Although the software development industry is one of the fastest growing sections in the labour market currently, computer science is one of the subject fields with the least growth in number of enrolments at tertiary institutions. Low enrolment figures and high dropout rates are common in computer science courses. Apart from the fact that programming is a difficult skill to master, irrelevant course material and out-dated teaching and learning strategies could be to blame for this phenomenon. When comparing modern technology with which young people engage outside the class room to the stereo typed old fashioned technology they are confronted with inside classrooms, it is discouraging. Games have been identified as a powerful and effective tool to create an attractive learning environment. Students find the competitive, fast-paced and interactive environment which serious games provide appealing. Progress has recently been made in incorporating digital educational (serious) games into the learning environment. Research on understanding the value that serious games can add to learning in computer science courses is limited. The purpose of this study is to address this issue by investigating the characteristic of serious games and establish the value these can add to learning in the computer science class. The identified characteristics were utilised as external variables in the technology acceptance model (TAM) in order to determine the students’ attitude towards the use of serious games in the computer science class. The TAM is a well-known predictor of the users’ attitude towards perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use as the internal factors motivating the acceptance of technology. These internal factors can be influenced by external factors which may differ in accordance to the technology being evaluated. The target population of this study comprised full-time computer science students enrolled at South African registered public higher education institutions (HEIs). For this study, a convenience sample of 547 computer science students was drawn from one traditional university and one university of technology. These two universities were selected by means of a non-probability judgement method. A self-administered questionnaire was hand-delivered to lecturers at each of the two HEIs. The questionnaire requested the participants to indicate on a six-point Likert scale the level of their agreement or disagreement on 41 items, designed to measure their attitude towards the use of serious games in the computer science class. Findings from this study suggest that computer science students exhibit a positive attitude towards using serious games in class. Usefulness was identified as the most significant internal variable predictor of attitude, with relevance to classwork, as the most significant external predictor of usefulness. Relevance of serious games to class work emerged as the strongest predictor of ease of use, followed by experienced and perceived enjoyment. Insights gained from this study will assist educators in designing and planning the implementation of serious games as part of the learning experience in class. Furthermore, educators can gain insights from the factors that students indicated to be the most significant in terms of serious game in class. The proposed model can be used by educators to evaluate the attitude of computer science students towards the implementation of a serious game in class. / MSc (Computer Science)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2015

A problem of non-acceptance of new information technologies becomes a predominant obstacle that results in companies’ losses and represents an arena of avid debate for researchers. Hereof this netnographic study explores changes in the individual beliefs that contribute to new information system acceptance such as autopilot in the light of the Technology Acceptance model (TAM). The research takes place within three automobile communities related to Tesla Motors and uses content analysis for its collected data. Based on the findings new influencers on individual beliefs emerge hence the research proposes to incorporate these determinants into the adopted TAM model. This study has theoretical, practical and methodological contributions.

This cross-sectional study examined whether the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) and Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) apply to psychologists’ openness to using telepsychology, and to identify significant personal or environmental predictors of telepsychology adoption. A total of 1,791 licensed psychologists currently practicing psychotherapy in the United States were recruited to complete a previously developed 21-item pool. Personal and environmental characteristics were also collected. Path models representing the TRA, TAM, and a hybrid of both were tested. Also, a logistic regression was used to identify personal and environmental predictors of current use of telepsychology. Results indicated the TRA and TAM were a poor fit for modeling psychologists’ openness to using telepsychology. Adequate fit was found with a third model in which the perceived attitudes of others concerning telepsychology were associated with the perceived ease of use and usefulness of telepsychology. Perceived ease of use and usefulness of telepsychology were both uniquely associated with current use of telepsychology. Receiving telepsychology training, organizational policies concerning the use of telepsychology, treatment emphases, treatment setting, and practicing within a rural area were significant predictors of current use; however, individual characteristics such as age, race/ethnicity, and years of practice were not. Organizations interested in encouraging psychologists to adopt telepsychology should create policies supporting the use of telepsychology and provide adequate training. Government and regulatory entities seeking to ensure treatment for individuals currently restricted from mental health services by time or geography should create clear and consistent laws permitting and governing the use of telepsychology.

