This research examined lecturers’ perspectives on the academic use of Facebook, specifically for teaching, in a higher education institution in Gauteng, South Africa. A survey research design was followed, and semi-structured interviews were conducted. The study sought to fill the gap in the Social Networking Sites literature by focusing on lecturers’ perspectives, ascertaining how lecturers use Facebook as an academic teaching tool and determining the advantages and disadvantages thereof, and attempting to add to the debate on whether or not higher education settings could add the use of Facebook to their range of practices that may enhance teaching. The sample comprised fourteen respondents. It has emerged that lecturers are not, for the most part, utilising Facebook as an academic teaching tool. Based on the findings, a framework on how lecturers could integrate Facebook into academia is proposed. / Computing / M. Sc. (Computing)

Esta pesquisa insere-se nos estudos de ciências da sustentabilidade, com foco no desenvolvimento territorial sustentável. O objetivo foi identificar a contribuição do capital social, expresso por meio da rede social Colab, para o desenvolvimento territorial sustentável, no contexto dos 14 municípios que compõe o Núcleo Urbano Central da Região Metropolitana de Curitiba. A pesquisa teve como base conceitual a utilização dos três capitais: natural, social e construído. Como procedimentos metodológicos, foram realizados: catalogação dos dados do Colab; categorização conforme modelo analítico e caracterização do capital social. Os resultados apontam para expressiva participação dos usuários do Colab no município de Curitiba. Dos 12.531 seguidores do Colab, 93,77% são de Curitiba, 94% homens, com idade entre 30 e 39 anos. Das 9.338 demandas recebidas pelo Colab, 8.724 foram de fiscalizações, 578 de propostas e 36 de avaliações. Em relação à categoria fiscalização, a maior demanda foi por fiscalização de estacionamento irregular (capital social - normas e valores). Em relação às propostas, a maior demanda foi por fiscalização de trânsito (capital construído - serviços da administração pública). Em relação às avaliações, a maior demanda foi em relação à rodoviária (capital construído - infraestrutura pública e sistemas de transportes). Quanto o somatório dos dados do Colab, o resultado foi a predominância do capital construído (macrocategoria infraestrutura pública e serviços da administração pública). A partir dos resultados foi possível identificar a contribuição do capital social, expresso por meio do Colab, para o DTS da RMC. Essa contribuição ocorre por meio de: a) A própria participação, cidadania e engajamento por meio do Colab; b) Da criação e fortalecimento dos laços sociais; c) Ao apontar mobilidade urbana como principal demanda. Praticamente não apareceram demandas em relação ao capital natural. Do ponto de vista prático, os resultados quantitativos e qualitativos são um alerta para a administração pública, para a necessidade de discutir e implantar políticas públicas que contemplem um sistema de mobilidade urbana sustentável. / This research is part of sustainability science studies, with a target on sustainable territorial development. The objective was to identify the social capital contribution, expressed through the Colab social network, for sustainable territorial development in the context of the 14 municipalities that make up the Central Urban Center of the Metropolitan Region of Curitiba. The research had as a conceptual basis the use of three capitals: natural, social and built. As methodological procedures, the Colab data were cataloged; categorization according to the analytical model and characterization of social capital.The results indicate the significant participation of Colab users in the city of Curitiba.Of the 12,531 Colab followers, 94% are males, between 30 and 39 years old, 93.77% from Curitiba.Of the 9,338 complaints received by Colab, 8,724 were inspections, 578 of proposals and 36 of evaluations. In regard to the inspection category, the greatest demand was due toinspection of irregular parking (social capital - standards and values).In regard to the proposals, the greatest demand was for traffic control (built capital - public administration services).In regard to the evaluations, the greatest demand was in relation to the road (built capital - public infrastructure and transport systems).As for the sum of the Colab data, the result was the predominance of constructed capital (macrocategory of public infrastructure and public administration services).From the results it was possible to identify the contribution of social capital, expressed through Colab, to the DTS of the MRC.This contribution occurs through: a) The participation, citizenship and engagement through Colab; b) The creation and strengthening of social ties; c) Focusing on urban mobility as the main demand. Virtually no demands were made on natural capital.From a practical point of view, the quantitative and qualitative results are an alert for the public administration, for the need to discuss and implement public policies that contemplate a system of sustainable urban mobility.

