Science (Universidade Europeia)
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Silent augmented narratives: Inclusive communication with augmented reality for deaf and hard of hearing
No full textA surdez é um problema muitas vezes desvalorizado, mas crescente entre a população mundial. Além da dificuldade em ouvir sons, envolve problemas cognitivos e emocionais, como dificuldades de aprendizagem, isolamento e incapacitação. Neste artigo, o design aplicado à surdez é analisado sob duas perspectivas diferentes: a tecnologia e as ciência da comunicação. Em relação às questões técnicas, a investigação mostra como a Realidade Aumentada pode ser aplicada através de interfaces ou óculos inteligentes que transformam os sons em estímulos visuais; do ponto de vista da comunicação, o foco está na narração de histórias e como estas podem ser articuladas com a tecnologia mencionada para envolver as pessoas, aprimorando as atividades de aprendizagem e a ligação com a comunidade. Analizando esses dois aspectos, a abordagem aqui sugerida é juntá-los num projeto conceptual criativo que possa ser atraente e útil ao público, por meio da utilização de histórias interativas, ao mesmo tempo que é aproveitado os benefícios visuais de uma experiência imersiva com a Realidade Aumentada
The meaning of ‘good design’ in the age of smart automation – or, why human-centered design needs ethics
No full textThe increasing adoption of smart automation has improved people’s lives in several ways, but it has also brought a host of new problems such as deskilling, deepening of structural inequalities, new forms of exploitation, loss of privacy and hindering of human liberties. This paper begins by assuming that such issues are the consequence of poor design and takes the opportunity to analyse what “good design” should mean in turn. Following insights from philosophy of technology, it surveys the general inherent complexities of automation and argues that Human-Centered Design (HCD) endorses an instrumentalist conception of technology. This paper shows that such a conception of human–technology relations significantly limits designers’ capacity to approach design from a genuinely ethical standpoint. The paper concludes with a sketch of principles that HCD should incorporate to become a truly humanist and ethically minded design approach. Ultimately, this paper argues that designers should seek not only to satisfy users’ needs but actively reflect on the role that technologies play in helping humans to attain a “good life”. In other words, they should start by asking themselves what our human project for the future is
Shaping the future of the hotel sector through consortia: the portuguese case
No full textNetworks are cooperation arrangements that have gained importance over the last century. In the future, network-based and network structures will be among the most important organizational models. Therefore, this assumption formed the basis of the questionnaire designed for conducting this research. The objectives of this research are: (1) to examine hotel decision-makers’ perceptions about the future of networks in tourism and (2) to analyse the influence of online distribution on hotel marketing consortia. A questionnaire was sent to four-and five-star hotel units in Portugal. Quantitative and qualitative data analysis was performed. Main conclusions and recommendations for both academics and practitioners are then presented and discussed
Customer acceptance of shopping-assistant chatbots
No full textDue to the increased use of chat applications, it is expected that consumer buying behavior will change. Chatbots have been identified by companies as being an excellent opportunity to better exploit social networks and also get competitive differentiation through relationship marketing in the digital environment. This paper discusses through the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the adoption of chatbots as shopping assistants in e-commerce. A sample of 237 Portuguese respondents between 18 and 54 years old that answered a questionnaire evidenced that the dimensions that most influence their acceptance of chatbots were the compatibility and attitude towards mobile advertising. These results emphasize that there is a need to introduce better digital solutions to boost the results of companies. The investment in chatbots is thus an important factor of differentiation
Disruptive technologies or big-bang disruption: A research gap in marketing studies
No full textThe term disruption has widely been used across industries to conjure
the innovation concept and support such discussions in different contexts,
but what disruptive technology means and what characteristics of disruptive
technologies or innovations are. Based on Christensen’s (Christensen, The
Innovator’s Dilemma When New Technologies Cause Great Firmsto Fail.
Harvard Business School Press, Boston, Massachusetts, 1997, [1]) theory of
disruptive innovation and big-bang disruption of Downes and Nunes (Harv Bus
Rev, 44–56, 2013, [2]), this paper deeps dive into the concept of disruptive
technology and big-bang disruption to discover the main features of such disruptions.
It looks at the two concepts to uncover the characteristics of such
disruptions and signify their differences. It reveals a research gap to be further
studied and proposes empirical research to validate whether the traditional
technology adoption of Rogers is applicable to disruptive innovations, or the
newly proposed model of Downes and Nunes (Harv Bus Rev, 44–56, 2013, [2]),
is more valid. The missing link is the lack of having the right marketing strategy
for products and services which were born based on the theory of Big-Bang
Disruption. Hence, the paper looks at the academic literature and presents some
of the most relevant scholars’ outlook on disruption concept. It proposes the
methodological strategies and the approach for the future study, which is positivism.
