| Investigating the Usability of the Stylus Pen on Handheld Devices | | BIBAK | Full-Text | 30-34 | |
| Xiangshi Ren; Sachi Mizobuchi | |||
| Many handheld devices with stylus pens are available on the market, however,
there have been few studies which examine the effects of the size of the stylus
pen on user performance and subjective preferences for hand-held device
interfaces. Two experiments were conducted to determine the most suitable
dimensions (pen-length, pen-tip width and pen-width) for a stylus pen. In
Experiment 1, five pen-lengths (7, 9, 11, 13, 15 cm) were evaluated. In
Experiment 2, six combinations of three pen-tip widths (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5mm) and
the two pen widths (4 and 7mm) were compared. In both experiments, subjects
conducted pointing, steering and writing tasks on a PDA. The results were
assessed in terms of user performance and subjective evaluations for all three
pointing, steering and writing tasks. We determined that the most suitable pen
dimensions were 11 cm for length, 0.5 mm for tip width, and 7mm for pen width. Keywords: Mobile computing, pen-based devices, pointing task, steering task,
handwriting task | |||
| Measuring User Beliefs and Attitudes towards Conceptual Schemas: Tentative Factor and Structural Equation Model | | BIBAK | Full-Text | 35-39 | |
| Geert Poels; Ann Maes; Frederik Gailly; Roland Paemeleire | |||
| Human factors research in conceptual modeling is scarce. Recently, quality
assurance frameworks, methods and tools for conceptual schemas have received
increased research attention, but the perception of quality by schema users has
largely been ignored in this stream of research. This paper proposes a
tentative model of user beliefs and attitudes towards the quality of conceptual
schemas. The proposed model is original in the sense that it includes both
perceived semantic quality and perceived pragmatic quality measures. The paper
also presents a new measurement instrument for the perceived semantic quality
of conceptual schemas. This instrument was used in a classroom experiment that
tested the proposed user beliefs and attitudes model. It was shown that the
perceived semantic quality of a schema is directly related to its perceived
usefulness and perceived ease of use and indirectly to the user satisfaction
with the schema. Keywords: Conceptual schema, quality evaluation, user perceptions, measurement model,
structural model | |||
| The Centrality of Awareness in the Formation of User Behavioral Intention Toward Preventive Technologies in the Context of Voluntary Use | | BIBAK | Full-Text | 40-44 | |
| Tamara Dinev; Qing Hu | |||
| Little is known about user behavior toward what we call preventive computer
technologies that have become increasingly important in the networked economy
and society to secure data and systems from viruses, unauthorized access,
disruptions, spyware, and similar harmful technologies. We present the results
of a study of user behavior toward preventive technologies based on the
frameworks of theory of planned behavior in the context of anti-spyware
technologies. We find that the user awareness of the issues and threats from
harmful technologies is a strong predictor of user behavioral intention toward
the use of preventive technologies. In the presence of awareness, the influence
of subjective norm on individual behavioral intention is significantly weakened
among less technology savvy users but strengthened among more technology savvy
users. Also, commonly strong determinants "perceived ease of use" and "computer
self-efficacy" in utilitarian technologies are no longer as significant in
preventive technologies. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. Keywords: Awareness, Spyware, theory of planned behavior, preventive technology,
behavioral intention | |||
| Evaluating Supply Chain Context-Specific Antecedents of Post-Adoption Technology Performance | | BIBAK | Full-Text | 45-49 | |
| Susan K. Lippert | |||
| This study investigated the influence of context-specific antecedents to
user perceptions of technology performance using a new logistics information
tracking technology designed to facilitate the linking of supply functions.
Supply chain awareness, task-technology fit, and satisfaction with the existing
system were evaluated as external variables likely to influence technology
performance. This research examines the effect of these three constructs on
technology acceptance as a function of post-adoption perceptions of technology
performance. The research model was based on the original Technology Acceptance
Model. Data from a mail survey were collected to evaluate 718 first-tier supply
chain users' perceptions of a new technology's performance that includes
accuracy, visibility, and efficiency. A structural equation model tested eleven
hypothesized relationships. The results of this study advance understanding of
technology adoption, enrich knowledge of technology innovation, and offer
suggestions for enhancing user perceptions of technology performance.
Implications along with suggestions for future research are provided. Keywords: Post-Adoption Behavior, Technology Performance, Task-Technology Fit, TAM,
Supply Chain Awareness | |||
| An Empirical Study on Causal Relationships between Perceived Enjoyment and Perceived Ease of Use | | BIBAK | Full-Text | 50-54 | |
| Heshan Sun; Ping Zhang | |||
| Causality is critical for our understanding of user technology acceptance.
