Information technology & media sociology in a (still) pandemic world

The current period of disruptive social change is inextricably bound up with new means and modes of communication, information, and media streams. The Communication, Information Technologies & Media Sociology section of the American Sociological Association (CITAMS) locates these factors at the center of our collective interests, investigating them through a plethora of methods, theories, and empirical cases. Each year, CITAMS runs a special issue in ICS showcasing select works presented at the previous year's American Sociological Association conference and the affiliated Media Sociology preconference. Papers in the 2022 CITAMS Special Issue reflect a social context defined by a prolonged global pandemic and wrought by democratic uncertainty. Across these social circumstances, technology and media loom large. Simultaneously, everyday life continues and classic CITAMS scholarship sustains relevance for the ways people interact, construct identity, consume, and mobilize. All of this and more are contained in the pages of this year's Special Issue, from which readers can get a sense of what CITAMS has to offer and consider how their own work may fit within the broad CITAMS umbrella. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Sharing culture in a tech world: Grandparent-grandchild cultural exchanges over video chat

Grandparents who were separated from their infant grandchildren during COVID-19 sought other ways to connect, including video chat. Video chat supports learning, and its features (e.g., contingent responsiveness) may allow for cultural exchange. However, technological problems may disrupt these exchanges. In a seminaturalistic, longitudinal study, 47 families submitted up to three video chats and surveys. Families were predominantly White/Caucasian, highly educated, and lived between 1 and 2,700 miles apart. Multilevel models were used to predict the proportion of the sessions devoted to exchanging culture (e.g., holidays, parenting advice) and managing tech problems. Culture exchange did not change as a function of infant age, video chat experience, or when encountering tech problems. Although only marginally statistically significant, culture exchange increased as distance increased. Tech problems changed as a function of tech talk. Qualitative analysis revealed that cultural transmission occurred via a culture of care and sharing of information across video chat, that families adapted their behaviors to the new technology, and that technology disruptions rarely interfered with the flow of information. These findings demonstrate the ability to share culture when physically separated and in the presence of tech disruptions. Further, this study supports previous work on the emerging culture of video chat. Families adapted to being separated, and grandparents and infants successfully communicated through a new modality. Because video chat supports family relationships, equitable access to high-speed internet should be a priority to enable more families to use it. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved) Impact Statement This study demonstrates that video chat allowed for familial culture exchanges to be maintained through a separation during COVID-19. Examining what and how cultural exchanges took place suggests that supports for using video chat, including access to high-speed internet, are necessary for families separated by other circumstances. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Understanding student technology teams within K-12 technology ecosystems

Access and use of computer-based educational technology within K-12 schools have been steadily increasing since the 1980s (Cuban, 1993;Delgado et al., 2015;Penuel, 2006), including more school districts providing every student with a device (1:1) after the year 2000 (Gray & Lewis, 2021;Harper & Milman, 2016;Penuel, 2006;Zheng et al., 2016). Despite this steady increase in devices, information systems, and learning platforms within schools, growth of information technology (IT) staff positions has not grown proportionally with technology and has resulted in a staff capacity issue for district technology departments (CoSN, 2021;Gao & Murphy, 2016;Kentucky Department of Education, 2017). This issue was exacerbated by the emergency switch to distance learning as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which relied on devices and online systems for learning to continue and further strained the technology departments (CoSN, 2022a, 2022b;Rauf, 2020;White, 2020).Since computers were introduced to these educational institutions, schools and districts have positioned students as technical and pedagogical supports for educational technology (National School Boards Association, 2002;Van Eck et al., 2001). Commonly known as student tech teams (STTs), this type of program is still frequent today within schools and there is a wealth of practitioner-created resources on the topic. Yet, studies on these programs are absent from the decades of research on technology integration within K-12 schools (Peterson & Scharber, 2017).This dissertation was designed to fill this void within the literature, provide a foundational understanding of STTs within K-12 educational technology initiatives, and identify practical strategies for school educators and leaders. Using a philosophically pragmatic lens and an ecological framework (Zhao & Frank, 2003), this explanatory sequential mixed-methods study (Creswell & Plano Clark, 2011) explored the following research questions:* How are student technology teams structured within K-12 school ecosystems?* What is the role of student technology teams within K-12 technology integration initiatives?Results from the study indicated that STTs are structured as work- and project-based courses, assistantships, and extracurriculars that can support the technical and instructional needs of staff and students within a school or district environment. STTs also provide opportunities for students to collaborate and create by tinkering with technologies and developing products that interest them while building their digital literacy skills. No two STTs are structured the same;however, staff and students' technical and instructional needs are common programmatic focus areas across STT environments.The role of STTs within K-12 technology integration initiatives is to give students autonomy, unique experiences, and opportunities to learn while serving the school and/or district community. The role of STT, as well as the benefit to its student members, is shaped by the coaches, tech department, and administrators' intentionality and mindset related to the capacity of students. Secondly, the STT's role is also shaped by the school and district's technology, schedules, and location. The findings of this study contribute to and extend the current understanding of educational technology initiatives, student tech teams, computing education in schools, and ecological framing of educational technologies. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Analysis of emergency remote teaching in formal education: crosschecking three contemporary techno-pedagogical frameworks

