The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model is used to study acceptance and usage of instant messaging among college students. This study validates the UTAUT model in a new environment which is not work related. The results show that functional capability (the presence of various functions in the application) has a direct effect on behavior intention as well as on perfo...

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We describe an approach to teaching that engages students in small-group discussions of conceptual material. Then we describe software that mediates the discussions with an online textual newsgroup-like system that has special features to support a pedagogical approach that deals explicitly with student preconceptions. Our system, called INFACT-FORUM, is part of a larger CSCL system called INFA...

Instant messenger (IM), a communication technology originally used by individuals in their personal lives, has been increasingly adopted and used to facilitate work-related activities. Up to now, empirical research on IM use is still lacking. We conducted a qualitative study collecting interview data from a work group using IM for work purposes. We found that people have formed various patterns...

This thesis proposes the index system for the selection and evaluation of cooperation partners in the supply chain of agricultural products, and based on IL— WGA operators, the selection and evaluation is made so that the decision making process of selecting cooperation partners in the supply chain of agricultural products is verified for its scientific nature. In practical operations, many ins...

Results from a random sample of 532 college students show that students who made the heaviest use of SMS (Short Message Service) were motivated by its convenience, its low cost, and its utility for coordinating events. People who were socially anxious and were unwilling-to-communicate face-to-face and were put off by the confusing acronyms used in mobile messaging appeared to be those who spent...

Existing research suggests shy people may satisfy their affiliation needs through computerized forms of communication such as instant messaging (IM). Fifty-five undergraduates completed an IM use index, the Cheek and Buss (1981) shyness scale and a motives for IM use scale developed for this study. It was found that the strongest motives for IM use were to increase personal contact as opposed t...

Instant Messaging is traditionally a text only affair. However, there are instances when it would be useful to bridge to other types of media, like speech. The SoftBridge is an application framework that enables this kind of communications bridging using instant messages. Its use of protocols like the Jabber Instant Messaging Protocol and the Simple Object Access Protocol makes it simple, open ...