Telematics

This thesis is concerned with an outline survey on the modern aspects of asynchronous transmission mode (ATM) telecommunication; also considered are certain specific issues such as the performance characteristics of ATM-based telecommunication networks under fluctuating workloads. Estimation of the stochasticity of the jitter associated with the cell-delay arising out of buffering within the network as well as due to signal-to-noise considerations which induce bit-errors and eventually lead to cell-losses manifesting as delay(s) in the cells being transmitted, is also addressed as a part of this thesis efforts. Relevant theoretical models are proposed, algorithms are developed and simulations are done on the above considerations. Based on these efforts, inferential conclusions are drawn and discussed. Scope for future research and developments towards engineering design of softwares suitable for practical applications by ATM networking planners and traffic forecasters is indicated. Merits and shortcomings of the models are proposed and algorithmic approaches pursued in the present study are also specified with relevant discussions.

This study investigates whether synchronous computer-mediated communication (CMC) has the potential to foster second language learners' strategic competence (as a component of communicative competence). For this purpose, the use of communication strategies (CSs) by 15 fourth-semester students of German during four computer-mediated and four oral "jigsaw" tasks is compared. The students used more CSs in oral interaction, which is attributed to a lesser degree of utterance planning in oral interaction and stronger time constraints in synchronous CMC. However, this quantitative difference is due to only five students' use of significantly more CSs in oral interaction. The distribution of the various CS types was similar in both communication modes; only code-switching occurred much more frequently in synchronous CMC, which is attributed to stronger time constraints in this medium and less monitoring by the instructor. Hence, synchronous CMC is not superior to oral interaction as far as promoting CS use is concerned.