Esta pesquisa insere-se nos estudos de ciências da sustentabilidade, com foco no desenvolvimento territorial sustentável. O objetivo foi identificar a contribuição do capital social, expresso por meio da rede social Colab, para o desenvolvimento territorial sustentável, no contexto dos 14 municípios que compõe o Núcleo Urbano Central da Região Metropolitana de Curitiba. A pesquisa teve como base conceitual a utilização dos três capitais: natural, social e construído. Como procedimentos metodológicos, foram realizados: catalogação dos dados do Colab; categorização conforme modelo analítico e caracterização do capital social. Os resultados apontam para expressiva participação dos usuários do Colab no município de Curitiba. Dos 12.531 seguidores do Colab, 93,77% são de Curitiba, 94% homens, com idade entre 30 e 39 anos. Das 9.338 demandas recebidas pelo Colab, 8.724 foram de fiscalizações, 578 de propostas e 36 de avaliações. Em relação à categoria fiscalização, a maior demanda foi por fiscalização de estacionamento irregular (capital social - normas e valores). Em relação às propostas, a maior demanda foi por fiscalização de trânsito (capital construído - serviços da administração pública). Em relação às avaliações, a maior demanda foi em relação à rodoviária (capital construído - infraestrutura pública e sistemas de transportes). Quanto o somatório dos dados do Colab, o resultado foi a predominância do capital construído (macrocategoria infraestrutura pública e serviços da administração pública). A partir dos resultados foi possível identificar a contribuição do capital social, expresso por meio do Colab, para o DTS da RMC. Essa contribuição ocorre por meio de: a) A própria participação, cidadania e engajamento por meio do Colab; b) Da criação e fortalecimento dos laços sociais; c) Ao apontar mobilidade urbana como principal demanda. Praticamente não apareceram demandas em relação ao capital natural. Do ponto de vista prático, os resultados quantitativos e qualitativos são um alerta para a administração pública, para a necessidade de discutir e implantar políticas públicas que contemplem um sistema de mobilidade urbana sustentável. / This research is part of sustainability science studies, with a target on sustainable territorial development. The objective was to identify the social capital contribution, expressed through the Colab social network, for sustainable territorial development in the context of the 14 municipalities that make up the Central Urban Center of the Metropolitan Region of Curitiba. The research had as a conceptual basis the use of three capitals: natural, social and built. As methodological procedures, the Colab data were cataloged; categorization according to the analytical model and characterization of social capital.The results indicate the significant participation of Colab users in the city of Curitiba.Of the 12,531 Colab followers, 94% are males, between 30 and 39 years old, 93.77% from Curitiba.Of the 9,338 complaints received by Colab, 8,724 were inspections, 578 of proposals and 36 of evaluations. In regard to the inspection category, the greatest demand was due toinspection of irregular parking (social capital - standards and values).In regard to the proposals, the greatest demand was for traffic control (built capital - public administration services).In regard to the evaluations, the greatest demand was in relation to the road (built capital - public infrastructure and transport systems).As for the sum of the Colab data, the result was the predominance of constructed capital (macrocategory of public infrastructure and public administration services).From the results it was possible to identify the contribution of social capital, expressed through Colab, to the DTS of the MRC.This contribution occurs through: a) The participation, citizenship and engagement through Colab; b) The creation and strengthening of social ties; c) Focusing on urban mobility as the main demand. Virtually no demands were made on natural capital.From a practical point of view, the quantitative and qualitative results are an alert for the public administration, for the need to discuss and implement public policies that contemplate a system of sustainable urban mobility.