It discusses the research design that is “case study” and its method of
measurement and concludes by the expected contribution
A multilevel hypernetworks approach to capture properties of team synergies at higher complexity levels
No full textPrevious work has sought to explain team coordination using insights from theories of synergy formation in collective systems. Under this theoretical rationale, players are conceptualised as independent degrees of freedom, whose interactions can become coupled to produce team synergies, guided by shared affordances. Previous conceptualisation from this perspective has identified key properties of synergies, the measurement of which can reveal important aspects of team dynamics. However, some team properties have been measured through implementation of a variety of methods, while others have only been loosely addressed. Here, we show how multilevel hypernetworks comprise an innovative methodological framework that can successfully capture key properties of synergies, clarifying conceptual issues concerning team collective behaviours based on team synergy formation. Therefore, this study investigated whether different synergy properties could be operationally related utilising hypernetworks. Thus, we constructed a multilevel model composed of three levels of analysis. Level N captured changes in tactical configurations of teams during competitive performance. While Team A changed from an initial 1-4-3-3 to a 1-4-4-2 tactical configuration, Team B altered the dynamics of the midfielders. At Level N + 1, the 2 vs. 1 (1 vs. 2) and 1 vs. 1 were the most frequently emerging simplices, both behind and ahead of the ball line for both competing teams. Level N + 2 allowed us to identify the prominent players (a6, a8, a12, a13) and their interactions, within and between simplices, before a goal was scored. These findings showed that different synergy properties can be assessed through hypernetworks, which can provide a coherent theoretical understanding of competitive team performance
The Dark Side of Motivational Practices in Exercise Professionals: Mediators of Controlling Strategies
No full textAccording to the Self-Determination Theory, perceived job pressures can coerce professionals to develop more controlled motivations towards their work, and consequently increase the probability of using controlling motivational strategies. This study sought to analyze work-related motivations as mediators between two types of perceived job pressures: organizational constraints and perceptions of clients’ controlled motivation and the use of controlling motivational strategies by exercise professionals. Using a cross-sectional design, involving 366 exercise professionals (172 women), mediation paths were assessed following Preacher and Hayes statistical procedures. Models were adjusted for gender, work experience (years), and the internal tendency to feel events as pressuring. Organizational constraints were associated with lower autonomous motivation for work and the use of controlling strategies. Perceptions of clients’ controlled motivation were associated with work-related amotivation and the use of controlling strategies. Amotivation mediated the association between organizational constraints and controlling strategies. Overall, results support theoretical predictions and previous research, extending it to the exercise domain, highlighting the interplay between job pressures, work-related motivations, and the use of controlling strategies. The understanding of what influences exercise professionals’ motivation, and consequently the motivational strategies they use, is of paramount importance for exercise promotion and the benefit of those who seek their expert guidance
The case of Portuguese four- and five-star hotels
No full textIn the increasingly competitive hotel environment, decision-makers must consider the risks and benefits of remaining independent or affiliating with a brand or consortium. This research sought to understand the level of importance associated with a set of motivating factors considered by Portuguese four- and five-hoteliers as it relates to remaining independent or affiliating. The study results suggest that independent hoteliers rank control over decision making and shorter decision making as most important in remaining independent, and increased sales and more aggressive marketing as most important in the decision to affiliate. Affiliated hoteliers rank shorter decision making and absence of fees as most important in remaining independent, and increased sales, brand value, and more aggressive marketing as most important in the decision to affiliate. Interestingly, independence and freedom were considered less important in the decision to remain independent, by all respondents. We apply Hofstede’s cultural dimensions theory to explain some of the key findings
Defining digital joy-of-use criteria for seniors: An applied design approach to build motivational user experiences for older generations
No full textThe recent increase of aging population across Europe and the rest of the globe represents one of the most radical demographic changes in the history of humankind. The increase of ageing society will have a vast impact on governments, families, individuals and companies. Humans getting older has deeply modified societies, making it possible that three or more generations live together within the same environment. Due to the advent of digital environments, it is important that the needs of older generations are adequately taken into account when it comes to modern communication. In recent years, there has been a lot of research on necessary usability standards within website development for the aged generation, however a functioning usability is not the only point to consider for a successful realization of a digital product. Therefore, the main objective of this work is to study and describe which criteria in terms of Joy-of-Use can help to motivate older people to use digital applications. The underlying research in this paper is divided in two parts, in the first part experts in the field of ageing society have been interviewed using non-structured interview guidelines, to get a better understanding and validate the findings within the literature review. In the second part of the study, people over the age of 60 years have been interviewed, to understand which criteria of Joy-of-Use motivates them to use digital applications. The results of this research will provide recommendations for the development of digital projects for senior generation
Modelo de avaliação das características do Docente no Ensino Superior
No full textA avaliação de desempenho de docentes universitários em Portugal não é atualizada faz mais de 40 anos.
Este estudo pretende apresentar uma nova vertente ao atual modelo, Avaliação das Características, centrado no conceito gestão de competências. A vertente organiza-se em duas dimensões de análise: Competências e Empreendedorismo. O Modelo MISC (Monitoring Indicators for Successful Career) destina-se a três atores do negócio (público-alvo), docente, em monitorar as competências do docente ao longo das suas atividades profissionais na organização, estudante, na recolha do seu feedback após o término da aula, e do mercado, recolha de feedback das empresas de forma a valorizar o desempenho do docente na dimensão empreendedorismo. A nossa intenção é que o MISC seja uma ferramenta de avaliação com o objetivo de informar a organização sobre a performance dos seus talentos, os docentes na obtenção das metas estabelecidas pela organização, e por outro lado informar os docentes sobre a sua atuação profissional no dia a dia de forma a potenciar o seu desempenho e com isso valorizar a sua marca pessoal na organização