Internet-enabled Technology Research Articles

Becoming oneself online: narrative self-constitution and the internet

This paper explores how self-identity can be impacted upon by the use of digital and social media. In particular, drawing on a narrative account of selfhood, it argues that some forms of activity and interaction on the internet can support the capacity to be oneself, and foster transformative processes that are self-enhancing.I start by introducing different positions in the philosophical exploration of identity online, critically outlining the arguments of those who hold a “pessimistic” and an “optimistic” stance respectively. I then expand on the narrative identity framework that has been used to support the optimists’ view, arguing that digital and social media use can foster forms of self-understanding that enable us to preserve or develop our identity. More precisely, exploring these dynamics also in relation to the lived experience of mental ill-health, I maintain that internet-enabled technology can support narrative self-constitution in three main ways: (1) by facilitating the processes through which we remember self-defining life-stories; (2) by enabling us to give salience to the stories that we decide should matter the most; and (3) by providing us with opportunities to obtain social uptake for our narratives. I then conclude by dispelling some possible objections to the use of a narrative approach to account for selfhood online.

Towards a digital twin for supporting multi-agency incident management in a smart city

Cost-effective on-demand computing resources can help to process the increasing number of large, diverse datasets generated from smart internet-enabled technology, such as sensors, CCTV cameras, and mobile devices, with high temporal resolution. Category 1 emergency services (Ambulance, Fire and Rescue, and Police) can benefit from access to (near) real-time traffic- and weather data to coordinate multiple services, such as reassessing a route on the transport network affected by flooding or road incidents. However, there is a tendency not to utilise available smart city data sources, due to the heterogeneous data landscape, lack of real-time information, and communication inefficiencies. Using a systems engineering approach, we identify the current challenges faced by stakeholders involved in incident response and formulate future requirements for an improved system. Based on these initial findings, we develop a use case using Microsoft Azure cloud computing technology for analytical functionalities that can better support stakeholders in their response to an incident. Our prototype allows stakeholders to view available resources, send automatic updates and integrate location-based real-time weather and traffic data. We anticipate our study will provide a foundation for the future design of a data ontology for multi-agency incident response in smart cities of the future.

Improving failure risk by better planning and safety for precast beam-to-column connection elements using physical internet-enabled building information modeling technology: a Malaysian case study

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to show that the growing global trend of quality assurance indicates the potential of precast concrete (PC) to improve construction quality and productivity, reduce wasteful construction, and achieve design standardization and to accelerate construction time. However, its current approach for dynamic characteristics, such as stiffness and displacement on beam-column connection system design, is not effective in achieving the required quality and operational requirements.Design/methodology/approachA design tool based on the literature and data analysis in product planning and safety is proposed for the practice of PC building construction.FindingsThe results reveal the need for improvement of PC building performance in the construction industry, especially for the beam-column connection system. The issues include improper design, improper specification and defective concrete and steel components compared to other manufacturing methods.Originality/valueA novel and sophisticated technique based on physical internet-enabled building information modeling (PI-BIM) is proposed to improve the planning process and safety for PC buildings in Malaysia.

Impact of Social Media on Health-Related Outcomes Among Older Adults in Singapore: Qualitative Study.

BackgroundThe worldwide spread of digitalization has led to the harnessing of technology to improve health outcomes. Paying attention to older adults’ social needs via social media is one way to promote healthy aging. Although 56% of older adults are smartphone users, little is known about their use patterns of social media.ObjectiveThis exploratory study aims to determine the experiences of social media apps’ use among older adults in Singapore and understand their perceptions of its impact on health-related outcomes.MethodsThis study used a qualitative research design with an interpretative approach. Using maximum variation purposive sampling, normal aging older adults (N=16) who were aged between 60 and 80 years and experienced in the use of internet-enabled technology were recruited from an existing community study. Semistructured, in-depth interviews were conducted. Employing a thematic analysis, interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed for codes inductively.ResultsThe following themes and subthemes were identified as key moderators of older adults’ experiences on social media apps: (1) personal attitudes: participants were encouraged to use social media due to the increased accessibility, which enabled the ease of contact, but perceptions that the quality of interactions was compromised and its associated risks reduced their use; and (2) social influences: the desire to bond with co-users and the availability of support increased use. In addition, use of social media apps was perceived to positively impact health through its ability to keep older adults cognitively engaged, improve health communication, and increase social connectedness. However, opinions remained mixed on older adults’ vulnerability to social media addiction.ConclusionsPersonal and social contexts determine older adults’ social media use. This study’s findings provide practical insights into how social media can be deployed to improve health-related outcomes in older adults.

