Digital Technologies Research Articles

Guest editorial: Special issue on “Global supply chain transformation using digital technologies in the post-pandemic era”

Guest editorial: Special issue on “Global supply chain transformation using digital technologies in the post-pandemic era”

Determinants of adoption of virtual reality as a teaching aid in higher education: the mediating role of hedonic motivation

PurposeThe inclusion of technology in teaching–learning ensures better clarity and interactivity in the delivery of content, leading to enhanced student engagement. The present paper aims to identify the determinants of adopting virtual reality (VR) learning from the educators’ perspective. The mediating role of hedonic motivation for adopting VR is also explored.Design/methodology/approachThis quantitative research is conducted using a conceptual model with the help of a literature survey. A self-designed questionnaire was used to collect primary data. The respondents were teachers working at higher education institutes. A sample of 341 respondents were used and the data was analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling.FindingsResults demonstrate that digital competence and technology support are the factors affecting the perceived ease of use, which further affects the attitude and intention of adoption. The role of hedonic motivation is established as a mediator in attitude toward virtual reality and adoption intention.Originality/valueThe study is a valuable addition to the existing literature as it presents the conceptual model and explores the imperative role of hedonic motivation. This provides a unique aspect to this research. Educators and the management of higher education institutes can use the findings to make decisions and create policies regarding integrating VR in existing curricula.

How might children’s online experiences be understood through a digital ethics of care framework?

ABSTRACT To explore children’s online conduct from a child’s digital rights perspective, a small-scale child participatory study was conducted. Eighteen children (5 males; 13 females) in the UK, aged 10–11 years old, participated by conducting interviews in pairs with one another. All children had previously engaged with a lesson to develop their interview skills, framed more broadly within the usual curriculum. A reflexive, organic, thematic analysis was conducted which identified four themes: i) Online experiences and associated conduct, ii) Emotions and Interoception, iii) Agency and action, and iv) Mentalising. The findings demonstrated children’s competencies using digital technology including their insights regarding how their social online interactions and conduct can make themselves and others feel. In conclusion, the research highlights the need for larger-scale studies in partnership with academics, technology companies, political representatives and most importantly children, to be solution-focused to ensure children’s digital rights are enacted.

Adjustmentalisation - digitalisation as transformation process and the interplay between a digital logic and diverse primary care logics in Sweden.

This study aims to contribute with knowledge on the characteristics of the process of co-existence of value conflicts between managers, markets/businesses, patients, professionals and digital technology in primary care practices, to be able to nuance the array of descriptions of the consequences of introducing a digitalised care practice, such as telemedicine, into an already existing primary care organisation. Due to its organisational structure and dynamic environment with a multitude of professions and patients as well as influenced by managerial and market drivers, the primary care setting provides fertile ground for studying value conflicts from an institutional logic perspective. This multi-source study utilises qualitative thematic content analysis on empirical data collected through interviews, a survey and documents, followed by an iterative analysis in regard to institutional logics based on the themes developed from empirical data. Coexistence and Adaptation: Different logics coexist and transform through adjustmentalisation rather than competing or dominating each other. Digital Technology's Influence: Digital technology influences and interacts with all established logics, potentially acting as a separate, evolving logic. Changing Healthcare Conditions: New conditions and digital solutions in healthcare may shift the balance of logics, potentially normalising managerial and market logics. Patient Empowerment and Data Ownership: Increasing emphasis on patient empowerment and transparent data processing under regulations like General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Medical Devices Regulation (MDR). With its qualitative design there is not an emphasis on generalisability. The study is performed in a Swedish primary care setting. Regarding its practical implications, this study examines digitalisation and the introduction of eHealth solutions in primary care in Sweden. The adjustmentalisation of diverse institutional logics described in this study was used to try to facilitate the implementation of eHealth and telemedicine in primary care. This practical contribution could be used in other primary care organisation that plans to introduce eHealth solutions as part of their practices. This study may also have practical implications for other healthcare organisations since the presence of diverse institutional logics is not unique to primary care. Firstly, this study confirms earlier studies that argue that co-existence of diverse logics is possible in everyday practice. However, we show that adjustmentalisation of the diverse logics rather than the balance of strengths between them, facilitates the transformation, regulation and coordination of the new eHealth practice in relation to established practices. Secondly, this study shows that the adjustmentalisation derives from societal challenges such as an ageing population, accessibility problems and the COVID pandemic that are used to legitimise the adjustmentalisation of diverse logics. Digital technology influences and interacts with all established logics, potentially acting as a separate, evolving logic. Coexistence and adaptation: Different logics coexist and transform through adjustmentalisation rather than competing or dominating each other.Digital technology's influence: Digital technology influences and interacts with all established logics, potentially acting as a separate, evolving logic.Changing healthcare conditions: New conditions and digital solutions in healthcare may shift the balance of logics, potentially normalising managerial and market logics.Patient empowerment and data ownership: Increasing emphasis on patient empowerment and transparent data processing under regulations like GDPR and MDR.Future research directions: Need for further research on digital technology's impact on shift and balance between logics, business development, patient participation and its potential to become a dominant logic.

