In this thesis we look into usability in the context of smartphone applications. We selected three research areas to investigate, namely Wireless Personal Area Networks, Context-awareness, and Remote Information Access. These areas are investigated through a series of experiments, which focuses on important aspects of usability within software applications. Additionally, we mainly use smartphone devices in the experiments. In experiment 1, Multi-Platform Bluetooth Remote Control, we investigated Wireless Personal Area Networks. Specifically, we implemented a system consisting of two clients, which were created for Java ME and Windows Mobile, and integrated with a server application installed on a Bluetooth-enabled laptop. For experiments 2 and 3, Context-aware Meeting Room and PainDroid: an Android Application for Pain Management, we looked closely at the research area of Contextawareness. The Context-aware Meeting Room was created to automatically send meeting participants useful meeting notes during presentations. In experiment 3, we investigated the use of on-device sensors for the Android platform, providing an additional input mechanism for a pain management application, where the accelerometer and magnetometer were used. Finally, the last research area we investigated was Remote Information Access, where we conducted experiment 4, Customised Android Home Screen. We created a system that integrated both a cloud-based server application and a mobile client running on the Android platform. We used the cloud-computing platform to provide context management features, such as the ability to store the user configuration that was automatically pushed to the mobile devices.

US asthma prevalence increased by five million in the last decade and health care spending for the disease increased from $53 billion to $56 billion. Children are more likely than adults to have an asthma attack and its estimated that 1-in-10 youth has asthma. Despite initiatives to promote adherence to practice guidelines, childhood asthma emergency room) visits, and hospitalizations remain steady while the number of asthma deaths have increased over a 17-year period. Preliminary studies find the majority of adolescents prefer smartphones as a means of education and guidance. A modified Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) survey was comprised of 15 statements that explored providers' acceptance of smartphone applications (apps) as an adjunct strategy for management of asthma among adolescents in the outpatient setting. Current insight in adolescent asthma demonstrates multifaceted disparities in care stemming from biological and developmental transitions unique to adolescents. The quantitative, descriptive design of the project assessed two factors integral to the TAM related to provider acceptance and perception: 1) Perceived use (PU), and 2) Perceived ease of use (PEU). The survey sample consisted of 18 providers. Overwhelmingly, the majority of providers surveyed favored use of a smartphone app for adolescent asthma and believed apps had the potential to improve the quality of adolescent asthma management. Most participants agreed; smartphone apps might help accomplish benchmarks for adolescent asthma management. Numerous studies demonstrate adolescents’ preference for technological interventions for self-management of their asthma symptoms. The survey results reinforce the willingness of providers to accept asthma smartphone apps as a potential adjunct management strategy for adolescent asthma. Additional studies involving providers are required to further explore provider attitudes of acceptance and rejection relating to smartphone apps for chronic health conditions.

The purpose of this thesis is to describe how value propositions can be seen as an operant resource in a wireless environment, for service providers’ opportunity to co-create value with their customers. To see how a service provider offer service in a wireless environment interviews have been conducted at Westra Wermlands Sparbank with the focus on service offered through a smartphone application. The findings in the empirical study was that the service provider does not have the opportunity to actively instruct its customers in a wireless environment since the majority of the customers get the smartphone application on their own without processing from the service provider. What the service provider therefore can do is to integrate its instructions into the smartphone application so it is easy to understand and to show the customers what possibilities they have when using it. Thereby the offered value proposition can be seen as an operant resource in a wireless environment. Moreover, the service provider gets the opportunity to co-create value with its customers.

The purpose of the current study was to confirm or dismiss Saudi students' behavioral intention with regard to using smartphone applications for learning purposes. A quantitative, non-experimental survey research design and descriptive research conducted on the determinants -performance expectancy, effort expectancy, and social influence- that predict Saudi students' intention at University of North Texas to use smartphone applications for learning purposes, based on the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) as the framework. This study aims at filling gap found in understanding of students' intentions and their behaviors regarding the adoption and use of the Smartphone applications. Data was collected by means of an online questionnaire. The hypothesized model validated empirically using data collected from around 234 Saudi students who enrolled at University of North Texas. The model developed from UTAUT explained 50.1% of the variance of behavioral intention, and behavioral intentions explained 13.6% of the variance of usage behavior. The result of this study support that the determinants of performance expectancy, effort expectancy, and facilitating conditions were the highest predictors of behavioral intentions in using smartphone applications for learning purposes. The results of this study could encourage students, educators, and the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Education to provide educational applications that meet students' needs for information and knowledge.

