How do the Kara, a small population residing on the eastern bank of the Omo River in southern Ethiopia, manage to be neither annexed nor exterminated by any of the larger groups that surround them? Through the theoretical lens of rhetoric, this book offers an interactionalist analysis of how the Kara negotiate ethnic and non-ethnic differences among themselves, the relations with their various neighbors, and eventually their integration in the Ethiopian state. The model of the “Wheel of Autonomy” captures the interplay of distinction, agency and autonomy that drives these dynamics and offers an innovative perspective on social relations.

After a long period, in which the research focused mainly on industrial robotics, nowadays scientists aim to build machines able to act autonomously in unstructured domains, and to interface friendly with humans, while performing intelligently their assigned tasks. Such intelligent autonomous systems are now being intensively developed, and are ready to be applied to every field, from social life to modern enterprises. We believe the following years will be increasingly characterised by their extensive use. This is dramatically changing the whole scenario of human society.

This book establishes the foundations needed to realize the ultimate goals for artificial intelligence, such as autonomy and trustworthiness. Aimed at scientists, researchers, technologists, practitioners, and students, it brings together contributions offering the basics, the challenges and the state-of-the-art on trusted autonomous systems in a single volume. The book is structured in three parts, with chapters written by eminent researchers and outstanding practitioners and users in the field. The first part covers foundational artificial intelligence technologies, while the second part covers philosophical, practical and technological perspectives on trust. Lastly, the third part presents advanced topics necessary to create future trusted autonomous systems. The book augments theory with real-world applications including cyber security, defence and space.

Provides compelling evidence that creation myths from the dawn of civilization correspond to cutting edge astronomical discoveries • Exposes the contradictions in current cosmological theory and offers a scientific basis for the ancient myths and esoteric lore that encode a theory of continuous creation • By the scientist who was the first to disprove the Big Bang theory on the basis of observational data Recent developments in theoretical physics, including systems theory and chaos theory, are challenging long-held mechanistic views of the universe. Many thinkers have speculated that the remnants of an ancient science survive today in mythology and esoteric lore, but until now the scientific basis for this belief has remained cloaked in mystery. Paul LaViolette reveals the remarkable parallels between the cutting edge of scientific thought and creation myths from the dawn of civilization. With a scientific sophistication rare among mythologists, LaViolette deciphers the forgotten cosmology of ancient lore in a groundbreaking scientific tour de force. In direct, nontechnical language, he shows how these myths encode a theory of cosmology in which matter is continually growing from seeds of order that emerge spontaneously from the surrounding subquantum chaos. Exposing the contradictions that bedevil the big bang theory, LaViolette offers both the specialist and the general reader a controversial and highly stimulating critique of prevailing misconceptions about the seldom-questioned superiority of modern science over ancient cosmology. By restoring and reanimating this ancient scientific worldview, Genesis of the Cosmos leads us beyond the restrictive metaphors of modern science and into a new science for the 21st century.

This volume provides an in-depth analysis of the critical dimensions of higher education in India. It focuses on the growth and expansion of private higher education and public policy. The volume discusses issues related to the growth of for-profit and not-for-profit private higher education institutions and their implications at the policy level. It outlines the role of such institutions towards the internationalization and global ranking of the Indian higher education system. The book discusses the trends in internationalisation adopted by private higher education institutions and explains the resulting impact on aspects such as the diversity of programs, skill formation, employability, pedagogic practices, standards, curriculum development, and research and development, as well as the wider externalities in terms of promoting India’s soft power and international relations with other countries. While outlining the challenges of Open Distance Learning (ODL) and online education in India, the book also discusses the use of ICT, OER, and MOOCS among others to address the challenges of the ODL system. This volume will be of interest to teachers, students, and researchers of education, public policy, political science, international relations, law, sociology, economics, and political economy. It will also be useful for academicians, policymakers, and anyone interested in the internationalization of Indian Higher Education.

This resource motivates and develops a new research programme in epistemology that is centred around the concept of epistemic autonomy.--

This book presents the proceedings of the 2020 International Conference on Intelligent Systems Applications in Multi-modal Information Analytics, held in Changzhou, China, on June 18–19, 2020. It provides comprehensive coverage of the latest advances and trends in information technology, science and engineering. It addresses a number of broad themes, including data mining, multi-modal informatics, agent-based and multi-agent systems for health and education informatics, which inspire the development of intelligent information technologies. The contributions cover a wide range of topics such as AI applications and innovations in health and education informatics; data and knowledge management; multi-modal application management; and web/social media mining for multi-modal informatics. Outlining promising future research directions, the book is a valuable resource for students, researchers and professionals, and a useful reference guide for newcomers to the field.

This book is born out of two contradictions: first, it explores the making of meaning in a musical form that was made to lose its meaning at the turn of the nineteenth century; secondly, it is a history of a music that claims to have no history - absolute music. The book therefore writes against that notion of absolute music which tends to be the paradigm for most musicological and analytical studies. It is concerned not so much with what music is, but with why and how meaning is constructed in instrumental music and what structures of knowledge need to be in place for such meaning to exist. From the thought of Vincenzo Galilei to that of Theodore Adorno, Daniel Chua suggests that instrumental music has always been a critical and negative force in modernity, even with its nineteenth-century apotheosis as 'absolute music'.

This book offers readers a holistic understanding of intelligent environments, encompassing their definition, design, interaction paradigms, the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the associated broader philosophical and procedural aspects. Elaborates on AI research and the creation of intelligent environments. Zooms in on designing interactions with the IoT, intelligent agents and robots. Discusses overarching topics for the design of intelligent environments, including user interface adaptation, design for all, sustainability, cybersecurity, privacy and trust. Provides insights into the intricacies of various intelligent environment contexts, such as in automotive, urban interfaces, smart cities and beyond. This book has been written for individuals interested in Human-Computer Interaction research and applications.

The pervasive influence of technology continuously shapes our daily lives. From smartphones to smart homes, technology is revolutionizing the way we live, work and interact with each other. Human-computer interaction (HCI) is a multidisciplinary research field focusing on the study of people interacting with information technology and plays a critical role in the development of computing systems that work well for the people using them, ensuring the seamless integration of interactive systems into our technologically driven lifestyles. The book series contains six volumes providing extensive coverage of the field, wherein each one addresses different theoretical and practical aspects of the HCI discipline. Readers will discover a wealth of information encompassing the foundational elements, state-of-the-art review in established and emerging domains, analysis of contemporary advancements brought about by the evolution of interactive technologies and artificial intelligence, as well as the emergence of diverse societal needs and application domains. These books: · Showcase the pivotal role of HCI in designing interactive applications across a diverse array of domains. · Explore the dynamic relationship between humans and intelligent environments, with a specific emphasis on the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT). · Provide an extensive exploration of interaction design by examining a wide range of technologies, interaction techniques, styles and devices. · Discuss user experience methods and tools for the design of user-friendly products and services. · Bridge the gap between software engineering and human-computer interaction practices for usability, inclusion and sustainability. These volumes are an essential read for individuals interested in human-computer interaction research and applications.