Virtual Office Research Articles

The end of flexible working?

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting‐edge research and case studies.Design/methodology/approachThis briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.FindingsFlexible working arrangements including working from home have become the norm in today's technology‐rich business environment. While the virtual office has many demonstrable advantages, including reducing office space requirements and assisting workers who are parents or carers, this flexibility has its critics who cite disadvantages such as a lack of social interaction between employees and reduced creativity. Solutions include upgrading technology to facilitate online meetings and audio conferencing, and creating hubs where remote workers can work and socialize with fellow virtual office employees from different firms and organizations.Practical implicationsThe paper provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world's leading organizations.Originality/valueThe briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy‐to digest format.

Egocentric distance perception in large screen immersive displays

Many scientists have demonstrated that compared to the real world egocentric distances in head-mounted display virtual environments are underestimated. However, distance perception in large screen immersive displays has received less attention. We investigate egocentric distance perception in a virtual office room projected using a semi-spherical, a Max Planck Institute CyberMotion Simulator cabin and a flat large screen immersive display. The goal of our research is to systematically investigate distance perception in large screen immersive displays with commonly used technical specifications. We specifically investigate the role of distance to the target, stereoscopic projection and motion parallax on distance perception. We use verbal reports and blind walking as response measures for the real world experiment. Due to the limited space in the three large screen immersive displays we use only verbal reports as the response measure for the experiments in the virtual environment. Our results show an overall underestimation of distance perception in the large screen immersive displays, while verbal estimates of distances are nearly veridical in the real world. We find that even when providing motion parallax and stereoscopic depth cues to the observer in the flat large screen immersive display, participants estimate the distances to be smaller than intended. Although stereo cues in the flat large screen immersive display do increase distance estimates for the nearest distance, the impact of the stereoscopic depth cues is not enough to result in veridical distance perception. Further, we demonstrate that the distance to the target significantly influences the percent error of verbal estimates in both the real and virtual world. The impact of the distance to the target on the distance judgments is the same in the real world and in two of the used large screen displays, namely, the MPI CyberMotion Simulator cabin and the flat displays. However, in the semi-spherical display we observe a significantly different influence of distance to the target on verbal estimates of egocentric distances. Finally, we discuss potential reasons for our results. Based on the findings from our research we give general suggestions that could serve as methods for improving the LSIDs in terms of the accuracy of depth perception and suggest methods to compensate for the underestimation of verbal distance estimates in large screen immersive displays.

College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists (COSRT)

The College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists (COSRT) is the UK's leading membership organisation for therapists specialising in sexual and relationship issues. Founded more than 30 years ago (and originally...

Enhanced discrimination between threatening and safe contexts in high-anxious individuals

Trait anxiety, a stable personality trait associated with increased fear responses to threat, is regarded as a risk factor for the development and maintenance of anxiety disorders. Although the effect of trait anxiety has been examined with regard to explicit threat cues, little is known about the effect of trait anxiety on contextual threat learning. To assess this issue, extreme groups of low and high trait anxiety underwent a contextual fear conditioning protocol using virtual reality. Two virtual office rooms served as the conditioned contexts. One virtual office room (CXT+) was paired with unpredictable electrical stimuli. In the other virtual office room, no electrical stimuli were delivered (CXT−). High-anxious participants tended to show faster acquisition of startle potentiation in the CXT+ versus the CXT− than low-anxious participants. This enhanced contextual fear learning might function as a risk factor for anxiety disorders that are characterized by sustained anxiety.

E-GOVERNANCE IN PUERTO RICO: PERSPECTIVES FOR THE NEXT DECADE

In today’s highly demanding and time-limited working environment, access to information in a secure environment is expected not only from large corporations, small businesses and universities among other entities, but from the government as well. People no longer have time to spend waiting in long lines at agencies for conducting transactions at different government offices. The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico launched the PrStar.net state portal back in 1996, reengineered it and renamed it gobierno.pr in 2004, updated in 2007 and 2009. But to satisfy the needs and requirements of the citizens of Puerto Rico as well as international visitors, capacity needs had to be expanded. The objective is to convert the concept of the virtual office into reality. In this virtual office, the public can have access to general information and statistics. In addition, this serves as a single point for making transactions or requesting services from agencies without having to visit them. In this paper, we examine the evolution of the www.puertorico.gov portal since its initial inception back in 1996, its evolution to gobierno.pr and current state and we discuss the salient aspects of e-government implementation strategy that is suitable to the needs not only for government agencies but also to the citizens of Puerto Rico.

