Jacques Steyn
Jacques Steyn (PhD)
Head of the School of Information Technology
Senior Lecturer
Director: IDIA
Contact
+27 (0)11-950-4132
Qualifications
| Qualification |
Year |
Institution |
| PhD |
1994 |
Univ Cape Town |
MA
(Classical Greek)
cum laude |
1982 |
Univ Pretoria |
BA Honors
(Classical Greek) |
1979 |
Univ Pretoria |
| BA |
1977 |
Univ Pretoria |
| HED |
1980 |
Univ Pretoria |
Teaching 2009
| Semester 1 |
|
Semester 2 |
| Undergraduate |
| FIT3047 |
Industrial experience project |
|
FIT3048 |
Industrial experience project |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Honours |
| FIT4246 |
Honours Research Thesis |
|
FIT4246 |
Honours Research Thesis |
| FIT4005 |
IT Research methods |
|
FIT4007 |
Advanced topics in information systems |
| FIT4008 |
Reading unit |
|
|
|
Supervision
PhD - co-supervisor
Masters of Philosophy, a research master in IT.
Honours research thesis supervision
2007
| Bright Sikazwe |
|
Mobile Security: A Case for Cost effective PKI in securing mobile networks |
2006
| Rebecca Burks |
|
Using computer games to facilitate team building |
| Laura Cremona |
|
An ICT model for small hospitality service providers in the rural areas
of South africa |
| Wilfred Moyo |
|
Do South African Govrnment websites exhibit adequate usability? A heuristic
evaluation of e-governance websites in South Africa |
| Philip Timveos |
|
Make the Call: Investigating the migration to VoIP at Monash South africa |
Research
My two main present research fields are Development Informatics and Music
Informatics, with a strong emphasis on web technologies.
Development Informatics investigates the sustainable
deployment of ICT within constraints environments, such as remote or rural
areas. Remoteness is not necessarily only geographical (with implications such as access to networks), but could also mean
being socially remote from mainstream societies (such as language illiteracy or device illiteracy). The discipline focuses on the design and analysis of ICT systems within such constraints. From this perspective ICT systems, as a set of complex inter-related systems, are investigated across sub-systems ranging from technologies (eg. network and device design) to human aspects (such as HCI and social networks).
I am presently Editor in Chief of a book set Development
Informatics and Regional Information Technologies: Theory, Practice and the
Digital Divide (to be published by IGI).
Music Informatics researches the relationship
between music and computers. I have developed an XML-based language for music:
a general Music Markup Language
and I participated in the ISO/MPEG workgroup to incorporate music notation
in to MPEG4 along with other members of the Interactive Music Network group.
I am presently editor of a book Structuring Music through
Markup Language: Designs and Architectures (to be published by IGI).
My main philosophical interests is a complex systems interpretation of the
world, such as promoted by the Santa Fe Institute. When I find time, I am
writing a book on the origins and history of religion.
Award
I received an award from the South African Association for the Advancement
of Science (S2A3) for my masters degree for excellence in science.
Present Membership
- IDIA - International
Development Informatics Association - Director, Chair: Steering Committee
- IEEE member
- ACM member
- AIS member (Association for Information Systems)
- ISO/MPEG - JTC1/SC29/WG11
- South African representative for MPEG7 and MPEG4
- Interactive Music Network
(sponsored by the European Union)
- Full Member – MCSSA Computer Society
of South Africa
- Member of SACLA (South African Computer Lecturers Association)
Experience
My academic career began with teaching Linguistics at Unisa before switching
over to research on ICT for distance education and support for academic staff,
also at Unisa. I served as Senior Advisor at Unisa for about a decade.
When the internet became public I left the university and consulted to the
private sector (for another decade) on ICT, multimedia and particularly web
technologies.
I was consultant to some of the largest e-commerce products developed in
South Africa, such as at Standard Bank. I briefly managed the first South
African Multimedia degree as Associate Professor at the University of Pretoria.
August 2003 I joined the School of IT at Monash.
Publications
- Steyn J 2008
- Challenges of designing a markup language for music
- Chapter in Interactive Multimedia
Music Technologies, Kia Ng and Paolo Nesi (eds) Information Science
Reference: 111-132
ISBN: 978-1-59904-150-6
Brochure: http://www.igi-pub.com/downloads/PDF/NG%20brochure.pdf
- Steyn J 2008
- Alternative design goals for a general music markup language
- Chapter in Interactive Multimedia
Music Technologies, Kia Ng and Paolo Nesi (eds) Information Science
Reference: 133-150
ISBN: 978-1-59904-150-6
Brochure: http://www.igi-pub.com/downloads/PDF/NG%20brochure.pdf
- Steyn J 2007
- Community memory and ICT in a developing economy
- Stillman L, Johanson G (eds)
Constructing and Sharing Memory: Community Informatics,
Identity and Empowerment
Constructing and Sharing Memory Community Informatics, Identity and Empowerment.
Selected papers from the 3rd Prato International Community Informatics Conference;
Community Informatics Research Network, 9- 11 October 2006: 265-279.
Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
- Steyn J 2004
- Introducing Music Space
- 4th Open Workshop of MUSICNETWORK: Integration of Music
in Multimedia Applications
- Steyn J 2004
- Prerequisites for an XML-based music markup language - an
exercise in the design of an XML language
- 4th Open Workshop of MUSICNETWORK: Integration of
Music in Multimedia Applications
- Steyn J 2004
- A Modular Approach to XML Music Notation and Representation
- Third Open Workshop of the MUSICNETWORK: MPEG AHG on
Music Notation Requirements
- Steyn J 2002
- Framework for a Music Markup Language
- Conference proceedings: MAX (Musical Application using
XML) 2002 International Conference
- Steyn J 2000
- The Web Builder's Complete Reference Manual (Revised Edition)
- Knowledge Institute (ISBN 0-620-25672-9)
- Steyn J 1999
- HTML 4 Web Builders
- Knowledge Institute (an eBook)
- Steyn J 1994
- From Bologna to Babalegi: adapting the university
- State of the Art in Higher Education. Limited Congresss
Edition 1994 Volume 2, edited by D Adey, P Steyn, N Herman, G Scholtz, UNISA
1994: 189-198
- Steyn J 1989
- Student evaluation in a changing society
- SAARDHE Conference Papers
- Steyn J 1987
- Education in an information society: implications for teaching
in South Africa
- Distance Conference Papers, 1987 Vol 2: 135-155
- Steyn J 1987
- A glimpse of the future
- LSSA: Linguistic Society of South Africa
- Steyn J 1986
- Quo vadis Linguistics -- is there a future?
- SA Journal of Linguistics, 1986, 1:56-71
- Steyn J
- The significance of expectation in the semantics of texts
- SA Journal of Linguistics, 1984:603-619
- Steyn J 1984
- Some Psycholinguistic factors involved in the Discourse
Analysis of ancient texts
- Theologica Evangelica XVII-2 1984:51-65
Conference papers
- Steyn J 2008
- A sober (or somber) view of KM
- Keynote: Australian Conference on Knowledge Management and Intelligent Decision Support (ACKMIDS)
8 - 10 December 2008,
University of Ballarat,
Ballarat, Victoria, Australia
- Steyn J 2008
- A critical analysis of social inclusion
- 2st IDIA Conference: CCNR. Prato, Italy
- Steyn J 2007
- ePost: networking remote areas
- 1st IDIA Conference: CCNR. Prato, Italy
- Steyn J 2006
- Community memory and ICT in a developing economy
- Constructing and sharing memory: community informatics,
identity and empowerment. Prato, Italy
- Backhouse J, Steyn J 2006
- Teaching rural technology: Would the Vigyan Ashram model
work in South Africa?
- All Africa Technology Diffusion
Conference 2006, Boksburg, South Africa
- Steyn J 2004
- Introducing Music Space
- 4th Open Workshop of MUSICNETWORK: Integration of Music
in Multimedia Applications
- Steyn J 2004
- Prerequisites for an XML-based music markup language -
an exercise in the design of an XML language
- 4th Open Workshop of MUSICNETWORK: Integration of Music
in Multimedia Applications 2004
- Steyn J 2004
- A Modular Approach to XML Music Notation and Representation
- Third Open Workshop of the MUSICNETWORK: MPEG AHG on
Music Notation Requirements
- Steyn J 2002
- Framework for a Music Markup Language
- First International MAX Conference, Milan (Italy)
- Steyn J 2000
- Poor usability of Award Winning Web sites
- CHI-SA, Pretoria
- Steyn J 1999
- Marking the web for music
- XML99/Asia, Sydney, Australia
- Steyn J 1999
- Information-based harm
- University of Pretoria
- Steyn J 1999
- The Info era: evolution, revolution or solution?
- New Media conference in Poitiers (France)
- Steyn J 1989
- Saussure, structuralism and systems
- LSSA (Linguistic Society of South Africa), HSRC (Pretoria)
- Steyn J 1989
- Student evaluation in a changing society
- SAARDHE, Univ Stellenbosch
- Steyn J 1988
- The myth of the mirror of the mind
- LSSA (Linguistic Society of South Africa), Univ Rhodes
- Steyn J 1988
- Process education as an option for the future
- SAARDHE Conference, Univ Potchefstroom
- Steyn J 1987
- Information needs and the use of information in teaching
development in tertiary education
- Excellence in Tertiary Teaching Conference, Univ Free
State
- Steyn J 1987
- Education in an Information Society: Implications for Teaching
in South Africa
- International Distance Education Conference, UNISA,
Pretoria
- Steyn J 1987
- A dynamic systems approach to language -- the new paradigm?
- LSSA Conference (Linguistic Society of South Africa),
Univ Cape Town
- Steyn J 1986
- A glimpse of the future
- LSSA Conferencee (Linguistic Society of South Africa),
Univ Natal
- Steyn J 1985
- Quo Vadis Linguistics -- is there a future?
- LSSA Conference (Linguistic Society of South Africa),
RAU, Johannesburg
- Steyn J 1984
- The significance of Expectation in the Semantics of texts
- LSSA Conference (Linguistic Society of South Africa),
Univ Pretoria
Interests
I have many other interests ranging from photography and architecture, to
music and genealogy.
I have performed in many different music styles from the blues, musicals,
and cabaret to rock and classical opera, and play several instruments, including
keyboards and guitar. I was singer/dancer in the musical production of Mame,
performed at the Johannesburg Civic Theatre, and member of PACT's performance
of Wagner's Flying Dutchman. I have done several European style cabaret with
Marieta Esterhuyse at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown. My rock band,
2B2 performed at the original Houtstok Rock Festival on the outskirts of Pretoria.
I love dancing, particularly Latin American, such as the salsa, bachita,
and the Cuban cha-cha.
My interest in genealogical research was to trace the origin of the Steyn
family in South Africa. Five Steyns emigrated from Europe to South Africa.
I am descendant from two: through my father from Johannes Steyn (arriving
at the Cape of Good Hope in 1748, probably from Darmstad, Germany), and through
my mother from Douwe Gerbens Steyn, who arrived from Leeuwarden (Netherlands)
around 1688, and who was the construction manager ('baasmetselaar') of the
fort built by the Dutch in the Cape. Douwe married Maria Lozee, whose surname
indicates that at the time she lived in the slave quarters.
