Implementeringen av tredje generationens mobila nät (3G) har lett till att nya användningsområden skapats inom mobila tjänster. Bandbreddens ökade kapacitet gör det nu möjligt att skicka betydligt större mängder information än i tidigare mobila nät. Detta har även medfört att nya tjänster skapats för 3G-mobiltelefoner. Ett område under utveckling är mobil turistinformation. Mobila Guiden är en mobil turistapplikation som TelecomCity i Karlskrona tagit fram. Det är en guide över världsarvet i staden som presenteras på en 3G-mobitelefon. Användarna får en karta över Karlskrona centrum med olika besökspunkter som innehåller information i form av text, bilder och ljud. Det finns dock vissa problem när det gäller mobiltelefoner. Den förhållandevis lilla skärm som de har gör informationspresentationen komplicerad. Det är svårt att designa program som tillfredsställer användarna. Inom databranschen har Human Computer Interaction och andra områden inom gränssnittsdesign studerats men när det gäller de betydligt mindre skärmar som en mobiltelefon har så är forskningen inte lika långt framskriden Syftet med detta arbete är att utifrån ett användarperspektiv analysera och identifiera hur en mobil applikation för 3G-nätet som presenterar turistinformation bör designas för att intressera och tilltala användaren. Fokus ligger på att applikationer av denna art i framtiden skall tilltala ett brett användarkollektiv. Resultatet av vårt arbete skall ge normativ kunskap och ses som ett vetenskapligt bidrag i utvecklingen av framtidens informationspresentation i mobila nät. Studien påbörjades med en genomgång av befintlig litteratur. Sedan genomfördes en fallstudie med kvalitativa intervjuer för projektet Mobila Guiden i Karlskrona samt en fokus-gruppsdiskussion. Vi använde sedan en avslutande surveyundersökning för att få kvantitativa åsikter om gränssnittet i applikationen. Utfallen från intervjuer, fokusgrupp och surveyundersökningen analyserades sedan i förhållande till utvald teori. En mobil turistapplikation måste presentera ett brett informationsutbud som exempelvis en karta med sevärdheter, mat, boende och evenemang för att tillfredsställa användarna. Användbarheten bör vara av sådan art att det skapas en dialog mellan applikation och användare. Användaren måste även få feedback och information om hur programmet används. Färgvalen bör också noga beaktas då tydlighet är ett måste på en liten skärm. Individuella inställningar för bildspel, textstorlek och ljud bör finnas tillgängliga. För att användarna ska vara nöjda med applikationen bör också helhetskvalitén runt tjänsten vara tillfredsställande. / The implementation of the third generation of mobile networks (3G) has led to a creation of new areas of use within mobile services. Increased capacity of the bandwidth has made it possible to send a considerable amount more data than in the predecessors of 3G. It has also led to new services within 3G. One area which is under development is mobile tourism information. Mobila Guiden is a mobile tourismapplication which TelecomCity, Karlskrona, has developed. It is a guide over the world heritage in the city which is presented on a 3G mobile phone. The user is presented with a map over Karlskrona City on a mobile phone with different points of interest. These points include information in the form of text, pictures and sound about the object. Certain negative aspects regarding mobile phones surface under the discussion. The screens on mobile phones are relatively small which makes information presentation complicated. It is hard to design the user interface for applications so that the users becomes satisfied. Within the computer industry, Human Computer Interaction and other areas concerning user interface has been studied, but when it comes to the small screens of mobile phones the research is not that widespread. The aim of this report is that from a user perspective, analyze and identify how a mobile application for the 3G-network that presents tourism information should be designed to satisfy user needs. We focus on that applications of this kind in the future should appeal to a broad customer base. The result of this report will give normative knowledge and be regarded as an academic contribution in the future development of information presentation in mobile networks. Our investigation began with a study regarding existing literature. Thereafter a case study with qualitative interviews relating to Mobila Guiden in Karlskrona took place along with a focus group meeting later on. We finally used a survey to get quantitative data regarding opinions of the user interface of the application. The results of the empirical study were then analyzed in relation to appropriate theories. A mobile tourism application must present a broad range of information to satisfy the users, for example: a map with sights worth seeing, restaurants, hotels and happenings. The usability should consist of the creation of a dialogue between the application and the user. The user must receive feedback and information on how to use the application. The choice of colour should be taken under consideration since the screen size makes it imperative that the user interface is clear and easy to understand. It should also be possible to make individual adjustments regarding the speed of a picture slideshow, font size and sound.