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The digital transformation of education is greatly accelerating in various computer-supported applications. As a particularly prominent application of the human-machine interactive system, intelligent learning systems aim to capture users' current intentions and provide recommendations through real-time feedback. However, we have a limited understanding on what is the reality of user feedback for computer-supported adaptive quizzing. This present study proposes formalization for user feedback including engagement and interactions to understand and improve intelligent adaptive quizzing. This work starts by taking individual system's action transition patterns as a temporally evolving action graph and derives patterns in terms of informing future user engagement. Furthermore, considering the student knowledge preference for a certain moment is closely related to personal experience of past learning,a novel framework EICQ (Engagement and Interaction-based Computer-Supported Adaptive Quizzing) is proposed for learning and adapting to students' current preference based on engagement trends and interaction by collecting feedback data in real-time during a learning session. This established framework captures question characters, student dynamic interactions and engagement trends, which yield a better learning experience with adaptive practice question (PQ) recommendations. Finally, much more endeavors have been made to integrate the proposed EICQ into XXXU intelligent learning systems that are co-developed with the YYY Company. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

User experience can change with time, and achieving a positive long-term user experience is an important goal in a successful product design. The long-term user experience of the interactive loading screen in Honor of Kings was studied by using two evaluation methods, UX Curve and QUIS questionnaire. The experiment included valid responses from a total of 23 participants. The results show that an interactive human-computer interface can achieve a good long-term waiting experience. It is also necessary to make changes to the UI or functions of the interactive screen after a period of time to ensure a good user experience. A toolbox including the QUIS questionnaire and UX Curve was proven effective in measuring the temporal aspects of user experience of the computer interface. The findings obtained in the experiments help understand the long-term user experience of human-computer interfaces. They may also provide a reference for developing different long-term user experience evaluation methods in different product contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conflicts between young immigrants and older native populations are widely recognized as a challenge in different parts of the world. In the European context, the following paper focuses on presenting the research results of a community-based project entitled "ICT Guides" conducted in Gothenburg (Sweden), Sheffield (the United Kingdom), Madrid (Spain), and Berlin (Germany), in which we investigated the features and functions of the intergenerational learning of immigrant youth and unrelated seniors using ICT tools. We claim that both groups perceive intergenerational learning with the use of ICT as a chance to get to know the other group despite the age and cultural differences. Through the use of ICT tools in intergenerational learning, digital tools can help those who lack a good command of language when communication problems occur. ICT facilitates mutual understanding and contributes to breaking down the polarization that can occur between immigrant youths and unrelated seniors, to the mutual benefit of both parties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cursors, avatars, virtual hands or tools, and other rendered graphical objects, enable users to interact with computers such as PCs, game consoles or virtual reality systems. We analyze the role of these various objects from a user perspective under the unifying concept of "User Representations". These representations are virtual objects that artificially extend the users' physical bodies, enabling them to manipulate the virtual environment by performing motor actions that are continuously mapped to their User Representations. In this paper, we identify a set of concepts that are relevant for different User Representations, and provide a multidisciplinary review of the multisensory and cognitive factors underlying the control and subjective experience of User Representations. These concepts include visual appearance, multimodal feedback, sense of agency, input methods, peripersonal space, visual perspective, and body ownership. We further suggest a research agenda for these concepts, which can lead the human-computer interaction community towards a wider perspective of how users perceive and interact through their User Representations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of using a document holder while typing on head excursion and neck muscle activity among computer users with and without neck pain. Method. An experimental study including 52 individuals with (n = 26) and without (n = 26) neck pain was conducted. Head excursion and neck muscle activity were measured using an accelerometer and surface electromyography, respectively. Two-way analysis of variance was conducted to examine the effects of using a document holder between computer users with and without neck pain. Results. The results demonstrated a decrease in head excursion (p < 0.001) and muscle activity of both the right and left upper trapezius and the left lower trapezius and right anterior deltoid (p < 0.05) with the use of a document holder. Computer users with neck pain had significantly (p < 0.001) higher right lower trapezius muscle activity compared to the group without neck pain. Conclusion. The results of the study supported the use of a document holder to assist in decreasing head excursion and neck muscle activity. The use of a document holder while typing may be beneficial in preventing repetitive strain injuries among computer users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Online whistle-blowing reporting systems (WBRS) have become increasingly prevalent channels for reporting organizational failures. