The Limits of Being Transgendered

Society’s construction of what is acceptable and what is the norm excludes those struggling with the issue of gender identity. Stigmatization of the trans-community has led to a number of issues that have ostracized this group of individuals and created a divide within society. Judgments, misconduct, and assumptions about transgendered and transsexual individuals come as a result of a lack of awareness and knowledge regarding this misrepresented group of people. The unfortunate truth of the matter is that there is no quick fix to the issue at hand. Educating society, changes in policy and the practicing of social acceptance is a slow, yet necessary beginning in the process towards equality and justice for all

Trust in smart energy meters: The role of perceived values

© IEOM Society International. A smart energy meter is one of the smart city applications that record, monitor, control, analyze, and predict in-house energy consumption. Although smart energy meters have great capabilities, this technology is still in very early stages in many developing countries, and little is known about users\u27 trust in this technology and what perceived values are associated with trust fromusers\u27 perspectives. Therefore, this research aimed to fill this gap by examining the influence of four different types of perceived values on residents\u27 trust in smart meters in UAE. By following a quantitative approach, 266 survey responses were tested by using Structural Equation Modeling-Partial Least Squares. The statistical results genuinely indicated that perceived epistemic values significantly impact emotional values, monetary values and convenience values, and that emotional values, monetary value and convenience values significantly influence users\u27 trust in smart energy meters. In addition, the three perceived values of monetary, emotional and convenience also play a significant mediating role between perceived epistemic values and trust in smart energy meters. Theoretical and practical implications are indicated, and directions of future research are specified afterwards

A Job Killer or a Job Creator? The Adoption of AI in Organizations

Organiations use Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and solutions to acheive operational and strategic objectives. As a result, AI could replace human labor in some jobs, but could also create new jobs and positions for other labor. However, there is lack of studies about the impact of AI in replacing existing jods or creaing new ones on the organizational intention to adopt AI. Therefore, this study aimed at a better understanding about the impact of AI on organizations, and how the availablity of AI tools and associated risks could affect the organizational adoption of AI, by developing and validating a conceptual model of intention to adopt AI in organization in a developing country; the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A quantitative method was followed by gathering 266 online survey responses from IT professionals at telecom, banks and IT companies, to test the model through Partial Least Squares-Structural equation modelling approach. The findings revealed that AI availability, perceived risk controls, ‘AI ability to replace current job positions’, and ‘AI ability to create new jobs’ significantly impact the organizational intention to adopt AI technologies to support business processes in UAE. The research also provides theoretical contributions to the literature through the validating research model and practical implications to organization’s senior managers and technology officers and suggests some future research directions

Exploring the integration of CDIO, crowdsourcing and gamification into information security courses

© 2019 WIETE. With the integration of technology into our lives and the availability of on-line sources, traditional teachingmethods have been under scrutiny. Specifically, information security courses pose a challenge, because learningtheory is not sufficient. These courses require students to develop hands-on skills and the use of tools that mightcause serious damage if improperly used. The work reported here was to design and deliver a security course followingCDIO (conceive, design, implement and operate) methodology. The course culminates in a capture the flag competitionin a gamified crowdsourced way. The courses ran for three semesters and a survey was administered to gaugestudent satisfaction, perceived enjoyment and attitude (Likert scale questionnaire). The overwhelming majority of respondents, 71.4%, had positive feelings towards the courses; felt they made it easier to learn; found the laboratory experimentsenjoyable and would consider enrolling in a similar course in the future. More interestingly, the majority reportedthe courses helped develop their collaboration (75.4%), communication and interpersonal skills (72.2%)

Developing and Validating a Model of Intention to Use a Smart Energy Metering System