During the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak many countries around the world were forced to turn to Emergency Remote Teaching (ERT) and upscale the use of digital technologies for learning, teaching and assessment. The current study analysed field reports from 89 elementary and secondary Hebrew-speaking and Arabic-speaking information and communication technology schools in Israel, representing the cultural, ethnic, and religious diversity of the education system. The qualitative analysis of the collected data was based on three well established contemporary models of technology integration and Digital Competence of Educators (DigCompEdu): the International Society for Technology in Education, Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge and DigCompEdu. The analysis (n = 872 statements) yielded aspects in the teachers' reports that correspond with the theoretical models, along-side aspects that extend these models to ERT and aspects that were missing from the reports. Finally, based on our findings and previous work we suggested a comprehensive framework for ERT that can be used to design teachers' professional development necessary for effective remote teaching in both emergency and routine times. © 2023, Association for Learning Technology. All rights reserved.

Impact of Social Media Like WhatsApp for Education Domain

The pandemic situation is affected in various ways in the education domain. The sudden transformation from offline to online teaching-learning process made students and teachers use different tools like WhatsApp for communication. The reason for this consideration is to investigate the impacts of WhatsApp utilized for instruction and decide the suppositions of understudies towards the method. The study is designed, keeping in mind the current COVID-19 situation and how it affected the education system turning it into online mode. On different questionnaires, regression and heatmap analysis is performed. The investigation showed that both learning situations have diverse impacts on the victory of understudies while supporting the conventional environment by utilizing WhatsApp is more successful for the increment of victory. The assessment moreover showed that students had superior pleasant reviews closer to the usage of WhatsApp in their courses. They requested the same workout in their one-of-a-kind courses as well. They expressed that picking up information can moreover take out unwittingly and the messages with pics were more prominent and viable for their picking up information. Be that as it may, some college understudies have communicated harming audits approximately the timing of a few posts and the repetitive posts within the bunch. At long last, it is supported that the utilization of WhatsApp within the preparing framework is to be energized as a steady innovation. . © 2023 IEEE.

Reimagining academic conferences: Toward a federated model of conferencing

What should the post-COVID conference look like? In our attempt to answer this question, we first describe the primary functions and affordances of conferences. Our frank appraisal reveals the breadth of reasons why academics attend conferences, and how conference attendance often blends personal and professional motivations. We also elaborate some of the shortcomings of in-person conferences, spanning personal, professional, and societal concerns. Recent alternative (virtual) formats for convening scholars provide means for alleviating some of these shortcomings, but do not seem entirely up to the task of providing a fully satisfactory solution to all that conferencing can be. Moreover, we extrapolate from prior history and ongoing trends to predict that technological solutionism to conferencing is likely to unleash both positive and negative dynamics, some of which will exacerbate current ills in our profession. We then sketch out a values-based approach that can serve as a basis for reimagining academic conferences. This vision promotes a federated model of conferencing, grounded in principles of inclusion, diversity, community, and environmental stewardship. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

A study of internet-facilitated violence against women during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Sub-Saharan Africa

Before the influx of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), Africa was seen as a dark continent (Agwe-Mbarika et al., 2011). In 2016, the United Nations General Assembly passed a non-binding resolution declaring Internet access a human right and the intentional Internet disruption a human rights violation. This is contained in resolution A/HRC/32/L.20 of 2016. Recent reports also declare that Internet access falls under the freedom of expression (La Rue, 2011). (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Evaluation of Virtual Reality Application in Construction Teaching: A Comparative Study of Undergraduates

Construction courses are characterized by a combination of theoretical and practical knowledge;however, the teaching of practical knowledge is often absent due to safety and cost considerations. VR can improve the teaching of practical knowledge by facilitating interactions between teachers and students through virtual means, regardless of location, which is a weakness of current lecture-based teaching, especially in the COVID-19 era. Therefore, this paper aims to evaluate the effect and discuss the prospect of VR in construction teaching, with a comparative study of 50 students who were evenly divided into two groups and taught using traditional teaching and VR teaching, respectively. This experiment shows that VR teaching improves the students' learning enthusiasm and satisfaction, especially in terms of practical knowledge. Additionally, students believe the combination of traditional and VR teachings can be more helpful in construction teaching. The findings of this research strengthened the advantages of VR in delivering practical knowledge in construction teaching.

