Digital Communication Technologies Research Articles

Integration of smart grid technologies: Implementing advanced procurement strategies leveraging AI and machine learning

Integrating smart grid technologies represents a pivotal advancement in modernizing electrical grids and enhancing efficiency, reliability, and sustainability. This publication explores the role of advanced procurement strategies, specifically leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), in streamlining the sourcing and integration of smart grid components. By examining current challenges, potential solutions, and the impact on national security and economic stability, this paper aims to provide a comprehensive framework for the effective implementation of smart grid technologies. The traditional electrical grid, characterized by its centralized generation and unidirectional power flow, faces numerous challenges, such as inefficiency, susceptibility to outages, and inability to integrate renewable energy sources effectively (Brown et al., 2020). The transformation to a smart grid infrastructure, which incorporates digital communication technology and advanced sensors, promises significant improvements. However, the transition is fraught with challenges, particularly in the procurement and integration of the necessary components. One of the primary challenges in smart grid integration is the complexity of supply chains. The procurement of smart grid components involves multiple stakeholders, including manufacturers, suppliers, and regulatory bodies. This complexity often leads to delays, increased costs, and inefficiencies (Smith & Wang, 2019). Additionally, the high initial costs of smart grid technologies pose a barrier to widespread adoption. Traditional procurement methods struggle to balance cost-efficiency with the need for high-quality, durable components, often resulting in budget overruns or compromised quality.

The Impact of Digital Communication Technology on Education in the Post-Crisis Period of the Covid-19 Pandemic

This study investigates the impact of digital communication technology in the education sector of Indonesia following the Covid-19 crisis. The rapid spread of the pandemic necessitated a shift towards digital communication tools in educational institutions. However, challenges such as limited access due to concurrent usage were encountered. This qualitative research employs a post-positivist paradigm and utilizes in-depth interviews with purposefully selected informants to collect data. The findings reveal that the adoption of online media technologies, including eLearning platforms, Zoom, Google Meet, WhatsApp, Classroom, and YouTube, has significantly enhanced technological literacy among students and lecturers. Moreover, it has facilitated effective communication both offline and online, demonstrating potential for future outcome-based education. This study emphasizes the importance of appropriate technology in post-crisis education, underscoring its value as an asset in the learning process. The findings contribute to the existing body of knowledge on digital communication technology in the educational context, specifically in the Indonesian setting.

Empowering the on-site detection of nucleic acids by integrating CRISPR and digital signal processing

Addressing the global disparity in cancer care necessitates the development of rapid and affordable nucleic acid (NA) testing technologies. This need is particularly critical for cervical cancer, where molecular detection of human papillomavirus (HPV) has emerged as an accurate screening method. However, implementing this transition in low- and middle-income countries has been challenging due to the high costs and centralized facilities required for current NA tests. Here, we present CreDiT (CRISPR Enhanced Digital Testing) for on-site NA detection. The CreDiT platform integrates i) a one-pot CRISPR strategy that simultaneously amplifies both target NAs and analytical signals and ii) a robust fluorescent detection based on digital communication (encoding/decoding) technology. These features enable a rapid assay (<35 minutes) in a single streamlined workflow. We demonstrate the sensitive detection of cell-derived HPV DNA targets down to single copies and accurate identification of HPV types in clinical cervical brushing specimens (n = 121).

Preference for internet at home in a disadvantaged neighbourhood

Although most households are equipped with digital information and communication technologies (DICT), a significant digital divide remains in internet access at home along income and digital native/immigrant status. Previous research has mainly investigated whether this digital inequality is attributable to constraints such as technological availability or financial resources. This article examines the extent to which digital inequality of internet access at home is preference-driven by comparing internet preference with other housing preferences and investigating the effect heterogeneity of social status on internet preference. We analyse a dataset comprising 131 residents of a disadvantaged neighbourhood in Bochum, Germany. This neighbourhood provides a suitable setting, as internet access is available throughout the area but varies between individual households. Using a factorial survey with housing vignettes, we assess the importance of internet preference. This research design circumvents many of the difficulties in measuring housing preferences, such as unrealistic wishful thinking, and facilitates the investigation of effect heterogeneity in terms of social status characteristics. The results show that the preference for internet access at home is comparable to that of other housing amenities and does not vary according to age, income or the presence of children. The findings reinforce the importance of the financial constraint-driven causes of the digital divide.

