Near Field Communication: Technology and Market Trends

Among the different hi-tech content domains, the telecommunications industry is one of the most relevant, in particular for the Italian economy. Moreover, Near Field Communication (NFC) represents an example of innovative production and a technological introduction in the telecommunications context. It has a threefold function: card emulator, peer-to-peer communication and digital content access, and it could be pervasively integrated in many different domains, especially in the mobile payment one. The increasing attention on NFC technology from the academic community has improved an analysis on the changes and the development perspective about mobile payments. It has considered the work done by the GSMA (Global System for Mobile Communications Association) and the NFC Forum in recent years. This study starts from an analysis of the scientific contributions to Near Field Communication and how the main researches on this topic were conceived. Our focus is on the diffusion rates, the adoption rates and the technology life cycle. After that, we analyze the technical-economical elements of NFC. Finally, this work presents the state of art of the improvements to this technology with a deeper focus on NFC technologies applied to the tourism industry. In this way, we have done a case analysis that shows some of the NFC existent applications linked to each stage of the tourism value chain

The survey on Near Field Communication

PubMed ID: 26057043Near Field Communication (NFC) is an emerging short-range wireless communication technology that offers great and varied promise in services such as payment, ticketing, gaming, crowd sourcing, voting, navigation, and many others. NFC technology enables the integration of services from a wide range of applications into one single smartphone. NFC technology has emerged recently, and consequently not much academic data are available yet, although the number of academic research studies carried out in the past two years has already surpassed the total number of the prior works combined. This paper presents the concept of NFC technology in a holistic approach from different perspectives, including hardware improvement and optimization, communication essentials and standards, applications, secure elements, privacy and security, usability analysis, and ecosystem and business issues. Further research opportunities in terms of the academic and business points of view are also explored and discussed at the end of each section. This comprehensive survey will be a valuable guide for researchers and academicians, as well as for business in the NFC technology and ecosystem.Publisher's Versio

Challenges Faced by Persons with Disabilities Using Self-Service Technologies

Foreseeable game changing solutions to SSTs will allow for better universal access by better implementing features that are easy and intuitive to use from the inception. Additional robotic advancements will allow for better and easier delivery of goods for consumers. Improvements to artificial intelligence will allow for better communication through natural language and alternative forms of communication. Furthermore, artificial intelligence will aid consumers at SSTs by remembering the consumers preferences and needs. With all foreseeable game changing solutions people with disabilities will be consulted when new and improved SSTs are being developed allowing for the SST to maximize its potential

Technology enhancement in hotel guestroom

This is an exploratory research paper looking on various types of technology, facilities enhancement and devices adopted by hoteliers for their guestrooms to meet the ever increasing demand and expectations from their guests. This paper also explores the technologies and devices that owners use to leverage on business sustainability for their operations. As part of the corporate social responsibility, hotel owners are exploring the opportunities to increase these activities through the use of modern technology and devices to reduce damage to the environment such as using energy saving devices in their properties. Business and leisure travelers who are environmentally conscious will be interested in this paper as they will have a better understanding on the technologies adopted by hoteliers that have a positive impact on the environment and at the same time without compromising the service level they deliver and at the same time be able to have a memorable experience during their stay in the hotel

The influences of the just-in-time social cloud on real world decisions

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, School of Architecture and Planning, Program in Media Arts and Sciences, 2012.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (p. 209-224).People have intertemporal biases towards choices that result in immediate gratification versus delayed rewards. The social context can accentuate or downplay preferences towards virtues or vices when making choices in the moment. Especially in our modern world where social networks are virtually accessible at anytime, from anywhere, how our day-today decisions are affected by the "always-on" connection to our social networks via mobile devices is an open question. By understanding the dimensions of these social forces, we can utilize the just-in-time social cloud to nudge people towards decisions that have long term benefits for health and finances, while counterbalancing the forces of the marketers that trigger our impulses towards immediate temptations that we may regret later. This work presents an empirical inquiry into the effect of just-in-time social influences in human decision-making. In order to understand these effects and discover their parameters, I design and deploy real-world experiments with the just-in-time social cloud using mobile phones as platforms for just-in-time social influence. The Open Transaction Network forms the basis of generating just-in-time social networks based on the transactions shared by people in the context of commerce. The Open Transaction Network is extended to several systems to conduct real-world experiments involving real choices. By augmenting mobile commerce applications with just-in-time social networks, I design a mobile commerce environment that can socially influence our just-in-time choices. The Open Credit Card Application Framework augments existing methods of payment by using transactions as triggers to enable mobile applications that facilitate just-in-time decisions or reflections. Friends within communities show significant similarity in their hourly transaction behaviors. Varying manifestations of the just-in-time social cloud (individual friends, groups of friends and popularity information) can be used to nudge people's choices in the dimensions of taste, price and time as they decide.by Kwan Hong Lee.Ph.D

