Search Results (32)

This systematic review investigates the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and information and communication technologies (ICT) in physical education across all educational levels. Physical education is uniquely centered on motor skill development, physical activity engagement, and health promotion—outcomes that require tailored technological approaches. Through the analysis of recent empirical studies, the main areas where digital technologies contribute to pedagogical innovation are highlighted—such as personalized learning, real-time feedback, student motivation, and educational inclusion. The findings show that AI-assisted tools facilitate differentiated instruction and self-regulated learning by adapting to students’ individual performance levels. Technologies such as wearables and augmented reality (AR)/virtual reality (VR) systems increase engagement and support the participation of students with special educational needs. Furthermore, AI contributes to more efficient and objective assessment of motor performance, coordination, and movement quality. However, significant structural and ethical challenges persist, such as unequal access to digital infrastructure, lack of teacher training, and concerns related to personal data protection. Teachers’ perceptions reflect both openness to the educational potential of AI and caution regarding its practical implementation. The review concludes that AI and ICT can substantially transform physical education, provided that coherent policies, clear ethical frameworks, and investments in teachers’ professional development are in place. Full article

The demographic shift toward an aging population calls for innovative strategies to ensure independence, health, and quality of life in later years. In this context, Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) solutions, supported by Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), offer promising advances for non-invasive and continuous support. Commonly, ICTs are evaluated only from the perspectives related to key performance indicators (KPIs); nevertheless, the design and implementation of such technologies must account for important psychological, social, and ethical dimensions. Radar-based sensing systems are emerging as an option due to their unobtrusive nature and capacity to operate without direct user interaction. This work explores how radar technologies, particularly those operating in the millimeter wave (mmWave) spectrum, can provide core key value indicators (KVIs) essential to aging societies, such as human dignity, trustworthiness, fairness, and sustainability. Through a review of key application domains, the paper illustrates the practical contributions of mmWave radar in Ambient Assisting Living (AAL) contexts, underlining how its technical attributes align with the complex needs of elderly care environments and produce value for society. This work uniquely integrates key value indicator (KVI) frameworks with mmWave radar capabilities to address unmet ethical needs in the AAL domain. It advances existing literature by proposing a value-driven design approach that directly informs technical specifications, enabling the alignment of engineering choices with socially relevant values and supporting the development of technologies for a more inclusive and ethical society. Full article

This study validates a Spanish-language instrument designed to assess self-efficacy, digital competence, and anxiety in data-driven decision-making (DDDM) among pre-service teachers. Based on the 3D-MEA and the Beliefs about Basic ICT Competencies scale, the instrument was culturally adapted for Chile and Spain. A sample of 512 participants underwent exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Given the ordinal nature of the data and the assumption of non-normality, appropriate estimation methods were utilized. Results supported a well-defined four-factor structure: Interpretation and Application, Technology, Identification, and Anxiety. Factor loadings ranged from 0.678 to 0.869, and internal consistency was strong (α = 0.802–0.888). The CFA confirmed good model fit (χ² (129) = 189.25, p < 0.001; CFI = 0.985; TLI = 0.981; RMSEA = 0.041; SRMR = 0.061). Measurement invariance was established across gender and nationality, reinforcing the validity of cross-group comparisons. The study is framed within an educational context aligned with socioformative principles and sustainable education goals, which support reflective and ethical data use. This validated tool addresses the lack of culturally adapted and psychometrically validated instruments for assessing DDDM competencies in Spanish-speaking contexts, offering a culturally and linguistically relevant instrument with strong internal consistency and a well-supported factor structure. It supports the design of formative strategies in teacher education, enabling the identification of training needs and promoting evidence-based pedagogical decision-making in diverse Hispanic contexts. Future studies should test factorial invariance across additional contexts and explore longitudinal applications. Full article

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to evolve, its integration into higher education (HE) has sparked both enthusiasm and concern. This study examines HE students’ perceptions of ChatGPT and AI tools. An online survey with closed questions was administered, and a convenient sample of 515 students was gathered and analyzed. Findings reveal a dual perspective, where students recognize AI’s potential to enhance research efficiency, support academic tasks, and personalize learning experiences, while simultaneously raising concerns regarding ethical considerations, content reliability, and potential declines in critical thinking skills. A key insight from this study is the variation in AI perceptions based on academic level and ICT competence. The findings reinforce the importance of comprehensive AI literacy programs, ethical guidelines, and institutional support. Additionally, this study highlights the importance of bridging the digital divide, ensuring equitable engagement with AI tools across different competency levels. This study contributes to the ongoing discourse on AI in HE by identifying key areas where AI adoption can be optimized while mitigating its risks. Future research and policy initiatives should focus on striking a balance between technological advancements and human-centered learning, ensuring that AI adoption supports academic integrity and educational innovation. Full article