The evolution of research on digital communication and social protests: A bibliometric analysis

The rise of digital communication technologies has significantly changed how people participate in social protests. Digital platforms—such as social media—have enabled individuals to organize and mobilize protests on a global scale. As a result, there has been a growing interest in understanding the role of digital communication in social protests. This manuscript provides a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the evolution of research on digital communication and social protests from 2008 to 2022. The study employs bibliometric methodology to analyze a sample of 260 research articles extracted from the SCOPUS core collection. The findings indicate a significant increase in scholarly investigations about digital communication and its role in social protest movements during the past decade. The number of publications on this topic has increased significantly since 2012—peaking in 2022—indicating a heightened interest following COVID-19. The United States, United Kingdom, and Spain are the leading countries in publication output on this topic. The analysis underlines scholars employing a range of theoretical perspectives—including social movement theory, network theory, and media studies—to identify the relationship between digital communication and social protests. Social media platforms—X (Twitter), Facebook, and YouTube—are the most frequently studied and utilized digital communication tools engaged in social protests. The study concludes by identifying emerging topics relating to social movements, political communication, and protest, thereby suggesting gaps and opportunities for future research.

Data Communication Over Power-lines: A Review on Technical, and Applications Challenges

This paper presents a review study on the data communication over power-lines, commonly referred to as power-line carrier, power-line communication (PLC), mains communications, or power-line digital subscriber line (PDSL). This study examines the technical and application advantages and challenges associated with adopting PLC as a preferred alternative technology for wideband or broadband data communication. The broader coverage area of the PLC network gives it a distinct advantage over other communication network technologies. Additionally, implementing a communication system using the existing power-line network is more cost-effective and less time-consuming compared to constructing a new network from scratch. However, the primary challenge lies in the fact that the power-line network is primarily designed for the distribution of electrical power within the frequency range of 50-60 Hz including the harmonics. This poses various obstacles such as electrical noise from appliances, signal distortions caused by the unregulated nature of the wiring, transformer bypassing, interference from high-frequency modulation, and variations in characteristic impedances, among others. Despite these challenges, the emergence of robust modulation techniques like Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) and Direct-Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS), along with the development of Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) density with improved processing speeds, as well as advancements in signal processing and error control coding techniques, have made the PLC network the most promising telecommunications access network.

Evaluating collective action theory-based model to simulate mobs

A mob is an event that is organized via social media, email, SMS, or other forms of digital communication technologies in which a group of people (who might have an agenda) get together online or offline to collectively conduct an act and then disperse (quickly or over a long period). In recent years, these events are increasingly happening worldwide due to the anonymity of the internet, affordability of social media, boredom, etc. Studying such a phenomenon is difficult due to a lack of data, theoretical underpinning, and resources. In this research, we use the Agent-Based Modeling (ABM) technique to model the mobbers and the Monte Carlo method to assign random values to the factors extracted from the theory of Collective Action and conduct many simulations. We also leverage our previous research on Deviant Cyber Flash Mobs to implement various scenarios the mobber could face when they decide to act in a mob or not. This resulted in a model that can simulate mobs, estimate the mob success rate, and the needed powerful actors (e.g., mob organizers) for a mob to succeed. We finally evaluate our model using real-world mob data collected from the Meetup social media platform. This research is one step toward fully understanding mob formation and the motivations of its participants and organizers.

Women, peace and security: Digitalization and cyber feminist solidarity building in the global South

Since its launch in 2000, the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) and resulting WPS agenda are widely used by intergovernmental, governmental, and civil society actors to advance women's participation in peace and security matters. This paper investigates WPS-cyber sphere connections to uncover the implications for the WPS agenda in the digital realm. We ask: How can digital information and communication technologies (ICTs) facilitate solidarity building and efforts to support the WPS agenda? Building on WPS scholarship and cyberfeminism, we explore our question through Nepal and Sri Lanka, both postwar countries located in South Asia that demonstrate digital feminist future possibilities. Using primary sources from social media and secondary publications, we argue that there is potential for solidarity building in WPS digital networks. This paper contributes to understanding the digitalization of women's movements, building digital feminist solidarity, and the cyber realm's potential for the WPS agenda.