In recent years, middleware for mobile social network has attracted the attention of academia, causing the design and development of various approaches by researchers. This type of middleware facilitates and makes more efficient the development process of mobile social networking applications. Furthermore, middleware solutions also abstract the communication process with others applications, allowing the acquisition, persistence and reuse of social context information and location of users, besides providing API so that developers can access this information quickly and build new social applications. With a view to supporting this new trend of research, this thesis proposes a middleware for mobile social networking, called My-Direct, which makes use of Wi-Fi Direct technology together with the Bluetooth, aiming to provide flexible communication between the nodes of the mobile social network. Along with My-Direct also was be created a mechanism for user privacy based on information available on mobile device, so that the execution of social activities occurs just between partners with some degree of affinity. / Nos últimos anos, o tema middleware para redes sociais móveis têm atraído a atenção do meio acadêmico, causando o projeto e desenvolvimento de diversas soluções por parte dos pesquisadores. Esse tipo de middleware facilita e torna mais eficiente o pro­cesso de desenvolvimento de aplicações de redes sociais para o ambiente móvel. Além disso, essas soluções de middleware também abstraem o processo de comunicação entre parceiros e permitem a aquisição, persistência e reuso de informações de contexto social e de localização do usuário, além de disponibilizarem API para que os desenvolvedores possam acessar essas informações rapidamente e construir novas aplicações sociais Tendo em vista colaborar para esta nova tendência de pesquisa, esta dissertação propõe uma arquitetura de middleware para redes sociais móveis chamada de My-Direct que faz uso da tecnologia Wi-Fi Direct em conjunto com o Bluetooth, visando proporci­onar comunicação flexível entre os nós da rede social móvel. Junto ao My-Direct, tam­bém foi criado um mecanismo de privacidade para o usuário baseado em informações disponíveis no dispositivo móvel, de forma que a execução de atividades sociais ocorra apenas entre parceiros com algum grau de afinidade.

This paper reports an experience on teaching the design, implementation and development of a WebQuest using Facebook as hosting online environment in order to enhance the teachinglearning process. The experiment was conducted in the period from 2011 to 2013 in a discipline of Technical Course in Tourism Guide Federal Institute of Sergipe - IFS. Methodologically, we opted for a qualitative research guided the case study, using as instruments to produce data to theoretical discussion of the categories of support to the object of study, application and interpretation of questionnaires, implementation and monitoring of the experiment and techniques observation. Thus, after the lifting of the theoretical categories of study, we identified the social profile, professional and cyberculture research subjects, then created a tutorial for hosting and developing WebQuests on Facebook, subsequently elaborated a WebQuest can provide information covered in the discipline of the course in question and to be hosted and enforceable by the social network Facebook. During the activities can be seen that, as provided in the proposed components of the WebQuest, the teacher and the learners, using media texts, photos and videos, researched, selected, published and discussed various information about the historical, cultural, geographical and the main natural routes and tourist attractions in Brazil. The survey results reveal that the WebQuest is a strategic approach to training professional Tourist Guide and your hosting and development on Facebook to become a powerful tool for research and production of meaningful knowledge, which leads to the practice of autonomous learning and collaborative. / Este trabalho relata uma experiência pedagógica sobre a elaboração, aplicação e o desenvolvimento de uma WebQuest usando o Facebook como ambiente on line de hospedagem a fim de potencializar o processo ensino-aprendizagem. O experimento foi desenvolvido no período de 2011 a 2013 em uma disciplina do Curso Técnico em Guia de Turismo do Instituto Federal de Sergipe IFS. Metodologicamente, optou-se pela investigação do tipo qualitativa pautada no estudo de caso, utilizando como instrumentos para a produção de dados a discussão teórica das categorias de suporte ao objeto de estudo, aplicação e interpretação de questionários, aplicação e monitoramento do experimento e técnicas de observação. Assim, após o levantamento teórico das categorias de estudo, identificou-se o perfil social, profissional e cibercultural dos sujeitos da pesquisa, em seguida criou-se um tutorial para hospedagem e desenvolvimento de WebQuests no Facebook, posteriormente elaborou-se uma WebQuest capaz de prover os conhecimentos previstos na disciplina do curso em questão e de ser hospedada e exeqüível pela rede social Facebook. No decorrer das atividades pode-se perceber que, conforme previsto nos componentes da WebQuest proposta, o professor e os aprendizes, utilizando mídias de textos, fotos e vídeos, pesquisaram, selecionaram, publicaram e discutiram diversas informações sobre os aspectos históricos, culturais, geográficos e naturais dos principais roteiros e atrativos turísticos do Brasil. Os resultados da pesquisa revelam que a WebQuest é uma metodologia estratégica para a formação profissional do Guia de Turismo e que sua hospedagem e desenvolvimento no Facebook a transformou em uma poderosa ferramenta de pesquisa e produção de conhecimentos significativos, os quais conduzem à prática da aprendizagem autônoma e colaborativa.