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements For the degree of Master of Management Science: Tourism and Hospitality Management, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2016. / The advent of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) coupled with sophisticated network channels and applications have unveiled new avenues for small organizations and those in the hospitality industry must be included. However, there is limited industry specific research activity on the impact of adoption and utilisation of ICTs on business specifically with regard to the hospitality industry in developing countries. This report records the findings of an analysis into ICT and e-commerce adoption and use in small remote hospitality establishments in the Natal Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The research used a mixed methods approach involving questionnaires, observations and interviews. The participants were drawn from three case areas namely Curry’s Post, Nottingham Road and Lions River. From each case area, two restaurants, two wedding venues, two lodges and two curio shops participated. The findings indicate that most establishment acknowledged the need to adopt and utilise ICT and e-commerce. The links between ICT adoption and level of business success were marked. The challenges to adoption and utilisation of ICT were found to centre on cost, owners’ lack of familiarity with ICTs, and a corresponding lack of ICT skills amongst staff. The inability of imported software packages to suit local needs also emerged as a significant issue. Recommendations involve targeted sponsorships of ICT courses, language accessibility initiatives, and adaptation of software packages to local needs, along with advantages in starting small and adopting more sophisticated ICT as the business grows. / M

Nova Friburgo é uma cidade turística brasileira, a qual atrai diversos tipos de visitantes. Esta dissertação descreve um sistema inteligente que ficará instalado em um centro de informações turísticas para auxílio daqueles que necessitam localizar as principais atrações da cidade. Atualmente, existe uma aplicação multimídia comum de suporte ao turismo, mas esta sendo expandida para incluir uma base de conhecimento com perfis de turistas. Dependendo dos caminhos percorridos pelo usuário durante sua consulta, o sistema seleciona um perfil, que reflete o melhor possível às opções escolhidas. De acordo com o perfil selecionado, o sistema poderá sugerir vários roteiros e destinos baseados nos possíveis interesses do turista, fornecendo inclusive, informações sobre hotéis e restaurantes do seu interesse. A base de conhecimento, que fornece este tipo de inferência, esta desenvolvida em Visual C++. / Nova Friburgo is a Brazilian tourist city, which attracts different types of visitors. This dissertation describes an intelligent system to be installed at a tourist information center for assisting those who need directions to this citys major attractions. Currently, there is an ordinary multimedia application for tourism support but such system is being expanded to include a knowledge base of profiles of tourists. On the base of the tracks or paths a user has already performed during his/her consultation, the system selects the profile, which most closely reflects the options taken. According to this selected profile, the system is expected to suggest various routes and destinations based on the tourists possible interests, in addition to provide information on hotels and restaurants he/she will likely be interested in. The knowledge base, which provides this type of inference, is being developed in Visual C++.

Nova Friburgo é uma cidade turística brasileira, a qual atrai diversos tipos de visitantes. Esta dissertação descreve um sistema inteligente que ficará instalado em um centro de informações turísticas para auxílio daqueles que necessitam localizar as principais atrações da cidade. Atualmente, existe uma aplicação multimídia comum de suporte ao turismo, mas esta sendo expandida para incluir uma base de conhecimento com perfis de turistas. Dependendo dos caminhos percorridos pelo usuário durante sua consulta, o sistema seleciona um perfil, que reflete o melhor possível às opções escolhidas. De acordo com o perfil selecionado, o sistema poderá sugerir vários roteiros e destinos baseados nos possíveis interesses do turista, fornecendo inclusive, informações sobre hotéis e restaurantes do seu interesse. A base de conhecimento, que fornece este tipo de inferência, esta desenvolvida em Visual C++. / Nova Friburgo is a Brazilian tourist city, which attracts different types of visitors. This dissertation describes an intelligent system to be installed at a tourist information center for assisting those who need directions to this citys major attractions. Currently, there is an ordinary multimedia application for tourism support but such system is being expanded to include a knowledge base of profiles of tourists. On the base of the tracks or paths a user has already performed during his/her consultation, the system selects the profile, which most closely reflects the options taken. According to this selected profile, the system is expected to suggest various routes and destinations based on the tourists possible interests, in addition to provide information on hotels and restaurants he/she will likely be interested in. The knowledge base, which provides this type of inference, is being developed in Visual C++.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the correlation of U.S. domestic air travelers and patterns of air travel purchase within the U.S. air travel industry. Influences on the patterns of air travel purchase involved 1) demographic characteristics of travelers 2) benefits to the customer 3) customer attitude toward service providers' (defined as airlines, web-based travel agents, and traditional travel agents and 4) information sources used to select and book a flight for business and leisure trips.