Penggunaan Stiker Whatsapp Dan Pengaruh Terhadap Efektivitas Komunikasi Digital Dikalangan Orang Tua (Studi Kasus Pada Orang Tua Di Baladewa Rt 08 Kota Bandung)

The advent of instant messaging apps like WhatsApp has changed the way parents communicate digitally. One of the more popular features is the use of stickers in messages. This study aims to determine the use of WhatsApp stickers in digital communication among parents in Baladewa Rt 08, Bandung city, and measure its impact on the effectiveness of their communication. This research uses quantitative methods, the data collection technique is in the form of a questionnaire to a group of parents who actively use WhatsApp stickers in daily communication. The results showed that the use of WhatsApp stickers can increase emotional expression and creativity in parents' digital communication and how the use of these stickers affects their communication effectiveness in facing the challenges of modern digital communication. However, there is also the constraint that the use of WhatsApp stickers may compromise communication effectiveness in some contexts. Therefore, this study provides an in-depth insight into how the use of WhatsApp stickers affects digital communication among parents, with diverse impacts for the development of communication and interaction technologies. The conclusions of this study can help in developing an understanding of how parents interact with digital communication technologies.

Smart IV Bag and Health Monitoring System for Hospitals and Remote Places Using IOT

The health monitoring system utilizing an ESP32 controller and Arduino Nano presents an innovative approach to enhance patient care through continuous real-time monitoring of vital health parameters. This system integrates various sensors, including ECG, DHT11, HX711, and an R305 fingerprint sensor, to collect comprehensive physiological data and ensure secure access. The ESP32 microcontroller processes this data, providing immediate local alerts via a buzzer and LED indicators, while the Arduino Nano manages the GSM module to send remote notifications to healthcare professionals. Furthermore, the system employs IoT capabilities to transmit data to cloud platforms, facilitating remote monitoring and analysis. By automating the monitoring process, this project reduces the workload on healthcare staff and ensures timely medical interventions, thereby improving patient outcomes. The system's ability to provide real-time data visualization, secure access control, and remote monitoring aligns with the growing need for connected and intelligent healthcare solutions. This comprehensive health monitoring system not only enhances patient safety and care efficiency but also supports the advancement of modern healthcare infrastructures through robust data management and communication technologies.

Efficiency of telemedicine in referral from primary to secondary and tertiary care in neurology in Brazil

Introduction: Telemedicine is the practice of medicine mediated by digital information and communication technologies, for the purposes of care, education, research, disease and injury prevention, management and health promotion. One of its modalities is teleconsultation. Objective: Systematic and integrative review of the literature on the efficiency of telemedicine in referral from primary to secondary and tertiary care in Brazil, in the context of neurology. Method: The "PICO" search and analysis strategy was used, with the guiding question: "How efficient is telemedicine when applied as a tool to guide the referral of patients with neurological conditions from primary to secondary and tertiary centers?” using the descriptors “telemedicine, referral, Brazil, neurology, and consultation” in the boolean form “AND” and “OR”, in PubMed and BVS in English and Portuguese. Results: 16 articles were included. Conclusion: Research indicates that the use of telemedicine proves to be an important tool for improving the efficiency of referrals from primary to secondary and tertiary care, promoting cost reduction, reducing waiting lists and promoting alternative medical care for the population.

Communicating for Sustainability in the Digital Age: Toward a New Paradigm of Literacy

Efforts to create a sustainable future require careful and complex thinking, interdisciplinary and cross-organizational collaboration, and effective and ethical communication. However, the structural biases of digital communication technologies foster modes of thought and expression that undermine or impede these necessities. While one possible solution to this problem is digital literacy, the two prevailing paradigms of digital literacy both reproduce the myth of technological neutrality. This myth further inhibits sustainability by wrongly suggesting that digital technologies are appropriate to all communication goals and tasks. As a corrective to these models, I propose a new paradigm of digital literacy, one rooted in media ecology. The adoption of this model, I maintain, allows us to consciously co-create our social world rather than merely inhabit it.

