Magister Artium - MA / The micro-enterprise sector, although associated with mostly informal businesses, shows promise of potential and transitioning to more formal businesses. With this in mind, the South African government recognizes that prioritized sectorial development is needed to stimulate growth particularly in the micro-enterprise sector. Considering that evidence reveals growth and development in small business practices being closely related to the use of different forms of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), if and when strategically applied. Therefore recognizing the importance of ICTs the South African government has embarked on various technology related initiatives to facilitate needed growth and development. Despite this, entrepreneurs in the micro-enterprise sector demonstrate a low uptake of ICTs for their business operations, including the use of mobile technologies which are the most common form of ICTs available to micro- entrepreneurs. Many previous studies have investigated the adoption and use of mobile technologies in the microenterprise sector, but despite this a low uptake of mobile technologies still exists. For this reason, this study investigates and empirically determines the factors influencing the adoption and use of mobile applications for micro-enterprise operations in South Africa, using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model as a lens. The research population comprised a group of micro-entrepreneurs who all are users of a common mobile application (mentorship-movement application). The main aim of the investigation was to determine (i) the factors influencing the adoption and use of mobile applications for micro- enterprise operation, (ii) if the experience gained and their satisfaction associated with using the mentorship-movement application will influence their behavioural intention to use other mobile applications for business. The study was conducted objectively and used hypothesis testing as the means of investigation. Data was collected through the use of a survey questionnaire. The findings of the study indicate that ii | P a g e performance expectancy and effort expectancy positively influences the micro-entrepreneurs behavioural intention to adopt and use mobile applications for micro-enterprise operations. The findings also observed that social influence has no impact on the micro- entrepreneurs’ behavioural intention to adopt and use mobile applications for business. Facilitating conditions and behavioural intention were found to positively influence the use behaviour of the micro-entrepreneurs when it comes to adoption and use of mobile applications for business. Moreover, the findings confirmed that experience and satisfaction in using one mobile application does not influence the behavioural intention of the micro-entrepreneurs to use other mobile applications for business. The factors which have been found to bear influence on the adoption and use of mobile applications amongst micro-entrepreneurs in South Africa have implications for both policy and practice. In particular, the findings of this study may be used to inform the design of the various programmatic interventions which seek to improve outcomes of the micro-entrepreneur sector. This includes interventions by the Department of Small Business Development and that of the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA).

Magister Commercii (Information Management) - MCom(IM) / The micro-enterprise sector, although associated with mostly informal businesses, shows promise of potential and transitioning to more formal businesses. With this in mind, the South African government recognizes that prioritized sectorial development is needed to stimulate growth particularly in the micro-enterprise sector. Considering that evidence reveals growth and development in small business practices being closely related to the use of different forms of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), if and when strategically applied. Therefore recognizing the importance of ICTs the South African government has embarked on various technology related initiatives to facilitate needed growth and development. Despite this, entrepreneurs in the micro-enterprise sector demonstrate a low uptake of ICTs for their business operations, including the use of mobile technologies which are the most common form of ICTs available to micro- entrepreneurs. Many previous studies have investigated the adoption and use of mobile technologies in the micro- enterprise sector, but despite this a low uptake of mobile technologies still exists. For this reason, this study investigates and empirically determines the factors influencing the adoption and use of mobile applications for micro-enterprise operations in South Africa, using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model as a lens. The research population comprised a group of micro-entrepreneurs who all are users of a common mobile application (mentorship-movement application). The main aim of the investigation was to determine (i) the factors influencing the adoption and use of mobile applications for micro- enterprise operation, (ii) if the experience gained and their satisfaction associated with using the mentorship-movement application will influence their behavioural intention to use other mobile applications for business. The study was conducted objectively and used hypothesis testing as the means of investigation. Data was collected through the use of a survey questionnaire. The findings of the study indicate that performance expectancy and effort expectancy positively influences the micro-entrepreneurs behavioural intention to adopt and use mobile applications for micro-enterprise operations. The findings also observed that social influence has no impact on the micro-entrepreneurs’ behavioural intention to adopt and use mobile applications for business. Facilitating conditions and behavioural intention were found to positively influence the use behaviour of the micro-entrepreneurs when it comes to adoption and use of mobile applications for business. Moreover, the findings confirmed that experience and satisfaction in using one mobile application does not influence the behavioural intention of the micro-entrepreneurs to use other mobile applications for business. The factors which have been found to bear influence on the adoption and use of mobile applications amongst micro-entrepreneurs in South Africa have implications for both policy and practice. In particular, the findings of this study may be used to inform the design of the various programmatic interventions which seek to improve outcomes of the micro-entrepreneur sector. This includes interventions by the Department of Small Business Development and that of the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA).