Information and Communication Technology Use for Alleviation of Disability Onset in Socially Isolated Older Adults: A Longitudinal Cohort Study.

INTRODUCTION: Delaying the onset of disability is important for maintaining independence and quality of life in community-dwelling older adults. Given that social isolation is a significant risk factor for disability, effective means associated with social isolation are needed to alleviate disability. Although information and communication technology (ICT) may be a reasonable measure considering the recent social contexts due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, further insights are required. This study aimed to investigate whether ICT use can alleviate the onset of disability in community-dwelling older adults with and without social isolation. METHODS: This longitudinal cohort study on 4,346 community-dwelling independent Japanese older adults (mean age, 73.5 ± 5.3 years) was conducted between 2017 and 2018. Participants were classified into four groups based on social isolation (the condition where two or more of the following measures were met: domestic isolation, less social contact, and social disengagement) and ICT users (those who had recently used a computer or a smartphone) and followed up to assess disability incidence for 24 months after baseline assessments. Cox proportional-hazards regression models were used to identify the effect of social isolation and ICT use on the risk of disability onset by adjusting for age, sex, education history, number of medications, eye disease, level of annual income, Mini-Mental State Examination, Geriatric Depression Scale 15, and gait speed. RESULTS: The group comprised nonsocial isolation and ICT users (44.7%), social isolation and ICT users (5.4%), nonsocial isolation and ICT nonusers (41.7%), and social isolation and ICT nonusers (8.2%). At the follow-up, 2.2%, 2.4%, 5.5%, and 12.4% of the participants in the above order developed disability (p < 0.01). Cox regression models revealed a significantly higher risk of disability onset in the social isolation and ICT nonusers group than in the social isolation and ICT users group (HR = 2.939; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.029-8.397; p = 0.044). In the subgroup analysis stratified by social isolation, ICT use significantly reduced the risk of disability onset in the socially isolated group (HR = 0.320; 95% CI 0.109-0.943; p = 0.039), although the same association was not observed in the nonsocially isolated group (HR = 0.845; 95% CI 0.565-1.264; p = 0.411). CONCLUSION: ICT use can alleviate the onset of disability in socially isolated older adults in a community setting. Considering ICT-applied methods for alleviating disability is beneficial for older adults in social isolation.

Recommender System for Government Service in Smart Cities

significant recommender systems (RS) development has occurred along with the Internet of Things (IoT) development in recent years. Recommender systems have been widely spread across diverse fields, including environmental preservation, e-commerce, healthcare, social and governance systems. There has been a growing focus on e-government as part of smart city initiatives in today's world of connected devices and infrastructure, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. With the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs), the government can enhance the delivery of public services, increase transparency, accountability, and credibility, as well as engage citizens in the decision-making process. To facilitate 'smart' governance, one of a smart city initiative's objectives is integrating e-government into the city's governance framework. The lack of personalized services for particular stakeholders is one of the most significant limitations of e-governance. There are a number of open challenges coupled with interesting opportunities, making this a very promising and exciting area for research to shape recommendation systems for urban environments. Considering the overwhelming amount of information, services, and tasks available through smart government applications, it is a greater chance of providing personalized recommendations for different stakeholders and tasks within multi-faceted and multi-dimension. There is still a lot of research to be done on recommendation systems in the context of smart cities or smart government. This paper survey the existing studies on recommendation systems for smart governance. The study aims to address smart city challenges to considered when designing and implementing recommendations for e-governance and the target stakeholder's interests. © 2022 IEEE.

Remote Innovation: How Remote Work Enables Open Innovation in Times of COVID-19

The rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated infection control measures imposed by governments caused a major disruption to traditional workflows, leading to an immense increase in remote work. At the same time, innovation activities became more collaborative and digitalized than ever before, as firms worldwide were forced to shift from physical to virtual innovation spaces literally overnight and suddenly had to adapt and practice "remote innovation”. By means of a systematic literature review based on 80 selected articles, this paper contributes to the academic discussion in three ways: First, the paper explores the synthesis between open innovation and remote work and uncovers a set of necessary determinants that form the basis for practicing remote innovation. Second, the paper offers a conceptual framework based on Chesbrough's open innovation model and extended by various determinants of open innovation in a remote work environment to provide initial advice to managers on how to innovate in times of social distancing. Third, the study concludes by identifying several promising areas for future research in the field of remote innovation management, a hitherto under-researched but highly topical field.

