Population ageing and ICT: An exploratory review of technology innovation trough digital applications

The multidimensional process of physical, psychological, and social change produced by population ageing affects not only the quality of life of elderly people but also of our societies. Some dimensions of population ageing grow and expand over time (e.g. knowledge of the world events, or experience in particular situations), while others decline (e.g. reaction time, physical and psychological strength, or other functional abilities like reduced speed and tiredness). Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) can help elderly to overcome possible limitations due to ageing. As a particular case, biometrics can allow the development of new algorithms for early detection of cognitive impairments, by processing continuous speech, handwriting or other challenged abilities. Among all possibilities, digital applications (Apps) for mobile phones or tablets can allow the dissemination of such tools. In this article, after presenting and discussing the process of population ageing and its social implications, we explore how ICTs through different Apps can lead to new solutions for facing this major demographic challenge.

Numerical Modelling of Graphene Nanoribbon-fets for Analog and Digital Applications

Graphene, that is a monolayer of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb lattice, has been isolated only recently from graphite. This material shows very attractive physical properties, like superior carrier mobility, current carrying capability and thermal conductivity. In consideration of that, graphene has been the object of large investigation as a promising candidate to be used in nanometer-scale devices for electronic applications. In this work, graphene nanoribbons (GNRs), that are narrow strips of graphene, for which a band-gap is induced by the quantum confinement of carriers in the transverse direction, have been studied. As experimental GNR-FETs are still far from being ideal, mainly due to the large width and edge roughness, an accurate description of the physical phenomena occurring in these devices is required to have valuable predictions about the performance of these novel structures. A code has been developed to this purpose and used to investigate the performance of 1 to 15-nm wide GNR-FETs. Due to the importance of an accurate description of the quantum effects in the operation of graphene devices, a full-quantum transport model has been adopted: the electron dynamics has been described by a tight-binding (TB) Hamiltonian model and transport has been solved within the formalism of the non-equilibrium Green's functions (NEGF). Both ballistic and dissipative transport are considered. The inclusion of the electron-phonon interaction has been taken into account in the self-consistent Born approximation. In consideration of their different energy band-gap, narrow GNRs are expected to be suitable for logic applications, while wider ones could be promising candidates as channel material for radio-frequency applications.

A utilização das aplicações digitais «Peak & Neuronation» no envelhecimento ativo : um estudo de caso na USALBI

Trabalho de Projeto apresentado à Escola Superior de Educação do Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco para cumprimento dos requisitos necessários à obtenção do grau de Mestre em Gerontologia Social.

La visión de una nueva televisión: propuesta de generación de un ecosistema de aplicaciones para contenidos digitales en televisión

Este documento tiene por objeto servir de guía para el avance de la industria digital colombiana, mediante la implementación de una propuesta en el modelo de desarrollo de aplicaciones para medios digitales en Televisión -que ha sido tan exitosa en otros medios-, como complemento a la política pública de tecnología en el país, y a su vez, -en un objetivo que apenas inicia y del que este trabajo es un primer atisbo conceptual-, se empiece a discutir la idea de que el Derecho deba someterse a otras ciencias (La económica o la administrativa), con el fin de darle nivel de igualdad a ellas y mostrarlo como una herramienta de inicio para generar instituciones de las que las otras ciencias dependen, partiendo de la base institucional del Estado Social de Derecho.

Using Community Outreach to Build Children’s Resiliency and Critical Literacy through Digital Tools

Grade three students used tablet computers with a pre-selected series of applications over a seven-month period at school and through a community afterschool program. The study determined that these students benefited from differentiated learning in the school environment and online collaborative play in the afterschool centre. Benefits of the exposure to digital tools included: intergenerational learning as children assisted both parents and teachers with digital applications; problem-solving; and enhanced collaborative play for students across environments. Although this study makes a contribution to the field of digital literacy and young learners, the researchers conclude further investigation is warranted, in regards to the inter-relationships between home, school and community as spaces for the learning and teaching of digital technologies.

Intentional Use and Evaluation of iPad Applications in the Instruction of Pre-service Teachers

This study was undertaken to examine how instructor use of emerging technologies can contribute to better quality pre-service teacher education. A group of nine Memorial University Faculty of Education instructors attempted to systematically incorporate mobile tablet (iPad) technologies into their on-campus instruction over the period of one academic year (2013-2014). Participants familiarized themselves with their device; evaluated a range of instructional applications (apps) specific to their discipline and/or teaching focus areas; and attempted to intentionally integrate the device into the classroom-learning environment. The research team utilized several focus groups and semi-structured interviews to elicit the representations of participants with respect to their impressions of the value of tablet technologies and their experiences in implementing tablet technology in their instructional practice.

