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Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2023-09-15"

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  • A predictive model for the acceptance of wearable ubiquitous activity monitoring devices
    Publication . Jesus, Ricardo Nuno Araújo Sol de; Baras, Karolina
    Acceptance of wearable ubiquitous activity monitoring devices that track activity has been a hot topic for the last decade. Several theories have been made, particularly how to think about the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). These theories have been used in different situations to learn more about how people and organizations accept new technology. Even though the TAM is mature and works in different situations, there is not much published research that tries to expand its ability to predict how people will react to wearable ubiquitous activity monitoring devices. One reason for this gap could be that the TAM is based on the idea that people's acceptance behavior can only be predicted by two beliefs: Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU) and Perceived Usefulness (PU). Literature shows that PU and PEOU beliefs are not enough. This means that they may not be able to explain why people accept new things, like Activity Trackers (AT). Because of this, it is important to include any other factors that can help predict how likely people are to use activity trackers. As an extension of research on the TAM, this study created and tested two models of how people accept and use wearable ubiquitous activity monitoring devices, with two questionnaires with more than 200 respondents that shield light on the subject. The proposed models added key concepts from the research stream on how people accept information systems to the theoretical framework of the TAM and Health Information Technology Acceptance Model (HITAM). The resulting models were analyzed using a variety of statistical techniques including Structural Equation Analysis. The first model was reanalyzed via qualitative analysis with 20 interviews, and reanalyzed via another quantitative method of Artificial Neural Networks (ANN). The most significant contributions of this dissertation are: 1. The construction of two models that predict activity tracking adoption and usage. 2. Guidelines for designing activity trackers. These contributions can help promote activity trackers as an essential piece of equipment that helps monitor progress during workouts as well as other times, such as when the user is at rest or sleeping. We will see that by being continually reminded to walk about and avoid sitting for extended periods of time or doing nothing at all, this helps a person build healthy behaviors. Additionally, activity trackers should be designed to maintain a person's motivation to finish the daily activity routine, which is necessary for people to accomplish their health and fitness objectives. This thesis contributes with two quantitative models for the acceptance and use of activity trackers, and creates recommendations for different types of users.
    2023-09-15Doctoral thesis Open access Show more
  • Estratégias de marketing pós pandemia na RAM (Região Autónoma da Madeira)
    Publication . Cabral, Ana Maria Homem de Gouveia Álvares; Almeida, António de
    O tema da presente dissertação surgiu pelo interesse pessoal da autora pela área do marketing e mais especificamente o marketing digital. Tendo como formação base a área do Turismo considerou-se ser interessante juntar estas duas áreas e fazer desta união o tema da pesquisa com a qual se conclui o mestrado. O foco do presente estudo são as estratégias de marketing utilizadas pelas empresas ligadas direta ou indiretamente ao Turismo num contexto pós-pandémico na Região Autónoma da Madeira (RAM). Considerou-se interessante estudar como as empresas lidaram com a crise causada pela pandemia, bem como as estratégias utilizadas para colmatar e ultrapassar as dificuldades financeiras que daí advieram. Os objetivos principais do trabalho são caracterizar a atitude das empresas regionais face ao risco de uma forma global e expor as diferentes formas utilizadas pelas empresas para a gestão de risco. Tendo como contexto principal a recente pandemia por Covid, deu-se enfase à gestão do risco com características semelhantes e a forma como as empresas lidaram com estas, especialmente através de estratégias de marketing. Foi feita uma revisão de literatura onde foram desenvolvidos conceitos como o de Turismo, Covid e desemprego, Necessidades dos consumidores e Redes sociais. Optou-se pela utilização do método de inquérito por questionário, enviado por email a cento e vinte empresas que estejam direta ou indiretamente ligadas ao turismo, como a hotelaria, agências de viagens, empresas de animação turística, empresa de transferes, restaurantes, rent-a-cars. Quarenta e uma empresas responderam ao questionário. O presente estudo aborda também a forma como o estado português atuou para auxiliar as empresas.
    2023-09-15Master thesis Open access Show more