息资源增值开发利用效率研究较为全面,包括政策制度、市场机制等宏观层面,以及技术等中观层面和产品与服务等微观层面,具有一定的概括性与普适性。同时发现,基于用户视角的衡量与评价研究,对具体公共部门、具体信息资源类型的针对性研究,系统运用实证研究方法开展的研究是未来的重点研究领域。参考文献59。     

Artificial intelligence for the public sector: results of landscaping the use of AI in government across the European Union

Artificial Intelligence is increasingly being used by public sector organisations. Previous research highlighted that the use of AI technologies in government could improve policy making processes, public service delivery and the internal management of public administrations. In this article, we explore to which extent the use of AI in the public sector impacts these core governance functions. Findings from the review of a sample of 250 cases across the European Union, show that AI is used mainly to support improving public service delivery, followed by enhancing internal management and only in a limited number assist directly or indirectly policy decision-making. The analysis suggests that different types of AI technologies and applications are used in different governance functions, highlighting the need to further in-depth investigation to better understand the role and impact of use in what is being defined the governance “of, with and by AI”.     

中日美高校图书馆残疾人读者服务比较研究

文章在概述中日美高校图书馆在残疾读者服务方面现状的基础上,对三个国家高校图书馆的政策环境建设、设施设备建设、服务制度建设、服务资源建设进行了对比研究,认为我国高校图书馆与日美高校图书馆相比,残疾人读者服务存在着较大的差距或不足,在具体的实践工作中,除制定更加详尽的政策外,高校图书馆还需转变服务理念,在馆舍设施、辅助设备、馆员素质、服务资源等方面加强建设。     

Determinants of digital innovation in the public sector

This study explores the determinants of digital innovation in the public sector. Focusing specifically on new digital technologies, such as big data, artificial intelligence, Internet of things, and augmented reality, we explained the wide variation in how Korean local governments used these technologies to transform their services. We found support for four theoretical mechanisms. First, our findings support the existence of demand-pull innovation in the public sector: public organizations respond to citizen demands or needs for innovation. Second, we also find support for an electoral incentive hypothesis, which posits that local governments' motivation for digital innovation is influenced by local politicians' electoral incentives. Third, our results show the existence of isomorphic pressure as a driver for public sector innovation: public organizations emulate their neighbors in adopting innovative practices. Fourth, the results support the upper echelons theory, as younger policymakers are more active innovators.     

RSS在高校图书馆应用的大学生需求调查分析——以南京高校为例

通过对中美高校图书馆开展RSS服务的网络调查,发现我国高校图书馆开展RSS服务的不足之处;然后以南京地区高校为例,对RSS在高校图书馆应用的大学生需求进行问卷调查,了解当今大学生对高校图书馆提供的RSS服务的认知、需求和利用情况;最后对高校图书馆根据用户需求开展RSS服务提出建议,加大RSS服务推广力度,提供详细的RSS操作说明及工具,针对用户专业特点开展RSS服务,加强RSS与其他2.0技术的融合,创造图书馆2.0技术学习氛围。     

Suggesting frameworks of citizen-sourcing via Government 2.0

Through various platforms enabled by Web 2.0 technologies, citizens can collectively create public information, provide service, and take part in policy processes. Pushed by the Open Government Directive of the Obama administration, citizen-sourcing may be a new mode of government operations in the U.S. This paper suggests two frameworks to examine the emerging mechanism. The first framework provides three dimensions of citizen-sourcing initiatives: purpose (image-making or ideation), collective intelligence type (professional knowledge or innovative ideas), and strategy (contest, wiki, social networking, or social voting). Second, the paper presents a framework for assessing current citizen-sourcing initiatives. Its categories include design evaluation, process evaluation, and outcome evaluation. The performance of citizen-sourcing primarily depends on the appropriateness of the platform design. The effectiveness of the process needs to be evaluated in terms of the Open Government Directive's three pillar goals of transparency, participation, and collaboration. Evaluating the impact of citizen-sourcing will reveal whether citizen-sourcing is rhetorical or if it actually exerts significant effects on society.     

(12) The Public Library Situation in Indonesia

This article discusses information policy disputes in Iceland in the last years. Information policy in Iceland has three main strands. The first is the policy laid out by the government in 1995 and 1996, mainly defining the public sector as a buyer of information services. This policy gave the new information industries wide berth to make them better suited to create new jobs. Within that broad policy, individual ministries had scope to form their own policies. The Ministry for Education, Culture and Science has used the opportunity to subscribe nationally to a host of databases. The second strand is the Health Sector Database which sprang from a business idea and has been controversial ever since. The third strand is personal data protection and privacy, where Iceland follows Europe closely. Since the main field of dispute has been the formation of the Health Sector Database, a great part of the article discusses legal, ethical and social questions concerning that database.     

Information Policy Disputes in Iceland

This article discusses information policy disputes in Iceland in the last years. Information policy in Iceland has three main strands. The first is the policy laid out by the government in 1995 and 1996, mainly defining the public sector as a buyer of information services. This policy gave the new information industries wide berth to make them better suited to create new jobs. Within that broad policy, individual ministries had scope to form their own policies. The Ministry for Education, Culture and Science has used the opportunity to subscribe nationally to a host of databases. The second strand is the Health Sector Database which sprang from a business idea and has been controversial ever since. The third strand is personal data protection and privacy, where Iceland follows Europe closely. Since the main field of dispute has been the formation of the Health Sector Database, a great part of the article discusses legal, ethical and social questions concerning that database.     