Background: This systematic review will address the influence of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) on democratic processes and citizens’ participation, which is enabled by such tools as social media, e-voting systems, e-government initiatives, and e-participation platforms. Methods: Based on an in-depth analysis of 46 peer-reviewed articles published between 1999 and 2024, this review emphasizes how ICTs have improved democratic engagement quality, efficiency, and transparency, but highlights key challenges and research gaps. Results: From this angle, ICT tools have great potential to nurture civic engagement and good governance through transparency. Challenges persist with the ethical and social implications of surveillance technologies, security concerns about digital voting systems, and the widening digital divide disproportionately affecting marginalized populations. The current regulatory framework dealing with privacy and misinformation issues is relatively weak, and there is also a lack of understanding about ICTs’ long-term effects on democratic governance. Conclusions: This review underlines the duality of the roles played by ICT as both an enabler and a challenge to democratic processes. It calls for regulatory measures to protect privacy, fight disinformation, and reduce the digital divide. Future research in this area should focus on the long-term effects of ICTs and how they can be equitably and efficiently integrated into democratic systems, with strategies aimed at maximizing benefits while minimizing risks. Full article

The robots that entered the manufacturing sector in the second and third Industrial Revolutions (IR2 and IR3) were designed for carrying out predefined routines without physical interaction with humans. In contrast, IR4* robots (i.e., robots since IR4 and beyond) are supposed to interact with humans in a cooperative way for enhancing flexibility, autonomy, and adaptability, thus dramatically improving productivity. However, human–robot cooperation implies cognitive capabilities that the cooperative robots (CoBots) in the market do not have. The common wisdom is that such a cognitive lack can be filled in a straightforward way by integrating well-established ICT technologies with new AI technologies. This short paper expresses the view that this approach is not promising and suggests a different one based on artificial cognition rather than artificial intelligence, founded on concepts of embodied cognition, developmental robotics, and social robotics. We suggest giving these IR4* robots designed according to such principles the name CoCoBots. The paper also addresses the ethical problems that can be raised in cases of critical emergencies. In normal operating conditions, CoCoBots and human partners, starting from individual evaluations, will routinely develop joint decisions on the course of action to be taken through mutual understanding and explanation. In case a joint decision cannot be reached and/or in the limited case that an emergency is detected and declared by top security levels, we suggest that the ultimate decision-making power, with the associated responsibility, should rest on the human side, at the different levels of the organized structure. Full article

The presented paper examines the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the management of smart cities, focusing on the Silesian and Lesser Poland Voivodships in Poland. This research addresses a notable gap in the analysis of regional AI strategies within urban management, providing a comparative analysis of AI implementation in these two distinct regions. The Silesian Voivodship, with its emphasis on traditional industries such as manufacturing and energy, contrasts with the broader approach of the Lesser Poland Voivodship, which includes applications in life sciences and ICT. The paper explores how AI technologies enhance urban efficiency, sustainability, and livability through practical applications in traffic management, healthcare, energy efficiency, and environmental management. It highlights the importance of a human-centric approach in smart city development, emphasizing inclusivity, transparency, and ethical considerations. The paper also delves into the socio-technical dynamics of AI deployment, illustrating how these technologies can transform urban environments while ensuring that the benefits are equitably distributed and that urban developments are sustainable and resilient. By analyzing specific case studies, the authors aim to provide empirical evidence and insights that contribute to the academic and practical understanding of AI’s role in smart cities, ultimately advocating for the design of AI applications that prioritize human well-being and environmental health. Full article

In recent years, the attention paid to the metaverse in the scientific world has increased; the hottest topics include system architecture and enabling technologies, as well as business, privacy, ethical, and security issues. On the other side, at the mainstream level, it is well known that the company Meta (formerly Facebook) is striving to realize its interpretation of a “social” metaverse. As Meta is a big leader of social media, it is reasonable to guess that, in the future, users will participate in a new social platform, such as that which the company is building by depicting unlimited and engaging opportunities. Regardless of Meta, we ask what the opinion of people is about this possible future scenario. A literature search of previous works about this topic has been done; the few results we found were not properly on topic and showed heterogeneous content. A survey on interpretations of the metaverse of major information and communication technologies (ICT) companies that impact the consumer world was undertaken; the results show that Meta is the most prominent company with the mission of building a ”social” metaverse worldwide. Finally, a draft of a tool for assessing the predilection of people for a “social” metaverse, based on various facets of the future social platform, is proposed. Full article

