• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.217-238
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• 2006

In this study, we propose a virtual community recommendation model based on user behavioral models. It is designed to recommend optimal virtual communities for an active user by applying case-based reasoning (CBR) using behavioral factors suggested in the technology acceptance model (TAM) and its extensions. Also, it is designed to filter its case-base by considering the user's needs type before applying CBR. To test the usefulness of our model, we conduct two-step validation - experimental validation for the collected data, and survey validation for investigating the actual satisfaction level. Experimental results show that our model presents effective recommendation results in an efficient way. In addition, they also show that the information on the user's needs type may generate opportunities for cross-selling other commercial items.

• Management & Information Systems Review
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• v.13
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• pp.163-188
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• 2003

Lack of trust is major reason for many company to take a cautions stance towards business-to-business electronic commerce. Especially innovative business models such as online business-to-business marketplaces face the lack of not only having to give their members and partners faith own capabilities and reliability, but also to ensure that the respective parties interacting through them have trust in each other. This paper is empirical study on the trust factors affecting the repurchase intentions in a B2B e-Marketplace by survey instrument based on Likert-style 5 point measurement scale. The objective of this paper is evaluation of relationship between repurchase intentions and trust. The focus of this paper is the antecedents and consequences of buyer trust in a B2B e-Marketplace, not trust intermediaries or in third parties that might mediate between the buyer and e-Marketplace. The findings of this study are expected to increase the awareness of B2B e-Commerce adopter and implementers about the importance of trust in e-commerce participation.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.12 no.9
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• pp.65-72
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• 2014

Purpose - This study aims to provide a brief understanding of usability and its extended models with TAM as well as identifying additional determinants that had been suggested in previous studies on mobile services. Research design, data, and methodology - Empirical data were collected by conducting a field survey of potential mobile application service users. The call for participation was also made in mobile related application issues, which were widely discussed. Result - The ease of use and usefulness had a significantly positive influence on attitude and intention. It also was revealed that added value services can offer practical value to customers. Thus, positive attitudes toward the adoption of services by customers are present when they perceive higher usefulness and ease of use of mobile application services. Conclusion - It was indicated that customers who are more inclined to try new products or who have a higher demand for new things tend to think about those functionalities and added value mobile application services from the perspective of usefulness and ease of use and operation.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.385-400
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• 2014

Pounding damage to bridges and buildings is observed in most major earthquakes. The damage mainly occurs in reinforced concrete slabs, e.g. building floors and bridge decks. This study presents the results from pounding of reinforced concrete slabs. A parametric investigation was conducted involving the mass of the pendulums, the relative velocities of impact and the geometry of the contact surface. The effect of these parameters on the coefficient of restitution and peak impact acceleration is shown. In contrast to predictions from numerical force models, it was observed that peak acceleration is independent of mass. The coefficient of restitution is affected by the impact velocity, total participating mass and the mass ratio of striker and struck block.

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2022.06a
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• pp.808-813
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• 2022

This study presents the problems of data imbalance, varying difficulties across target objects, and small objects in construction object segmentation for far-field monitoring and utilize compound loss functions to address it. Construction site scenes of assembling scaffolds were analyzed to test the effectiveness of compound loss functions for five construction object classes---workers, hardhats, harnesses, straps, hooks. The challenging problem was mitigated by employing a focal and Jaccard loss terms in the original loss function of LinkNet segmentation model. The findings indicates the importance of the loss function design for model performance on construction site scenes for far-field monitoring.

• Management & Information Systems Review
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.165-182
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• 2019

This study investigated the consumer acceptance process of the fourth industrial revolution new product to be introduced into the market in the future. The 4th Industrial Revolution new products are technological advances compared to the existing ones. The technology acceptance model that was used in the past has been modified to reflect variables like the social effects of the 4th Industrial Revolution, expected experience, and perceived risk. Modified models were proposed and verified. Six representative new products of the 4th Industrial Revolution were selected and examined by 40 respondents, and the hypotheses were verified using programs such as SPSS and AMOS. And conclusions and implications are as follows. First, the innovativeness of the fourth industrial revolution new products influences positive evaluation factors such as expected experience and perceived usefulness and it also affect positively to the perceived risk. In addition, the expected experience of the fourth industrial revolution new products has a great effect on the perceived usefulness and social influence, but it didn't affect to the perceived risk. Like the results of the TAM model, purchase intention of the fourth industrial revolution new products are strongly influenced by perceived usefulness. Finally, the perceived risk of the new product of the 4th Industrial Revolution had no statistically significant effect on the purchase intention, and the social influence of the 4th Industrial Revolution had a significant effect on the purchase intention. In general, respondents are highly aware of the social impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and seem to be very positive in this respect.

