Sylvia Kowalewski

Health Concerns Versus Mobile Data Needs: Conjoint Measurement of Preferences for Mobile Communication Network Scenarios

ABSTRACT As demands for mobile broadband services and ubiquitous network coverage in our societies are increasing, the mobile communication network infrastructure has to be expanded. Concurrently, the technical infrastructure of mobile communication technologies (base stations) raises the publics concerns about health risks due to electromagnetic fields (EMF). By applying conjoint analyses, the study empirically investigates the relationship between mobile data demands, different base station locations, the prevalence of perceived health complaints, and the impact of compensation payments. Findings show that health concerns are the most critical factor for mobile network communication scenario preferences, followed by data rate availability. In the decision scenarios, base station location and compensation payments played a minor role. Two user groups, cellphone and smart phone users who differ in their sensitivity regarding health concerns and data demands, were identified by segmentation analysis. By means of a sensitivity analysis, different mobile communication network scenarios were analyzed. Outcomes show the importance of integrating users’ preferences into the design of mobile communication networks. This especially refers to an increased sensitivity regarding health concerns in cellphone users and minimum requirements for data rates at least sufficient for the usage of mobile Internet services for smart phone users.

Accounting for User Diversity in the Acceptance of Medical Assistive Technologies

This paper describes two studies focusing on acceptance of medical technologies from different points of view – in general and in particular. Acceptance of medical assistive technologies was analyzed considering influences of user diversity factors. The first study explored how people perceive the aging process itself and showed how this perception is associated with general aspects of acceptance of medical technology in terms of usability. The second study was conducted to analyze acceptance of a specific technology – a smart robot – revealing that the acceptance of a concrete medical device is more specific and that especially age and gender form its underlying structures.

The Willingness to Adopt Technologies: A Cross-Sectional Study on the Influence of Technical Self-efficacy on Acceptance

Possible explanations for the acceptance or rejection of technological innovations have become a crucial topic in research. Depending on the type of technology, a variety of factors affect acceptance motives. This paper looks into the influence of technical-self efficacy (TSE) on acceptance of technology infrastructure. An empirical study (n=137 participants) was conducted to study effects of TSE on approval, discomfort, and resistance towards technology infrastructure, using electricity pylons, mobile phone masts, and wind power plants as examples. Overall, it was corroborated that TSE is a key variable for explaining users’ acceptance of technology infrastructure. The individual technical self-confidence contributed to the explanation of approval and discomfort, whereas resistance was largely based on place of residence. Acceptance differences between technologies were based on different influential user factors. Our research provides valuable insights for stakeholders and contributes to the research on acceptance of energy infrastructures by providing a cross-sectional view.

Inside the User’s Mind – Perception of Risks and Benefits of Unknown Technologies, Exemplified by Geothermal Energy

In the context of large scale projects public acceptance is indispensable for a sustainable roll out and broad implementation of technology. Especially when those projects deal with the implementation of relatively unknown technologies like geothermal energy. To find out what communication need the general public has, knowledge about the underlying cognitive attitudes toward the technology as well as the mental representation is important. In this context especially uncertainties about the consequences and risks are of importance. In this study we get a deeper understanding of the mental representation of geothermal energy by uncovering acceptance-relevant cognitions which were assessed by interviews with open answer format. Results show, that especially the communication about risks and possible disadvantages should be integrated in an adequate information strategy.

