The SHARC framework:utilizing personal dropbox accounts to provide a scalable solution to the storage and sharing of community generated locative media

The emergence of personal cloud storage services provides a new paradigm for storing and sharing data. In this paper we present the design of the SHARC framework and in particular focus on the utilization of personal Dropbox accounts to provide a scalable solution to the storage and sharing of community generated locative media relating to a community's Cultural Heritage. In addition to scalability issues, the utilization of personal Dropbox storage also supports 'sense of ownership' (relating to community media) which has arisen as an important requirement during our on-going 'research-in-the-wild' working with the rural village community of Wray and involving public display deployments to support the display and sharing of community photos and stories. While the framework presented here is currently being tested with a particular place-based community (Wray), it has been designed to provide a general solution that should support other place-based communities

Mediating boundaries between knowledge and knowing: ICT and R4D praxis

Research for development (R4D) praxis (theory-informed practical action) can be underpinned by the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) which, it is claimed, provide opportunities for knowledge working and sharing. Such a framing implicitly or explicitly constructs a boundary around knowledge as reified, or commodified – or at least able to be stabilized for a period of time (first order knowledge). In contrast ‘third-generation knowledge’ emphasizes the social nature of learning and knowledge-making; this reframes knowledge as a negotiated social practice, thus constructing a different system boundary. This paper offers critical reflections on the use of a wiki as a data repository and mediating technical platform as part of innovating in R4D praxis. A sustainable social learning process was sought that fostered an emergent community of practice among biophysical and social researchers acting for the first time as R4D co-researchers. Over time the technologically mediated element of the learning system was judged to have failed. This inquiry asks: How can learning system design cultivate learning opportunities and respond to learning challenges in an online environment to support R4D practice? Confining critical reflection to the online learning experience alone ignores the wider context in which knowledge work took place; therefore the institutional setting is also considered

A systematic review of the energy and climate impacts of teleworking

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) increasingly enable employees to work from home and other locations (‘teleworking’). This study explores the extent to which teleworking reduces the need to travel to work and the consequent impacts on economy-wide energy consumption. Methods/Design: The paper provides a systematic review of the current state of knowledge of the energy impacts of teleworking. This includes the energy savings from reduced commuter travel and the indirect impacts on energy consumption associated with changes in non-work travel and home energy consumption. The aim is to identify the conditions under which teleworking leads to a net reduction in economy-wide energy consumption, and the circumstances where benefits may be outweighed by unintended impacts. The paper synthesises the results of 39 empirical studies, identified through a comprehensive search of 9,000 published articles. Review results/Synthesis: Twenty six of the 39 studies suggest that teleworking reduces energy use, and only eight studies suggest that teleworking increases, or has a neutral impact on energy use. However, differences in the methodology, scope and assumptions of the different studies make it difficult to estimate ‘average’ energy savings. The main source of savings is the reduced distance travelled for commuting, potentially with an additional contribution from lower office energy consumption. However, the more rigorous studies that include a wider range of impacts (e.g. non-work travel or home energy use) generally find smaller savings. Discussion: Despite the generally positive verdict on teleworking as an energy-saving practice, there are numerous uncertainties and ambiguities about its actual or potential benefits. These relate to the extent to which teleworking may lead to unpredictable increases in non-work travel and home energy use that may outweigh the gains from reduced work travel. The available evidence suggests that economy-wide energy savings are typically modest, and in many circumstances could be negative or non-existent

Teleworking practice in small and medium-sized firms: Management style and worker autonomy

In an empirical study of teleworking practices amongst small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in West London, organisational factors such as management attitudes, worker autonomy and employment flexibility were found to be more critical than technological provision in facilitating successful implementation. Consequently, we argue that telework in most SMEs appears as a marginal activity performed mainly by managers and specialist mobile workers