Data collection is one of the important components of public health systems. Decision makers, policy makers and health service providers need accurate and timely data in order to improve the quality of their services. The rapidly growing use of mobile technologies has increased pressure on the demand for mobile-based data collection solutions to bridge the information gaps in the health sector of the developing world. This study reviews existing health data collection systems and the available open source tools that can be used to improve these systems. We further propose a prototype using open source data collection frameworks to test their feasibility in improving the health data collection in the developing world context. We focused on the statistical health data, which are reported to secondary health facilities from primary health facilities. The proposed prototype offers ways of collecting health data through mobile phones and visualizes the collected data in a web application. Finally, we conducted a qualitative study to assess challenges in remote health data collection and evaluate usability and functionality of the proposed prototype. The evaluation of the prototype seems to show the feasibility of mobile technologies, particularly open source technologies, in improving the health data collection and reporting systems for the developing world.

yes / This paper presents an innovative application of wireless, mobile and ubiquitous technologies to support informal and collaborative learning in Kenyan rural farming communities. Such an approach is achieved by the development of a knowledge management system (KMS) integrated with existing local community communication channels, together with experimental knowledge management (KM) initiatives employing the VeSeL (Village e-Science for Life) distributed resource kits (DRKs). The initiatives support illiterate and semi-literate farming community groups, in learning new agriculture practices, and also enable the use of advanced digital technology to improve their agricultural practices and literacy levels. Results of a recent field trip to Kenya are presented and an application sketch is developed. The process of applying wireless and Internet technologies for the education of local farming communities, using irrigation and water management as the application, concludes the paper. / EPSRC

Cette thèse porte sur la valorisation du patrimoine marbrier des Pyrénées grâce aux technologies mobiles et se propose d’interroger le rôle de l’historien de l’art dans le développement de ces activités sur les territoires. Les marbres des Pyrénées sont abordés comme ressource géologique dont l’exploitation a façonné les paysages de la montagne et composé les architectures de palais royaux ; ces marbres intègrent le patrimoine sous toutes ses formes, du matériel à l’immatériel. Leur valorisation est multiforme, convoque les notions de paysage et de développement durable et interroge celle du terroir. D’un point de vue patrimonial, les technologies mobiles offrent de nouveaux moyens de médiation. Elles ouvrent ainsi de nouvelles perspectives, dont peuvent se saisir les acteurs impliqués dans la valorisation. Grâce au soutien de la société Camineo, spécialiste de médiation multimédia mobile, deux projets ont été déployés en regard l’un de l’autre : dans les Pyrénées et au domaine de Trianon à Versailles. Ils permettent de questionner l’apport de l’histoire de l’art à la production de récits de médiation patrimoniale et, plus généralement, au regard porté sur l’environnement. / This thesis focuses on the enhanced promotion of the the French Pyrenees’ marble heritage through the use of mobile technologies. It aims to question the role of the art historian in the development of these activities on such territories. The quarrying of these Pyrenean marbles, a valued geological resource, dramatically transformed the makeup of mountainous landscapes and shaped the architecture of royal palaces; these marbles are an integral part of our heritage, in both tangible and intangible forms. Their promotion is multifaceted, invoking our perception of the landscape, of sustainable development, and of the concept of terroir itself. From a heritage point of view, mobile technologies offer new channels for cultural mediation. They therefore open up new avenues which can be seized upon by those involved in the promotion of this patrimony. Thanks to the support of Camineo, a company specialising in the interpretation of the marble heritage through mobile technologies, two projects were led in conjunction: one in the Pyrenees and the other on the Domaine du Trianon in Versailles. This has enabled us to question the contribution of history of art in the production of outreach material about this heritage, and more generally, on our perception of the environment.

