Abstract

The world around us is evolving. We are living inside evolution. As a practicing architect I find nothing more natural than to look around me and implement relevant changes into my own profession. Taking this seriously means implementing new digital technologies in the very fabric of design methods, from the first conceptual thought and from the first accurately described design proposal. Mass production is soon to be overhauled by the principles of customization, in the form of both industrial mass customization and in the form of distributed small scale household fabrication. Customization, which is the modern made to measure, will change architecture from its very foundations. A completely new esthetic will be the natural outcome of the digital parametric design process that connects the file to factory CNC production methods— a new kind of beauty for a new kind of building. Complexity based on simple rules characterizes the dramatic paradigm shift from mass production to customization. The new kind of building is complex yet systemic in its design method. The new kind of building dramatically enhances the potential of todays architectural expression while keeping strict control on its data, including costs. Truly nonstandard architecture is cost-effective and simply complex.

Abstract

Since the first decade of the 21st Century, an explosion has occurred in the publication of university rankings. Due to the quantity and variety of initiatives, some authors and institutions reflect on the future development of university league tables which, among other factors, will focus on the use of clusters and the interactivity and customization possibilities that webs allow. This paper describes the main characteristics of these new trends, exemplified by initiatives such as the Centrum für Hochschulentwicklung (CHE), Complete university guide (CUG), and College Navigator of Taiwan. Their advantages and disadvantages are discussed.

Abstract

The distribution of electronic books is being transformed from the sale of individual titles to a subscription model, and many subscription services have been created in recent years. The main services are described and compared, detailing their advantages and disadvantages. More than the number of titles offered, their success depends on their ability to retai users, providing value-added services such as customization, recommendations, discovery, and opinion sharing.

Abstract

Technological progress has profoundly changed the way personal data are collected, accessed and used. Those data make possible unprecedented customization of advertising which, in turn, is the business model adopted by many of the most successful Internet companies. Yet measuring the value being generated is still a complex task. This paper presents a review of the literature on this subject. It has been found that the economic analysis of personal information has been conducted up to now from a qualitative perspective mainly linked to privacy issues. A better understanding of a quantitative approach to this topic is urgently needed.

Abstract

The shift of radio listeners from radios to smartphones has expanded the communicative potential of the broadcasters due to the characteristics of this new distribution platform. The convergence of content and communication on the smartphone screen gives radio stations the opportunity to enrich their multimedia messages, explore new ways of distribution and achieve advances in customization of the medium. The connectivity of these devices and location technologies also multiply the potential for local information, enabling a contextualized experience. This paper aims to analyse the adaptation of talk radio stations in Spain and Portugal to the radioapps from a content perspective and also to assess the possibilities of customizing access and consumption.

Abstract

The design of TV programmes schedule according to the different profiles of the audience favours a customized television watching by selective audiences. This work determines the different types of audience according to age. Such work develops a methodology for the design of TV programme schedules fit to each type of audience, with the purpose of providing customized solutions that favour the intelligent consumption of television. In addition, the design of these pro-gramme grids means an advance in the knowledge of initiatives towards the customization of television contents. This is a very important social demand as a result of the influence of the interactivity generated by the Internet.