Middleware Support for Mobile Social Ecosystems

International audienceWith the increased prevalence of advanced mobile devices (the so-called “smart” phones), interest has grown in mobile social ecosystems, where users not only access traditional Web-based social networks using their mobile devices, but are also able to use the context information provided by these devices to further enrich their interactions. Owing to the large variety of platforms available for smart phones, as well as the different ways that data and context information is represented, it is natural to think of middleware solutions that the developers of these systems can use while creating their applications. In this paper, we highlight the issues which should be addressed by middleware designed for mobile social ecosystems, taking into account the heterogeneity of both deployment nodes and available data, the intrinsic distributed nature of mobile social applications, as well as users' security concerns. As part of our ongoing effort to develop this middleware, we present a comprehensive model to represent mobile social ecosystems and the interactions possible in them, and show how to exploit it in a representative scenario

Evaluating the Role of Trust in Consumer Adoption of Mobile Payment Systems: An Empirical Analysis

Consumer adoption of mobile payment (m-payment) solutions is low compared to the acceptance of traditional forms of payments. Motivated by this fact, we propose and test a “trust-theoretic model for consumer adoption of m-payment systems.” The model, grounded in literature on “technology adoption” and “trust,” not only theorizes the role of consumer trust in m-payment adoption, but also identifies the facilitators for consumer trust in m-payment systems. It proposes two broad dimensions of trust facilitators: “mobile service provider characteristics” and “mobile technology environment characteristics.” The model is empirically validated via a sample of potential adopters in Singapore. In contrast to other contexts, results suggest the overarching importance of “consumer trust in m-payment systems” as compared to other technology adoption factors. Further, differential importance of the theorized trust facilitators of “perceived reputation” and “perceived opportunism” of the mobile service provider, and “perceived environmental risk” and “perceived structural assurance” of the mobile technology, are also highlighted. A series of post-hoc analyses establish the robustness of the theorized configuration of constructs. Subsequent, sub-group analyses highlight the differential significance of trust facilitators for different user sub-groups. Implications for research and practice emerging out of this study are also discussed

Moving Composition: Writing in a Mobile World

We live in an increasingly mobile society on many levels. Mobile devices, including the smartphone, tablet, and wearables, allow for composing and communicating from anywhere and in new ways, a phenomenon that is especially deserving of attention by composition studies scholars and teachers. Mobile composition processes are impacted by the symmetry of humans and technology as each equally shapes one another. This interplay of mobile devices (including wearables) and humans impacts composition ecologies, processes, and definitions of writing. The role of analog mobile writers also informs our current practices and approaches to a mobile composition as many writers have sought to write on the move. Educational researchers identify mobile learning as unique with attributes not afforded in analog or tethered learning environments. Mobile composition is poised to take advantage of the authentic, collaborative, and new opportunities for making meaning that exist in this form of teaching and learning. Mobile composition also transcends the literature from established composition studies and mobile learning frameworks by residing and inventing the burgeoning digital apparatus, electracy, that follows and extends the practices of oral and literate civilizations. Electracy\u27s teaching and learning corollary, post(e)-pedagogy, offers ways to make use of mobile devices in this new framework. Finally, this dissertation project includes a mobile composition course prototype that models a post(e)-pedagogical approach and encourages further critical exploration and invention of communication practices with mobile devices, especially by composition faculty and students but in higher education overall

A cross-cultural study of the paradoxes of mobile technology in the mobile technology industry