However, findings regarding the causal relationship between perceived enjoyment
(PE) and perceived ease of use (PEOU) are not conclusive. PE has been theorized
and empirically validated as either an antecedent or a consequence of PEOU.
Covariance-based methods such as the widely used Structural Equation Modeling
(SEM), albeit robust in examining causal connectedness, are limited in
detecting causal direction and therefore cannot provide additional evidence for
one view or the other. This study provides an alternative statistical method,
Cohen's path analysis to explore causal relationship. Empirical results from
two studies support that the PE→PEOU causal direction is stronger than the
PEOU→PE direction for utilitarian systems. Keywords: Causality, perceived enjoyment, perceived ease of use | |||
| Website Design and Mobility: Culture, Gender, and Age Comparisons | | BIBAK | Full-Text | 55-59 | |
| Dianne Cyr; Milena Head; Alex Ivanov | |||
| Anytime/anywhere services offered through mobile commerce hold great
potential to serve customers in wireless environments. However, there is
limited understanding of how to best tailor mobile interaction and design for
individual differences. This paper seeks to explore the influence of individual
differences (namely culture, gender and age) on the design (namely information
design, navigation design and visual design) and satisfaction of mobile
devices. Sixty subjects who differ on cultural, gender and age dimensions were
tested in a controlled laboratory experiment on a mobile product, an Internet
enabled phone. The results of this exploratory analysis were inconclusive in
terms of cultural and gender differences, but significant differences were
found between older and younger subject groups. Consistent with findings in the
stationary Internet domain, design elements were found to impact satisfaction
with mobile services. Implications and limitations of this research are
presented, emphasizing the importance of additional investigations. Keywords: Mobile services, design, culture, gender, age | |||
| It is that Dreaded Error Report: An Empirical Assessment of Error Reporting Behavior | | BIBAK | Full-Text | 55-59 | |
| Khawaja Saeed; Achita Muthitacharoen | |||
| Software companies are currently using the Internet to solicit information
from users about errors in the applications and using this information to
prioritize further development efforts. To increase the likelihood of error
reporting by users, it is important to systematically understand user
perceptions that drive their intention to use an error reporting system (ERS).
We theorize that perceived expected benefits of using ERS, the user's value
system, and design elements of the ERS are factors that drive ERS usage
intentions. The results show that the users find ERS useful, if they believe
that ERS is congruent with their values and will benefit them in future. While
clarity of role and process transparency were identified as important factors,
the ability to examine information transmitted through the ERS was not found to
influence ERS usefulness. Prescriptive guidelines on effective design of the
ERS and discussion on avenues of future research are offered. Keywords: Technology acceptance model, error reporting system, user beliefs, user
acceptance, user involvements | |||
| The Cultural Implications of Nomadic Computing in Organizations | | BIBAK | Full-Text | 60-64 | |
| Lei-da Chen; Cynthia L. Corritore | |||
| The model of an anytime anywhere workforce changing the landscape of
business today is made possible by nomadic computing technologies, eg. mobile
and wireless technologies. This research presents the concept of nomadic
culture and examines a framework that describes the components of this new,
emerging culture underlying anytime anywhere work. The effect of organizational
support for nomadic behaviors, a part of nomadic culture, on job satisfaction
is also examined. Using the structure equation modeling technique, significant
support for the framework was found in data collected from 203 working IT
professionals from a wide variety of organizations. Keywords: Nomadic computing, organizational culture, nomadic culture, anytime anywhere
work | |||
| Building Relationships Between Consumers and Online Vendors: Empirical Findings from Austria | | BIBAK | Full-Text | 60-64 | |
| Horst Treiblmaier | |||
| Customer Relationship Management has become one of the major topics in
Information Systems. While IS researchers concentrate on the influence of
computer-supported systems to strengthen the ties between customers and
organizations, the underlying theoretical base has mainly been built and
developed by the marketing discipline named relationship marketing.
