Exploring the determinants of users’ continuance intention in smartwatches

The purpose of this study is to examine possible factors that influence continuance intention to use a smartwatch. The proposed research model is based on the expectation confirmation model adapted to include individual mobility, perceived aesthetics, and habit. The sample consisted of 348 actual users of smartwatches and structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to test the research model. The results indicate that perceived aesthetics, satisfaction, individual mobility, and habit are associated with individuals’ continuance intention to use smartwatches. Surprisingly, perceived usefulness does not directly influence continuance intention of smartwatches. The implications for both theory and practice are provided based on the findings.     

Why do people switch mobile payment service platforms? An empirical study in Taiwan

Although an increasing number of studies have recently investigated mobile payment service (MPS) platform user behaviours, the majority of these studies have focused on user adoption. However, user switching behaviour has been paid limited attention as yet. The current study investigates critical antecedents of user switching intention of MPS platform drawing on the perspective of the push-pull-mooring framework. The proposed model was empirically tested with 612 valid responses collected using on-line questionnaire survey in Taiwan. The results of this study revealed that user regret, alternative attractiveness, perceived complementarity of the alternative, and perceived network size of the alternative positively relate to user intention to switch. The most critical push effect driving MPS platform users to switch is user regret caused by dissatisfaction with system quality and information quality, especially in terms of system stability and visual attractiveness. In terms of pull effects, the improvement of alternative attractiveness and perceived network size of the alternative should be paid more attention, so thereby expanding their provision of complementary resources can be considered as an effective tactic. Furthermore, inertia is also negatively associated with user switching intention. Of all of the sources of inertia, uncertainty costs are a major crucial mooring effect. The performance of sunk costs still leaves much to be increased because of the insufficient user use and investment in the incumbent MPS platform. The findings will be helpful for MPS platform practitioners when fully comprehending users’ switching behaviour and formulating appropriate strategies to retain existing users while still attracting potential new users.     

Switching intention in the online crowdsourced delivery environment: The influence of a platform's technological characteristics and relational bonding strategies

This paper aimed to investigate the effect of the technological characteristics and relational bonding strategies of crowdsourced delivery (CD) service platforms on customers' switching intention. It was proposed that this effect was mediated by perceived value and switching cost. Five hundred survey responses were collected using a stratified random sampling strategy to represent Singapore's population. The collected data were analysed using structural equation modelling, which revealed that technological characteristics (i.e. ease of use, breadth of use and switching experience) influence the perceived switching cost. In addition, relational bonds (i.e. structural, financial and social bonds) influence perceived value. Furthermore, perceived value and switching cost influence switching intention. The combination of perceived value, switching cost and social exchange theory carries cogent explanatory power regarding users' switching intention in the CD industry (R² = 81%). The findings also provide managerial implications for CD companies to formulate appropriate strategies to build customer loyalty in light of increasing competition.     

Applied Artificial Intelligence and user satisfaction: Smartwatch usage for healthcare in Bangladesh during COVID-19

The evolution of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has revolutionized many aspects of human life, including healthcare. Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, AI-enabled smartwatches are being used to help users to self-monitor and self-manage their health. Using a framework based on Stimulus-Organism-Response (S–O-R) theory, this present study aimed to explore the use of AI-enabled smartwatches for health purposes, in particular the effects of product quality, service quality, perceived convenience, and perceived ease of use on user experience, trust and user satisfaction. Based on a purposive survey sample of 486 smartphone users in Bangladesh, data collected was analyzed using SPSS software for elementary analyses and PLS-SEM for hypotheses testing. The findings showed that the predictors, namely product quality, service quality, perceived convenience, and perceived ease of use, significantly affected user experience and trust. Similarly, user experience and trust were influential on user satisfaction and played partial mediating roles between predictors and user satisfaction. Besides, gender and age moderate the relationships of experience and trust with customer satisfaction. These findings support the S–O-R theoretical framework and have practical implications for brand and marketing managers of smartwatches in developing product features and understanding users' attitudes and behaviours.     

