Exploring influencing variables for the acceptance of social robots

In order to introduce social robots successfully, we must first understand the underlying reasons whereupon potential users accept these robots to reside within their own homes. An extensive literature review has been conducted and provides an overview of variables influencing the acceptance of social robots categorized by utilitarian variables, hedonic variables, user characteristics, social normative beliefs and control beliefs. In a user study, in which 60 participants interacted with a social robot, both the robot itself and the interaction experience the users had with the robot were evaluated. The results indicate that especially the variables of usefulness, adaptability, enjoyment, sociability, companionship and perceived behavioral control are important evaluating the user acceptance of social robots. Hence, the present study contributes to human–robot interaction research by designating the variables that lead to social robot acceptance. Subsequently, this study may serve as a onset in developing an integral model which takes into consideration the relevant determinants of social robot acceptance.     

Extending the technology acceptance model to explore the intention to use Second Life for enhancing healthcare education

Learners need to have good reasons to engage and accept e-learning. They need to understand that unless they do, the outcomes will be less favourable. The technology acceptance model (TAM) is the most widely recognized model addressing why users accept or reject technology. This study describes the development and evaluation of a virtual environment, the online 3D world Second Life (SL), for learning rapid sequence intubation (RSI). RSI is an increasingly frequently used method of acute airway management in healthcare settings. The intention of learners to use the system was explored based on the TAM, with the computer self-efficacy construct as an external variable. Two hundred and six nursing students participated in this study. The findings suggest that the system was perceived as useful, and that the students felt confident working with computers and intended to review RSI in SL as often as needed. However, they remained neutral regarding the ease of use of the system. Strategies were suggested for boosting the students’ self-confidence in using the system. Overall use of the TAM in this context was successful, indicating the robustness of the model. The limitations of the study were discussed and further areas of research on the TAM were proposed.     

Research on the acceptance of collaborative robots for the industry 5.0 era -- The mediating effect of perceived competence and the moderating effect of robot use self-efficacy

Collaborative robots (Cobots), an important component of the Industry 5.0 era, have been rapidly entering a variety of industrial application scenarios. However, employees working with them are reluctant to accept cobots into the workplace. Therefore, the traditional technology acceptance model (TAM) is unsuitable for research on the acceptance of cobots with artificial intelligence and the human-robot interaction process. In addition, anthropomorphism cannot explain the lower employee acceptance with the increase of cobots anthropomorphic from the mechanistic level. Therefore, based on the human-robot interaction phenomenon in the emerging industrial field, combined with the Uncanny Valley effect and intergroup threat theory, 300 subjects were invited to conduct an empirical study using experimental vignette methodology (EVM). The findings are as follows: 1) Perceived competence plays a mediating role in the relationship between cobots anthropomorphic and acceptance of cobots; 2) Perceived competence and perceived threat serially mediates the relationship between cobots anthropomorphic and acceptance of cobots; 3) The cobot use self-efficacy plays a moderating role in the relationship between perceived competence and perceived threat. The research results provide a mechanistic explanation for alleviating the low acceptance of cobots, give measures and methods to improve acceptance of cobots and provide solutions for the promotion and application of cobots in the industrial field.     

Technology acceptance model for the use of information technology in universities

The problem described in this research is to identify which factors influence on engineering students about their acceptance of an academic administrative information system in private universities in Lima, Peru. The objective is to identify factors by proposing a Technology Acceptance Model of an Academic and Administrative Information System. University population is described, both private and public. The investigation is based on two private universities. The results show the relationship between the selected variables. Finally, recommendations are given to act on the variables that determine the acceptance of information technology.     

The adoption of software measures: A technology acceptance model (TAM) perspective

The use of software measures for project management and software process improvement has been encouraged for many years. However, the low level of acceptance and use of software measures in practice has been a constant concern. In this paper we propose and test a model which explains and predicts the use of software measures. The model is based on the technology acceptance model (TAM) and operationalizes the perceived usefulness construct according to the “desirable properties of software measures.” Our research provides guidance for software engineers in selecting among different software measures and for software metrics coordinators who are planning measurement programs.     