New information systems will only improve organisational performance if they are accepted and used to their full capacity. It is therefore important to be able to understand, explain and predict the factors affecting technology acceptance. One model which has been successful at this is the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM; Davis, 1986). This study tests an extension of the TAM in a mandatory usage environment. The extended TAM proposed here incorporates two new independent measures; past behaviour and perceived behavioural control. Participants were 285 members of an Australian Government Department who had been using a new information system for approximately 4 months. Usage of the system was mandated in organisational policy and there were no alternative systems or processes available to participants to complete their job requirements. Results indicate that when information system usage is mandatory (or nonvolitional) perceived behavioural control significantly increases the ability of the extended TAM to predict system acceptance behaviour. Furthermore, self-reports of system usage were not related to the participants intention to use the system and user satisfaction was the only dependent variable accurately predicted by the model. Past behaviour did not predict either behavioural intention or behaviour in this study. The implications of these findings for technology acceptance in modern organisations and areas for future research are discussed.

A logical control extension surrounding cashless means of exchange is a permanent personal verification mark. An implanted micro chip such as ones that have been successfully implanted into humans could identify and store information. Connected with global positioning satellites and a computer system, a cashless monetary system could be formed in the future. The system would provide complete and continual real time records for individuals, businesses and regulators. It would be possible for all trading to occur in this way in the future. A modified Technology Acceptance Model was developed based on Davis' (1989) model and Fishbein and Ajzen's (1975) theory to test the acceptance level of the new monetary system by professional accountants in Australia. The model includes perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, perceived risk, and a subjective norm component. 523 accountants were surveyed in December 2003 with a response rate of 27%. 13% either strongly agree d or agreed that they would accept the implantable chip. The analysis showed that Perception of Risk, Subjective Norm and Perception of Usefulness were all significant in explaining the dependent variable at the 95% confidence level. The Perception of Ease of Use was not proved to be significant. In consideration of response bias, it was found that with respect to the perception of usefulness at the 0.01 level, two elements were not significant, those being

The progress of internet application never stopped. As an evolutionary result, Web2.0, of which made asynchronous mutual communication on web page become capable was a significant milestone in internet application. Web2.0 emphasized on the function of interaction, such as experience share, idea exchange, as well as topic discussion, and set the trend of community interaction. Numerous websites were set up with function of Web2.0 in order to following the trend. Therefore, a proposal competition of Web2.0 was held by Innovative DigiTech-Enabled Applications & Services Institute to encourage those who would like to make a business of Web2.0 application to propose their business plan. In the competition, participants were able to attend relevant courses, acquire much more technical knowledge, and amount of business information was provided. This research mainly aimed at participants of the proposal competition, and took Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as a theoretical framework, though some modification had been made for research needs. The questionnaires were sent out and gathered through internet to measure the connection between perceived usefulness, perceived ease used, the attitude of Web2.0 of participants and their will of starting a business. The purposes of this paper attempted to discover¡G(1) was it appropriate to take TAM for explaining the adoption behaviors of Web2.0; furthermore, (2) to apprehend if the attitude, one of the variables in TAM, have been proved to have influences on adoption behaviors of adopters, did the attitude also cause influences on motivation of starting a business of competition participants. Finally, the results of this research could be reference for government to take into consideration while developing further related programs.

With the evolution of communication and hardware technology, mobile phones evolved from the voice communication to the multi-function, the scope of mobile phone applications had completely changed. In this era of rapid technological progress, the shorter product lifecycle and higher replacement rates of smartphone induce competition in the relevant industry become more intense. Various industries introduce new products and applications in efforts to cope with the increasing challenges, but how many features are used by users? In the cause of real connection between mobile phone and users, the control must with a good user interface, but the needs of industries identified do not necessarily conform to user's needs, ignoring the user's thoughts often lead to product failure, master the needs of user is the key to success. Therefore, this study uses the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as the theoretical foundation, adds the Innovation Diffusion Theory (IDT) and the induction of the human-machine interface (or User Interface, UI) design principles (diversity, intuition) as external variables, to further explores the attitude of using smartphone . The results: (1) diversity, compatibility, positive influence on perceived usefulness, but intuition don't influence significantly; (2) diversity, intuition, compatibility, positive influence on perceived ease of use; (3) perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, relative advantage positive influence on the attitude of use; (4) trialability, observability influence on the attitude of use is not significant, and trialability existence negative relationship with the attitude of use.

