scholarly journals Seeing by the Starbucks: The Social Context of Mobile Maps and Users’ Geographic Knowledges

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig M. Dalton ◽  
Jim Thatcher

Locating places using maps on mobile devices is an increasingly common practice in modern life. Such maps, including Google Maps and Apple Maps, inform and shape users’ geographic understandings. Existing research finds that those who navigate with mobile devices tend to recall landmarks rather than more comprehensive forms of geographic knowledge. However, most of that research gives minimal consideration to social context. Utilizing a qualitative approach and drawing on critical work on vision, maps, and digital data, we explore the contextual, economic circumstances that partially shape the production of users’ geographic knowledge through their consumption of mobile device maps. In a focus group experiment, mobile device map users frequently referred to a particular business, a Starbucks location, in a location-finding task. This indicates that social, contextual considerations are important to informing geographic knowledges; the map application providers’ business strategies, chiefly advertising, lead to an emphasis on business-type points of interest in mobile maps, which could shape users’ subsequent geographic knowledges. This has implications not only for mobile device use, but how technology companies’ maps potentially affect everyday understandings of the world around us. 

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 132-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Beamish ◽  
Jane Fisher ◽  
Heather Rowe

Objectives: Mobile device use is a rapidly growing, socially acceptable interactional habit. The impact of mobile device use on social interactions, including between parents and young children, is uncertain. The aim was to describe, synthesise and evaluate the evidence about parents’ mobile device use, caregiving and children’s social and emotional development. Methods: Seven medical and social sciences databases were searched using keywords and subject headings. Screening for eligibility used PRISMA guidelines and scientific and reporting quality were assessed with standardised checklists. Results: Eight studies met the inclusion criteria (four surveys, three qualitative and one mixed-method investigation). This small group of studies is of diverse quality, but there is evidence of associations between parents’ mobile device use, attention to caregiving and changes in child behaviour. Use of mobile devices during parenting activities may be infrequent and brief, but it can be a potent distraction that reduces caregiver responsiveness to children. Conclusions: An emerging body of research suggests mobile devices are associated with altered attention and responsivity to children by their caregivers and may change caregiver/child interactions. The evidence precludes questions about causality or discussion of impacts on child development. Knowledge gaps have been identified and they require future targeted research.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tarja Heponiemi ◽  
Anu Kaihlanen ◽  
Kia Gluschkoff ◽  
Kaija Saranto ◽  
Sari Nissinen ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones are increasingly used in health care in many developed countries. Nurses form the largest group in health care that uses electronic health records (EHRs) and their mobile versions. Mobile devices are suggested to promote nurses’ workflow, constant updating of patient information and improve the communication within the health care team. However, little is known about their effect on nurses’ wellbeing. OBJECTIVE The present study aimed to examine the association of mobile device use of the EHR with nurses’ perceived time pressure, stress related to information systems (SRIS) and self-rated stress. Moreover, we examined whether mobile device use modifies the associations of EHR usability (ease of use and technical quality), experience in using EHRs and number of systems in daily use with these wellbeing indicators. METHODS The present study was a cross-sectional population-based survey study among 3,610 Finnish registered nurses gathered in 2020. The associations were examined using analyses of covariance and logistic regression adjusted for age, gender and employment sector (hospital, primary care, social service and other). RESULTS Those who used mobile version of their EHR had higher levels of time pressure ( F(1)= 14.96, p < .001) and SRIS ( F(1)= 6.11, p = .01) compared to those who did not use mobile versions. Moreover, the interactions of mobile device use with experience in using EHRs (F(1) = 14.93, p < .001), ease of use (F(1) = 10.16, p = .001) and technical quality (F(1) = 6.45, p = .01) were significant for SRIS. Inexperience in using EHRs, low levels of ease of use and technical quality were associated with higher SRIS and this association was more pronounced among those who used mobile devices. That is, the highest levels of SRIS were perceived among those who used mobile devices and were inexperienced EHR users, perceived low levels of ease of use or low levels of technical quality of their EHR. CONCLUSIONS According to our results it seems that at the moment mobile device use is not beneficial for the nurses’ wellbeing. In addition, mobile device use seems to intensify the negative effects of usability problems of the EHRs. Especially inexperienced users of EHRs seem be at disadvantage when using mobile devices. Thus, we suggest that EHRs and their mobile versions should be improved in a manner that they would be easier to use and would better support the nurses’ workflow. For example, improvements to problems related to small display, user interface and difficult data entry of mobile versions might be useful. Moreover, more training related to EHRs, their mobile versions and workflow related to these should be provided to nurses.