Interestingly, the central definition of what exactly constitutes a
relationship remains unclear in both research fields. This paper takes an
interdisciplinary approach and shows how relationships are defined in scholarly
literature. Since the results remain unsatisfying, an empirical survey is
conducted to let online consumers define what they perceive to be the crucial
attributes of a relationship in general and with an (online) organization. The
results indicate that the notion of relationship has to be redefined at least
for online communication and interaction and offer practical implications for
designing the interaction process with online users. Keywords: Relationship, Customer Relationship Management, Electronic Customer
Relationship Management, Online Interaction, Online Relationship | |||
| Online Advice Taking: Examining the Effects of Self-Efficacy, Computerized Sources, and Perceived Credibility | | BIBAK | Full-Text | 65-69 | |
| Robin S. Poston; Asli Y. Akbulut; Clayton A. Looney | |||
| The Internet offers limitless advice on a multitude of products and
services. The quality of the advice varies and is inherently a matter of human
judgment. To help users determine the quality of advice and whether to use the
advice, design features of web sites include information about the type and
credibility of the advice source. This research examines how characteristics of
the online user (i.e., self-efficacy) and characteristics of the advice source
(i.e., type and credibility) affect advice taking in an online investing
context. A laboratory experiment provides evidence that users with higher
levels of self-efficacy are less likely to take advice than those with lower
levels of self-efficacy. Results also suggest users given highly credible
advice are more likely to take the advice compared to users who receive advice
with dubious credibility. The implications are discussed. Keywords: Self-efficacy, Source credibility, Human-computer interaction, Online advice
taking | |||
| The Role of Similarity in e-Commerce Interactions: The Case of Online Shopping Assistants | | BIBAK | Full-Text | 70-74 | |
| Sameh Al-Natour; Izak Benbasat; Ronald T. Cenfetelli | |||
| This research proposes that technological artifacts are perceived as social
actors, and that users can make personality and behavioral attributions towards
them. These formed perceptions interact with the user's own characteristics in
the form of an evaluation of similarity. Using an automated shopping assistant,
the study investigates the effects of two types of perceived similarity on a
number of dependent variables. The results show that both, perceived
personality similarity, as well as perceived behavioral similarity, between the
user and the decision aid positively affect users' evaluations of the
technological artifact. Furthermore, the study investigates the role of design
characteristics in forming social perceptions about the shopping assistant. The
results indicate that design characteristics, namely content, can be used to
manifest desired personalities and behaviors, allowing us to compute measures
of "actual" similarity, which were found to predict perceived similarity. Keywords: Online Relationships, Personality similarity, similarity Note: Best paper award | |||
| Information Search Patterns in E-Commerce Product Comparison Services | | BIBAK | Full-Text | 75-79 | |
| Fiona Fui-Hoon Nah; Hong-Hee Lee; Liqiang Chen | |||
| The presentation of product information is very important in e-commerce
websites. In this research, we study how disposition styles can influence
users' search patterns in product comparison services of e-commerce websites.
Our results show that people are inclined to use feature information paths in
vertical disposition style and product information paths in horizontal
disposition style. The results also indicate that there are more feature paths
than product paths in the earlier stage of product comparison, and more product
paths than feature paths in the latter stage of product comparison. Based on
Gensch's two-stage choice model and the results of our study, the vertical
disposition style is more suited for supporting product comparison services. Keywords: Product comparison, information paths, e-commerce | |||
| Understanding the Social Implications of Technological Multitasking: A Conceptual Model | | BIBAK | Full-Text | 80-84 | |
| Caroline S. Bell; Deborah R. Compeau; Fernando Olivera | |||
| Multitasking is common in today's technology-enabled organizations. However,
little attention has been paid to the social meaning and consequences of
multitasking. We focus on technological multitasking -- which we define as
rapid task switching involving information technologies -- in situations
involving co-location and interpersonal interaction, such as checking e-mail
during a meeting or instant messaging during group work. We argue that
technological multitasking generates social perceptions and present a
conceptual model linking these perceptions to situational factors and
performance. Keywords: Multitasking, technology, perceptions, polychronicity, interdependence, task
relevance, time urgency | |||
| Contributing to Quality of Life: A New Outcome Variable for Information Technology in Ubiquitous Computing Environments | | BIBAK | Full-Text | 86-89 | |
| Minkyung Lee; Jinwoo Kim; Hun Choi; Dongjin Lee; Kun Shin Im | |||
| The rapid spread of technological innovations like mobile data services
(MDS) has made ubiquitous computing a fact of everyday life for many people. We
need therefore to understand the contribution of ubiquitous computing to
overall quality of life. This study proposes a theoretical model that connects
user satisfaction (a traditional outcome variable of IT) with contributions to
quality of life (a new outcome variable for ubiquitous computing) in the domain
of MDS. The reliability of the outcome variables and the validity of the
proposed model were tested through three empirical studies in Korea. Study
results indicate that user satisfaction with MDS affected the contribution of
MDS to quality of life in eleven subordinate domains, and these contributions
in turn influenced the overall contribution of MDS to quality of life. The
paper ends with a discussion of the implications and limitations of the study
results. Keywords: Ubiquitous Computing, quality of life, mobile data service, life domain | |||