Forming connections in the digital era: Tinder, a new tool in young Australian intimate life

2017 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 346-361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lyndsay Newett ◽  
Brendan Churchill ◽  
Brady Robards
Keyword(s):  
Smartphone Application ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Sociological Research ◽  
Additional Tool ◽  
Digital Era ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
Perceived Impact ◽  
Intimate Life ◽  
The Impact

Tinder is a location-based smartphone application used by young adults. Advertised as a popular and unique way to forge connections, Tinder’s introduction into intimate life is indicative of increased information and communication technology (ICT) usage within this sphere. While the impact of ICT use within intimate life has been debated, little sociological research has investigated Tinder within this context. This article draws on data from a small scale exploratory study, including surveys (n = 203) and interviews (n = 10), examining the use of Tinder by young Australians (aged 18 to 30) and how use contributes to intimate outcomes. While survey results provide insight regarding engagement with Tinder and its use in intimate life, two key themes – (1) Tinder’s use as an additional tool in intimate life and (2) its perceived impact on ‘connection quality’ – demonstrate Tinder’s role in intimate outcomes. Findings support Jurgenson’s depiction of today’s societies as ones characterised by augmented reality rather than digital dualism.

scholarly journals Digital and Intelligent Public Administration: transformations in the era of artificial intelligence

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (71) ◽  
pp. 55-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Gustavo Corvalán
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Public Administration ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Technological Development ◽  
Digital Era ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
The Impact

This article addresses the impact of the digital era and it specifically refers to information and communication technologies (ICT) in Public Administration. It is based on the international approach and underscores the importance of incorporating new technologies established by the United Nations and the Organization of American States. Thereon, it highlights the Argentine Republic national approach towards ICT, and how it has moved towards a digital paradigm. It then emphasizes on the challenges and opportunities that emerge from the impact that artificial intelligence has in transforming Public Administration. Finally, it concludes that the key challenge of the Fourth Industrial Revolution is to achieve a boost towards a Digital and Intelligent Administration and government, which promotes the effectiveness of rights and an inclusive technological development that assures the digital dignity of people.  

Digitizing Cultural Complexity

2020 ◽  
pp. 546-572
Author(s):  
Georgina Nugent-Folan ◽  
Jennifer Edmond
Keyword(s):  
Big Data ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Complex Data ◽  
Ict Integration ◽  
Cultural Complexity ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Data Environment ◽  
Key Terms ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Implicit Definitions

One of the major terminological forces driving information and communication technology (ICT) integration in research today is “big data.” The characteristics of big data make big data sound inclusive and integrative. However, in practice such approaches are highly selective, excluding input that cannot be effectively structured, represented, or digitized; in other words, excluding complex data. Yet complex data are precisely the kind that human activity tends to produce, but the technological imperative to enhance signal through the reduction of noise does not accommodate this richness. The objective of this chapter is to explore the impact of bias in digital approaches to knowledge creation by investigating the delimiting effect digital mediation and datafication can have on rich, complex cultural data. If rich or complex data prove difficult to fully represent on a small-scale level, in the transition to a big data environment, we run the risk of losing much of what makes this material useful or interesting in the first place. We will begin by reviewing some of the existing implicit definitions of data that underlie ICT-driven research. In doing so will draw attention to the heterogeneity of definitions of data, to identify the key terms associated with data demarcation and data use, and to then expand on the implications of this heterogeneity.

Being Stuck in (Live) Time: The Sticky Sociological Imagination

2012 ◽  
Vol 60 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 124-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Uprichard
Keyword(s):  
Sociological Imagination ◽  
Digital Data ◽  
Sociological Research ◽  
Social Data ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Digital Era ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Transactional Data ◽  
Digital Research

Recently, Savage and Burrows (2007) have argued that one way to invigorate sociology's ‘empirical crisis’ is to take advantage of live, web-based digital transactional data. This paper argues that whilst sociologists do indeed need to engage with this growing digital data deluge, there are longer-term risks involved that need to be considered. More precisely, C. Wright Mills' ‘sociological imagination’ is used as the basis for the kind of sociological research that one might aim for, even within the digital era. In so doing, it is suggested that current forms of engaging with transactional social data are problematic to the sociological imagination because they tend to be ahistorical and focus mainly on ‘now casting’. The ahistorical nature of this genre of digital research, it is argued, necessarily restricts the possibility of developing a serious sociological imagination. In turn, it is concluded, there is a need to think beyond the digitized surfaces of the plastic present and to consider the impact that time and temporality, particularly within the digital arena, have on shaping our sociological imagination.

scholarly journals ROLE OF E-BUSINESS IN THE PERCEPTION OF ICT IMPACT ON REVENUE GROWTH

