David R Cheriton School of Computer Science

Several protocols for ad hoc network try to reduce redundancy as an effective measure against broadcast problems. Though these protocols ensure good performance in a favorable environment, they perform poorly when node cooperation cannot be guaranteed due to intentional misbehavior or environmental hostility. As a result, the expected behavior of nodes to forward packets, which is the basic assumption of all broadcast approaches, cannot be achieved always. In this paper, we analyze the performance deterioration of these algorithms in hostile environment. As a remedy, we focus on the reverse direction and interestingly find that adding redundancy in a controlled manner can greatly compensate the performance loss due to node misbehavior. Here we propose a novel approach that tune the amount of redundancy so that reachability and routing load both remain at a satisfactory level. Comparing their relative performance we end up with the conclusion that though redundancy is undesired, controlled redundancy is effective in special situations like uncooperative environments.

A new approach to computer literacy is emerging, an approach that de-emphasizes the traditional overview of hardware and software and minimizes the teaching of traditional programming methodology. This paper describes the design and implementation of a literacy course intended to develop effective users of common applications software, including word processing, spreadsheets, graphics and database management. The paper continues by demonstrating how many academic computer science concepts can De effectively introduqed using this approach.

We introduce the Applied Health Informatics Bootcamp. This is an intense, interactive on-site program, augmented by approximately 80 hours of on-line material. The Bootcamp is intended to introduce those with little or no knowledge of Health Informatics (HI) to the nature, key concepts, and applications of this discipline to addressing challenges in the health field. The focus of the program is on Applied Health Informatics (AHI), the discipline addressing the preparation for, and the procurement, deployment, implementation, resourcing, effective usage, and evaluation of informatics solutions in the health system. Although no program of this duration can cover all topics, we target the high profile areas of Health Informatics and point the participants in the direction of broader and deeper explorations.

We describe a web-based system that enables an individual to assess him/her self against the set of competencies required for a variety of roles in the area of Applied Health Informatics (AHI). The competencies themselves were developed by a multi-disciplinary team under the auspices of the Canadian Institute for Health Research (CIHR), and include the knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to fulfill specific roles as an applied health informatician. Both textual and graphical information is presented to the user and potential mechanisms for correcting competency gaps are presented in this online interactive system.

Healthcare processes are complex and highly variable from day to day. Healthcare process execution can be affected by any participant in a process, including clinicians, the patient, and the patient's family, as well as by environmental factors such as clinician, staff, facility and equipment availability, and patient clinical status. However, there are no solutions that enable computer support for a process to address the full complexity and variability of healthcare processes. We have re-conceptualized workflow and developed an innovative process representation and execution framework based on concepts from software engineering, machine learning, complexity, and database management. This new framework frees processes to track human behavior, thereby releasing us from the constraints of past methods.

Our health systems face a number of critical challenges over the next several decades, not the least of which is the aging of our baby boomers. Many have suggested that information technologies will be an essential tool, which will increase health system productivity and in so doing will help us manage our way through these challenging times. Unfortunately, little evidence exists supporting the hypothesis that IT creates productivity gains in any sector, let alone health. This paper reviews the "Productivity Paradox" and the challenges associated with measuring the effects that IT may have on health system productivity, and proposes potential directions for new work

Conestoga College The Advances in Health Informatics Conference in 2010 brought together clinicians, researchers, and industry partners to present work describing the realities of Health Informatics in practice in Canada and around the world. AHIC is an biannual , top-tier, peer-reviewed, Health Informatics conference addressing innovation, research, and education, attracting national and international visionaries, researchers, industry experts and government leaders from around the globe. AHIC will alternate annually with the Information Technology and Communications in Health (ITCH) conference, held in Victoria, B.C. The work presented at AHIC aims at answering the question, "How can we make a difference?" We invited papers from industry and academia, which were peer-reviewed and presented at the conference. The authors of the papers that were most highly ranked during peer review were invited to participate in this special issue of the electronic Journal of Health Infor...