scholarly journals Appscapes in everyday life

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (69) ◽  
pp. 029-051
Author(s):  
Signe Sophus Lai ◽  
Sofie Flensburg
Keyword(s):  
Everyday Life ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Online Tracking ◽  
Material Conditions ◽  
Infrastructure Studies ◽  
App Economy

It has long been acknowledged that the use of ‘free’ mobile apps comes at a price,but few empirical studies have looked into this supposed trade-off. This articlecombines qualitative interviews with mappings of infrastructures for dataficationin order to study the implications of mobile app usage from the perspectiveof individual users. It analyses users’ understanding of online tracking, maps theinfrastructural tenets of mobile datafication, and finds a disconnect between whatusers believe happens to their data and the actual data harvesting and distributionmechanisms of their apps. We thereby argue that users’ resigned attitudes shouldbe understood in light of the material conditions of the app economy and, as such,that user and infrastructure studies should join forces in exploring and enhancingusers’ agency, empowerment and emancipation.

scholarly journals Seeing Things Differently: The use of mobile app interpretation and its effect on visitor experience at two heritage sites in Aotearoa New Zealand

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Jessica Aitken
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Mobile Applications ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Visitor Experience ◽  
Heritage Sites ◽  
High Street

<p>The practice of contemporary heritage interpretation has seen increased investment in digital technologies and more recently in mobile applications. However, few empirical studies assess how effective mobile apps are to the visitor experience of heritage sites. What kind of visitor experience do mobile apps provide? How do mobile apps deliver on the aims of interpretation for heritage sites? What types of apps work best? What are the challenges for developers and heritage professionals?  A qualitative research approach is used to examine two case studies; High Street Stories: the life and times of Christchurch’s High Street Precinct and IPENZ Engineering Tours: Wellington Heritage Walking Tour. These case studies ask what kind of experience mobile apps offer as an interpretation tool at these heritage sites. To investigate the topic, email interviews were carried out with heritage professionals and digital developers; together with qualitative interviews with visitors recruited to visit the case study sites using the mobile applications.   This study explores two current examples of mobile app technology in the heritage sector in a New Zealand context. The results of this study aim to augment current literature on the topic of digital interpretation. This study seeks to offer heritage managers and interpreters some key factors to consider when making decisions regarding the methods used to present and interpret heritage sites to visitors and in developing new interpretation and digital strategies that include mobile applications. Although each scenario presents its particular set of considerations and all heritage sites are different, it is hoped these recommendations can be applied and offer working models and strategies.</p>

scholarly journals Exploration of user�s perspectives and needs and design of a type 1 diabetes management mobile app: mixed-methods study (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yiyu Zhang ◽  
Xia Li ◽  
Shuoming Luo ◽  
Chaoyuan Liu ◽  
Fang Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Diabetes Management ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Diabetes Education ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Patient Questionnaires ◽  
App Design ◽  
Doctor Communication

BACKGROUND With the popularity of smart phones, mobile apps have great potential for the management of diabetes, but the effectiveness of current diabetes apps for T1DM is poor. No study has explored the reasons from the user’s perspective. OBJECTIVE To explore the perspectives and needs of T1DM patients and diabetes experts concerning diabetes app and to design a new T1DM management mobile app. METHODS A mixed methods design combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews was used to explore user needs and perspectives. Experts were surveyed at two diabetes conferences using paper questionnaires. T1DM patients were surveyed using Sojump on a network. We conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews with adult T1DM patients or parents of child patients who had ever used diabetes apps. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and coded for theme identification. RESULTS The expert response rate was 63.5% (127/200). They thought that the reasons for app invalidity were that patients did not stick to using the app (76.4%, 97/127), little guidance was received from health care professionals (HCPs) (73.2%, 93/127), diabetes education knowledge was unsystematic (52.8% 67/127) and the app functions were incomplete (44.1%, 56/127). A total of 245 T1DM patient questionnaires were collected, of which 21.2% (52/245) of the respondents had used diabetes apps. The reasons for their reluctance to use an app were limited time (39%, 20/52), complicated operations (25%, 13/52), uselessness (25%, 13/52) and cost (25%, 13/52). Both the experts and patients thought that the most important functions of the app were patient-doctor communication and diabetes diary. Two themes that were useful for app design were identified from the interviews: (1) problems with patients’ diabetes self-management and (2) problems with current apps. Additionally, needs and suggestions for a diabetes app were obtained. CONCLUSIONS Patient-doctor communication is the most important function of a diabetes app. Apps should be integrated with HCPs rather than stand alone. We advocate that doctors follow up with their patients using diabetes app. Our user-centered method explored comprehensively and deeply why the effectiveness of current diabetes apps for T1DM was poor and what T1DM patients needed for a diabetes app, and provided meaningful guidance for app design.

