Recent research has persistently emphasized that education is broken and that the solutions lie with technological resources in educational institutions and teaching methods (Teräs et al., 2020), which has generated a techno-solutionism approach of Edtech companies (Mirrlees & Alvi, 2019). The outbreak of COVID-19 exposed significant challenges and limitations when adapting education to the digital environment highlighting a need for a deeper understanding of the integration of technology with education. While some scholars focus on technological artefacts as an object of study at the intersection between neuroscience and technology (Healy, 1998), others focus on the importance of pedagogy and the challenges of researching pedagogy in a context of rapidly increasing technological advancement (Hellstén & Reid, 2008).Through investigating Brazilian teachers’ experiences and challenges of integrating technology within higher education before and during the pandemic, the study contributes to furthering understanding of the intersection between pedagogy and technology. The application of an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design contextualizes the teachers’ voices and enables contrast with the existing literature in international contexts. The study’s findings suggest that most of the teachers included technology in their classes to some extent. The teachers’ personal preferences and course discipline, however, can influence how they would incorporate technological resources in higher education. Moreover, the university’s policies and support structures also influence teachers’ decisions and motivations regarding technology integration. The study recontextualized the growing discussion in global research surrounding education and technology by using prominent scholars in the field to form a foundation through which to understand if similar issues may also appear in the Brazilian context. The main differences in the findings of this research set the case of Brazil apart in that the teachers noticed that the course discipline can be a factor in deciding whether or not to use technological resources in their classes at Brazilian institutions. The discussion about the course discipline did not appear in the international literature review focusing on technology-enhanced learning and teachers’ attitudes toward technology integrations. Moreover, this research facilitated the creation of the Inverted Mirror instrument, which was developed during the literature review process to create a visualization of comparisons. The Inverted Mirror instrument is used here to compare and visualize what is unseen or hidden during the comparison of teacher experiences in order to explain what occurs when technology is used in the classroom.

Lower-limb exoskeletons are an emerging technology to provide walking assistance to people who have a spinal cord injury (SCI). Until now, exoskeletons have primarily been used in a clinical setting for a range of applications in rehabilitation, and there is potential for exoskeletons to be used by people with SCI at home. Daily walking with an exoskeleton contributes significantly to physical and mental health of the user, but previous work has concluded that further development is required before exoskeletons are broadly adopted for this purpose. ABLE Human Motion is currently working to create a lightweight and intuitive exoskeleton for home use. To understand how this exoskeleton must be designed differently from clinical rehabilitation exoskeletons, it is necessary to understand the user requirements of the device in depth. This thesis explored: 1) what methodology is appropriate for evaluating home use exoskeletons, 2) what users want to use a personal exoskeleton for, and 3) what design changes distinguish an exoskeleton for home use instead of rehabilitation. This was done using a combination of literature review, hazard analysis, user observations (n=7), user interviews (n=7), and physiotherapist interviews (n=3) to derive a detailed set of user requirements and product specifications for a personal exoskeleton for home use. Interviews were conducted face-to-face and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results of the study show that users primarily want to use a personal exoskeleton for daily exercise and wellness activities, in outdoor environments, and around the theme of “like-everyone-else”. Therapists added an additional theme of user trust in the device. These insights have been translated into a set of prioritized user requirements and product specifications for a lower-limb exoskeleton for walking assistance after SCI, which can be used in the future design and development of such a device. Future work will be to develop testing setups to further explore the product specifications, and to conduct observation studies of the exoskeleton being used in a home-like environment. / Exoskelett för de nedre extremiteterna är en framväxande teknik för att ge gångassistans till personer som har en ryggmärgsskada. Hittills har exoskelett främst använts i en klinisk miljö för en rad tillämpningar inom rehabilitering, men det finns potential för exoskelett att användas av personer med ryggmärgsskada för personligt bruk i hemmet. För att förstå hur personliga exoskelett måste utformas annorlunda än kliniska exoskelett är det nödvändigt att på djupet förstå användarens krav på enheten. Detta projekt använde en kombination av litteraturgranskning, riskanalys, användarobservationer, användarintervjuer och fysioterapeutintervjuer för att härleda en detaljerad uppsättning användarkrav och produktspecifikationer för ett personligt exoskelett för hemmabruk. Intervjuer analyserades med hjälp av tematisk analys. Resultaten av studien visar att användarna i första hand vill använda ett personligt exoskelett för dagliga tränings- och hälsoaktiviteter, i utomhusmiljöer och på temat ”som alla andra”. Andra viktiga teman för framtida utveckling var kring användarnas förtroende för enheten och bibehållande av motivation för daglig träning. Dessa teman har översatts till en uppsättning prioriterade användarkrav och produktspecifikationer för ett nedre extremitetsskelett för gångassistans efter en ryggmärgsskada som kan användas i framtida design och utveckling av en sådan enhet.

