Paul Beckman

CONCORDANCE BETWEEN TASK AND INTERFACE ROTATIONAL AND TRANSLATIONAL CONTROL IMPROVES GROUND VEHICLE PERFORMANCE

Research in various areas of human-system interaction suggests the importance of examining the similarities and dissimilarities between tasks and the interfaces used to complete them. Specifically, the theory of cognitive fit suggests that human problem solvers will perform better when the data and data displays they use to complete a task match some characteristic of that task. An experiment was performed that extends the theory of cognitive fit to the realm of human performance on motor tasks. Participants completed several virtual vehicle control motor tasks that consisted of rotational and translational control components. The tasks were performed with user interfaces that either combined or separated rotational and translational control. The tasks were of two types: control of either rotation or translation changes but not both concurrently, or simultaneous control of combined rotation and translation changes. The results indicate that task performance was better when the characteristics of the interface matched the characteristics of the task. Actual or potential applications of this research include constructing ground vehicle interface controls that are designed specifically based on the characteristics of the task for which they are to be used, such as primarily driving fast and in a straight line (e.g., on a highway) versus primarily driving slowly with much turning (e.g., on a city street).

The Impact of Security Issues on Willingness-to-Share in Community Wireless Networks

Several business models have been proposed to create “wireless cities”, municipalities with complete wireless connectivity throughout. These business models are for-profit, non-profit, or public-private enterprises, but none has proven to be completely successful. Community wireless networks, wherein members of the community provide the wireless infrastructure, are one possible solution to this problem. For this type of model to succeed, however, end-users must have confidence in the security of the wireless infrastructure. 168 residents of a U.S. West Coast city responded to an on-line survey asking them their attitudes about networks, security, and willingness to “share” their home wireless computer network. A surprisingly large number were willing to share their network for no compensation. An even larger number of residents would be willing to share their networks for some type of compensation. This result bodes well for this mode if communities are willing to compensate their residents and secure their networks.

Knowledge Transfer and Refinements to Connection-Based Employee Work Experience Measures

Recent research provides a completely new method of tracking knowledge transfer and measuring employee experience using co-worker collaboration data. This process could use data collected through employee use of organizational social tools, from email to Twitter, but could also be fed data collected by accounting or other systems that track employee work on organizational projects. The process can also be extended to measure the diversity level of an employee or to tie employees’ past workplace connections to their future performance. Measuring human experience in an organizational setting has, for the most part, been centered on timebased values such as “number of years worked.” However, the advent of social tools and advances in modern accounting systems and both of their abilities to collect incredibly refined data now allow organizations to move to a more highly sophisticated set of processes for tracking knowledge transfer and using it to calculate human work experience.

Perceived Usefulness and Satisfaction of Mobile Phone for Users with Disabilities

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities came into force in 2008. The ICT Opportunity for a Disability-Inclusive Development Framework produced by UNESCO in 2013 formulated a development agenda for these rights, highlighting the importance of mobile devices in this development effort. For most persons with disabilities, the mobile phone is an innovation. What factors affect their satisfaction of mobile phones? The technology acceptance model (TAM) suggests that the perceived usefulness of the device will affect a person’s attitude towards the technology and the associated satisfaction. This study examines the perceived usefulness of mobile phones for persons with disabilities. A survey was conducted. The structural equation model developed showed the latent variable Perceived Usefulness, manifested as Social Function, Emergency Help, Sense of Security, positively affected user satisfaction. Implications for enhancing mobile phone perceived usefulness for users with disabilities are discussed.

Mobile phone accessibility values for users with disabilities

In May 2008, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities came into force. Its passage requires countries to review policies and regulations on the accessibility of Information and Communication Technology ICT. Improvements in technology have enabled providers and manufacturers to enhance the accessibility features of mobile phones, but there is a need to conduct surveys among users with disabilities to find out the perceived accessibility values of mobile phones ITU, 2012, p.62. This study examines the relationships among accessibility values, technostress, and switching intentions for mobile phone users with disabilities. A survey was conducted and a structural equation model was developed. The latent construct of Accessibility Value, observed in terms of Usability, Connection and Companionship, has a direct and marginal negative effect on Switching Intention, and an indirect significant negative effect on Switching Intention through Technostress. Implications for enhancing the accessibility of mobile phones are discussed.