Synthetic individual binaural audio delivery by pinna image processing

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 239-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone Spagnol ◽  
Michele Geronazzo ◽  
Davide Rocchesso ◽  
Federico Avanzini
Keyword(s):  
Sound Source ◽  
Low Complexity ◽  
Head Orientation ◽  
Sound Sources ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Localization Test ◽  
Subjective Measurements ◽  
Head Related Transfer Function ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Better Than

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a system for customized binaural audio delivery based on the extraction of relevant features from a 2-D representation of the listener’s pinna. Design/methodology/approach – The most significant pinna contours are extracted by means of multi-flash imaging, and they provide values for the parameters of a structural head-related transfer function (HRTF) model. The HRTF model spatializes a given sound file according to the listener’s head orientation, tracked by sensor-equipped headphones, with respect to the virtual sound source. Findings – A preliminary localization test shows that the model is able to statically render the elevation of a virtual sound source better than non-individual HRTFs. Research limitations/implications – Results encourage a deeper analysis of the psychoacoustic impact that the individualized HRTF model has on perceived elevation of virtual sound sources. Practical implications – The model has low complexity and is suitable for implementation on mobile devices. The resulting hardware/software package will hopefully allow an easy and low-tech fruition of custom spatial audio to any user. Originality/value – The authors show that custom binaural audio can be successfully deployed without the need of cumbersome subjective measurements.

scholarly journals Organising household consumption and occupational proportions

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 748-772
Author(s):  
Tolu Olarewaju
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Occupational Status ◽  
Household Consumption ◽  
Quantile Regressions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Self Employment ◽  
Causality Tests ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Better Than

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the occupational status and entrepreneurship research in developing countries by proposing that there are implications for household consumption depending on the occupational status proportion of households. When the occupational proportion of the household changes, household consumption is affected. This effect also changes depending on what quantile level the household is in terms of household consumption. Design/methodology/approach The paper makes use of OLS and quantile regressions to examine 6,919 households comprising 40,294 individuals from the 2009 Nigerian Living standards measurement survey. Findings The paper finds that there are implications for household consumption based on the proportion of individuals in each occupational category. The contributions of each employment proportion changes at different quantiles with self-employed individuals increasing household consumption at the lower quantiles but reducing household consumption at the upper quantiles. Crucially, having a higher proportion of unemployed individuals in the household is oftentimes better than having a higher proportion of own account self-employed individuals. Research limitations/implications This paper offers new insights into how occupation proportion influences household consumption in developing countries. As a result, the household could seek to organise its members in such a way as to maximise combined household consumption, as diverse occupational statuses contribute differently to the household consumption at different quantile levels. The nature of the data used in this study however does not allow for causality tests. Practical implications The proportion of employment statuses in the household has implications for household consumption and so the mix of employment in the household is important. The self-employed could also be involved in activities to enhance household consumption that are not captured by labour income. However, self-employment does not seem to always have a positive effect on household consumption and sometimes unemployment might be better. Originality/value The paper provides a new way to view the household as an organising entity in terms of how it can allocate employment proportions to maximise household consumption.

scholarly journals Better than before: the resilient organization in crisis mode

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Epaminondas Koronis ◽  
Stavros Ponis
Keyword(s):  
Crisis Management ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Organizational Characteristics ◽  
Managerial Ability ◽  
Organizational Survival ◽  
Research Directions ◽  
Learning Abilities ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Better Than

Purpose The paper aims to adopt a strategic view of organizational survival and argue that preparedness, responsiveness, adaptability and learning abilities constitute organizational drivers of resilience and provide a new direction on crisis management. Design/methodology/approach As a conceptual and literature exploration, the methodological focus is to combine various concepts within a unified model for resilience. Findings The proposed conceptual model highlights the need for strategic reconfigurations toward the construction of a resilience culture and the development of a supporting social capital in organizations. It also portrays organizational survival and sustainability as being dependent on strategic characteristics rather than on the managerial ability to handle situations and manage crisis. Research limitations/implications In this paper, implications, methodological concerns in the study of resilience and further research directions have been presented. Practical implications The paper approaches a new way of thinking about crises and provides a set of cultural and organizational characteristics that would increase resilience and crisis management abilities. Originality/value While organizations are nowadays more than ever affected by disruptions and crises, their inherent ability and strategies to protect their sustainability have been undertheorized. This paper aims at contributing to a growing and fruitful discussion.

