DIGITAL OMOTENASHI PROJECT: A TOURISTS’ APPLICATION DESIGN BY A DESIGN THINKING APPROACH

In Tourism, information technology has been a core in creating the features and functions of digital and social innovations. Thus, previous smart tourism studies mainly highlighted technology-driven approach (TDA). To achieve the goals of Smart tourism, however, we need more attention to the Sociotechnical Systems Perspective that embraces technical and social aspects, because currently established design systems and services of TDA are limited to prevent several social vulnerabilities. Therefore, we conducted the Digital Omotenashi project, which deals with foreign tourists’ Japanese restaurant experiences with a design thinking approach. As a result, we synthesised EATJOY as a mobile application for satisfying users’ sociotechnical requirements. Based on our key findings, the contributions of this study are condensed as follows:1) designing tourists’ information systems, consolidating various aspects in technical and social views; 2) rethinking the role of IT application as a communication tool between local staffs and foreign tourists; and 3) providing a positive direction of how users could create key contents in identifying novel and effective solutions in IS design by a design thinking approach

Exploring Capability Governance Model for Sustainable-Smart Tourism Development

There has been an increased initiative to realize smart tourism in the world. However, most attempts have yet to be realized completely. The lack of theoretical discussion and modelling in tourism governance is a major contributing factor. This paper empirically explores the potential of systematic governance in achieving sustainable competitive advantage in smart tourism. We conducted a case study via qualitative interviews with tourism initiators from one of the leading tourism cities in Tokyo, Japan. In the theory building process, we adopted absorptive capacity as the theoretical foundation, and we could synthesize the outcome of our analysis into the proposed framework— Smart tourism dynamic capability governance Model. The model demonstrates how a city could dynamically manage their tourism resource and capabilities in their ecosystem toward sustainable tourism prosperity. Throughout this study, we contribute to the body of knowledge by introducing a successful tourism governance approach to compete with tourism resource rich cities

A Study on Social Overload in SNS: A Perspective of Reactance Theory

After a sizeable growth and propagation of social networking sites (SNS), there has been a decline on its usage. Studies have shown that this decline caused by the overinfluence of SNS on people\u27s life. And people were reacting with a variety of discontinuous behaviors in the service. Prior studies termed this as the SNS fatigue phenomenon and clarified potential factors. However, these studies primarily approached the phenomenon with fatigue as the sole manifest factor. Less attention has been paid on the social features of SNS. In this paper, we view SNS as a social platform; emotion perceived from social features of SNS is an important factor for people to continuously use the service. Based on this view, we employed reactance theory and proposed a reactance model by following two variables; existence of persona non grata and a threat to freedom of usage. Our empirical study on Facebook users (n = 210) revealed that encounter to certain unwelcomed subjects (existence of persona non grata) in the service moderates a social overload. And the social overload acts as a potential antecedent to threat on freedom (trigger of reactance status) to the users of Facebook; ultimately harming the intention for continuation of usage. Implications of research and practice are discussed

Social Overload and Discontinuance Intention on Facebook: A Comparative Study

When users begin to feel uncomfortable about the influence of social network services (SNSs) on their lives, they react with various discontinuance behaviors. This comparative study intends to provide a comprehensive explanation of how the fatigue or regret phenomenon is related to users’ diverse reactions against SNSs. This study attempts to answer two questions: (1) How do specific types of relationships influence social overload from SNS interactions on Facebook? and (2) How does social overload threaten the free usage of services and lead to users’ dissatisfaction with SNSs, and how do these constructs influence users’ intent to discontinue usage of SNSs? To this end, we test a reactance model with Facebook users (n = 433) using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). This study found significant results of the reactance mechanism using samples from two countries, Korea and Japan, which support the generalizability of the reactance mechanism in SNS fatigue. The path of the psychological reactance mechanism in SNSs could differ by country. We also found that reactions toward persona non grata in SNSs differed by country. Our findings suggest that the specific cultural context should be considered when analyzing social overload in SNSs. In previous studies, insufficient attention has been paid to the social features or contexts of SNS. This study proposes a new categorization of relationships in the context of SNSs through the persona non grata concept. As SNSs are social platforms, emotions perceived from the social features of SNSs are an important construct that motivates people to continue using SNSs. Therefore, promoting free activities for users can be an important strategy for maintaining their motivation to use the service. It should be noted that the sample used in this study was slightly unbalanced by the inclusion of a greater proportion of young participants

