Society is increasingly on the move, mobile devices are commonly being used to coordinate group actions, and group communication features are rapidly being added to existing technologies. Despite this, little is known about how mobile groups act, or how communications technologies should be designed to augment existing behaviour. This is partially due to minimal research being done on the topic, but also to the lack of research methods available to study the topic with. Mobile groups are challenging to study because of frequent and long-duration movement, frequent distribution, and the rapidly changing environments they operate within. To address these issues, this research focuses on methodological issues surrounding the development of mobile devices for mobile groups and communities. More specifically it addresses backpackers, who are a relevant example of this type of community. The research primarily explores the convergence of computer supported cooperative work (CSCW) and the field of mobile device development. This enables the combination of emphasis on designing technologies for groups, social implications, mobile device design, and mobile settings. Major research outcomes presented in this thesis lie in three areas: 1) methods, 2) technology designs, and 3) backpacker culture. Five studies of backpacker behaviour and requirements form the core of the research. The methods used are in-situ and exploratory, and apply both novel and existing techniques to the domain of backpackers and mobile groups. Methods demonstrated in this research include: field trips for exploring mobile group behaviour and device usage, a social pairing exercise to explore social networks, contextual postcards to gain distributed feedback, and blog analysis which provides post-hoc diary data. Theoretical contributions include: observations on method triangulation, a taxonomy of mobility research, method templates to assist method usage, and identification of key categories leading to mobile group requirements. Design related outcomes include: 57 mobile tourism product ideas, a format for conveying product concepts, and a design for a wearable device to assist mobile researchers. Our understanding of backpacker culture has also improved as a consequence of the research. It has also generated user requirements to aid mobile development, methods of visualising mobile groups and communities, and a listing of relevant design tensions. Additionally, the research has added to our understanding of how new technologies such as blogs, SMS and iPods are being used by backpackers and how mobile groups naturally communicate.

Society is increasingly on the move, mobile devices are commonly being used to coordinate group actions, and group communication features are rapidly being added to existing technologies. Despite this, little is known about how mobile groups act, or how communications technologies should be designed to augment existing behaviour. This is partially due to minimal research being done on the topic, but also to the lack of research methods available to study the topic with. Mobile groups are challenging to study because of frequent and long-duration movement, frequent distribution, and the rapidly changing environments they operate within. To address these issues, this research focuses on methodological issues surrounding the development of mobile devices for mobile groups and communities. More specifically it addresses backpackers, who are a relevant example of this type of community. The research primarily explores the convergence of computer supported cooperative work (CSCW) and the field of mobile device development. This enables the combination of emphasis on designing technologies for groups, social implications, mobile device design, and mobile settings. Major research outcomes presented in this thesis lie in three areas: 1) methods, 2) technology designs, and 3) backpacker culture. Five studies of backpacker behaviour and requirements form the core of the research. The methods used are in-situ and exploratory, and apply both novel and existing techniques to the domain of backpackers and mobile groups. Methods demonstrated in this research include: field trips for exploring mobile group behaviour and device usage, a social pairing exercise to explore social networks, contextual postcards to gain distributed feedback, and blog analysis which provides post-hoc diary data. Theoretical contributions include: observations on method triangulation, a taxonomy of mobility research, method templates to assist method usage, and identification of key categories leading to mobile group requirements. Design related outcomes include: 57 mobile tourism product ideas, a format for conveying product concepts, and a design for a wearable device to assist mobile researchers. Our understanding of backpacker culture has also improved as a consequence of the research. It has also generated user requirements to aid mobile development, methods of visualising mobile groups and communities, and a listing of relevant design tensions. Additionally, the research has added to our understanding of how new technologies such as blogs, SMS and iPods are being used by backpackers and how mobile groups naturally communicate.

Society is increasingly on the move, mobile devices are commonly being used to coordinate group actions, and group communication features are rapidly being added to existing technologies. Despite this, little is known about how mobile groups act, or how communications technologies should be designed to augment existing behaviour. This is partially due to minimal research being done on the topic, but also to the lack of research methods available to study the topic with. Mobile groups are challenging to study because of frequent and long-duration movement, frequent distribution, and the rapidly changing environments they operate within. To address these issues, this research focuses on methodological issues surrounding the development of mobile devices for mobile groups and communities. More specifically it addresses backpackers, who are a relevant example of this type of community. The research primarily explores the convergence of computer supported cooperative work (CSCW) and the field of mobile device development. This enables the combination of emphasis on designing technologies for groups, social implications, mobile device design, and mobile settings. Major research outcomes presented in this thesis lie in three areas: 1) methods, 2) technology designs, and 3) backpacker culture. Five studies of backpacker behaviour and requirements form the core of the research. The methods used are in-situ and exploratory, and apply both novel and existing techniques to the domain of backpackers and mobile groups. Methods demonstrated in this research include: field trips for exploring mobile group behaviour and device usage, a social pairing exercise to explore social networks, contextual postcards to gain distributed feedback, and blog analysis which provides post-hoc diary data. Theoretical contributions include: observations on method triangulation, a taxonomy of mobility research, method templates to assist method usage, and identification of key categories leading to mobile group requirements. Design related outcomes include: 57 mobile tourism product ideas, a format for conveying product concepts, and a design for a wearable device to assist mobile researchers. Our understanding of backpacker culture has also improved as a consequence of the research. It has also generated user requirements to aid mobile development, methods of visualising mobile groups and communities, and a listing of relevant design tensions. Additionally, the research has added to our understanding of how new technologies such as blogs, SMS and iPods are being used by backpackers and how mobile groups naturally communicate.

