351 research outputs found

    Regulating Habit-Forming Technology

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    Tech developers, like slot machine designers, strive to maximize the user’s “time on device.” They do so by designing habit-forming products— products that draw consciously on the same behavioral design strategies that the casino industry pioneered. The predictable result is that most tech users spend more time on device than they would like, about five hours of phone time a day, while a substantial minority develop life-changing behavioral problems similar to problem gambling. Other countries have begun to regulate habit-forming tech, and American jurisdictions may soon follow suit. Several state legislatures today are considering bills to regulate “loot boxes,” a highly addictive slot-machine- like mechanic that is common in online video games. The Federal Trade Commission has also announced an investigation into the practice. As public concern mounts, it is surprisingly easy to envision consumer regulation extending beyond video games to other types of apps. Just as tobacco regulations might prohibit brightly colored packaging and fruity flavors, a social media regulation might limit the use of red notification badges or “streaks” that reward users for daily use. It is unclear how much of this regulation could survive First Amendment scrutiny; software, unlike other consumer products, is widely understood as a form of protected “expression.” But it is also unclear whether well-drawn laws to combat compulsive technology use would seriously threaten First Amendment values. At a very low cost to the expressive interests of tech companies, these laws may well enhance the quality and efficacy of online speech by mitigating distraction and promoting deliberation

    Evaluating the Contextual Integrity of Privacy Regulation: Parents' IoT Toy Privacy Norms Versus COPPA

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    Increased concern about data privacy has prompted new and updated data protection regulations worldwide. However, there has been no rigorous way to test whether the practices mandated by these regulations actually align with the privacy norms of affected populations. Here, we demonstrate that surveys based on the theory of contextual integrity provide a quantifiable and scalable method for measuring the conformity of specific regulatory provisions to privacy norms. We apply this method to the U.S. Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), surveying 195 parents and providing the first data that COPPA's mandates generally align with parents' privacy expectations for Internet-connected "smart" children's toys. Nevertheless, variations in the acceptability of data collection across specific smart toys, information types, parent ages, and other conditions emphasize the importance of detailed contextual factors to privacy norms, which may not be adequately captured by COPPA.Comment: 18 pages, 1 table, 4 figures, 2 appendice

    Survey of mobile device and Medical App use in emergency care

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    The use of mobile devices (smartphones and tablets) and apps is widespread in the general population. The use of these devices allows on-the-go access to information ranging from internet, apps and email like never before. The use of this technology as part of patient care is common among junior medical staff in the UK. In healthcare the use of mobile devices and medical apps has been shown to be a positive development in improving patient care. This revolution started with the release of Apple’s iPhone in 2007 signalling the birth of the smartphone. The next pivotal step was the launch of the Apple Appstore in 2008. This allowed users to download specific software applications “apps” from an online shop and other companies soon followed with their own offerings. Currently little is known how this advance in technology is applied to emergency care. The aim of this work was to investigate the current role of mobile device and medical apps in emergency care in English and German speaking countries in Europe and to provide an overview of how departments and individual clinicians engage with this technology as part of their daily work.Die Verwendung von MobilgerĂ€ten und Apps ist in der Bevölkerung weitverbreitet. Die Benutzung dieser Technologie erlaubt den jederzeitigen Zugriff auf Informationen (Beispiele: Internet, Emails, Apps) wie das zuvor nie möglich war. In Großbritannien ist die BenĂŒtzung dieser Technologie bei AssistenzĂ€rzten als Teil ihrer Arbeit und der Patientenbetreuung weitverbreitet. Im medizinischen Bereich hat sich die Verwendung dieser Technologie als eine positive Entwicklung in der Patientenbetreuung gezeigt. Diese Revolution fing mit der EinfĂŒhrung des Apple iPhone 2007 an. Der nĂ€chste entscheidende Schritt war die Eröffnung des Apple Appstore 2008. Dieser erlaubte das Herunterladen von spezifische Softwareprogrammen sogenannten “Apps” von einem Online-GeschĂ€ft und andere Unternehmen folgen bald darauf mit ihren eigenen Apps und GeschĂ€ften. Momentan ist nicht bekannt wie weit diese Technologie in der Notfallmedizin verbreitet ist und genutzt wird. Ziel dieser Arbeit ist die momentane Rolle von MobilgerĂ€ten und medizinischen Apps in der Notfallmedizin im englisch- und deutschsprachigen Raum in Europa zu beschreiben und eine Übersicht zu bekommen wie medizinische FachkrĂ€fte diese Technologie in ihrer tĂ€glichen Arbeit in der Notfallmedizin einsetzen