2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 1140-1153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Radoslav Delina ◽  
Michal Tkáč
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Positive Perception ◽  
Revenue Growth ◽  
Business Information ◽  
Main Driver ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Perceived Impact ◽  
The Impact

Perceived gain from the use of e-business information and communication technologies (ICT) represents the main driver that motivates companies to implement them. The study focuses on the perception of e-business ICT applications within companies. On the sample of 11,072 companies from 27 EU states, we have determined which of e-business ICT application the companies use and how they perceive the impact of ICT on their revenue growth. An ordinal regression and decision tree analysis have been used to identify a portfolio of e-business ICT applications. We have also proposed three hypotheses to test whether the perceived impact of ICT is influenced by the number of implemented e-business ICT applications, or by the number of procurement-orientated e- business ICT applications, or even by the number of sales-orientated ones. The research not only helps practitioners to recognize which tools are behind the positive perception regarding the impact of ICT on revenue growth, but it tries to answer the question of whether the quantity of implemented applications really improves the acknowledged influence of ICT on revenue growth.

scholarly journals The Impact of Multimodal Ensembles on Audio-Visual Comprehension: Implementing Vodcasts in EFL Contexts

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia Norte Fernández-Pacheco
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
British Council ◽  
Multimodal Analysis ◽  
Digital Era ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Study ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The ever increasing worldwide use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) over the last decade, has not only contributed to the way people interact with each other, but also to how languages are taught and learnt. Language digital materials such as vodcasts bring together, in an innovative, attractive and motivating manner, diverse modes of communication which promote a multimodal approach of learning. This article explores the use of multimodal ensembles  in audio-visual language learning materials designed to enhance students’ comprehension. This mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative) study, comprised a multimodal analysis of two language learning vodcasts from the British Council, using ELAN as the main multimodal annotation tool. The data obtained from the multimodal transcription was relevant to describe the different orchestrations of modes contained in both vodcasts. From this data, two comprehension tests, based on the ensembles found, were developed to check how each ensemble could benefit language students. The results confirmed that EFL students’ audio-visual comprehension improved when there was a greater number of orchestrated modes. These findings not only emphasise the potential of multimodal materials to improve foreign language comprehension, but also encourage teachers to adapt their methods to the pervasive digital era.

scholarly journals Journalism, the pressures of verification and notions of post-truth in civil society

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 41-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nora Martin
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Media Content ◽  
Digital Era ◽  
Information Practices ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Information Consumers ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Journalistic Practice

‘Post-truth’ was not a new concept when it was selected as the international word of the year (2016) by Oxford Dictionaries. In the context of communications research, scholars were discussing journalism in the ‘post-factual’ age some thirty years ago (Ettema 1987). In the digital era, journalistic practice itself has changed; stories are generated by a multiplicity of actors in a participative and interactive way. This paper contemplates the nature of journalists’ information practices in the 21st century and relates these to the roles of information and social media in civil society. The methodology draws on the findings of pilot research studies investigating journalists’ information practices in the digital realm (Martin 2014; 2015) and investigates the pressures of verification. The author posits that that we are ostensibly living in a ‘post-truth’ society largely due to the impact of changes in the news milieu in the digital age. With so many diverse voices in the mix, it is increasingly difficult for citizens to separate fact from fiction; journalists thus have a role as verifiers. It is crucial for information consumers (citizenry) to have the requisite skills and knowledge to critically evaluate media content and deal with information and communication overload.

Remote data collection methods to inventory COVID-19 interventions in low-income urban settlements

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Faith Taylor ◽  
Manshur Talib ◽  
Amos Wandera ◽  
Joseph Mulligan ◽  
Vera Bukachi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Open Space ◽  
Informal Settlement ◽  
Smartphone Application ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Round Trip ◽  
Urban Neighbourhoods ◽  
The Impact

<p>In this PICO, we outline methods used to inventory the spatial distribution and characteristics of COVID-19 response activities (‘interventions’) in Kibera (Nairobi, Kenya). About 1/8 of the World’s Population live in slums and informal settlements. For these people, COVID-19 has presented unique challenges for managing health and livelihoods within the constraints of high-density housing and poor-quality infrastructure. In addition, reliable spatial, demographic and health data is often limited for these areas. Between April and July 2020, using the Survey123 smartphone application, combined with social media searches and phone enumeration, we inventoried 270 individual COVID-19 interventions taking place in Kibera, an informal settlement of 2.67 km<sup>2</sup> and an estimated 187,000 to 1 000,000 inhabitants. Results show a large variety in the type of intervention (58 unique types) and organiser (>88 individual organisers), with 39% of interventions led by small scale organisations such as local NGOs and community groups. We found an uneven spatial distribution of interventions within Kibera, with some already underserved neighbourhoods having less access to COVID-19 relief. Many interventions are clustered around the limited open spaces with good accessibility by road, highlighting the need for better coordination between organisers, and the importance of open space for resilience building. Using isochronal service area analysis, we find that 80% of structures are within a 9-minute round trip of a handwashing station. However, 64% of structures have a 24-54 minute round trip to female sanitary supplies, illustrating gender differences in the impact and recovery from COVID-19. Our data is available online in an interactive map dashboard. Our survey results illustrate that rather than being seen as vectors of disease, low income urban neighbourhoods are part of the solution for managing pandemics, and highlight the importance of infrastructure upgrading and planning to build resilience to a range of shocks and stresses.</p>

