Papers by Muhammad Aurangzeb Ahmad
Focused on the prize: Characteristics of experts in massive multiplayer online games
Abstract This study is the first large–scale multi–method attempt to empirically examine the char... more Abstract This study is the first large–scale multi–method attempt to empirically examine the characteristics leading to development of expertise in EverQuest II, a popular massively multi–player online role–playing game (MMOs).
In recent years a number of graphical models have been proposed for Topic discovery in various co... more In recent years a number of graphical models have been proposed for Topic discovery in various contexts and network analysis. However there is one class of document corpus, documents with ratings, where the problem of topic discovery has not been explored in much detail. In such document corpuses reviews and ratings of documents in addition to the documents themselves are also available.
Massively multiplayer online games (MMOGs) maintain archival databases of all player actions and ... more Massively multiplayer online games (MMOGs) maintain archival databases of all player actions and attributes including activity by accounts engaged in illicit behavior. If individuals in online worlds operate under similar social and psychological motivations and constraints as the offline world, online behavioral data could inform theories about offline behavior.
Abstract Internet based online social networks collectively facilitate the spread of ideas. Hence... more Abstract Internet based online social networks collectively facilitate the spread of ideas. Hence, to understand how social networks evolve as a function of time, it is critical to learn the relationship between the information dissemination pathways or flows and the type of ideas being disseminated. We first classify the spread of ideas into two types based on their rate and nature of proliferation; fads and non-fads.
Role of Computational Trust Models in Service Science
Abstract: With the proliferation of online communities and Person-to-Person (P2P) online service ... more Abstract: With the proliferation of online communities and Person-to-Person (P2P) online service markets, the deployment of knowledge, skills, experiences and user generated contents services are generally facilitated among service users and service providers. In online service markets where well-established intermediaries are often eliminated, the success of social interactions for service exchange among completely unknown users depends on'trust'of a service user for a service provider.
Abstract Small group research has been inadequate in systematically examining the direct and indi... more Abstract Small group research has been inadequate in systematically examining the direct and indirect effect of group input on group output and statistically defining the mediating effect of group process. To address this issue, a large dataset (N= 2,465) on grouping behavior was collected from an online game. Structural equation modeling was utilized to examine how group size and group competence diversity influences the group interaction process and group performance.
Observation and analysis of a phenomenon at unprecedented levels of granularity not only furthers... more Observation and analysis of a phenomenon at unprecedented levels of granularity not only furthers our understanding of it, but also transforms the way it is studied. For instance, invention of gene-sequencing and computational analysis transformed the life sciences, creating fields of inquiry such as genomics, proteomics, etc., and the Hubble Space Telescope has furthered the ability of humanity to look much farther beyond what we could otherwise.
As information communication technologies have grown more pervasive, understanding the ways in wh... more As information communication technologies have grown more pervasive, understanding the ways in which they are employed for unexpected, deviant, or even criminal purposes becomes increasingly important. Networks in particular are growing in importance as a lens onto how individuals behave and organizations operate. It seems appropriate that network analysis methods could also be applied to understand how clandestine or criminal organizations, such as drug traffickers and terrorist cells, coordinate and adapt while avoiding detection.
Abstract We examine the social behaviors of game experts in Everquest II, a popular massive multi... more Abstract We examine the social behaviors of game experts in Everquest II, a popular massive multiplayer online role-playing game (MMO). We rely on exponential random graph models (ERGM) to examine the anonymous privacy-protected social networks of 1,457 players over a five-day period. We find that those who achieve the most in the game send and receive more communication, while those who perform the most efficiently at the game show no difference in communication behavior from other players.
Abstract Generating captions or annotations automatically for still images is a challenging task.... more Abstract Generating captions or annotations automatically for still images is a challenging task. Traditionally, techniques involving higher-level (semantic) object detection and complex feature extraction have been employed for scene understanding. On the basis of this understanding, corresponding text descriptions are generated for a given image.
Abstract Gold farming is a set of illicit practices in which players in massively multiplayer onl... more Abstract Gold farming is a set of illicit practices in which players in massively multiplayer online games gather and distribute virtual goods for real money. Using anonymized data from a popular online game to construct networks of characters involved in gold farming, we examine the trade networks of gold farmers, their trading affiliates, and uninvolved characters at large.
Abstract The problem of gold farmer detection is the problem of detecting players with illicit be... more Abstract The problem of gold farmer detection is the problem of detecting players with illicit behaviors in massively multiplayer online games (MMOs) and has been studied extensively. Detecting gold farmers or other deviant actors in social systems is traditionally understood as a binary classification problem, but the issue of false negatives is significant for administrators as residual actors can serve as the backbone for subsequent clandestine organizing.
Modeling games has a long history in the Artificial Intelligence community. Most of the games tha... more Modeling games has a long history in the Artificial Intelligence community. Most of the games that have been considered solved in AI are perfect information games. Imperfect information games like Poker and Bridge represent a domain where there is a great deal of uncertainty involved and additional challenges with respect to modeling the behavior of the opponent etc.
Abstract. In this paper the classicist and the connectionist debate is integrated in a multimedia... more Abstract. In this paper the classicist and the connectionist debate is integrated in a multimedia data mining framework. Due to the ready availability of visual information digitally, the problem to store, retrieve and organize images is gaining tremendous importance and poses a serious challenge for practitioners of AI and databases alike. The central problem for image database management is the idea of an annotation associated with every image.
–Networks evolve because of local processes–Addition of new nodes, new links or rewiring of old l... more –Networks evolve because of local processes–Addition of new nodes, new links or rewiring of old links–Preferential attachment is used for link changes–The relative frequency of these factors determine whether the network topology has a power-law tail or is exponential–A phase transition in the topology was also determined
Humans form groups and congregate into groups for a variety of reasons and in a variety of contex... more Humans form groups and congregate into groups for a variety of reasons and in a variety of contexts eg, corporations in offline space and guilds in Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs). In recent years a number of models of group formation have been proposed. One such model is Johnson et al's [10] model of group evolution. The model is motivated by commonalities observed in evolution of street gangs in Los Angeles and guilds in an MMOG (World of Warcraft).
… , 2009. CSE'09. …, Jan 1, 2009
… on Computational Science …, Jan 1, 2009
Social Computing, Behavioral Modeling, and …, Jan 1, 2008
Network Exchange in Trust Networks
IEEE International Conference …, Jan 1, 2010
Abstract—In this paper we study the problem of network exchange in trust based social networks. N... more Abstract—In this paper we study the problem of network exchange in trust based social networks. Network exchange is of two types: Specialized Exchange and Generalized Exchange, this can be characterized in terms of reciprocity, triads, graph motifs across these networks. Given the lack of standard metrics for Generalized Exchange, we propose a metric to quantify generalized exchange. We observe that the phenomenon of exchange can be used to differentiate networks. A key finding is that the manner in which the network is ...
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Papers by Muhammad Aurangzeb Ahmad