政策工具自动识别方法与实证研究

［目的/意义］ 政策工具的识别与分析是政策研究的重要手段之一。此项工作目前多以人工开展。本文运用深度学习方法进行政策工具的自动识别,以期提高政策工具识别的效率。［方法/过程］ 设计与实施政策数据采集与清洗——政策工具人工标引——模型训练——结果解读的政策工具自动识别的实验流程,并以北上广贵四地的政府信息公开政策为例,对比传统机器学习方法和深度学习方法在政策工具识别任务上的性能表现。此外,提出整合政策全局信息进行各段落政策工具识别的方案,并通过实验证明方案的有效性。［结果/结论］ 深度学习模型CNN在全量测试数据上达到76.51%的准确率,整合全局信息的CNN模型达到77.13%的准确率。而仅对模型的高置信度结果进行评估发现,整合全局信息的CNN模型在其中55.63%的测试数据上准确率达到了95.44%。该准确率已经达到了实用的要求,表明超过一半的政策工具标引可以借用模型的高置信度结果,无需人工复核。基于深度学习方法研究政策工具的自动识别取得较好的效果,提升政策工具标引的效率,为大数据量的政策工具自动识别提供正面经验。     

Communication practices of the Karen in Sheffield: seeking to navigate their three zones of displacement

This study investigates communication practices of a newly arrived Karen refugee community in the UK who, as well as establishing themselves in a strange country, seek to keep in touch, campaign politically and maintain identity collectively through communication and contact with their global diaspora. We look at the technologies, motivations and inhibiting factors applying to the communication by adult members of this community and construct the idea of three zones of displacement which help to model the particular contexts, challenges and methods of their communication. We find that, overall, they are using a wide range of internet-based technologies, with the aim to ‘keep-in-touch’ (personal contacts) and to ‘spread the word’ (political communication). This also includes archaic, traditional and hybrid methods to achieve extended communication with contacts in other ‘zones’. We also identify the importance of the notion of ‘village’ as metaphor and entity in their conceptualisation of diasporic and local community cohesion. We identify the key inhibitors to their communication as cost, education, literacy and age. Finally, we speculate on the uncertain outcomes of their approach to digital media in achieving their political aims.     

Self-Publishing: Opportunities and Threats in a New Age of Mass Culture

Developments in vanity presses, electronic publishing and social media have led to outstanding growth in the publishing industry. Eighty percent of people believe they have a book in them and the opportunities provided by new technologies are responding to their needs. This raises important questions: What effect will these developments have on the industry? In this environment, is quality control feasible? How will potential readers find their treasure? Will book publishing remain a cost-effective activity? We will examine the publishing industry looking for the answers to these questions and may just find that things are not as bleak as we initially thought.     

Open government data and the private sector: An empirical view on business models and value creation

The release of government data in an open format is broadly expected to generate innovation and economic value. However, despite the emerging public notoriety of this issue, literature is still scarce regarding the commercial application of open government data. The main goal of this study is to understand how firms use open government data to create value. More specifically, we aim to identify what types of use are currently in place and which industries are more prominent in exploiting open government data. Building on the analysis of a dataset of 178 firms that use open government data across various industries in the U.S. we find twelve different atomic models. Additionally, our findings suggest that the way in which open government is used to create value is contingent to the firms' activities. Supported by robust empirical data, we anticipate that our research produces practical insights to entrepreneurs as well as firm managers in deriving value from public datasets, and equip government officials with relevant evidence for advocacy and policy-making.     

Transparency in policy making: A complexity view

The literature on transparency in participatory policy making is flourishing. With the increased digitization of our world, recent work suggests that the digitally-enabled relationships of how policy makers and citizens observe each other may transform policy making in a fundamental way. In this paper, we use complexity theory to examine how digitally-enabled transparency affects the effectiveness of policy making in aligning citizens with the policy goal to improve collective human welfare. We map Kauffman's NKC fitness landscape model, a generalizable theory of co-evolutionary complexity, to the phenomenon of transparent policy making in order to explain how transparency as an enabling generative mechanism encourages citizens to align with the policy goal without exercising central control. In our framework, citizens are agents who co-evolve by adapting to information available in their citizen landscapes. These landscapes represent the citizens' decision context, which policy makers observe and modify throughout an iterative policy cycle. In our study we identify three types of transparencies that relate to three properties of the citizens' decision context: (1) individual decision interdependence; (2) decision bias; and (3) collective decision interdependence. Using conceptual modeling, a form of inquiry combining formal representation with empirical sense making in three policy domains (e-health, smart transportation, and smart energy), we articulate and empirically validate two generative mechanisms that explain transparency effects for each of the three transparencies: (1) orchestration via iterative landscape “tuning” to reduce ambiguity and simplify citizens' alignment with the policy goal; and (2) social learning via information sharing, a co-evolutionary social “nudge” that encourages citizens to be more open to behavioral changes. Our findings have implications for the literature on transparency in participatory policy making as well as the literature on complexity in public policy and public administration.