Michele Cornacchia

Building scenarios of digital television adoption: a pilot study

This study applies a multidisciplinary approach to build scenarios on both digital television (DTV) adoption and use of T-government services by citizens. Usability and socio-economic aspects were investigated earlier by an Italian pilot study. Dataset derived from this study was later analysed using the UTAUT (Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology) model in order to identify those factors affecting the usage as statistically reliable variables for the next step. In fact, a micro-simulation model on the diffusion of DTV and T-government services was built in order to better understand the user behaviour at various stages in the adoption course of this new digital technology. Microsimulation is also capable of predicting the consequences of certain policies at different levels (i.e. business and governmental). The model shows how some DTV and T-government scenarios on the adoption by the citizens can be influenced by different policy strategies: switch-off date, public communication campaigns, taxes reduction.

Engaging technology-resistant elderly people: Empirical evidence from an ICT-enabled social environment.

ABSTRACT This paper presents a qualitative investigation on user reactions, opinions, and sentiments about a TV-based technological solution developed within the EasyReach Project of the EU Ambient Assisted Living Joint Program to promote social interaction of less educated elderly people, that is, those individuals who, because of poor scholarization, low income, and, possibly, linguistic barriers, still find it difficult to use computers in order to improve their socialization. Experimental data were collected by extensive trials involving 40 real-end users. A methodology called “scenario engagement” was applied to get participants engaged in a live demonstration with the mediation of a facilitator who assisted elderly people to interact with the system. Results point out that the system can be effectively employed to foster social interaction, particularly when it is introduced in a collective use environment (e.g., Senior Center). Although the focus of the investigation was on information and communication technology-enabled social environments, the end users themselves strongly suggested to include in future system releases extra functions considered as essential opportunities for their potential digital lives: that is, medical or health services and bridges toward public administration.

Households technology adoption and use patterns: the case of digital terrestrial television in six Italian regions

ABSTRACT The paper explores the technology adoption and use patterns of households. Many theories are focusing on the adoption; however, some studies show that the adoption mechanisms in households are still unknown. Before any sound theoretical proposals could be made, additional exploratory studies in this field are necessary to discover the relations between use behaviour and adoption determinants. To demonstrate this, our exploratory study uses the case of digital terrestrial television (DTT) introduction in Italy. The study incorporates exploratory factor analysis to identify dimensions of DTT adoption and use. These dimensions were further investigated through their relations with demographic variables of primary decision-makers in households. We found that DTT adoption and use relate to household characteristics in a relatively complex way, but clear systematic use patterns are evident. These patterns can serve as an empirical evidence to further develop theories in this field.

Predicting the influence of emerging information and communication technologies on home life

Whether or not ICT represents the most important vehicle to transform the society seems to be out of discussion. The point of interest diverts from how people do really feel with these services and from the way they perceive the advantages as acceptable to improve the quality of life and work. It is matter of fact that the technical innovation is characterized by a certain risk, the problem of how to implement the technology for sure and, ahead of this phase, the problem of predicting its influence on the social, working and private life in view of the high costs effort to produce. This study applies a predictive model for the acceptance to a services integrated home environment properly set-up in a special laboratory. A class of users was selected from the employees of the company which hosted the trial in order to participate at the evaluation sessions. The tasks were designed to point out the main innovative features of the services presented. The questionnaires were suitably designed and submitted to collect the end-users opinions. Statistical analysis was carried out to assess the performance by the side of the real users and to predict their intentions of use. Finally both correlation and regression studies found out how the model predictors may respectively influence the acceptance of the ICT solutions proposed.

Office Automation Effects -In a Public Administration

Human Factors analysis of an Office Automation system adopted by an Italian Public Administration is the object of this paper. The evaluation of social and psychological effects due to human-machine interaction is the main aim of the investigation. Access to the information, influence on the way of work, formal and informal relationships interconnections with other offices and external bodies, work and life quality are considered. In order to face those aspects a model of causal relationships between Office Automation and main organizational characteristics is performed. Starting from the model adequate questionnaires for data collection have been worded for the quantitative verification of the validity degree of the model.

Getting and Keeping Aged People Socially Included

EasyReach is an Ambient Assisted Living Joint Programme project aimed at fostering the social interaction of home-bound and less educated elderly people. The project proposed a web interfaced service, accessed through the EasyReach DTT Set Top Box and a special remote control, equipped with interactive multimedia and an inertial unit. Pilots were carried out in the Italian cities of Rome and Milan by engaging real end-users in the controlled development of tasks. In the pilot conducted in Rome and described in this paper, data were collected by using both group and personal interviews, video recording and non-participant observations. Scenario engagement with realistic tasks was properly arranged.

Human factors in information system design: the emulation approach

The necessity of human-factors analysis from the beginning of the design process is underlined, and an emulation approach is proposed. The approach is based on two main components: (1) the representation of the principal functions of the service by a flexible hardware/software system; and (2) the evaluation of service acceptability using a sample of real potential users. The flexibility of the system utilized for emulation makes it possible to test different system configurations in order to select the best functions and characteristics of the service.<<ETX>>