Digital intelligence technology and curriculum ideology in sports colleges: the mediating roles of teaching effectiveness and student engagement

IntroductionThis study explores the role of digital intelligence technology (DIT) in indirectly enhancing curriculum ideological effectiveness in sports colleges through improvements in teaching effectiveness and student engagement. The research provides insights into how technology integration can influence ideological and political education outcomes.MethodsA nationwide sample of 804 faculty and student respondents was analyzed using a chain mediation model grounded in the Technology Acceptance Model, Self-Determination Theory, and Educational Ecosystem Theory. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was applied to examine the relationships between DIT, teaching effectiveness, student engagement, and curriculum ideology outcomes.ResultsThe findings reveal that DIT significantly enhances teaching effectiveness and student engagement, which sequentially contribute to improved curriculum ideology outcomes. Student engagement accounted for a greater proportion of variance compared to teaching effectiveness, emphasizing the critical role of interactive learning in ideological and political education.DiscussionThis study introduces a novel chain mediation pathway—DIT → Teaching Effectiveness → Student Engagement → Curriculum Ideology—highlighting the synergistic relationship between teaching quality and learner participation. The findings provide theoretical contributions to understanding technology integration in sports education and practical recommendations for professional development and interactive classroom practices to optimize the impact of DIT.

Research on evolution of intellectual property collaborative governance strategies of multi-entities in open source community

ABSTRACT Open source community intellectual property governance is a collaborative activity among multiple entities. This paper starts from the perspective of multi-party collaborative governance, based on evolutionary game theory, using open source community foundations, community operators, and contributors as the game subjects, to construct an evolutionary game model for collaborative intellectual property governance strategy of open source community, digital technology innovation strategies as the core. The correctness of the theoretical analysis was verified through model derivation, calculation, and simulation. The simulation results indicate that digital technology innovation plays an important role in intellectual property governance, and factors such as initial willingness, reward and punishment mechanisms, contribution costs, and infringement risks have a significant impact on the evolution of strategies. Based on this, we propose specific implementation paths to improve the intellectual property governance capacity of open source communities and promote innovative development in open source communities. The research contribution of this paper lies in exploring the process of rule compliance and strategy evolution of multiple subjects in open source communities under the policies guidance and use of digital technology from the use of digital technology innovation, providing new governance tools and governance basis for intellectual property governance in open source communities.

MEMBANGUN KEPERCAYAAN BISNIS : ANALISIS PEMASARAN TIKTOK LIVE DALAM KERANGKA ETIKA BISNIS ISLAM

The development of digital technology has transformed business marketing strategies, one of which isthrough the live streaming feature on TikTok. TikTok Live provides business owners with the opportunity tointeract directly with consumers, build trust, and drive real-time sales. However, in practice, variouschallenges arise regarding the implementation of Islamic business ethics. This study aims to analyze thealignment of TikTok Live marketing strategies with the principles of Islamic business ethics, namely tauhid(unity), equilibrium (balance), free will, responsibility, and ihsan (benevolence). Using a qualitativedescriptive method and a sociological-juridical approach, this study finds that many marketing practices onTikTok Live do not fully comply with Islamic business ethics, particularly in terms of transparency, honesty,and consumer responsibility. Some business owners still use manipulative marketing techniques, such ascreating false urgency and making exaggerated claims, which can mislead consumers. Therefore, furtherefforts are needed to raise awareness of Islamic business ethics in digital marketing so that businesses canoperate not only profitably but also based on Islamic values and bring benefits to society.

