E-money and e-commerce two alternatives views of future innovations

Electronic commerce ; Payment systems

[Letter], 1853, Nov. 10, West Sutton, Mass., Mary E. Gould [to] Alan Cameron

A personal correspondence written to Allen Cameron from Mary E. Gould, West Sutton, Massachusetts relating her views on religion and personal conduct of the day, among others. One entry: dated November 10, 1853. Handwritten; Single page, double-sided; 25 x 20cm

E-cigarettes, a safer alternative for teenagers? A UK focus group study of teenagers' views

Objective: Concerns exist that e-cigarettes may be a gateway to traditional cigarettes and/or (re)normalise teenage smoking. This qualitative study explores how teenagers in the UK currently perceive e-cigarettes and how and why they do or do not use them. Design: 16 focus groups were conducted across the UK between November 2014 and February 2015, with 83 teenagers aged 14–17. All discussions were digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim, imported into NVivo 10 and thematically analysed. Results: Teenagers generally agreed that e-cigarettes are useful products for smokers, including teenage smokers, to quit or reduce traditional cigarette use. Concerns were expressed about lack of information on their precise ingredients and any unknown risks for users and bystanders. However, teenagers typically viewed e-cigarettes as substantially less harmful than traditional cigarettes. They perceived e-cigarettes as attractive, with products described as ‘fun’ and having ‘great flavourings’. Seeing websites or social media featuring e-cigarettes, especially YouTube ‘vaping tricks’, prompted some experimentation and imitation. E-cigarettes were used in a variety of situations, including at parties or when they could not smoke traditional cigarettes. A very few participants suggested covert use was a possibility and that e-cigarettes might help maintain a fledgling nicotine habit. Conclusions: Teenagers support the use of e-cigarettes as smoking cessation aids for established adult smokers. However, they engage with these products differently from adults, with the novel hypothesis that covert use could potentially reinforce traditional cigarette smoking requiring further investigation. Policy responses should more clearly meet the needs of young people, as well as helping established adult smokers

Supporting Sustainable e-learning: A UK National Forum

This article outlines the progress of a national Supporting Sustainable eLearning Forum, funded by the UK Learning and Teaching Support Network Generic Centre. The aim of the forum was to move e-learning on from project innovation to embedded practice, and address questions around the scaleable nature of e-learning. Assimilated views of a wide range of support staff are presented. These include ideas on how to devise strategies for supporting Higher Education lecturers in the design, development and implementation of online courses; disseminate good practice in supporting sustainable approaches to eLearning; and contribute to the ongoing debate in the sharing and reuse of e-learning resources

Paintings and their implicit presuppositions : a preliminary report

In a series of earlier papers (Social Science Working Papers 350, 355. 357) we have studied the ways in which differences in "implicit presupposi tions" (i. e •• differences in world views) cause scientists and historians to reach differing conclusions from a consideration of the same evidence. In this paper we show that paintings are characterized by implicit presuppositions similar to those that characterize the written materials -- essays, letters, scientific papers -- we have already studied

Library purchasing consortia in the UK: activity and practice

This Briefing is based on a survey undertaken for a BLRIC/LIC-funded research project (RIC/G/403). It describes the models of operation of purchasing consortia in four library sectors (further education, health, higher education and public libraries) and their expenditure patterns. It discusses present and future savings deriving from consortial activity and closes by predicting future activity. A list of active consortia is provided. The views expressed are those of the authors, not of BLRIC or LIC. The full report is available from CPI Ltd (e-mail [email protected] quoting ISBN 1 898869 56 1)

Philosophers’ Views on the Use of Non-Essay Assessment Methods: Discussion of an E-Mail Survey

This paper presents and discusses the results of an email survey which asked participants to share their views on the efficacy of multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, or matching questions as evaluation methods in philosophy courses. First, the structure of the survey and its contents are explained. Next, responses are broken down along the lines of student responses and teacher responses. In both cases, there was significant disagreement among respondents, though there were notable patterns emerged. Student arguments in favor of non-essay assessment emphasized the expedience; arguments against emphasized the inadequacy of such evaluation methods to the nuances of philosophical material. Teacher responses echoed student responses but included considerations of fairness, ambiguity in student answers, student motivation, and justifications for non-essay assessment in specific contexts. Finally, the author discusses respondents’ opinions on whether philosophy departments should ban non-essay questions. The author concludes by suggesting that the results of this survey merit attention as an indication of how widespread the difficulties of non-essay assessment are and as an indication of the diversity of views on the subject

'Maybe they should regulate them quite strictly until they know the true dangers': A focus group study exploring UK adolescents’ views on e-cigarette regulation

Background and aims: Regulation of electronic cigarettes has moved to the top of the addiction policy agenda, as demonstrated by the recent focus across the UK on introducing age of sale restrictions. Yet, the views of those affected by such regulation remain largely unexplored. This paper presents the first detailed qualitative exploration of adolescents’ perceptions of existing, and opinions about potential, e-cigarette regulation. Methods: 16 focus groups, including a total of 83 teenagers between the ages of 14 and 17, were conducted in deprived, mixed and affluent urban areas in Scotland and England between November 2014 and February 2015. Transcripts were imported into Nivivo 10, thematically coded and analysed. Results: Participants critically considered existing evidence and competing interests in regulatory debates and demonstrated sophisticated understandings of the advantages and disadvantages of regulation. They overwhelmingly supported strong e-cigarette regulation and endorsed restrictions on sales to minors, marketing and e-cigarette use in public places. Concern about potential health harms of e-cigarette use and marketing increasing the acceptability of vaping and smoking led these adolescents to support regulation. Conclusions: In focus group discussions, a sample of UK adolescents exposed to particular communications about e-cigarettes supported strict regulation of e-cigarettes, including banning sales to minors and use in indoor public areas

User-centered healthcare IT: meaningful or meaningless?

This panel aims to discuss concepts, assumptions and visions of user- centered information technology for healthcare. It presents two opposite views on the subject. The discussion is informed by findings of three research projects evaluating the implementation of e-prescribing systems, electronic transmission of prescriptions, and electronic health records in the UK. The timeliness and perhaps urgency of such a debate are due to the incessantly increasing worldwide computerization of healthcare, concurrent to an ambiguity of the effect of IT on care processes, outcomes and user satisfaction

Exploring perceptions and attitudes towards teaching and learning manual technical drawing in a digital age

This paper examines the place of manual technical drawing in the 21st century by discussing the perceived value and relevance of teaching school students how to draw using traditional instruments, in a world of computer aided drafting (CAD). Views were obtained through an e-survey, questionnaires and structured interviews. The sample groups represent professional CAD users (e.g. engineers, architects); university lecturers; Technology Education teachers and student teachers; and school students taking Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA) Graphic Communication courses. An analysis of these personal views and attitudes indicates some common values between the various groups canvassed of what instruction in traditional manual technical drafting contributes towards learning. Themes emerge such as problem solving, visualisation, accuracy, co-ordination, use of standard conventions, personal discipline and artistry. In contrast to the assumptions of Prensky's thesis (2001a&b) of digital natives, the study reported in this paper indicate that the school students apparently appreciate the experience of traditional drafting. In conclusion, the paper illustrates the perceived value of such learning in terms of transferable skills, personal achievement and enjoyment