Users’ Willingness to Share Data on the Internet: Perceived Benefits and Caveats

One of the major challenges of the ongoing digitalization and the ubiquitous usage of pervasive computing in all fields of our lives is to steer a sensible balance between benefits and drawbacks of using the Internet and to implement an appropriate data handling when using digital media. The broad availability of data, in line with the enormous velocity of information retrieval, is open to abuse and malpractice, with privacy threats as the most serious barrier. The consumers and their attitudes and behaviors when using the Internet play an important role in the discussion about privacy protection. The aim of the current study was to analyze Internet usage behaviors and users’ willingness to share their data when using digital services and social network sites. In a two step empirical approach, we first explore users’ perceptions of privacy in the context of Internet usage and social network sites by means of a focus group approach. In a second step, a quantitative study was carried out. Using a conjoint measurement approach, user scenarios were created from combinations of different levels of anonymization extent, data type, and benefits from sharing the data. The respondents’ task was to decide under which conditions they would be willing to share their data. 80 volunteers (50,6% women) between 14 and 60 years of age participated in the conjoint study.

The potential of Facebook® for communicating complex technologies using the example of deep geothermal energy

Professional and transparent communication processes are crucial for the introduction of new complex technologies. In this context, the potential of social media applications such as Facebook has still to be investigated. Therefore, this paper addresses the potential of Facebook as an instrument in communicative measures for the acceptance of complex technologies taking deep geothermal energy as an example. Based on socio-scientific and linguistic approaches the special characteristics of Facebook as a communication and interaction environment and specific Facebook components are described. The description leads to a discussion about the opportunities and risks of using Facebook in communicative measures. Also, recommendations for the usage of specific Facebook components are given. The discussion shows that Facebook is suited for information as well as inclusion purposes. The Facebook components fan pages, groups and events can be applied as useful components in comprehensive communication strategies for complex technologies. The considerations and recommendations in this study are useful for communication professionals who develop and carry out communication concepts as well as for researchers who deal with Facebook in professional contexts.

Going on a Road-Trip with My Electric Car : Acceptance Criteria for Long-Distance-Use of Electric Vehicles

In this study we report on four focus group discussions to examine cognitions, attitudes of a broad variety of users with respect to battery electric vehicles (BEV). Specifically, we identified relevant criteria for the use of electric cars as a long distance vehicle and gathered first impressions of where users wish to locate such charging stations. Four main aspects were identified as acceptance relevant: The battery’s capacity, given in the driving range in kilometers, the time it takes to regain this given range (charging time), the density of the charging stations grid and the attractiveness of the places where the charging stations are located, which could for example be a service area or a simple parking lot off the highway. Results of this study might provide detailed insights into conditions and technical specifications that have to be met beyond the possibility of quick charging to reach higher acceptance and a broad willingness to use BEVs for more than short-tracks in the city.

Integrating Potential Users Into the Development of a Medical Wrist Watch in Four Steps

The focus of this study was on the integration of potential users into the development of a mobile medical device from the first idea up to a finished prototype. Apart from medical functions the special feature of this mobile small screen device is its completely icon based menu structure. In three consecutive studies the requirements concerning the design and usability of the wrist watch and its functionality were evaluated. A specific impact had the design of the, warning functions and the icon development that should be easily understood by affected users. In a fourth study, the developed prototype of the mobile small screen device was tested according to usability aspects and comprehensibility of the menu structure. Beyond chronically ill users, which were the target users, a group of healthy users served as control condition for evaluation purposes. Overall it could be shown that a completely icon-based menu structure on a small screen device is not only feasible, but also highly suitable if the design is following a completely user-centered development and evaluation procedure.

“Faith to Go or Devil’s Work” – Social Media Acceptance in Taboo-Related Usage Contexts

Beyond their ubiquity, social media have fundamentally changed the nature of social, economic, and communicative pathways in modern societies. Communication and information with digital media are present everywhere and at any time. Social media overcome physical as well as mental borders and are increasingly incorporated in our private lives. While there is a substantial body of knowledge about the usage of social media in public or working areas, yet, there are also uncovered fields. Religious applications delivered by social media are one of the unlighted areas of mobile application development within the last years. In contrast to their low publicity in research stand a high number of various applications for any number of persuasions. Using a qualitative pre-study and a quantitative survey, this study gains insights into personal perceptions of using religious applications and the acceptance by believers and non-believers.