Development of a Bayesian Network-based Safety Performance Quantification Model on building construction projects in Korea

ABSTRACT As the integration of digital technologies in construction sites advances, interest in utilizing unstructured data is surging. In particular, the importance of safety inspections and proactive measures utilizing the vast amount of field-generated documentation is growing. The Korean construction industry has recently strengthened its systems and standards for preventing safety accidents. However, there are limitations in evaluating and improving the performance using only structured data based on existing institutional standards. This study proposes a Safety Performance Quantification Model (SPQM) to assess safety performance by utilizing the rapidly increasing unstructured data. The SPQM employs a Bayesian Network to evaluate safety performance through natural language processing techniques and analysis of association rules and social networks. The SPQM also leverages safety inspection documents produced by site supervisors to train Bayesian networks with Python 3.8 and verify network performance through the Brier Score (BS). The BS of the trained model is below 0.25, and the prediction rate is approximately 80%. The Bayesian Network-based SPQM can be a decision-making tool to quantify performance using unstructured data. In the future, the SPQM is expected to improve the timeliness of response by monitoring safety performance in conjunction with institutionally required data analysis.

Immigrants Living in Smart Cities: A Systematic Review of Their Digital Technology Adoption and an Empirical Study on the Adoption of Smart City Applications

ABSTRACT Smart city applications (SCA) facilitate the use of public transportation networks. However, immigrants usually encounter difficulties in adopting such online tools. In this research, the aim is to identify the primary factors that enable immigrants to adopt SCAs in Turkey. Several adoption drivers are tested to check whether they influence immigrants’ intention to adopt SCAs. The developed model is tested empirically by using survey data collected from 139 immigrants living in Turkey. The findings indicate that all independent variables are positively associated with the adoption of SCAs. The results may provide governmental authorities with managerial insights to establish strategies for lessening the barriers to the adoption of SCAs among the immigrant population.

Digital technologies and circularity: trade-offs in the development of life cycle assessment

Abstract Purpose This research aims to develop a critical understanding of the employment of digital technologies (DTs) for LCA studies, outlining both the opportunities and challenges associated with circular strategies. Two research questions are thus addressed: (1) What circular loops and aspects are addressed when digital technologies are integrated in the development of a Life Cycle Inventory? (2) Which trade-offs are revealed in the integration of digital technologies in Life Cycle Inventory development addressing circularity along a life cycle? Methods This study is based on the problematisation approach, which critically examines existing assumptions in the LCA literature, structured into six principles: defining a domain of investigation, articulating and evaluating assumptions, developing alternative perspectives, involving the audience through qualitative interviews, and assessing the alternative assumptions. A systematic literature review (SLR) and semi-structured interviews with experts were conducted to explore these issues and suggest future research directions. Results and discussion It emerges that the DTs are mainly integrated in the Life Cycle Inventory phase capturing closing and narrowing loops, whereas a limited number of cases investigate slowing loops with different aspects investigated. However, even if DTs can facilitate and improve the trustworthiness of the inventory, they can also lead to an increase in complexity because more competencies are needed, it is more difficult to control data collection and elaboration, and more social interactions along the supply chain are needed. At the same time, DTs can reduce flexibility because further improvements are blocked, interfaces can be rigid to connect, and technical and normative updates can be more difficult to implement. Conclusions DTs improve the development of the Life Cycle Inventory phase, particularly in the context of the circular economy. However, they also introduce new complexities and challenges. The use of blockchain, digital twins, and IoT sensors, for instance, has significantly improved data transparency and traceability, which are critical for circular economy practices, but complexity and training requirements can limit their benefits, so careful consideration must be given to their implementation to maximise benefits and minimise drawbacks.

Optimizing Human-Centric Warehouse Operations: A Digital Twin Approach Using Dynamic Algorithms and AI/ML

Purpose: This study aims to develop a versatile and adaptive system that optimizes manual warehouse operations through the integration of Digital Twin technology and AI/ML models. Methodology: The framework combines Digital Twin technology with advanced AI/ML analytics to dynamically adjust operational strategies based on real-time data collected from warehouse activities. Findings: A prototype implementation demonstrated significant improvements, including a 28.6% reduction in average picking time, a 20% improvement in inventory turnover, an increase in demand forecasting accuracy from 85% to 92%, and a reduction in labor costs by 15%. Originality: This research uniquely applies Digital Twin technology to manual warehouse environments, showcasing its effectiveness in enhancing operational efficiency without the need for full automation.