Smart energy meters are intelligent devices that can read, manage and control the consumption of electricity resources automatically and in real time. Despite its potential in many developed countries (such as North American, Italy, Sweden, China, Hong Kong, Japan and others), smart meters are currently experiencing low adoption rates in many developing countries in the Middle East. Also, a little is known about the users’ intention to use smart meters in those countries, and what influence their decision to adopt them. Thus, this study aimed at developing and validating a conceptual model of intention to use smart meters from users’ perspectives in a developing country, the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A quantitative method was followed in order to statistically validate the proposed model, by gathering 266 online survey responses, and testing the data through a multiple regression model by using SEM-PLS approach. The results revealed that perceived cost, awareness of smart meters, perceived values and trust significantly impact users’ intention to use smart meters in the UAE. Finally, the research provides theoretical contributions to the literature and practical implications to energy entities and practitioners, and also suggests some future research directions

Students’ acceptance of CDIO as a crowdsourcing and gamification methodology in IT classrooms: A multiple regression model

© WIETE 2019 Crowdsourcing, gamification, and the conceive - design - implement - operate (CDIO) framework provide innovative techniques for educating the next generation of engineers. The CDIO method was implemented for an ethical hacking course where students face challenges such as inadequacy of theoretical coverage, and the ramification of the improper use of hacking tools. The study outcomes are suggestions for, and testing of, work designs, as well as the delivery of security courses with CDIO methodology. The courses ran for three semesters and 141 students were surveyed. The data were analysed through structural equation modelling-partial least squares (SEM-PLS) multiple regression analysis. Examined were perceptions and experiences of the CDIO method, and how student attitudes to CDIO could be affected by factors that include enjoyment, interpersonal and technical skills. The relationship between these constructs and how they are influenced was also examined. The conclusions present theoretical and practical implications for researchers and teachers. Specified are research limitations and future work

The impact of CDIO\u27s dimensions and values on IT Learner\u27s attitude and behavior: A regression model using Partial Least Squares

CDIO (Conceiving-Designing-Implementing-Operating), crowdsourcing and gamification are gaining more popularity in IT education. However, factors that influence learners\u27 attitude toward this method are yet to be discovered. Therefore, this study aims to develop and test a conceptual model of implementing CDIO-based curriculum in IT education. For this purpose, CDIO dimensions were conceptualized and developed into questionnaire items. Then 141 students who experienced the CDIO method in information security course and lab, were sampled through action-research approach to investigate their perceptions and experiences about the learning stages, dimensions and values of this teaching method. Data gathered were analyzed by multiple regression algorithm using Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) statistical approach. The results reveal that the ‘mastery of the concept’, ‘implement and operate’, ‘perceived values’, ‘demonstration and resources’, and ‘admin’ could significantly (in direct and indirect paths) affect learner\u27s intention to accept the CDIO method and adopt it in IT classes. Finally, implications to theory and practice were indicated, and future research directions were suggested

Understanding users’ acceptance of smart homes

© 2019 Elsevier Ltd Smart homes allow owners to monitor and control wide range of home appliances remotely and intelligently. Despite its potential, the acceptance of smart homes by residents is still far from expectations. Thus, this study aims to investigate the factors that influence residents’ acceptance and usage of smart home. By extending the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), this research incorporates more factors related to users such as trust, awareness, enjoyment, and perceived risks to study intention to use smart homes and investigate their impact quantitatively by using SEM-PLS approach. Results show that trust, awareness, enjoyment, and perceived risks, with perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use significantly influence attitude towards smart homes which, in turn, impact the intention to use smart homes

The intercorrelations among risk factors and trust dimensions in S-commerce: An empirical investigation from the user experience

With the increase in social media users, businesses are trying to benefit from the popularity and reachability of such platforms by introducing a new channel for promoting and selling their products. This study surveyed 267 social commerce consumers in the UAE to understand the impact of the perceived risks on users\u27 trust, which is known to impact customers\u27 purchase intention. Structural equation modeling and factor analysis were applied. The results highlighted the importance of security risks as statistically significant influencers of the users\u27 trust. On the other hand, financial and time risks were insignificant. The study has both practical and theoretical implications discussed in the paper