A theoretical acceptance model for computer-based communication media: Nine field studies

This research study develops and tests a theoretical acceptance model to explain users’ acceptance of computer-based communication media. The model, which is referred to as TAM_CCM, originated from the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and conforms to the context of Computer-based Communication Media (CCM). It explains perceived usefulness and actual system use in terms of system characteristics (information process support and facilitating conditions), social influence (subjective norm and rules on media use), and user characteristics (experience and computer self efficacy). The model was tested using empirical data collected at nine organizations (N = 425), of which four had media rules and five had no similar rules. The TAM_CCM model was strongly supported accounting for 74% of the variance in usefulness perceptions and up to 74% of the variance in behavior intention to use. System characteristics (information process support), social influence (subjective norm and rules on media use), and user experience significantly influenced user acceptance of computer-based communication media. These advanced theory findings on computer-based communication media adoption and the research approach contribute to future research aimed at incorporating the TAM into specific contexts.     

Determinants of the intention to use NFC technology as a payment system: an acceptance model approach

The worldwide growth of mobile technology has enabled many companies to take advantage of its application as complementary sales tools. The main objective of this research is user acceptance analysis of near field communication mobile payment systems. Classic variables from the technology acceptance model, as well as variables from other recent studies, were used as models for this research (compatibility, security, personal innovation and individual mobility). To meet these objectives a questionnaire, filled out by 191 respondents, formed the basis of a structural equation modeling designed by PLS 3.0 software. The results show that attitude, subjective norms and innovation and are determinants of the future intention to use this technology. Finally, the main implications for corporate management and business development strategies which reinforce this type of business in light of new technical developments are discussed.     

Gerontechnology acceptance by elderly Hong Kong Chinese: a senior technology acceptance model (STAM)

The purpose of this study was to develop and test a senior technology acceptance model (STAM) aimed at understanding the acceptance of gerontechnology by older Hong Kong Chinese people. The proposed STAM extended previous technology acceptance models and theories by adding age-related health and ability characteristics of older people. The proposed STAM was empirically tested using a cross-sectional questionnaire survey with a sample of 1012 seniors aged 55 and over in Hong Kong. The result showed that STAM was strongly supported and could explain 68% of the variance in the use of gerontechnology. For older Hong Kong Chinese, individual attributes, which include age, gender, education, gerontechnology self-efficacy and anxiety, and health and ability characteristics, as well as facilitating conditions explicitly and directly affected technology acceptance. These were better predictors of gerontechnology usage behaviour (UB) than the conventionally used attitudinal factors (usefulness and ease of use).

Practitioner Summary: Previous studies have not given much consideration to age-related health and associated abilities when examining acceptance of technology by the ageing population. By encompassing conventional technology acceptance constructs together with age-related health and ability characteristics, the present study was able to identify more factors affecting gerontechnology acceptance by older Hong Kong Chinese.     

Analysis of utility and use of a web-based tool for digital signal processing teaching by means of a technological acceptance model

This paper presents an exploratory study about the development of a structural and measurement model for the technological acceptance (TAM) of a web-based educational tool. The aim consists of measuring not only the use of this tool, but also the external variables with a significant influence in its use for planning future improvements. The tool, designed with Shockwave™ and Macromedia Director™, is a web-based educational environment that has been applied as a teaching methodology in an undergraduate course involved with modern microprocessors architectures and applications. The proposed methodology may be extensible to similar tools and tries to fill the lack of scientific studies in the validation and acceptance of computer-based educational tools.     

A patient-specific muscle force estimation model for the potential use of human-inspired swing-assist rehabilitation robots

This study presents a patient-specific muscle force estimation model (PMFE) for the potential use with swing-assist rehabilitation robots. This model employs a static optimization algorithm based on a computer-based musculoskeletal model, which provides patient-specific anthropometric parameters and muscle moment arms. Joint moments and muscle forces estimated by the computed muscle control (CMC) method using kinematic data from six healthy adolescents at their comfortable speed were used to evaluate the PMFE. The simulation results show that muscle forces estimated from the PMFE match well with those from the CMC, and the PMFE has significant computational efficiency (the entire swing phase takes only 0.02 s). As a case study, a novel patient-specific biological command-based controller (PSBc), based on the PMFE, was developed to control a human-inspired swing-assist rehabilitation robot. The PSBc is evaluated by both simulation and robot experiment. The simulation results and the preliminary experiment results demonstrate that the PSBc could track both desired knee angles and desired forces. The results show the possibility of applying biomechanics methodology to the rehabilitation robot field.     