Usage of digital information and communications technologies in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa

Usage of digital information and communications technologies in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa

Role of Digital Communication in Learning the English language

Digital communication technologies have transformed how people learn languages, especially English. This article looks at how these technologies help people learn English better. It covers various digital tools and platforms like social media, online forums, language learning apps, and virtual classrooms that create interactive and engaging learning experiences. By using these technologies, learners can access many resources, have real-time conversations with native speakers, and get quick feedback, making the learning process faster. The article also explores how digital communication affects the development of key language skills, such as listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The findings show the benefits of using digital communication in English language education, such as increased motivation, personalized learning experiences, and the chance to practice language skills in real-life contexts. However, it also discusses challenges like differences in digital literacy and the need for effective teaching strategies to get the most out of digital tools. Overall, this study highlights the important role of digital communication in modern English language learning, offering insights for teachers, learners, and policymakers to fully utilize its potential.

Bridging digital and knowledge divides: Concepts, frameworks and ethical concerns

AbstractSince time immemorial, the hegemonic imposition of cultural and political power asymmetries has resulted in the de jure and de facto exclusion of certain groups from the common weal. Withe the introduction of digital information and communication technologies (ICT), the rifts between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have‐nots’ have expanded at nearly exponential rates. To provide an instrument for analysing the complexities of bridging the digital and knowledge divides, a conceptual framework is presented that provides different perspectives on agency in the commonwealth and the infosphere, which, in turn, leads to a discussion of the operationalization of ethics and justice in human rights that directly affect the entelechy of wellbeing. This discussion provides a basis for exploring certain aspects of social‐cultural barriers to wellbeing, the commodification of human rights, digital imperialism and cultural hegemonies in the world polity, including the infosphere, that have a direct bearing on the wellbeing of all in the common weal. A summary and a call‐to‐action complete the study.

Digital tools and digital pedagogy for placemaking

PurposeThe surge of digital technologies and information communication technologies poses a challenge to traditional placemaking, influencing how people live, communicate and connect with their environments. In response, placemaking practices are integrating emerging digital technologies, giving rise to digital placemaking. This digital approach aims to present new opportunities for establishing a sense of place, encouraging unique interactions and adding value to communities in social, economic, cultural and environmental aspects.Design/methodology/approachThis paper aims to examine the current landscape of digital tools and apps that facilitate digital placemaking. Conducting an extensive literature review, the research evaluates these tools based on their positive contributions to placemaking, categorizing them according to the aspects they enhance in the placemaking process. These aspects include social dynamics, cultural influences, environmental considerations, artistic qualities, heritage preservation, support for human well-being, urban development and opportunities for digital collaboration among citizens. Additionally, the paper explores digital pedagogy for placemaking, analyzing various tools for their educational approach, knowledge production methods and learning outcomes.FindingsThe findings indicate a growing trend in utilizing digital tools for placemaking, driven by technological advancements like augmented and virtual reality, artificial intelligence and the internet of things. Similar to traditional placemaking, digital practices are collaborative and context-dependent, requiring engagement from multiple stakeholders for optimal success. Notably, successful digital placemaking apps often incorporate interactivity and multimodality. Digital collaborative platforms can significantly impact placemaking and sustainable urban design, serving as effective tools for both bottom-up and top-down knowledge production and learning related to placemaking.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings of this study must be seen considering certain limitations. The scoping review utilized analysis of most relevant bibliometric databases, however, in the domain of digital placemaking there are undertakings by private companies, nongovernmental as well as governmental organizations which are not cited in the scientific databases. This limitation was tackled by using conventional search engines like Google and Bing to identify and study such projects. Also, it must be noted that the digital domain is rapidly developing and being integrated in digital placemaking. Even more, the artificial intelligence technology, which is being applied across all disciplines, with so far unforeseen possibilities, should be further examined how it is being adopted and implemented in the domain of digital placemaking and which are its impacts in the placemaking processes and outcomes.Originality/valueDespite these advancements, many digital tools lack a comprehensive approach to address the various aspects of sustainability in placemaking. Consequently, further research is needed to develop digital tools that adopt a holistic approach, ensuring justifiability and feasibility in social, environmental and economic terms. Furthermore, in alignment with the goals of the EU Green Deal, incorporating Circular Economy principles into the development of new digital placemaking methods and tools is crucial.