This paper examines the impact and implications of ChatGPT and other generative AI technologies within the African context while looking at the ethical benefits and concerns that are particularly pertinent to the continent. Through a robust analysis of ChatGPT and other generative AI systems using established approaches for analysing the ethics of emerging technologies, this paper provides unique ethical benefits and concerns for these systems in the African context. This analysis combined approaches such as anticipatory technology ethics (ATE), ethical impact assessment (EIA), and ethical issues of emerging ICT applications with AI (ETICA) with specific issues from the literature. The findings show that ChatGPT and other generative AI systems raise unique ethical concerns such as bias, intergenerational justice, exploitation of labour and cultural diversity in Africa but also have significant ethical benefits. These ethical concerns and benefits are considered crucial in shaping the design and deployment of ChatGPT and similar technologies responsibly. It further explores the potential applications of ChatGPT in critical domain areas such as education, agriculture, and healthcare, thereby demonstrating the transformative possibilities that these technologies can have on Africa. This paper underscores the critical role of AI governance as Africa increasingly adopts ChatGPT and similar AI systems. It argues that a comprehensive understanding of AI governance is essential not only for maximising the benefits of generative AI systems but also for facilitating a global dialogue. This dialogue aims to foster shared knowledge and insights between the Global North and the Global South, which is important for the development and creation of inclusive and equitable AI policies and practices that can be beneficial for all regions. Full article

A sustainable information and communication flow (ICF) supports lifelines in floods, especially transport systems. A detailed insight into barriers regarding effective ICF through the implementation of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the lifecycle of floods was given for evolved and evolving economies, i.e., York and Head-Marala, with sample sizes of 240 and 300 experts, respectively. All experts responded on an ethically approved questionnaire with further information notes that were used whilst discoursing the factors. ICTs were segregated into two groups, ranging from simple to advanced technologies. KMO and Bartlett’s tests confirmed high sampling adequacy with values ranging from 0.679 to 0.823 (≥0.5) with p-values ≤ 0.05. An amended version of Q-Methodology was used to identify nine factors in total. Each factor with an Eigenvalue ≥1 was retained, and all factors were highly reliable with values between 0.89 and 0.96. Factors were explained through communalities, factor loadings, pattern and structure matrices, and notes from experts. Results showed that under-evolved economies have limited technological resources and under-developed flood coping plans compared to evolved economies. Also, the unacknowledged possibility was uncovered that ICF can certainly be sustained if all possibly available ICTs are engaged through a thorough deployment plan of action. Authorities needed to make ICT engagement plans simple and efficient through effective coordination among different institutions. Though authorities were trained and equipped with modern tools, equipment, and technologies, dense and dependent populations overwhelmed the rescue capabilities. Other than VMS, social media pages, and radio, other ICTs were not tried and tested in floods for the exchange of transport–flood ICF. These findings are useful for stakeholders from all communities, transport planning institutions, and flood managers who are not fully benefiting from the extended use of ICTs to manage travel activities in floods. Full article

Diplomas are of particular importance in society, as they serve as official proof of education. Therefore, it is not surprising that counterfeits of such documents have become common. Thus, employers usually have to verify diplomas manually with the issuer. In line with the principles of social responsibility (accountability, transparence, ethical behavior, respect of stakeholders’ interest), ensure inclusive and equitable quality education (SDG 4) become a priority for universities. Blockchain technology creates opportunities to surmount these obstacles because it has revolutionized the way people interact with each other. For that purpose, a total of 147 students from a technical university in Romania answered questionnaires to determine how familiar they are with blockchain concepts and what they think about the implementation of this technology. Further, structured interviews were conducted with education and ICT experts to determine the main advantages and disadvantages, applications, and needs for adopting blockchain technology. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to explore the influence of blockchain on education through the assessment of 69 variables. The final part contains the consequences of the analysis’s findings and potential future advancements. Full article