The Hybrid Space of Collaborative Location-Based Mobile Games and the City: A Case Study of Ingress

Structural changes in the way we live and interact in cities are occurring due to advances in mobile communication technologies affecting everyday practices. One such practice, at the forefront of digital technology adoption, is digital gaming or play. Location-based mobile games (LBMGs), such as Pokémon Go and Ingress have surged in popularity in recent years through their introduction of a new mode of play, employing mobile GPS and internet-enabled technology. Distinguished by their embedded GIS, LBMGs can influence how people play, interact with and perceive the city, by merging urban and virtual spaces into ‘hybrid realities.’ Despite the popularity of such games, studies into how LBMGs affect urban dweller interactions with each other and the city have been limited. This article examines how the digital interface of the large-scale collaborative LBMG Ingress affects how players experience and use the city. Ingress is a collaborative hybrid or location-based game that uses GPS location information from smartphones, Google maps, and Google POI to create virtual gameplay environments that correspond to and interact with other players and the city. The methodology cross-references the MDA framework from game studies (Mechanics-Dynamics-Aesthetics) within the urban mobility, sociability and spatiality characteristics of the hybrid realities theoretical framework. In this article, we explore how Ingress (re)produces hybrid space through deliberate design of interface game elements. By applying this analytical approach, we identify the game mechanics and their role in producing a hybrid gameplay environment with impacts on social and mobility practices altering the perception of and engagement with the city.

Bundling cloud software to fight piracy: an economic analysis

PurposeThe emergence of internet-enabled technology has led to the software service model in which the software firm, instead of the consumer, maintains software ownership. This model can curtail software piracy more effectively than the traditional on-premises software model. However, software firms are not abandoning traditional on-premises software but embracing both models simultaneously. In this study, the authors consider a firm’s software bundling decision in combination with its piracy deterrence strategy. The paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approachThe authors build three stylized models to analytically compare the bundling strategies under three scenarios: no piracy, piracy is present and piracy is present while the firm applies digital rights management (DRM).FindingsThe authors find pure bundling (PB) to be the optimal strategy due to the combination of competition and cannibalization effects in mixed bundling (MB). Simultaneously, consumers may enjoy greater surplus in PB than in MB, making PB the preferred strategy for both the firm and consumers. Interestingly, the win-win outcome coexists with some degree of piracy in the market.Originality/valueThe results provide important insights for firms and policy-makers and contribute to the literature on piracy and product bundling. First, the authors show piracy could be another driver for product bundling, which has never been discussed in prior literature. Second, the authors suggest an alternative perspective; that PB may be a desirable outcome for both firms and consumers when considering piracy and DRM. More surprisingly, this desirable outcome occurs with some level of piracy in the market. The presence of piracy leads to competition and cannibalization effects in MB, which eventually results in the win-win outcome in the software market for both the firm and the consumers.

Association Rule Mining Tourist-Attractive Destinations for the Sustainable Development of a Large Tourism Area in Hokkaido Using Wi-Fi Tracking Data

The rise of radiofrequency scanner technology has led to its potential application in the observation of people’s movements. This study used a Wi-Fi scanner device to track tourists’ traveling behavior in Hokkaido’s tourism area, which occupies a large region that features a unique natural landscape. Inbound tourists have significantly increased in recent years; thus, tourism’s sustainability is considered to be important for maintaining the tourism atmosphere in the long term. Using internet-enabled technology to conduct extensive area surveys can overcome the limitations imposed by conventional methods. This study aims to use digital footprint data to describe and understand traveler mobility in a large tourism area in Hokkaido. Association rule mining (ARM)—a machine learning methodology—was performed on a large dataset of transactions to identify the rules that link destinations visited by tourists. This process resulted in the discovery of traveling patterns that revealed the association rules between destinations, and the attractiveness of the destinations was scored on the basis of visiting frequency, with both inbound and outbound movements considered. A visualization method was used to illustrate the relationships between destinations and simplify the mathematical descriptions of traveler mobility in an attractive tourism area. Hence, mining the attractiveness of destinations in a large tourism area using an ARM method integrated with a Wi-Fi mobility tracking approach can provide accurate information that forms a basis for developing sustainable destination management and tourism policies.