Retailing Mobile App Usefulness

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunday Adewale Olaleye ◽  
Jari Salo ◽  
Ismaila Temitayo Sanusi ◽  
Adekunle O Okunoye
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Quantitative Methodology ◽  
Customer Perception ◽  
Performance Expectation ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Analysis Technique

Despite the huge leap of mobile apps, there are limited empirical studies that focus on the relationship between customer perception of performance expectation, trust, tension free and mobile apps usefulness. This study integrates and extends the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) with trust and gratification theories to explain mobile app usefulness to retailing customers. Quantitative methodology and variance structural equation modelling forms the data analysis technique for this study. The primary objective of this article is to examine the mobile app usefulness in the context of retailing customers. Specifically, the study intention is to illuminate the retailers and other stakeholders to invest positively on mobile app market segment and to optimize their mobile app strategy for the betterment and advancement of their business especially in getting more revenue from the mobile app segment. The study highlights practical implications and emphasize an appropriate future study.

scholarly journals Exploration of user�s perspectives and needs and design of a type 1 diabetes management mobile app: mixed-methods study (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yiyu Zhang ◽  
Xia Li ◽  
Shuoming Luo ◽  
Chaoyuan Liu ◽  
Fang Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Diabetes Management ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Diabetes Education ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Patient Questionnaires ◽  
App Design ◽  
Doctor Communication

BACKGROUND With the popularity of smart phones, mobile apps have great potential for the management of diabetes, but the effectiveness of current diabetes apps for T1DM is poor. No study has explored the reasons from the user’s perspective. OBJECTIVE To explore the perspectives and needs of T1DM patients and diabetes experts concerning diabetes app and to design a new T1DM management mobile app. METHODS A mixed methods design combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews was used to explore user needs and perspectives. Experts were surveyed at two diabetes conferences using paper questionnaires. T1DM patients were surveyed using Sojump on a network. We conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews with adult T1DM patients or parents of child patients who had ever used diabetes apps. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and coded for theme identification. RESULTS The expert response rate was 63.5% (127/200). They thought that the reasons for app invalidity were that patients did not stick to using the app (76.4%, 97/127), little guidance was received from health care professionals (HCPs) (73.2%, 93/127), diabetes education knowledge was unsystematic (52.8% 67/127) and the app functions were incomplete (44.1%, 56/127). A total of 245 T1DM patient questionnaires were collected, of which 21.2% (52/245) of the respondents had used diabetes apps. The reasons for their reluctance to use an app were limited time (39%, 20/52), complicated operations (25%, 13/52), uselessness (25%, 13/52) and cost (25%, 13/52). Both the experts and patients thought that the most important functions of the app were patient-doctor communication and diabetes diary. Two themes that were useful for app design were identified from the interviews: (1) problems with patients’ diabetes self-management and (2) problems with current apps. Additionally, needs and suggestions for a diabetes app were obtained. CONCLUSIONS Patient-doctor communication is the most important function of a diabetes app. Apps should be integrated with HCPs rather than stand alone. We advocate that doctors follow up with their patients using diabetes app. Our user-centered method explored comprehensively and deeply why the effectiveness of current diabetes apps for T1DM was poor and what T1DM patients needed for a diabetes app, and provided meaningful guidance for app design.

scholarly journals The Best of Both Worlds: Mitigating Trade-offs Between Accuracy and User Burden in Capturing Mobile App Privacy Preferences

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (1) ◽  
pp. 195-215
Author(s):  
Daniel Smullen ◽  
Yuanyuan Feng ◽  
Shikun Aerin Zhang ◽  
Norman Sadeh
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Operating Systems ◽  
Quantitative Assessment ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Sensitive Data ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Privacy Preferences ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Data Flows

AbstractIn today’s data-centric economy, data flows are increasingly diverse and complex. This is best exemplified by mobile apps, which are given access to an increasing number of sensitive APIs. Mobile operating systems have attempted to balance the introduction of sensitive APIs with a growing collection of permission settings, which users can grant or deny. The challenge is that the number of settings has become unmanageable. Yet research also shows that existing settings continue to fall short when it comes to accurately capturing people’s privacy preferences. An example is the inability to control mobile app permissions based on the purpose for which an app is requesting access to sensitive data. In short, while users are already overwhelmed, accurately capturing their privacy preferences would require the introduction of an even greater number of settings. A promising approach to mitigating this trade-off lies in using machine learning to generate setting recommendations or bundle some settings. This article is the first of its kind to offer a quantitative assessment of how machine learning can help mitigate this trade-off, focusing on mobile app permissions. Results suggest that it is indeed possible to more accurately capture people’s privacy preferences while also reducing user burden.

scholarly journals Use of mobile applications in the management of overweight and obesity in primary and secondary care

JRSM Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 205427041984382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asmaa Alnuaimi ◽  
Salman Rawaf ◽  
Sondus Hassounah ◽  
Mohamad Chehab
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Secondary Care ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Current Systematic Review ◽  
Scale Population