Toward street vending in post COVID-19 China: Social networking services information overload and switching intention

With the progress of epidemic containment, the Chinese government has relaxed its regulatory policies on street vending, hoping to help people who have lost their livelihoods and to assist in the restoration of social and economic order. In response, Chinese people poured into the stall economy, especially individual peddlers, with great expectations for street vending. Street vending has become a hot topic on Chinese social network sites (SNSs). Based on the push-pull-mooring framework, SNS information overload theory was introduced and combined with the actual situations of street vending in China, and a structural equation model was established to study factors affecting individual Chinese peddlers' intention to engage in street vending and the effects of SNS information overload on these factors. Results revealed that perceived policy benefits, subjective norms, and switching cost perceptions of individual peddlers were positive factors affecting their intention to engage in street vending. SNS information overload positively affected individual peddlers' dissatisfaction with their original business model, anxieties over their livings, perception of policy benefits, and subjective norms but negatively affected individual peddlers’ perception of switching costs.     

Factors that influence users’ adoption intention of mobile health: a structural equation modeling approach

Mobile health represents the future trend of health care due to its great potential in improving health care efficiency, accessibility and quality. It is particularly beneficial for chronic disease patients who require long-term and regular services. To improve the products, mobile health developers need to understand patient needs, values and preferences, and assess the key factors that influence their mobile health adoption intentions. This study focuses on identifying the influential factors of patients’ adoption intention of m-Health. A structural equation model is constructed, and the confirmatory factor analysis and standard path coefficient are used to explore the key factors in chronic disease patients’ adoption process of m-Health. The results show that perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use have the strongest positive effect on patients’ adoption intention. Meanwhile, subjective norm, existing degree of satisfaction, network effect, and cost factor also influence adoption intention. Finally, the House of Quality method is used to examine the relative importance of various properties of m-Health. The Teoriya Resheniya Izobreatatelskikh Zadatch method is applied to resolve the contradictions between these properties. Our study offers important insights for mobile health developers on how to optimally design a product, thereby increasing users’ adoption intention and overall satisfaction.     

Influence of cognitive and social change factors on E-vehicle switching intention: Evidence from Korea

E-vehicles have the potential to supplant the existing internal-combustion-engine-based transportation ecosystem and be a transformational technology with a huge impact on social change. The recognition of this capacity appears to be a major factor for people who consider switching to e-vehicles; however, the process of social diffusion by which this awareness spreads and the relevant critical mass points remain unclear. Moreover, studies have demonstrated only the effects of e-vehicle acceptance intention, purchase behavior, and customer perception on determining personal subjective norms; there is a lack of systematic research clarifying the effects of other factors. This study investigates the roles of crucial social factors and personal cognitive/psychological factors by drawing on social cognitive theory and commitment to change theory. We collected data from 247 internal combustion engine vehicle owners in Korea. The results supported seven of our hypotheses. Our findings explicate the factors that have a strong, significant influence on personal e-vehicle switching intention, particularly customer factors, and our approach is potentially generalizable to other transformational technologies.     