In anticipation of the advanced information and communication technology (ICT) era’s profound impact on society and industry, the demand for strong technological comprehension and creativity is evident. Addressing this societal need, we have developed a hyper-blended educational model and program. It focuses on cultivating creative thinking and ICT understanding, tailored for elementary/middle school students, educators, administrators, and the public. Our program employs innovative pedagogical methods, encompassing subjects such as artificial intelligence (AI) ethics, blockchain, and cloud computing, providing forward-looking perspectives. With techniques such as Havruta dialogue and quantum learning, we promote engaging, convergent thinking. We blend artistic expression, physical activities, and technical education to encourage administrators’ creativity within educational settings. Over 2017–2021, involving 9596 participants, we observed consistently high satisfaction scores of around 4 on a 1–5 scale, with statistical significance. This underscores our program’s success in fostering creative thinking and ICT understanding across diverse domains. In conclusion, our study addresses the vital need for creativity and tech comprehension in an intricate technological landscape. Our hyper blended practical model (HPBM) serves diverse training groups, equipping them for future challenges. These findings guide future educational pursuits, emphasizing a seamless integration of creativity and tech understanding. Full article

Many university students have doubts about how or where to start writing their undergraduate thesis work; it is common not to be clear how to identify a research problem or even towards which topic their research is oriented, and there are doubts about how to process and systematize so much information available in the era of digitalization. This article presents learning strategies to formulate a research thesis for engineering undergraduate programs, with an emphasis on the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) toward a University Education 4.0 paradigm. The main themes and issues discussed in this article, carried out through learning strategies for students based on the scientific method, are the following: (i) Recommendations for choosing a research topic, (ii) Guidelines for problem identification and question research, (iii) Suggestions for choosing a thesis advisor, (iv) Instructions for finding suitable sources of information, (v) Structure of the table of contents for writing the thesis manuscript, and (vi) Indications for preparing an oral defense of thesis research. This article highlights recommendations and precautions directed towards professors and students with the use of the chatbot-type artificial intelligence (AI) tool called ChatGPT for the formulation of the thesis under a responsible conduct approach in research. This article concludes that the application of tutoring/guidance strategies between professors and students requires an adequate ethical use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) during the development of a research thesis to generate a comprehensive educational environment that encourages research and develops a sustainable learning process in the context of the University Education 4.0 paradigm. Full article

The increasing growth trend of the global Muslim population implies an increase in the consumption of halal products. The importance of the halal market attracts much attention from many stakeholders, including academia/researchers. Many scholars have conducted studies on halal topics. However, these studies cover broad topics, such as ICT potential in the halal sector, the halal supply chain, Islamic Law, and other halal studies related to natural sciences. This study aims to study the research gap and future trends of halal food additive and ingredient research in business and economics using bibliometric analysis. The data were obtained from the Scopus database from 1999 to 2022. The authors analyzed the keyword “Halal Consumption and Production” by using the general keyword “Halal or Haram Additive and Ingredient”. The dataset was uploaded on VOSviewer and R language (Bibliometrix) software. This study found a deficit of studies on halal food additives and ingredients in business and economics. The co-occurrence network output demonstrated that future studies on halal food additives and ingredients should consider clusters that have lower density and central positions, such as production–consumption and the supply chain, healthy foods, and the logistics market and health effects. The Bibliometrix strategic diagram of the 2020–2022 thematic evolution demonstrates a research gap in three out of four quadrants (i.e., emerging or declining, basic, and motor themes). This study suggests potential research areas in the field of halal food additives and ingredients, such as ethical and sustainable sourcing, responsible consumption, consumer sovereignty, international trade, economic modeling, food security, green/sustainable supply chain, and halal regulation and product safety. Full article

Citizen science (CS) within sustainable tourism is an underutilized tool for biocultural conservation. The aims of this research integrate conceptual and applied approaches to situate post-positivist and interpretive paradigms within CS and sustainable tourism. The aims are fulfilled by the creation of the new Civic Reporting Indicators (CRIs), developed through analysis of the 174 Global Sustainable Tourism Council Destination (GSTC-D) criteria and indicators. It was determined that 114 indicators are perceivable audibly and/or visibly by untrained citizens. The rearticulation of GSTC-D criteria into the CRIs utilizes embodied perceptions and observations reportable by untrained visitors and residents. The CRIs are framed within ethical principles of research, CS, and sustainable tourism. The inclusion of interpretive paradigms within CS provides epistemological innovation that validates lived experiences and embodied knowledge, fostering agency and empowerment within sustainability narratives. The CRIs may harness end-user observations by utilizing information communication technologies (ICTs) to amass longitudinal and real-time data for smart, sustainable destination management and biocultural conservation. Engaging citizens through the CRIs has the potential to contribute valid observations that amass democratic, longitudinal, and cost-effective data. Designing accessible ICT platforms for destination management may enact civic agency and critical social reflection to democratize sustainability engagement. Full article