Al‐Robotics team: A cooperative multi‐unmanned aerial vehicle approach for the Mohamed Bin Zayed International Robotic Challenge

The Al‐Robotics team was selected as one of the 25 finalist teams out of 143 applications received to participate in the first edition of the Mohamed Bin Zayed International Robotic Challenge (MBZIRC), held in 2017. In particular, one of the competition Challenges offered us the opportunity to develop a cooperative approach with multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) searching, picking up, and dropping static and moving objects. This paper presents the approach that our team Al‐Robotics followed to address that Challenge 3 of the MBZIRC. First, we overview the overall architecture of the system, with the different modules involved. Second, we describe the procedure that we followed to design the aerial platforms, as well as all their onboard components. Then, we explain the techniques that we used to develop the software functionalities of the system. Finally, we discuss our experimental results and the lessons that we learned before and during the competition. The cooperative approach was validated with fully autonomous missions in experiments previous to the actual competition. We also analyze the results that we obtained during the competition trials.     

Understanding behavioral intention to use a cloud computing classroom: A multiple model comparison approach

Cloud computing is an innovative information technology that has been applied to education and has facilitated the development of cloud computing classrooms; however, student behavioral intention (BI) toward cloud computing remains unclear. Most researchers have evaluated, integrated, or compared only few theories to examine user BI. In this study, we tested, compared, and unified six well-known theories, namely service quality (SQ), self-efficacy (SE), the motivational model (MM), the technology acceptance model (TAM), the theory of reasoned action or theory of planned behavior (TRA/TPB), and innovation diffusion theory (IDT), in the context of cloud computing classrooms. This empirical study was conducted using an online survey. The data collected from the samples (n = 478) were analyzed using structural equation modeling. We independently analyzed each theory, by formulating a united model. The analysis yielded three valuable findings. First, all six theoretical models and the united model exhibited adequate explanatory power. Second, variance explanation, Chi-squared statistics, effect size, and predictive relevance results revealed the ranking importance of the theoretical models. Third, the united model provided a comprehensive understanding of the factors that significantly affect the college students’ BI toward a cloud computing classroom. The discussions and implications of this study are critical for researchers and practitioners.     

Information technology (IT) in Saudi Arabia: Culture and the acceptance and use of IT

The unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT), a model of the user acceptance of IT, synthesizes elements from several prevailing user acceptance models. It has been credited with explaining a larger proportion of the variance of ‘intention to use’ and ‘usage behavior’ than do preceding models. However, it has not been validated in non-Western cultures. Using a survey sample collected from 722 knowledge workers using desktop computer applications on a voluntary basis in Saudi Arabia, we examined the relative power of a modified version of UTAUT in determining ‘intention to use’ and ‘usage behavior’. We found that the model explained 39.1% of intention to use variance, and 42.1% of usage variance. In addition, drawing on the theory of cultural dimensions, we hypothesized and tested the similarities and differences between the North American and Saudi validations of UTAUT in terms of cultural differences that affected the organizational acceptance of IT in the two societies.     

A meta-analysis of the technology acceptance model: Investigating subjective norm and moderation effects

We conducted a quantitative meta-analysis of previous research on the technology acceptance model (TAM) in an attempt to make well-grounded statements on the role of subjective norm. Furthermore, we compared TAM results by taking into account moderating effects of one individual-related factor (type of respondents), one technology-related factor (type of technology), and one contingent factor (culture). Results indicated a significant influence of subjective norm on perceived usefulness and behavioral intention to use. Moderating effects were found for all three factors. The findings yielded managerial implications for both intra-company and market-based settings.     

Decentralized Delayed-State Information Filter (DDSIF): A new approach for cooperative decentralized tracking

This paper presents a decentralized data fusion approach to perform cooperative perception with data gathered from heterogeneous sensors, which can be static or carried by robots. In particular, a decentralized delayed-state information filter (DDSIF) is described, in which full-state trajectories (that is, delayed states) are considered to fuse the information. This approach allows obtaining an estimation equal to that provided by a centralized system and reduces the impact of communication delays and latency in the estimation. The sparseness of the information matrix maintains the communication overhead at a reasonable level. The method is applied to cooperative tracking, and some results in disaster management scenarios are shown. In this kind of scenario, the target might move in both open-field and indoor areas, so the fusion of data provided by heterogeneous sensors is beneficial. The paper also shows experimental results with real data and integrating several sources of information.     