Summary Mobile technology has emerged as a potentially useful application in the process of facilitating weight loss management. While several empirical studies have demonstrated the positive effects of mobile-based interventions, the extent of such effectiveness is still a topic of debate. Thus, the current systematic review involved searching electronic databases for studies on the use of mobile app-based interventions in the management of overweight and obesity among adults over 18 years of age in a primary and secondary care setting. The results of the review revealed that mobile apps are effective tools for weight loss management and sustaining such loss when compared to standard interventions. However, further research is needed to consider the sustained benefits and the applicability of mobile app-based interventions for large-scale population coverage.

scholarly journals Seeing Things Differently: The use of mobile app interpretation and its effect on visitor experience at two heritage sites in Aotearoa New Zealand

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Jessica Aitken
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Mobile Applications ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Visitor Experience ◽  
Heritage Sites ◽  
High Street

<p>The practice of contemporary heritage interpretation has seen increased investment in digital technologies and more recently in mobile applications. However, few empirical studies assess how effective mobile apps are to the visitor experience of heritage sites. What kind of visitor experience do mobile apps provide? How do mobile apps deliver on the aims of interpretation for heritage sites? What types of apps work best? What are the challenges for developers and heritage professionals?  A qualitative research approach is used to examine two case studies; High Street Stories: the life and times of Christchurch’s High Street Precinct and IPENZ Engineering Tours: Wellington Heritage Walking Tour. These case studies ask what kind of experience mobile apps offer as an interpretation tool at these heritage sites. To investigate the topic, email interviews were carried out with heritage professionals and digital developers; together with qualitative interviews with visitors recruited to visit the case study sites using the mobile applications.   This study explores two current examples of mobile app technology in the heritage sector in a New Zealand context. The results of this study aim to augment current literature on the topic of digital interpretation. This study seeks to offer heritage managers and interpreters some key factors to consider when making decisions regarding the methods used to present and interpret heritage sites to visitors and in developing new interpretation and digital strategies that include mobile applications. Although each scenario presents its particular set of considerations and all heritage sites are different, it is hoped these recommendations can be applied and offer working models and strategies.</p>

India Goes Digital..Smartphone is the New Shopping Destination

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (8) ◽  
pp. 289
Author(s):  
Shankar Chaudhary
Keyword(s):  
Online Shopping ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Smart Phone ◽  
Mobile Commerce ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Smart Phones ◽  
The Internet ◽  
The World ◽  
Shopping Experience ◽  
User Friendly

Despite being in nascent stage m-commerce is gaining momentum in India. The explosive growth of smart-phone users has made India much loved business destination for whole world. Indian internet user is becoming the second largest in the world next to China surpassing US, which throws open plenty of e-commerce opportunities, not only for Indian players, offshore players as well. Mobile commerce is likely to overtake e-commerce in the next few years, spurred by the continued uptrend in online shopping and increasing use of mobile apps.The optimism comes from the fact that people accessing the Internet through their mobiles had jumped 33 per cent in 2014 to 173 million and is expected to grow 21 per cent year-on-year till 2019 to touch 457 million. e-Commerce brands are eyeing on the mobile app segment by developing user-friendly and secure mobile apps offering a risk-free and easy shopping experience to its users. Budget 4G smart phones coupled with affordable plans, can very well drive 4G growth in India.

Stuttering mHealth Applications: A Qualitative Rubric Assessment (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fazwa M. Fadzilah ◽  
Noreen Izza Arshad ◽  
Izuddin Zainal-Abidin ◽  
Hui Min Low ◽  
Ahmad Kamil Mahmood ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Research Evidence ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Standard Form ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Evaluation Instrument ◽  
Collective Effort ◽  
Speech Therapists

BACKGROUND Mobile applications (apps) that offer a variety of techniques to improve stuttering have been flourishing in the digital marketplace. In evidence-based clinical practice, speech therapists will recommend audio-enriched mobile apps to individuals with stuttering problems based on empirical research evidence. Unfortunately, many stuttering mobile apps available in the market are developed without a substantial research base. Hence, speech therapists necessitate a guideline which they could use to assess the quality of a stuttering mobile app before recommending the app to stutterers. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study is to develop a rubric for assessing the quality of the stuttering mobile app in assisting speech therapists to make informed recommendations METHODS The rubric was initially developed based on a set of criteria reviewed from the literature. Online surveys and focused group discussion were then conducted for results verification. RESULTS The outcome of this study is a rubric designed with four categories and 18-evaluative dimensions tailored to analyze the quality of stuttering mobile apps. The stuttering mobile app assessment rubric presented in the serve multiple purposes, including an evaluation instrument, providing guidelines for developing stuttering mobile apps and for creating a standard form that can be shared with professionals to facilitate a collective effort. CONCLUSIONS This rubric also offers a guidance to steer drive the future development of stuttering mobile apps that are evidence-based, and theoretically grounded

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