Les Réseaux Sociaux Numériques (RSN) constituent de réelles opportunités pour les bibliothèques des pays du Sud. Ces bibliothèques, en particulier, celles des universités ivoiriennes, vu leur environnement économique et technologique peinent à exister. Souvent méconnues ou même méprisées de leurs propres usagers, elles n’ont pas les moyens de communiquer et d‘interagir efficacement (à distance) avec leurs utilisateurs. Leurs fonds documentaires, leurs nouvelles acquisitions, leurs activités menées et les services rendus par elles sont ignorés des utilisateurs. Elles ne disposent que de moyens très limités, ne pouvant leur permettre de s’offrir un site internet, un catalogue en ligne et/ou d’assurer une excellente médiation informationnelle.<p>Dans un tel contexte, nous pensons que les bibliothèques des universités ivoiriennes devraient profiter des fonctionnalités qu’offrent gratuitement les RSN, pour rattraper leur retard technologique et améliorer leurs offres de services. Cependant, force est de constater que cela n’est pas le cas. Contrairement à leurs homologues des pays du Nord, les bibliothèques des pays ouest-africains ne semblent pas intéressées par ces opportunités offertes par les RSN, ni les enjeux et les défis qu’ils imposent aux bibliothèques et aux métiers de bibliothécaires.<p>Face à ce constat, nous nous sommes posé la question de savoir ce qu’il faudrait faire pour amener les bibliothécaires ivoiriens à utiliser les RSN dans leurs pratiques professionnelles ?Autrement dit, quels sont les facteurs qui pourraient favoriser l’adoption des RSN en situation professionnelle ?C’est donc à cette question principale de recherche que notre étude intitulée « Les déterminants de l’adoption en situation professionnelle des réseaux sociaux numériques :étude au sein des bibliothèques des universités ivoiriennes » se propose de répondre.<p>Notre recherche a pour objectif principal d’identifier et d’évaluer les facteurs déterminants de l’adoption des réseaux sociaux numériques au sein des bibliothèques des universités ivoiriennes afin d’en proposer un modèle théorique prédictif. Cet objectif principal a été décliné en trois objectifs spécifiques que sont :<p>•\ / Doctorat en Information et communication / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

The primary objective of this analysis is to uncover the tools of Facebook identity construction. Because Facebook users have the ability to control the images and information associated with their profiles, reactionary scholars typically classify Facebook identity as a symptom of cultural narcissism. However, I seek to displace the fixation on the newness of the medium in order to interrogate the possibility of a society that has internalized surveillance. Using Michel Foucault’s theories on panopticism and heterotopia, I examine the role photographs play in the construction of an individual on Facebook, and the ways in which user photographs are positioned into social memory construction.