Service design of mobile applications in cruise context

Objectives of the Study The objective of this Master's thesis is to design and propose the service concepts of mobile application based on passenger needs for cruise liners to improve passenger experience and to collect information from passengers on real-time basis to enhance their own performance. Academic background and methodology This thesis is produced as a part of Cruise and Ferry Experience Program Turku Triad 2012. Cruise and Ferry Experience Program, funded by FIMECC I&N program and Kaleidoskooppi, makes interdisciplinary efforts to contribute to maritime industry, is organized by Marine Technology research unit in Aalto University. Turku Triad, based in Turku, Finland, is a joint master thesis project linking marine technology, business and design. This study bases its academic research in service design and data-driven decision-making theory, follows design-thinking guidelines and uses need finding, benchmarking and expert interviews to design and propose a range of mobile application service concepts that accommodate passenger needs and in turn benefit cruise liners' operations. Findings and conclusions Through two-folded need finding process, passenger needs are identified in the domain of navigation, location, information, relaxation, safety and service quality. A portfolio of front stage and back stage services are design to address passenger needs and facilitate cruise liners in making operational decisions. Based on the information collected from passengers on real-time basis, cruise liners will be able to drive revenue, track performance, manipulate traffic, optimize inventory and facilitate communication. For successful implementation of such services, taking measures to diminish passengers' security concern and encouraging target passenger segments to use the application are essential

Improved back-of-the-house processes with RFID enabled it model for hospitality industry in Singapore

This is a research paper exploring the ability of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to cope with challenges of back-of-the-house of the hospitality industry in Singapore. Focused on supply chain, food safety and security, the paper reviewed the three integrated service support processes of back-of-the-house that drove the service delivery processes of front-of-the-house in meeting the critical reliability dimension of SERVQUAL model. The RFID mobile technology’s advantages were studied in mitigating risks and meeting compliances within the three back-of-the-house areas. The RFID was further examined as a viable IT solution based on the potential impacts associated with cost-of-not-doing and the improved ROI over cost-of-doing. Constructed by using service blueprinting technique, the RFID enabled IT model was proposed for real-time tracking and interfacing with systems and processes. The advantages of the model were illustrated to improve efficiency and enhance capability of back-of-the-house processes. Explaining the limitations of the model, the paper also recommended the five-step approach of RFID implementation and future research on lifecycle tracking benefits

BETWEEN FOOTPRINTS: BALANCING ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND PRIVACY IN SMART TOURISM DESTINATIONS