Submitted by JOSIANE SANTOS DE OLIVEIRA (josianeso) on 2018-08-06T15:00:32Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Marcelo Curth_.pdf: 3523824 bytes, checksum: 18ecaadf7b6998969313b3cd3ad001c1 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-06T15:00:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Marcelo Curth_.pdf: 3523824 bytes, checksum: 18ecaadf7b6998969313b3cd3ad001c1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-04-04 / Nenhuma / O presente trabalho teve o objetivo de propor e testar um modelo teórico que considerou as relações entre envolvimento cognitivo, envolvimento afetivo, identidade social, laços de interação social, flow e intenção de compra. Para atingir os objetivos do estudo, inicialmente, foi realizada uma busca sistemática de elementos teóricos para composição do modelo e proposição das hipóteses. A partir disso foram realizados dois estudos por meio de uma survey, com 244 e 269 respondentes, respectivamente, com participantes de comunidades mobile (m-comunidades). O modelo teórico foi testado utilizando a técnica de Modelagem de Equações Estruturais (MEE). Além do teste do modelo e das hipóteses, também foi verificada a mediação dos construtos identidade social, laços de interação social e flow entre os construtos envolvimento cognitivo, envolvimento afetivo e intenção de compra. Os resultados indicaram que o envolvimento afetivo possui relação positiva na identidade social, o que não ocorreu com o envolvimento cognitivo nos dois estudos. A relação entre identidade social e intenção de compra foi suportada apenas no primeiro estudo. Para as outras relações, o primeiro estudo suportou as relações entre envolvimento afetivo e identidade social com laços de interação, envolvimento afetivo e identidade social com flow. No segundo estudo, os resultados mostraram suporte para a relação entre envolvimento cognitivo e identidade social com laços de interação, envolvimento cognitivo e identidade social com flow, além dos laços de interação com intenção de compra. Constatou-se um efeito mediador dos laços de interação com os envolvimentos e intenção de compra, sendo completa no primeiro estudo e parcial no segundo. Além disso, verificou-se que a identidade social e o flow não apresentaram efeito mediador entre os envolvimentos e intenção de compra. Por fim, a tese contribui em termos acadêmicos e gerenciais, possibilitando avanços no entendimento dos antecedentes da identidade social e as relações com a intenção de compra, demonstrando efeitos mediadores dos laços de interação. / The present study aimed to propose and test a theoretical model that considered the relationships between cognitive involvement, affective involvement, social identity, social interaction ties, flow, and purchase intent. In order to achieve the objectives of the study, initially, it was carried out a systematic search for theoretical elements for creating the model and the proposition of hypotheses. The two studies were carried out with a survey, with 244 and 269 respondents, respectively, with participants from mobile communities (m-communities). The theoretical model was tested by using the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). In addition to the test of the model and the hypotheses, it was also analyzed the mediation of the constructs: social identity constructs, social interaction ties, and flow among the constructs cognitive involvement, affective involvement, and purchase intention. The results showed that the affective involvement has a positive relationship on the social identity. This did not occur with the cognitive involvement in both studies. The relationship between social identity and purchase intention was supported only in the first study. For the other relationships, the first study supported the relationships between affective involvement and social identity with interactions ties, affective involvement, and social identity with flow. In the second study, results show support to the relationship between cognitive involvement and social identity with interaction ties, cognitive involvement and social identity with flow, in addition to the interaction ties with purchase intent. It is seen a mediator effect of the interaction ties with the involvements and purchase intent, with the first study being complete and the second study being partial. In addition, it was found that social identity and flow did not present a mediator effect between involvements and purchase intent. Finally, the thesis is a contribution in academic and managerial terms, making it possible for advances in understanding the background to the social identity and relationships with the purchase intent, while showing mediator effects of the interaction ties.

Mobile technology has allowed the traditional boundaries that exist between formal learning and informal learning to blend. The purpose of this research is to understand and describe the use of established and new “support networks” and the process of knowledge acquisition and knowledge creation in a formal learning environment. Factors affecting the design, testing and ultimate feasibility of using mobile devices such as cell phones to enhance teaching and learning in well-resourced developed, and under-resourced developing schools are identified. Findings in this study point to the general acceptance of using mobile technology as a readily available vehicle, to provide access to contents and allow learners to contribute to the collective body of knowledge from their own perspective. Copyright 2007, University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. Please cite as follows: Batchelor, J 2007, Mobile information communication and technology use in secondary schools : a feasibility study, MEd dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd < http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-09102007-161045 / > / Dissertation (MEd (Computer Integrated Education))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Curriculum Studies / unrestricted