Today, the internet connects 66.2% of the world’s population online. Accessibility to digital information is crucial for social inclusion and equal opportunities. In this respect, it is considered to be a fundamental human right. However, most websites contain accessibility errors, creating a significant barrier for users with impairments. Accessibility overlays have emerged as potential solutions to enhance web accessibility. They often appear on a website as a toolbar or widget and allow users to customise their browsing experience by offering various adjustments, such as changes to font size, colour contrast, and text-to-speech functionalities via a button click. Some accessibility overlays use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to identify and automatically correct accessibility errors in website code. However, despite their intended benefits and rapid market growth, accessibility overlays face significant criticism within the accessibility community due to concerns about their effectiveness and whether they meet the needs of the intended user group.  This thesis investigates the impact of accessibility overlays on the usability and user experience (UX) for individuals with permanent visual impairments, thereby addressing a gap in academic research. Given the rise in visual impairments due to population growth and ageing, this focus is relevant and timely. The conducted research involved an evaluation study that comprised two parts: a technical evaluation of accessibility overlays against the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 standard, and a user study that assessed the usability and UX of 21 individuals with permanent visual impairments when interacting with websites that employ an accessibility overlay. Furthermore, interviews with two accessibility consultants and two accessibility overlay company representatives provided supplementary information to the discussion.  The research shows that accessibility overlays, in their current form, do not effectively improve the usability or UX for individuals with permanent visual impairments. Although there is a slight improvement when users are unaware of the overlay’s presence, overall, UX and usability are considered marginal at best and deteriorate upon recognition and interaction with an accessibility overlay. Furthermore, the research displays that accessibility overlays in their current form cannot meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards. The study also finds that users with permanent visual impairments are generally hesitant to engage with accessibility overlays and prefer to rely on their existing access technologies. However, they are willing to use accessibility overlays under improved conditions, which are discussed in the thesis. The empirical knowledge gained guides future technology, designs, policies, and research to create a more inclusive digital world. / Heutzutage sind 66,2% der Weltbevölkerung über das Internet miteinander verbunden. Der Zugang zu digitalen Informationen ist ein fundamentales Menschenrecht, das soziale Inklusion und Chancengleichheit fördert. Jedoch weisen die meisten Webseiten Barrierefreiheitsfehler auf, die für Nutzer*innen mit Beeinträchtigungen eine erhebliche Hürde darstellen. Als potenzielle Lösungen für verbesserte Zugänglichkeit sind sogenannte "Accessibility Overlays" entstanden. Sie werden oft als Symbolleiste oder Widget auf einer Webseite angezeigt und ermöglichen es Nutzer*innen, ihr Navigationserlebnis durch verschiedene Anpassungen, wie zum Beispiel Änderungen der Schriftgröße oder des Farbkontrastes, per Mausklick, anzupassen. Einige Overlays nutzen außerdem Künstliche Intelligenz (KI), um Barrierefreiheitsfehler im Webseiten-Code zu erkennen und automatisch zu korrigieren. Obwohl Accessibility Overlays Barrierefreiheit und Zugänglichkeit beabsichtigen, werden sie von Teilen der Barrierefreiheits-Community aufgrund von Bedenken hinsichtlich ihrer Effektivität und Zielsetzung stark kritisiert.  