2018/1 - Socio-Informatics
Recent Submissions
- ArticleCharles Goodwin’s Co-Operative Action. The Idea and the ArgumentSchüttpelz, Erhard; Meyer, Christian (2018)Book Review Symposium Charles Goodwin
- ArticleCo-Operation is a Feature of Sociality, not an Attribute of PeopleWiesemann, Jutta; Amann, Klaus (2018)Book Review Symposium Charles Goodwin
- ArticleDigitalisation in Small German Metal-Working CompaniesNett, Bernhard; Bönsch, Jennifer (2018)To explore today ́s relationship of digitalisation to work and qualification, small metal-working companies were studied by project ethnography and via a survey. The cases show that digitalisation is expected to promote product quality, flexibility, systematic use of labour, and equipment utilisation. Digitalization in the North Rhine-Westfalian SMEs today hardly follows the full-automation vision of “industry 4.0”. In spite of the adaptability of digital technology, it is difficult for SMEs to tailor it according to their particular demands. In terms of qualification, such appropriation of technology obviously strongly depends upon organisational competences of evolutionary learning.
- ArticleEditorialEnglert, Kathrin; Faust, Lene; Henrich-Franke, Christian; Müller, Claudia; Schubert, Cornelius (2018)
- ArticleFacebook and the Mass Media in TunisiaAal, Konstantin; Schorch, Marén; Elkilani, Esma Ben Hadj; Wulf, Volker (2018)Facebook played a considerable role during the political uprisings of the so called ‘Arab Spring’ in 2011. Together with Al-Jazeera, it was one of the few reliable sources of information for protesters at that time. In this paper, we explore the media landscape in Tunisia two years after the uprising. We conducted a qualitative investigation (participant observation and interviewing) with young Tunisians. The paper describes how they use Facebook (FB), newspapers, and TV for gaining information and for exchange. By that time, FB was their primary medium for access to political information. They prefer the variety and diversity of user-generated content, they select information, discuss issues among their friends inside FB and with that, co-create meaning and trust. It seems that both traditional censorship in the national mass media and the revolutionary experience have created a unique media landscape among young Tunisians. Facebook still plays a leading role for many in that landscape, but there remains a ‘digital divide’.
- ArticleIntroduction to the Thematic Focus "Socio-Informatics"Müller, Claudia (2018)Introduction to the Thematic Focus “Socio-Informatics”
- ArticleMobile and Interactive Media in the Store? Design Case Study on Bluetooth Beacon Concepts for Food RetailReuter, Christian; Leopold, Inken (2018)The Internet has changed consumer behaviour, having an impact on local retail. At the same time, the number of smartphone users is continuously increasing, making mobile applications more and more important. By using Bluetooth beacons – small radio transmitters that can be placed anywhere and are processed by relevant apps – shopping can be facilitated and made more enjoyable. Even though some supermarkets, especially in the USA, are already using beacons, their use is not common and less researched in Germany. Pilot projects only refer to usage data and reaction times while customers are rarely asked for their opinion. This project analyses potentials of usage and customer acceptance of concepts based on beacons in retail via an online consumer survey, discusses the conception of an app, and provides a subsequent qualitative evaluation. As a starting point for our concept development and app implementation, the initial online survey of 203 participants emphasises the importance of user-friendly settings as well as costumers’ interest in informative communication. Throughout all steps of our design case study, concerns for data privacy as well as the interest in transparency were apparent and regarded accordingly. The field experiment stresses users’ perceptions of potentially useful functions, and highlights design-related aspects for improvement, offering useful implications for the future design of shopping apps.
- ArticleMulti-Modal Interaction and Tool-Making. Goodwin's IntuitionMeyer, Christian; Schüttpelz, Erhard (2018)Book Review Symposium Charles Goodwin
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- ArticleThe Making of the World in Co-Operative actionStreeck, Jürgen (2018)Book Review Symposium Charles Goodwin
- ArticleTravelling by Taxi Brousse in Madagascar. An Investigation into Practices of Overland TransportationWulf, Volker; Misaki, Kaoru; Randall, Dave; Rohde, Markus (2018)Organising public mobility is a global challenge. However, most studies directed at ICT support approach the subject from the perspective of developed countries. In contrast, we conducted a modest and initial attempt to study practices of public transportation in Madagascar – one of the poorest countries in Africa. We found that central assumptions, usually unquestioned in prevailing studies, were challenged in the context of this developing country. We present an empirical study which analyses how collective taxis, locally called Taxi Brousses, are used in overland travel. The study reveals complex socio-political conditions which passengers face in this country. Security as well as corruption issues shape these transportation practices. Based on our findings, we indicate opportunities for supporting intra-organisational cooperation and the customers’ interaction with ICT artefacts.