Abstract

Doha, Qatar is continuously positioning itself at the forefront of international urbanism with different qualities of expression in terms of economy, culture, and global outlook, and is characterized by fast-tracked urban development process with large-scale urban interventions in the old center. Although the unprecedented urban growth of this city continues to be a subject of discussion, little attention has been given to investigate the new interventions and the resulting effects they have on the old center. This study aims to examine three important urban interventions, namely, the Museum of Islamic Art, the reconstruction of the traditional market called Souq Waqif, and the Msheireb urban regeneration project. It examines local and global issues, universal standard practices, and traditional knowledge. This study employs a descriptive analysis of these interventions to explore the impact of change in the old center, exemplified by socio-spatial and typo-morphological aspects. Reference is made to a number of empirical studies, including behavioral mapping, GIS population statistics, and analysis of historical maps. Results analytically narrate the reactions of these interventions to the possibility of simultaneously adopting universal practices with local knowledge, and whether prioritizing local influences would represent narrow-mindedness in shaping the city.

Abstract

XXI Century television is undergoing a process of transformation. New actors, new products and new ways of consuming television are on the lookout. Interactivity will make the traditional concept of television disappear. Television viewers can design their own grids independently of the operator’s schedule. The convergence of television and computer, Internet, telephone and video games bring us a new concept of television. Television faces two big transformations: digital transformation and that of the concept of «general public». The computer, the computer screen, has the calling of turning into a reception screen in which both computer and television functions fuse. Latest generation mobile telephony is integrating itself is this multimedia complex, in connection with television. Future television cannot dissociate from the Internet.

Abstract

The new definition of the professional profile of information managers in the digital era cannot be uniformly considered, but will be determined by particular variations in each sector. The specific field of audiovisual production, defined by the ever increasing consumption of image-based digital content and a fragmented market of providers, will require a multi-skill profile that is not always compatible with the former monographic identity of information managers in some organizations. This change will not be viable without the provision of appropriate training opportunities that cover all the main new skills requested by this sector, which are identified in this paper.

Abstract

The weighty structures of government are forced to evolve due to the ubiquity of social networks in all areas of society. Governments should lose their distrust of web 2.0 and assume the changes brought about by these new ways of communicating with the public and among officials. Social networks favour participation, transparency and innovation at all levels.

Abstract

Review of the technological advances that have influenced the evolution of the academic library, and description of the actions taken to accommodate them: developing repositories and open access, renovating spaces, providing services to researchers, offering search tools and ebooks. The general conclusions are that academic libraries are healthy because they have been able to anticipate change and that they have good prospects for the future.

Abstract

We have studied the construct of flexibility in higher education for many years, as researchers and practitioners. In this context we define flexibility as offering the student choices in how, what, where, when and with whom he or she participates in learning-related activities while enrolled in a higher education institution. In a textbook we wrote on the topic in 2001 we identified options that could be available to students in higher education to increase the flexibility of their participation. We studied these from the perspective not only of the student but also in terms of their implications for instructors and for higher-education institutions and examined the key roles that pedagogical change and technology play in increasing flexibility. Now is it nearly a decade later. We will revisit key issues relating to flexibility in higher education, identify in broad terms the extent to which increased flexibility has become established, is still developing, or has developed in ways we did not anticipate directly a decade earlier. We will also review our scenarios for change in higher education related to flexibility and contrast these with a more-recent set from the UK. Our major conclusion is that flexibility is still as pertinent a theme for higher education in 2011 as it was in 2001.