Preliminary Conference Agenda

Virtual reality technology has brought about a new way of exercising through VR exergames. A critical and interesting question is whether users are willing to use VR exergames as an effective supplement to traditional exercise methods, or even as a complete substitute for some real sports. In this study, we aim to identify the factors that affect users' perception of VR exergames and intention to substitute them for real sports based on the Technology Readiness and Acceptance Model (TRAM). The proposed model and 16 hypotheses were tested by structural equation analysis using 248 validated questionnaires. Our results suggest that users' technological readiness and perceived interactivity significantly impact their perception of VR exergames and intention to substitute real sports. Perceived usefulness had a significant impact on substitution intention, while perceived ease of use not. Our findings provide important recommendations for future VR exergames development to enhance user experience and promote national fitness.

"Knowingly spreading rumors" has become an increasingly prevalent and seriously damaging phenomenon, yet existing research failed to provide enough theoretical explanations and empirical investigations of this issue. To bridge this research gap, this study utilizes the Q-methodology, which combines qualitative and quantitative approaches, to comprehensively explore the underlying core motivations and individual differences among social media users who knowingly spread rumors. By collecting, screening, and validating statements that encompass various reasons for knowingly spreading rumors on social media, we constructed a Q-set consisting of 44 statements. Subsequently, we invited 275 P-samples (in Q-methodology research, "P-samples" refer to the participants) to perform Q-sorting. Through factor analysis, we identified four types of motivations for knowingly spreading rumors on social media: Personal Involvement Type, Social Status Seeking Type, Entertainment Value Enhancement Type, and Uncertainty Reduction Type. Furthermore, our exploration delved into the unique relationships between these motivation types and demographic variables. The findings of this study not only broaden the boundaries of research within the realm of rumor spreading but also inspire further scholarly investigations into this under-examined behavior. This study also offers practical guidance for social media platforms, debunking organizations, and educational institutions, empowering them to develop effective strategies for preventing and intervening in the knowingly spread of rumors.

Smart cities take advantage of advances in ubiquitous computing and big data analytics to build and deploy technologies that increase efficiency and sustainability. However, benefits derived from smart cities are not equally distributed. In this paper, we consider how smart city initiatives can better serve and engage marginalized communities through a focus on the city of Baltimore, MD. Through focus groups with 43 Black Baltimore residents living in low-income neighborhoods, we identify key barriers they perceive to being more engaged in and trusting of smart city initiatives, as well as important disconnects between residents’ needs and the city’s solutions. Based on these findings, we make the case for cities to more deeply engage these communities in smart city initiatives, as many technologies are not designed with their unique needs in mind, and they are the most likely to experience harms from surveillance technologies that collect large quantities of data and build predictive models used by cities.