‘Our newsroom in the cloud’: Slack, virtual newsrooms and journalistic practice

Virtual newsrooms have enormous potential: enabling journalists around the world to pool their knowledge, skills and perspectives within joint projects, such as the Panama Papers. These virtual newsrooms are supported by Online Collaborative Software (OCS), the most popular of which is Slack. But although many of the world’s top news organisations now use Slack, there is no empirical research examining its impact on workplace processes or culture. This article presents the results of a year-long ethnographic study of a global digital news outlet, whose remote journalists collaborate, almost exclusively, via Slack. We found that the platform deepened relationships and enabled new creative practices across geographic regions. However, it also contributed to the erasure of the line between private and professional spheres for workers, and introduced new opportunities for management to shape newsroom culture. We argue that the concept of ‘space’ as developed by Harvey can helpfully frame the analysis of these new, important digital platforms

Accessibility levels of Portuguese Enterprise websites: Equal opportunities for all?

Artigo revisto disponível online 18 Maio, 2011 (iFirst)Web accessibility is growing in importance as time goes by. Alongside this growth we find an increasing need for access to Web resources by those with some sort of disability. The Web is very important for spreading information and for promoting interaction between the various elements in society. Given this, it is essential that the Web presents itself as a totally accessible resource, so that it can help disabled citizens and their integration in society. This obligation should be even greater for enterprises as primarily the Web is used as a marketing and business platform. With this document we present indicators regarding the [lack of] accessibility levels of Portuguese websites. This article is divided into eight parts containing theoretical and background considerations leading up to two different studies which the research team undertook. In the first study (considering WCAG 1.0) we make a comparison between the 1,000 largest Portuguese enterprises (annual sales volume) and the 1,000 best Portuguese SMEs1 using a specialized software tool. In the second study a group of recommendations towards accessibility are made; these recommendations were achieved through a focus group interaction. We do also, however, present an insight into the WCAG 2.0 influence on existent accessibility levels

Perspectives on urban and rural community informatics: Theory and performance, community informatics and strategies for flexible networking

The word seems to be coming down from Washington these days that it's time to declare victory in the war on the Digital Divide and find new targets for our public policy discussions and interventions. The folks who are saying this are looking at statistics in this country, the United States, that are showing that well over half of all households have access to the Internet, that the proportion of minorities and low-income people who have access to the Internet is increasing overall, and that the cost of Internet access including the cost of the computer to enable the access seems to have come down to a level affordable by most. Parallel developments in many other parts of the world are likely. Also in the United States, a rising proportion of minority and lower-income populations using the Internet have relieved some of the early anxiety that existing social inequalities would be aggravated in this new and rapidly expanding sphere. Public authorities are being urged to relax and let the market continue what appears to be the inexorable drive to more or less universal Internet access (with all those wanting access having access). This argument leads to an emerging position that there is no need to fund development of local technology projects or for public Internet access through community technology centers, which in other countries would be called telecenters, telekiosks, telepublicos, and so on

Factors guiding therapist decision making in the rehabilitation of physical function after severely disabling stroke – an ethnographic study

Purpose: Whilst strong evidence supports rehabilitation to improve outcomes post-stroke, there is limited evidence to guide rehabilitation in the most severely disabled group. In an era of evidence-based practice, the aim of the study was to understand what factors guide physiotherapists (PTs) and occupational therapists (OTs) to select particular interventions in the rehabilitation of physical function after severely disabling stroke. Material and methods: An ethnographic study was undertaken over an 18-month period involving five London, UK stroke services. Seventy-nine primary participants (30 PTs, 22 OTs, and 27 stroke survivors) were recruited to the study. Over 400 h of observation, 52 semi-structured interviews were conducted. Study data were analysed through thematic analysis. Results: Key factors guiding therapist decision making were clinical expertise, professional role, stroke survivors’ clinical presentation, therapist perspectives about stroke recovery, and clinical guidelines. Research evidence, stroke survivors’ treatment preferences, organisational type, and pathway design were less influential factors. Therapy practice did not always address the physical needs of severely disabled stroke survivors. Conclusions: Multiple factors guided therapist decision making after severely disabling stroke. Alternative ways of therapist working should be considered to address the physical needs of severely disabled stroke survivors more fully.</p