• Journal of KIISE:Software and Applications
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.575-582
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• 2000

Because FIFO thread scheduling used in the existing multithreaded models does not consider locality in programs, it may result in the decrease of the performance of execution, caused by the frequent context switching overhead and delay of execution of relatively short frames. Quantum unit scheduling enhances the performance a little, but it still has the problems such as the decrease in the processor utilization and the longer delay due to its heavy dependency on the priority of the quantum units. In this paper, we propose shortest-frame-first(SFF) thread scheduling algorithm. Our algorithm selects and schedules the frame that is expected to take the shortest execution time using thread size and synchronization information analyzed at compile-time. We can estimate the relative execution time of each frame at compile-time. Using SFF thread scheduling algorithm on the multithreaded models, we can expect the faster execution, better utilization of the processor, increased throughput and short waiting time compared to FIFO scheduling.

• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.27-55
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• 2008

Due to the increasing and intensifying competition in the Internet shopping market, it has been recognized as very important to develop an effective policy and strategy for acquiring loyal customers. For this reason, web site designers need to know if a new Internet shopping mall(ISM) will be accepted. Researchers have been working on identifying factors for explaining and predicting user acceptance of an ISM. Some studies, however, revealed inconsistent findings on the antecedents of user acceptance of a website. Lack of consideration for individual differences in user ability is believed to be one of the key reasons for the mixed findings. The elaboration likelihood model (ELM) and several studies have suggested that individual differences in ability plays an moderating role on the relationship between the antecedents and user acceptance. Despite the critical role of user ability, little research has examined the role of user ability in the Internet shopping mall context. The purpose of this study is to develop a user acceptance model that consider the moderating role of user ability in the context of Internet shopping. This study was initiated to see the ability of the technology acceptance model(TAM) to explain the acceptance of a specific ISM. According to TAM. which is one of the most influential models for explaining user acceptance of IT, an intention to use IT is determined by usefulness and ease of use. Given that interaction between user and website takes place through web interface, the decisions to accept and continue using an ISM depend on these beliefs. However, TAM neglects to consider the fact that many users would not stick to an ISM until they trust it although they may think it useful and easy to use. The importance of trust for user acceptance of ISM has been raised by the relational views. The relational view emphasizes the trust-building process between the user and ISM, and user's trust on the website is a major determinant of user acceptance. The proposed model extends and integrates the TAM and relational views on user acceptance of ISM by incorporating usefulness, ease of use, and trust. User acceptance is defined as a user's intention to reuse a specific ISM. And user ability is introduced into the model as moderating variable. Here, the user ability is defined as a degree of experiences, knowledge and skills regarding Internet shopping sites. The research model proposes that the ease of use, usefulness and trust of ISM are key determinants of user acceptance. In addition, this paper hypothesizes that the effects of the antecedents(i.e., ease of use, usefulness, and trust) on user acceptance may differ among users. In particular, this paper proposes a moderating effect of a user's ability on the relationship between antecedents with user's intention to reuse. The research model with eleven hypotheses was derived and tested through a survey that involved 470 university students. For each research variable, this paper used measurement items recognized for reliability and widely used in previous research. We slightly modified some items proper to the research context. The reliability and validity of the research variables were tested using the Crobnach's alpha and internal consistency reliability (ICR) values, standard factor loadings of the confirmative factor analysis, and average variance extracted (AVE) values. A LISREL method was used to test the suitability of the research model and its relating six hypotheses. Key findings of the results are summarized in the following. First, TAM's two constructs, ease of use and usefulness directly affect user acceptance. In addition, ease of use indirectly influences user acceptance by affecting trust. This implies that users tend to trust a shopping site and visit repeatedly when they perceive a specific ISM easy to use. Accordingly, designing a shopping site that allows users to navigate with heuristic and minimal clicks for finding information and products within the site is important for improving the site's trust and acceptance. Usefulness, however, was not found to influence trust. Second, among the three belief constructs(ease of use, usefulness, and trust), trust was empirically supported as the most important determinants of user acceptance. This implies that users require trustworthiness from an Internet shopping site to be repeat visitors of an ISM. Providing a sense of safety and eliminating the anxiety of online shoppers in relation to privacy, security, delivery, and product returns are critically important conditions for acquiring repeat visitors. Hence, in addition to usefulness and ease of use as in TAM, trust should be a fundamental determinants of user acceptance in the context of internet shopping. Third, the user's ability on using an Internet shopping site played a moderating role. For users with low ability, ease of use was found to be a more important factors in deciding to reuse the shopping mall, whereas usefulness and trust had more effects on users with high ability. Applying the EML theory to these findings, we can suggest that experienced and knowledgeable ISM users tend to elaborate on such usefulness aspects as efficient and effective shopping performance and trust factors as ability, benevolence, integrity, and predictability of a shopping site before they become repeat visitors of the site. In contrast, novice users tend to rely on the low elaborating features, such as the perceived ease of use. The existence of moderating effects suggests the fact that different individuals evaluate an ISM from different perspectives. The expert users are more interested in the outcome of the visit(usefulness) and trustworthiness(trust) than those novice visitors. The latter evaluate the ISM in a more superficial manner focusing on the novelty of the site and on other instrumental beliefs(ease of use). This is consistent with the insights proposed by the Heuristic-Systematic model. According to the Heuristic-Systematic model. a users act on the principle of minimum effort. Thus, the user considers an ISM heuristically, focusing on those aspects that are easy to process and evaluate(ease of use). When the user has sufficient experience and skills, the user will change to systematic processing, where they will evaluate more complex aspects of the site(its usefulness and trustworthiness). This implies that an ISM has to provide a minimum level of ease of use to make it possible for a user to evaluate its usefulness and trustworthiness. Ease of use is a necessary but not sufficient condition for the acceptance and use of an ISM. Overall, the empirical results generally support the proposed model and identify the moderating effect of the effects of user ability. More detailed interpretations and implications of the findings are discussed. The limitations of this study are also discussed to provide directions for future research.

• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.1-14
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• 2008

According to technology acceptance model(TAN) which is one of the most important research models for explaining IT users' behavior, on intention of using IT is determined by usefulness and ease of use of it. However, TAM wouldn't explain the performance of using IT while it has been considered as a very good model for prediction of the intention. Many people would not be confirmed in the performance of using IT until they can control it at their will, although they think it useful and easy to use. In other words, in addition to usefulness and ease of use as in TAM, controllability is also should be a factor to determine acceptance of IT. Especially, there is a very close relationship between controllability and ease of use, both of which explain the other sides of control over the performance of using IT, so called perceived behavioral control(PBC) in social psychology. The objective of this study is to identify the relationship between ease of use and controllability, and analyse the effects of both two beliefs over performance and intention in using IT. For this purpose, we review the issues related with PBC in information systems studies as well as social psychology, Based on a review of PBC, we suggest a research model which includes the relationship between control and performance in using IT, and prove its validity empirically. Since it was introduced as qa variable for explaining volitional control for actions in theory of planned behavior(TPB), there have been confusion about concept of PBC in spite of its important role in predicting so many kinds of actions. Some studies define PBC as self-efficacy that means actor's perception of difficulty or ease of actions, while others as controllability. However, this confusion dose not imply conceptual contradiction but a double-faced feature of PBC since the performance of actions is related with both self-efficacy and controllability. In other words, these two concepts are discriminated and correlated with each other. Therefore, PBC should be considered as a composite concept consisting of self-efficacy and controllability, Use of IT has been also one of important areas for predictions by PBC. Most of them have been studied by analysis of comparison in prediction power between TAM and TPB or modification of TAM by inclusion of PBC as another belief as like usefulness and ease of use. Interestingly, unlike the other applications in social psychology, it is hard to find such confusion in the concept of PBC in the studies for use of IT. In most of studies, controllability is adapted as PBC since the concept of self-efficacy is included in ease of use explicitly. Based on these discussions, we can suggest perceived use control(PUC) which is defined as perception of control over the performance of using IT and composed of controllability and ease of use as sub-concepts. We suggest a research model explaining acceptance of IT which includes the relationships of PUC with attitude and performance of using IT. For empirical test of our research model, two user groups are selected for surveying questionnaires. In the first group, there are freshmen who take a basic course for Microsoft Excel, and the second group consists of senior students who take a course for analysis of management information by Excel. Most of measurements are adapted ones that have been validated in the other studies, while performance is real score of mid-term in each class. In result, four hypotheses related with PUC are supported statistically with very low significance level. Main contribution of this study is suggestion of PUC through theoretical review of PBC. Specifically, a hierarchical model of PUC are derived from very rigorous studies in the relationship between self-efficacy and controllability with a view of PBC in social psychology. The relationship between PUC and performance is another main contribution.

• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.71-96
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• 2011

Within the traditional medical delivery system, patients residing in medically vulnerable areas, those with body movement difficulties, and nursing facility residents have had limited access to good healthcare services. However, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) provides us with a convenient and useful means of overcoming distance and time constraints. ICT is integrated with biomedical science and technology in a way that offers a new high-quality medical service. As a result, rapid technological advancement is expected to play a pivotal role bringing about innovation in a wide range of medical service areas, such as medical management, testing, diagnosis, and treatment; offering new and improved healthcare services; and effecting dramatic changes in current medical services. The increase in aging population and chronic diseases has caused an increase in medical expenses. In response to the increasing demand for efficient healthcare services, a telehealth service based on ICT is being emphasized on a global level. Telehealth services have been implemented especially in pilot projects and system development and technological research. With the service about to be implemented in earnest, it is necessary to study its overall acceptance by consumers, which is expected to contribute to the development and activation of a variety of services. In this sense, the study aims at positively examining the structural relationship among the acceptance factors for telehealth services based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). Data were collected by showing audiovisual material on telehealth services to online panels and requesting them to respond to a structured questionnaire sheet, which is known as the information acceleration method. Among the 1,165 adult respondents, 608 valid samples were finally chosen, while the remaining were excluded because of incomplete answers or allotted time overrun. In order to test the reliability and validity of the assessment scale items, we carried out reliability and factor analyses, and in order to explore the causal relation among potential variables, we conducted a structural equation modeling analysis using AMOS 7.0 and SPSS 17.0. The research outcomes are as follows. First, service quality, innovativeness of medical technology, and social influence were shown to affect perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness of the telehealth service, which was statistically significant, and the two factors had a positive impact on willingness to accept the telehealth service. In addition, social influence had a direct, significant effect on intention to use, which is paralleled by the TAM used in previous research on technology acceptance. This shows that the research model proposed in the study effectively explains the acceptance of the telehealth service. Second, the research model reveals that information privacy concerns had a insignificant impact on perceived ease of use of the telehealth service. From this, it can be gathered that the concerns over information protection and security are reduced further due to advancements in information technology compared to the initial period in the information technology industry, and thus the improvement in quality of medical services appeared to ensure that information privacy concerns did not act as a prohibiting factor in the acceptance of the telehealth service. Thus, if other factors have an enormous impact on ease of use and usefulness, concerns over these results in the initial period of technology acceptance may become irrelevant. However, it is clear that users' information privacy concerns, as other studies have revealed, is a major factor affecting technology acceptance. Thus, caution must be exercised while interpreting the result, and further study is required on the issue. Numerous information technologies with outstanding performance and innovativeness often attract few consumers. A revised bill for those urgently in need of telehealth services is about to be approved in the national assembly. As telemedicine is implemented between doctors and patients, a wide range of systems that will improve the quality of healthcare services will be designed. In this sense, the study on the consumer acceptance of telehealth services is meaningful and offers strong academic evidence. Based on the implications, it can be expected to contribute to the activation of telehealth services. Further study is needed to assess the acceptance factors for telehealth services, such as motivation to remain healthy, health care involvement, knowledge on health, and control of health-related behavior, in order to develop unique services according to the categorization of customers based on health factors. In addition, further study may focus on various theoretical cognitive behavior models other than the TAM, such as the health belief model.