Digital Diplomacy in Russian-European Relations: Cross-Cultural Aspects

The development of information and communication technologies and formation of the global information society actualizes the study of new directions in the evolution of diplomatic practice in the digital environment, including in the context of intercultural communication. The modern information revolution is characterized by the widespread and ever-growing use of social networks, blogs, wiki resources and other media platforms (labelled under the common term of Web 2.0 technologies). At the same time, the widespread use of Web 2.0 technologies and the increasing amount of time people all over the world spend there has a wide and profound impact on political and intercultural communication and diplomatic practice. A new phenomenon of digital diplomacy is gaining prominence among foreign policy tools of states and international organizations. Digital diplomacy can be defined as the use of social networks and Web 2.0 technologies in public diplomacy and international interaction by states and international organizations to achieve foreign policy goals and reach foreign audiences. According to the traditional view of digital diplomacy, which has developed in the academic literature, and is reflected in the works of authors such as M. Castells and J. Nye, it helps to strengthen network ties at the level of civil societies in different countries and thus reduces international conflicts. However, cultural differences and digital polarization can impede the potential of digital diplomacy. Today, almost all states and international organizations in the global arena are involved in the practice of digital diplomacy, and Russia is no exception. Russia actively participates in the digital diplomacy practice, by using social media and Web 2.0 tools as soft power instruments to introduce and explain foreign policy initiatives and reach foreign and domestic audiences, as stated in the Doctrine of the Information Security of Russian Federation of 2016. For Russia's foreign policy, relations with the EU countries and EU institutions are of particular importance, including in the digital sphere. However, even though both Russia and the EU countries make extensive use of digital diplomacy tools, the practice of horizontal network interaction mediated by digital technologies does not contribute to strengthening trust between countries and reducing conflicts. The authors consider incidents and allegations in the sphere of digital interaction and, based on the theory of digital polarization, conclude that the use of digital tools in horizontal interactions within digital diplomacy exacerbates intercultural differences between countries and increases conflict instead of improving mutual understanding.

Factores psicoeducativos y motivacionales asociados a la actividad física en jóvenes adultos

La literatura científica muestra un amplio abanico sobre los factores que influyen en los adolescentes, especialmente en relación con la actividad física, pero, sin embargo, no lo es tanto en la literatura especializada con otros aspectos, como con los factores psicoeducativos. Por ello, el objetivo principal de la revisión sistemática que presentamos en este trabajo revisión de la literatura de estudios empíricos que evalúan la relación entre motivación y actividad física como factores psicoeducativos para la mejora de los hábitos saludables en los adolescentes a partir de las bases de datos Web Of Science (WOS) y SCOPUS en un periodo de diez años comprendido entre 2010-2019, considerando la metodología PRISMA. Se utilizaron diferentes palabras claves: “Physical Activity” AND “Motivation” AND “Information Technology” OR “Web 2.0 Technologies” AND “Adolescents”. De los documentos obtenidos en las distintas bases de datos, podemos extraer como resultados que las evidencias científicas justifican que la motivación y el uso de las TIC son factores que inciden sobre la realización de actividad física. Entre las principales razones se destaca el interés existente en la sociedad por el cuidado de la salud y el aumento de la calidad de vida a consecuencia de los altos niveles de obesidad y sobrepeso, ya que el uso inapropiado de los recursos tcnológicos es el principal causante del sedentarismo, la inactividad física y la declinación de la calidad de vida de la población. Por tanto, esto presenta una estrecha relación con los factores psicoeducativos de estos jóvenes.

Personal Knowledge Management: An Analysis of Benefits and Challenges of Using Web 2.0 Technologies at the Individual Level

<p>This research investigates the benefits and challenges of using Web 2.0 technologies (Wikis, Blogs, Facebook, Twitter, etc.) for personal knowledge management (PKM). It focuses on the challenges and benefits of using these technologies at the individual level to find out how realization of the key benefits and mitigation of challenges can improve personal performance in software engineering companies. This research also investigates the influence of PKM skills proposed by Dorsey (2000) in realising benefits and minimising challenges. Methods of data collection involved semi-structured interviews with three middle level managers and three software developers from four multinational software engineering companies. Qualitative research methods were used for analysing data. To explore benefits and challenges of using Web 2.0 technologies for PKM, a general inductive analysis strategy (Thomas, 2006) was used. This approach helped the researcher to derive concepts and themes which emerged from the raw data. Analysis also drew on and extended Dorsey‟s PKM skill model (2000) to identify which benefits and challenges of using Web 2.0 technologies can be addressed by PKM skills. Results from this study highlighted three important benefits of using Web 2.0 technologies for PKM: improved time saving, improved collaboration, and improved communication across hierarchical barriers. Ease of use of technologies and ease of organising information were found to be enablers of the technologies for effective management of personal knowledge. Results also showed four important challenges of using Web 2.0 tools for PKM: inaccurate and inappropriate information, lack of participation, lack of knowledge about the nature of technologies, and security sensitive. Findings of this study highlighted the importance of PKM skills to realise benefits of Web 2.0 technologies and minimise their challenges. The benefits and challenges of using Web 2.0 technologies have direct impact on individual performances. If employees are aware of these challenges, and have appropriate PKM skills, they will be able to improve their individual performances. The researcher suggests an extension of the Dorsey‟s PKM skill model (2000). Furthermore, in order to enable better understanding about the impact of PKM skills on individual performances using Web 2.0 tools a tentative model is proposed at the end of the study, which needs to be further explored in future studies.</p>

