Human-Computer Interaction

In this book the reader will find a collection of 31 papers presenting different facets of Human Computer Interaction, the result of research projects and experiments as well as new approaches to design user interfaces. The book is organized according to the following main topics in a sequential order: new interaction paradigms, multimodality, usability studies on several interaction mechanisms, human factors, universal design and development methodologies and tools

Future of interactive technologies

The concept of interactivity continuously enhances our day-to-day living, allowing us to experience a more convenient and enjoyable life style. Existing analogue technologies such as the internet, mobile phone and satellite have now entered their digital phase, making it possible to increase their capacity for interactivity. The technologies which provide this increased interactivity, namely the internet, mobile and television, are classed as interactive technologies. Television has been successful at marketing, having launched an interactivity interface known as iTV which initially offered superior commercial prospects. However, after a decade, the iTV industry is still quite young and has not reached its full potential. This thesis adopts a range of research methodology with which to forecast the future of interactive technologies, especially interactive TV (iTV). The uptake of new interactive technologies depends on many factors, notably the existing infrastructure in the country of adoption, cultural attitudes to new technology, the radicalism of the technology, social influences and interactions and ease of use, quality and cost. Beyond these, many other significant factors influence the acceptance of interactive technologies, the focus of this thesis is to ascertain the importance of those factors mentioned on technology adoption. This study has adopted technological and judgemental forecasting techniques to predict the future of interactive technologies, following which Cross- Cultural and Technology Acceptance studies were carried out to investigate interactive technology adoption. In the Cross-Cultural study, survey data were collected from the UK, Hong Kong and Pakistan so as to examine cultural factors pertaining to the likelihood of adoption, while Growth Curves were used to model and forecast future levels of adoption. Then technology trends in different countries were collected from the global marketing database Euromonitor. The Growth Curves, applied to a selection of interactive technologies, were evaluated and compared to identify the most useful model with which to forecast the future of interactive technologies. The findings identified the Bass Model, Simple Logistic Model and Gompertz Model as the most suitable models for the purpose, with different models identified as best for different cultures. The Judgemental study established that WWW will be the dominant service provider for financial services such as banking or financial products, while iTV will be the dominant service provider for entertainment. WWW will in fact be the dominant provider for most of the services, followed by iTV and then WAP. It is most likely that WWW, WAP and iTV will exhibit technology convergence in 20 years' time and in all probability will converge into WWW. Further to this the Cross-Cultural study confirmed that there are significant differences between cultures regarding the acceptance of interactive technologies, as it is affected by demographic and social interactions and influences. In addition, the study showed that each interactive technology has its own significant elements which influence its acceptance. Overall, the key elements identified as influencing acceptance of interactive technologies were Knowledge and Confidence, followed by the number of hours the individual spends with his or her family. The Technology Acceptance study identified a technology acceptance model for each interactive technology: WWW, WAP and iTV, which established the factors expected to influence the future growth of the technology. Managing these significant elements will assist further in promoting the growth of interactive technologiesEThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Future of Interactive technologies

The concept of interactivity continuously enhances our day-to-day living, allowing us to experience a more convenient and enjoyable life style. Existing analogue technologies such as the internet, mobile phone and satellite have now entered their digital phase, making it possible to increase their capacity for interactivity. The technologies which provide this increased interactivity, namely the internet, mobile and television, are classed as interactive technologies. Television has been successful at marketing, having launched an interactivity interface known as iTV which initially offered superior commercial prospects. However, after a decade, the iTV industry is still quite young and has not reached its full potential.This thesis adopts a range of research methodology with which to forecast the future of interactive technologies, especially interactive TV (iTV). The uptake of new interactive technologies depends on many factors, notably the existing infrastructure in the country of adoption, cultural attitudes to new technology, the radicalism of the technology, social influences and interactions and ease of use, quality and cost. Beyond these, many other significant factors influence the acceptance of interactive technologies, the focus of this thesis is to ascertain the importance of those factors mentioned on technology adoption.This study has adopted technological and judgemental forecasting techniques to predict the future of interactive technologies, following which Cross- Cultural and Technology Acceptance studies were carried out to investigate interactive technology adoption. In the Cross-Cultural study, survey data were collected from the UK, Hong Kong and Pakistan so as to examine cultural factors pertaining to the likelihood of adoption, while Growth Curves were used to model and forecast future levels of adoption. Then technology trends in different countries were collected from the global marketing database Euromonitor. The Growth Curves, applied to a selection of interactive technologies, were evaluated and compared to identify the most useful model with which to forecast the future of interactive technologies. The findings identified the Bass Model, Simple Logistic Model and Gompertz Model as the most suitable models for the purpose, with different models identified as best for different cultures.The Judgemental study established that WWW will be the dominant service provider for financial services such as banking or financial products, while iTV will be the dominant service provider for entertainment. WWW will in fact be the dominant provider for most of the services, followed by iTV and then WAP. It is most likely that WWW, WAP and iTV will exhibit technology convergence in 20 years’ time and in all probability will converge into WWW.Further to this the Cross-Cultural study confirmed that there are significant differences between cultures regarding the acceptance of interactive technologies, as it is affected by demographic and social interactions and influences. In addition, the study showed that each interactive technology has its own significant elements which influence its acceptance. Overall, the key elements identified as influencing acceptance of interactive technologies were Knowledge and Confidence, followed by the number of hours the individual spends with his or her family. The Technology Acceptance study identified a technology acceptance model for each interactive technology: WWW, WAP and iTV, which established the factors expected to influence the future growth of the technology. Managing these significant elements will assist further in promoting the growth of interactive technologies

