Web 2.0 and folksonomies in a library context

This is the post-print version of the Article. The official published version can be accessed from the link below - Copyright @ 2011 ElsevierLibraries have a societal purpose and this role has become increasingly important as new technologies enable organizations to support, enable and enhance the participation of users in assuming an active role in the creation and communication of information. Folksonomies, a Web 2.0 technology, represent such an example. Folksonomies result from individuals freely tagging resources available to them on a computer network. In a library environment folksonomies have the potential of overcoming certain limitations of traditional classification systems such as the Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH). Typical limitations of this type of classification systems include, for example, the rigidity of the underlying taxonomical structures and the difficulty of introducing change in the categories. Folksonomies represent a supporting technology to existing classification systems helping to describe library resources more flexibly, dynamically and openly. As a review of the current literature shows, the adoption of folksonomies in libraries is novel and limited research has been carried out in the area. This paper presents research into the adoption of folksonomies for a University library. A Web 2.0 system was developed, based on the requirements collected from library stakeholders, and integrated with the existing library computer system. An evaluation of the work was carried out in the form of a survey in order to understand the possible reactions of users to folksonomies as well as the effects on their behavior. The broad conclusion of this work is that folksonomies seem to have a beneficial effect on users’ involvement as active library participants as well as encourage users to browse the catalogue in more depth

How do older adults communicate with the UK public sector? : Comparing online communication channels

Copyright and all rights therein are retained by the authors. All persons copying this information are expected to adhere to the terms and conditions invoked by each author's copyright. These works may not be re-posted without the explicit permission of the copyright holdersGovernments around the world are moving away from conventional ways of face to face communication to a more digital approach when delivering services to their citizens. This includes using the internet as both a communication tool and an information source to improve efficiency in their services. However, not all the citizens are making use of these changes, especially the older adults. Therefore, this research-in-progress paper aims to investigate and identify the factors that encourage older adults to continue using a particular communication channel when interacting with the government. In addition, future directions, limitations and conclusions are also provided within this paper. The implication of this study to academia is viewed to be the development of an extended framework that allows an understanding of continuance intention of online communication tools usage. Equally, this framework will benefit industry by informing providers of communication channels to the government to be aware of the factors that influence older adults’ choices when interacting with the government. For policymakers this research will identify the communication channels that promote interaction with citizensFinal Published versio

The Wisdom of Older Technology (Non-)Users

Older adults consistently reject digital technology even when designed to be accessible and trustworthy

PUBLIC SECTOR ONLINE COMMUNICATION CHANNEL ADOPTION AND USAGE AMONGST OLDER ADULTS: A UK LOCAL GOVERNMENT PERSPECTIVE

Ukamaka Nwanekezie, Jyoti Choudrie, Neil Spencer, 'PUBLIC SECTOR ONLINE COMMUNICATION CHANNEL ADOPTION AND USAGE AMONGST OLDER ADULTS: A UK LOCAL GOVERNMENT PERSPECTIVE'. Paper presented at the 24th European Conference on Information Systems: Information Systems as a Global Gateway, Boğaziçi University, Istanbul, Turkey, 12-15 June 106.The UK government like many other countries around the globe has moved from classic communica-tion channels of delivering services (face-to-face, or the telephone) to a more digital approach using the internet. This includes using the internet as both a communication tool and an information source to improve efficiency in their services. Access to, and growth of these online communication mediums due to the internet has created new opportunities for the public sector; thus, forcing the public sector to adapt to this changing environment by introducing online products and services. However, not all the citizens are making use of these changes; particularly, for the purposes of this research, the older adults. Of all the various age groups in society, the ageing population is one that is presently causing immense concern. Therefore, the aim of this research-in-progress paper is to understand and identify the factors that encourage older adults to continue using a particular online communication channel when interacting with the government. This research-in-progress paper also provides the implications and benefits of this research to academia, policy makers and industry in this study and the future directions, limitations and conclusions of this paper.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

Examining Online Social Networks (OSNs) Adoption and Use within Older Adults: A Facebook and Twitter, Hertfordshire Study (16)

As the quality of life improves, an ageing population is the outcome. This group of society is also a low adopting and use group of Online Social Networks that are proliferating daily lives. Therefore, this research in progress paper formed the aim: To identify, understand and explain the adoption, use and diffusion of OSN within the older adult population residing in Hertfordshire households of the UK. This paper provides the theoretical foundations and hypothesis of this study. It also explains how it will provide contributions for academia, policy makers and industrial sectors and offers a conclusion to this paper

