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BACKGROUND Digital contact tracing (DCT) apps have been recently implemented widely as a response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Research has focused on understanding the acceptance and adoption of these apps, but more work is needed to understand which factors may contribute to sustained use of the app. This is key in public health due to DCT apps needing a high uptake rate to decrease transmission of the virus within the general population. OBJECTIVE To understand changes in use of the NHS Test & Trace (T&T) Covid-19 DCT app and to explore how public trust in the app evolved over a one-year period. METHODS A longitudinal mixed-methods approach was conducted consisting of a digital survey in December 2020 followed by another digital survey and interview in November 2021 in which survey responses from 9 participants were explored in detail. Thematic analysis was used to analyse interview transcripts. This paper focuses on the thematic analysis of the qualitative data to unpack the reasoning behind participants answers to the surveys. RESULTS In this paper, five themes generated through thematic analysis are discussed in detail: flaws of the T&T app; usefulness and functionality affecting trust in the app; low trust in UK government; varying degrees of trust in other stakeholders; and public consciousness and compliance dropping over time. Twenty subthemes were developed within these themes. Mistrust evolved from participants’ experiencing sociotechnical flaws of the T&T app and led to concerns over the app’s usefulness. Likewise, mistrust in the government was linked to perceived poor pandemic handling and creation and procurement of the T&T app, including data management. However, more variability in trust in other stakeholders was highlighted, dependent on perceived competence and intentions. For example, Big Tech companies (i.e. Apple, Google), large hospitality venues, and private contractors were seen as more capable, but participants mistrust their intentions, and small hospitality venues, local councils and NHS (i.e. public health system) were seen as well-intentioned but there is mistrust in their ability to handle pandemic matters. Finally, participants reported complying –or not– with T&T and pandemic guidance to different degrees, but overall observed a drop in compliance over time, both at individual and external levels. CONCLUSIONS The findings of this research contribute to the wider implications of sustained app use for public health. Findings suggest that trust in the wider T&T app ecosystem is needed for sustained use of the app. Initial novelty effects occurred with the T&T app, which lessened over time as public concern and media representation of the pandemic decreased and normalisation occurred. Trust in the sociotechnical capabilities of the app, stakeholders involved, and maintaining salience of the T&T app in conjunction with other measures are needed for sustained use.

In the last decade, vast amounts of planetary science data have been made available publicly often focused on Mars. Such data is typically disseminated via the web and made available through screen-based visualizations. However, this approach can make it difficult to convey the broader context of a feature of interest or the spatial arrangement of surface phenomena. To better support learning and engagement, we present and evaluate MarsCAPE: Mars Communicated through an Augmented, Physical Environment. MarsCAPE consists of physical models of the surface of Mars, augmented by projected information and visualizations. To assess its learning and engagement value, a structured workshop and formal evaluation were conducted. Participants reported a significant increase in knowledge, found the models engaging, and exhibited natural learning without prompting. Systems such as MarsCAPE have the potential to provide an interesting, educational way for the public to access planetary data that goes beyond the capabilities of on-screen visualizations.

Algorithmic systems are increasingly deployed to make decisions that people used to make. Perceptions of these systems can significantly influence their adoption, yet, broadly speaking, users’ understanding of the internal working of these systems is limited. To explore users’ perceptions of algorithmic systems, we developed a prototype e-recruitment system called Algorithm Playground where we offer the users a look behind the scenes of such systems, and provide “how” and “why” explanations on how job applicants are ranked by their algorithms. Using an online study with 110 participants, we measured perceived fairness, transparency and trustworthiness of e-recruitment systems. Our results show that user understanding of the data and reasoning behind candidates’ rankings and selection evoked some positive attitudes as participants rated our platform to be fairer, more reliable, transparent and trustworthy than the e-recruitment systems they have used in the past.

This paper presents the results of an exploratory quantitative analysis of gendered contributions to the online mapping project OpenStreetMap (OSM), in which previous research has identified a strong male participation bias. On these grounds, theories of representation in volunteered geographic information (VGI) have argued that this kind of crowdsourced data fails to embody the geospatial interests of the wider community. The observed effects of the bias however, remain conspicuously absent from discourses of VGI and gender, which proceed with little sense of impact. This study addresses this void by analysing OSM contributions by gender and thus identifies differences in men’s and women’s mapping practices. An online survey uniquely captured the OSM IDs as well as the declared gender of 293 OSM users. Statistics relating to users’ editing and tagging behaviours openly accessible via the ‘how did you contribute to OSM’ wiki page were subsequently analysed. The results reveal that volumes of overall activity as well editing and tagging actions in OSM remain significantly dominated by men. They also indicate subtle but impactful differences in men’s and women’s preferences for modifying and creating data, as well as the tagging categories to which they contribute. Discourses of gender and ICT, gender relations in online VGI environments and competing motivational factors are implicated in these observations. As well as updating estimates of the gender participation bias in OSM, this paper aims to inform and stimulate subsequent discourses of gender and representation towards a new rationale for widening participation in VGI.