Analysis of policies to support SMEs in confronting the COVID-19 pandemic in Latin America

The institutions that support micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Latin America have demonstrated their capacity to react to the challenges posed by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, making unprecedented efforts to adapt support instruments and adjust their management modalities to new needs. This document summarizes the experiences of nine countries in the region (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama and Uruguay), highlighting good practices and methodological lessons learned that can be leveraged to improve the performance of the development system once the pandemic is over. There are three areas of particular importance for economic recovery: support for the incorporation of digital technologies, incentives for formalizing companies and biosafety protocols. There are also signs of a shift in the way policies are formulated, towards adaptive management models that focus on accountability and the strengthening of public institutions, the deepening of partnerships with the business sector and the consolidation of decentralization dynamics that provide space for participation by local and regional actors.Introduction .-- Part I. I. General analysis .-- II. Changes and lessons learned in MSME support policies in Latin America .-- III. Conclusions --- Part II. IV. MSME support policies amid COVID-19 in Argentina .-- V. MSME support policies amid COVID-19 in Brazil .-- VI. MSME support policies amid COVID-19 in Chile .-- VII. MSMEs support policies amid COVID-19 in Colombia .-- VIII. MSME support policies amid COVID-19 in Costa Rica .-- IX. MSME support policies amid COVID-19 in Ecuador .-- X. MSME support policies amid COVID-19 in Mexico .-- XI. MSME support policies amid COVID-19 in Panama .-- XII. MSME support policies amid COVID-19 in Uruguay

Internet and society in Latin America and the Caribbean

Published in Malaysia by SouthboundSpanish version available in IDRC Digital Library: Internet y sociedad en América Latina y el Carib

Customer relationship management in B2B business of electronic media

У овој дисертацији разматрано је B2B пословање електронских медија. Детаљно су анализирани сервиси електронских медија и промене које технологије електронског пословања доносе у начину реализације и коришћења ових сервиса. Управљање односима са клијентима представља значајну компоненту у B2B пословању електронских медија. Посебна пажња посвећенаje напредним приступима и технологијама у управљању односима са стејкхолдерима електронских медија. Истражене су могућности унапређења управљања односима између јавног сервиса и њeгових стејкхолдера, коришћењем потенцијала иновативних технологија електронског пословања у медијима као што су: друштвени медији, дигитална и интерактивна телевизија и мобилно рачунарство. У дисертацији је предложен модел управљања односима са клијентима у B2B пословању електронских медија. Модел обезбеђује успешну примену савремених CRM концепата и сервиса, као и могућност сарадње са стејкхолдерима. Разматра се могућност интегрисања различитих типова медија и медијских сервиса у јединствен пословни систем. Интеграција се односи на информације, процесе, апликационе компоненте и људске ресурсе.This dissertation analyses the problem of the B2B business of the electronic media. Electronic media services are analysed in great detail, as well as the changes that modern e-business technologies bring into the manner of exploiting these services. Customer relationship management is considered to be an important component of the B2B business of the electronic media. Special attention was placed on the advanced approaches and technologies for relationship management regarding the electronic media stakeholders. In addition to this, the dissertation investigates the possibilities of improving relationship management between public broadcasters and their stakeholders by applying innovative e-business technologies, such as: social media, digital and interactive TV and mobile computing. Within the dissertation a customer relationship model for the B2B business of the electronic media has been developed. The model enables the implementation of advanced CRM concepts and services, as well as cooperation with stakeholders. Furthermore, possibilities for integrating different media types and services into a unique electronic media business system have been discussed. The said integration refers to information, processes, application components and human recourses. In the experimental section of the dissertation, an evaluation of the developed customer relationship model for the B2B business was performed. The evaluation was conducted within the e-business system of the Radio Television of Serbia. Experimental results support the general hypothesis that the implementation and integration of the CRM into the business system of electronic media enhance business performances, synchronise all business processes of electronic media and lead to higher satisfaction and loyalty of the clients

Internet and society in Latin America and the Caribbean

The research contained in this book is designed to foster discussion about the policies and actions that must be promoted for building an Internet culture in Latin America and the Caribbean, based on the principles of social and cultural equity. This book presents some pioneering research work designed to show, from a qualitative and ethnographic perspective, how New Information and Communication Technologies, as applied to the school system and to local governance initiatives, merely reproduce traditional pedagogical approaches and the dominant forms by which power is exercised at the..

Online Media Piracy: Convergence, Culture, and the Problem of Media Change

This thesis proposes that there is a symbiotic relationship between the emergence of online media piracy and the industrial, economic and legal changes that have shaped contemporary popular media in the early 21st century. The Internet is at the heart of most recent transformations of the popular media environment, such as the emergence of video-on-demand formats for film and television consumption and the impact this has had on the nature of those media forms. This thesis discusses the powerful role played by online media piracy in shaping these developments, both through changing the expectations of consumers, and the options that are available for distributors of media content. As well as exploring the diverse forms and practices of online media piracy today, this thesis also explores theories of media change, considering how we might understand such piracy as a force underpinning media change, and how the changes it has helped shape might be placed in a broader historical context. To that end, the history and impact of online media piracy are considered alongside other examples, such as the arrival of video recording devices and the expansion of cable television in the 1980s and 90s, and the significance of international trade deals impacting access to media via “geoblocking” and other techniques of access management. Finally, this thesis also examines debates around copyright, and the potential political significance of piracy as a tool for accessing media and culture, viewing online media piracy as a crucial practice appearing at a nexus of industrial and popular interests, tied to technological, economic and legal developments, and to changing consumer behavior and expectations