Social Overload and Discontinuance Intention on Facebook: A Comparative Study

When users begin to feel uncomfortable about the influence of social network services (SNSs) on their lives, they react with various discontinuance behaviors. This comparative study intends to provide a comprehensive explanation of how the fatigue or regret phenomenon is related to users’ diverse reactions against SNSs. This study attempts to answer two questions: (1) How do specific types of relationships influence social overload from SNS interactions on Facebook? and (2) How does social overload threaten the free usage of services and lead to users’ dissatisfaction with SNSs, and how do these constructs influence users’ intent to discontinue usage of SNSs? To this end, we test a reactance model with Facebook users (n = 433) using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). This study found significant results of the reactance mechanism using samples from two countries, Korea and Japan, which support the generalizability of the reactance mechanism in SNS fatigue. The path of the psychological reactance mechanism in SNSs could differ by country. We also found that reactions toward persona non grata in SNSs differed by country. Our findings suggest that the specific cultural context should be considered when analyzing social overload in SNSs. In previous studies, insufficient attention has been paid to the social features or contexts of SNS. This study proposes a new categorization of relationships in the context of SNSs through the persona non grata concept. As SNSs are social platforms, emotions perceived from the social features of SNSs are an important construct that motivates people to continue using SNSs. Therefore, promoting free activities for users can be an important strategy for maintaining their motivation to use the service. It should be noted that the sample used in this study was slightly unbalanced by the inclusion of a greater proportion of young participants

Digital Omotenashi: Toward a Smart Tourism Design Systems

The tourism industry is currently facing many challenges; one of the main challenges is the lack of having smart tourism systems that make use of the recent advances in information and communication technology. Another challenge is designing such smart tourism systems while embracing diversified tourists’ sustainable values of experience (functional values, social values, emotional values, and epistemic values). In light of these challenges, the overall objective of this work is to design a smart tourism experience-centered system that considers social and technical perspectives. The Socio-Technical Systems theory was adopted as a theoretical foundation, and the Design Science Research methodology was used to develop a smart tourism system and a practical design artifact. A case study from the Japanese tourism context was studied by exploring tourists’ sustainable values of experiences and local staffs’ behaviors. The main problem was the dysfunctional communication between local service staffs and foreign tourists during the service process. After identifying the problem and the objectives, a relevant smart tourism system was synthesized and tested as a design artifact. The results of the utility test of the proposed artifact showed its effectiveness and efficiency in facilitating the service process and in creating multi-dimensional values of experience

Developing a Capability Maturity Model for Smart Tourism

There has been an increased initiative to realize smart tourism in the world. Yet, there are un-pioneered challenges for the people who lead and manage smart tourism projects and realize its value in smart tourism (we call them as ‘Smart tourism initiatives’), such as coordinating of tourism complexity, planning and sharing tourism strategy, sustaining tourism projects and innovation. In light of these challenges, the overall objective of this work is to design a holistic capability maturity model for smart tourism governance enabling sustainable tourism innovations via tackling the challenges above. The Dynamic capability theory was adopted as a theoretical lens, and the Design science research methodology was introduced to develop a new capability maturity governance model as a design artifact. And We could synthesize findings from iterations of the design research cycle based on the IT Capability Maturity Model. The results of the study propose a potential capability maturity model that supports effective communication and strategic alignment for the initiatives with illuminating future paths with evaluation methods on tourism capabilities for the initiatives. Throughout this study, we contribute to the body of knowledge as well as practice by proposing a new tourism capability governance model

Stable generation of multiple chemical gradients using in-situ formed nanoporous membranes

We developed a gradient generator of multiple chemicals using self-assembled particles in microchannels. The porous membranes based on the assembled particles allow the stable gradient generation without any convection flow disturbance and leakage. Moreover, they are more robust in dry environment and have long-term storage potential compared to hydrogel based membranes. Dynamic spatial control and the parallel preferential chemotaxis assay of salmonella typhimurium were successfully demonstrated. Our proposed devices are expected to be utilized for mimicking the real microenvironment for cells and various drug screening

Charge breeding experiment of stable ion beams in EBIS charge breeder for RAON facility

The Electron Beam Ion Source (EBIS) charge breeder is used to produce highly charged ions in the Isotope Separation On-Line (ISOL) system of the Rare isotope Accelerator complex for ON-line experiments (RAON). Beam tests of the EBIS are performed using stable Cs and Sn ion beams. Cs-133(1+) ions from a test ion source were injected into the EBIS to measure the breeding effect with the electron beam. The resulting relative abundance of Cs-133(27+) was 25.0%, and the extraction energy was 49.3 keV/q. A charge breeding test of the Sn-120 ions from the Target Ion Source (TIS) of the ISOL system was also carried out. The charge fraction of Sn-120(24+) was 23.0%, and the energy was 50 keV/q. These results fulfilled the input beam condition of the RFQ accelerator (A/q < 6 and 10 keV/u). Additionally, Cs-133(27+) ions were extracted with a pulse length up to 10 ms (FWHM) by the preliminary pulse-stretching experiment