Diese Masterarbeit untersucht die Auswirkungen von Accessibility-Overlays auf die Benutzungsfreundlichkeit und Nutzungserfahrung von Menschen mit dauerhafter Sehbeeinträchtigung. Die Arbeit adressiert damit eine existierende Lücke in der akademischen Forschung. Da etwa 4,3% der Weltbevölkerung eine visuelle Beeinträchtigung haben und diese Zahl aufgrund von Bevölkerungswachstum und -alterung weiter ansteigt, ist dieser Schwerpunkt relevant und zeitgemäß. Die durchgeführte Forschung umfasst eine Evaluierungsstudie, die in zwei Teile gegliedert ist: eine technische Evaluierung von Accessibility-Overlays anhand der Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 und eine Nutzer*innen-Studie, die Benutzungsfreundlichkeit und Nutzungserfahrung von 21 Personen mit dauerhaften Sehbeeinträchtigungen bei der Interaktion mit Webseiten, die ein Accessibility Overlay integriert haben, bewertet. Zusätzlich liefern Interviews mit zwei Berater*innen für Barrierefreiheit und zwei Unternehmensvertretern von Accessibility Overlays einen ergänzenden Beitrag zur Diskussion.  Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass Accessibility Overlays in ihrer derzeitigen Form die Benutzungsfreundlichkeit und Nutzungserfahrung für Personen mit dauerhaften Sehbeeinträchtigungen nicht signifikant verbessern. Obwohl eine leichte Verbesserung eintritt, wenn Benutzer*innen sich der Existenz eines Overlays nicht bewusst sind, wird die Nutzungserfahrung und Benutzungsfreundlichkeit insgesamt bestenfalls als marginal angesehen und verschlechtert sich, sobald ein Overlay erkannt und damit interagiert wird. Darüber hinaus zeigt die Forschung, dass Accessibility Overlays die WCAG 2.1 AA-Standards aktuell nicht erfüllen können. Die Studie kommt auch zu dem Ergebnis, dass Nutzer*innen generell zögern, sich auf Accessibility Overlays einzulassen und es vorziehen, sich auf ihre vorhandenen Zugangstechnologien zu verlassen. Allerdings sind die Nutzer*innen bereit, eine potenziell verbesserte Version von Accessibility Overlays zu nutzen, wie sie in dieser Masterarbeit abschließend diskutiert wird. Das gewonnene empirische Wissen dient als Orientierungshilfe für zukünftige Technologien, Designs, Richtlinien und Forschungsarbeiten, die darauf abzielen, eine inklusivere digitale Welt zu kreieren. / <p>This thesis was also submitted to the Master degree program MultiMediaTechnology at the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences, in fulfilment of the requirements for the double degree program with Halmstad University. </p>

Policing in The United Kingdom is an intricate business, balancing the enforcement of statute and other laws while dealing with public safety and security. Policing engages a diverse and complicated set of organisational structures and processes relying heavily on the skill and expertise of officers on the ground. Their role in preventing and or intercepting crime before, during and after it occurs is integral to sustaining peace, security, law and order in communities. The police operational and logistics staff work day to day with information and communication technologies, ranging from conventional databases and information systems to ubiquitous and specialised tools.  Understanding the use of technology and its management in policing has formed the backbone of this research conducted through a qualitative approach. This study adopted an interpretive paradigmic analytical lens using ethnography situated in the workplace as a methodology. The qualitative study took the form of field immersion for nine months using interviewing, and shadowing/observation to suit the complexity of the socio-technical context. Analysis was conducted using thematic analytical methods. Understanding how the police force interact with and shape the way that information and communication technologies enable them to fight crime is, then, the subject of this thesis. The findings highlighted the complexities and  intricacies involved in the use of technology, identifying unique differentiations in the way technology is engaged and integrated into policing including comparative understanding relative to other sectors and industries.  On the whole the central features of this work highlight understanding of the role information and communication technologies; usefulness, usage in practice and operational activity, strategic business goals, knowledge management, business intelligence and intelligence led architecture, governance and performance models in policing the county of Bedfordshire, England.