    Children’s Online Privacy: An Overview of How Young People Use Social Media and How Lawmakers Seek to Better Protect and Empower Families Online

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    In the Spring of 2022, the Gator TeamChild Juvenile Law Clinic at the University of Florida Levin College of Law explored how the United States attempts to protect children’s privacy online. Through this exploration, interns studied current legislation aimed at regulating online platforms, met with a lawmaker trying to update COPPA, and collaborated with advanced students in other disciplines exploring the changing nature of social networking. Clinic interns reviewed pending bills in the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate that aim to improve outcomes for children and teens who utilize online platforms. Clinic interns also examined international approaches to online safety and privacy. What follows is a report outlining the Clinic’s findings

    Facing the Challenge of Mobile Technology: A Seminar on Strengthening Intimacy in Families at the Hendersonville Seventh-day Adventist Church

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    The Problem The new wave of smartphones and other forms of mobile technology presents an always available Internet connection that is hard for many families to manage. Without sufficient awareness of technology\u27s subtle impact on relationships and without appropriate boundaries, many suffer loss of face-to-face interaction, communication and intimacy within their family circles. The Method The purpose of this project was to investigate whether a five-session educational seminar would create greater awareness and motivate changes in mobile technology usage that is seen as beneficial to parents and family. The Results Of the 11 families who committed to coming to the five-session educational seminar, eight were able to attend all five sessions. A comparison of pre-interviews and post-interviews determined that the seminar was useful in raising awareness, stimulating more responsible use of mobile technology, and encouraging families toward deeper levels of intimacy. As a result of the many tools placed in the hands of the parents, members of each family made some type of change in their mobile technology usage and felt better equipped to talk with their children and each other about appropriate parameters. Conclusions This educational experience for the Hendersonville Seventh-day Adventist Church was useful in raising awareness regarding the advantages and dangers of mobile technology. Participants gained not only insights and practical skills in Internet management but greater understanding of their family dynamics as well as enhanced skill in dialogue and communication with each other

    News media literacy challenges and opportunities for Australian school students and teachers in the age of platforms

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    News media literacy competencies and motivation in teachers are critical to media education initiatives. This article draws on a survey of 97 primary and secondary school teachers conducted as part of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and University of Tasmania’s national Media Literacy Project in 2018. The data reveals challenges in the implementation of media literacy in classrooms, highlighting a generational divide linked to Australians’ rising consumption of news from digital sources and social media platforms. While teachers overwhelmingly say critical thinking about media is very important for students, nearly a quarter of these teachers are not engaging with news stories in the classroom. The data suggests responses require new resources, a review of teacher training, curriculum support, wider community collaboration and further research in the field

    Cyberthreats under the Bed

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    Internet-connected toys provide an often-overlooked avenue for breaching personal data, especially of those most vulnerable. Government and private measures can minimize the risks, but responsibility for monitoring smart toy usage ultimately lies with parents

    Instructional Technology in Elementary Education

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    Technology has grown at a rapid rate and its usefulness in everyday life is astonishing. Including technology in elementary education provides students with unlimited resources to better their education and skills that will lead them in life. Research has been done on how useful implementing technology is when students are learning. Including how instructional technology helps students with special needs or learning disabilities, because these students shouldn’t be left behind or feel left out. Teacher attitudes of how they are shaped to teach with technology is an important factor. Ages of elementary students has shown how effective instructional technology can be and the implications it can have if used correctly. Educators have been surveyed as to technology use and what it can do for them to make instruction more affective

    Essays on Empirical Labor and Health Economics

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