Mobile Computing Trends in Saudi Arabia: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

Abstract-The main purpose of this research was to gain an understanding of the adoption behavior of mobile computing in Saudi Arabia. In particular, it aimed to acquire new insight into mobile computing trends, specifically in Saudi Arabia, in order to develop hypotheses and formulate precise criteria for mobile computing evaluation. In order to achieve these aims, the researcher created a focus group by recruiting eight participants with solid background knowledge of usability engineering and mobile computing. The focus group proposed a four-phase process: determination, qualification, categorization and evaluation of the mobile computing applications developed by Saudi organizations. During the determination phase, two hundred and twenty seven (n=227) mobile applications were determined as having been developed by organizations in Saudi Arabia. During the qualification phase, one hundred and forty two (n=142) mobile applications were qualified. Within the categorization phase, the experts categorized only the qualified applications into a two-level categorization hierarchy. Finally, in the evaluation phase, the qualified applications were evaluated in terms of purpose, platform, visual appearance, content, organization and usability. The results herein revealed that 43% of the mobile applications in Saudi Arabia were MGovernment applications, while 57% were M-Business applications. In addition, the study proposed a sample of thirty six (n=36) applications as having statistical significance from all of the mobile applications in Saudi Arabia.

ICT Definition Implication on ICT Career Choice and Exclusion among Women

“…An exploratory survey was used in the study due to it its potential towards contribution to generation of new theories [19] [20] especially in a topic like the one under this study that hardly has any studies on it. It was more suited for the study it is reported to be useful in less mature contexts, due its role in describing and establishing the basic understanding of a problem [21] [19] . Another reason for its use was its potential to focus on data reliability as result of obtaining it from a panel of experts [20] [19] when used with focused group as was the case in this study.…”

“…It was more suited for the study it is reported to be useful in less mature contexts, due its role in describing and establishing the basic understanding of a problem [21] [19] . Another reason for its use was its potential to focus on data reliability as result of obtaining it from a panel of experts [20] [19] when used with focused group as was the case in this study. The exploratory survey was most appropriate as it allowed for increasing the flexibility of the research design in order to provide for opportunities to explore different aspects of the context at hand [19] [22] .…”

The Effects of Mobile Phone Use on Human Behaviors: A Study of Developing Country Like Bangladesh

“…The adaptation of mobile phone or mobile computing was initial in the beginning but it got the force from the some years later in Saudi Arabia (Alotaibi, 2015 ).By using mobile phone and mobile technology the personal ,social, governmental communication totally depended on this reliable technology but it has no long impact to development the human behavior (Campbell & Park, 2008).Mobile phone provided many positive features but we cannot neglect the negative influences inherited in mobile phone, one of the most common negative sides of smart phones is their side effects on human health and behavior (Abu-Shanab & Haddad , 2015).…”

Comparing the Usability of M-Business and M-Government Software in Saudi Arabia

“…Based on the findings of prior research that Mbusiness was more progressive than M-government in KSA [19], a general hypothesis was developed and put forward with eleven sub-hypotheses (derived from Nielsen's heuristics method [4]) to examine the different aspects of mobile software usability; to illustrate: Using the questionnaire, the sampled mobile software applications were evaluated by thirty-six (n=36) participants, all of which were regular mobile users. A balanced recruitment procedure was followed in order to control the effect of gender, knowledge and education of the participants.…”

“…In 2014, Alotaibi surveyed all mobile software applications that were developed by organizations in KSA, he identified a sample of thirty-six (n=36) mobile software applications -this should be regarded as a true representative sample of the population. Based on that argument [19], the thirty-six mobile software applications were considered for further analysis as a sample of the population; this sample can be viewed in Appendix A.…”