Zero-state Markov switching count-data models: An empirical assessment

In this study, a two-state Markov switching count-data model is proposed as an alternative to zero-inflated models to account for the preponderance of zeros sometimes observed in transportation count data, such as the number of accidents occurring on a roadway segment over some period of time. For this accident-frequency case, zero-inflated models assume the existence of two states: one of the states is a zero-accident count state, which has accident probabilities that are so low that they cannot be statistically distinguished from zero, and the other state is a normal-count state, in which counts can be non-negative integers that are generated by some counting process, for example, a Poisson or negative binomial. While zero-inflated models have come under some criticism with regard to accident-frequency applications - one fact is undeniable - in many applications they provide a statistically superior fit to the data. The Markov switching approach we propose seeks to overcome some of the criticism associated with the zero-accident state of the zero-inflated model by allowing individual roadway segments to switch between zero and normal-count states over time. An important advantage of this Markov switching approach is that it allows for the direct statistical estimation of the specific roadway-segment state (i.e., zero-accident or normal-count state) whereas traditional zero-inflated models do not. To demonstrate the applicability of this approach, a two-state Markov switching negative binomial model (estimated with Bayesian inference) and standard zero-inflated negative binomial models are estimated using five-year accident frequencies on Indiana interstate highway segments. It is shown that the Markov switching model is a viable alternative and results in a superior statistical fit relative to the zero-inflated models.     

Digital switching in the quantum domain

Presents a switching architecture such that digital data can be switched in the quantum domain. The proposed mechanism supports unicasting as well as multicasting, and is strict-sense nonblocking. In addition, with appropriate interface conversion, this architecture can also be used to switch classical information. This results in a quantum switch that can be used to build classical and quantum information networks. To present this idea, we define the connection digraph which can be used to describe the behavior of a switch at a given time, then we show how a connection digraph can be implemented using elementary quantum gates. Compared with a traditional space or time domain switch, the proposed switching mechanism is much more scalable. Assuming an n/spl times/n quantum switch, the space consumption grows linearly, i.e., O(n), while the time complexity is O(1) for unicasting, and O(log/sub 2/n) for multicasting. Based on these advantages, a high-throughput switching device can be built simply by increasing the number of I/O ports.     

Reliability and performance analysis of time – space – time switching networks with multiple separated space switches

Since electronic switching systems usually require very strict reliability requirements as well as good performance objectives, we need to jointly analyse the performance and reliability of switching systems. In this paper, we compare conventional time–space–time switches with single space switches with those with multiple separated space switches, from the viewpoints of reliability and performance. We consider time–space–time switching networks which consist of N incoming time switches, i.e. one NxN space switch, two (N/2)x(N/2) space switches, and four (N/4)x(N/4) space switches. We introduce a Markov reliability model to study the effect of failures and analyse the reliability and performance of three different types of switching networks in terms of average blocking probability and the mean time to unreliable operation, as we vary the offered traffic. As a result, T–S–T switching networks with multiple separated space switches exhibit better performance and reliability than those with single space switches.     

The role of cognitive absorption in predicting mobile internet users’ continuance intention: An extension of the expectation-confirmation model

This study uses the expectation-confirmation model (ECM) to investigate how individuals' cognitive absorption (CA) influences their continued use of mobile Internet services. Data were collected from 946 mobile Internet users. Structural equation modelling was employed to analyse the proposed model and examine the relationships between its constructs. Overall, the model accounted for 55% of the variance in mobile Internet users’ continuance intentions—an element substantially impacted by such factors as perceived usefulness, satisfaction, and CA. Of the factors, CA was found to be the most robust predictor of continuance intention. Alongside confirmation, CA also strongly influenced satisfaction. The findings of this study provide mobile network operators with insights into which determinants will inform retention policies and encourage existing users to continue using the service.     

Optical signal processing using integrated multi-element SOA-MZI switch arrays for packet switching

The use of discrete but interconnected SOA-MZI switches for performing logical and highly functional processing tasks, demonstrating the multi-functional potential of the photonic switching elements is discussed. An all-optical 3R burst-mode receiver consisting of four SOA-MZI switches and operating error-free with 40-Gb/s optical bursts, proving that interconnection of multiple switching units can lead to the realisation of key network node functionalities offering increased intelligence at the physical layer is presented. In order to allow for easier interconnectivity between the SOA-MZI switches and to provide compactness and cost effectiveness to the developed subsystems, the integration of multiple switches into the same platform is proposed. To this end, the implementation of the first integrated quadruple SOA-MZI switch array is reported, increasing the integration density level and reducing packaging and pigtailing costs. Finally, possible applications of integrated multiple switch arrays are discussed, indicating their suitability for producing compact circuits performing common processing tasks in a multi-wavelength environment, as well as their potential to lead to the development of an all-optical high-speed packet switched node by implementing critical packet switching functionalities in a compact and efficient way.     