Submitted by Handherson Damasceno (handhersondamasceno@gmail.com) on 2014-10-14T01:58:23Z No. of bitstreams: 1 handhersondamasceno_dissertacao.pdf: 1193324 bytes, checksum: dad03f92155387455d57e85c090cbb4c (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Maria Auxiliadora da Silva Lopes (silopes@ufba.br) on 2014-10-16T17:46:11Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 handhersondamasceno_dissertacao.pdf: 1193324 bytes, checksum: dad03f92155387455d57e85c090cbb4c (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-16T17:46:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 handhersondamasceno_dissertacao.pdf: 1193324 bytes, checksum: dad03f92155387455d57e85c090cbb4c (MD5) / Os avanços e investimentos no campo tecnológico têm oportunizado, talvez pela primeira vez na história, que uma geração acompanhe de perto as meteóricas transformações e presencie o surgimento de aparelhos cada vez mais sofisticados, num curto espaço de tempo. Tem sido assim com o processo de criação das tecnologias móveis, cada vez mais modernas, minúsculas e potentes, cujas mudanças variam desde o tamanho até as interfaces, perpassando pela incorporação de sistemas operacionais, que possibilitam o uso de diversos aplicativos. Logo, é de suma importância o desenvolvimento de projetos nas escolas, a fim de se experimentar as potencialidades e possibilidades que as tecnologias móveis oferecem e, na tentativa de acompanhar as rápidas transformações oriundas do desenvolvimento tecnológico, sobretudo no tocante à mobilidade, há intenções governamentais materializadas no investimento em programas que visam ao uso dessas tecnologias nos espaços escolares. Diante disso, essa pesquisa investigou “de que maneira foi desencadeado o projeto 'Tecnologias Móveis: inserção dos tablets na educação' em escolas de Salvador”. Para isso, delineou-se a metodologia com abordagem qualitativa, em que a etnopesquisa serviu como inspiração. Percebeu-se que o mencionado projeto sofreu modificações ao longo do percurso, tanto no que diz respeito à operacionalização, como jogos de poder e conflitos de interesse por parte dos órgãos e, em tempo, desconsiderou-se a necessidade do investimento em infraestrutura adequada. / ABSTRACTS Advances and investments in technological fields have oportunizado, perhaps for the first time in history, a generation that follow closely the meteoric Witness transformations and the emergence of increasingly sophisticated devices, in a short time. It has been so with the creation process of the increasingly modern, sensitive and powerful, mobile technologies whose size range from changes to the interfaces, passing through the incorporation of operating systems, which enable the use of various applications. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to develop projects in schools, in order to experience the potential and possibilities that mobile technologies offer and trying to keep up with rapid changes arising from technological development, especially in relation to mobility, there materialized government intentions investment in programs aimed at the use of mobile technologies in school spaces. Therefore, this research investigates "whose manner was initiated the project 'Mobile Technologies insertion of tablets in education'? Schools in Salvador." For this, outlined the methodology with qualitative approach, in which the etnopesquisa served as inspiration. It was realized that the project was modified along the way, both with regard to the operation, as power games and conflicts of interest by the agencies, and time, dismissed the need of investment in appropriate infrastructure.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:16:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 6716.pdf: 2045773 bytes, checksum: 14899cf487375e045a48a94d37c7a433 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-02-23 / Mobile learning refers to learning processes supported by the use of mobile and wireless technologies, in the process of teaching and learning. This research aims at studying the literature and the use experiences of mobile technologies, such as mobile phones and tablets, in education, by observing the adopted materials and methods, and the results obtained. After a literature review, an exploratory study was conducted through interviews with course coordinators and questionnaires with students and teachers in order to identify which resources of mobile technologies have been used in virtual graduate courses and with which academic purpose. The results show a major concern of the universities analyzed for the adaptation of their teaching materials and the development of specific tools for mobile learning. The study showed that most students and teachers of this study is making an adapted use of the mobile communication technologies. This use involves the access to teaching material (reading, video, audio), the interactive environments (student/student, student/teacher, teacher/teacher), the school calendar and even file sharing from mobile devices. Of the four courses analyzed, only one is making systematic use of mobile devices, which is the course of Musical Education, from the Federal University of São Carlos, which has 25 subjects (54% of the