Examining the Adoption, Use and Diffusion of Tablet and Mobile Devices by Older Adults in Hertfordshire County, UK

Ubiquitous or mobile computing is the new trend of this modern era whereby information can be accessed anytime and anywhere. It is anticipated that this form of computing will be more effective than the Internet because of its capability of combining the integral benefits of wireless Internet and interactivity with its own unique characteristics namely, mobility, portability and flexibility. One of the devices that have made this form of computing a reality is the tablet device. It is also a device identified to make a significant impact in encouraging the use of the Internet and ICT generally among the older population. However, there is limited study on the reasons older adults adopt and use tablet devices. Therefore, this research project aims to identify and evaluate the factors that influence the adoption, use and diffusion of tablet devices within the older population (aged 50 and above) in UK. For this purpose, a Framework of Tablet Device Adoption (FTDA), which was based mainly on the Decomposed Theory of Planned Behaviour (DTPB) with the inclusion of an extra construct Trust, was developed. In particular, the hypothesised constructs included nine variables namely: Compatibility, Perceived Ease of Use, Perceived Usefulness, Trust, Attitude, Subjective Norm, Perceived Behavioural Control, Intention to Use and Actual Use. Furthermore, a quantitative approach for data collection was employed to test the FTDA model. The data collection was conducted in three phases including, content validity, pilot phase and the final phase. Data was collated through an online survey, which produced 203 completed responses for the pilot phase and 1,008 completed responses for the final phase. In addition, to validate the result of the quantitative study, qualitative method in the form of telephone interviews was employed. Result showed that attitude has the strongest effect on the intention to use tablets, while perceived usefulness had the strongest impact on attitude. In addition, the impact of attitude on intention was moderated by age and health status while the impact of perceived behavioural control was moderated by age. Findings also revealed that ailments such as anxiety disorder, vision impairments and learning difficulties impacted on adoption and use. In conclusion, this study contributes to a growing body of knowledge on older adults’ adoption and use of tablet and mobile devices. Specifically, it addresses the gap relating to the adoption, use and diffusion of tablets by older adults in Hertfordshire, UK and identifies significant factors that impact on an older adult’s adoption and use of the tablet device. In addition, it also provides information regarding the generational difference existing within the older population of 50 years and over

Factors influencing students' acceptance of m-learning: An investigation in higher education

M-learning will play an increasingly significant role in the development of teaching and learning methods for higher education. However, the successful implementation of m-learning in higher education will be based on users' acceptance of this technology. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to study the factors that affect university students' intentions to accept m-learning. Based on the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) (Venkatesh et al., 2003), this study proposes a model to identify the factors that influence the acceptance of m-learning in higher education and to investigate if prior experience of mobile devices affects the acceptance of m-learning. A structural equation model was used to analyse the data collected from 174 participants. The results indicate that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, influence of lecturers, quality of service, and personal innovativeness were all significant factors that affect behavioural intention to use m-learning. Prior experience of mobile devices was also found to moderate the effect of these constructs on behavioural intention. The results of this research extend the UTAUT in the context of m-learning acceptance by adding quality of service and personal innovativeness to the structure of UTAUT and provide practitioners and educators with useful guidelines for designing a successful m-learning system

Technology Initiative Assessment through Acceptance and Satisfaction: A Case Study

This case study examines a University-wide tablet program to assess the primary users’ (students) acceptance and satisfaction of the implemented technology. Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and user satisfaction research acted as the theoretical foundation that directed how to assess students’ attitudes and beliefs toward this newly adopted technology. Wixom & Todd’s (2005) Integrated Model of User Satisfaction and Technology Acceptance, served as the conceptual model to examine how students’ acceptance and satisfaction of the tablet related. Online surveys were distributed to examine if perceived usefulness and ease of use can predict user satisfaction. Multiple regression tests found that the combination of pre-implementation perceived usefulness and ease of use significantly predict post-implementation user satisfaction. Of the two variables; perceived usefulness was a stronger predictor of post-implementation user satisfaction then ease of use. Measuring technology acceptance and user satisfaction serves as a preliminary study to assess technology initiatives and potential technology usage