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act and similar international laws now require firms to establish whistle-blowing (WB) procedures and WBRSs, increasing the importance of WB research and applications. Although the literature has addressed conventional WB behavior, it has not explained or measured the use of WBRSs in online contexts that could significantly alter elements of anonymity, trust, and risk for those using such reporting tools. This study proposes the WBRS model (WBRS-M). Using actual working professionals in an online experiment of hypothetical scenarios, we empirically tested the WBRS-M for reporting computer abuse and find that anonymity, trust, and risk are highly salient in the WBRS context. Our findings suggest that we have an improved WB model with increased explanatory power. Organizations can make WB less of a professional taboo by enhancing WBRS users' perceptions of trust and anonymity. We also demonstrate that anonymity means more than the mere lack of identification, which is not as important in this context as other elements of anonymity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adoption of an organization-wide system, such as an enterprise system (ES), has often been mandated by organizational management, which may not necessarily motivate users to proactively explore the system's features and subsequently apply pertinent features that best support their job tasks. Anchoring on self-determination theory, this research investigates the antecedents and consequences of users' intrinsic motivation to explore ES features. We propose two organizational levers (i.e., autonomous job design and socialization tactics) that the management could exercise to trigger intrinsic motivation, thereby leading to improved ES feature exploration. Intrinsic motivation is manifested by hedonic motivation and normative motivation, whereas ES feature exploration is conceptualized as a dual-dimensional outcome reflected by cognitive behavior (exploratory usage) and positive affect (exploration satisfaction). Through a two-stage survey of 127 organizational users in China, we find general support for our research model. We further observe significant moderating effects of prevention focus on the association between organizational levers and intrinsic motivations. Beyond demonstrating how organizational users respond to different organizational levers, this research examines a broader, enduring challenge, which is to determine how organizational users can be induced to be intrinsically inspired to innovatively harness implemented information systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the rapid rise of mobile-only users, we investigated the digital inclusion process through smartphones. By using Chile as a case study, a country that has strongly promoted mobile connections to address internet access gaps, we compared mobile-only and computer users in different dimensions of the digital inclusion process, including digital skills and differentiated uses of the web. By relying on a face-to-face national representative survey, the results showed that smartphones represent an opportunity to access the internet for those who traditionally lag behind. However mobile-only use does not necessarily lead to a more complete digital inclusion process because it was related to lower levels of skills and less diverse types of uses of the web compared to those people who also use the computer. Also, skills partially mediated the association between access device and types of uses of the web, which suggests that the differences by access device partly occur because people have greater chances to develop skills when accessing the web through computers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The popularity of online learning has made web-based software training materials the primary learning resources adopted by computer users. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of various common representational formats of web-based instructions. The formats included static (textual manual with screenshots) and dynamic (animated demonstration, AD) instructions. The findings suggested that in learner-paced learning with sufficient learning time (a) both narrated and captioned AD formats tended to increase transfer performance; (b) the segmenting principle likely became less important for the static format; and (c) the modality principle likely became less important for the AD format. Implications for determining optimal AD segment length for student engagement and suggestions for possible factors to be included in future research are offered accordingly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the results of a field study which investigated the type of internet fraud known as phishing, focusing on factors which cause people to be more or less susceptible to being deceived in this way. The study participants received a phishing e-mail (electronic mail) message asking for information which they were not supposed to divulge. Four behavioral factors were identified as correlating with a tendency to be duped by the phishing message. Suggestions are provided for antiphishing measures based on this data, centering on computer user education.

Incorporating usability into any Web site creation or redesign is essential. Capturing the perspective of the user makes the site more efficient and effective for the people who will actually be using it. There are a number of usability techniques and several can be incorporated in a study of remote users. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of how the traditional ability techniques of focus groups and formal usability studies can be extended to studies involving off-campus users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continuous growth of e-commerce makes it critical for firms to understand consumers' search behavior so that e-commerce Web sites and the underlying information systems can be designed to better cater to consumers' needs. This paper extends the classic search model to analyze online consumer search behavior. The analytical results suggest how consumers' search depth is influenced by a variety of factors such as search cost, individual consumer difference, and product characteristics. Evidence is provided using clickstream data of online searches and purchases of music CDs, computer hardware, and airline tickets during the period from July 2002 to December 2002 collected by an Internet marketing company, ComScore Inc. Compared with the search depth reported in previous works, this study finds that consumers are searching more intensely before purchasing online. This reflects the evolution of Internet users and the growth of online retail business. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information technology (IT) changes rapidly, seriously challenging IT management. In response, many organizations create a formal group of IT professionals to evaluate emerging IT so they can better cope with its change. A survey based on structured interviews was mailed to a nationwide sample of 1,000 IT organizations. Two hundred forty-six respondents provided data to identify categories of coping mechanisms to handle changing IT. Five categories emerged: Education and Training, Internal Procedures, Vendor Support, Consultant Support, and Endurance. Organizations apply Education and Training more extensively than the others. Thus the research contributes to understanding the means by which organizations cope with rapid IT change. The research also found that organizations with a group dedicated to investigating emerging IT cope more extensively, but not more successfully, than do those without one. Thus the research contributes not only by providing an understanding of how organizations cope with rapid IT change, but also by suggesting the need to achieve more from the group charged with emerging IT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, it has been evident that the analysis of user data and content in online environments allows practitioners to understand how to motivate online community members and keep them frequently involved in the community, and so to manage these communities successfully. In this sense, practitioners should comprehend community members' usage intentions to give a better service and to motivate them. However, different user types engage in such communities, so understanding their diverse needs is also essential for practitioners. In parallel, this article addresses the problem of the different user types existing in online communities, and each of them requires different strategies to be motivated and involved in the community. Thus, unlike previous studies, this study firstly identifies user roles in an online community based on the structural role theory, social network analysis, and community members' contribution behavior. After that, it investigates members' usage intentions based on the technology acceptance model and examines the moderating effect of identified user roles on their usage intentions. The study also guides practitioners to develop motivational strategies to keep each type of member continually satisfied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advertising campaigns with user-generated content (UGC) vary in the extent to which they guide or allow user freedom when creating content. It is possible that providing preexisting content that users must change or edit might shape attitudes toward that content and its source in ways different from those campaigns that give freedom to create content as users see fit. In this study, users created a new advertisement, customized an advertisement, or read an existing advertisement. They then rated their perceptions on interactivity, autonomy, competence, attachment, reactance, source credibility, and product liking. Results indicate that customizers had higher reactance and lower product liking compared to creators, suggesting that a guiding template or other preexisting material can significantly change attitudes despite similar tasks. Advertisers should consider the benefits of campaigns that call for creation versus customization and strongly consider impressions from preexisting content on interactive customizable interfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Virtual try-on apps, through augmented reality technology and facial recognition technology, allow consumers to virtually try products on their own images. In this article, we examine consumers' responses to virtual try-on apps as well as the brand sponsors of these apps. Results from Study 1 demonstrate that when users have high levels of privacy concerns, they tend to generate higher levels of perceived intrusiveness and more negative app attitudes when viewing themselves trying a product in a virtual try-on app (self-viewing) than when viewing professional models wearing the product (other viewing). Results from Study 2 indicate that regardless of users' levels of privacy concerns, giving users controls over the privacy settings reduces their perceived intrusiveness of virtual try-on apps, which in turn leads to more positive app attitudes, positive brand attitudes, and increased purchase intentions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focused on an innovative mobile input device model that integrated ergonomic design principles to create a chord keyboard for use in concert with pointing devices. We conducted usability tests to demonstrate the operating performances of such keyboards using keys with four characters per key. Twelve right-handed subjects between the ages of 20 and 30 years and with no wrist disability participated in the usability tests. We analyzed the resulting data to compare the differences among the means. The results indicated that keyboards with multiple characters per key created some confusion among users but that keys with multiple characters per key nonetheless resulted in better input performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consistent user interfaces across applications are thought to facilitate transfer of learning because a user can draw on existing knowledge when using a new application. But despite the interface consistency guidelines and standards that are based on transfer of learning assumptions, few studies have investigated the effects of interface consistency, especially when a user interacts with multiple applications. The user's knowledge of a computer application is often described as a mental model. This study tested whether the consistency of the user interface across applications affects mental-model development when a user learns and uses multiple applications. One hundred and fourteen participants learned two prototype cooperative work applications in a controlled laboratory setting. Interface consistency across applications was manipulated for two attributes commonly referred to in interface design guidelines: the visual appearance of the display screen and the action language syntax. As hypothesized, inconsistent action language syntax across applications resulted in more user actions to complete tasks. Inconsistent visual appearance, however, resulted in greater accuracy, which was surprising. This study provides support for the consistency guideline for action language syntax, but a distinctive visual appearance rather than a consistent one might help the user form more accurate mental models when initially learning multiple applications. Schema theory is used to explain both the expected and the unexpected results. Implications and promising research directions are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microcomputer users are faced with an increasingly difficult choice problem in the evaluation and selection of software packages. For many reasons, users frequently must rely on expert evaluations of the technical functions and features of packages. This paper explores the extent to which multi-attribute choice models are capable of extracting the information content of performance ratings. Five choice models are applied to the expert ratings of software packages in the following areas: word processing, database management systems, and spreadsheet and financial planning. The evaluations and selections made under each model are compared for each software type, and guidelines are suggested for choosing between choice strategies for software evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports on the effectiveness of end-user computing (EUC) following an end-user training program in a public agency. An end-user training model based on research in EUC, information centers, and end-user training, was used as part of the EUC program. Over a two-year horizon, more than one hundred employees participated in the training program. As a result, approximately 90 application systems were developed with some 40 currently under development. Effectiveness measures resulting from an evaluation by end users and supervisors indicated that the training program and EUC strategy were effective. A 24 percent increase in productivity, a savings of approximately 7.6 hours per week, and a high degree of satisfaction resulted from the EUC program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