The effect of the valence of sponsorship information on consumers’ attitudes toward the sponsor brand

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 603-616 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Dick
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Condition ◽  
Experimental Research ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Strong Influence ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Negative Condition ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Practical Recommendations ◽  
Better Than

Purpose To date, research on sponsorship considers the effects of only positive or only negative sponsorship information on consumers’ attitudes toward the sponsor brand. However, in practice, sometimes mixed information (positive and negative) is available that influences consumers’ sponsor evaluations. To mirror the information situation of the real world, the purpose of this paper is to investigate how the valence of sponsorship information (only positive vs mixed vs only negative) and the strength of sponsorship information (weak vs strong) influence the consumers’ attitudes toward the sponsor brand. Design/methodology/approach This research uses an experimental research design (n=210). Data were collected among students of a German university. Findings The results reveal that when the strength of information was weak, attitudes in the mixed information condition were not significantly worse than in the only positive condition and significantly better than in the only negative condition. In addition, when the strength of information was strong, attitudes in the mixed information condition were significantly worse than in the only positive condition and significantly better than in the only negative condition. Practical implications This study offers several practical recommendations regarding the sponsors’ evaluation of their investments and the decision to maintain or exit the sponsorship of a controversial object. Originality/value This study expands the research on the effects of available sponsorship information on consumers’ sponsor evaluation. The present research highlights the effects of different types of sponsorship information on consumers’ attitudes and considers the strength of information as a boundary condition of these effects.

RATR of adaptive angular-sector segmentation based on grey incidence analysis model

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-79
Author(s):  
Yongsheng Xiao ◽  
Lizhen Huang ◽  
Jianjiang Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Automatic Target Recognition ◽  
Analysis Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Angular Sector ◽  
Grey Incidence Analysis ◽  
Radar Automatic Target Recognition ◽  
Incidence Analysis ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Better Than ◽  
High Resolution Range Profile

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to solve the azimuth sensitivity of a high-resolution range profile (HRRP), which is one of the biggest obstacles faced by a radar automatic target recognition (RATR) system. Design/methodology/approach Aimed at addressing the shortcomings of the equal angular-sector segmentation based on the scatterer model, an adaptive angular-sector segmentation is proposed on the basis of grey incidence analysis (GIA). Findings The main conclusions reached are as follows. First, the adaptive angular-sector segmentation in terms of GIA is suitable for RATR based on the HRRP; and, second, the adaptive angular-sector segmentation based on the type-B degree of grey incidence model is better than the Deng-Si degree of grey incidence model and the degree of grey slope incidence model. Practical implications The outcome obtained in this paper can be selected for the RATR application. Originality/value This paper has been built on the basis of previous research achievements, and a new RATR method of adaptive angular-sector segmentation is presented based on the GIA.

The great divorce: the freeing of markets from communities and from moral constraint

Humanomics ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 186-198
Author(s):  
Kenneth W. Stikkers
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Adam Smith ◽  
Social Economics ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Classical Economics ◽  
Modern Capitalism ◽  
Extended Analysis ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Moral Constraint ◽  
Better Than

Purpose – This paper aims to explain how economics severed itself from the moral constraint of community and from ethics. Design/methodology/approach – The paper utilizes respected economic histories (e.g. Tawney, Polanyi, Heilbroner) and analyzes central theoretical texts of modern capitalism (e.g. Adam Smith). Findings – This paper concludes that the divorce of economics from community and ethics had historical causes, beginning with enclosure, and was then theoretically justified by the classical economics. Practical implications – The paper suggests that, if social economics wish to reconnect economics with ethics, they need first to understand and to contend with, better than they have, the enormity of the historical and theoretical forces that drove the two apart in the first place. Originality/value – While many social economists argue for the need to connect economics with ethics, few if any have offered an extended analysis of their divorce.

The three laws of business combinations: how to create value by remixing assets

2015 ◽  
Vol 43 (5) ◽  
pp. 18-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Gomes-Casseres
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Fundamental Unit ◽  
Business Combinations ◽  
Unit Of Analysis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Use Of Resources ◽  
The Right ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Share Value ◽  
Better Than

Purpose – The author defines and discusses the three laws of business combinations that are essential to a profitable use of resources. Design/methodology/approach – The author shows how applying these laws is necessary for success. Findings – All business combinations must have the potential to create joint value, must be governed to realize this value, and must share value in a way that provides a reward to each party’s investment Practical implications – In remix strategy, the fundamental unit of analysis is the combination of resources that yields value. That combination competes with other combinations. Some combinations will gain advantage over others because they encompass just the right resources; others will gain advantage because they manage their collective resources better than others do. Originality/value – The author’s insight is that instead seeing competition as a battle of firm vs. firm, practitioners need to understand how bundles of resources compete, regardless of whether they are organized as firms.