E-government and Digital Divide in Hail City: a Quantitative, Older Adults Study

The subject of information and communication technologies adoption, Internet and e-government services in particular, have been widely investigated by researchers. It is an indication of the significant roles that can be brought to individuals and societies by such advanced technologies in which enhancing quality of life is the ultimate goal. Unfortunately, many groups within societies are not gaining the advantages and benefits of the Internet and e-government because they are less receptive to ICTs. This has created a phenomenon known as the digital divide. Amongst these groups are the older adults. The rising attention towards the elderly is due to the increasing life expectancy. Thanks to health technological advancements and life style improvements, which are leading to better qualities of life, countries around the globe have older adults population rate larger than ever before. Saudi Arabia is no exception, as demographic characteristics have been changing in which life span is increasing and fertility is decreasing. However, literature of older adults and technology adoption, particularly adoption of Internet and e-government lacks the context of developing countries and the Arab world. Therefore, using this as a motivation, this study aims to identify, explain and understand the adoption, use and diffusion of e-government services within the older adults population (50+) of a vicinity in Saudi Arabia. The study uses a quantitative research method along with a positivist epistemology. The data collection technique involved distributing survey questionnaires to households’ residents (50+) in Hail city (area and simple random sampling). A small-scale pilot study was initially used (n=257) to validate and enhance the survey questions, followed by a wide-scale final study (n=937). Findings revealed that with regards to Internet adoption, age-based, gender-based, education-based and health-based digital divides do exist within the elderly population. It was also found by model analysis that elderlies’ intentions of whether to use or not use e-government services are considerably impacted by attitudinal, subjective norms, control and trustworthiness factors, excluding the two factors of image and trust in government, which showed insignificance. The study makes positive contributions to related literature, policy makers and industry. Finally, due to the restraints of time, finance and manpower, this study examined only a small portion of the whole population of Hail city; therefore, generalisations of findings cannot be claimed

Toward mobile learning deployment in higher education

This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University.Mobile Learning (M-learning) refers to any kind of learning which takes place within and beyond the traditional learning environment via wireless mobile devices. These devices are able to move with the learner to allow learning anytime, anywhere. M-learning is considered as the next step beyond electronic learning (E-learning) and distance learning (D-learning) by using mobile wireless devices with internet connectivity to facilitate formal and informal learning. Over the past decade M-learning has become gradually popular in university settings by providing mobile access to learning resources, collaborative learning and to exchange formative evaluation and feedback between students and instructors. Therefore, M-learning involves learning activities that are not restricted to a specific time or place. Despite the familiarity with M-learning as a new paradigm in modern education, there has been a shortage of research concerning how to deploy this technology in a successful way. The integration of M-learning in a university environment needs to involve some aspects in terms of the readiness of users and institutions, users‟ acceptance and engagement, and the sustainability of the system. There are some initial models that investigate the implementation of M-learning which provide some guidelines that work as starting point for the future of M-learning deployment. However, there is no theoretical model that provides guidelines for staged deployment of M-learning. In addition, there was no clear definition of sustainability factors that will assure continues evaluation and upgrade of M-learning systems after deployment. The aims of this research work are to study students‟ readiness for M-learning, investigate the factors that affect students‟ acceptance and analyse M-learning literature in order to propose and evaluate a model which can be used to foster the sustainable deployment of M-learning within teaching and learning strategies in higher education institutions. The research was conducted in Brunel University, West London. Data were collected from School of Information, Computing and Mathematical Science students using three surveys: the first studied students‟ readiness for M-learning, the second investigated factors that affect students‟ acceptance of M-learning and the last one developed and evaluated a sustainable M-learning deployment model. The outcome of this research lead to a conceptual model that gives a wide overview of all elements that need to be addressed in the M-learning environment and bridges the gap between the pre- and post-implementation phases in order to ensure sustainability. Furthermore, the model provides university educators with a planned approach to incorporate M-learning in higher education curriculums with the aim of improving teaching and learning

Exploring Acceptance of Using an Online Platform to Teach Parents of Children with Autism Methods in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