scholarly journals E-Shopping: Outlining the Impact of Explanatory Variables

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 10654-10659
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Tool ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Explanatory Variables ◽  
Customer Preferences ◽  
Explanatory Factors ◽  
Digital Era ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Buying Behaviour ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Online Buying

India has taken a step in online shopping through the expansion of information and communication technology (ICT). In this digital era huge opportunities are coming in the online industry due to rapid changes in ingesting pattern, customer preferences and product needs. E-commerce has been crated a booming passageway in the world. It has been very easier to get the products just a mouse click. Adequately number of e-companies has come up with customized products with easier transaction facilities. Though Internet shopping provides various benefits like flexibility of shopping time, wide variety of choices, but then again a large section of Indian population is still reluctant to adopt it relative to foreign nations. The reason behind these can be attributed to socio economic texture. This study is focused in North 24 parganas district under the state West Bengal (India) where most of the community residing in outskirt of the city. In the current research an effort has been made to analyze the unobserved factors manifested through the perceived behaviour towards ecommerce. The study has extracted explanatory factors affecting the perception consumer towards virtual buying behaviour. For this study 100 samples were collected and statistical tool Factor Analysis, ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) have been applied .These implied findings of the study will help the marketing analyst as well as strategist to forecast and assume the online buying behavioural standards across different geographic platforms in the country and consolidate the resource allocation accordingly

scholarly journals Reducing Pain During Wound Dressings in Burn Care Using Virtual Reality: A Study of Perceived Impact and Usability With Patients and Nurses

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 878-885 ◽  
Author(s):  
Penny J Furness ◽  
Ivan Phelan ◽  
Nathan T Babiker ◽  
Orla Fehily ◽  
Shirley A Lindley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Wound Care ◽  
Wound Dressings ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Clinical Environment ◽  
Staff Perceptions ◽  
Burn Care ◽  
Anxiety Control ◽  
Perceived Impact ◽  
The Impact

AbstractBurns patients often suffer severe pain during interventions such as dressing changes, even with analgesia. Virtual Reality (VR) can be used to distract patients and reduce pain. However, more evidence is needed from the patients and staff using the technology about its use in clinical practice and the impact of different VR strategies. This small-scale qualitative study explored patient and staff perceptions of the impact and usability of active and passive VR during painful dressing changes. Five patients took part in three observed dressing changes—one with an active VR scenario developed for the study, one with passive VR, and one with no VR—following which they were interviewed about their experiences. Three nurses who performed the dressing changes participated in a focus group. Thematic analysis of the resulting data generated four themes: “Caution replaced by contentment,” “Distraction and implications for pain and wound care,” “Anxiety, control and enjoyment,” and “Preparation and communication concerns.” Results suggested that user-informed active VR was acceptable to burn patients, helped manage their perceived pain, and was both usable and desirable within the clinical environment. Further testing with larger samples is now required.

Information and Communication Technology and Cultural Change

2012 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 222-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Hansen ◽  
Tom Postmes ◽  
Nikita van der Vinne ◽  
Wendy van Thiel
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Values ◽  
Information And Communication Technology ◽  
Communication Technology ◽  
Cultural Change ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Self Construal ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Ict For Development ◽  
Practical Implications

This paper studies whether and how information and communication technology (ICT) changes self-construal and cultural values in a developing country. Ethiopian children were given laptops in the context of an ICT for development scheme. We compared children who used laptops (n = 69) with a control group without laptops (n = 76) and a second control group of children whose laptop had broken down (n = 24). Results confirmed that after 1 year of laptop usage, the children’s self-concept had become more independent and children endorsed individualist values more strongly. Interestingly, the impact of laptop usage on cultural values was mediated by self-construal (moderated mediation). Importantly, modernization did not “crowd out” traditional culture: ICT usage was not associated with a reduction in traditional expressions (interdependent self-construal, collectivist values). Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

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