Co-evolution of Pandemic, Human Security, and Technology

COVID-19 pandemic has placed a huge burden on the healthcare system, and mainly on healthcare workers who have faced the biggest challenges and concerns in their health profession toward the unprecedented outbreak of coronavirus worldwide. Science and technology for handling a pandemic has always been there in some form in different countries. This chapter presents key lessons from various community-based activities where technologies have been widely used and emphasizes the importance of interfacing science policy practice to sustainable development. Relative importance and emphasis of science and technology for human security gets mentioned as well. Further, case studies of a few nations illustrate the existence of a good partnership of science technology groups and different other stakeholders. However, the need to strengthen this partnership with a clearer direction and strategy for implementation as a mechanism to foster collaboration across global and regional mechanisms and institutions for the implementation and coherence of instruments and tools relevant to Human Security and Health for all. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer 2022.

Organizational Culture and Business-IT Alignment in COVID-19: A Swiss Higher Education Case Study

This paper assumes that cultural characteristics of IT are critical for business-IT alignment (BITA), especially in crises such as COVID-19. A case study of a Swiss higher education institution examines this relationship and its contributions in terms of performance. The study develops a strategic alignment and organizational culture research model based on semi-structured interview guidelines by interviewing employees with different job roles and characteristics. It reveals the dominance of corporate infrastructure and process-strategic orientation and the combined influence of clan, hierarchy, and market culture. Results mapping leads to novel propositions for BITA at different management levels.

Using social distancing technology in hotels: A social exchange perspective

Purpose: As social distancing procedures can be facilitated by various hotel technologies, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the extent to which consumers develop perceptions of value regarding the use of certain hotel technologies for social distancing in hotels. Design/methodology/approach: Drawing from the social exchange theory, this study conceptualized the benefits of using technologies for social distancing, health risks, social rewards and privacy concerns as antecedents of value of using technologies for social distancing in hotels. The structural model was validated by using data from more than 1,000 nationwide US consumers. Findings: Benefits and consumers' privacy concerns of using technologies for social distancing in hotels were the strongest predictors of value. Social rewards also had a significant but relatively lower effect on value. Health risks was found to have no influence on value. Originality/value: The study is the first to examine the role of technologies in mitigating the effects of coronavirus. Thus, it extends the information technology and hospitality literature by examining the role of these technologies in safeguarding individual and public health. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Exploring strategies for managing telework: Federal managers' perspective

This qualitative pragmatic study explores the strategies federal managers have used to manage telework productivity since the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. This qualitative study was selected because it focused on federal managers' real-world perspectives and experiences. This study sought to answer one research question: What strategies have federal managers implemented to effectively manage telework employee productivity since the COVID-19 pandemic? A triangulation of data sources was employed during the data collection phase, which included one-on-one semi-structured interviews with seven federal managers, field notes, and a review of federal telework policy. The population consisted of federal managers from specific occupational backgrounds (finance, human resources, and information technology) located in the United States and responsible for managing one or more federal employees since the pandemic. Thematic analysis was used to group similar patterns, categories, sub-themes, and themes. The e-leadership (electronic) and socio-technical systems (STS) theories framed the research. The results revealed telework management strategies, recommendations, and best practices to help other federal managers and improve federal telework programs. Federal employee productivity can be managed using telework as a management tool, but only implemented. Federal managers have a fiduciary supervisory responsibility to effectively manage employee productivity in a traditional (on-site) work environment or virtual (telework) environment according to federal telework policy. Keywords: e-leadership;electronic leadership;socio-technical systems;shock leadership;federal manager;telework;telecommuting;telework management;remote-work, virtual workplace;job satisfaction;information and communications technology (ICT). (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Impacts of COVID-19 on Future Preferences Toward Telework