Background: Policy initiatives to promote sustainable travel through the use of Internet based public information systems have increased during the last decade. Stockholm, in being one of the first cities in Europe to implement an Internet based service for facilitating sustainable travel is believed to be a good candidate for an analysis of key issues for developing sustainable travel planning services to the public. Aim: This thesis investigates the past development of two Stockholm based public information systems and their services in order to draw lessons on how to better provide for a public information service geared towards facilitating  environmentally sustainable travel planning through information and communications technology. The overall goal of the thesis is to contribute to an understanding on how to better design and manage current and future attempts at facilitating sustainable travel planning services based on historical case studies. Approach: The thesis draws ideas from the concept of organizational responsiveness – an organization’s ability to listen, understand and respond to demands put to it by its internal and external stakeholders – in order to depict how well or not the two public information systems and their owners have adapted to established norms and values of their surroundings. Results: Overall, the findings from the historical case studies suggest that organizations attempting to provide sustainable travel planning to the public need to design and manage their systems in such a way that it responds to shifting demands on how to provide for information. Implementing and embedding new technologies involves complex processes of change both at the micro level – for users and practitioners of the service – and at the meso level for the involved public service organizations themselves. This condition requires a contextualist framework to analyze and understand organizational, contextual and cultural issues involved in the adoption of new technologies and procedures. Conclusions: The thesis concludes with a discussion on how the findings from the historical case studies may provide lessons for both current and future attempts at providing public information systems geared towards facilitating environmentally sustainable travel planning to the public. Historical examples and issues concerning collective intelligence and peer to peer based forms of designing, producing and supervising public information services identified throughout the study are looked upon and discussed in terms of their possible role in increasing the potential for public information services to facilitate sustainable urban transport. / <p>QC 20140319</p> / TRACS, Travel Planner for Sustainable Cities

Even a professional photographer sometimes uses automatic default settings that come up with the camera to take a photo. One can debate the quality of outcome from manual vs automatic mode. Until and unless we have a professional level of competence in taking a photo, updating our skills/knowledge as per the latest market trends and having enough time to try out different settings manually, it is worthwhile to use Auto-mode. As camera manufacturers, after several iterations of testing, comes up with the list of ideal parameter values, which is embedded as a factory default setting when we choose auto-mode. For non-professional photographers or amateurs recommend using the auto-mode that comes with the camera for not missing the moment. Similarly, in the context of developing machine learning models, until and unless we have the required data-engineering and ML development competence, time to train and test different ML models and tune different hyper parameter settings, it is worth to try out to Automatic Machine learning feature provided out-of-shelf by all the Cloud-based and Cloud-agnostic ML platforms. This thesis deep dives into evaluating possibility of generating automatic machine learning models with no-code/low-code experience provided by GCP, AWS, Azure and Databricks. We have made a comparison between different ML platforms on generating automatic ML model and presenting the results. It also covers the lessons learnt by developing automatic ML models from a sample dataset across all four ML platforms. Later, we have outlined machine learning subject matter expert’s viewpoints about using Automatic Machine learning models. From this research, we found automatic machine learning can come handy for many off-the-shelf analytical use-cases, this can be highly beneficial especially for time-constrained projects, when resource competence or staffing is a bottleneck and even when competent data scientists want a second-opinion or compare AutoML results with the custom ML model built.

The smartphone is omnipresent and is cherished and held close by people. It allows for constant connection within a digitally connected society, as well as for many other purposes such as leisure activity or informational purpose. Within the Information Systems studies deeper investigation is required as to what impact this “taken – for – granted” mobile access to information and mobile apps has for individuals and society and if a “technological addiction”can be developed when using the smartphone for everything during the day on such a constant basis. The aim of this study was to understand the role of the smartphone in society and to shed light on this unclear relationship between the constant use of a smartphone and its development towards an addictive quality. To reach a conclusion, in depth – interviews were conducted with participants about their relationship to the smartphone and their smartphone use based on questions derived from literature on mobile communication technologies and the types of digital addictions existing. The results are that the smartphone is a device that seamlessly integrates into our daily lives in that we unconsciously use it as a tool to make our daily tasks more manageable, and enjoyable. It also supports us in getting better organized, to be in constant touch with family and friends remotely, and to be more mobile which is a useful ability in today’s mobility driven society. Smartphones have been found to inhabit a relatively low potential to addiction. Traits of voluntary behaviour, habitual behaviour, and mandatory behaviour of smartphone use have been found. All of these behaviours are not considered a true addiction. In the end, it seems that the increase of smartphone use is mainly due to the way we communicate nowadays digitally,and the shift in how we relate to our social peers using digital means.