Digital Exclusion Among Mental Health Service Users: Qualitative Investigation

BackgroundAccess to internet-enabled technology and Web-based services has grown exponentially in recent decades. This growth potentially excludes some communities and individuals with mental health difficulties, who face a heightened risk of digital exclusion. However, it is unclear what factors may contribute to digital exclusion in this population.ObjectiveTo explore in detail the problems of digital exclusion in mental health service users and potential facilitators to overcome them.MethodsWe conducted semistructured interviews with 20 mental health service users who were deemed digitally excluded. We recruited the participants from a large secondary mental health provider in South London, United Kingdom. We employed thematic analysis to identify themes and subthemes relating to historical and extant reasons for digital exclusion and methods of overcoming it.ResultsThere were three major themes that appeared to maintain digital exclusion: a perceived lack of knowledge, being unable to access the necessary technology and services owing to personal circumstances, and the barriers presented by mental health difficulties. Specific facilitators for overcoming digital exclusion included intrinsic motivation and a personalized learning format that reflects the individual’s unique needs and preferences.ConclusionsMultiple factors contribute to digital exclusion among mental health service users, including material deprivation and mental health difficulties. This means that efforts to overcome digital exclusion must address the multiple deprivations individuals may face in the offline world in addition to their individual mental health needs. Additional facilitators include fostering an intrinsic motivation to overcome digital exclusion and providing a personalized learning format tailored to the individual’s knowledge gaps and preferred learning style.

Digital Support Platform: a qualitative research study investigating the feasibility of an internet-based, postdiagnostic support platform for families living with dementia

ObjectivesTo establish the feasibility of the Digital Support Platform (DSP), an internet-based, postdiagnostic tool designed for families living with a diagnosis of dementia.DesignQualitative methods using normalisation process theory as an...

Physician communication via Internet-enabled technology: A systematic review.

The use of Internet-enabled technology (information and communication technology such as smartphone applications) may enrich information exchange among providers and, consequently, improve health care delivery. The purpose of this systematic review was to gain a greater understanding of the role that Internet-enabled technology plays in enhancing communication among physicians. Studies were identified through a search in three electronic platforms: the Association for Computing Machinery Digital Library, ProQuest, and Web of Science. The search identified 5140 articles; of these, 21 met all inclusion criteria. In general, physicians were satisfied with Internet-enabled technology, but consensus was lacking regarding whether Internet-enabled technology improved efficiency or made a difference to clinical decision-making. Internet-enabled technology can play an important role in enhancing communication among physicians, but the extent of that benefit is influenced by (1) the impact of Internet-enabled technology on existing work practices, (2) the availability of adequate resources, and (3) the nature of institutional elements, such as privacy legislation.

Unveiling the coverage patterns of newspapers on the personal data protection act

Internet-enabled technology has significantly increased the amount of personal data that are being collected, used, processed and even transferred to third party organizations. To protect the privacy of data owners and the security of these data, the Malaysian government has enforced the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) in 2013. Several studies found that Malaysians have low awareness of the PDPA. Prior literature also shows that the framing of news stories by the media has significant influence on public awareness and perception toward a covered topic. In this paper, we investigated how the Malaysian newspapers frame the PDPA news. We extracted a total of 793 news articles between January 1st 2010 and July 31st 2015 from ten local English newspapers. The results show that newspapers in general have not given the PDPA enough attention considering its potential impact on data privacy and security. Nonetheless, newspapers do publish significantly higher number of PDPA articles after the enforcement period compared to before the enforcement period. The newspapers also mostly position the PDPA news in the Technology section. The results also show that more PDPA news originated from foreign sources compared to local sources or the government. Our findings provide insights into the coverage patterns of local newspapers and the insufficient level of prominence given to the PDPA. The findings have implications for both the government and the newspapers as a media.

Do We Still Have a Digital Divide in Mental Health? A Five-Year Survey Follow-up.