Designing a Web Platform for a Fruit-and-Vegetable Collaborative Network

The integration of functions in business networks requires a high level of integration of the information processes. Based on file transfers, these networks respond to the requirements of collaborative processes. There is an effective need for a strategy of integration among the members of the network. In the ICT era, the collaborative company needs to reach and maintain agility in the dynamics of their collaborative processes. Within the frame of a collaborative network, the developments of a web platform permit the growth of an area that integrates collaborative processes, in which several companies participate, each supplying their own data. The Fruit-and-Vegetable Collaborative Network studied in this paper is formed by producers, processers, packaging companies, marketers, transporters, and distributors. It has been developed under a web platform (Virtual Office) that allows the network to carry out processes in a collaborative way, and helps the network in its process of confidence-building and in the interactions among the actors of the network.

Outreach to International Campuses: Removing Barriers and Building Relationships

The Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), located in western New York, strives to deliver the same quality library services to its students and faculty located across the globe as those living in the Rochester area. In addition to an array of distance courses and online programs, RIT also has international campuses located in Kosovo, Croatia, and Dubai. Students at these campuses have access to the wealth of resources maintained by the RIT Library but are often unfamiliar with what is available and how to use those resources. Teaching and supporting students in the use of the available resources is a challenge considering distances and time zones, but also overcoming differences in culture can be an additional contributing factor impeding usage. Utilizing a blend of technology tools to provide real-time instruction; annual in-person librarian visits to the campuses; virtual library office hours; Web-based tutorials; subject and course level library guides; multiple forms of communication; and library integration within courseware; all work together to reduce barriers and strengthen relationships, better serving RIT's international campus populations for students and faculty alike.

Contextual fear conditioning in virtual reality is affected by 5HTTLPR and NPSR1 polymorphisms: effects on fear-potentiated startle

The serotonin (5-HT) and neuropeptide S (NPS) systems are discussed as important genetic modulators of fear and sustained anxiety contributing to the etiology of anxiety disorders. Sustained anxiety is a crucial characteristic of most anxiety disorders which likely develops through contextual fear conditioning. This study investigated if and how genetic alterations of the 5-HT and the NPS systems as well as their interaction modulate contextual fear conditioning; specifically, function polymorphic variants in the genes coding for the 5-HT transporter (5HTT) and the NPS receptor (NPSR1) were studied. A large group of healthy volunteers was therefore stratified for 5HTTLPR (S+ vs. LL carriers) and NPSR1 rs324981 (T+ vs. AA carriers) polymorphisms resulting in four genotype groups (S+/T+, S+/AA, LL/T+, LL/AA) of 20 participants each. All participants underwent contextual fear conditioning and extinction using a virtual reality (VR) paradigm. During acquisition, one virtual office room (anxiety context, CXT+) was paired with an unpredictable electric stimulus (unconditioned stimulus, US), whereas another virtual office room was not paired with any US (safety context, CXT−). During extinction no US was administered. Anxiety responses were quantified by fear-potentiated startle and ratings. Most importantly, we found a gene × gene interaction on fear-potentiated startle. Only carriers of both risk alleles (S+/T+) exhibited higher startle responses in CXT+ compared to CXT−. In contrast, anxiety ratings were only influenced by the NPSR1 polymorphism with AA carriers showing higher anxiety ratings in CXT+ as compared to CXT−. Our results speak in favor of a two level account of fear conditioning with diverging effects on implicit vs. explicit fear responses. Enhanced contextual fear conditioning as reflected in potentiated startle responses may be an endophenotype for anxiety disorders.