“Prevention is better than cure”: challenges in engaging employees through gamification

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Manish Gupta ◽  
Abhishek Behl ◽  
YLN Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Snowball Sampling ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Hr Practices ◽  
Online Mode ◽  
Specific Factors ◽  
Game Elements ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Better Than

PurposeGamification, the use of game elements and techniques in the non-game contexts, is gaining popularity among human resources (HR) in an online mode. This paper intertwines the flow and engagement theories to know the challenges faced by companies in India in implementing gamification in their various HR practices to engage their employees.Design/methodology/approachSemi-structured interviews of only the information-rich cases including game designers and HR practitioners were conducted using snowball sampling technique. The interviews were transcribed and were analysed using thematic analysis.FindingsThree reviewed themes emerged from the data labelled as organization-, employee- and job-specific factors. Separate thematic maps drawn for each of the reviewed themes give particulars pertaining to the issues highlighted by the game designers and the HR practitioners in gamification.Practical implicationsThe results of the study are expected to help the organizations make an informed decision about whether they should go ahead with risking their resources as they expect improved engagement levels at work.Originality/valueThe findings contribute to the online engagement literature by exploring its antecedents in the context of gamification of HR practices for higher engagement at work.

The modern Canadian restaurant: food for thought

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 442-450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bill J. Gregorash
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Service Industry ◽  
Food Service ◽  
Academic Experience ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Doctoral Research ◽  
Food Experience ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Better Than

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present the key food experience factors that affect a consumer’s restaurant meal enjoyment. It considers the effects on the dining experience that come from enhancements in today’s restaurants and the advent of the foodie customer. The paper reviews the modern restaurant scene in Canada and how best practices have created non-events despite differentiation attempts among producers of hospitality experiences. Design/methodology/approach In this paper, the literature regarding current practices in modern restaurants is reviewed, along with a discussion of the foodie consumer. Analysis draws on the theory that many transactions in hospitality are mundane and few offer meta-hospitality memorable moments. Findings With the expanding range of restaurant choice across Canada – serving better-than-ever food options in green environments in unique servicescapes – it would appear that these are the golden years of the food service industry. Yet the reality could be that consumers are walking away feeling that all gastronomic experiences are equally mundane. Practical implications An examination of the way we approach food service as entertainment and escape is called for. Examining hospitality trends is part of what makes the industry a source of fascination for consumers and researchers. Originality/value The author’s culinary background as a professional chef and his recent academic experience, including his doctoral research in a related topic, enriches the originality of this article.

Prevention is better than cure

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 36-38
Keyword(s):  
Middle Ages ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Reading Time ◽  
East India Company ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Pertinent Information ◽  
Set Up ◽  
A Company ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Better Than

Purpose Reviews the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoints practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings When looking at human history, it is interesting to note that companies are a relatively recent phenomenon. They started appearing mostly in Japan in Medieval times, before growing more widely in the Middle Ages before becoming international with the likes of the East India Company and others that were set up with the agreement of the British Crown. Since their beginning, there has always been a strong theme attached to firms which has likened then to human bodies. People refer to the ‘heart’ of a company or its ‘soul’; firms are described as ‘ailing’ or ‘thriving’; even the word ‘corporation’ comes from the Latin word for body. It seems that in seeking to understand how firms work, we use anthropomorphic language to describe them. Practical implications Provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world’s leading organizations. Originality/Value The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

An assessment of OECD sustainable portfolios with a multi-criteria approach under uncertainty

Kybernetes ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klender Cortez Alejandro ◽  
Martha del Pilar Rodríguez García
Keyword(s):  
Financial Performance ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Fuzzy Regression ◽  
Portfolio Performance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Hybrid Methodology ◽  
Better Than

Purpose This paper aims to analyse the differences in financial performance portfolios between sustainable and non-sustainable firms through the use of portfolio theory and OptQuest algorithms from 2007 to 2013. Design/methodology/approach The sample consists of 1,078 firms from 15 Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development countries. A maximisation weighted ratio is estimated by applying OptQuest algorithms to measure the portfolio performance considering a fuzzy Jensen’s alpha and the percentage of the portfolio’s performance that exceeds the market. Findings The results show a similar financial performance in sustainable portfolios (SP) and non-SP, but considering the uncertainty, the performance in sustainable firms was better than that of non-sustainable ones. Uncertainty was reduced, as it passed the beginning of the crisis from 2008-2009 to 2012-2013. Research limitations/implications The main limitation is the different assessments of sustainability indexes in each of the countries. Practical implications The results help investors assess their decisions in an uncertain economic environment and allocate their investment in not only financial terms but also social character. Social implications Countries with higher financial performances in SP show the efficiency in their legal environmental regulations. On the other hand, the degree of uncertainty is lower in the SP than non-SP, suggesting that sustainable firms in financial crisis could be more responsible in social claims such as good working conditions. Originality/value This study contributes to existing research in two ways. First, the paper studies corporate social responsibility by different continents and countries in an uncertain economic timespan. For this, the legal, cultural and socioeconomic divergences and convergences were explored. Second, the research presented an analysis of the financial performance differences between sustainable and non-SP by applying a hybrid methodology with fuzzy regression and OptQuest algorithms.

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