Data lies at the core of all smart tourism activities as tourists engage in different and personalized touristic services whilst the pre/during/post traveling or in holidays. From these interactions, a digital data trail is seamlessly captured in a technology embedded environment, and then mined and harnessed in the context of STD - Smart Tourist Destinations to create enriched, high-value experiences, namely those related to eco-responsibility, as well as granting destinations with competitive advantages. At the same time, these technologies enable tourism destinations for an optimization of the use natural resources and energy, as well as for the preservation of natural spaces, in short, reducing the “ecological footprint” of tourism. However, this comes with a cost, an increased “data footprint”. Therefore, the perceived enjoyment of experiences must be considered within the legal framework of Privacy and Data Protection by exposing inherent risks, analysing the available answers given by the GDPR – the General Data Protection Regulation of the European Union. Hence the purpose of this paper is i. to singularize the specificities of Smart Tourism Destinations; ii. to show how the principles of personal data protection, as set forth by the GDPR, are allocated within the STD realm; iii. and, finally, to derive potential legal implications of this ecosystem. Our approach is based on a legal analysis engaged in scholarship research. We have mostly denoted the underestimation of the legal implications of technology-enhanced tourism experiences, and the marginalization of both informed involvement and awareness by the individual in these processes. This study is novel in having undertaken an initial exploration of the legal implications of experiences taking place by STD.Los datos están en la base misma de todas las actividades turísticas inteligentes ya que los turistas se quedan inmersos en servicios distintos y personalizados antes/durante/después de los viajes o de las vacaciones.  De estas interacciones, un rastro es obtenido de un modo imperceptible a través de un medioambiente embutido en tecnología, el cual es a continuación extraído y almacenado en el contexto de los DTI - Destinos Turísticos Inteligentes para crear experiencias valiosas, señaladamente las relacionadas con la eco-responsabilidad, y bien así proporcionando ventajas competitivas a eses destinos. Asimismo, estas tecnologías permiten a los destinos turísticos una optimización del uso de los recursos naturales y de la energía, además de la preservación de los espacios naturales, en síntesis, reducen la “huella ecológica” del turismo. Sin embargo, esto tiene un coste, el incremento de la “huella de los datos”. Por ello, el disfrute apercibido de experiencias tendrá de ser tenido en cuenta en el marco normativo del RGPD – Reglamento General sobre Protección de Datos de la Unión Europea. Por ende, los objetivos de este artículo son los siguientes: i. identificar las especificidades de los Destinos Turísticos Inteligentes; ii. enseñar como los principios de la protección de datos, tal como están en el RGPD, son relevantes para los DTI; iii, en último lugar, evaluar las consecuencias jurídicas potenciales de este ecosistema. Nuestro enfoque se basa en un análisis jurídico de naturaleza académica. En especial, buscamos poner en evidencia como las implicaciones jurídicas de las experiencias turísticas reforzadas por las tecnologías han sido subestimadas, al igual que la participación informada y consciente de las personas en estos procesos. Este estudio es novedoso al haber emprendido una exploración inicial de las implicaciones jurídicas que resultan de experiencias que ocurren en los DTI.Os dados estão na base de todas as atividades turísticas inteligentes pois os turistas ficam envolvidos em serviços diferentes e personalizados antes/durante/depois das viagens ou das férias. Para estas interações, um rastro de dados é imperceptivelmente obtido por um meio ambiente embebido em tecnologia, sendo depois minerado e armazenado no contexto de Destinos Turísticos Inteligentes para criar experiências valiosas, designadamente relacionadas com a eco-responsabilidade, assim como facultando vantagens competitivas a tais destinos. Ao mesmo tempo, estas tecnologias permitem aos destinos turísticos uma otimização do uso de recursos naturais e da energia, assim como a preservação dos espaços naturais, em síntese, reduzindo a “pegada ecológica” do turismo. Porém, isto ocorre com um custo, o de uma “pegada de dados” acrescida. Consequentemente, a fruição apercebida de experiências tem de ser considerada no contexto normativo da Privacidade e da Proteção de Dados proteção de dados expondo os riscos potencias relacionados que lhe são inerentes, analisando as respostas das pelo RGPD - Regulamento Geral sobre Proteção de Dados da União Europeia. Assim, os objetivos do artigo são os seguintes: i. identificar as especificidades dos Destinos Turísticos Inteligentes; ii. mostrar como os princípios da proteção de dados, tal como constam do RGPD, são relevantes para os DTI; iii, finalmente, avaliar as consequências jurídicas potenciais deste ecossistema. A nossa perspectiva assenta numa análise jurídica de natureza académica. Sobretudo, procuramos mostrar como as implicações jurídicas das experiências turísticas reforçadas pelas tecnologias têm sido subestimadas, tal como o envolvimento informado e consciente das pessoas nestes processos. Este estudo é novo ao ter empreendido uma exploração inicial das implicações jurídicas que resultam das experiências que têm lugar nos DTI

Understanding The Growth Of Takeaway Food Apps in The UK: A Supplier and Consumer Perspective

This research investigates the development, use and consumer acceptance of online takeaway food ordering (OTFO) apps in the UK. Although the online takeaway food ordering sector is well-established, it continues to improve services by bringing new technology and innovation in the sector. Among the latest technologies introduced into the sector is the development of takeaway apps. Given the recent developments and advancements in technology, there is limited evidence on how consumers view and use takeaway apps. In addition, the development and operation of the sector has so far received little attention in the academic literature. To develop a more in-depth understanding of this new technology and its adoption, the study employed a mixed methods approach. The first approach adopted a case study perspective to investigate the growth of technology within one organisation. The second approach focused on consumer acceptance of the technology through conducting in-depth semi-structured interviews (n = 12) and a questionnaire survey (n = 150). The findings from this study suggest that organisations that supply takeaway apps tend to adopt innovation to improve business growth and ensure customer satisfaction. The best way for the organisation to encourage consumers to adopt the new technology was evidenced through the marketing mix such as through television advertisements. Although organisations have been active in promoting the apps, there are still insufficient information of consumer perception of how the technology. Through investigating the consumer perspective, it was revealed that the consumer perceived the use of takeaway apps similar to purchasing takeaway food. To understand consumer acceptance of takeaway apps, the study used the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) by studying perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, perceived trust, perceived risk security and perceived social influence on the intention to use and actual use of the apps. This study contributes to the emerging body of knowledge on the online takeaway food ordering sector. In addition, it has an applied contribution in contributing to the development of new theory in the technology influence on university student takeaway food purchase and the acceptance of takeaway food apps