User documentation is an important tool for communication. It enhances the value of an application to the user and, in turn, improves user satisfaction. The impact of user documentation is even more considerable since interest in end-user computing is booming. Yet, there are very few practical managerial tools for measuring the quality of user documentation. This article examines two alternative forms of an instrument for measuring user perceptions of the quality of user documentation. The reliability and validity of these instruments are examined. Using a survey of 618 end-users from 44 firms, the author cross validates this instrument, conducts a factor analysis, and assesses the construct validity of the instrument. Furthermore, the reliability and validity of the instrument is assessed by nature and type of application. The results indicate a strong support for the instrument. With these instruments, management can more easily monitor and control the condition of their firm's user documentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the psychometric properties of the short-form measure of user information satisfaction (UIS) proposed by Ives, Olson, and Baroudi [7]. Based on extensive testing, the questionnaire appears to be a reasonably valid and reliable measure. A framework for how this measure can be used to detect and diagnose problems with user satisfaction is presented and illustrated via two case studies. Finally, recommendations and suggestions are made regarding the future use of this and other measures of user information satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of the critical success factor (CSF) method has been suggested by several sources as a means of ensuring the success of an organization. An investigation was performed to determine the existence and nature of CSFS for information centers (IC). Twenty-six CSFS were determined from various sources. The importance of each was rated in a survey of IC managers, and a principal components analysis was performed to indicate the underlying structure. This paper reports the effect on the composite CSFS of the IC variables age, size, and hardware option supported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on the results of research on the use of a group decision support system (GDSS) for idea generation and analysis within a planning and decision laboratory environment. Our experience to date in the use of the idea generation models suggests that the technology does significantly influence the planning process. The automated version of the brainstorming model appears to neutralize many of the group effects that have been responsible for poor performance of group brainstorming in the past. Anonymity is maintained and group members appear to express their true feelings without fear of social disapproval. In addition, the automated idea generation models appear to neutralize the effects of an authority hierarchy in the group. The models allow parallel processing of ideas and prevent one group member from dominating the group discussion. All ideas are automatically recorded in the computer and are stored within the knowledge base for use throughout the planning process. Several factors that inhibit the idea generation process have also been identified. These include the limits imposed on the "world view" of the problem as a result of the size of the computer screen, the unfamiliarity of the keyboard interface as a creative tool for executives, and the limitations of the network for processing multiple, simultaneous file transfers. Data indicate that the benefits of the Electronic Brainstorming process definitely outweigh the problems in the view of the planners. They report high levels of satisfaction with the outcome of planning sessions using the models and the process used to achieve those outcomes. They rated the computer as an important tool for idea generation, and those planners who had used a manual brainstorming model in the past rated the computer brainstorming process as "much better" than manual brainstorming. The study reported in this paper was descriptive in nature and designed to generate hypotheses that will form the basis for... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A common risk among adolescents is sexual solicitation, in which an adolescent is asked to provide sexual information, engage in sexual talk, or in sexual activities. Although scholars increasingly address this topic from an intrapersonal perspective, there is little attention to factors of language use and message content. In two focus group studies, we investigated whether adolescent girls consider themselves capable of assessing whether an online stranger is an adult or a peer, the extent to which adolescent girls actually succeed in making this assessment, the strategies they apply to do so, and the content- and language-related cues focused on. Our findings suggest that most of the adolescent girls are confident in their ability to assess whether the stranger is a peer or an adult with possible sexual intentions. However, we also found that only 43% were able to correctly make this assessment. Most of the adolescents seem to apply the passive strategy of uncertainty reduction: They scan the profile page of the stranger, check contact information, and the profile picture. They may choose to apply the interactive strategy to find out more about the online stranger. Important content-related cues that alarm adolescent girls are: ignoring personal questions, showing an exaggerated amount of interest, acting as a friend, and being sexually oriented. Language cues mentioned related to word usage, abbreviations, sentence length, and tone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is aimed at investigating the quality of workplace ergonomics at various Pakistani organizations and quality of life of computer users working in these organizations. Two hundred and thirty-five computer users (only those employees who have to do most of their job tasks on computer or laptop, and at their office) responded by filling the questionnaire covering questions on workplace ergonomics and quality of life. Findings