Smart Farming in Italian agriculture: essays on adoption and diffusion dynamics shaping the agricultural digital transition

Smart Farming Technologies (SFT) is a term used to define the set of digital technologies able not only to control and manage the farm system, but also to connect it to the many disruptive digital applications posed at multiple links along the value chain. The adoption of SFT has been so far limited, with significant differences at country-levels and among different types of farms and farmers. The objective of this thesis is to analyze what factors contributes to shape the agricultural digital transition and to assess its potential impacts in the Italian agri-food system. Specifically, this overall research objective is approached under three different perspectives. Firstly, we carry out a review of the literature that focuses on the determinants of adoption of farm-level Management Information Systems (MIS), namely the most adopted smart farming solutions in Italy. Secondly, we run an empirical analysis on what factors are currently shaping the adoption of SFT in Italy. In doing so, we focus on the multi-process and multi-faceted aspects of the adoption, by overcoming the one-off binary approach often used to study adoption decisions. Finally, we adopt a forward-looking perspective to investigate what the socio-ethical implications of a diffused use of SFT might be. On the one hand, our results indicate that bigger, more structured farms with higher levels of commercial integration along the agri-food supply chain are those more likely to be early adopters. On the other hand, they highlight the need for the institutional and organizational environment around farms to more effectively support farmers in the digital transition. Moreover, the role of several other actors and actions are discussed and analyzed, by highlighting the key role of specific agri-food stakeholders and ad-hoc policies, with the aim to propose a clearer path towards an efficient, fair and inclusive digitalization of the agrifood sector.

Modelos e interfaces gráficos para objectos de aprendizagem na área da saúde

A educação é uma área bastante importante no desenvolvimento humano e tem vindo a adaptar-se às novas tecnologias. Tentam-se encontrar novas maneiras de ensinar de modo a obter um rendimento cada vez maior na aprendizagem das pessoas. Com o aparecimento de novas tecnologias como os computadores e a Internet, a concepção de aplicações digitais educativas cresceu e a necessidade de instruir cada vez melhor os alunos leva a que estas aplicações precisem de um interface que consiga leccionar de uma maneira rápida e eficiente. A combinação entre o ensino com o auxílio dessas novas tecnologias e a educação à distância deu origem ao e-Learning (ensino à distância). Através do ensino à distância, as possibilidades de aumento de conhecimento dos alunos aumentaram e a informação necessária tornou-se disponível a qualquer hora em qualquer lugar com acesso à Internet. Mas os cursos criados online tinham custos altos e levavam muito tempo a preparar o que gerou um problema para quem os criava. Para recuperar o investimento realizado decidiu-se dividir os conteúdos em módulos capazes de serem reaproveitados em diferentes contextos e diferentes tipos de utilizadores. Estes conteúdos modulares foram denominados Objectos de Aprendizagem. Nesta tese, é abordado o estudo dos Objectos de Aprendizagem e a sua evolução ao longo dos tempos em termos de interface com o utilizador. A concepção de um interface que seja natural e simples de utilizar nem sempre é fácil e independentemente do contexto em que se insere, requer algum conhecimento de regras que façam com que o utilizador que use determinada aplicação consiga trabalhar com um mínimo de desempenho. Na concepção de Objectos de Aprendizagem, áreas de complexidade elevada como a Medicina levam a que professores ou doutores sintam alguma dificuldade em criar um interface com conteúdos educativos capaz de ensinar com eficiência os alunos, devido ao facto de grande parte deles desconhecerem as técnicas e regras que levam ao desenvolvimento de um interface de uma aplicação. Através do estudo dessas regras e estilos de interacção torna-se mais fácil a criação de um bom interface e ao longo desta tese será estudado e proposto uma ferramenta que ajude tanto na criação de Objectos de Aprendizagem como na concepção do respectivo interface.

How to create a relevant pool of users for Mobitto

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree in Management from the NOVA – School of Business and Economics

Geotagging photographs in student fieldwork

This resource paper provides guidance for staff and students on the potential educational benefits, limitations and applications of geotagging photographs. It also offers practical advice for geotagging photographs in a range of fieldwork settings and reviews three free smartphone applications (apps) for geotagging photographs (Flickr, Evernote and Panoramio). Geotagged photographs have the potential to encourage post-fieldwork student reflection on a landscape. A short case study of first-year undergraduates who geotagged photographs as a method of data collection is outlined. This resource paper also briefly discusses the use of student-owned devices in fieldwork which may reduce pressure on departmental budgets.

