Interacting with technology in an ever more complex World: Designing for an all-inclusive society

In a recent study we undertook we analyzed a relatively simple day-to-day technology namely the use of automatic teller machines (ATMs) by older adults. Our results alert to the fact that for an aging population Worldwide, even seemingly simple technological products (such as ATMs) have to be in future more carefully designed to be all-inclusive (e.g. intuitively usable by all) so that individuals do not feel marginalized by financially-oriented [as well as other] technology. This will enable obvious immediate benefits for people, including increased productivity, quality of life and independence. Recent studies have proven that belonging to social groups and networks – in sum, feeling included through one’s relationships in society – can be just as important for one’s health as diet and exercise – social isolation can be a health hazard comparable to that of smoking, high blood pressure and obesity (Jetten et al. 2009). Computers and technology, on the other hand, are to become ever more present in society (Challenger 2009). We thus believe that steps have to be taken to prevent the elderly and other groups with limitations from feeling disconnected in an increasingly technological World. Otherwise we will incur hidden costs at a growing rate (U.S. Census Bureau)

When Cost-Efficient Technologies Meet Politics: A Case Study of Radical Wireless Network Implementation

Cost efficiency has been a dominant perspective in the traditional IT literature. However, in complex technology and business environment, the widely recognized cost efficient assumption of information technology has been increasingly challenged. Drawing from a case study of wireless network implementation situated in a politically sensitive workplace, this paper provided practice insights for IT managers in today’s networked economy. More specifically, stories experienced in the case study illustrated that despite well-calculated cost efficiency of wireless network infrastructure, the radical implementation process in the case organization encountered enormous challenges and opposition due to the fact that administrators failed to consider various stakeholders’ positions and interests. Eventually, the implementation objectives and outcome were considerably undermined. Implications from this empirical case research reemphasized the significance of understanding political forces situated in any business environment where different stakeholders hold conflicting interests. Lessons learned from the case story further encouraged IT managers and policy makers to better strategize emerging information technology in general and wireless networks in particular as the whole global society and business environment are increasingly facing an emerging wireless world

A Social Shopping Model Proposal

Social shopping allows potential buyers to obtain information and opinions issued by other buyers with similar profiles, on products and services they are planning to acquire. On another hand, under companies’ point of view, social shopping offers them a way to analyze the market and detect consumers’ tendencies. In the present article we propose a model that expands the models of current social shopping by adding the possibility of the community to procede to self determination of the products and services basket, by determining what they want to buy, and in some occasions, when. This way, instead of allowing a brand or product to create in the community users the need or will to buy, it is the community itself, through social networks, to self-influence in the sense of defining what are the products and services they want to be marketed and in what way, thus obtaining better prices and reaffirming its identity

A proposal to delegate GUI implementation using a source code based model

In this paper we propose an architecture whose main goal is to improve productivity in user interface development for data-intensive applications. This objective is to be achieved by defining a high level model that describes the user interface structure. That model will be integrated in the source code through non-functional language extensions. Our final goal is allowing developers to define user interface model by adding language extensions to the source code and then acquiring an external software package to which they delegate the implementation of the concrete user interface

A source code based model to generate GUI: GUI generation based on source code with declarative language extensions

Due to data-driven application nature and its increasing complexity, developing its user interface can be a repetitive and time-consuming activity. Consequently, developers tend to focus more on the user interface aspects and less on business related code. In this paper, we present an alternative approach to graphical user interface development for data-driven applications, where the key concept is the generation of concrete graphical user interface from a source code based model. The model includes the original source code metadata and non-intrusive declarative language extensions that describes the user interface structure. Some Object Relational Mapping tools already use a similar concept to handle interoperability between the data layer and the business layer. Our approach applies the same concept to handle business and presentation layer interoperability. Also, concrete user interface implementation will be delegated to specialized software packages, developed by external entities, that provide complete graphical user interfaces services to the application. When applying our approach, we expect faster graphical user interface development, allowing developers to refocus on the source code and concentrate their efforts on application core logic

GUI generation based on language extensions: a model to generate GUI, based on source code with custom attributes

