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For more than three years, the City Library in Frankfurt has been offering new library users an online card application service without media discontinuity. In 2022, it was extended to include online renewing of the library card, followed by ePayment in 2023, to settle fees and overdue charges. The article includes a description of the starting position and motivations, outlines development processes and challenges, and offers a preliminary assessment after three years of practical experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to identify consumer behavior towards the development of business models carried out by showrooms and dealers, especially Carro Indonesia which is based on digital startups, and create a strategic position to gain a competitive advantage in the car buying and selling industry. To analyze the environmental factors of this business externally using PESTEL and Porter's 5 strengths, then internal analysis through VRIO and SWOT. This research method uses qualitative and quantitative methods, with data collection conducted online and offline, using in-depth interviews and questionnaires. Data analysis was conducted using content analysis and Analytical Hierarchy (AHP) survey process. As for determining critical adoption factors for consumer behavior in buying a car by doing 4 criteria and 15 sub-criteria. AHP is a methodical framework that establishes a hierarchical structure with interdependent layers, analyzes the weights of various aspects, and evaluates potential actions with regard to existing structures. AHP has been used to prevent contradictory situations in research. As a result, interview data must be presented in quantitative form, i.e. how AHP ensures consistency of its findings because statements in qualitative interviews can be weighted. Then from the results of this study, each stakeholder can use this research as a basis for decision making to determine the company's steps to increase the level of adoption of services that are used as company products that are in accordance with the car buying and selling market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the wide use of information technologies including Big Data and artificial intelligence (AI), consumers' personal actions (their search history, transaction records, click-through behaviors, etc.) can be tracked, recorded and analyzed by the service provider (e.g., Google) to provide personalized services. Under the current regime, consumers usually hand over their personal data for free in exchange for high-quality services. As it becomes more and more commonly accepted that "data is property," should consumers be entitled to claim their property rights over their personal data? New technologies emerge to empower consumers to control their own data, and the service provider may need to compensate for the usage of such data. How consumers and the service provider should react to such technologies, however, is not clear. We build a theoretical model in which consumers have different sensitivities towards their data ownership. We show that the impact of the data ownership shift depends not only on the service provider's revenue structure and the discount in the service quality offered to non-data-providing consumers, but also on whether and how consumers are compensated. More importantly, if the service provider can endogenously adjust the qualities of services provided to consumers, the shift of data ownership may not necessarily benefit consumers, or harm the service provider. We also offer guidelines for data regulation policy designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mancur Olson claimed that concentrated interests win against diffuse interests even in advanced democracies. Multinational companies, for example, work well in unison to suit their interests. The rest of the public is not motivated or informed enough to resist them. In contrast, other scholars argued that diffuse interests may be able to fight back, but only when certain conditions prevail. One of the conditions for the success of diffuse interests is the intervention of national and international courts. Courts are able to fix problems affecting diffuse interests. Courts can also indirectly empower diffuse interests by initiating deliberation to inform the public. This paper investigates the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights and the Court of Justice of the European Union. It argues that these international courts help consumers, a diffuse interest group, succeed in their struggle against internet companies, a concentrated interest group., I. INTRODUCTION 176 II. DIFFUSE AND 178 CONCENTRATED INTERESTS III. THE ROLE OF COURTS 182 IN PROTECTING DIFFUSE INTERESTS A. Courts as Fixing 182 Democratic Failures B. Courts as Initiating [...]

Over the last seven decades, mainstream U.S. torts jurisprudence shifted dramatically from rigid formal rules-focused on duty and culpability--to more flexible norms and principles of accountability. This shift was part of a general transformation of tort law that can be observed in the case law, the Restatements, and academic scholarship. Recently, however, where internet platforms such as Amazon are involved, courts appear to have reverted to a formalistic approach to limit duty, and hence liability, for personal injuries caused by the sale of defective products using the platform. With a few notable exceptions, courts have focused on the word 'seller' in [section] 402A of the Second Restatement of Torts and have concluded that Amazon is not a 'seller' when it facilitates a sale between a customer and a third-party merchant. This Article is the third in a series of articles that develop a functional, control-based approach to platform liability. It proceeds in five steps. First, we develop the general tort principles that govern liability for transactions in defective consumer products. Second, we show how Amazon, as a platform situated squarely between a third-party seller and the customer, has control over both sides of that transaction. This places Amazon in a position where they should be held accountable as a non-manufacturing seller, where the third-party seller is not amenable to suit. Third, we give an example of how courts have resisted this conclusion, taking shelter in formal concepts of title rather than traditional understandings of culpability and loss allocation. Fourth, we develop a functional approach to platform liability that uses traditional tort principles to evaluate the platform's role in a transaction and apply those principles to Amazon. Lastly, we consider how these principles should apply to platforms generally., Article Contents Introduction I. Accountability for the Sale of Standardized Products A. The Citadel of Privity Crumbles B. Seller as a Functional Concept C. Pretzel Privity for Internet Platforms: Manipulating [...]