Tim O'Reilly and Web 2.0: The economics of memetic liberty and control

This paper presents an account of the role of Tim O'Reilly, both as an individual and as a corporate entity (O'Reilly Group), in the creation, spread and use of the concept of Web 2.0. It demonstrates that, whatever Web 2.0's current uses to describe variously the technologies, politics, commerce or social meaning of the Internet, it originates as a deliberately open signifier of novel and potential Internet development in the mid-2000s. The paper argues that O'Reilly has promoted the diversity of the term's meanings and uses - celebrating textual liberties - but has also emphasised the special role that O'Reilly plays in providing the authoritative definition of that term. In essence, O'Reilly profits from this 'control' of the idea of Web 2.0 but that, to enjoy that control O'Reilly must also allow differences in meaning. The paper concludes by suggesting that Web 2.0 therefore signifies a new kind of economics that brings together freedom and control in a new way

Personal recommender systems for learners in lifelong learning networks: requirements, techniques and model

This article argues for the need of personal recommender systems in lifelong learning networks that provide learners advice on suitable learning activities to follow. Existing recommender systems and recommendation techniques used for consumer products and other contexts are assessed on their suitability for providing navigation support in a learning network. Similarities and differences are translated into specific demands for learning and specific requirements for recommendation techniques. We propose a combination of memory-based recommendation techniques that appear suitable to realize personalized recommendation on learning activities in the context of e-learning. An initial model for the design of such systems in learning networks and a roadmap for their further development are presented

Tailored presentation of dynamic web content for audio browsers

Understanding the content of a Web page and navigating within and between pages are crucial tasks for any Web user. To those who are accessing pages through non-visual means, such as screen readers, the challenges offered by these tasks are not easily overcome, even when pages are unchanging documents. The advent of 'Web 2.0' and Web applications, however, means that documents often are not static, but update, either automatically or due to user interaction. This development poses a difficult question for screen reader designers: how should users be notified of page changes? In this article we introduce rules for presenting such updates, derived from studies of how sighted users interact with them. An implementation of the rules has been evaluated, showing that users who were blind or visually impaired found updates easier to deal with than the relatively quiet way in which current screen readers often present them. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Older Adults’ Deployment of ‘Distrust’

Older adults frequently deploy the concept of distrust when discussing digital technologies, and it is tempting to assume that distrust is largely responsible for the reduced uptake by older adults witnessed in the latest surveys of technology use. To help understand the impact of distrust on adoption behavior, we conducted focus groups with older adults exploring how, in what circumstances, and to what effect older adults articulate distrust in digital technologies. Our findings indicate that distrust is not especially relevant to older adults’ practical decision making around technology (non-)use. The older adults in our study used the language of distrust to open up discussions around digital technologies to larger issues related to values. This suggests that looking to distrust as a predictor of non-use (e.g. in Technology Acceptance Model studies) may be uniquely unhelpful in the case of older adults, as it narrows the discussion of technology acceptance and trust to interactional issues, when their use of distrust pertains to much wider concerns. Likewise, technology adoption should not be viewed as indicative of trust or an endorsement of technology acceptability. Older adults using-while-distrusting offers important insights into how to design truly acceptable digital technologies

The Right to Mental Health in the Digital Era

People with mental illness usually experience higher rates of disability and mortality. Often, health care systems do not adequately respond to the burden of mental disorders worldwide. The number of health care providers dealing with mental health care is insufficient in many countries. Equal access to necessary health services should be granted to mentally ill people without any discrimination. E-mental health is expected to enhance the quality of care as well as accessibility, availability and affordability of services. This paper examines under what conditions e-mental health can contribute to realising the right to health by using the avail- ability, accessibility, acceptability and quality (AAAQ) framework that is developed by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Research shows e-mental health facilitates dissemination of information, remote consultation and patient monitoring and might increase access to mental health care. Furthermore, patient participation might increase, and stigma and discrimination might be reduced by the use of e-mental health. However, e-mental health 146 might not increase the access to health care for everyone, such as the digitally illiterate or those who do not have access to the Internet. The affordability of this service, when it is not covered by insurance, can be a barrier to access to this service. In addition, not all e-mental health services are acceptable and of good quality. Policy makers should adopt new legal policies to respond to the present and future developments of modern technologies in health, as well as e-Mental health. To analyse the impact of e-mental health on the right to health, additional research is necessary