Object–attribute–relation model-based semantic coding for image transmission

The development of digital, networked and intelligent communication technology has led to significant growth in data and services. Especially in the communication scenario of monitoring data, a variety of downstream tasks bring significant technical challenges for high-performance data transmission, information mining, and data distribution. The problem to be solved is the coding and low bit-rate transmission of large amounts of surveillance data. Concepts and methods that utilize semantic communication are needed. This paper proposes a communication architecture based on the object–attribute–relation (OAR) semantic knowledge base. The sender uses the model parameters and prior knowledge in the knowledge base to drive the OAR extraction model to encode the image. After semantic coding and channel coding, the signal is transmitted to the receiver through the physical channel. At the receiver, the signal is decoded into a semantic vector. The OAR global vector is generated by structured processing, which is used for downstream tasks such as image retrieval or image reconstruction. Experimental comparison and analysis illustrate the effectiveness and superiority of each part of the communication framework. This approach provides a new solution for improving data utilization and processing efficiency.

The dark triad, dating app use and online disinhibition positively predict technology-facilitated sexual violence perpetration

Technology-facilitated sexual violence (TFSV) describes the perpetration of a variety of sexual offences committed through digital communication technologies. The current study aims to investigate the similarity of risk factors between TFSV and in-person sexual offending. The sample consisted of 105 young adult, Australian males who responded to measures of sexual violence acceptance, dating app usage, online disinhibition, and the dark triad. Overall, 45.3% of the sample reported at least one instance of TFSV perpetration in the past 5 years. Standard and hierarchical linear regressions revealed dating app usage, the dark triad, and online disinhibition positively predicted TFSV perpetration. Neither measure of attitudes accepting of sexual violence predicted TFSV perpetration, but their positive correlation is indicative of cultural norms enabling sexual violence against women. As illuminated here, the congruence between TFSV and in-person violence extends beyond conceptual and prevalence trends to predictive risk factors. Recommendations for interventions and prevention include raising awareness of risk-generating app features that create vulnerability to sexual harm and identifying heterogenous groups of TFSV offenders based on key characteristics to develop optimal intervention strategies.

Fandom in Action: Online Mobilisation of Thai Youth in the 2020-2021 Anti-Government Protests

The convergence of social media with political communication and the emergence of celebrity politics have significantly altered the landscape of political participation, particularly among the younger generation. Yet, comprehensive research on online political fandom remains limited despite its critical intersection with politics and digital media. This study addresses this gap, focusing on the in-depth case study of the 2020-2021 Thai anti-government protest. It scrutinises how tech-savvy Thai youth, propelled by political fandom surrounding Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, a Future Forward Party opposition leader, harnessed social media and pre-existing online networks to organise these anti-government protests. Despite lacking a formal hierarchy, their organisational prowess, especially in information dissemination, highlights the intricate interplay of political fandom, social media, and youth mobilisation. By employing a trace interview method and conducting semi-structured interviews, the study explores how political fans transitioned from online engagement to active protest participation. The evidence contributes to a nuanced understanding of how fandom culture shapes their political judgment and behaviour. Participants in this study are political fans who publicly engage with politics on social media and participate in large-scale protests offline. They were recruited through a two-step process: first, the Twitter API identified users with high engagement in political fandom and anti-government hashtags. Then, a snowball sampling method extended the participant pool based on referrals from initial interviewees. A thematic analysis was conducted on the interview transcripts. The initial findings indicate that the influence of charismatic political figures, the empowerment of the fan community, and the belief that online political expression is ineffective draw participants toward offline participation. The resemblance between the political fandom of Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit and the more mainstream popular fandoms highlights the importance of considering the role of popular culture influences in shaping people’s political behaviours, particularly in contemporary digital communication technologies. In conclusion, this study aims to uncover the intricate relationship between political fandoms, social media, and offline activism and to emphasise the pervasive influence of popular culture on political behaviours in the digital age.

Efficiency of Digital Communication Technologies for Integrating the LPR and DPR Residents into the Sociocultural Expanse of Russia

This paper evaluates the use of digital communications and discusses the integration of residents from the Lugansk and Donetsk People’s Republics (LPR, DPR) into modern Russia’s sociocultural expanse. The study uses cyber-metric analysis, as well as the method of constructing and analyzing social graphs. The research concludes that strategies for using digital communications in new regions are heterogeneous. Also, the authors highlight two issues. First, there is a low representation of political parties, public associations, and projects in the regional digital communications system. Second, the digital infrastructure of new regions is currently being set up.