Efpraxia D. Zamani

Enhancing the Tourism Experience through Mobile Augmented Reality: Challenges and Prospects’

This paper discusses the use of Augmented Reality (AR) applications for the needs of tourism. It describes the technologys evolution from pilot applications into commercial mobile applications. We address the technical aspects of mobile AR application development, emphasizing the technologies that render the delivery of augmented reality content possible and experientially superior. We examine the state of the art, providing an analysis concerning the development and the objectives of each application. Acknowledging the various technological limitations hindering ARs substantial end-user adoption, the paper proposes a model for developing AR mobile applications for the field of tourism, aiming to release ARs full potential within the field.

Consumer Responses to SMS Advertising: Antecedents and Consequences

Mobile phone advertisements, in the form of text messages (SMS), have been recognized as an important form of product promotion. The purpose of this paper is to investigate factors influencing the effectiveness of SMS advertising by using a hierarchy of effects approach. We employ a simulated experiment with 736 respondents to examine how consumers react to SMS advertisements and identify factors that influence their attitude towards the ad (Aad), attitude towards the brand (Ab), and purchase intention (PI). Perceived ad credibility, attitude towards mobile advertising, message appeal, argument quality, incentive, product involvement and interactivity were found to be antecedents of Aad. Moreover, there is a clear link between attitude and behavioral intention. The study is amongst the first to provide an experimental-based assessment and a unified model linking consumer attitudes towards mobile text ads with brand attitudes and purchase intentions.

Explaining the Adoption of Mobile Internet Applications

This study aims at investigating the adoption behavior of mobile Internet users in Greece. An integrated model comprising of seven factors was developed and tested through the execution of a national telephone survey (N=139). The results of the survey suggest that the emotional state of individuals while using mobile Internet, social influence from their peers, and their personal innovativeness comprise the predictive factors of adoption behavior. Moreover, the study reveals that performance expectancy is a strong predictor of mobile Internet adoption mediated through individuals’ emotional state. The paper concludes with a critical discussion of the results comparing the study findings with past mobile data services studies.

Understanding individual user resistance and workarounds of enterprise social networks: the case of Service Ltd

The purpose of this study is to explore the use of Enterprise Social Networks (ESN), namely, Yammer and Chatter, using the lens of resistance and deployment of workarounds among individuals employed in a large, service sector organization. By doing so, we can illustrate the motivation behind individual use of ESN within a large organization, the reasons for not using it and the outcomes of their choices on the organization’s performance and day-to-day activities. The research approach of our study involves employing a qualitative approach and adopting the interpretive research perspective. Our findings illustrate that there are several bottom-up and top-down pressures, which effectively hinder the adequate or successful use of ESN and drive user resistance and workarounds. The contributions of our study are manifold. First, since ESN are actively considered by organizations, our findings can inform policymakers on the issues that might arise beyond implementation, more so, during the actual use of the system. In other words, the results of this research can shed light on the areas where their efforts are best placed. At a theoretical level, our study enriches the extant literature associated with adoption issues, by explaining that ESN involve multi-level organizational characteristics found within a specific context of use, that of ESN.

From Bitcoin to Decentralized Autonomous Corporations

Inspired by the new technological advancements and the groundbreaking technology at the foundation of cryptocurrencies, organizational structures are expected to evolve and new corporate structures to emerge, based on full decentralization. We posit that the blockchain, i.e., the technology, system and protocol behind and beyond the most popular digital crypto-currencies, will introduce decentralization in many manifestations of our everyday life, especially in cases where an independent trusted third party is needed to ensure and verify operations and transactions. This paper builds upon the blockchain technology and discusses how it could enable fully decentralized forms of business structures to emerge; decentralized autonomous corporations (DACs) are business entities totally based on code; running on the cloud, providing certain services and creating value for their customers. Thus, we argue that DACs could prove a means of decentralizing and automating decision making in organizations.

Education and Learning in the Semantic Web

Web 3.0, also known as the Semantic Web, promises to revolutionize the way learning is delivered over the internet. In this paper, we discuss how the underlying technological elements of the semantic web combine to add intelligence to web-based, desktop or mobile, education and learning. We moreover present three types of semantic web applications for education, namely learning objects, learning object repositories and pedagogical agents, and critically appraise their contribution to learners and instructors alike. Our work offers a systematic taxonomy of the current state-of-the-art along with the relevant future research challenges in the field and an objective assessment of the critical aspects for the successful integration of semantic web applications in learning, aiming to assist researchers in positioning their future work and contribution in the area.

The Mediating Role of Emotional State toward Pervasive Information System Acceptance

The present study proposes a new approach for the examination of the individual user’s acceptance of technology and Information Systems. In particular, it examines the mediating role of Emotional State toward the individual acceptance of Pervasive Information Systems. The proposed research model was tested with data collected through an exploratory experiment (n=33) using a mobile Augmented Reality application. The results confirm the appropriateness of the developed instrument, the research model and that Performance Expectancy is the strongest predictor of user adoption, mediated through the user’s Emotional State as formed while interacting with the system.

