Academic literature on the topic 'Information Technology and Communications'

This study explores the contradiction of the heart of ICT: the technology presents to us all manner of possibilities yet it habitually fails to deliver on those promises. This failure is often seen as arising from either a problem with the technology or end-user proficiency. Thus better technology and/or more effective end-user education are seen as the solutions. This study is based on the premise that such approaches are inherently faulty and explores how applicable notions of alienation can be in researching the contradictory nature of ICT. By using a critical realist methodology allied to tools available through PAR, this investigation engaged with participants in three distinct settings: ICT professionals; scholars concerned with researching the ethical/societal implications of ICT; and a group of pensioners living in South East London, UK. The research interrogated the literature concerned with themes of alienation and ICT to show there is a consensus that something called alienation does exist but that the term is used as a poorly defined descriptor of dissatisfaction with ICT. It also revealed that minimal research in the subject area has been undertaken using theories of alienation and none which involve multiple settings. The thesis makes an original and distinct contribution to the field by utilising one approach to alienation, that presented by Marx, in three seemingly disconnected settings to draw out the underlying commonalities shared by participants of these settings. In doing so, the findings challenge widespread assumptions about end-user experience of ICT and offer new insights into the much mentioned but little understood alienated way we experience ICT. Moreover, the thesis, in moving beyond description of alienation, to reveal the genesis of the condition, indicates the inadequacy of simply using the term alienation as an ill-defined label to describe people’s experiences of ICT. It argues for embracing a more rigorous approach to the issue to realise the significant potential offered through investigating and applying theories of alienation in research. Additionally it advances knowledge in the area by emphasising shared experiences of user groups which has considerable implications for future research. Finally the thesis is unique in highlighting the prospective benefits to be realised by researchers in adopting a CR methodology working in tandem with PAR methods in ICT research.

The role currently being played by Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in ensuring the accuracy, timeliness and integrity of audit reports cannot be stressed too strongly. This thesis, relates to a study on assessing the current and potential impact of ICT on auditing in providing useful information for a wide range of users. Using a triangulation of interview and questionnaire techniques, the study covers the activities of auditors working in the 'big4' accounting firms, some small and medium sized accounting firms, one of the UK's 'big?' banks and some government agencies. This exploratory study is privileged to be one of the first to shed more light on the current state of affairs regarding the extent of use of ICT tools and techniques by both internal and external auditors. Also, the study has been able to assess the impact these tools and techniques are currently having on auditors and the organisations they work for by identifying the main benefits and drawbacks ICT has brought to the profession. As a result of its findings, this research is able to identify and discuss potential areas of the audit profession that could benefit from further utilisation of ICT. This study is the first to empirically assess the current and potential use of Continuous Online Auditing within the UK auditing profession comprising both public and commercial establishments. Similarly, the study is able to break new ground in accounting research by exploring the impact audit automation is having on auditor independence and the audit expectations-performance gap. Above all, the production uf C::l ih..~~-i8y~r~d iTiodei (an integration of contingency, socia-technical systems and structuration theories) for a comprehensive understanding of ICT impact on audit remains a major highlight of the study. The model advocates that the use of leT in audits is a function of certain contingent factors that determine an optimal mix of human skills and technological capabilities, which would lead to changes in the nature of auditors' roles and outputs and audit organisations' structures. Indeed, this road has been rough and turbulent in every way but at the end of it, I have the cause to say all praise is due to ALLAH. I do acknowledge that His bounties on me are certainly immeasurable. My thanks go to my supeNisors, Mr. Ashok Patel and Dr. Peter Scott for their guidance and support right from the start of the programme till its end. The remarkable memory of my dealings with them will remain with me throughout my academic life. I also appreciate the support of my Head of Department, Professor Elaine Harris, Professor Martyn Denscombe and members of the Accounting & Finance Department and the Business school as a whole particularly my research student colleagues. I do also acknowledge the invaluable assistance rendered to me by Messrs C. Peters, E. Clarke, S. Jones, A. Salami, L. Cooke, S. Durojaiye and K. Handscombe for facilitating my access to their organisations while I say a big thank you to all my respondents to the questionnaire and inteNiewees for taking time out of their busy schedules to attend to my requests. My father, Alhajj Zakariyya Omoteso, my late mother, Alhajja Hamdatullah Omoteso, my siblings Hasanah, Mulkah, Madinah, A1Fattah, Fatimah, Taofeeq, Mika'i1, Mahmudah and my brother-in-law, T.K. Sarumi have all played important roles in giving me the basic foundations I need in life to succeed. Their unflinching support in all respects has been a unique source of inspiration for me. I also show my heartfelt appreciation to my darling wife, Ni'matullah for her constant support, sacrifice· and understanding especially when the going got tough. The same goes for her parents, Alhajj &Alhajja Sodique as well as her siblings, Sumayyah, Nurayn, Khadijah, Maryam, Rizqah and Lateefah. To my little ones, Aminah and 'Abdullah, I pray they grow to realise what their presence during this period meant to me. Two special people have been central to the success of this programme, Dr. Isma'il Ibrahim and Dr. Gbolahan Gbadamosi. I pray they reap the rewards of their efforts on the day when good deeds will be scarce. The same prayer goes for my buddies, M. Kadri, S. Olagunju, T. Olakunle I. Badmus, A. A1Salaam, D. Shafi, H. Mobolaji, T.Yusuf, I. Adelopo, S. Elegbede, U. Adeyemi, M. Obalola, M. Adeyoola, A. Solate, M. Bello, S. Ogunmuyiwa, N. Olaleye, A. Husain, S. Osunleke, Z. Adeniyi, I. Ogunwale, A. Adedeji, H. Onabanjo, A. Zubair, K. Akosile, M. Adesokan, W. Busari, S. Junaid and all my numerous friends here and abroad. Finally, I say a big thank you to my former high school teacher, Mr. 8.0. Agunbiade, for arousing my interest in accounting.