PurposeThe voices of children and young people have been largely neglected in discussions of the extent to which the internet takes into account their needs and concerns. This paper aims to highlight young people’s lived experiences of being online.Design/methodology/approachResults are drawn from the UnBias project’s youth led discussions, “Youth Juries” with young people predominantly aged between 13 and 17 years.FindingsWhilst the young people are able to use their agency online in some circumstances, many often experience feelings of disempowerment and resignation, particularly in relation to the terms and conditions and user agreements that are ubiquitous to digital technologies, social media platforms and other websites.Practical implicationsAlthough changes are afoot as part of the General Data Protection Regulation (herein the GDPR) to simplify the terms and conditions of online platforms (European Union, 2016), it offers little practical guidance on how it should be implemented to children. The voices and opinions of children and young people are put forward as suggestions for how the “clear communication to data subjects” required by Article 12 of the GDPR in particular should be implemented, for example, recommendations about how terms and conditions can be made more accessible.Originality/valueChildren and young people are an often overlooked demographic of online users. This paper argues for the importance of this group being involved in any changes that may affect them, by putting forward recommendations from the children and young people themselves.

BACKGROUND Digital contact tracing is employed to monitor and manage the spread of COVID-19. However, to be effective the system must be adopted by a substantial proportion of the population. Studies of mostly hypothetical contact tracing apps show generally high acceptance, but little is known about the drivers and barriers to adoption of deployed systems. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate adoption of and attitudes toward the NHS (National Health Service) COVID-19 smartphone app, the digital contact tracing solution in the United Kingdom. METHODS An online survey based on the extended Technology Acceptance Model with the added factor of trust was carried out with a representative sample of the UK population. Statistical analysis showed adoption rates, attitudes toward and trust in the app, and compliance with self-isolation advice and highlighted differences for vulnerable populations (ie, older adults aged 65 years and over and members of Black, Asian, and minority ethnic [BAME] communities). RESULTS A total of 1001 participants took part in the study. Around half of the participants who had heard of the NHS COVID-19 mobile phone app (490/963, 50.9%; 95% CI 47.8%-54.0%) had downloaded and kept the app, but more than one-third (345/963, 35.8%; 95% CI 32.8%-38.8%) either did not intend to download it or had deleted it. Significantly more BAME respondents than White respondents had deleted the app (16/115, 13.9%; 95% CI 11.8%-16.0%, vs 65/876, 7.4%; 95% CI 5.8%-9.0%), and significantly more older adults 65 years and over than those under 65 years did not intend to download it (44/127, 34.6%; 95% CI 31.7%-37.5%, vs 220/874, 25.2%; 95% CI 22.5%-27.9%). Broadly, one of the reasons for uptake was to help the NHS and other people, especially among older adults, although significantly fewer BAME participants agreed that they did so to help the NHS. Reported compliance with received notifications to self-isolate was high but was significantly lower than reported intended compliance without received notifications. Only one-fifth (136/699, 19.5%; 95% CI 17.0%-22.0%) of participants understood that the decision to send self-isolation notifications was automated by the app. There were a range of significantly more negative views among BAME participants, including lower trust in the NHS, while older adults were often significantly more positive. Respondents without the app reported significantly lower trust and more negative views toward the app and were less likely to report that they understood how the app works. CONCLUSIONS While compliance on the part of the approximately 50% of participants who had the app was fairly high, there were issues surrounding trust and understanding that hindered adoption and, therefore, the effectiveness of digital contact tracing, particularly among BAME communities. This study highlights that more needs to be done to improve adoption among groups who are more vulnerable to the effects of the virus in order to enhance uptake and acceptance of contact tracing apps.