Elaborating on the consumer’s intention–behavior gap regarding 5G technology: The moderating role of the product market-creation ability

The Existent theories of information and communication technology (ICT) expose behavioral intention as the key predictor in technology usage behavior. Still, the evidence divulges only a low influence on this relationship. This disparity is named the ‘intention–behavior gap’, and we believe that it requires more theoretical analysis to better understand this gap. This research aims to find novel factors to overcome these constraints and perceive the mechanism of how intentions lead to actual behavior. In the technology user's context, this study has acknowledged product market creation ability as an encouraging factor to overcome such limitations. Data was collected from Chinese consumers (n = 327) in Beijing and was examined employing the structural equation modelling (SEM) approach. The outcomes confirm that intentions have a positive impact on the usage behavior of 5G technology. The outcomes demonstrate that the market creation ability of the 5G technology products moderate and encourage the intentions and usage behavior relationship. Policy-makers and managers who aim to make positive changes in the behavior of technology users are motivated to consider the inferences of this study.     

The role of reward and effort over time in task switching

When multitasking in a demanding environment, operators strategically switch between tasks. Two influences on this multi-task management behaviour are the perceived rewards gained from performing a task, and the perceived effort a task requires in order to be completed. Proportionally, reward over effort is ‘rate of return’, expressing that either reward or effort changing over time spent performing a task, may influence multitasking behaviour. In the current experiment, two of four tasks within a multitasking paradigm provided constant or diminishing reward and required either constant or increasing effort in their performance. For on-going tasks, decreasing reward and increasing effort required both increased the probability of a task switch. The theory contributed here supports the study of multi-task management, and task switching model development. We discuss each in the context of safety-critical applications.     

数字化科普展品用户的行为意向研究

目的探究影响数字化科普展品用户行为意向的因素,促进数字化科普展品的创新设计发展。方法基于技术接受模型,结合产品创新度和用户体验,构建数字化科普展品用户的行为意向理论模型,探讨产品创新度、感知有用、感知易用、用户体验与行为意向的影响关系。根据数字化科普展品用户的行为意向理论模型设计量表和问卷,并进行实证研究,通过结构方程模型对理论模型进行验证。结论感知有用和用户体验显著正向地影响行为意向;产品创新度显著正向地影响感知有用、感知易用和用户体验;感知易用对感知有用和行为意向不存在显著影响关系。产品创新度是数字化科普展品用户的行为意向的关键影响因素,为数字化科普展品的设计创新研究提供一定的理论参考及建议。     

Supplier development or supplier switching?

We study a firm's cost-based sourcing decision of whether to invest in an incumbent supplier or switch to an alternative supplier in order to realise lower purchasing costs. In isolation, it can be shown that the development of an incumbent supplier (i.e., a cooperative investment) becomes more attractive, the higher the uncertainty about the price the buying firm can realise on the market and the incumbent supplier's cost. Likewise, switching to an alternative supplier becomes more attractive, the higher the expected value of and the uncertainty about the buying firm's market price. For comparing these two sourcing strategies simultaneously we provide a profit-maximising framework for the buying firm that shows that switching is less recommendable the higher the variance of the incumbent's cost and if the uncertain maximum demand is negatively correlated with the uncertain incumbent supplier's cost. Overall, our study substantially expands the frequently followed approach of basing supplier development versus supplier switching decisions merely on strategic and qualitative considerations.     