Yes / This study aims to introduce a new phased array design with improved radiation properties for future cellular networks. The procedure of the array design is simple and has been accomplished on a low-cost substrate material while offering several interesting features with high performance. Its schematic involves eight air-filled slot-loop metal-ring elements with a 1 × 8 linear arrangement at the top edge of the 5G smartphone mainboard. Considering the entire board area, the proposed antenna elements occupy an extremely small area. The antenna elements cover the range of 21–23.5 GHz sub-mm-wave 5G bands. Due to the air-filled function in the configurations of the elements, low-loss and high-performance radiation properties are observed. In addition, the fundamental characteristics of the introduced array are insensitive to various types of substrates. Moreover, its radiation properties have been compared with conventional arrays and better results have been observed. The proposed array appears with a simple design, a low complexity profile, and its attractive broad impedance bandwidth, end-fire radiation mode, wide beam steering, high radiation coverage, and stable characteristics meet the needs of 5G applications in future cellular communications. Additionally, the smartphone array design offers sufficient efficiency when it comes to the appearance and integration of the user’s components. Thus, it could be used in 5G hand-portable devices.

Given increased immigration rates in recent years and the rapid rate technology has become part of daily life, understanding the role of technology in the immigration process is important. Smartphones, in particular, are now commonplace, yet little is known about their role in immigration, still less from an information perspective. This study explores how immigrants to Sweden engage with information, with a particular focus on the function of smartphones and smartphone applications as intermediary tools between their adopted Swedish society and their countries of origin. A framework consisting of two theoretical lenses is employed: a practice approach, specifically information practices and transnational practices, and theories of belonging. Adopting a qualitative approach, semi-structured interviews were carried out with 12 participants. This study finds that smartphones can serve as a space through which immigrants can develop an understanding of the new information landscape and maintain a connection to the home country, primarily through contact with social networks. However, some form of prior knowledge, often from a third party, is commonly needed to use smartphones effectively in the new landscape. By facilitating an understanding of the new information landscape, and maintaining a connection to the home country, smartphones can be seen as involved in the development of a sense of belonging in the new environment. This study creates new insights into how immigrants engage with information, especially through smartphones, however, further research in this area is encouraged.

El presente estudio trata sobre el aprendizaje de vocabulario de español como lengua extranjera (ELE) en la escuela sueca e investiga si el uso de las aplicaciones didácticas, para los teléfonos inteligentes, que sirven para aprender vocabulario podría ser un apoyo al aprendizaje de nuevas palabras para alumnos en el paso 1, tanto en la educación secundaria como en el bachillerato. También investiga en qué medida los profesores de ELE utilizan las aplicaciones didácticas de vocabulario para que los alumnos puedan aprender nuevas palabras. Para hacer el estudio se ha realizado dos pruebas de vocabulario en cuatros clases del paso 1 en escuelas suecas en las cuales la mitad aprendió con apoyo de una aplicación didáctica mientras que la otra mitad aprendió con la estrategia tradicional, o sea, con listas de vocabulario. Además, se ha entrevistado a tres profesoras suecas de ELE sobre su uso de aplicaciones didácticas en su enseñanza. Los resultados muestran que los alumnos que utilizaron la aplicación didáctica para aprender vocabulario recordaban mejor las palabras que los alumnos que las aprendieron con la estrategia tradicional. Sin embargo, las tres profesoras informantes en la investigación nunca usan aplicaciones didácticas en su enseñanza ya que les falta experiencia del entorno digital. El análisis indica que, aunque el aprendizaje con apoyo de aplicaciones didácticas es efectivo para aprender vocabulario y hay investigadores que lo avalan y recomiendan a los profesores que utilicen aplicaciones para teléfonos inteligentes, los profesores no las utilizan debido a que tienen poco conocimiento sobre recursos técnicos. Así, la conclusión es que aprender vocabulario con aplicaciones didácticas se muestra más efectivo que aprender con la estrategia tradicional, y que los profesores suecos necesitan formación en el entorno digital para que puedan utilizar aplicaciones móviles en su enseñanza. / The present study deals with vocabulary learning of Spanish as a foreign language and investigates if the use of didactic smartphone applications focused on vocabulary learning could help the learning of new words in Spanish for students at level 1, both in secondary schools and in upper secondary schools. The study also investigates to what extent the teachers of Spanish as a foreign language use didactic vocabulary applications in order for the students to learn new words. To conduct the study two vocabulary tests have been made in four classes at level 1 in Swedish schools. Half the students learnt the vocabulary with the use of a didactic application, while the other half learnt it by using the traditional strategy with lists of words. Conversations were also held with three Swedish teachers in Spanish as a foreign language about their use of didactic applications in their teaching. The results show that the students that used the didactic application to learn the vocabulary remembered the words better than the students that learnt the vocabulary by using the traditional strategy. Nevertheless, the three teachers in the investigation never use didactic applications in their teaching since they lack experience of technical tools. The analysis indicates that even though learning with the use of didactic applications is good for vocabulary learning and that investigators recommend teachers to use mobile applications in their teaching, the teachers do not do it because of their little knowledge about technical resources. Hence, the conclusion is that learning vocabulary with didactic applications is more successful than learning vocabulary by using the traditional strategy, but also that Swedish teachers in Spanish as a foreign language need practice in the technical environment so that they can use mobile applications in their teaching.