Objective. The study focuses how to explore the potential opportunities and benefits of using chatbots in applied psychology. To determine the best ways to integrate chatbots into existing psychological services and programmes. To analyse and review the literature to identify common trends and findings on the use of chatbots in psychological support. Systematising research in this area would help to understand the potential of chatbots, identify optimal strategies for their use and identify areas for further research into this technology. Methodology. The systems thinking is the basis for the research. The main theoretical methods of research: analysis, synthesis, deduction. This article is a review of the history of the development of chatbots in applied psychology. It includes studies investigating the use of chatbots to promote psychological health. Results. Research results promise relatively the practicality and safety of chatbots using to promote psychological health. But using them as a part of applied psychology should be done with extreme caution. These technologies can be termed experimental. Research in this area is insufficient, and it is mainly of a pilot nature. Conclusion. Topics such as the effectiveness and especially the safety of chatbots in applied psychology should be an integral part of future basic psychology research programmes.

Google is going upmarket with the $100 Google TV Streamer, a new combination set-top box and smart home hub that replaces the company’s cheaper Chromecast with Google TV dongles. Compared [...]

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in the digitalisation of services that poses the risk of digital exclusion, especially among older adults. We examined the predictors of Internet use for services and its increase or decrease among a longitudinal population-based sample of 1426 older adults from Finland aged between 70 and 100 years, gathered in 2017 and 2020. High education and high income positively predicted the use of the Internet for services, and age, deteriorated health and deteriorated memory negatively. High age, low education and a change to living alone predicted a decrease in use. High education predicted the increased Internet use due to COVID-19. Thus, it seems that those older adults who have low education level are very old, whose health or memory has deteriorated and those who have changed to living alone are particularly in danger of digital exclusion. Actions targeted to these people are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdowns and social distancing measures drove the shift from in-person to online physical exercise classes, leading individuals to explore these digital alternatives. Guided by the Expectation-Confirmation Model, this article examines older adults' intentions to continue using online physical exercise classes. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 adults aged 65 and older who had participated in online physical exercise classes during the pandemic. Transcripts were subject to thematic analysis using the NVivo software program. The results indicate that older adults recognize the usefulness of online physical exercise classes because of their ability to enhance their health and well-being. Their initial expectations were surpassed, and they were generally satisfied with the experience. However, in-person classes remained preferred due to their enhanced benefits. They also felt that the adoption of online classes was involuntary; instead of an autonomous decision guided by their needs and preferences, this was a viable solution imposed by the lockdown. Therefore, their continuance intentions are limited to specific conditions, namely a new lockdown or other physical impediments. Still, considering the flexibility that online physical exercise classes offer, accommodating time and physical constraints, participants highlighted the advantages of a hybrid approach for those who may face challenges attending in-person classes. Based on the findings, this article proposes that ECM provides a relevant, yet insufficient, framework for explaining older adults' continuance intentions for online physical exercise classes, suggesting the inclusion of additional explaining factors: perceived usefulness of non-technological alternatives, necessary conditions, and self-determination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Hypothesis Longer duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) predicts worse outcomes in First Episode Psychosis (FEP). Searching online represents one of the first proactive step toward treatment initiation for many, yet few studies have informed how best to support FEP youth as they engage in early online help-seeking steps to care. Study Design Using a stepped-wedge randomized design, this project evaluated the effectiveness of a digital marketing campaign at reducing DUP and raising rates of referrals to FEP services by proactively targeting and engaging prospective patients and their adult allies online. Study Results Throughout the 18-month campaign, 41 372 individuals visited our website, and 371 advanced to remote clinical assessment (median age = 24.4), including 53 allies and 318 youth. Among those assessed (n  = 371), 53 individuals (14.3%) reported symptoms consistent with psychotic spectrum disorders (62.2% female, mean age 20.7 years) including 39 (10.5%) reporting symptoms consistent with either Clinical High Risk (ie, attenuated psychotic symptoms; n  = 26) or FEP (n  = 13). Among those with either suspected CHR or FEP (n  = 39), 20 (51.3%) successfully connected with care. The campaign did not result in significant differences in DUP. Conclusion This study highlights the potential to leverage digital media to help identify and engage youth with early psychosis online. However, despite its potential, online education and professional support alone are not yet sufficient to expedite treatment initiation and reduce DUP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This environmental scan assesses the current landscape of online employment services for immigrant professionals in Canada. The data collection method involved web scanning of twelve urban centers and two rural census areas with high per capita immigrant populations. The study analyzed 80 online services for immigrants in Canada based on geographical variation, the type of digital modality, clientele, and needs addressed. The findings reveal disparities in access to online employment programs tailored for skilled immigrants across different geographic locations. In addition, e-learning and self-paced online courses were identified as the most prevalent digital modalities. In terms of targeted clientele, findings show that the services primarily targeted immigrants as a homogenous group, with a notable emphasis on supporting skilled immigrants in high-demand fields such as IT and healthcare. Finally, access to job search resources emerged as the highest priority among the needs addressed, while areas such as financial assistance have the potential for further growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]