Background: To experience external objects in such a way that they are perceived as an integral part of one's own body is called embodiment. Wearable technology is a category of objects, which, due to its intrinsic properties (eg, close to the body, inviting frequent interaction, and access to personal information), is likely to be embodied. This phenomenon, which is referred to in this paper as wearable technology embodiment, has led to extensive conceptual considerations in various research fields. These considerations and further possibilities with regard to quantifying wearable technology embodiment are of particular value to the mobile health (mHealth) field. For example, the ability to predict the effectiveness of mHealth interventions and knowing the extent to which people embody the technology might be crucial for improving mHealth adherence. To facilitate examining wearable technology embodiment, we developed a measurement scale for this construct. Objective: This study aimed to conceptualize wearable technology embodiment, create an instrument to measure it, and test the predictive validity of the scale using well-known constructs related to technology adoption. The introduced instrument has 3 dimensions and includes 9 measurement items. The items are distributed evenly between the 3 dimensions, which include body extension, cognitive extension, and self-extension.Methods: Data were collected through a vignette-based survey (n=182). Each respondent was given 3 different vignettes, describing a hypothetical situation using a different type of wearable technology (a smart phone, a smart wristband, or a smart watch) with the purpose of tracking daily activities. Scale dimensions and item reliability were tested for their validity and Goodness of Fit Index (GFI). Results: Convergent validity of the 3 dimensions and their reliability were established as confirmatory factor analysis factor loadings45 (>0.70), average variance extracted values40 (>0.50), and minimum item to total correlations50 (>0.40) exceeded established threshold values. The reliability of the dimensions was also confirmed as Cronbach alpha and composite reliability exceeded 0.70. GFI testing confirmed that the 3 dimensions function as intercorrelated first-order factors. Predictive validity testing showed that these dimensions significantly add to multiple constructs associated with predicting the adoption of new technologies (ie, trust, perceived usefulness, involvement, attitude, and continuous intention). Conclusions: The wearable technology embodiment measurement instrument has shown promise as a tool to measure the extension of an individual's body, cognition, and self, as well as predict certain aspects of technology adoption. This 3-dimensional instrument can be applied to mixed method research and used by wearable technology developers to improve future versions through such things as fit, improved accuracy of biofeedback data, and customizable features or fashion to connect to the users' personal identity. Further research is recommended to apply this measurement instrument to multiple scenarios and technologies, and more diverse user groups.
The paper explores the process of early growth of entrepreneurial science-based firms. Drawing on case studies of British and Dutch biopharmaceutical R&D firms, we conceptualize the speed of early growth of science-based firms as the time it takes for the assembly (or combined development) of three types of critical resources - a functionally-diverse management team, early fundraising and development of technology. The development of these resources is an unfolding and interrelated process, the causal direction of which is highly ambiguous. We show the variety of paths used by science-based firms to access and develop these critical resources. The picture that emerges is that the various combinations of what we call "assisted" and "unassisted" paths combine to influence the speed of firm growth. We show how a wide range of manifestations of technology development act as signaling devices to attract funding and management, affecting the speed of firm development. We also show how the variety of paths and the speed of development are influenced by the national institutional setting.
This paper puts forward a conceptual framework to analyse emergence and the development of planned knowledge locations in cities (science and technology parks, creative factories, knowledge hubs, etc.). It argues that the study and the practice of developing these precincts can benefit from explicitly considering the broader territorial context, the time dynamics and the co-evolutionary processes through which they unfold. The advantages of such as framework are illustrated with the support of two European knowledge locations: Arabianranta (Helsinki, Finland) and Biocant (Cantanhede, Portugal).
Wereldwijd groeit de consumptie van grondstoffen, zowel om te voorzien in onze energiebehoefte als in onze materiaalbehoefte. De gebouwde omgeving speelt hier een significante rol in, goed voor 40% van de energieconsumptie en 50% van de materiaalconsumptie. Deze vraag aan grondstoffen leidt tot schaarste, uitputting, en negatieve milieueffecten, zoals klimaatverandering. Om de consumptie van grondstoffen en gerelateerde negatieve effecten te verminderen heeft Nederland de doelstelling geformuleerd om tot 2050 de gebouwde omgeving geheel CO₂ neutraal te maken en de economie 100% circulair te maken. In een CO2 neutrale en circulair gebouwde omgeving is de gehele energiebehoefte gebaseerd op hernieuwbare energie, en worden alle materialen oneindig hergebruikt of zijn ze onderdeel van een biologisch proces. Dit impliceert dat bouwprocessen anders doorlopen moeten worden, er andere bouwproducten en -componenten beschikbaar moeten komen en er andere competenties gevraagd worden van onze aankomende bouwprofessionals. In de stadsregio Parkstad Limburg speelt een derde opgave; door krimp en vergrijzing moeten er 10.000 woningen en 100.000 m2 utiliteit/retail uit de markt onttrokken worden. De samenkomst van deze drie opgaves resulteert dan ook in de uitdaging hoe we de bestaande gebouwvoorraad CO2 en circulair kunnen verduurzamen met ten eerste regionaal vrijkomende materialen en ten tweede door het inzetten van zo lokaal mogelijke biobased materialen. In de faculteit BETA Sciences and Technology werken we in 2 lectoraten en 5 programmalijnen aan deze opgaves door alle schaalniveaus van de bouwproces. De doelstelling van het postdoconderzoek van Michiel Ritzen richt zich op het opzetten van een programmalijn circular building technology om hieraan mede bij te dragen. De programmalijn geeft invulling aan de kennisontwikkeling en disseminatie op een ontbrekend onderdeel in een real life lab omgeving, met het ontwikkelen en valideren van innovaties die nodig zijn om vrijkomende bouwmaterialen hoogwaardig her te gebruiken en/of te recyclen in CO2 neutrale en circulaire gebouwrenovaties.