车辆半主动悬架阻尼多模式切换控制研究

为提高车辆行驶平顺性,提出了一种基于阻尼多模式切换减振器的车辆半主动悬架及其控制方法。相较于传统阻尼可调减振器,该新型减振器通过控制两个高速开关电磁阀的通断状态即可实现四种不同的阻尼工作模式,从而使得车辆半主动悬架的阻尼控制更加高效和节能。分析了阻尼多模式切换减振器的基本原理,建立了减振器阻尼特性数学模型。结合车辆悬架系统的阻尼比范围,确定了减振器关键部件参数,并通过仿真获取了四种阻尼工作模式下的减振器复原阻尼系数和压缩阻尼系数。在此基础上,进一步建立了车辆半主动悬架数学模型,采用模糊控制逻辑设计了悬架阻尼多模式切换控制策略。仿真结果表明,相较于传统被动悬架和基于天棚控制的半主动悬架,基于阻尼多模式切换减振器的车辆半主动悬架可以进一步改善车辆行驶平顺性。     

The effect of conformity tendency on pedestrians’ road-crossing intentions in China: An application of the theory of planned behavior

This paper presents a survey investigating the effects of age, gender and conformity tendency on Chinese pedestrians’ intention to cross the road in potentially dangerous situations. A sample of 426 respondents completed a demographic questionnaire, a scale measuring their tendency towards social conformity, and a questionnaire based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB). This questionnaire measured people's intentions to cross the road in two different road crossing situations, their attitude towards the behavior, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, anticipated affect, moral norms, and perceived risk. The two scenarios depicted (i) a situation where the crossing was consistent with other pedestrians’ behavior (Conformity scenario) and (ii) a situation where the road crossing was inconsistent with other pedestrians (Non-Conformity scenario). Pedestrians reported greater likelihood in crossing the road when other pedestrians were crossing the road. People who showed greater tendencies towards social conformity also had stronger road crossing intentions than low conformity people for both scenarios. The predictive model explained 36% and 48% of the variance in the Non-Conformity and Conformity scenarios, respectively. Attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and perceived risk emerged as the common predictors for both situations. The results have a number of theoretical and practical implications. In particular, interventions should focus on perceptions of risk that inform road users that crossing with other pedestrians against the signal is also unsafe and prohibited, and may lead to negative outcomes.     

Understanding sustained usage of health and fitness apps: Incorporating the technology acceptance model with the investment model

With the increasing popularity and adoption of health/fitness apps, more research attention is needed to examine users' behavior in order to promote sustained usage of the apps. The purpose of this study is to understand health and fitness app users' decision-making process by integrating the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Investment Model (IM). Three hundred forty-six responses were collected from health and fitness app users in China. A confirmatory factor analysis and a structural equation modeling analysis were conducted. Results show that continuance intention to use the apps is significantly affected by constructs included in the two models. Specifically, perceived ease of use of the apps has a positive effect on perceived usefulness, which further affects users' intention to continue using the apps. In addition, perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use of the apps have significant effects on users' satisfaction, investment size, and quality of available alternatives, and these three constructs affect users' relationship commitment to the apps, which, in turn, influences users' continuing intention. The integrated model provides new insights into the app users' decision-making process and suggests practical implications for app providers, such as developing strategies to evoke and maintain users’ interest in their apps, keeping users satisfied by personalizing their experience, and designing features that keep users invested in the apps.     

Asynchronous transfer mode distribution network by use of an optoelectronic VLSI switching chip

We describe a new optoelectronic switching system demonstration that implements part of the distribution fabric for a large asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switch. The system uses a single optoelectronic VLSI modulator-based switching chip with more than 4000 optical input-outputs. The optical system images the input fibers from a two-dimensional fiber bundle onto this chip. A new optomechanical design allows the system to be mounted in a standard electronic equipment frame. A large section of the switch was operated as a 208-Mbits/s time-multiplexed space switch, which can serve as part of an ATM switch by use of an appropriate out-of-band controller. A larger section with 896 input light beams and 256 output beams was operated at 160 Mbits/s as a slowly reconfigurable space switch.