Krassie Petrova

Location-based services deployment and demand: a roadmap model

The advancements in mobile, wireless and positioning technologies have enabled applications and services such as route guiding and emergency call-out assistance. These and other similar services have become known as ‘location-based services’ (LBS). The literature on LBS development and deployment addresses technological issues (for example, usability and integration) and issues related to LBS implementation—including LBS business models, adoption and customer concerns and requirements. In the study presented here LBS development and deployment were investigated from a case study perspective and the LBS landscape is explored and analyzed. The study finds that while the regulatory environment has played a critical role as a success factor in the markets investigated some of innovative business approaches may have been equally important as customer demand generators. Economies on the road to deploying LBS should therefore focus on creating a supportive environment encouraging the development of services, which meet the identified needs and requirements of the target customer market.

Bridging the Research-Practice Gap in Requirements Engineering through Effective Teaching and Peer Learning

In this paper, we introduce the concept of the research-practice gap as it is perceived in the field of software requirements engineering. An analysis of this gap has shown that two key causes for the research-practice gap are lack of effective communication and the relatively light coverage of requirements engineering material in University programmes. We discuss the design and delivery of a Masters course in Software Requirements Engineering (SRE) that is designed to overcome some of the issues that have caused the research-practice gap. By encouraging students to share their experiences in a peer learning environment, we aim to improve shared understanding between students (many of whom are current industry practitioners) and researchers (including academic staff members) to improve the potential for effective collaborations, whilst simultaneously developing the requirements engineering skill sets of the enrolled students. Feedback from students in the course is discussed and directions for the future development of the curriculum and learning strategies are given.

Embedding information security curricula in existing programmes

There is a need for educators of information technology professionals to monitor the demands of the market and to adjust their programmes and curriculum accordingly. A number of universities and colleges have sought opportunities to extend their programmes to incorporate the fast developing area of information security. The School of Computing and Information Sciences at the Auckland University of Technology offers two programmes in information technology - an undergraduate and a postgraduate one. Information security and information assurance concepts are integrated with the learning objectives of individual courses. This paper provides background information about the school and the existing programmes and describes an information security curriculum development process. The strategies and approaches adopted are justified through consultation with major stakeholders (industry and students). Some of the issues arising form the implementation of the information security curriculum such as the need to invest in resourcing are discussed, and possible future information security curriculum developments are briefly outlined.

Mobile Payment: Towards a Customer-Centric Model

Mobile payment normally occurs as a wireless transaction of monetary value and includes the initiation, authorization and the realization of the payment. Such transactions are facilitated by purpose-built mobile payment systems that are part of the service infrastructure supporting the functioning of mobile business applications. A number of stakeholder groups may be involved in concluding a mobile payment transaction, among them customers, mobile operators, financial institutions, merchants, and intermediaries. In this paper, mobile payment systems are characterised from the point of view of the stakeholder groups. Building on existing work, a supply and demand model for the investigation of mPayment services is presented, and applied to a case study.

An implementation of an mLearning scenario using short text messaging: an analysis and evaluation

This paper describes the results of a research study conducted in conjunction with an experiment in using a short text messaging service (SMS) scenario for test revision. The learning environment was developed in a specific class context and was supported by a commercial mobile data service. This study aimed to identify the factors students perceived as drivers of the mLearning scenario and inhibitors to the success of the mLearning scenario, and to investigate the implementation of a mobile learning requirements framework in evaluating the experiment outcomes. An activity theory (AT) framework was developed to represent the dynamic relationships between participants and technology within the context of the experiment. The results of the qualitative data analysis show that mobility support, information density and information relevance are the main success factors, while service cost is likely to be the major detractor, and allow to draw recommendations for increasing the value of the mLearning service.

Mobile Payment: An Exploratory Study of Customer Attitudes

Mobile payment is an application of mobile commerce which facilitates mobile commerce transactions by providing the mobile customer with a convenient means to pay. The paper presents the results of an exploratory study, which develops a research framework of constructs and relationships derived from existing models, and applies in order to explore empirically mobile payment (mPayment) adoption. Data are analyzed with respect to a set of hypothesized relationships between the framework constructs. The study demonstrates that the degree to which customers have been familiar with mPayment and their general awareness of the service may affect their attitude towards it. The results also show that both demographic characteristics such as income and lifestyle characteristics such as mobile phone spending may play a significant role as moderating factors in the relationships studied. The study contributes to the understanding of the dynamics of mPayment adoption in the context of the sample, and identifies avenues for future work in the area.

WebLan-Designer: a Web-based system for interactive teaching and learning LAN design

Until recently, it has been difficult to motivate students to learn about wired and wireless local area network (LAN) design as they typically find the topic very technical, dry when delivered and even boring. A Web-based system (named WebLan-Designer) has been developed at the Auckland University of Technology (AUT) that gives students an interactive, hands-on flexible learning experience in both wired and wireless LAN design. The WebLan-Designer is suitable for classroom use in courses in computer networking at introductory level. The paper describes the architecture and the implementation of the WebLan-Designer and states its potential benefits as an aid both to classroom teaching and to student-centered learning. The paper concludes with a discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of the tool and its future development.

Retailer Adoption of Mobile Payment: A Qualitative Study

This qualitative study aimed to identify the motivating factors and the challenges related to the adoption of mobile payment mPayment by small business retailers. Data collected from semi-structured personal interviews with a small group of participants were analyzed applying a content analysis approach. The findings indicate that retailer demand for mPayment was motivated mainly by perceived customer expectations for a convenient faster way to pay using the ubiquitous mobile technology, as well as by the perceived efficiency of mPayment leading to revenue increase. Challenges to mPayment adoption included, among others, the need to compete with already established point-of-sale payment technologies and the lack of information about mPayment leading to uncertainty about its comparative advantages. The study contributes to the body of knowledge by developing and exploring a merchant oriented mPayment adoption model. The factors identified as adoption drivers and challenges provide an insight into New Zealand retailer perspectives on mPayment, and the grounds for recommendations to mPayment service providers.

SMS Banking: An Exploratory Investigation of the Factors Influencing Future Use

Mobile banking is a mobile service that allows the user to perform banking transactions using a mobile handheld device and a mobile service known as short text messaging (SMS). Deploying an expanded Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), this study aims to identify the factors that influence the customer’s decision to use SMS banking. Findings from relevant literature and outcomes of the analysis of qualitative data were gathered through focus group discussions to build a model, and a survey was conducted to explore the model with respect to individuals’ behaviour when considering using SMS banking. Findings show that service quality, as well as the degree of customers’ awareness about the service, influence participants’ perceptions about the usefulness of SMS banking and their intentions to use and adopt the service in the future.

Miniproject-Based Learning as an Effective Tool for Teaching Computer Networks to Graduate Students

This article reports on the experience of using the technique of miniproject-based learning (MPBL) as a key pedagogical method for teaching advanced computer networks within the context of a Master’s programme. A two-threaded approach was adopted. The MPBL thread within the course allows the students to gain practical experience and a deeper understanding of the key concepts of network protocols and technologies. The lecture thread uses face-to-face teaching, group discussion and class presentations to allow students to develop better communication and presentation skills. The effectiveness of MPBL approach has been evaluated extensively formally by students and by an external moderator, and informally in discussion within the teaching team. The implementation of the MPBL was judged to be successful because of the positive student and an external moderator feedback. Therefore, the authors propose that MPBL is a suitable pedagogical tool for the teaching of advanced computer networks to graduate students.