of the study revealed the ergonomics at those organizations was poor and unfavourable. The quality of life (both physical and mental health of the employees) of respondents was poor for employees who had unfavourable ergonomic environment. The findings thus highlight an important issue prevalent at Pakistani work settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most of the current computer systems authenticate a user’s identity only at the point of entry to the system (i.e., login). However, an effective authentication system includes continuous or frequent monitoring of the identity of a user already logged into a system to ensure the validity of the identity of the user throughout a session. Such a system is called a “continuous or active authentication system.” An authentication system equipped with such a security mechanism protects the system against certain attacks including session hijacking that can be performed later by a malicious user. The aim of this research is to advance the state-of-the-art of the user-active authentication research using keystroke dynamics. Through this research, we assess the performance and influence of various keystroke features on keystroke dynamics authentication systems. In particular, we investigate the performance of keystroke features on a subset of most frequently used English words. The performance of four features including key duration, flight time latency, diagraph time latency, and word total time duration are analyzed. A series of experiments is performed to measure the performance of each feature individually as well as the results from the combinations of these features. More specifically, four machine learning techniques are adapted for the purpose of assessing keystroke authentication schemes. The selected classification methods are Support Vector Machine (SVM), Linear Discriminate Classifier (LDC), K-Nearest Neighbors (K-NN), and Naive Bayesian (NB). Moreover, this research proposes a novel approach based on sequential change-point methods for early detection of an imposter in computer authentication without the needs for any modeling of users in advance, that is, no need for a-priori information regarding changes. The proposed approach based on sequential change-point methods provides the ability to detect the impostor in early stages of attacks. The study is performed and evaluated based on data collected for 28 users. The experimental results indicate that the word total time feature offers the best performance result among all four keystroke features, followed by diagraph time latency. Furthermore, the results of the experiments also show that the combination of features enhances the performance accuracy. In addition, the nearest neighbor method performs the best among the four machine learning techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a new design of encoder and decoder with novel code design for one-dimensional (1D) (spectral domain) and two-dimensional (2D) (spectral and time domain) optical code divisions multiple access system. The suggested code has a zero cross-correlation property in 1D and 2D modes, so multiple-access interference (MAI) is totally eliminated. In proposed new encoder, code reconfiguration is achieved within two users in each group at the transmitter end with defined sequence. This approach degrades the code detection probability at the receiving end against the eavesdropper in the presence of single user in network. Another switching improves the code security against the on-off energy-level detection at the transmitter end. The mathematical and simulation analysis is performed for the proposed code. The probabilities of code estimation at the transmitter and receiver ends are analysed which shows a better confidentiality. The mathematical analysis shows that the proposed code has a better performance than the existing 1D random diagonal, 1D modified double-weight, 2D perfect difference, and 2D diluted perfect difference codes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We measured reported User Affective Experience (UAX) anticipated to pop-up warnings that unexpectedly appear during computer use. Such warnings, designed to protect the user, are often ignored, suggesting the influence of nonrational factors. Emotions can both enhance and undermine effective decision-making, but in the decision literature they are typically defined and measured simply in terms of positive and negative valence. We examined discrete emotions anticipated when pop-up warnings appear, including specific positive, negative, individualist, and prosocial emotions based upon affective neuroscience. Forty-five emotions associated with receiving warnings associated with failing to update software, both in relaxed online sessions and sessions involving time and attention pressures, were assessed for underlying measurement structure. Four hundred participants were recruited via Mechanical Turk and reported about specific emotions presented in random order. Exploratory structural equation modeling analyses revealed four reliable latent factors for relaxed (R) and pressured (P) conditions: Positive Affect, Anxiety, Hostility, and Loneliness. P conditions were higher in reported Anxiety, Hostility, and Loneliness and lower in reported Positive Affect. Men reported higher feelings of Hostility and Loneliness; women reported higher Anxiety. Implications are discussed for designing pop-up warnings and also more generally regarding conceptualizing and measuring user experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In activity theory, most studies have focused on examining learning centered around interactions with peers or mentors; but the personal learning frame centered on externalization of internal activity is yet to be fully examined. I performed an ethnographic study of a computer-mediated form of such self-teaching activity in the electronic sport game StarCraft. I found that expert players relied significantly on digitally-mediated introspection—self-examination and critique of personal practices mediated by digital archives—to reveal psychological contradictions which become new objects of learning. I argue that psychological contradiction is a useful concept for examining self-teaching activities within computerized environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, computer, mobile phone and Internet use has increased. This study aimed to determine the possible relation between self-reported wrist and finger symptoms (aches, pain or numbness) and using computers/mobile phones, and to analyze how the symptoms are specifically associated with utilizing desktop computers, portable computers or mini-computers and mobile phones. A questionnaire was sent to 15,000 working-age Finns (age 18–65). Via a questionnaire, 723 persons reported wrist and finger symptoms often or more with use. Over 80% use mobile phones daily and less than 30% use desktop computers or the Internet daily at leisure, e.g., over 89.8% quite often or often experienced pain, numbness or aches in the neck, and 61.3% had aches in the hips and the lower back. Only 33.7% connected their symptoms to computer use. In the future, the development of new devices and Internet services should incorporate the ergonomics of the hands and wrists. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Literature has traditionally shown the potentially harmful consequences of risk-taking in a variety of domains. Less scholarly attention, however, has been directed to the study of risk-taking in the computer use domain. Using scanned data from 1902 computers, we sought to analyze the potentially harmful consequences that sensation-seeking and computer use risk perceptions and attitudes had on users’ computer vulnerability. Results of the study indicated that general sensation-seeking as well as computer use risk perceptions and risk attitudes were predictive of computer harm. The general measure of sensation-seeking was predictive of both risk perceptions and risk attitudes which in turn translated into the existence of malicious software in users’ computers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper suggests an amendment to Principle 4 of ethical robot design, and a demand for “transparency by design”. It argues that while misleading vulnerable users as to the nature of a robot is a serious ethical issue, other forms of intentionally deceptive or unintentionally misleading aspects of robotic design pose challenges that are on the one hand more universal and harmful in their application, on the other more difficult to address consistently through design choices. The focus will be on transparent design regarding the sensory capacities of robots. Intuitive, low-tech but highly efficient privacy preserving behaviour is regularly dependent on an accurate understanding of surveillance risks. Design choices that hide, camouflage or misrepresent these capacities can undermine these strategies. However, formulating an ethical principle of “sensor transparency” is not straightforward, as openness can also lead to greater vulnerability and with that security risks. We argue that the discussion on sensor transparency needs to be embedded in a broader discussion of “fair data handling principles” for robots that involve issues of privacy, but also intellectual property rights such as copyright. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we point out some difficulties with interpreting three of five principles formulated at a retreat on robot ethics sponsored by the Arts and Humanities Council and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. We also attempt to iron out some conflicts between the principles. Some of the difficulties arise from the way that the autonomy of robot users – their capacity to live by their own choices – can be a goal in the design of care robots. We discuss (a) problems for Principle 2 that arise from competing legal and philosophical understandings of privacy; (b) a tension between privacy and safety (Principles 2 and 3) and (c) some scepticism about the application of Principle 4, which addresses robot design that might result in the deception of vulnerable users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes a sample of LinkedIn users in South Africa. The main purpose of the study reported on was to compile a consumer profile of LinkedIn users based on several measures (e.g. usage behaviour, self- and brand-personality traits and attitudes towards the LinkedIn brand). The study contributes to the literature by including users’ personality traits, perceived brand-personality traits, self-brand congruence (SBC) and social media use integration (SMUI) in the investigation. Self-congruity theory was used as a basis to examine SBC in the LinkedIn context. The study entailed a cross-sectional quantitative design using a survey of LinkedIn users in Gauteng, the economic hub of South Africa. The primary results indicated that despite low usage patterns, users’ SBC is high and their attitudes towards the LinkedIn brand are positive. SMUI is not prevalent, yet it correlates positively with brand attitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on the ‘second-level digital divide’ explore the socio-economic antecedents and effects of (a lack of) user participation on the Internet. At the same time, some have criticized a normatively affirmative bias in online participation research as well as a one-sided focus on observable user activity. This contribution addresses the ensuing call for a more nuanced understanding of online participation in general, and online political participation in particular. We differentiate the online participation concept based on a focus group study among 96 Internet users from a broad range of social backgrounds in Germany. We derive a framework of eight types of online (non-)participation along three conceptual axes:activity, agency, andsocial valence. Taking user experiences and terminology into account, we differentiate participation from non-participation, active from passive and positive from negative (non-)participation. The proposed typology allows for a more balanced evaluation and more focused exploration of phenomena such as destructive or involuntary online participation as well as online abstention, boycotts, self-censorship, lurking, or digital exclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Computer users have a wide variety of computer display preferences, but a contentious argument has been used in favor of the curved display. In this context, this study investigated the users' curvature preference for six different content types, and compared the usability of the curved and flat panels in terms of readability performance. A 27-inch bendable display panel was devised for the experiment to enable users to adjust the curvature manually. In the first experiment, the study participants searched for the optimal radii of curvature when the six content types were mounted in sequence on the bendable display, which confirmed the users' preference for the curved display over the flat display. The following experiment demonstrated that the study participants showed improved readability on the curved display, which supported the study hypothesis. The results of the experiments in this study suggest that the curved display will help improve the work efficiency of consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to differentiate the affective state of a computer user as it changes from relaxation to stress, features derived from pupil dilation and periorbital temperature can be utilized. Absolute signal values and measurements computed from these can be fused to increase the accuracy of affective classification. In this study, entropy in a sliding window was used to accommodate the time differences in the physiological rise and fall profiles of pupil and thermal data. Two methods, decision tree and Adaboost with Random Forest (ABRF), were used for classification tests. Detection accuracy of stressful states varied between 65% and 83.8%. Best results can be reported as 83.9% for sensitivity and 83.8% for specificity. ABRF classifier outperformed the decision tree model. This study emphasizes the importance of data fusion, particularly when physiological signals differ with respect to their rise and fall windows across time. Use of entropy within a predefined time window provides a useful set of features to combine with actual measurements. Furthermore, the collection of pupil and thermal data is feasible because surface sensors are eliminated. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This two-stage longitudinal study examines how employee Internet abuse may be reduced by nontechnical deterrence methods, specifically via organizational acceptable use policies (AUPs). This study used actual employee usage and audit logs (not self-reporting survey measures) to monitor the web activity of employees. In stage 1, a mild AUP reminder sent to company employees resulted in a 12% decrease in employee Internet abuse. In stage 2, a more severe AUP reminder resulted in a 33% decrease in employee Internet abuse. For both stages, the AUP warning (regardless of severity level) resulted in an immediate and significant decrease in employee nonwork Internet use. Results indicate that the severe AUP treatment was more effective in reducing and maintaining lower levels of employee nonwork Internet use than the mild AUP treatment. Under the mild AUP treatment, employee nonwork Internet use levels returned to their pretreatment levels after only one week. However, under the severe AUP treatment, employee nonwork Internet use levels were lower than the mild AUP treatment and remained consistently lower than their pretreatment levels even after three weeks. These results suggest that nontechnical deterrence methods in the form of organizational IT use policies may constitute an effective approach to reducing employee Internet abuse, particularly if AUP policies are clear with regard to related sanctions and penalties for employee noncompliance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effects of multiple cognitive tasks on human performance. Twenty-four students at North Carolina A&T State University participated in the study. The primary task was auditory signal change perception and the secondary task was a computational task. Results showed that participants' performance in a single task was statistically significantly different from their performance in combined tasks: (a) algebra problems (algebra problem primary and auditory perception secondary); (b) auditory perception tasks (auditory perception primary and algebra problems secondary); and (c) mean false- alarm score in auditory perception (auditory detection primary and algebra problems secondary). Using signal detection theory (SDT), participants' performance measured in terms of sensitivity was calculated as -- 0.54 for combined tasks (algebra problems the primary task) and -- 0.53 auditory perceptions the primary task. During auditory perception tasks alone, SDT was found to be 2.51. Performance was 83% in a single task compared to 17% when combined tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose a secure electronic medical record (EMR) service system, named the ECC-based Secure EMR Transmission System (ESEMRT for short) which employs a cloud database, an elliptic curve cryptography (ECC) integration unit, a smart card, and portable devices to provide users with a secure environment for EMR transmission. The ECC integration unit, which integrates a 256-bit ECC chip, wireless transceiver, smart card reader, and USB interface for fast computing and reducing the communication load of a portable device, can securely protect the EMRs when these EMRs are delivered between the cloud database and the portable device so as to enhance their transmission security and the patient care quality. Besides, the data leakage prevention scheme is also implemented in the ESEMRT to avoid illegal duplication. Our simulation shows that the proposed system can provide a higher security level and reduce portable devices’ hardware resource requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the effects of negative news on Twitter users’ emotional, cognitive, and behavioral responses. Four hundred twenty subjects participated in an online experiment and read 10 news stories, modified as Twitter newsfeed. The results show that news negativity had a significant effect on anger and disgust. A significant link was found between exposure to negative news and information seeking. The impact of news negativity on emotions and political learning was moderated by age. Findings also reveal that experiencing negative emotions as a result of exposure to negative news on Twitter is not necessarily at odds with achieving political learning. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Navigating large, urban transportation networks is a complicated task. A user needs to negotiate the available modes of transportation, their schedules, and how they are interconnected. In this article we present a Natural Language interface for trip planning in complex, multimodal, urban transportation networks. Our objective is to provide robust understanding of complex requests while giving the user flexibility in their language. We designed TRANQUYL, a transportation query language for trip planning; we developed a user-centric ontology, which defines the concepts covered by the interface and allows for a broad vocabulary. NL2TRANQUYL, the software system built on these foundations, translates English requests into formal TRANQUYL queries. Through a detailed intrinsic evaluation, we show that NL2TRANQUYL is highly accurate and robust with respect to paraphrasing requests, as well as handling fragmented or telegraphic requests. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We start with a example of assembler programming, and show how even at this low level the structure of the programming language does not directly mirror the structure of the hardware, but that it is also decisively influenced by the human practices surrounding computer use, and that assembly language gives a view of the hardware which is accommodated to human interests and capabilities. We give several historical examples and illustrate the changing pattern of mutual accommodation between human practices and computer technology, and argue for a more explicitly dialectical and critical approach to the history and philosophy of programming. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

