Research on development of nanotechnology in the Republic of Kazakhstan

In the history of civilization, materials and technology that defined the face of the era have appeared more than once. It is enough to recall the “age” of bronze and iron, steam and electricity, the atomic “age” and the computer age. Nanomaterials (NM) are undoubtedly among such materials, and the 21st century opens the era of nanotechnology. Most experts in the field of science and technology policy, strategic planning and investment are confident that in the next decade nanorevolution is expected in all areas of science, production, defense, medicine, mode of life, recreation and entertainment. Its consequences will be more extensive than the consequences of the computer revolution in the last third of the 20th century, i.e., a large-scale and systematic invasion of nanostructured materials, products and methods of their production will literally come to all spheres of life. The paper analyzes the ways of nanotechnology development and the use of various nanomaterials and nanoproducts in various sectors of the world economy and environmental protection. Nanotechnology is a field of fundamental and applied science that provides theoretical justification for practical methods of research, production, and products application with an atomic structure by manipulating atoms and molecules. The aim of the work is to study the development of nanotechnology and its role in the modern economy. The article considers the ways of development of nanotechnology in Kazakhstan, as well as promising directions of their development and application in the field of mechanical engineering and industry in general.

Personal Technology in the Classroom

College instructors desiring classrooms free from learning distractions often enforce personal-technology-use policies to create what they think is an optimal learning environment, but students tend not to favor restrictive personal technology policies. Which type of personal technology classroom environment maximizes student satisfaction, learning, and attention? We surveyed 280 business communications students in two types of classrooms: a personal technology-restricted environment and a free-use environment. We evaluated student perceptions of cognitive learning, sustained attention, and satisfaction with the course as well as the technology policy governing their classrooms. Students believed they achieved greater cognitive learning in non-restricted personal technology classrooms and perceived no significant difference in sustained attention. Although students may be more satisfied with a free personal-technology-use policy in the classroom, overall satisfaction with the course did not significantly differ according to the classroom environment. We discuss the importance of sustained attention and policy satisfaction for enhancing student course satisfaction in classrooms with both technology policy types.

The Impact of the Implementation of Rural Internet Centers on Rural Residents in Beranang and Tanjung Sepat

The development of information and communication technology (ICT) has been proven to be able to help facilitate daily activities that were previously carried out manually in a more productive direction. There is no doubt technology is also changing the lifestyle of our society. The government has implemented various efforts to ensure that the people in Malaysia, whether in urban or rural areas, can master ICT, including through the Beranang Rural Internet Center (PID) and Tanjung Sepat PID. This study has two objectives, namely to find out the impact of PID implementation on the rural population, as well as to study the proposed improvement of PID implementation on the rural population. This study uses a qualitative approach that is in-depth interviews with policy makers at KKMM and policy implementers of which are supervisors working at PID and also a focus group involving 28 PID users, to collect data. The results of this study found that the implementation of PID is indeed effective in developing the rural population. Consumers get such high satisfaction especially in the economic aspect. However, the limited aspect of facilities interferes with user satisfaction to use this PID. This is because the area allocated for PID is found to be small and only a limited number of computers are provided. Dissemination activities on various PID programs also need to be increased because there are still many rural residents who think that PID is just a place to access the internet. Keywords: Information technology, policy, rural Internet center, rural, digital.

Optimization of STP Innovation Management Mechanisms Driven by Advanced Evolutionary IoT Arithmetic

Since industrialization, manufacturing has been an important pillar of a country’s economic development. Under the dual pressure of the new trend of global manufacturing development and the loss of competitive advantage of manufacturing industry, it is especially important to accelerate the enhancement of national high technology innovation capacity and the optimization of high technology policy innovation management mechanism driven by advanced evolutionary Internet of Things (IoT) arithmetic. The main of this paper thus introduces the effective method of optimization of high technology policy innovation management mechanism driven by advanced evolutionary IoT arithmetic. To study the optimization of high technology policy innovation management mechanism, a conceptual analysis of currently popular information technologies, such as big data technologies, artificial intelligence technologies, and Internet of Things technologies, and an overview of the application of these technologies in microgrids are given. In the paper, all factors are studied using the STP innovation management mechanism-based approach, and finally, all factors are classified into two categories of cause and effect factors by this approach, and the importance of all factors is ranked. Secondly, a wind power prediction algorithm based on data mining technology and an improved algorithm and a PV power prediction algorithm based on a deep neural network were established with the technical support of high-tech information technology such as big data and artificial intelligence. Finally, the majorization of high technology policy innovation management mechanism driven by advanced evolutionary IoT arithmetic is proposed.

