Does Mobile Technology Matter? A Student Centric Perspective

Based on a student-centric perspective, this study seeks to understand how mobile technology influences students’ learning experiences. Our research motivation is driven by the increasing attention paid to mobile technology in the research and business community. Set in a public university setting, our investigation seeks to shed light on how teaching and learning could be reshaped by mobile technology, most specifically, emerging tablet PCs. The findings, based on two MIS (Management Information Systems) courses, one graduate and the other undergraduate, suggest that overall students perceived the mobility of tablet PC positively. In addition, graduate students expressed a higher degree of learning satisfaction and greater expectation of future technology usage than undergraduate students. Indeed, mobile technology seems to matter to students’ learning in general. The finding is particularly relevant when considering how to incorporate mobile technology into teaching practice as such technology-driven teaching practice is increasingly being expected in the contemporary networked society. Additional insights for managers, technology vendors, and college instructors are also discussed

On the Value of Mobile Business Processes: Evidence from Sweden and the Netherlands

Identifying and assessing the benefits of mobile technology in a business context is often problematic. In this paper we start from the position that the benefits of mobile technology are hard to quantify in isolation, and that the unit of analysis to identify value should be the business process. An exploratory case study approach is used to identify the benefits of mobile technology at the level of the business process. We describe two cases from Sweden (vehicle dispatching and timber supply chain management) and one case from the Netherlands (mobile parking). We then illustrate how benefits of mobile technology are contingent to the difficulty of coordinating mobile actors. Next, the value of mobility is contingent to the costs of not being able to coordinate during the period that the actors are difficult to reach. Finally, we assert that it is also related to the costs of available substitutes for mobile technology in a business process.Mobile Technology; Information Systems; Technology Benefits; Exploratory Study; Business Processes

Why to use mobile technology?

No holistic portrayal exists to map and discuss values deriving from mobile technology use. This empirical paper addresses this gap. To address research purpose adapted grounded theory approach is applied to collect and analyse in-depth interviews with twenty-eight SME managers. This study concludes that mobile technology represents novel and unique category of technology. Whether MT is a simple mean to advanced communication with no physical boundaries of time and location or a business tool to boost creative thinking, this study concludes that MT is different to fixed network and stationary desktop IT because of its core distinctive feature, being mobile. True nature of MT lies in seeing MT as a source of value that derives from using MT. Ultimately by mapping distinctive to MT values and factors that form these values this study endeavors to transform business practitioners’ view of mobile technology as purely technically MT to strategic tool that drives new ways in exploiting ubiquitous technology

Mobile ad hoc network testbed using mobile robot technology

MANET (Mobile Ad Hoc Network) researchers have shown increased interest in using mobile robot technology for their testbed platforms. Thus, the main motivation of this paper is to review various robot-based MANET testbeds that have been developed in previously reported research. Additionally, suggestions to heighten mobility mechanisms by using mobile robots to be more practical, easy and inexpensive are also included in this paper, as we unveils ToMRobot, a low-cost MANET robot created from an ordinary remote control car that is capable of performing a real system MANET testbed with the addition of only a few low-cost electronic components. Despite greatly reduced costs, the ToMRobot does not sacrifice any of the necessary MANET basic structures and will still be easily customizable and upgradeable through the use of open hardware technology like Cubieboard2 and Arduino, as its robot controller. This paper will also include guidelines to enable technically limited MANET researchers to design and develop the ToMRobot. It is hoped that this paper achieves its two pronged objectives namely (i) to facilitate other MANET researchers by providing them with a source of reference that eases their decision making for selecting the best and most suitable MANET mobile robots for real mobility in their MANET testbeds (ii) to provide MANET researchers with a prospect of building their own MANET robots that can be applied in their own MANET testbed in the future

Mobile support in CSCW applications and groupware development frameworks

Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) is an established subset of the field of Human Computer Interaction that deals with the how people use computing technology to enhance group interaction and collaboration. Mobile CSCW has emerged as a result of the progression from personal desktop computing to the mobile device platforms that are ubiquitous today. CSCW aims to not only connect people and facilitate communication through using computers; it aims to provide conceptual models coupled with technology to manage, mediate, and assist collaborative processes. Mobile CSCW research looks to fulfil these aims through the adoption of mobile technology and consideration for the mobile user. Facilitating collaboration using mobile devices brings new challenges. Some of these challenges are inherent to the nature of the device hardware, while others focus on the understanding of how to engineer software to maximize effectiveness for the end-users. This paper reviews seminal and state-of-the-art cooperative software applications and development frameworks, and their support for mobile devices

Global Trends in Mobile Technology and Their Impact on Your Library

Contrary to the impression of many Americans, some less technologically developed countries are more actively using mobile technology than we are. As mobile technology is exploding in both our personal and professional lives, this is impacting our libraries and our users as they reach out to us with their mobile devices. This article will examine some of these trends and discuss ways that libraries can begin to institute mobile services even if they do not have a lot of funds or technical expertise. Results of a survey of how ACL libraries are using mobile services in their libraries are discussed

Extending Knowledge Management to Mobile Workplaces

Knowledge and Knowledge Management (KM) are evolving into an increasingly eminent source of competitive advantage. However,for the time being, the potential of KM is usually limited to stationary workplaces. This excludes a multiplicity of mobile workers, many of them in charge of knowledge-intensive activities.This paper examines the capabilities and limitations of mobile technology usage in order to support KM. After a general overview of KM, the relevant mobile technology is introduced.Subsequently, the theory of mobile added values is employed to analyze the contributions of mobile technology for supporting KM in the different phases of the KM process. Especially the process of knowledge distribution is qualified to be supported through mobile technology.Knowledge Management; Mobile Commerce; Mobile Knowledge; Management; Mobile Business Processes; Mobile Added Values