Quality of Semi-Synchronous Bridged Multi-modal Internet Protocol Communication A Social Temporal Addition to Quality of Service Propagation Metrics via Critical Action Research in South Africa William D. Tucker PhD UCT with CVC Senior UWC with BANG

6/4/2016William D. Tucker Computer Science UCT & UWC 2 Semi-synchronous Bridged Multi-modal Communication Modalities are text, voice, video and VR Bridging adapts communication modalities with conversion utilities Bridging introduces more temporal variation (conversion) in addition to network propagation characteristics These delays force real-time services to become semi-synchronous

6/4/2016William D. Tucker Computer Science UCT & UWC 3 Research Questions Are carefully controlled Quality of Service (QoS) metrics (latency, jitter and packet loss) enough to provide Communication Quality (CQ) for bridged multi-modal Internet Protocol (IP) services experiencing temporal variation? Is there a significant sociological temporal component in addition to these QoS metrics? How do we measure and cater for this social phenomenon with system design?

6/4/2016William D. Tucker Computer Science UCT & UWC 4 Motivation and Relevance QoS protocols such as IntServ & DiffServ –Are actually afterthoughts to the Internet Protocol –Are targeted to the temporal nature of concurrent single modality services –Do not really consider the end user of the system CQ expands on QoS metrics to –Include a sociological angle to IP best-effort metrics –Bridge multi-modal services in “almost” real-time –Include users in the measurement of service quality and therefore in the design of the services they actually require and will use

6/4/2016William D. Tucker Computer Science UCT & UWC 5 Research Hypothesis There exists a social component to bridged communication that impacts CQ in addition to, and more significantly than, QoS metrics, especially with respect to the inherent temporal variation found within bridged services Further, this social component is a measurable phenomena

6/4/2016William D. Tucker Computer Science UCT & UWC 6 Methodological Approach Mixture of Social temporal phenomena & QoS metrics phenomena requires a mixed approach Combine Critical Action Research (CAR) with the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)

6/4/2016William D. Tucker Computer Science UCT & UWC 7 Critical Action Research Do not hide the research objectives from the target community Constant critical reflection on interaction with target community Elucidate end user needs for a given service via rapid prototyping Yield appropriate software systems Learn from the interaction process how to improve and measure CQ

6/4/2016William D. Tucker Computer Science UCT & UWC 8 More Research Questions What defines the nature of semi-synchronous applications and how do we build them? What defines the nature of bridged applications and how do we build them? Can QoS be extended with a social temporal component in addition to standard metrics? Can CAR help determine how to measure this social component? Can CAR also improve the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) for building these applications?

6/4/2016William D. Tucker Computer Science UCT & UWC 9 How To Answer Them Demonstrate general applicability with 3 apps –Distance Learning –SMME applications –Deaf Telephony (textual English as a 2 nd language) Build SoftBridge platform for rapid prototyping Target CAR to: –cyclic SDLC –Human Access Points (HAPs) for effectiveness Learn from CAR how to: –Build semi-synchronous multi-modal bridging IP apps –measure social temporal component

6/4/2016William D. Tucker Computer Science UCT & UWC 10 Anticipated Results The social temporal component is more significant than QoS propagation metrics CAR will yield a “get what you pay for” model for bridged services CAR will yield an understanding of this social component addition to QoS

6/4/2016William D. Tucker Computer Science UCT & UWC 11 Testing Strategy and Implications Use Null Hypothesis to show that QoS metrics are more significant than the social component to manifest and measure CQ If QoS metrics are less significant, the social component is shown to be the primary factor of system design, development and measurement of bridged IP services If the Null Hypothesis is proven correct, then the current telco approach to 5 9’s and circuit- switched-based billing is justified in the context of IP services

6/4/2016William D. Tucker Computer Science UCT & UWC 12 Bibliography and Previous Systems Not aware of a SoftBridge-like concept: existing multi-modal apps do not bridge, e.g. NetMeeting, Omnitor, IM, MBone (?) or do not operate in real-time (Universal Messaging) Deaf Telephony – Teldem is a failure, but our DT prototypes evolved due to CAR (Glaser) Rural and Urban Distance Learning and SMMEs community telecentres failed due to lack of CAR ( Social aspect of “place” as opposed to space (Dourish)

6/4/2016William D. Tucker Computer Science UCT & UWC 13 Unique Contribution(s) Addition of social temporal component to Quality of Service temporal metrics to define Communication Quality Targeted Critical Action Research via Human Access Points to build bridging services for South Africa Use of Critical Action Research to measure the extent of social effect on Communication Quality

6/4/2016William D. Tucker Computer Science UCT & UWC 14 The Bigger Picture Towards Real-time Universal Messaging InfluenceTelecommuncations policy in South Africa (and the rest of the 3 rd world) Leap frogging the 3 rd world into the 1 st world Blend of social and computer science to yield innovative telecommunications services Communications applications and platforms that bridge and scale across multiple Digital Divides (communication modality, networks, enduser capabilities, user interface, etc.)

6/4/2016William D. Tucker Computer Science UCT & UWC 15 Related Work (in progress at UCT) SoftBridge Platform – John Lewis Wireless VoIP Community Access Points – Marshini Chetty Laid Back Computing – Richard Schroder Deaf Telephony – Meryl Glaser

6/4/2016William D. Tucker Computer Science UCT & UWC 16 Related Work (in progress at UWC) Hand-held Fast-track Feedback & Presence – Adesemowo Kayode Hybrid Text/Voice Web Board – Anita Benjamin Handheld VR for QoS Management – Clement February SoftBridge over Softswitch – Tao Sun COLLAN – Tania Paulse

6/4/2016William D. Tucker Computer Science UCT & UWC 17 Links for more Information