offered courses) with teaching materials developed specifically for use on mobile devices, through the ePub. The results obtained in this study may be useful to the institutions analyzed and other interested, by supporting the development or improvement of pedagogical practices involving mobile communication devices. / A aprendizagem móvel se refere a processos de aprendizagem apoiados pelo uso de tecnologias móveis e sem fio, no processo de ensino e aprendizagem. Este trabalho tem como objetivo estudar, na literatura, experiências de uso de recursos das tecnologias móveis (celulares, tablets, e similares) na educação em geral, observando materiais e métodos adotados, e resultados obtidos. Após a revisão de literatura, foi realizado um estudo exploratório (entrevistas com coordenadores de curso e de tecnologia, e questionários com alunos e professores) com o objetivo de identificar quais recursos das tecnologias móveis têm sido utilizados em cursos de graduação virtual e com qual finalidade acadêmica. Os resultados apontam uma grande preocupação das universidades analisadas com relação à adaptação de seus materiais didáticos e desenvolvimento de ferramentas específicas para a aprendizagem com mobilidade. O estudo mostrou que a maioria dos alunos/professores das universidades objeto deste estudo está fazendo um uso adaptado das tecnologias móveis de comunicação. Esse uso envolve o acesso ao material didático (leitura, vídeo, áudio), a ambientes de interação (aluno/aluno, aluno/professor, professor/professor), à agenda de atividades escolares e ainda o compartilhamento de arquivos a partir de dispositivos móveis. Dos quatro cursos analisados, apenas um está fazendo o uso sistematizado dos dispositivos móveis, que é o curso de Educação Musical da Universidade Federal de São Carlos, que possui 25 disciplinas (54% das disciplinas ofertadas) com materiais didáticos desenvolvidos especificamente para o uso em dispositivos móveis, através do ePub. Os resultados obtidos nesta pesquisa poderão servir de apoio, para as instituições analisadas e para outras interessadas, subsidiando o desenvolvimento ou o aprimoramento de práticas pedagógicas que envolvam dispositivos móveis de comunicação.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-14T12:36:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 2014476 bytes, checksum: 96ff6c20c180940713337a9f7649546e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-12-16 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The cinema has evolved continuously since its inception. Started to have sound and colours; visual, special, three-dimensional and multisensory effects, and now, interactivity. These changes have provided to the public increasingly realistic experiences while viewing a movie. These experiences can be obtained through technologies deployed in audiovisual and sometimes in his own screening room to capture the movement or the voice of the audience, with the purpose of providing a direct interaction of the viewer with the film displayed. New versions of technological tools are constantly emerging to assist the cinematography. However, the prior techniques do not cease to exist, all has been embedded, aggregating in a process of evolution and technical repositioning, making it possible to use the interactivity. Here we developed a system called MERCI, which provides the interaction between viewers and the audiovisual by sending text messages via mobile. The MERCI also provides technical support to the nonlinear film-editing of the audiovisual narrative and the user management. The director or the editor of the work will be responsible for handling these issues. Some work already developed were compared to MERCI, however here is to offer a model of interactivity which uses a new way to plan and develop the narrative. / O cinema tem evoluído continuamente desde a sua criação. Passou a ter som, cores, efeitos visuais, especiais, tridimensionais, multissensoriais, e agora interatividade. Tais mudanças têm proporcionado ao público experiências cada vez mais realistas durante a exibição de um filme. Estas podem ser obtidas através de tecnologias implantadas no audiovisual e, algumas vezes, na própria sala de projeção para captação de movimento da plateia ou da voz de espectadores, com a finalidade de proporcionar uma interação direta do espectador com o filme exibido. Novas versões de ferramentas tecnológicas surgem constantemente para auxiliar a cinematografia, no entanto, as técnicas que as antecederam não deixam de existir, todas têm se encaixado, agregando-se em um processo de evolução e reposicionamento técnico tornando possível o uso da interatividade. Apresentamos aqui um sistema intitulado MERCI, que proporciona a interação entre espectadores e o audiovisual através do envio de mensagens de texto realizado por meio de dispositivo móvel. O MERCI também fornece o suporte técnico à montagem não linear da narrativa audiovisual e ao gerenciamento de usuários. O diretor ou o montador da obra será o responsável pela manipulação destes aspectos. Alguns trabalhos foram comparados ao MERCI, entretanto este vem a oferecer um modelo de interatividade que se utiliza de uma outra forma para planejar e desenvolver a narrativa.