<p> With the advent of smart phone technologies, the healthcare industry finds it challenging to keep up with technology demands. In the medical domain, patients are experiencing longer wait times for medical treatment. A basis of dissatisfaction with healthcare, often observed by patients, is the amount of time they wait during a visit. The wait times have a greater delay within medical emergency facilities. Current medical wait time applications may encourage patients to be seen quickly but does not necessarily offer quality care or other aspects of their visits. The amount of time a patient experiences in an emergency facility could influence the patient's perspective and could be contingent upon other qualities. We sought to investigate the association between patient perception of the hospital, time to reach the hospital, patient wait time, patient reviews, and average service time of various North Carolina hospitals using product moment correlation analysis. Analyses were performed of the various hospitals based upon each parameter. In this thesis, we propose a smart phone based service to optimize travel time to a medical facility utilizing patient wait time, service time, time to reach the hospital, patient reviews, and patient perception of the facility and Global Positioning System (GPS) data. Various hospitals were compared ranking in according to the parameters individually, relative to other hospitals in neighboring counties and cities. Each constraint is assigned a weight to be used in the overall ranking of the hospital. We have established relationships about correlation parameters. The parameters were assessed to determine correlations between any two given parameters.</p>

There is currently a glaring absence of critical discourse surrounding the integration of information communications technologies in schools. Despite a growing body of literature showing that technology has both advantages and disadvantages, schools are incorporating ICT as if it were a panacea for educational and societal ills. This deification of ICT is based on utilitarian concerns and spiritual yearnings. The first chapter situates the author and outlines how the larger technology metanarrative has a mythic status. Chapter two situates the appeal to utilitarian and spiritual values in the wider culture. The final chapter examines how these issues are played out in the school system. The author concludes with a summary and raises areas for further investigation, along with suggestions for change.

In the current literature on productivity and economic growth, many studies have explored the relationship between information and communications technology (ICT) and growth. In these studies, ICT capital stock is treated as an individual input in the production process that contributes to output growth. In fact, ICT is found to be a key driver of productivity growth in the developed economies. However, few empirical studies deal with China which has in recent years become one of the world's largest ICT markets and production centres. The lack of empirical work in this field contrasts sharply with the wealth of literature which presents background and descriptive studies of China's high technology sectors that include the telecommunications, the computer and the Internet sectors. This dissertation attempts to fill the void in the literature by examining the role of ICT in China's economy over the past two decades. It aims to develop a framework which emphasizes ICT as a production factor and apply it to interpret China's economic growth. The dissertation contributes to the empirical literature by focusing on the following core aspects underlying the linkage between ICT and economic growth. First, it attempts to estimate the size of China's ICT capital stock using the perpetual inventory method. Second, based on such estimates, the dissertation measures the contribution of ICT to China's economic growth by means of a production function model that segregates ICT from all other forms of capital. Third, the dissertation examines the impact of ICT on technical efficiency in China's regions by applying a stochastic frontier model. Lastly, the dissertation looks at the demand aspect of the ICT industry by estimating and projecting demand for ICT services, namely, the telecommunications and computer markets in China. According to this study, ICT capital is found to be a positive driver for the Chinese economy, and is responsible for about 25% of the country's economic growth, although the percentage varies at different periods. ICT capital is also found to have a positive and significant impact on technical efficiency in the Chinese regions. However, the disparity between the coastal and inland regions in terms of technical efficiency scores is found to be very wide, due to the bulk of ICT investment going into the municipal cities and coastal provinces. It is also found that China may be facing the beginning of a period of strong productivity growth driven by increased investment in ICT, especially innovative investment. Furthermore, projections of demand show that the majority of Chinese citizens will have access to a fixed-line telephone or the mobile phone in five years from now, while about half of the Chinese population is expected to use the computer by 2010.

Technology plays an increasingly important role in modern health care. This thesis presents an approach to usability evaluation of mobile information and communications technologies designed for diabetes patients&rsquo<br>use in their daily lives. According to our study conducted on 60 diabetes patients, several important findings were obtained. Fifty nine (98.3%) diabetes patients were highly satisfied with the mobile health technology and expressed that they would use it, and found the measured values reliable. For 57 (95%) diabetes patients<br>measuring, checking and accessing the blood glucose level easily anytime and anywhere were very important. Fifty six (93.3%) said that they would wish to send their blood glucose levels to their physicians via e-mail. When participants were asked to provide a decision on future health care, predominate number of participants said they would change their lifestyle rather than visit a doctor regardless of their blood glucose level. In conclusion, little is known about such effects of mobile information and communications technologies in self-management care situations. It is clear that usability studies in the field are more difficult to conduct than laboratory evaluations. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to further evaluate these initial findings.