Personal Knowledge Management: An Analysis of Benefits and Challenges of Using Web 2.0 Technologies at the Individual Level

<p>This research investigates the benefits and challenges of using Web 2.0 technologies (Wikis, Blogs, Facebook, Twitter, etc.) for personal knowledge management (PKM). It focuses on the challenges and benefits of using these technologies at the individual level to find out how realization of the key benefits and mitigation of challenges can improve personal performance in software engineering companies. This research also investigates the influence of PKM skills proposed by Dorsey (2000) in realising benefits and minimising challenges. Methods of data collection involved semi-structured interviews with three middle level managers and three software developers from four multinational software engineering companies. Qualitative research methods were used for analysing data. To explore benefits and challenges of using Web 2.0 technologies for PKM, a general inductive analysis strategy (Thomas, 2006) was used. This approach helped the researcher to derive concepts and themes which emerged from the raw data. Analysis also drew on and extended Dorsey‟s PKM skill model (2000) to identify which benefits and challenges of using Web 2.0 technologies can be addressed by PKM skills. Results from this study highlighted three important benefits of using Web 2.0 technologies for PKM: improved time saving, improved collaboration, and improved communication across hierarchical barriers. Ease of use of technologies and ease of organising information were found to be enablers of the technologies for effective management of personal knowledge. Results also showed four important challenges of using Web 2.0 tools for PKM: inaccurate and inappropriate information, lack of participation, lack of knowledge about the nature of technologies, and security sensitive. Findings of this study highlighted the importance of PKM skills to realise benefits of Web 2.0 technologies and minimise their challenges. The benefits and challenges of using Web 2.0 technologies have direct impact on individual performances. If employees are aware of these challenges, and have appropriate PKM skills, they will be able to improve their individual performances. The researcher suggests an extension of the Dorsey‟s PKM skill model (2000). Furthermore, in order to enable better understanding about the impact of PKM skills on individual performances using Web 2.0 tools a tentative model is proposed at the end of the study, which needs to be further explored in future studies.</p>

An empirical study of professional translators’ attitudes, use and awareness of Web 2.0 technologies, and implications for the adoption of emerging technologies and trends

This questionnaire-based study was conducted as a part of an MA Dissertation in the summer of 2010 (Gough, 2010a). It examines the trends within the translation industry which have developed in response to the evolution of the Web from Web 1.0 (the information web) to Web 2.0 (the social web) and places professional translators against the backdrop of these trends. The developments based on the principles of sharing, openness and collaboration associated with Web 2.0 can be seen as affecting the tools used by translators and the processes in which they engage. This study examines professional translators’ awareness and perception of the new open, collaborative tools and processes and the degree of tools usage and process participation. The key findings of this study highlight translators’ vague awareness and insufficient understanding of these trends, marginal use of the open tools and little engagement in the collaborative processes. The underlying factor determining translators’ awareness, perception and the use of these tools and processes is their attitude towards adopting new technologies, with an indication that professionals with innovative attitudes are more inclined to embrace the new trends and developments.

Certified Amplification: An Emerging Scientific Norm and Ethos

The Mertonian norms of science were envisioned at a time when scientific communication was relatively centralized and hierarchical. However, Web 2.0 technologies and social media platforms have generated new systemic vulnerabilities by divorcing the certification and amplification of science. This paper argues for certified amplification, a Mertonian-styled norm that enjoins their recoupling, and introduces a taxonomy of strategies institutions have adopted to close the certification-amplification gap. The examples illustrating each taxonomic type collectively paint a picture of an ethos emerging in a decentralized fashion across a heterogeneous range of objects, communication modalities, and institutional contexts.

Providing Enhanced Digital Access to a Collection of Material Photographs: a Considered Approach

The material-turn in photographic studies reveals that photographs cannot be correctly understood without direct interpretation of their physicality; however, institutions with photograph collections are increasingly offering digital access to these physical objects. With the benefits of digital access being too great to ignore, this research determines how a public institution can best enhance access to a collection of material photographs through digital media, while maintaining the core needs of the institution, its users, and the meaning of the photographs themselves. Using the Charles Chusseau-Flaviens collection at George Eastman House as an example, this research reveals practical benefits of combining Web 2.0 technologies such as Flickr with Encoded Archival Description (EAD) into an effective and efficient collection-level finding aid. This thesis presents an approach to providing enhanced digital access to a large collection of photographs while considering their materiality. The resulting finding aid can be found at: http://www.ryanbuckley.ca/findingaid/chusseau-flaviens.xml.

Providing Enhanced Digital Access to a Collection of Material Photographs: a Considered Approach

The material-turn in photographic studies reveals that photographs cannot be correctly understood without direct interpretation of their physicality; however, institutions with photograph collections are increasingly offering digital access to these physical objects. With the benefits of digital access being too great to ignore, this research determines how a public institution can best enhance access to a collection of material photographs through digital media, while maintaining the core needs of the institution, its users, and the meaning of the photographs themselves. Using the Charles Chusseau-Flaviens collection at George Eastman House as an example, this research reveals practical benefits of combining Web 2.0 technologies such as Flickr with Encoded Archival Description (EAD) into an effective and efficient collection-level finding aid. This thesis presents an approach to providing enhanced digital access to a large collection of photographs while considering their materiality. The resulting finding aid can be found at: http://www.ryanbuckley.ca/findingaid/chusseau-flaviens.xml.