BackgroundNearly everyone in society uses the Internet in one form or another. The Internet is heralded as an efficient way of providing mental health treatments and services. However, some people are still excluded from using Internet-enabled technology through lack of resources, skills, and confidence.ObjectiveFive years ago, we showed that people with severe mental illness were at risk of digital exclusion, especially middle-aged patients with psychosis and/or people from black or minority ethnic groups with psychosis. An understanding of the breadth of potential digital exclusion is vital for the implementation of digital health services. The aim of this study is to understand the context of digital exclusion for people who experience mental illness.MethodsWe conducted a survey involving people with a primary diagnosis of psychosis or depression in London, United Kingdom. A total of 241 participants were recruited: 121 with psychosis and 120 with depression. The majority of surveys were collected face-to-face (psychosis: n=109; depression: n=71). Participants answered questions regarding familiarity, access, use, motivation, and confidence with Internet-enabled technologies (ie, computers and mobile phones). Variables predicting digital exclusion were identified in regression analyses. The results were compared with the survey conducted in 2011.ResultsDigital exclusion has declined since 2011. Online survey collection introduced biases into the sample, masking those who were likely to be excluded. Only 18.3% (20/109) of people with psychosis in our sample were digitally excluded, compared with 30% (28/93) in 2011 (χ21=3.8, P=.04). People with psychosis had less confidence in using the Internet than people with depression (χ21=7.4, P=.004). Only 9.9% (24/241) of participants in the total sample were digitally excluded, but the majority of these people had psychosis (n=20). Those with psychosis who were digitally excluded were significantly older than their included peers (t30=3.3, P=.002) and had used services for longer (t97=2.5, P=.02). Younger people were more likely to use mobile phones. Digitally excluded participants cited a lack of knowledge as a barrier to digital inclusion, and most wanted to use the Internet via computers (rather than mobile phones).ConclusionsDigital exclusion is lower, but some remain excluded. Facilitating inclusion among this population means helping them develop skills and confidence in using technology, and providing them with access. Providing mobile phones without basic information technology training may be counterproductive because excluded people may be excluded from mobile technology too. An evidence-based digital inclusion strategy is needed within the National Health Service to help digitally excluded populations access Internet-enabled services.

Designing successful participatory platforms with a public intent: Lessons learned from practitioners, scholars, and citizen participants

AbstractPublic organizations have interacted with citizens through increasingly sophisticated internet-enabled technology. Participatory platforms emerged from Web 2.0 technologies in the mid-2000s as a governance mechanism to engage citizens in the process of effecting social change. Although the potential of platforms is recognized, its successful implementation has faced challenges. To begin to get a handle on how to best design and manage participatory platforms, we conducted an exploratory participatory action research study grounded in two events – The Policy Challenge and NSF Workshop on Participatory Platforms with a Public Intent. Both events communed practitioners, scholars, and citizen participants with diverse experience and expertise conducting and researching platforms. The insights expressed through the events and follow-up interviews and online survey informed our development of a participatory platform lifecycle and design framework to assist designing successful participatory platforms.

Information Security Awareness: Managing Web, Mobile & Endpoint Security; Overcoming the Challenges of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)

Companies and their employees rely on information technology (IT) and internet-enabled technology to conduct their business and communications. This offers many advantages, but also introduces risks related to information security. The present study sought to address the challenges of IT security alongside the adoption of bring your own device (BYOD) programs and the lack of user awareness of related best practices. A qualitative case study research design was employed. IT managers were interviewed to explore the newly developing subject of BYOD and its implications for IT security. The issues most central to information security are security policies, BYOD user awareness and training, the enforcement of organisational security policies, manager effectiveness in protecting data, and users' acceptance and adherence to BYOD security policies. While BYOD is favoured by many users and also offers many advantages, it is not favoured by most IT security managers.

Exploring the potential for internet-based interventions for treatment of overweight and obesity in college students.

To assess the use of internet-enabled technology for seeking health information and resources in overweight/obese college students. College students (N = 706) in Vancouver, Canada surveyed in April 2012. An online survey assessed socio-demographics, health behaviors, and use of internet-enabled technology. Eating habits, dieting and/or exercising to lose weight, and weight satisfaction differed by weight status (all p < 0.05). Of overweight/obese participants, 48% reported they would use online student health resources. When seeking general health information, 91% would use websites; 45% would use online videos; and 75% trusted information from government or health organizations. Overweight/obesity is prevalent among college students. The majority of overweight/obese students reported trying to lose weight and would use the internet for health information, especially if a website is associated with a health organization. The internet is a cost-effective channel for screening coupled with the delivery of tailored, evidence-based interventions for college students.