2018 ◽  
Vol 57 (10) ◽  
pp. 1216-1223
Author(s):  
Paul A. Regan ◽  
Benjamin N. Fogel ◽  
Steven D. Hicks

Children commonly use mobile devices at pediatric office visits. This practice may affect patient-provider interaction and undermine accuracy of developmental surveillance. A randomized, provider-blinded, controlled trial examined whether a policy prohibiting mobile device use in a pediatric clinic improved accuracy of pediatricians’ developmental surveillance. Children, aged 18 to 36 months, were randomized to device-prohibited (intervention; n = 58) or device-allowed (control; n = 54) groups. After a 30-minute well-visit, development was evaluated as “normal,” “borderline,” or “delayed” in 5 categories using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3). ASQ-3 results were compared with providers’ clinical assessment in each category. Provider-ASQ discrepancies were more common for intervention participants ( P = .025). Providers “missed” more ASQ-3 “delayed” scores ( P = .005) in the intervention group, particularly in the fine motor domain ( P = .018). Prohibiting mobile device use at well-visits did not improve accuracy of providers’ developmental surveillance. Mobile devices may entertain children at well-visits, allowing opportunities for parent-provider discussion, or observation of fine motor skills.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Malia Hoffmann

This exploratory study surveyed how undergraduate students and higher education instructors at two small faith-based universities in Southern California used mobile devices in and outside of the class for academic purposes. The researcher cross-referenced the results from the two groups to make correlations. The results of this study showed that nearly all instructor participants had multiple devices and almost half of the student participants had two or more devices as well. Those devices are being used in and outside of formal class for academics in very basic and emerging way that are just touching the surface of their capabilities. This study found that students use their devices in class to read, reference, or search materials. Faculty reported using their devices as presentation devices most often.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lu Lin ◽  
Xiuchen Jing ◽  
Shujiao Lv ◽  
Jinghong Liang ◽  
Li Tian ◽  
...  

Abstract Background With the fast-paced aging and increasing digitalization of society, there has been a growing interest in the effect of mobile device use on cognitive function and depression in older adults. However, research examining this issue among older adults in residential care homes (RCHs) is scant. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the impact of mobile device use on the cognitive function and depressive symptoms of older adults living in RCHs. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15). Results A total of 235 senior residents (aged 82.58 ± 5.54) in four RCHs were surveyed. Users of mobile devices had a significantly higher total MoCA score (25.02 ± 4.14) and a significantly lower GDS-15 score (3.28±2.74) than non-users (MoCA: 19.34 ± 5.21, GDS-15: 4.69±2.90). Multivariate linear regression indicate that mobile device use is significantly associated with total MoCA score, six of the seven sub-scores (visuospatial abilities and execution functions, attention, language, abstraction, delayed recall, and orientation)(P<0.05). Logistic regression showed that mobile device use was significantly associated with the level of depressive symptoms (OR=0.458, 95%CI=0.249-0.845). Conclusions Use of mobile devices has a significant association with the cognitive function and depressive symptoms of older adults living in RCHs, and thus should be encouraged as a measure to maintain and improve cognition and prevent depression.