Real-time information that informs transit riders about transit schedules, next bus or train arrivals, and service alerts, is becoming increasingly available, particularly through internet-enabled smartphone applications. However, the extent of communication technology usage amongst transit riders, specifically their access to mobile applications and alternative technologies that can provide real-time information, is largely unknown. Without this information, transit agencies are risking investing in an alternative technology that may not sufficiently supply real-time information to as many as possible riders. The purpose of this study is to identify the differences in individual technology accessibility and prioritize investing in real-time information application development that mirrors the unique characteristics of transit riders. This recognition and development will allow a wider availability of real-time information amongst transit riders. Paired with an investigation of cellular phone usage among transit riders and the general American population, an analysis of Saint Louis Metro’s Onboard Survey was performed. Cross tabulations and chi-squared tests were conducted to examine riders’ communication technology usage. Binary logit models were used to understand how, and whether, the ownership of smartphone applications is dependent on various demographic factors. These analyses identified specific demographic groups that would benefit from supplemental technology methods more conducive to their particular information accessibility. Results showed that communication technology usage has risen substantially in recent years but a portion of riders are still without access to smartphone applications. Specific demographic groups (e.g., riders over 40 years of age) were less likely to own smartphones, and these results indicate that computer-based websites and IVR are the best supplementary alternatives for those groups.

Registering natural photos to existing 3D surface models, particularly on low-power mobile devices, gathers increasing attention to a variety of application domains. The paper discusses up-to-date computation insights of the technique, condensing available literature and knowledge obtained from experiments across multiple research groups. Challenges like smartphone camera calibration or the sensor-based estimation of location and orientation are current research subjects, for which new data and experimental results are presented. Moreover, computing-related, practical challenges (e.g. device variability) are detailed to increase the technological understanding and reasoning on the limits of mobile devices. An overview of running projects utilising image-to-geometry registration methods shows the potential for mobile devices to, amongst others, improve flood hazard mitigation and hydrocarbon exploration with crowdsourced data.

Syftet med uppsatsen var att undersöka hur man med hjälp av digital design kan stödja den psykiska hälsan hos individer i USA under Covid-19 pandemin. Covid-19 är den första pandemin som utspelar sig i ett utvecklat digitalt samhälle där både mHealth/telehealth-design är välstuderat. Studien undersöker specifikt hur designelement för en mHealth-applikation kanen mHealth-applikation kan stödja en stor grupp användare under en global pandemi. Uppsatsen undersöker hur design kan öka användandet av mHealth för att söka hjälp mot psykisk ohälsa, som uppstått på grund av isolering till följd av den amerikanska statens riktlinjer under Covid-19 pandemin. Med hjälp av tidigare forskning gällande designriktlinjer för mHealth-applikationer, inkluderande design och element att tänka på när man designar applikationer för psykisk ohälsa, framtogs en prototyp av en mHealth-applikation. Denna prototyp testades därefter av sex respondenter som alla lider av depression till följd av isolering. Efter think aloud-observation under testandet av prototypen genomfördes en kvalitativ intervju för att undersöka respondenternas upplevelse av applikationen. Resultatet av studien påpekar vikten av användarens integritet, inkluderande design och element som efterfrågats i tidigare studier av mHealth-applikationer. Dessa resultat stödjer också de åtaganden tidigare forskninglagt fram och i sin tur visar denna studie att en mobilapplikation kan designas föratt stödja människor med deras psykiska ohälsa i relation till Covid-19 isoleringen. / The goal of this thesis was to investigate how the use of digital design could help people with their mental health during the covid-19 pandemic. Covid-19 is the first and only pandemic where both mHealth and telehealth design has been well developed. Our thesis explores how design elements can increase the will of users to use mHealth applications, especially for users whose mental health has been impacted by covid-19 restrictions in the United States. Based on the scientific articles regarding mHealth design, a prototype was made. This includes inclusive design and design elements focused on people with mental health struggles. The prototype was tested by six users who all reported feeling down because of isolation during covid-19. During the study, users were asked to test the prototype and ‘think aloud’, followed by a qualitative interview to better understand the user’s experience, feelings, and thoughts on the prototype. The results show the importance of a patient's integrity, the importance of inclusive design, and the appreciation of certain design elements. The results are in line with results from previous research and offer evidence on how to design a mHealth application to support people with their mental health during a pandemic.