Hsiu-Mei Huang

An investigation of user attitudes toward search engines as an information retrieval tool

After the Internet has gained great popularity at homes and schools, there is much information on the Web. Today, one of the primary uses of the Internet is information retrieval from search engines. The main purpose of the current study is to develop and examine an individual attitude model towards search engines as a tool for retrieving information. This model integrates individual computer experience with perceptions. In addition, it also combines perception theories, such as technology acceptance model (TAM) and motivation, in order to understand individual attitudes toward search engines. The results show that individual computer experience, quality of search systems, motivation, and perceptions of technology acceptance are all key factors that affect individual feelings to use search engines as an information retrieval tool.

Investigating learners' attitudes toward virtual reality learning environments: Based on a constructivist approach

The use of animation and multimedia for learning is now further extended by the provision of entire Virtual Reality Learning Environments (VRLE). This highlights a shift in Web-based learning from a conventional multimedia to a more immersive, interactive, intuitive and exciting VR learning environment. VRLEs simulate the real world through the application of 3D models that initiates interaction, immersion and trigger the imagination of the learner. The question of good pedagogy and use of technology innovations comes into focus once again. Educators attempt to find theoretical guidelines or instructional principles that could assist them in developing and applying a novel VR learning environment intelligently. This paper introduces the educational use of Web-based 3D technologies and highlights in particular VR features. It then identifies constructivist learning as the pedagogical engine driving the construction of VRLE and discusses five constructivist learning approaches. Furthermore, the authors provide two case studies to investigate VRLEs for learning purposes. The authors conclude with formulating some guidelines for the effective use of VRLEs, including discussion of the limitations and implications for the future study of VRLEs.

Perceived satisfaction, perceived usefulness and interactive learning environments as predictors to self-regulation in e-learning environments

The research purpose is to investigate learner self-regulation in e-learning environments. In order to better understand learner attitudes toward e-learning, 196 university students answer a questionnaire survey after use an e-learning system few months. The statistical results showed that perceived satisfaction, perceived usefulness, and interactive learning environments were all found to predict perceived self-regulation in e-learning environments. Further, perceived usefulness can be influenced by interactive learning environments, perceived self-efficacy, and perceived satisfaction. In addition, perceived satisfaction can be affected by interactive learning environments, perceived self-efficacy, and perceived anxiety. Finally, the study proposes a conceptual model to investigate learner self-regulation in e-learning environments.

Attitudes toward search engines as a learning assisted tool: approach of Liaw and Huang's research model

The purpose of this research is to develop new approach to investigate individual attitudes toward search engines as a learning assisted tool. This research is based on Liaw and Huangs research model that included motivation perspective, social cognitive theory, and technology acceptance model. After factor analysis and regression analysis, the results show that the factor of perceived satisfaction of systems quality and the factor of experience using the Internet and search engines will influence the factor of perceived enjoyment and the factor of self-efficacy. In addition, perceived enjoyment and self-efficacy can predict of the factor of individual intention to use search engines as a learning assisted tool. Furthermore, based on [Liaw and Huangs model (2003). An investigation of user attitudes toward search engines as an information retrieval tool. Computers in Human Behavior, 19(6) 751-765] and the results of present study, we propose a new approach - three-Tier Use Model (3-TUM), the tier of individual experience and system quality can influence the affective and cognitive tier, and the affective and cognitive tier has positive effects on the behavioral intention tier.

How web technology can facilitate learning

Abstract A challenging task for information systems management is to provide users with more flexible training methodologies to meet their needs, and one way to meet this challenge is to adopt Web-based training. in showing how Web technology can facilitate end-user learning, this article discusses how users can benefit from Web-based training, some issues to consider when developing Web-based training, and different stages of Web-based training.

Exploring Learners’ Acceptance Toward Mobile Learning

Even though m-learning provides useful overviews of different applications in education, there is an emerging need for a more applicable framework to provide teachers, educational policy-makers and researchers with a better representation of educational affordances of m-learning. Regarding to wide application of mobile learning, investigating learners’ acceptance toward it is an essential issue. This research will investigate learners’ acceptance toward m-learning based on educational theories, such as constructivism and activity theory. At first, we will present an m-learning framework. After that, the relationship between m-learning and educational theories will be introduced. Furthermore, m-learning questionnaire survey that based on 170 university students will be investigated. In this research, the users’ acceptance is based on factors such as m-learning interaction, m-learning system’s functions, learners’ autonomy, perceived satisfaction, and perceived usefulness. The last section is discussion and conclusion. We will propose a conceptual acceptance model based on the research findings.

A Case of Study of Investigating Users’ Acceptance toward Mobile Learning

Mobile learning (m-learning) is a relatively new learning tool in the pedagogical arsenal to support students and teachers as they navigate the options available in the expanding world of distance learning. Regarding to wide application of mobile learning, investigating learners’ acceptance toward it is an essential issue. This research investigates learners’ acceptance toward m-learning. An m-learning questionnaire survey that based on 168 university students’ attitudes was investigated. From statistical results, learner autonomy of using m-learning, perceived interaction of using m-learning, quality of m-learning functions, and perceived satisfaction of using m-learning are positive predictors on m-learning acceptance.

A new knowledge-based face image indexing system through the Internet

Image indexing is one of the most popular research areas of computer vision, such as for digital libraries, multimedia systems and TV program systems. This paper focuses on the face image indexing applications. The authors proposed a new scheme for face image indexing by using a knowledge-based method that artists draw human portraits. The basic idea is to analyze artists how to draw a portrait based on human face proportions related knowledge. And then, we use these rules to process face image indexing. This process provides a new alternative way for indexing human face image in terms of the knowledge-based method. Our system is composed of two main steps. The first step is facial features extracting. And then, it goes to human face image indexing. There are two advantages of this system. First, the system provides a simple synthesis procedure. Secondly, the paper proposes an easy method which is important for reducing waiting time of delaying cost of Internet server

Designing a new storage technique for face images transmission using JPEG2000

Pictures and video sequences showing human faces are of high importance in content-based retrieval systems. During flourishing Internet time, more and more human face image databases are stored on the Internet. They provide a great number of human face images to access. Therefore, considering the storage space and the network bandwidth, how to access human face image more efficiently has become an important topic. The primary goal of our method is to minimize the number of bits required to preserve the crucial facial features without any loss of information. In this paper, we propose a new technique based on JPEG2000 for the storage and retrieval of the human face images. We combine lossy and lossless image compression of JPEG2000 to reach our goal. Aiming at the feature of human face image data, we extract the facial features in the image as the most important information. The lossless image compression is used to retain the facial features of human face image. The background and the rest of the image are processed by lossy compression to further save the required storage space. The preliminary result has shown that our method can have higher compression ratio without loss of the crucial facial feature for low bandwidth communication applications, such as videophone and teleconferencing