The role of dentistry in forensic medicine: identification of human remains

Relevance. The role of a dentist is not always limited to the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of various oral diseases. This profession is also of great importance in the medical and forensic fields, especially in the identification of unidentified bodies. This is why forensic dentistry has developed — a science whose contribution is invaluable in investigating crimes and mass disasters with several victims. This work requires the highest qualifications and prompt actions of specially trained experts with extensive experience. Objective. To analyze modern methods of forensic dentistry for identifying human remains, evaluate their effectiveness, and determine promising areas for dental examination development.Methodology. An analysis of the main methods of forensic dentistry was carried out. A comparative anatomical analysis of the dental system, radiographic methods, and digital technologies were used.Results. Identification methods include data collection, careful examination, and radiographic and photographic recording of postmortem evidence of tooth condition, imprints on the skin, features of the jaws, lips, and palatine folds of the mucous membrane. These data were compared with antemortem records to determine the race and age of the deceased. A key factor in successful identification is the maintenance of detailed patient records and effective cooperation with law enforcement. The study of the mechanisms of the formation of marks on teeth in cases of violence, traumatic injuries in cases of sexual violence, and characteristic injuries in cases of abuse of minors is critical for the work of a forensic dentist. Knowledge of methods for determining an individual’s age is essential. In addition, understanding the methods of establishing identity and the algorithms for their application in mass incidents while observing ethical principles is a fundamental aspect of the work of a forensic dentist. Examination of bodies for identification is inextricably linked with the observance of human rights, including the investigation of war crimes, which requires a special approach to this procedure.Conclusions. In modern times, the role of forensic dentistry has continued to increase. This is due to an increase in the number of natural and man-made disasters, military conflicts, and terrorist attacks where mass identification of victims is required. Dental methods enable highly accurate identification of remains even when other methods are ineffective. The development of digital technologies, 3D modeling, and artificial intelligence has opened new opportunities for forensic dentistry, increasing the accuracy and speed of identification. This makes dental examination an indispensable tool in modern forensic medicine and criminal investigations.

Public Values Program Kartu Pedagang Produktif (KPP) di Kabupaten Bojonegoro

This study aimed to explain the public value of the Productive Trader Card (KPP) program in Bojonegoro. The research method utilized was descriptive qualitative analysis. The informants were determined through a purposive sampling strategy. Data were collected based on the results of interviews with the Head of the UM Bojonegoro Trade and Cooperatives Office, as well as business actors who already had and did not have a KPP. The collected data were analyzed using the Miles & Huberman technique, covering three stages: data reduction, display, and verifying/conclusion drawing. The theory applied in this study is Mark Moore's public value, which consists of legitimacy and support, operational capabilities, and substantial value. The study results explain that the KPP program has been running well regarding Mark Moore's public value theory, although several indicators have not been met. The first indicator is the lack of full support from the community regarding this program; this is related to the government's lack of socialization efforts. The second indicator is that digital technology that supports the program has not been met because the KPP creation service cannot be done online. The third indicator is that substantial value has not been achieved regarding culture and ecology.

Migrants’ digital skills development: Engaging with and creating digital cultural activities on the ENACT web app

Abstract Migrants encounter multiple challenges, such as learning new languages and adapting to a new life. While digital technologies help them learn, limited research has been conducted on their digital skills development. In this article, we report on migrants’ digital skills development while learning language through culture using a web app developed by an EU-funded project that aimed to promote social cohesion through a two-way exchange of knowledge and skills. Forty-six migrant and 43 home community members in Finland, Spain, Türkiye, and the UK participated in intercultural and intergenerational pairs to engage with and co-create interactive digital cultural activities in multiple languages. Participants’ digital, linguistic and cultural gains were measured before and after the workshops. We report on participants’ digital skills, measured by a digital competence self-assessment tool developed based on DigComp, and interviews with the participants. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Qualitative data were analysed deductively using the categories of the DigComp framework. Findings indicate statistically significant improvement in migrants’ self-reported digital skills. Highest gains were in the competency area of digital content creation. Comparison of migrants’ digital skill development with that of home community members did not show any statistically significant differences, supporting our argument against the deficiency perspective towards migrant populations. Interview data suggested overall positive evaluations and highlighted the role of the web app instructions for content creation. We conclude with suggestions for further research and argue for inclusive pedagogies, emphasising how both community members learned from and with each other during the workshops.