The purpose of this study is to explore the theory of mobile technology paradoxes in a cross-cultural context, by examining relationships between cultural dimensions, perceived mobile technology paradoxes, the enacted coping strategies and consumer loyalty. A two-stage study is designed. Focus groups are used to explore and validate mobile technology paradoxes in the UK and Taiwan, and a self-administered Web-based questionnaire is conducted in the two countries. The data from the questionnaire are analysed by using structure equation modelling. The present research validates the research model relating to cultural dimensions, technology paradoxes, coping strategies and consumer loyalty in the UK and Taiwan. In both the UK and Taiwan, the perceived Competence/Incompetence paradox (CMP), coping strategies (CS) and consumer loyalty (CL) are related. The UK has two unique relationships: between the perceived Empowerment/Enslavement paradox (EMP) and CL; and between the perceived Dependence/Independence paradox (DEP), CS and CL. Taiwan has five unique relationships, which are the impact of the Individualism/Collectivism (IDV) on the perceived Illusion/Disillusion paradox (ILP), which in turn has an impact on CL; the impact of uncertainty avoidance (UAI) on the perceived EMP; the impact of UAI on the perceived CMP; the mediating effect of CS on the relationship between the perceived CMP and CL; and finally, the impact of the perceived DEP on CL. The perceived CMP, linked to perceived efficiency and effectiveness, is the theme that most closely relates to CL in the mobile technology industry. Marketers in the UK and Taiwan should focus on developing features and applications that enable efficient and effective lifestyles for consumers. Marketing communication strategies should focus on explicitly demonstrating potential improvements in lifestyle. The perceived dependence, despite its negative attribute, also has a positive impact on consumer loyalty in both countries. Taiwanese consumers have significantly higher perceived dependence than their UK counterparts, and it cannot be explained by cultural dimensions. Further research is required on this aspect

Understanding Student Experiences Using Smartphones as Learning Tools

While mobile technology is ubiquitous in higher education, facilitating student engagement and learning through educational technology remains minimally understood. The problem this study addressed is the gap in research about how online graduate students utilized smartphone technology for learning and what factors led to their adoption of this technology. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore how mobile learning is being performed through smartphones by education graduate students in the online environment. The unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) was used as the conceptual framework for this study. The research question asked how online graduate students in Master of Education degree programs describe their learning experience related to the four dimensions of the UTAUT when utilizing smartphone technology. Ten online graduate students from various U.S. universities were interviewed. Data were recorded, transcribed, and coded using UTAUT preidentified categories to create themes related to the UTAUT constructs. Study findings showed that online graduate students expected to perform educational tasks on their smartphones by accessing course content and communicating with faculty and peers. Students also expected the effort involved in the use of smartphones to be minimal. Study findings further demonstrated online graduate students were mostly self-sufficient when exploring ideas for smartphone integration and when issues arose. Results of this study may provide positive social change by helping stakeholders teach students how to benefit from use of their mobile technology for learning

Ambient Intelligence with Wireless Grid Enabled Applications: A Case Study of the Launch and First Use Experience of WeJay Social Radio in Education

Wireless grid and ambient intelligent (AmI) environments are characterized as supportive of collaboration, interaction, and sharing. The conceptual framework advanced for this study incorporated the constructs of innovation, creativity and context awareness while offering emergence theory -- emergent properties, structures, patterns and behaviors -- to frame and investigate a wireless grid enabled social radio application which was theorized to be potentially transformative and disruptive. The unintended consequences and unexpected possibilities of wireless grid and smart environments were also addressed. Using a single case study, drawing upon multiple data collection methods, this research investigated the deployment and use experience of WeJay, an application incubated through the Wireless Grids Innovation Testbed (WiGiT), from the perspective of beta trial participants. Guided by the broad research question -- Do wireless grid enabled applications, such as WeJay social radio, add to the potential for new and transformative outcomes for people, information and technology when deployed in an academic setting? -- this empirical study sought to: a) learn more about the launch experience of this first pre-standards wireless grid enabled application among WiGiT members and selected Syracuse University students and faculty; b) understand how this application was interpreted for use; c) determine whether novel and unexpected uses emerged; d) investigate whether wireless grid enabled environments fostered innovation and creativity; and e) elicit whether a conceptual relationship was emerging between wireless grid and AmI environments, focusing on context-awareness and ambient learning. While this early stage of diffusion and first user sample was a key limitation of the study it was also the core strength. Although challenged by the state of readiness of WeJay, study findings supported the propositions that WeJay fosters innovation and creativity; that novel and unexpected uses were generated; and that the theorized relationship between wireless grid applications and embedded awareness does exist. Recommendations for enhanced tool readiness were made and embedded smartness was found to be both desirable and beneficial. This research makes a contribution as a bridge study for future research while having theoretical and methodological implications for research and practice. Social, emotion/affect, and human-centered computing (HCC) dimensions emerged as rich areas for further research

Moving Toward Blended Learning: A Multiple Case Design Based Research Study In Higher Education

