Showing papers in "Center for Research on Information Technology and Organizations in 2003"

Electronic Business Adoption by European Firms: A Cross-country Assessment of the Facilitators and Inhibitors

Abstract: Electronic Business Adoption by European Firms: A Cross­ country Assessment of the Facilitators and Inhibitors January 2003 KEVIN ZHU, K E N N E T H L. K R A E M E R A N D SEAN X U Center for Research on Information University of California, Irvine Technology and Organizations This research is part of the Globalization of E-Commerce Project of the Center for Research on Information Technology and Organizations (CRITO) at the University of California, Irvine. The material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0085852. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do no necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. Center for Research on Information Technology and Organizations University of California, Irvine | www.crito.uci.edu

E-commerce Readiness and Diffusion: The Case of Brazil

Abstract: E-Commerce Readiness and Diffusion: The Case of Brazil PAULO BASTOS TIGRE Instituto de Economia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro Av. Pasteur, 250. Urca, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ptigre@ie.ufrj.br paulotigre@aol.com This research is part of the Globalization and E-Commerce project of the Center for Research on Information Technology and Organizations (CRITO) at the University of California at Irvine. The research is supported by a grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation (CISE/IIS/CSS, No. 0085852). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. The project in Brazil is also supported by a grant from the National Council for Science and Technology Development (CNPq). I am thankful to Ken Kraemer for his careful and insightful review of the initial drafts and to Ricardo Dickstein for his helpful assistance. Center for Research on Information Technology and Organizations University of California, Irvine | www.crito.uci.edu

Smart Home Concepts: Current Trends

Abstract: Smart Home Concepts: Current Trends Alladi Venkatesh Ph.D. CRITO University of California Irvine CA 92697 avenkate@uci.edu http://www.crito.uci.edu A. Introduction In this paper, we discuss some important current developments concerning smart home technologies and their future prospects. Information Appliances Information appliances are consumer devices which offer Internet and/or network access without using the traditional operating system interface. That being said, the line dividing information appliances (“IAs”) and traditional PCs is not altogether clear. For instance, a device whose only user interface is a Web browser, but which runs on top of the Linux operating system, is considered an IA because of its simplified interface. However, operating systems, most notably Microsoft Windows, have grown increasingly simple and browser-like themselves. Just ten years ago, remember, the “c-prompt” was a daily fact of life for PC users. The evolution of Windows has pushed the PC ever closer to our information appliance definition, and seems likely to continue on this path toward usability. Thus, it may be useful to briefly consider some devices currently considered IAs (more discussion of particular devices can be found in Section 2 of this paper). Information appliances include PDAs, palmtops, and set-top boxes. However, as network capabilities are added to more familiar devices, “intelligent” car stereos, VCRs, and refrigerators start to come under the IA heading as well. The IA market is also likely to introduce more new devices, such as personal hand-held scanners and Web tablets, both of which are currently in some stage of development or introduction. In his article “How information appliances are winning over businesses”, Chris Edwards states that “there is no single definition of what an appliance should look like”. This statement in itself could be considered a useful description. Typically, an information appliance does not have a hard drive, or at least not a big one, and is only required to run smaller applications and use less processor speed than a traditional PC. In exchange for these, the typical IA is more portable, more versatile, and less expensive. In addition, because IA operating systems (OS’s) tend to be simpler than PC standard OS’s, information appliances are generally easier to use. Says Edwards, information appliances “appeal to users more familiar with Sony PlayStations than computers”. The information appliance can also be considered in terms of function. IA’s are expected to deliver the benefits of the Internet without the potential hassle of a PC. They are expected to be easily networked and intuitive in operation. Finally, the general term “information appliance” has a number of synonyms. These include “internet appliance”, “net terminal”, and “web appliance”. While the names used seem to be interchangeable, “information appliance” is most prevalent. Smart Homes Smart homes, then, are homes which utilize information appliances and a home-based network to connect household appliances to each other and to the outside Internet world. Because of the integral nature of the home-based network into the smart home, the discussion of the smart home should be inclusive of the discussion of the networked home. There have been several high-profile smart home projects undertaken by private citizens over the last few years. The most well-known of these has been Microsoft founder Bill Gates’ residence on Mercer Island east of Seattle. The home includes art frames which can display different “paintings” on demand, as

Globalization of E-commerce: Environment and Policy of Taiwan

Abstract: Globalization of E-commerce: Environment and Policy of Taiwan January 2003 Tain-Jy Chen Department of Economics, National Taiwan University tainjy@ms.cc.ntu.edu.tw Acknowledgement: This research is part of the Globalization and E-commerce Project of the Center for Research on Information Technology and Organizations (CRITO) at the University of California, Irvine. The material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0085852. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. Center for Research on Information Technology and Organizations University of California, Irvine | www.crito.uci.edu

A Comparative Study of Home Computer Use in Three Countries: U.S., Sweden, and India

Abstract: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF HOME COMPUTER ADOPTION AND USE IN THREE COUNTRIES: U.S., SWEDEN, AND INDIA Chuan-Fong Shih Babcock Graduate School of Management Wake Forest University P.O. Box 7659 Winston-Salem, NC 27109 Phone: 336-758-4572 Fax: 336-758-4514 eric.shih@mba.wfu.edu Alladi Venkatesh CRITO Center for Research on Information Technology and Organizations University of California 3200 Berkeley Place University of California Irvine CA 92697 Phone: 1-949-824-1134 avenkate@uci.edu January 2003 CRITO Working Paper Shih, Chuan Fong and Alladi Venkatesh. “A Comparative Study of Home Computer Adoption and Use in Three Countries: U.S., Sweden, and India.” CRITO Working Paper.

The Diffusion and Impacts of the Internet and E-commerce in Taiwan

Abstract: The Diffusion and Impacts of the Internet And E-Commerce in Taiwan CHEN, TAIN-JY Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research 75 Chang-Hsing St. Taipei, Taiwan 106 E-mail: tainjy@mail.cier.edu.tw This research is part of the Globalization and E-Commerce Project of the Center for Research on Information Technology and Organizations (CRITO) at the University of California, Irvine. It is supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation (CISE/IIS/CSS, No. 0085852). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. Center for Research on Information Technology and Organizations University of California, Irvine | www.crito.uci.edu