Neurodiversity: post-cognitivist foundations of the 3E approach for educational inclusion of autistic students with technology

The concept of neurodiversity has gained strength in the last years to highlight the value of individual differences based on relevant variations in brain functioning. Inclusive education has embraced neurodiversity to promote a culture centered on valuing diversity, in response to clinical models based on deficits or disorders. This theoretical-critical article argues for the need to complement the current foundations of neurodiversity with post-cognitivist perspectives that reaffirm the brain-body-environment continuum, in order to enrich inclusive educational practices for autistic individuals. We begin by reviewing and discussing the concept of neurodiversity and neurocentric arguments in light of post-cognitivism. We then explore the potential of the 3E Cognition approach (embodied, enacted, and environmentally scaffolded) for addressing autism, aiming to provide a holistic understanding that contributes to the practical application of cognitive neuroscience findings in inclusive education. Finally, we present some guidelines and practical cases for creating inclusive educational environments based on digital technologies that enhance agency and sensory multimodality for autistic students.

Information Literacy of University Teachers: Bibliometric Analysis with Scopus 1998 - 2023

In the context of rapid developments in information technology, the need to enhance information literacy for students and lecturers in higher education institutions has become increasingly urgent. To effectively utilize various resources and online learning tools, and engage in scientific research activities, it is essential to equip individuals with adequate professional knowledge and information skills. The primary objective of this study is to explore the evolution of scientific publications regarding the quantity, development models, and research trends related to information literacy for university lecturers. We employed bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer software and RStudio integrated with Biblioshiny to evaluate 279 articles (comprising 231 journal articles, 25 conference papers, 17 book chapters, and six books) indexed in Scopus published from 1998 to 2023. The key findings reveal that the years 2021 and 2022 saw a notable surge in research (accounting for 23.7%). The study identifies the most prominent journals publishing case studies on digital technology in education, all of which are of high quality and rank highly within Scopus categories. Furthermore, the research highlights the distribution and trends of keywords, identifying the most influential countries and organizations in the field. Furthermore, the research highlights the distribution and trends of keywords, identifying the most influential countries and organizations in the field.

Can Enterprise Digitalization Promote Green Technological Innovation? Evidence from China’s Manufacturing Sector

China’s manufacturing industry is characterized by high energy consumption and high pollution, which urgently requires resolution through green technological innovation. This study focuses on China’s A-share listed manufacturing enterprises to explore their development path for green technological innovation. The study primarily employs statistical regression analysis to uncover the causal link between digitalization and green technology innovation. The study’s conclusion indicates that the digitalization of manufacturing enterprises has significantly promoted green technological innovation. This conclusion remains robust after a series of tests, including alternative variable measurements, instrumental variable (IV) estimation, and counterfactual analysis. Mechanism analysis reveals that digitalization can enhance green technological innovation by improving human capital and innovating business models. The results of the heterogeneity analysis show that the effect of digitalization on promoting green technological innovation is more pronounced in enterprises with higher green awareness among senior executives, high green credit, non-heavy pollution industries, a higher level of existing green technological innovation, and larger enterprise scale. The government should increase support for the digital transformation of enterprises and promote green technological innovation by enhancing the green awareness of enterprise senior executives, optimizing green credit policies, formulating transformation policies for heavily polluting enterprises, implementing differentiated policies based on enterprise scale, and promoting digital transformation.