With steady growth in the deployment of sensor networks and widespread usage of mobile devices, the production of geo-referenced data is increasing exponentially, while analysis of the data typically uses a variety of application services on the Internet for activities such as logging and driving. This geo-referenced content needs to be classified and organized according to user interest for location-based decision-making. In this study, we define a user interest model and propose a method for organizing and presenting content based on the model. Our approach reconstructs geo-referenced content from a variety of sources based on points of interest organized by the user interest model. We present typical cases of using the proposed method, including a theme park resort, personal weather stations, and travel planning to show how the proposed method facilitates user decision-making based on the geo-referenced content. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper describes the design and implementation of a system for rendering virtual shape through vision, haptic and sound. The system consists of a haptic strip that physically renders virtual curves. A flexible capacitive touch sensor (FCTS) is integrated with the haptic strip, and allows the system to track the position of the user's fingers on the strip. According to the position, the system renders curve properties such as curve shape, inflexion points and curvature through sound metaphors. The goal of this sonification approach is to strengthen the user's understanding of the shape of a virtual prototype, and to inform the user about geometrical attributes that could otherwise remain unseen. Such unseen attributes may either be a result of limitations in the visual and haptic display hardware or a result of limitations in human perception. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Purpose This office field study investigated the effects of different types of spectacle lenses habitually worn by computer users with presbyopia and in the beginning stages of presbyopia. Computer vision syndrome was assessed through reported complaints and ergonomic conditions. Methods A questionnaire regarding the type of habitually worn near-vision lenses at the workplace, visual conditions and the levels of different types of complaints was administered to 175 participants aged 35 years and older (mean ± SD: 52.0 ± 6.7 years). Statistical factor analysis identified five specific aspects of the complaints. Workplace conditions were analysed based on photographs taken in typical working conditions. Results In the subgroup of 25 users between the ages of 36 and 57 years (mean 44 ± 5 years), who wore distance-vision lenses and performed more demanding occupational tasks, the reported extents of 'ocular strain', 'musculoskeletal strain' and 'headache' increased with the daily duration of computer work and explained up to 44 per cent of the variance (rs = 0.66). In the other subgroups, this effect was smaller, while in the complete sample (n = 175), this correlation was approximately rs = 0.2. The subgroup of 85 general-purpose progressive lens users (mean age 54 years) adopted head inclinations that were approximately seven degrees more elevated than those of the subgroups with single vision lenses. Conclusions The present questionnaire was able to assess the complaints of computer users depending on the type of spectacle lenses worn. A missing near-vision addition among participants in the early stages of presbyopia was identified as a risk factor for complaints among those with longer daily durations of demanding computer work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors investigated the feasibility of using computer-assisted instruction in patients of varying literacy levels by examining patients’ preferences for learning and their ability to use 2 computer-based educational programs. A total of 263 participants 50–74 years of age with varying health literacy levels interacted with 1 of 2 educational computer programs as part of a randomized trial of a colorectal cancer screening decision aid. A baseline and postprogram evaluation survey were completed. More than half (56%) of the participants had limited health literacy. Regardless of literacy level, doctors were the most commonly used source of medical information—used frequently by 85% of limited and adequate literacy patients. In multivariate logistic regression, only those with health insurance (OR = 2.35,p = .06) and computer use experience (OR = 0.39,p = .03) predicted the ability to complete the programs without assistance compared with those without health insurance or prior computer use, respectively. Although patients with limited health literacy had less computer experience, the majority completed the programs without any assistance and stated that they learned more than they would have from a brochure. Future research should investigate ways that computer-assisted instruction can be incorporated in medical care to enhance patient understanding. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Culture exerts a fundamental effect on employees and their use of technologies. We examine the influence of culture (and other factors) on computer self-efficacy (CSE). CSE, or employees' judgments about their capabilities to use a specific software system, is important given its relationship with work performance. By drawing a sample from two different countries, we show that culture affects CSE indirectly through employees' preferences for individualism and task interdependence. Furthermore, individualism, task interdependence and software personal innovativeness relate positively, whereas task ambiguity and software complexity associate negatively with CSE. Finally, we discuss several implications for human resource management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of an analysis of secondary students’ computer use, aimed at understanding how different factors influence the profile of activities carried out by students with computers. The analysis is based on the data from a national study aimed at measuring students’ Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills for learning. A factor analysis was carried out to categorize students’ activities with computers and several indexes were constructed to define the comparison groups. Finally, a multiple linear regression analysis was performed to explain the frequency of the activities. Results show that students with access to computers at home mainly perform activities categorized as Socializing, Academic, Gaming and Production and that although the absolute frequency of these activities differs across groups, the profiles of computer use are surprisingly similar for groups based on students’ socio-economic group, experience with ICT, and self-confidence in the use of ICT. The only variable that discriminates user profiles is gender. Based on these findings, it can be claimed that Chilean secondary students with access to computers at home tend to show a rather homogenous computer-use profile, once access is equated. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]