Theory of planning behavior (TPB) and customer satisfaction in the continued use of e-service: An integrated model

This study has devoted much effort to developing an integrated model designed to predict and explain an individual’s continued use of online services based on the concepts of the expectation disconfirmation model and the theory of planned behavior. Empirical data was collected from a field survey of Cyber University System (CUS) users to verify the fit of the hypothetical model. The measurement model indicates the theoretical constructs have adequate reliability and validity while the structured equation model is illustrated as having a high model fit for empirical data. Study’s findings show that a customer’s behavioral intention towards e-service continuance is mainly determined by customer satisfaction and additionally affected by perceived usefulness and subjective norm. Generally speaking, the integrated model can fully reflect the spirit of the expectation disconfirmation model and take advantage of planned behavior theory. After consideration of the impact of systemic features, personal characteristics, and social influence on customer behavior, the integrated model had a better explanatory advantage than other EDM-based models proposed in prior research.     

VFH*TDT (VFH* with Time Dependent Tree): A new laser rangefinder based obstacle avoidance method designed for environment with non-static obstacles

New modifications of VFH+ and VFH* (Vector Field Histogram) methods are presented in the paper. The features of the histogramic algorithms are generally improved and also using a potential of advanced sensors such as laser scanners is enabled. The main focus of the work is an introduction of modifications that provides collision-free navigation in environments with moving obstacles. For this purpose, a new approach in creating a look-ahead tree is proposed. All new modifications are analyzed and experimentally verified. The results obtained using conventional and modified methods have been compared. Experiments have demonstrated the validity and the technical feasibility of the proposed methods.     

The factors affecting acceptance and use of interactive whiteboard within the scope of FATIH project: A structural equation model based on the Unified Theory of acceptance and use of technology

Purpose of this research is to explain the factors affecting high school teachers' acceptance and use of interactive whiteboard within the scope of FATIH project according to the Unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT, Venkatesh et al., 2003). The study was designed using causal research design in order to examine the cause-effect relationship between the variables. Sample of the study consists of 158 teachers, determined via criteria sampling, who have participated in the study voluntarily. Data has been collected using a 7 points Likert scale, developed for this study, which covers UTAUS's factors and variables featuring interactive whiteboard acceptance and use of the teachers. The collected data has been analyzed with simple and multiple linear regressions and structural equation model. The findings have shown that performance expectancy, effort expectancy and social influence had positive effects on behavioral intention; behavioral intention and facilitating conditions had positive effects on the usage time of interactive whiteboard.     

On-line recognition (OLREC): A novel approach to visual pattern recognition

A pattern recognition system has been developed which is capable of recognizing high contrast two-dimensional visual patterns and which is insensitive to the translation, rotation and size of a pattern. The unique characteristics of the system are its speed, its low cost and the fact that it is completely self-contained.

A new technique for image recognition, suitable for applications such as industrial robotics, is presented. The technique provides invariance to rotation, translation and magnification of the image. An intelligent camera system is used to input an image, to center it, to normalize it with respect to size and to convert it into polar coordinate form. The image is then integrated over r and θ to provide two orthogonal profiles. The input profiles are compared to the reference images using a threshold comparison technique designed to provide a simple hardware implementation. Rotation of the image is handled by a one-dimensional shifting of the radial profile.

Seven experiments were performed to test the system. The results of these experiments are discussed and possible improvements to the system are suggested.     

A novel approach to equipment health management based on auto-regressive hidden semi-Markov model （AR-HSMM）

As a new maintenance method, CBM （condition based maintenance） is becoming more and more important for the health management of complicated and costly equipment. A prerequisite to widespread deployment of CBM technology and prac- tice in industry is effective diagnostics and prognostics. Recently, a pattern recog- nition technique called HMM （hidden Markov model） was widely used in many fields. However, due to some unrealistic assumptions, diagnositic results from HMM were not so good, and it was difficult to use HMM directly for prognosis. By relaxing the unrealistic assumptions in HMM, this paper presents a novel approach to equip- ment health management based on auto-regressive hidden semi-Markov model （AR-HSMM）. Compared with HMM, AR-HSMM has three advantages： 1） It allows explicitly modeling the time duration of the hidden states and therefore is capable of prognosis. 2） It can relax observations＇ independence assumption by accom- modating a link between consecutive observations. 3） It does not follow the unre- alistic Markov chain＇s memoryless assumption and therefore provides more pow- erful modeling and analysis capability for real problems. To facilitate the computa- tion in the proposed AR-HSMM-based diagnostics and prognostics, new forward- backward variables are defined and a modified forward-backward algorithm is de- veloped. The evaluation of the proposed methodology was carried out through a real world application case study： health diagnosis and prognosis of hydraulic pumps in Caterpillar Inc. The testing results show that the proposed new approach based on AR-HSMM is effective and can provide useful support for the decision- making in equipment health management.