Background and Purpose of the Study: A diagnosis of autism can lead to lifelong struggles for parents and children. These families face profound difficulties in coping with stress while seeking out early interventions and managing imperative service needs. Parents are increasingly turning to the internet for information, advice, and even formal training. Breakthroughs in technology have made the internet more accessible and more sophisticated. The involvement of parents in applying intervention strategies to help their autistic children has long been advocated as a useful approach. Enabling parents as interventionists provides renewed confidence and reduced stress for parents as well as developmental improvements for the child. Conversely, issues of time, cost, and travel restrict accessibility for parents in need of such training. For these cases, utilizing online programs is explored as an alternative option. Methods: The study design was descriptive, cross-sectional and correlational, utilizing the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model to determine behavioral intention to use an online ABA training program. The sample consisted of 161 participants who identified as parents or primary caregivers of a child with autism. Results: The demographic characteristics of parents and caregivers of children with autism were predominantly females in their 30s and 40s, college educated with a Bachelors or Masters, and rated themselves as very comfortable with using computers and similar technology devices. Multiple regression analysis revealed that 10% of the variability in behavioral intention to use an online ABA program is accounted for by education level. Education was the only statistically significant predictor having an inverse relationship with the interest in adopting ABA online programs. Hierarchical regression revealed that computer skills, laptop skills, tablet skills, and mobile/smartphone skills account for 5% of the variance in interest to use an online ABA program. However, when UTAUT variables are included, performance expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions account for 47% of the variance in the interest to use an online ABA program. All results were statistically significant at the alpha level of 0.05 Conclusion: The findings of the study suggest that parents and caregivers are more likely to use a system if: (1) they feel it will improve their performance in managing their child’s behavior, (2) others around them such as family, friends, and their community support their use of the system and, (3) certain infrastructure (tech support) exists to assist in their use of the system. At the same time, parents and caregivers are less likely to use a system if they are highly educated. Further research is needed to gain a deeper understanding of the motivational factors that drive acceptance and behavioral intention to adopt online ABA intervention training for parents and caregivers of children with autism. Implications, practical application, theoretical relevance and future direction are further discussed

Exploring Acceptance of Using an Online Platform to Teach Parents of Children with Autism Methods in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

Background and Purpose of the Study: A diagnosis of autism can lead to lifelong struggles for parents and children. These families face profound difficulties in coping with stress while seeking out early interventions and managing imperative service needs. Parents are increasingly turning to the internet for information, advice, and even formal training. Breakthroughs in technology have made the internet more accessible and more sophisticated. The involvement of parents in applying intervention strategies to help their autistic children has long been advocated as a useful approach. Enabling parents as interventionists provides renewed confidence and reduced stress for parents as well as developmental improvements for the child. Conversely, issues of time, cost, and travel restrict accessibility for parents in need of such training. For these cases, utilizing online programs is explored as an alternative option. Methods: The study design was descriptive, cross-sectional and correlational, utilizing the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model to determine behavioral intention to use an online ABA training program. The sample consisted of 161 participants who identified as parents or primary caregivers of a child with autism. Results: The demographic characteristics of parents and caregivers of children with autism were predominantly females in their 30s and 40s, college educated with a Bachelors or Masters, and rated themselves as very comfortable with using computers and similar technology devices. Multiple regression analysis revealed that 10% of the variability in behavioral intention to use an online ABA program is accounted for by education level. Education was the only statistically significant predictor having an inverse relationship with the interest in adopting ABA online programs. Hierarchical regression revealed that computer skills, laptop skills, tablet skills, and mobile/smartphone skills account for 5% of the variance in interest to use an online ABA program. However, when UTAUT variables are included, performance expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions account for 47% of the variance in the interest to use an online ABA program. All results were statistically significant at the alpha level of 0.05 Conclusion: The findings of the study suggest that parents and caregivers are more likely to use a system if: (1) they feel it will improve their performance in managing their child’s behavior, (2) others around them such as family, friends, and their community support their use of the system and, (3) certain infrastructure (tech support) exists to assist in their use of the system. At the same time, parents and caregivers are less likely to use a system if they are highly educated. Further research is needed to gain a deeper understanding of the motivational factors that drive acceptance and behavioral intention to adopt online ABA intervention training for parents and caregivers of children with autism. Implications, practical application, theoretical relevance and future direction are further discussed

Pilot Testing a Web-Based System for the Assessment and Management of Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

Because numerous barriers hinder the assessment and management of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in clinical practice, the Carevive Care Planning System, a novel Web-based platform, was developed to address these barriers. It provides patients an opportunity to report their symptoms before their clinic visit and generates customizable care plans composed of evidence-based management strategies. The purpose of this study was to evaluate patient and provider perspectives of feasibility, usability, acceptability, and satisfaction with the Carevive platform. We used a single-arm, pretest/posttest, prospective design and recruited 25 women with breast cancer who were receiving neurotoxic chemotherapy and six advanced practice providers from an academic hospital. At three consecutive clinical visits, patients reported their neuropathy symptoms on a tablet via the Carevive system. The Diffusion of Innovations Theory served as an overarching evaluation framework. The Carevive platform was feasible to use. However, patients had higher ratings of usability, acceptability, and satisfaction with the platform than did the providers, who disliked the amount of time required to use the platform and had difficulty logging into Carevive. If issues regarding provider dissatisfaction can be addressed, the Carevive platform may aid in the screening of neuropathy symptoms and facilitate the use of evidence-based management strategies