Remote imaging via FaceTime for potential long-distance diagnosis of suspected cardiac structural and shunt anomalies on contrast echocardiography (The RIFLE Study)

Certain cardiac anomalies can be missed by standard transthoracic echocardiography and are usually confirmed through contrast echocardiography, a specialized procedure that warrants supervision by a cardiologist with advanced echo training. However, the maldistribution or lack of echo specialists in certain countries, especially in archipelagic settings, deprives many patients of such procedures and probably contributes to delayed diagnosis and treatment. We wanted to find out whether onsite interpretations of contrast echocardiograms of patients with suspected cardiac anomalies are comparable to offsite readings made via the real-time videoconferencing technology of FaceTime. Contrast echocardiograms done on adults or grown-up patients with suspected cardiac structural or shunt anomalies during a one-year period at the Non-invasive Laboratory of the Philippine Heart Center were included in the study. Using the internet-enabled technology of FaceTime, prerecorded echo videos from DVD files were simultaneously viewed and interpreted by two echocardiographers, with the onsite reader using a TV monitor and offsite reader using an Ipad device. Interpretations were compared with respect to 22 pre-specified echocardiographic paramaters, which included chamber size, presence of defect on color Doppler and contrast study, and final diagnosis. Agreement in echo readings was reported as overall agreement rate (% of congruent readings divided by total number of data points for comparison) and Kappa coefficient. The impact of contrast echocardiography on the final diagnosis at both sites was likewise assessed (accuracy rates for pre- and post-contrast diagnoses, with the official test report as reference standard). Video and audio quality were evaluated using a subjective scoring scale, while internet connection was assessed in terms of lag time to transmission (milliseconds), as well as download and upload speeds (Megabytes per second). Sixty-eight (68) videoconferencing sessions were conducted on patients 37 ± 14 years (62% females). Overall reading agreement rate was 89% (1333 congruent readings out of 1496 data points), with most disagreements arising from chamber size evaluation (left ventricle, left atrium and coronary sinus dimensions). Good concordance (kappa > 0.60) was demonstrated between onsite and offsite readings in 14 of 22 parameters. Accuracy rates were comparable for precontrast onsite (51%) and offsite (54%) readings, with a substantial improvement in post-contrast readings (88% onsite and 79% offsite). Only 11 of 68 sessions (16%) had discordant final diagnoses, most of which consisted of overdiagnosis by the offsite reader. Video (3.6) and audio (3.8) quality scores were high (maximum of 4) for both sites, with acceptable lag time (PING < 250 ms), download (2.1 Mbps) and upload (0.3 Mbps) speeds. Onsite interpretations of contrast echocardiograms are comparable to offsite readings made via real-time videoconferencing, with contrast echocardiography enhancing accuracy of diagnosis at both ends. Moreover, FaceTime was feasible, generating acceptable internet speeds as well as obtaining high audio and video quality scores at both ends of the transaction. These findings suggest a role for tele-echocardiography in long-distance, point-of-care diagnosis of patients with structural or shunt anomalies, especially in areas of the country where echocardiographic expertise is very much lacking.

The Impact of Internet Pornography on Adolescents: A Review of the Research

The recent proliferation of Internet-enabled technology has significantly changed the way adolescents encounter and consume sexually explicit material. Once confined to a personal computer attached to a telephone line, the Internet is now available on laptops, mobile phones, video game consoles, and other electronic devices. With the growth of the Internet has come easier and more ubiquitous access to pornography. The purpose of this article was to review the recent (i.e., 2005 to present) literature regarding the impact of Internet pornography on adolescents. Specifically, this literature review examined the impact of Internet pornography on sexual attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, and sexual aggression. The authors also discuss the literature related to the influence of sexually explicit Internet material on self-concept, body image, social development, as well as the expanding body of research on adolescent brain function and physical development. Finally, recommendations for future research were discussed, based on this literature review.

An Internet-enabled technology to support evolutionary design

This paper discusses the systematic use of product feedback information to support life cycle design approaches and provides guidelines for developing a design at both the product and the system levels. Design activities are surveyed in the light of the product life cycle, and the design information flow is interpreted from a semiotic perspective. The natural evolution of a design is considered, the notion of design expectations is introduced and the importance of evaluation of these expectations in dynamic environments is argued. Possible strategies for reconciliation of the expectations and environmental factors are described. An Internet-enabled technology is proposed to monitor product functionality, use and operational environment and to supply the designer with relevant information. A pilot study of assessing design expectations of a refrigerator is outlined, and conclusions are drawn.