This study aims to capture the online experiences of young people when interacting with algorithm mediated systems and their impact on their well-being. We draw on qualitative (focus groups) and quantitative (survey) data from a total of 260 young people to bring their opinions to the forefront while eliciting discussions. The results of the study revealed the young people’s positive as well as negative experiences of using online platforms. Benefits such as convenience, entertainment and personalised search results were identified. However, the data also reveals participants’ concerns for their privacy, safety and trust when online, which can have a significant impact on their well-being. We conclude by recommending that online platforms acknowledge and enact on their responsibility to protect the privacy of their young users, recognising the significant developmental milestones that this group experience during these early years, and the impact that algorithm mediated systems may have on them. We argue that governments need to incorporate policies that require technologists and others to embed the safeguarding of users’ well-being within the core of the design of Internet products and services to improve the user experiences and psychological well-being of all, but especially those of children and young people.

Children and young people make extensive and varied use of digital and online technologies, yet issues about how their personal data may be collected and used by online platforms are rarely discussed. Additionally, despite calls to increase awareness, schools often do not cover these topics, instead focusing on online safety issues, such as being approached by strangers, cyberbullying or access to inappropriate content. This paper presents the results of one of the activities run as part of eleven workshops with 13-18 year olds, using co-designed activities to encourage critical thinking. Sets of 'data cards' were used to stimulate discussion about sharing and selling of personal data by online technology companies. Results highlight the desire and need for increased awareness about the potential uses of personal data amongst this age group, and the paper makes recommendations for embedding this into school curriculums as well as incorporating it into interaction design, to allow young people to make informed decisions about their online lives.

BACKGROUND Algorithms rule the online environments and are essential for performing data processing, filtering, personalisation and other tasks. Research has shown that children and young people make up a significant proportion of Internet users, however little attention has been given to their experiences of algorithmically-mediated online platforms, or the impact of them on their mental health and well-being. The algorithms that govern online platforms are often obfuscated by a lack of transparency in their online Terms and Conditions and user agreements. This lack of transparency speaks to the need for protecting the most vulnerable users from potential online harms. OBJECTIVE To capture young people's experiences when being online and perceived impact on their well-being. METHODS In this paper, we draw on qualitative and quantitative data from a total of 260 children and young people who took part in a ‘Youth Jury’ to bring their opinions to the forefront, elicit discussion of their experiences of using online platforms, and perceived psychosocial impact on users. RESULTS The results of the study revealed the young people’s positive as well as negative experiences of using online platforms. Benefits such as being convenient and providing entertainment and personalised search results were identified. However, the data also reveals participants’ concerns for their privacy, safety and trust when online, which can have a significant impact on their well-being. CONCLUSIONS We conclude by making recommendations that online platforms acknowledge and enact on their responsibility to protect the privacy of their young users, recognising the significant developmental milestones that this group experience during these early years, and the impact that technology may have on them. We argue that governments need to incorporate policies that require technologists and others to embed the safeguarding of users’ well-being within the core of the design of Internet products and services to improve the user experiences and psychological well-being of all, but especially those of children and young people. CLINICALTRIAL N/A

Background: Technology-enabled healthcare or smart health has provided a wealth of products and services to enable older people to monitor and manage their own health conditions at home, thereby maintaining independence, whilst also reducing healthcare costs. However, despite the growing ubiquity of smart health, innovations are often technically driven, and the older user does not often have input into design. The purpose of the current study was to facilitate a debate about the positive and negative perceptions and attitudes towards digital health technologies. Methods: We conducted citizens&rsquo, juries to enable a deliberative inquiry into the benefits and risks of smart health technologies and systems. Transcriptions of group discussions were interpreted from a perspective of life-worlds versus systems-worlds. Results: Twenty-three participants of diverse demographics contributed to the debate. Views of older people were felt to be frequently ignored by organisations implementing systems and technologies. Participants demonstrated diverse levels of digital literacy and a range of concerns about misuse of technology. Conclusion: Our interpretation contrasted the life-world of experiences, hopes, and fears with the systems-world of surveillance, efficiencies, and risks. This interpretation offers new perspectives on involving older people in co-design and governance of smart health and smart homes.

Online citizen science platforms increasingly provide types of infrastructural support previously only available to organisationally-based professional scientists. Other practices, such as creative arts, also exploit the freedom and accessibility afforded by the World Wide Web to shift the professional-amateur relationship. This paper compares communities from these two areas to show that disparate practices can learn from each other to better understand their users and their technology needs. Three major areas are discussed: mutual acknowledgement, infrastructural support, and platform specialisation. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of differing practices, and lessons that can be learnt for online citizen science platforms.