Are Online Social Networks, Leading to a ‘Better World in the Omani Public Sector? A Qualitative Study

Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) penetration is growing at exponential rates and affecting societies, countries and organizations, which has led to a need for understanding whether they contribute to development. To ascertain whether ICT are contributing to development, the example of a current ICT, Twitter is used, along with the aim of this research: To understand and explain how public sector organizations are adopting and using online social networks; namely twitter, for the delivery of e-government services that will provide a better world to live in the Omani public sector. By considering this aim, we attempt to explain whether Twitter, contributes towards the creation of a ‘better world’ to live in, or leads to diverse outcomes in a developing country, Oman. To achieve the aim, we used two public sector organizations workforces’ experiences and applied the Choice Framework (CF) developed by Kleine [1]. For the research approach, we employed a qualitative approach and the data collection techniques, reference to archival documents, interviews, photographic evidence and observations. The analysis was completed using the lens of interpretivism, socio-materiality along with grounded theory concepts. The study reveals that ICT4D is providing a better world for most of the citizens, but for the providers of the improved e-government services, it implies aligning local practices to the technology, which affects their home/work life balance. The contributions of this research lie in emphasising largely how the use of Twitter in Oman will lead to development. The Choice Framework selected for our understanding was adapted and led to diverse results to those mentioned in previous ICT4D studies; therefore, our research makes a contribution of understanding ICT4D in an e-government context, which was amiss in the previous frameworks. For businesses, our findings inform practitioners on the ICT Technologies areas that need attention while implementing them within an environment similar to Oman’s public sector. For policymakers, this research informs of the areas that require policymakers’ attention when placing their efforts where they are best served.

Implementing E-government in Lagos State: Understanding the impact of cultural perceptions and working practices

Abstract The public sectors adoption of Information and Communication Technologies is often seen as a way of increasing efficiency. However, developing public e-Services involves a series of organisational and social complexities. In this paper, we examine the organisational issues of implementing an ERP system, which was designed and developed within the context of Lagos States e-Services project. By doing so, we showcase the impact of organisational cultural perceptions and working practices of individuals. Our findings illustrate the strong role of cultural dimensions, particularly those pertaining to religion and multi-ethnicity. Our study provides insights to international organisations and governments alike towards project policy formulation within the context of ICT-based initiatives and reforms that aim to bring forward developmental progress.

Investigating Groups at the Verge of Social Exclusion Through the Lens of the Capability Approach

In recent years, much research has been focused around the concept of social inclusion. It is said to lead to a multitude of benefits and advantages for various groups (e.g., older adults, the unemployed, the disabled, youths at the risk of marginalization, immigrants), including equal access to education, employment, and health structures among others. However, as shown through the available literature on social inclusion, the term is somewhat ambiguous, because there is a myriad approaches to it. On the other end, ‘social exclusion’ is often used as its antonym. Therefore, the duality of social inclusion/social exclusion warrants additional examination, not only in order to differentiate between these two concepts and others, such as ‘social deprivation’ and ‘digital divide’, the latter being quite popular within the literature of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), but also because, based on the definition one is using, it is possible to identify different population groups at the verge of social exclusion.Focusing specifically on ICT, one needs to keep an open mind while looking into the role of technology and investigating the various ways it can support social inclusion, or combat social exclusion. It is necessary to first examine which groups are already socially excluded or at risk of social exclusion. Currently, those who are considered to be in such a position end to be those who are “generally socially advantaged” (Helsper, 2008), i.e., individuals who live in rural areas, older adults, the unemployed, single parents, teenagers at the verge of marginalization, the homeless etc. Having gone through such an investigation, it will be possible to identify which capabilities each of these groups currently hold, which they can further enhance or obtain, and finally pinpoint the necessary actions that researchers and practitioners alike need to take towards developing ICT products and services that can be of benefit for the concerned individuals.This chapter seeks to delve into the particularities and requirements of individuals who are considered to be at risk or already affected by social exclusion, by focusing specifically on the role of ICT. Such a comparative study is of increased interest, because, when it comes to social inclusion, the various ICT products and services may not fit all audiences. For example, older adults have very different needs when compared to single parents, and each of these groups are at the risk of social exclusion for quite different reasons. As a result, what may seem to help a group to overcome some impediments, it may very well significantly inhibit another group’s access to these products and services, and therefore, this study can facilitate the discussion on social inclusion on different levels and the design and development of ICT products and services. Along these lines, this study aims to, first, identify possibly socially excluded groups and, second, through the lens of Sen’s capability approach, to pinpoint their needs and requirements in order to support researchers and practitioners in their efforts to tackle issues of social exclusion.