Projects / Programmes
Ontology-based E-Services Adoption Improvement
Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
2.07.05 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Computer science and informatics |
Information systems - software |
Code |
Science |
Field |
P175 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Informatics, systems theory |
Code |
Science |
Field |
1.02 |
Natural Sciences |
Computer and information sciences |
E-Services, ontologies, semantic web, e-services repository, guided dialog, intelligent algorithm.
Researchers (1)
no. |
Code |
Name and surname |
Research area |
Role |
Period |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
1. |
27561 |
PhD Luka Pavlič |
Computer science and informatics |
Head |
2010 - 2012 |
186 |
Organisations (1)
Abstract
E-services (IT-supported services, e-services are typically available via a computer network) market has grown considerably. In the case of the Republic of Slovenia, this is also clearly stated in European Commission report for digital economy i2010. Although the report is limited to e-government services, it also gives a good insight into the whole area of e-services. E-services selection is satisfactory to both businesses consumers and individuals. However, we can observe poor use of these services: e-services are used in less than three quarters of businesses consumers and only little over quarter of individual users.
This is why we propose a project that will reduce the gap between the providing the e-services and using them. Since the problem is more obvious in the case of individual users, we will primarily focus on e-services for individual consumers. It is our belief that the results of the research will also be directly applicable to the business consumers.
The research project will serve several original contributions as follows:
· Holistic methodology that, in addition to management repository of e-services, will enable using advanced search mechanisms and submitting e-services easily. It will enable users to participate actively.
· A working prototype platform, which will be realization of proposed methodology. E-services descriptions, their potential and connectivity options will be based on ontologies. Semantic web technologies will be used, as they are proposed by the W3C consortium. On this basis, the platform will offer intelligent components, such as guiding a dialogue with users. Platform will be developed exclusively using open source and freely available software.
· Intelligent component template, which will enable developers to extend our platform with additional 3rd-party intelligent components.
· Demonstration of methodology and platform in real life. It will be performed on e-services, which are intended to student population.
In the intelligent components we will use develop own algorithm, which will guide a dialogue with user. It will be performed on separate user advices in the form of questions and answers and as such automatically guide a dialogue with user. Through dialogue, the user will present the context of the situation that he or she is trying to support with e-services. The platform will propose individual or a combination of e-services that will address the user’s wishes and needs in a given context.
We are going to base our research in established methods of scientific research: the literature review and consideration of any related research. We are going to create test repository of e-services and develop holistic methodology with supporting prototype platform. We are also going to conduct an empirical research that will show whether our approaches improve the level of e-services adoption.
Significance for science
This project includes original scientific contributions that could be used in other domains of scientific research. The most important ones are:
- The holistic methodology for managing and using e-services. It enables intelligent services, such as guiding dialogues with user in order to select appropriate e-service or to find alternative one.
- The formal notation of the knowledge management about e-Services based on ontologies.
- The automatic management of dialogue with the user, based on the advice, in the form of questions and answers.
The expert public have, on the basis of intelligent components, the opportunity to build their own intelligent components, based on our platform. Platform have the ability to be used as a separate e-service, which also opens up the long-term possibilities for platform that we developed.
However, despite the fact that ontologies and semantic web technologies are already relatively well-established, there are still not enough solutions on the market, which would fully exploit the potential of these technologies. Our platform will be from this point of view still a pioneer.
Significance for the country
The Government of the Republic of Slovenia, like other governments in the European Union and other developed countries, accelerated investment in the segment of e-services: for both companies, and ordinary citizens. As we found in the literature review, these e-services are not used sufficiently. Many funds are also given to promote and make citizens aware of the opportunities they get with the use of e-services.
The result of our project is therefore further promotion of the use of existing e-services. Our approach help to accelerate both the use of e-services and the development of e-services.
Since our solution is based on open source and free software, and also supports the integration of users, the low input was achieved in order to reach a significant effect.
We met all the objectives from project proposal. Among others, they include collecting e-services repository in the area of Republic of Slovenia; their classification and smart use in the form of proposing e-services for particular life situation. Web portal also enables the input of new e-services and inserting hints on how to use them.
Direct positive effects of our work are expected mainly in the student population, because we tested our approaches in the domain of student life. Already during the project implementation the students enjoyed using it as an aid to certain procedures (e.g. exchange students, the transition to a higher class, signing to physical education dates, obtaining certification, the acquisition of student referrals, etc.).
Based on experience and generic methodology, it is possible in long-term to establish a platform for other domains, which are likely to gain with the effective use of e-services (e.g. health, justice).
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2010,
2011,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2010,
2011,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si