The Big Question: Upwardly Mobile: What role should technology play in Africa’s development?

The Big Question: Upwardly Mobile: What role should technology play in Africa’s development?

Avatar Therapy

The topic of "e-therapy" is of great research and clinical interest in 2012. This article presents a case study that examines several elements of psychotherapy, as administered in the "Second Life" virtual environment. In this case, psychotherapy took place primarily via text messaging between two avatars (client and therapist) who "sat" in a virtual office. The therapist resided in the United States and provided therapy to an individual from a developing nation who was currently residing in another more developed Middle Eastern country for work and to escape political atrocities being committed in his home country. This case example raises many issues that could be explored, including the ethics of providing such therapy, cultural competence, technological details, and providing therapy across national lines. However, due to the complicated and multifaceted nature of providing therapy in a virtual environment, this case presentation focuses on technical issues, such as the basics of providing therapy in Second Life. Given that the patient in this case used multiple avatars (cartoon-like representations of himself) in therapy, the topic of the avatar as the expression of internal representations and conflicts is also examined. This case report also discusses the patient's presenting problems and elements of the therapeutic alliance such as transference and countertransference. Finally, suggestions for future research are made. The author posits that mental health professionals can now reach at-risk patients (e.g., refugees residing in other countries) whom they were not previously able to treat and suggests that mental health practitioners may have an ethical duty to research and provide these kinds of services so that certain underserved populations may be treated. (Journal of Psychiatric Practice 2012;18:451-459).

Virtual press office as an efficient tool for scientific communication

Virtual press office as an efficient tool for scientific communication

OFICINAS VIRTUALES DE EMPLEO, EL RETO DE UNIVERSALIZAR LOS SERVICIOS PUBLICOS DE EMPLEO (SPE)

El presente artículo se divide en dos partes, en primer lugar, y de manera introductoria, realiza una revisión del estado actual de implantación de la administración electrónica en nuestro país y por comunidades autónomas. En la segunda parte, se analiza en que medida los servicios públicos de empleo, tanto el estatal como el de las diversas comunidades autónomas han adaptado sus recursos, procedimientos y servicios al formato on line. En esta segunda parte, se realiza una comparativa las oficinas virtuales de empleo de los SPE españoles en cuanto a criterios de accesibilidad, tramitaciones on line o nivel de información, entre otros.

The Importance of Work Environment Facilities

A healthful work environment brings safety to employees’ physical and mental capabilities in performing their daily routine. In order to reach the healthful work environment, providing the healthful facilities must be taking into account. The examples of facilities are chair seating and lighting. A proper chair seating and sufficient lighting play important role in ensuring employees’ welfare are protected as well their work performance goes up. The ignorance of these important healthful work environments will lead to work stress. Office ergonomics can be provided and used in any type of workplaces like permanent office, home office, virtual office, or even mobile office which the employees working at construction sites for temporary. Employees, who are spending time in office, sitting on chair, interacting with computer and switching on lamp from 8:00 a.m. till 5:00 p.m. is suggested to be provided ergonomics facilities like adjustable chair seating and appropriate lighting level. Keywords: Ergonomics, Chair Seating, Lighting, Work Stress

Virtual Training for Virtual Success: Michigan State University Extension's Virtual Conference

Michigan State University Extension conducted its first virtual conference, attended by more than 600 staff, with a weeklong menu of over 100 online meetings and learning sessions. Providing multiple types of pre-conference hands-on training to small groups using Adobe Connect Pro was an important key to success. Other success factors were pre and post training homework, well-trained "hosts" for each session, guidelines and checklists, pre-conference equipment check, virtual office hours, and immediate and friendly help. Embedding these factors into online training can help ensure successful adoption and positive impact of this new way of meeting and sharing knowledge.

