<p> Information visualization offers a unique method to assist users in understanding large quantities of data, such as that which is found in social media. The recent surge in the use of social media platforms, the abundance of data generated, and the implications about what this data means has made it increasingly necessary to provide feedback to these users about what they and others are presenting online. Thus, it is critical for these individuals to access this information and gain some level of visual understanding regarding their own identities or that of a particular group. This dissertation is organized in the format of a three-paper dissertation. Chapter 1 is the introduction for the subsequent three chapters and provides background on information visualization and identity presentation in social media, while exploring theoretical approaches to visual perception and design. Chapter 2 demonstrates a variety of past and current multidimensional information visualization techniques that are relevant to social media data, as related to online identity presentation. The overview includes data portraits, motion-based visualization, music visualization, and textual structures. Chapter 3 introduces <i>CarrinaCongress</i>, an information visualization dashboard that affords users with the ability to compare two members of Congress in order to better understanding the elected officials&rsquo; tweets and external information. Chapter 4 presents <i> HadithViz</i>, a motion-based information visualization dashboard that borrows from video game interfaces and focuses on event-based tweets, as defined by hashtags related to sexism in the video gaming industry. Finally, Chapter 5 is the conclusion to this dissertation and will summarize the three individual studies, discuss limitations and implications, and provide recommendations that future work consist of simple, accessible visualizations that are based on existing visual languages and can be interpreted by a wide-ranging audience. </p>

<p> Despite high levels of global connectedness, which is characteristically representative of our 21st century society, United States citizens have been found to be significantly unaware of global affairs. Though the Department of Education has named social media as a viable option for improving the internationalization of classroom curricula, little research exists to quantitatively support such a claim. As what little research does exist exclusively investigates Facebook, no research looks into the viability of other popular social media platforms, such as Twitter or Instagram. The purpose of this study was be to probe, through an experimental design, the extent to which the presentation of globally-related information, textually-based in the case of Twitter and visually-based in the case of Instagram, as well as the source of such information, whether it be from a professional news outlet or a casual social media user, may play in effecting the way American college students consume and process digital information pertaining to global affairs. Such findings will help to pioneer the relatively under-investigated digital intersection of communication and education.</p>

<p> This qualitative, exploratory study grouped together and explored custom-built environments for communities of online informal learning (COILs) with a special lens on the socio-technical relationship of platform tools, structures, and strategies that lead to social learning. The study was conducted through a three-phase process. First, a list of possible candidate sites was analyzed for appropriate fit based on the defining terms of a custom-built COIL environment. Second, an observational content analysis was implemented on 10 of the sites to aggregate a list of the tools, structures, and strategies used in the sites. Lastly, the same 10 sites and the lists of tools, structures, and strategies were researched through both pre-established codes for sociability, usability, and community-building designs and an open exploratory observation of their uses with a focus on the way these features support COILs. Social learning and informal learning were also purposefully scrutinized while themes regarding personalized learning and sustainability also emerged from the exploration. All design themes were found represented within the sites, as were social learning, informal learning, personalized learning, and efforts toward sustainability. </p>

Abstract not available

<p> Telepresence uses the latest video conferencing technology, with high definition video, surround sound audio, and specially constructed studios, to create a near face-to-face meeting experience. A Fortune 500 company which markets information technology has organizations distributed around the globe, and has extensive collaboration needs among those organizations. Having invested heavily in telepresence technology to assist in the collaboration, the company has experienced a broad range of use among departments, but some departments do not use it at all. The purpose of this research was to study the reasons for widely disparate levels of telepresence use. The research is based upon factors contained in the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology and assessed the impact of each upon the use of telepresence technology. The results of the research showed some factors affected telepresence acceptance and use while other factors had little or no effect. Underlying practices and conditions, such as the need to multi-task and to telecommute, impacted the factors. The research provided recommendations for assessing the likelihood of technology adoption before making investments, and for positively influencing adoption.</p>

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Title proper from title frame. Also available in printed format.

Thesis (M.S.)--Eastern Illinois University, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 47-52).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2005. / Document formatted into pages; contains xiii, 275 p. Includes bibliographical references. Abstract available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center; full text release delayed at author's request until 2006 Mar. 8.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Florida State University, 2004. / Advisor: Dr. David B. Paradice, Florida State University, College of Business, Dept. of Management Information Systems. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed Sept. 22, 2004). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.)--Illinois State University, 2004. / Accompanying CD-ROM includes an electronic version of the book. Thesis Committee: Lee Brasseur (chair), James Kalmbach. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 73-74) and abstract.