Due to data-driven application nature and its increasing complexity, developing its user interface can be a repetitive and time-consuming activity. Consequently, developers tend to focus more on the user interface aspects and less on business related code. In this paper, we’re presenting an alternative approach to graphical user interface development for data-driven applications, that allows developers to refocus on the source code and concentrate their efforts on application core logic. The key concept behind our approach is the generation of concrete graphical user interface from a source code based model, which includes the original source code metadata and non-intrusive declarative language extensions that describes the user interface structure. Concrete user interface implementation will be delegated to specialized software packages, developed by external entities, that provides complete graphical user interfaces services to the application. When applying our approach, we’re expecting faster graphical user interface development

Novos planos e estratégias de divulgação: case study: artes da expansão

Este trabalho de projecto tem como objectivo a criação de um plano de comunicação para o lançamento de um portal on-line para aceder a colecções temáticas relacionadas com a expansão portuguesa entre o século XV e o século XVIII, cujaanálise e inventariação surge-nos integrada no projecto “Portugal e as Artes da Expansão, séculos XV a XVIII”, fruto de uma parceria entre o Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga, o Centro de Históriade Além-Mar (FCSH-UNL) e a Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia. Incluído numa nova abordagem ligada a renovadas estratégias de divulgação, a concepção de planos de comunicação adequados a base de dados ligadas ao campo da investigação em história da arte, tem como objectivo alertar consciências para a importância crescente do património móvel fomentando o seu estudo e conservação através da utilização de ferramentas práticas. Tratando-se de um plano para um objecto teórico, não podemos, de momento, chegar a conclusões verdadeiramente conclusivas mas podemos estabelecer certos parâmetros de actuação futura deste trabalho tais como atingir os objectivos propostos.This projects main goal is the creation of a communication plan conceived to the launch of portal of a online database related to art objects produced as a result of the Portuguese maritime expansion between the 15 th and the 18 th centuries. This database belong to the project “Portugal e as Artes da Expansão, séculos XV a XVIII” which is the result of a partnership between the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga, the Centro de História de Além-Mar (FCSH-UNL) and the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia. Included in a new approach related to recent communication strategies, the conception of these communication plans especially to art database is intended to raise public awareness and bring consciousness to the growing importance of mobile heritage by promoting the study and conservation through the use of practical tools. In the case of a plan for a theoretical subject, wecannot currently reach truly conclusive findings but we can establish certain parameters for future action, such as this work, to achieve their objectives

Constrangimentos associados à evolução do negócio electrónico em Portugal

O Negócio Electrónico é uma realidade nesta nova economia apelidada de Economia Digital, no entanto associada a esta nova forma de fazer negócios poderão também existir constrangimentos. Este artigo pretende identificar a maturidade do negócio electrónico das grandes empresas com actividade em Portugal. É objectivo deste estudo também testar um conjunto de hipóteses relacionadas quer com a maturidade quer com os próprios constrangimentos, nomeadamente se a maturidade do negócio electrónico e os constrangimentos são iguais para os vários sectores de actividade e se dependem do número de colaboradores

E-Business maturity and information technology in Portuguese SMEs

The latest technological advances made over recent times led to a profound market change, characterized by increased competition. In order to be competitive, organizations have been forced to adapt themselves to this new reality, seeking innovative solutions permitting them to achieve lower costs, greater productivity and differentiation from competition. This work focuses the e-business maturity stages of Portuguese small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Our goal is to identify in which e-business maturity stage they are and explore the relationship between their e-business maturity and the technology they use. forced to adapt themselves to this new reality, seeking innovative solutions permitting them to achieve lower costs, greater productivity and differentiation from competition. This work focuses the e-business maturity stages of Portuguese small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Our goal is to identify in which e-business maturity stage they are and explore the relationship between their e-business maturity and the technology they use

Adequabilidade dos modelos de maturidade do negócio electrónico à economia digital

As empresas hoje vivem num contexto de ciclos económicos em que existe uma competitividade crescente e ciclos de vida mais curtos para os produtos e serviços, exigindo como tal um conhecimento profundo dos clientes e fornecedores. O negócio electrónico é uma forma de estruturar todos os processos da organização suportada em Tecnologias de Informação e Comunicação (TIC) que permitem uma ligação directa com os clientes, parceiros do negócio, colaboradores e a sua própria gestão. Este artigo pretende ser uma reflexão sobre se os modelos de maturidade do negócio electrónico estarão adequados à nova realidade do negócio electrónico, no qual as redes sociais o estão a transformar num “negócio social”