High-tech companies’ readiness assessment for alternative workplaces

The aim of this research is to provide an understanding of the assessment of the initial readiness for alternative workplace arrangements (AWA) to assist the process of decision-making for its adoption from an organizational perspective. A set of readiness level assessment indicators (RLAI) with three main categories of relative advantage, compatibility and complexity was developed to help decision makers assess the extent of an organization’s readiness for the adoption of an AWA. Using the RLAI, a total of 64 real adoption cases were collected from 19 large high-tech companies that had already adopted any of the six AWA types: hoteling, group address, shared office, home office, and virtual office. RLAI proposed by this research established a comprehensive and systematic approach and provided decision makers with helpful guidelines for the AWA readiness assessment. The results documented in this paper provided many other organizations facing similar decision problems with insightful strategies and useful implications. Key words: Alternative workplace arrangements (AWA), innovation attributes, readiness level assessment indicators (RLAI), rank correlation analysis.

Virtual Office Hours (VOH) in accounting coursework: Leveraging technology to enhance an integrative learning environment

► Skype technology use mirrors accounting workplace applications. ► Students value added accessibility and connectivity. ► Leverages technology to enhance student learning environment. ► Extends AICPA Core Competence Framework on skill building. ► Suggests need for research to extend AECC recommendations on guidance. For at least the past two decades, accounting educators have been faced with increasing demands to keep pace with imperatives from the profession and with changes in the practice environment. Rapid changes in information technology applications, both in accounting practice and in academe, have added to the complexity of accounting educator responsibilities. This paper reports on the development and use of a “Virtual Office Hours” (VOH) platform to enhance opportunities to engage students in their learning beyond the classroom environment. This approach has been developed as a result of instructor experience with adding technology applications in the accounting classroom to better reflect practice environment needs. VOH has been implemented in auditing and intermediate accounting courses to develop clear and assured lines of communication between the student and instructor, and to foster the use of information technologies as a normal and expected characteristic of the course learning environment. In so doing, the approach uses tools that students will likely apply in the practice setting to interact with clients and colleagues. This can be seen as an extension of the model conveyed by the AICPA in its Core Competency Framework to leverage technology for student skill building. Student feedback, insights from accounting course experiences with VOH, and suggestions on applicability to other accounting educators are considered in the paper.

Enforceability of Clickwrap and Browsewrap Terms in Australia: Lessons from the U.S. and the U.K.

In a two week period in the first half of 2009, I bought theatre tickets from a virtual box office, browsed a social networking site a handful of times, and read a leading metropolitan newspaper online every day. All three of these activities, whether or not I was aware of it at the time, were intended by the service providers to be subject to contractual terms. For two of these activities I was asked to click on a button to indicate I agreed to these terms; for the other, I never even noticed a reference to the terms until I returned to the site for research purposes. I will admit freely that during my initial web activity, I was foolhardy enough to read none of the proffered terms. This paper asks the question: will the service providers nevertheless be able to rely on the protection of those terms?

Agriculture with less bureaucracy.

The paper presents the evolution of the traditional bureaucracy to e-bureaucracy (eBURO) and later to mobile bureaucracy (mBURO). It focuses on the optimization of bureaucratic activities using ICT (information communication technologies), especially the CDMS (collaborative document management systems). A study case concerning the implementation of the virtual offices, the online conferencing systems, the collaborative decision support software and the mobile knowledge management presents the POCC (plan-organize-coordinate-control) for each activity.

On Becoming a Legislative Aide: Enhancing Civic Engagement Through a Digital Simulation

ABSTRACT Civics education in the United States often is designated as a low priority in the curriculum and is typically characterized by passive, rote learning that is centered around content and materials provided by textbook companies. Results from recent assessments of America's students suggest that the current generation possesses only a superficial knowledge of civics and is less engaged in traditional political activities. Some educators are looking beyond traditional methods of instruction and exploring how technology, computing, and gaming may be integrated with student learning, including service learning. This article describes the implementation of Legislative Aide software into high schools to support community-based research and service learning. Young people use this technological tool to role-play as aides to an imaginary local elected official in a virtual legislative office. The software guides the students in investigating real community problems and proposing real community action plans to address the problems.

Wasteaminute.com: Notes on Office Work and Digital Distraction

Wasteaminute.com: Notes on Office Work and Digital Distraction