Application of AHP in Aerospace Configuration Management

Aerospace products undergo frequent modifications throughout their product life cycle due to changes in requirements, technology, policy or environmental concerns. These modifications/changes are dealt with through configuration management (CM), which is a techno-managerial function. Conflicting interests of teams involved, complexity due to a long product life cycle spanning over years, R&D nature and techno-political compromises often end up in sub-optimal decisions during aerospace product development. In this article, an attempt is made to apply a scientific method to CM decision-making rather than leave it to techno-political compromises. The CM decision-making is modelled as a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) problem and is solved using analytic hierarchy process (AHP). As an example, the CM change proposal on propellant tank material in aerospace is taken up and solved using the model. The authors believe that results of the study will also pave way for substitute development with improved attributes, realized through advances in technologies such as nanotechnology and additive manufacturing, as mentioned in directions for future research.

Stakes, positions and logics: An institutional field analysis of cross-border health IT policy

The concepts field and habitus are used widely and variably in institutional theory. The intellectual antecedents are found in the work of the French Sociologist, Pierre Bourdieu. This study presents a field-level analysis of pan-European policy on cross-border health information technology. Using field theory and institutional theory, we situate field as a multi-level concept which extends institutional and organizational levels of analysis. Empirical data is gathered from European policymakers, health professionals and patient advocacy groups on the diffusion of supra-national health information technology across European Member States. Findings reveal four scenarios depicting field tensions, as ideological and practical imperatives of supra-national health information technology policy mis-align with Member State health systems. This study has implications for policy-makers and other stakeholders, who seek to narrow the digital divide across health fields and sub-fields.

Digital Inclusion Challenges in Bangladesh: A Case of National ICT Policy

This study assesses the impact and effectiveness of the National Information and Communications Technology Policy (NIP) in Bangladesh, which is a key legal framework for ‘Vision 2021’ and ‘Digital Bangladesh’. It investigates the extent to which digital inclusion can be achieved by the NIP strategies, as well as exploring the conceptualisation of digital inclusion, which undergirds the contemporary debate on the digital divide and inclusion. The study employs a qualitative approach using policy goal-means analysis to explore critical scrutiny of the internal rationality and logic of the NIP based on three distinct criteria of the digital inclusion analytical framework: ICT access, use and skills. The analysis argues that the policy is ambiguous and techno-centric, with a narrow digitisation frame of reference, which does not comprehensively address the issues associated with digital inclusion. Policy needs to be consistent and relevant to a person’s daily life, giving the user a sense of empowerment and skill. The article concludes that a focus on a skill-based approach and the context of societal challenges of Bangladesh is crucial to ensuring digital inclusion.

Assessing China’s Economic Catch-up in a Comparative Perspective

Chapter 5 assesses China’s catch-up model, often called the Beijing Consensus, in a comparative perspective. China’s model shares several elements of the East Asian model because it also pursued the export-oriented, outward-looking growth strategies. A further commonality lies in its emphasis on the elements missing from the Washington Consensus, namely, technology policy and higher education revolution. However, the Chinese catch-up model has several unique elements that are not found in that of Taiwan or Korea. These unique features include the following: first, parallel learning from foreign direct investment firms, followed by active promotion of indigenous firms; second, forward engineering (the role of university spin-off firms) in contrast to reverse engineering adopted in Korea and Taiwan; and third, acquisition of foreign technology and brands through international mergers and acquisitions. In general, these strategies help China achieve a “compressed catch-up” and avoid several of the risks involved, including that of the “liberalization trap,” where premature financial liberalization leads to macroeconomic instability.