The purpose of this multiple case design-based research study was to determine what elements were needed to assist two higher education instructors inexperienced in designing and teaching a blended learning course to successfully create and implement it, to document the instructors’ perceptions about their first experience of teaching a blended learning course, and to reveal how this blended learning course influenced student satisfaction. The goal of the study was to iteratively design, develop, implement, evaluate and redesign a desired blended learning course based on constructivist design theory, cognitive learning theory, and ARCS motivational design theory over the three iterative phases. This design-based research approach used a mixed study of quantitative and qualitative research methods including student surveys, instructor interviews, learning environment and observations. Quantitative data in terms of determining any change in the level of students’ motivation between the beginning of the semester and the end of the semester, and students’ motivational attitude toward the use of instructional activities and tools at the fifth and tenth week of the semester was collected. Multiple choice comprehensive pretest and posttest surveys were given to students to detect changes in their motivation level, and a multiple choice comprehensive survey was given to students to detect their motivational attitude. Qualitative data in terms of identifying the need of appropriate technological processes and resources to create a desired blended learning course, enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of the blended learning course, and revealing instructor perceptions about teaching a blended learning course was collected over the three iterative designed intervention phases. Instructor perceptions were captured through in-depth interviews, and the strengths and weaknesses of the blended learning environment were ascertained through observations. The results of this study demonstrated Blackboard Learn (Learning Management System) and Google Documents were two beneficial learning resources to create a desired blended learning environment. The design and implementation of these learning resources enabled the instructors to shift from a passive teaching style to an active teaching style. Students became active and interactive learners through the adoption of active learning approaches and transactional collaborative learning approaches in the designed blended learning environments. Through the process of three iterative design cycles, the blended learning environments were modified to optimize the efficiency and effectiveness of learning activities and maximize the quality of learning and teaching experiences. The results also revealed that the instructors’ overall perception was positive toward taking part in combining online and face-to-face learning and they were satisfied with teaching a blended learning course. Lastly, findings from the paired t-test completed in SPSS which compared the students’ motivation level in the beginning of the semester and the end of the semester were not statistically significant in both cases

Mobile web resource tracking during a disaster or crisis situation

This paper proposes a prototype solution for a mobile web resource tracking system using mobile devices during an emergency situation. The system provides real time data to a decision maker so that he/she can effectively and efficiently monitor resources and assess the situation accordingly. Mobile devices (i.e., smart phones) support the ease of use for any location and at anytime. The Internet technology is selected to enable multiple or cross platform technology solutions for different mobile devices. Resources in the scope of this project are human resources (e.g., a doctor, a police officer) and a chemical list in a room. With the use of a GPS-enabled device or a wireless-enabled device, the system is used to provide the current location of the human resources. Transferring data between system databases and mobile devices is one of the important areas to address in this project. Since location data of a user is sensitive data, data should be protected via an encrypted protected network. In addition, because of the urgency of any crisis situation, it is critical that data from the system be able to be retrieved in a reasonable time frame. The investigation includes the exploration of database and data transfer solutions to meet the data availability during emergency conditions on mobile devices. This document includes a description of the system design, a review of current technologies, proposed methodology, and the implementation. Review of the literature section provides background information on current available technologies that were studied (section 3). Four identified factors are suggested in the system design – usability, security, availability, and performance. The discussion of which technology is selected for each feature can be found in the implementation section 4. Proposed future research areas can be found in the conclusion section and recommendations for future work section

Mobile Viewing and Self-Management of Patient’s Electronic Health Records (EHRs) with MyHealthCloud

Mobile computing has become one of the most dominant computer use paradigms and an essential part of the modern healthcare environment. As these applications become more sophisticated, a trend will inevitably develop towards providing comprehensive support for healthcare practitioners. According to industry estimates, by 2018, 50 percent of more than 3.4 billion smartphone and tablet users will have downloaded mobile healthcare apps. These users include healthcare professionals, consumers and patients. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is encouraging the development of mobile medical applications that improve healthcare and provide consumers and healthcare professionals with valuable health information. In this thesis, we propose a novel mobile healthcare platform for the visualization and management of patients’ medical reports, named MyHealthCloud. The research offers a new approach to store, retrieve and share the medical reports for patients and doctors. This new platform maximizes the benefits of mobile health technology by providing the best possible way for healthcare professionals to share information with their patients efficiently and effectively. This thesis empirically validates the usability of the proposed approach and clearly demonstrates its usefulness, providing details of the empirical study conducted with end-users in a real environment at various hospitals