Submitted by FABERSON AUGUSTO FERRASI null (faberson.ferrasi@gmail.com) on 2017-05-28T17:26:24Z No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertassão_mestrado_Faberson Ferrasi_PPGMiT_2017.pdf: 1812047 bytes, checksum: 79b5df7e4bd32070c135e865cd18834d (MD5) / Rejected by Luiz Galeffi (luizgaleffi@gmail.com), reason: Solicitamos que realize uma nova submissão seguindo a orientação abaixo: O arquivo submetido não contém o certificado de aprovação com as assinaturas dos membros da banca (de acordo com as normas de sua unidade). Corrija esta informação e realize uma nova submissão com o arquivo correto. Agradecemos a compreensão. on 2017-05-31T16:24:51Z (GMT) / Submitted by FABERSON AUGUSTO FERRASI null (faberson.ferrasi@gmail.com) on 2017-05-31T17:36:12Z No. of bitstreams: 1 ferrasi_fa_me_bauru.pdf: 1814213 bytes, checksum: 548e7d51b663c5c3ae30e2fa3eafec17 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luiz Galeffi (luizgaleffi@gmail.com) on 2017-05-31T17:43:58Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 ferrasi_fa_me_bauru.pdf: 1814213 bytes, checksum: 548e7d51b663c5c3ae30e2fa3eafec17 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-31T17:43:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ferrasi_fa_me_bauru.pdf: 1814213 bytes, checksum: 548e7d51b663c5c3ae30e2fa3eafec17 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-04-17 / Este trabalho tem por objetivo mostrar os resultados de um estudo exploratório sobre a evolução da Internet e conceituar sua fase atual denomina-se Internet das Coisas (Internet of Things - IoT). Tal conceito se apresenta como uma revolução tecnológica e oferece um grande potencial de inovação para diversas áreas. Nesta ocasião, são abordadas as possíveis inovações no uso dos dispositivos móveis alinhados ao seu potencial de comunicação com a Internet. Para isto, foi desenvolvido um experimento apoiado nas tecnologias, com o uso de dispositivos móveis, como smartphones e sensores de proximidade (beacons). Por meio do desenvolvimento de uma aplicação, são oferecidos recursos para captação autônoma de dados sobre a detecção da presença de pessoas em ambientes físicos. Através disso, oferecer um melhor gerenciamento dos dados obtidos e a possibilidade de outras formas de compartilhamento das informações geradas através da Internet, evidenciando, assim, o potencial de aplicação dos conceitos propostos na Internet das Coisas, foco central do projeto. / This work aims to show the results of an exploratory study on the evolution of the Internet and conceptualize its current phase is called Internet of Things (IoT). This concept presents itself as a technological revolution and offers great potential for innovation in several areas. This occasion, the possible innovations in the use of the mobile devices in line with their potential of communication with the Internet are approached. For this, an experiment was developed based on the technologies, with the use of mobile devices, such as smartphones and proximity sensors (beacons). Through the development of an application, resources are provided for autonomous capture of data on the detection of the presence of people in physical environments. Through this, offer a better management of the data obtained and the possibility of other forms of sharing of the information generated through the Internet, thus evidencing the potential of applying the concepts proposed in the Internet of Things, central focus of the project.

This thesis has its starting point in the digitalization of society focusing on the rapid development of mobile technologies and the increasing interplay between humans and machines. The use of information and communication technologies (ICT) is extending at a fast pace, affecting all parts of society, and the everyday life of most individuals. The fast progressing development of mobile technologies (smartphones and their accessories/ wearable’s) is creating new trends such as health tracking and quantified self. These mobile technologies can register an increasing number of physiological features, implying that the interconnection between the physiological and digital systems is increasing. This creates a range of new possibilities within health and medical research but it also creates new challenges and the need for new knowledge in how we relate these devices to our bodies. In the psychological perspective, smartphone use is increasing and previous studies imply that these devices are affecting our behaviour, our mental health as well as our cognitive functions. This implies for a need to understand the relation we have to these devices also in a psychological perspective, focusing on emotions and cognition. This study set out to explore the relation between humans and technologies from a systems perspective. The research question involved: How are users and smartphones related in physical and psychological perspectives? The methods used were questionnaires and interviews. The respondents were students in two European universities, who described their experiences of smartphone use, and three doctors (in medicine and biomedicine) that provided interesting aspects in how mobile technologies can be related to the human body from a system perspective   In a physical perspective the users as well as their physical environments could be described as converging with the digital systems. The need of being connected and have access to all life-spheres at once seemed to be an important driving force, implying that users are dependent on information and a converged life-style. In a psychological perspective, the emotional bond seemed stronger then the actual physical need. The perceptions of smartphones differed, but a common denominator described by both Swedish and Albanian users, was the perception of the smartphone as something with human-like features, comparable to a friend. The last part of the study concerned if smartphones can be seen as a new entity of our own system, comparable to an organ. The result suggests that this depends on the individual use, if the technologies is used to sustain health, the value it provides, and it is also a matter of the users ontological believes. The concept of physio-digital convergence is proposed as a new concept to analyse the development of increasing use of mobile technologies further.