Increasing motivation to contribute to online citizen science projects can improve user experience and is critical in retaining and attracting users. Drawing on previous studies of motivation, this paper suggests self-determination theory as a framework for explaining the psychological constructs behind participation in Citizen Science. Through examining existing studies of motivation for 6 Zooniverse projects through this lens, the paper suggests how appealing to basic psychological needs could increase participation in online citizen science, considering current practices and directions for future developments and research.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to report on empirical work conducted to open up algorithmic interpretability and transparency. In recent years, significant concerns have arisen regarding the increasing pervasiveness of algorithms and the impact of automated decision-making in our lives. Particularly problematic is the lack of transparency surrounding the development of these algorithmic systems and their use. It is often suggested that to make algorithms more fair, they should be made more transparent, but exactly how this can be achieved remains unclear. Design/methodology/approach An empirical study was conducted to begin unpacking issues around algorithmic interpretability and transparency. The study involved discussion-based experiments centred around a limited resource allocation scenario which required participants to select their most and least preferred algorithms in a particular context. In addition to collecting quantitative data about preferences, qualitative data captured participants’ expressed reasoning behind their selections. Findings Even when provided with the same information about the scenario, participants made different algorithm preference selections and rationalised their selections differently. The study results revealed diversity in participant responses but consistency in the emphasis they placed on normative concerns and the importance of context when accounting for their selections. The issues raised by participants as important to their selections resonate closely with values that have come to the fore in current debates over algorithm prevalence. Originality/value This work developed a novel empirical approach that demonstrates the value in pursuing algorithmic interpretability and transparency while also highlighting the complexities surrounding their accomplishment.

The UnBias Youth Juries engage young people in discussion of issues that affect their online lives, especially in relation to algorithms, through the presentation of scenarios and prompts. Results from the first wave of juries, held in February 2017, produced valuable data about the concerns of young people and recommendations for improving their digital environments. Feedback regarding the jury structure suggested a series of interactive tasks to elicit more debate amongst the participants. This paper presents results from a pilot study using these tasks and discusses the plans for a second wave of juries. This includes creation of an advisory group to ensure materials are relevant to the target audience, and an open educational resource that enables other groups to run their own youth juries.1

The IEEE P7003 Standard for Algorithmic Bias Considerations is one of eleven IEEE ethics related standards currently under development as part of the IEEE Global Initiative on Ethics of Autonomous and Intelligent Systems. The purpose of the IEEE P7003 standard is to provide individuals or organizations creating algorithmic systems with development framework to avoid unintended, unjustified and inappropriately differential outcomes for users. In this paper, we present the scope and structure of the IEEE P7003 draft standard, and the methodology of the development process.

This paper explores the policy recommendations made by young people regarding algorithm fairness. It describes a piece of ongoing research developed to bring children and young people to the front line of the debate regarding children's digital rights. We employed the Youth Juries methodology which was designed to facilitate learning through discussions. The juries capture the deliberation process on a specific digital right, the right to know how algorithms govern and influence the Web and its users. Preliminary results show that young people demand to know more about algorithms, they want more transparency, more options, and more control about the way algorithms use their personal data.

The 5Rights Youth Juries are an educational intervention to promote digital literacy by engaging participants (i.e. jurors) in a deliberative discussion around their digital rights. The main objective of these jury-styled focus groups is to encourage children and young people to identify online concerns and solutions with a view to developing recommendations for government policy-makers and industry chiefs. The methodology included a series of dramatized scenarios that encourage jurors to deliberate about their digital rights. This paper compares two formats for these scenarios: live actors and professionally recorded and edited videos of the same actors. Results failed to show any major differences between formats indicating the cost-effectiveness of the video-recorded format and the possibility for others to run the 5Rights Youth Juries with the support of an online open educational resource.

Online copyright law is a major issue for many in the creative industries. Independent artists often rely on sharing their work across social media and content-sharing sites, leaving them open to having their work stolen or misused. This paper discusses a series of 11 semi-structured interviews that examined attitudes towards copyright and attribution amongst webcomic artists, in relation to current copyright laws across the EU and internationally. Whilst artists are generally aware of the cover provided by copyright, they feel that it is not necessarily relevant or effective within the creative space they work in. There is very little support and there are few resources available to help them to fight for control of their work, and whilst artists do get angry about actual theft and removal of attribution, they accept that they have to put up with certain violations if they wish to continue to publish comics for free on the Internet. The paper ends by discussing potential solutions to the problems raised.