Text in English with abstracts in English, Zulu and Sotho / Social media have taken a lead in academic libraries; however, there are still questions on how libraries are using social media tools to enhance their service delivery. The aim of this exploratory study was to investigate the use of social media tools by library staff working in the University of South Africa’s (Unisa) main library on the Muckleneuk Campus. Since it was realised that not all staff members use social media tools in the execution of their daily tasks, the first objective was to establish which staff members do use social media tools and for which purpose the tools are being used. A further objective was to learn about the potential advantages of social media tools to improve service delivery. The study also endeavoured to acquire an understanding of the challenges that social media tools present to its users. Based on the literature review, it could be established that libraries, and specifically academic libraries, utilise social media for marketing, dissemination of information, reference services, and communication with users and to answer student queries. The reported findings of this study concur with the findings reported in the literature review. The empirical data, which were collected through a qualitative survey questionnaire and interviews with library staff who use social media tools, revealed that only staff who communicate with library patrons, namely information processors and marketing staff, use social media tools. The findings also showed that the Unisa Library has specific guidelines and policies that guide the use of social media tools to interact with users, market the library and communicate events and service delivery changes. / Izinkundla zokuxhumana komphakathi sezihamba phambili emitapweni yolwazi yasemanyuvesi, kodwa kusanemibuzo eminingi maqondana nokuthi imitapo yolwazi iwasebenzisa kanjani amathuluzi ezinkundla zokuxhumana komphakathi ukuthuthukisa ukuhlinzekwa kwezidingo. Inhloso yalolu cwaningo oluhlola kabanzi kwakungukubheka ukuthi abasebenzi basemtapweni wolwazi omkhulu waseNyuvesi YaseNingizimu Afrika (i-Unisa) ekamu laseMuckleneuk bawasebenzisa kanjani amathuluzi ezinkundla zokuxhumana komphakathi. Njengoba sekwabonakala ukuthi akuwona wonke amalungu angabasebenzi asebenzisa amathuluzi ezinkundla zokuxhumana komphakathi ekuqhutshweni kwemisebenzi yawo yansuku zonke, injongo yokuqala kwakungukubheka ukuthi yimaphi amalungu omphakathi asebenzisa amathuluzi ezinkundla zokuxhumana komphakathi futhi awasebenzisela ukwenzani. Enye injongo kwakungukufunda mayelana nokuhle okungadalwa ngamathuluzi ezinkundla zokuxhumana komphakathi ukuthuthukisa ukuhlinzekwa kwezidingo. Lolu cwaningo lwaluqonde nokuqonda izingqinamba abantu abasebenzisa amathuluzi ezinkundla zokuxhumana komphakathi ababhekana nazo. Kuncike ekuhlaziyweni kwemibhalo ekhona, kwatholakala ukuthi imitapo yolwazi, ikakhulukazi leyo yasemanyuvesi, isebenzisa izinkundla zokuxhumana komphakathi ukukhangisa, ukusabalalisa imininingwane, ukubheka imithombo, ukuxhumana nabayisebenzisayo kanye nokuphendula imibuzo yezitshudeni. Okwatholakela okubikiwe mayelana nalolu cwaningo kuyahambisana nokubikiwe okwatholakala ngokuhlaziya imibhalo. Imininingwane eyatholakala ngokubheka okwenzekayo, eyaqoqwa ngokusebenzisa iphephamibuzo lenhlolovo eqoqa imininingwane yamaqiniso kanye nezingxoxo ezabanjwa nabasebenzi bomtapo wolwazi abasebenzisa amathuluzi ezinkundla zokuxhumana komphakathi yaveza ukuthi abasebenzi abaxhumana nabasebenzisi bomtapo wolwazi, abaziwa ngokuthi ngama-information processors kanye nabasebenzi abakhangisayo yibona kuphela abasebenzisa amathuluzi ezinkundla zokuxhumana komphakathi. Okutholakele kuphinde kwaveza ukuthi uMtapo Wolwazi Wase-Unisa unemihlahlandlela kanye nezinqubomgomo okulandelwayo ukuze kusetshenziswe kahle amathuluzi ezinkundla zokuxhumana komphakathi, ukuxhumana nabasebenzisi bawo, ukukhangisa ngomtapo wolwazi nokwazisa ngemicimbi ekhona kanye noshintsho ekuhlinzekweni kwezidingo. / Marangrang a leago a thomile go šomišwa kudu ka makgobapukung a thuto, efela go sa na le dipotšišo ka ga ka fao makgobapuku a šomišago dithulusi tša marangrang a leago go kaonafatša kabo ya ona ya ditirelo. Maikemišetšo a nyakišišo ye ya phetleko e be e le go nyakišiša tšhomišo ya dithulusi tša marangrang a leago ka bašomi ba go šoma ka bokgobapukung bjo bogolo bja Yunibesithi ya Afrika Borwa (Unisa), Khamphaseng ya Muckleneuk. Ka ge go lemogilwe gore ga se bašomi ka moka ba go šomiša dithulusi tša marangrang a leago tirong ya