Author(s):  
Neil Roberts ◽  
Michael Rees

<p>Mobile devices are increasingly used by students in university lectures. This has resulted in controversy and the banning of mobile devices in some lectures. Although there has been some research into how students use laptop computers in lectures, there has been little investigation into the wider use of mobile devices. This study was designed to investigate which mobile devices students use, what they use them for and the duration of each activity within 1 hour lectures. Students in six cross faculty core classes (n=74 students total) at Bond University responded to a survey asking them to document and comment on their mobile device use over the previous hour at the end of their lecture. A focus group of students who had not been surveyed was conducted to cross-validate the survey results. The key results were that 66% of students responding to the survey reported using a mobile device in the lecture. Of this group, 45% used a mobile phone and 38% a laptop. The most common activity was typing notes on a laptop, followed by accessing lecture slides. The vast majority of mobile device usage was on task and related to the lecture<strong>.</strong></p>


2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Khutsafalo Kadimo ◽  
Athulang Mutshewa ◽  
Masego B. Kebaetse

Purpose Seeking to leverage on benefits of personal mobile device use, medical schools and healthcare facilities are increasingly embracing the use of personal mobile devices for medical education and healthcare delivery through bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies. However, empirical research findings that could guide the development of BYOD policies are scarce. Available research is dominated by studies that were guided by technocentric approaches, hence seemingly overlooking the complexities of the interactions of actors in mobile device technologies implementation. The purpose of this study was to use the actor–network theory to explore the potential role of a BYOD policy at the University of Botswana’s Faculty of Medicine. Design/methodology/approach Purposive sampling was used to select the participants and interviews, focus group discussions, observations and document analysis were used to collect data. Data were collected from 27 participants and analysed using grounded theory techniques. Emerging themes were continually compared and contrasted with incoming data to create broad themes and sub-themes and to establish relationships or patterns from the data. Findings The results suggest that the potential roles for BYOD policy include promoting appropriate mobile device use, promoting equitable access to mobile devices and content, and integrating mobile devices into medical education, healthcare delivery and other institutional processes. Research limitations/implications BYOD policy could be conceptualized and researched as a “script” that binds actors/actants into a “network” of constituents (with shared interests) such as medical schools and healthcare facilities, mobile devices, internet/WiFi, computers, software, computer systems, medical students, clinical teachers or doctors, nurses, information technology technicians, patients, curriculum, information sources or content, classrooms, computer labs and infections. Practical implications BYOD is a policy that seeks to represent the interests (presents as a solution to their problems) of the key stakeholders such as medical schools, healthcare facilities and mobile device users. BYOD is introduced in medical schools and healthcare facilities to promote equitable access to mobile devices and content, appropriate mobile device use and ensure distribution of liability between the mobile device users and the institution and address the implication of mobile device use in teaching and learning. Originality/value The BYOD policy is a comprehensive solution that transcends other institutional policies and regulations to fully integrate mobile devices in medical education and healthcare delivery.


Author(s):  
Vicky Duncan ◽  
Sherri Vokey ◽  
Shannon Gordon ◽  
Melissa Helwig ◽  
Trish Chatterley

<span>Although there are studies that explore the use of mobile devices by physicians and pharmacists, there has not been a study to date that examines the prevalence and usage patterns of mobile devices amongst pharmacy students and faculty. This is the first pan-Canadian study that examines the prevalence and patterns of use of mobile devices by pharmacy faculty and students at Anglophone and Francophone universities. Unlike previous studies, this study also included interviews with participants to collect richer data than can be gathered with an online survey alone.</span>


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Bordalejo ◽  
Lina Gibbings ◽  
Richard North ◽  
Peter Robinson

The massive increase in the use of mobile devices over the last years, with over half of all accesses to the internet now coming from mobile devices, presents a challenge and an opportunity to textual scholars. It has long been suggested that digital technologies may help scholarly editors find new audiences for their work: work which has traditionally lain on library shelves with only the occasional visitor. In this paper we describe an attempt to plan, make and distribute an edition -- the CantApp, presenting in its first iteration the General Prologue of Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales -- designed specifically for mobile device use (Chaucer 2020). We reflect on the difficulties we faced, the initial reception of the app, and draw conclusions which might be useful for other scholarly projects.


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