Adoção de novos modelos de precificação em telecomunicações : estudo exploratório sobre os direcionadores e barreiras no mercado brasileiro

O mercado brasileiro de Telecomunicações e Tecnologia da Informação (TIC) tem importância significativa para o desenvolvimento do Brasil, haja vista a evolução do mercado de telefonia móvel, que cresceu 600% nos últimos dez anos. A indústria de telecomunicações, que representa 4,7 % do PIB brasileiro (TELEBRASIL, 2013), passou a ter uma nova dinâmica a partir da elaboração da Lei Geral de Telecomunicações em 1997 e, posteriormente, com a privatização do setor. Esta rápida transformação da cadeia de valor do setor foi também impulsionada pela evolução das tecnologias e de novas arquiteturas de redes. Ademais, a utilização de tecnologias digitais, como aplicativos/APPs e a própria internet, tornou a cadeia de telecomunicações mais complexa, possibilitando o surgimento de novos atores e o desenvolvimento de novos serviços, modelos de negócios e precificação (SCHAPIRO e VARIAN, 2003). Este estudo tem como objetivo analisar os direcionadores e barreiras na adoção de novos modelos de precificação de serviços no mercado brasileiro de telecomunicações, considerando a transformação e evolução do setor. O estudo foi elaborado por meio de uma estratégia de pesquisa qualitativo-exploratória e construtivista baseando-se na abordagem Multinível (POZZEBON e DINIZ, 2012), que trabalha o contexto, o processo e as interações entre os grupos sociais relevantes. A partir desta análise, foi possível compreender os critérios, direcionadores e barreiras no processo de adoção de novos modelos de precificação, as quais destacam-se as demandas dos usuários, a alta concorrência e a necessidade de aumento do retorno do investimento como os direcionadores mais relevantes, enquanto que a qualidade das redes, a falta de sistemas, a situação financeira das operadoras, a complexidade da regulamentação e o surgimento de grupos sociais distintos dentro da empresa são apontados como as barreiras mais críticas neste processo. Dentro deste contexto, os modelos de precificação emergentes abrangem o empacotamento de serviços, ofertas por tempo limitado, modelos de patrocínio/gratuidade, em conjunto com exploração de novas áreas de negócios. Este estudo proporciona uma contribuição prática e acadêmica na medida em que permite uma melhor compreensão do dinamismo do mercado e suporte para as áreas de marketing estratégico e tático das operadoras, bem como na formulação de políticas e regulamentação do setor.

mHealth in Urology: A Review of Experts' Involvement in App Development

Smartphones are increasingly playing a role in healthcare and previous studies assessing medical applications (apps) have raised concerns about lack of expert involvement and low content accuracy. However, there are no such studies in Urology. We reviewed Urology apps with the aim of assessing the level of participation of healthcare professionals (HCP) and scientific Urology associations in their development.

Creación de la identidad gráfica para la Biblioteca de la Universidad de Cuenca

El proyecto de identidad gráfica para la Biblioteca de la Universidad de Cuenca presenta las diferentes etapas en la creación de un identificador gráfico. La primera etapa se basa en la investigación y el análisis de los datos recopilados, en la segunda etapa se desarrollan los atributos y parámetros de diseño, e incluye el trabajo gráfico, desde los bocetos hasta el identificador gráfico definitivo, por último, un manual de identidad gráfica presenta todo el contenido de la construcción del identificador gráfico y el uso correcto del sistema de identidad en todas las aplicaciones impresas y digitales.

Radio mobility in the digital era: interactivity, participation and content share possibilities in Iberian broadcasters

In the context of the scientific research into radio, recent years have encouraged many theories about the meaning of a post-radio (Oliveira & Portela, 2011), thus enlisting several parameters regarding the inclusion of contemporary radio in the digital and online environments. This digital migration has led to the development of mobile applications for radio, broadening the communicative potential of audiences (Aguado, Feijoo & Martínez, 2013), as well as promoting convergence of interactive content among listeners-users. Aware of this opportunity, the main broadcasters in Spain and Portugal have broadened their radiophonic scope to the mobile platform, especially geared towards smartphones through the development of mobile applications, commonly known as apps (Cerezo, 2010). As a symbol of a culture in permanent changing, smartphones not only provide greater easiness in terms of access and interaction, but also afford larger opportunities for disseminating content among audiences, a phenomenon that some studies have labelled as user distributed content (Villi, 2012). This article presents an exploratory analysis of the current policies of the main Spanish and Portuguese radio broadcasters regarding mobile applications, evaluating the different levels of interaction and participation in these platforms. This observation led to the conclusion, among other findings, that the mobile platform represents a supplementary channel for traditional FM radio, rather than a new medium with its own language and expression.