The paper, mostly empirical in nature, investigates issues on cross-national new information and communication technologies (ICTs) adoption patterns and growth directions. In the period of 2000–2010, a great number of countries underwent substantial changes on the field of ICTs implementation. Many of them made a great “jump” starting with almost “zero level” of ICTs adoption in the year 2000 and during the ten- year period were...

Since the 1970s, we have witnessed unprecedented diffusion of digital technologies in both speed and geographic coverage. These technologies are pervasive and disruptive, and lead to profound shifts and transformations in societies and economies. Many claim that emerging network externalities are the principal phenomenon driving the process of technology diffusion and determining its in-time dynamics. This book analyses the unique...

The goal of this chapter is to show a research study related to processing of data acquired by the multimedia services engineered at the multimedia systems department (MSD) of the Gdansk University of Technology. This concerns a survey on noise threat employing the multimedia noise monitoring system (MNMS) and hearing tests performed by the "I can hear. . . " system. The obtained results of the noise measurements revealed that...

IntroductionNumerous reports relating to noise threats in Poland indicate that they occur commonly. The noise has an enormous impact on the health and life quality of the human beings. Noise pollution in Poland is greater than in others UE countries, moreover it has been increased recently. Taking into account 2002/49/WE directive related to the control and assessment of environmental noise a necessity of monitoring these threats...

Apart from education process based on the curricular activities, the whole set of co-curricular activities (CCAs) can help students to develope both expert knowledge and social skills. These activities are separated from academic course, sometimes placed outside of school or after regular school hours. Co-curricular activities such as students' scientific circles, workshops, conferences or festivals of science, publication, honor...