Promoting community-based networks through digital media

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15847/obsOBS16220221867

Keywords:

Territorial innovation, Hypermediation, User Experience, Usability, Communities-led initiatives

Abstract

Digital media can provide an important contribution to the development of local communities by creating digital environments that facilitate the sharing of information, dissemination of knowledge and construction of organizational learning. Digital media can also promote interaction and collaboration processes among different regional agents, fostering a continuous flow of territorial based innovation. The study reported in this paper was carried out within the research activities of the (REMOVED) project, aiming to deepen the knowledge about the conditions that influence the dynamics of community-led territorial based innovation in the Centro Region of Portugal, focusing on the areas of Tourism, Health, and Wellness. As part of this project, a mobile application is being designed, aiming to strengthen the relationship among agents of local communities/entities and to promote mediation mechanisms among all stakeholders in the process of territorial based innovation. This paper presents the main concepts underlying the development of the REMOVED digital platform and the outcomes from a usability evaluation of the platform mobile app prototype. The first section discusses the most relevant topics that this paper covers. In the second section, an overview of the state of the art in the field of digital media used to promote territory-based innovation is presented. The third section describes the concept of the REMOVED digital platform and the main features of the prototype/mobile app. The fourth section addresses the methodology adopted for the evaluation of the prototype and the fifth exhibits the main outcomes of this process. Finally, the sixth and final section present the main conclusions about the potential of the REMOVED platform, and current and future research activities.

Author Biographies

Eliza Ribeiro Oliveira, University of Aveiro. Digital Media and Interaction Research Centre

Completed her degree in 2011 at the Federal University of Minas Gerais and holds a master degree in Informatics from the Federal University of Paraíba (2015), both in Brazil. Currently, she is a PhD student and researcher at the DigiMedia research center , where she participates as a fellow in the project CeNTER

Daniel Carvalho, University of Aveiro. Digital Media and Interaction Research Centre

Holds a graduation in New Communication Technologies and a Master degree in Multimedia Communication both from the University of Aveiro, Portugal. Currently he is a research fellow in the project CeNTER and a PhD student in Information and Communication in Digital Platforms PhD programme of the Universities of Aveiro and Porto, Portugal.

Eveline Sacramento, University of Aveiro. Digital Media and interaction Research centre

Eveline Sacramento- Eveline holds a Computer Science degree from the Federal University of Ceará (UFC), a Master's in Computer Science from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a PhD in Informatics from PUC-Rio. In recent years, she has dedicated herself to researching the Semantic Web, ontologies, checking constraints and integrating data. Currently she is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Aveiro from the Department of Communication and Art.

Andre Branco, University of Aveiro. Digital Media and Interaction Research Centre

Bachelor in Computer Science and a Master in Management from FGV. He concentrated his studies on the digital platforms of the sharing economy when he published and participated in Congress. He was a professor at Estacio University. André has extensive experience in the consultancy industry for large multinational companies. He is also in the project SmILE – Smart City dashboard Indicators to Leverage citizen Engagement. His research interest is on digital platform for smart city, territorial innovation using open data and dashboards.

Maria João Antunes, University of Aveiro. Digital Media and Interaction Research Centre

Maria João Antunes: holds a PhD in Communication Sciences and Technologies; her research interests focus on the relationship between new information and communication technologies and people/organizations. Within her current research activities she participates in projects and supervises masters and PhD students researching the use of ICT to preserve audiovisual memory, the increase of information and communication between organizations and citizens/users; new media use in radio.

Luis Pedro, University of Aveiro. Digital Media and Interaction Research Centre

Luís Pedro: holds a PhD on Technology and Didactics; he is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Communication and Art, University of Aveiro, Portugal, where he lectures in Communication Sciences and Technologies undergraduate, graduate and doctoral courses. His research interests are related with social media development, integration and assessment in educational and training contexts.

Oksana Tymoshchuk, University of Aveiro. Digital Media and Interaction Research Centre

Graduated in Universal History and Practical Psychology, detains a master in educational sciences /Special Education and holds a PhD in Multimedia in Education at the University of Aveiro, Portugal. Currently she is a post graduated researcher in project CeNTER– Community-led Networks for Territorial Innovation. Her present research interests are related to Territorial Innovation, digital technology, and inclusion.

Margarida Almeida, University of Aveiro. Digital Media and Interaction Research Centre

Margarida Almeida: holds a PhD in Communication Sciences and Technologies and has been developing research activities related to ‘digital inclusion’, ‘media for all’, ‘communication and health’. She is an Assistant Professor at University of Aveiro. She has developed several supervising activities of MSc and PhD students, related to her research interests and she has been involved in different research projects and scientific initiatives.

Fernando Ramos, University of Aveiro. Digital Media and Interaction Research Centre

Fernando Ramos: Full Professor of Communication Sciences and Technologies at the Department of Communication and Art of the University of Aveiro, Portugal. His current research interests include digital media applications in learning and social innovation ecosystems in smart territories.

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Published

2022-06-09

How to Cite

Oliveira, E. R., Carvalho, D., Sacramento, E., Branco, A., Antunes, M. J., Pedro, L., … Ramos, F. (2022). Promoting community-based networks through digital media. Observatorio (OBS*), 16(2). https://doi.org/10.15847/obsOBS16220221867

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 2 (2022)

Section

Articles

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