Interpretation of change in novel digital measures: a statistical review and tutorial

Background Novel clinical measures assessed by a digital health technology tool require thresholds to interpret change over time, such as the minimal clinically important difference (MCID). Establishing such thresholds is a key component of clinical validation, facilitating understanding of relevant treatment effects. Summary Many of the approaches to derive interpretative thresholds for patient-reported outcomes can be applied to digital clinical measures. We present theoretical background to the use of interpretative thresholds, including the distinction between thresholds based on perceived importance versus measurement error, and thresholds for group- versus individual-level interpretations. We then review methods to estimate such thresholds, including anchor-based approaches. We illustrate the methods using data on cough frequency counts as measured by a wearable device in a clinical trial. Key Messages This paper provides an overview of statistical methodologies to estimate thresholds for the interpretation of change.

Users' Perspectives of Direct-to-Consumer Telemedicine Services: Survey Study.

Commercially run direct-to-consumer (DTC) telemedicine services are on the rise in countries such as Australia and the United States. These include DTC services that are web-based, largely asynchronous, and offer targeted treatment pathways for specific health issues (eg, weight loss or sexual function). It has been argued that DTC telemedicine improves access to health care and promotes patient empowerment. Despite research examining quality and safety issues, little is known about users' reasons for accessing DTC telemedicine services or their perceptions of them. In this study, we aimed to examine the perspectives of Australian users accessing DTC telemedicine services, including the reasons for use, perceived benefits, and concerns, in addition to their usage and interaction with traditional general practice services. A web-based cross-sectional survey including questions on demographics, published and validated scales, and author-developed closed- and open-response questions was administered via REDCap in 2023 to Australian adults accessing DTC telemedicine services. Among the 151 respondents, most (136/151, 90.1%) had seen a general practitioner (GP) in the previous 12 months and were somewhat or very satisfied (118/136, 86.8%) with the care, just over half found it easy to get an appointment with their GP (76/151, 50.3%), and a quarter found it difficult (38/151, 25.2%). Among the 136 respondents who had seen a GP, more than half either "never" (55/136, 40.4%) or "rarely" (23/136, 16.9%) discussed the information and treatment received from DTC telemedicine service with their GP. The majority of respondents were using a DTC telemedicine service offering prescription skin care (92/151, 60.9%), had received treatment in the previous 6 months (123/151, 81.5%), and had self-initiated care (128/151, 84.8%). The most frequently cited reasons for using DTC telemedicine were related to convenience (97/121, 80.2%) and flexibility (71/121, 58.7%), while approximately a third of the sample selected that it was difficult to see traditional health care provider in their preferred time frame (44/121, 36.4%) and that the use of DTC telemedicine allowed them to gain access to services otherwise unavailable through traditional health care (39/121, 32.2%). Most participants felt "more in control" (106/128, 82.9%) and "in charge" of their health concern (102/130, 78.5%) when using DTC telemedicine services, in addition to having "more correct knowledge" (92/128, 71.9%) and "feeling better informed as a patient" (94/131, 71.8%). "Costs of services" (40/115, 34.8%) and "privacy" (31/115, 27%) were the most frequently reported concerns with using digital health care technologies such as DTC telemedicine. We report that most users perceive DTC telemedicine services as offering ease of access and convenience, and that their use contributes to a greater sense of empowerment over their health. Concerns were related to data privacy and the costs of utilizing the services. Responses suggest that DTC telemedicine may be tapping into a previously unmet need, rather than complementing traditional health care provided by a GP.

Imaging study of adult coccygeal morphology using direct digital radiography technology in China

Extensive studies on the morphological characteristics of the coccyx, using CT or MRI techniques, have been conducted in some European and Asian countries. However, research on coccyx morphology in China remains scarce. A total of 300 subjects, who underwent sacrococcygeal digital radiological scans at the third affiliated hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University between January 2022 and December 2023, were analyzed in this retrospective study. Modified coccyx morphology classification was applied. Imaging focused on the type of coccyx and the number of coccygeal segments. The subjects exhibited coccyx type III (33.3%), type II (32.7%), type I (16.7%), type IV (16%), type V (0.3%), and type VI (1%). 32 males with coccygeal type II; 76 females with coccygeal type III. Significant differences in coccyx morphology were observed between male and female (p < 0.05). Coccygeal morphology showed correlations with age (p = 0.009), body weight (p = 0.01), and BMI (p = 0.039). Among Chinese adults, type III coccyx is the most common, and the 3-segment configuration is the most prevalent. Coccyx types differ by gender, coccyx morphology is correlated with age, weight, and BMI. Our study lays the foundation for future clinical applications of these findings.