The e-book reader has become one of the most popular consumer electronics goods since the Amazon Kindle first launched in the end of year 2007; it has led the trend of e-book worldwide. E-book reader not only sold very well in North America, the sales increased very fast in Asia and Europe. According to FIND (2010), the global total sales of e-book reader is 3.6 million pieces in 2009, and it increased almost 80% in 2010. This shows that the e-book reader has become more and more popular. Taiwan is the most important country of e-book reader supply chain, which not only predominate the key techniques and patent but also takes OEM / ODM orders worldwide. Despite the advantage of the hardware development, the use of e-book readers is not common in Taiwan. Therefore the purposes of this research are to explore the factors that would influence user¡¦s adaptive behavior of e-book readers. This research based on technology acceptance model (TAM), and extends with ¡§Compatibility¡¨, ¡§Observability¡¨ and ¡§Perceived complementarity¡¨ as external variables to investigate the factors influencing consumer usage of e-book reader. The analytical results are as below: 1. ¡§Compatibility¡¨ has positive significant effect on both ¡§Perceived Usefulness¡¨ and ¡§Perceived Ease of Use.¡¨ 2. ¡§Observability¡¨ has positive significant effect on both ¡§Perceived Usefulness¡¨ and ¡§Perceived Ease of Use.¡¨ 3. ¡§Perceived complementarity¡¨ has positive significant effect on both ¡§Perceived Usefulness¡¨ and ¡§Perceived Ease of Use,¡¨ but has no significant effect on¡§Behavioral Intention.¡¨ 4. Both ¡§Perceived Usefulness¡¨ and ¡§Perceived Ease of Use¡¨ have positive significant effect on¡§Behavioral Intention.¡¨

Along with the progress of Information and Communication Technology, there has been a great change in the field of e-learning. For instance, the Distance Teaching, the Web-Based Teaching, and the Digital Teaching System, they all strengthen diversified Information and Communication Technology and applications of multi¡Vmedia content. Meanwhile, teachers must make good use of those new teaching tools in their teaching soon to make the tools effective. In order to make the Digital Teaching System soon become a teaching tool for teachers, this study makes the service system get involved with the Digital Teaching System and the teaching satisfaction. The Digital Teaching System uses TAM to learn the willing to use Information and Communication equipment. With the service system, which includes hardware, software, teacher training (teaching materials), and customer service, and finally teachers are provided with the Digital Teaching System to be more willing to use the equipment and moreover, to improve their teaching effectiveness. ¡@ Based on Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), this study tries to point out if the teaching satisfaction will be improved after the service system gets involved with the Digital Teaching System. Many different cram schools with their classes using tools of e-learning in Kaohsiung City are chosen and 200 questionnaires are collected to be analyzed in detail. ¡@¡@ The result shows that the service system has a distinct direct positive impact on the Digital Teaching System. Moreover, the impact on the Digital Teaching System also improves the teaching satisfaction indirectly. Hopefully, the study will prove that the service system can help the process of digital teaching go well, and the related institutions which want to promote Classroom of the Future can work faster and more easily in the future.

To increase the efficiency of speedy customs clearance for the outboard and inboard passengers, the Nation Immigration Agency under the Ministry of Interior has adjusted the related administrative procedures, such kind of management policies. Take the Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS) constructed in the major ports of Taiwan as an example. It requires the ship lines submit the related information of the ships and the basic information of the crewmembers to the information-processing center of the target state for advanced inspection before entry or exit. The center can judge whether there are control subjects among them by the submitted information, and further take some prevention measures in advance. This system is one of the key policies of national security in Taiwan. It is found from the literature review that although the APIS built by the National Immigration Agency has put into practice, the system performance evaluation is so rare, furthermore, the use willingness and achievement of the related practitioners and carriers can¡¦t be known. Therefore, this study takes the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as the main axis to develop a TAM for the APIS. Moreover, it takes the Kaohsiung Port Brigade of Nation Immigration Agency as study scope, and the freight forwarders as the study objects, to conduct investigative study and evaluation on the situation of importing the APIS technology and the factors affecting the use of that system. The purpose of this study is to realize the effectiveness of the system implementation and subsequent improvement directions, as well as provide suggestions on how to carry out the system in the future. The study shows that the APIS effectiveness can help to increase the users¡¦ positive attitude, but the attitude towards the system can¡¦t effectively improve the users¡¦ positive intention, the information security awareness needs to be strengthened, the behavior control can¡¦t effectively increase the users¡¦ positive intention, and the persons who are in charge of the related fields show low willingness of using the APIS. Besides, the practitioners that have been founded for a longer time and developed into a large scale show a higher recognition degree to that system, and the education level also affects the willingness of using the APIS. The follow-up studies suggest reviewing the APIS promotion plan and making some improvements for it. Moreover, the involved institutions should provide assistance in the improvement of the human resource structure, make some related incentive, and enhance the information security concept, as well as conduct policy study, so as to facilitate the improvement and smooth implementation of the system.