mešongwana ya bona ya letšatši le letšatši, nepo ya mathomo e be e le go hwetša gore ke bašomi bafe bao ba šomišago dithulusi tša marangrang a leago le gore dithulusi di šomišetšwa morero ofe. Nepo ye nngwe e be e le go ithuta ka ga mehola ye dithulusi tša marangrang a leago di kago kgona go ba nayo go kaonafatša kabo ya ditirelo. Nyakišišo gape e lekile go hwetša kwešišo ya ditlhohlo tše dithulusi tša marangrang a leago di di bakelago bašomiši ba tšona. Go ya ka tshekatsheko ya dingwalo, go lemogilwe gore makgobapuku, kudu makgobapuku a thuto, a šomiša marangrang a leago go bapatša, go phatlalatša tshedimošo, go fa ditirelo tša referentshe, go kgokagana le bathekgi le go araba dipotšišo tša baithuti. Dikutullo tše di begilwego tša nyakišišo ye di dumelelana le dikutullo tša tshekatsheko ya dingwalo tše di hweditšwego. Datha ya go lemogwa (emperikale) yeo e kgobokeditšwego ka lenaneopotšišo la nyakišišo ya khwalithethifi le dipoledišano tša bašomi ba bokgobapuku bao ba šomišago dithulusi tša marangrang a leago, di utulotše gore ke fela bašomi bao ba boledišanago le bathekgi ba bokgobapuku, e lego basepetši ba tshedimošo le bašomi ba go bapatša bao ba šomišago dithulusi tša marangrang a leago. Dikutullo gape di laeditše gore bokgobapuku bja Unisa bo na le dipholisi le melawana ye itšeng ya go hlahla tšhomišo ya dithulusi tša mekgwa ya leago go kgokagana le bašomiši, go bapatša bokgobapuku le go tsebiša ditiragalo le diphetogo tša kabo ya ditirelo. / Information Science / M.A. (Information Science)

The aim of this research is to shed more light on an aspect identified as a gap in knowledge in the literature; the use of a social networking service as knowledge sharing platform. More specifically, this research sets out to establish if the social networking service Twitter could be used as knowledge-sharing platform in small South African businesses in the Western Cape. A mixed method research design is used. This includes gathering data through questionnaires as well as conducting semi-structured interviews for case study participants. The sample comprises 122 questionnaire participants together with 14 semi-structured interview participants across three small businesses located in the Western Cape Province. Although it is apparent from the study conducted that small businesses are not yet willing to forego traditional platforms such as Email to use Twitter exclusively as a knowledge sharing tool, the researcher proposes a case for using Twitter, which he believes, could take the most advantage of the functions Twitter brings to a small business operation. / School of Computing / M. Sc. (Computing)

Online adolescent friendships and social networking among adolescents are current phenomena that have emerged, and exploded, as part of the digital age and the vast development of communication technologies. The primary aim of this study was to gain knowledge and understanding regarding the nature and quality of online friendships and social networking among adolescents. A sequential explanatory mixed method design, was put to use for the purpose of this study. The quantitative data was collected first in the form of a short survey, by utilising a self-developed questionnaire to obtain a general overview of the social network practices and the forming and maintaining of online friendships among adolescents. Twenty five participants took part in the survey. This study was followed by a qualitative study in the form of interviews, to clarify, elaborate and explain the quantitative findings. Five information rich participants were interviewed. The findings of the empirical investigation revealed that adolescents, being part of the Net Generation, base their concept of socialising with friends on digital and communication technology, especially cell phones. They are connected to their friends 24 hours a day. The sense of safety and support they experience through this constant connectedness strengthens their self-esteem, self-confidence and self-worth and contributes to their identity formation. It is therefore recommended that parents and educators should accept that adolescents live in a virtual world and their new way of socialising, needs to be acknowledged. Parents and educators should adjust accordingly, by getting educated in this field themselves. The Net Generation is a generation who focuses on relationships and collaboration through technology and this should be exploited by anybody who has contact or interacts with the adolescent of today. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)