This paper presents a study in capturing the impacts of the mandatory pandemic-induced telework practice on workers' perceptions of the benefits, challenges, and difficulties associated with telecommuting and how those might influence their preference for telework in the future. Data was collected through an online survey conducted in South Florida in May 2020. Survey data showed that telework indices (either measured through actual behavior or stated preference) before, during, and after the pandemic were heterogeneous across socio-economic, demographic, and attitudinal segments. Before the outbreak, males, full-time students, those with PhD degrees, and high-income people showed higher percentages of involvement in jobs with a telework option. They also had higher pro-technology, pro-online education, workaholic, and pro-telework attitudes. During the pandemic, professional/managerial/technical jobs as well as jobs with lower physical-proximity measures showed the highest telework frequency. In view of future telework preferences, our analysis showed that those who were more pro-telework, pro-technology, and showed less dislike of telework dislike preferred higher telework frequency. A structural equation model was developed to assess the impacts of different predictors on telework behavior before the pandemic and preferences after the pandemic. While telework frequency before the pandemic was highly affected by the pro-telework attitude, the after-pandemic preferences were influenced by several other attitudes such as dislike telework, enjoy interaction, workaholic, as well as productivity factors. This might confirm the assumption that the mandatory practice through the pandemic has provided employees more experiences with work-from-home arrangements, which could reshape decisions and expectations around telework adoption in the future. © National Academy of Sciences: Transportation Research Board 2021.

Virtual internship during the COVID-19 pandemic: Exploring IT students satisfaction

Purpose: This paper examined the evaluation of the virtual internship program for KAU IT students during the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 summer. Design/methodology/approach: A mixed-method survey was utilized for the data collection. Out of 164 enrolled students in the 2020 summer training program, 147 students opted to participate. This gives a response rate of 89.6% of the total students' number who could participate. In addition to collecting quantitative data, qualitative data were collected. The sources for qualitative data were survey open questions, weekly reflective writing and video recordings. Findings: The quantitative result showed that the students were satisfied with their virtual internship. These results were further qualitatively explored and discussed under five themes: information and knowledge, work experience, live interaction, the comfort of achieving tasks and soft skills. The outcomes showed that the plan which offered students opportunities to be trained online with real companies accomplishing real work tasks was the best in fulfilling the requirements of the internship. Thus, it emphasized the importance of a strong alliance with the industry to provide useful virtual internship opportunities. Research limitations/implications: Though this study made a novel contribution to the timely literature on the COVID-19 pandemic, it is not without its limitations. The difference in the three sample sizes makes it difficult to get in-depth comparative analysis. For future research, it is highly recommended to study the impact of online training with real existing companies on a relatively larger sample number. Practical implications: In order for a higher educational institute to successfully adopt the proposed plans for the virtual internship, here are the reflections and lessons learned from our three plans. (1) Emphasize your efforts on extending your partnership with the private sector and computing industry. (2) The MCIT training focuses on developing technical skills;therefore, it is great to be offered to students in the computing field as extracurricular activities but not as the fulfillment of the internship program. (3) Blackboard training sessions, which cover nontechnical skills, are good to be offered prior to the internship. Social implications: For governmental human resource agencies, it is highly recommended to further develop and invest in manpower to develop online platforms. In normal situations, these platforms act as an extra training resource. In abnormal situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic, they act as useful source for online training. For students, this sudden unexpected transition from normal to online training should enrich them with the ability to be flexible and adaptive, tune them with opportunities for independent and innovative creative work, encourage them to take risks and provide them with opportunities to do things differently. As an outcome, students will enhance their self-efficacy and capabilities. Originality/value: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, not only classes and internship programs have been done remotely but increasingly jobs have also gone in that direction. A virtual internship today might be good preparation for the virtual/remote work of tomorrow. For this reason, this study was conducted to add a novel contribution to the virtual internship literature. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Impact of employee digital competence on the relationship between digital autonomy and innovative work behavior: a systematic review.

With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, the level of concern regarding employee digital competence has increased significantly. Several studies provide different surveys, but they cannot describe the relationship between digital autonomy and innovative work behaviour concerning the impact of employee digital competence. Hence, it is necessary to conduct a survey that provides a deeper understanding of these concerns and suggests a suitable study for other researchers. Using scientific publication databases and adhering to the PRISMA statement, this systematic literature review aims to offer a current overview of employee digital competence impact on the relationship between digital autonomy and innovative work behaviour from 2015 to 2022, covering definitions, research purposes, methodologies, outcomes, and limitations. When reviewing the selected articles, 18 articles were examined under relationship topics, and 12 articles reported on impact topics under different tasks. The main findings highlight the significance of digital competence and autonomy in promoting employee creativity, learning, and sharing knowledge. According to the review findings, employees with greater digital autonomy are more likely to engage in innovative work, leading to improved job performance and empowerment. Therefore, the development of digital autonomy prioritizes organizations by providing access to digital tools, training, and a supportive work environment. Overall, the current review indicates a strong positive correlation between digital autonomy, innovative work behaviour, and employee impact. This underscores the importance for organizations to not only participate in digital competence and skills, but also to create a culture that values autonomy, creativity, and innovation among its employees.

Older adults' experiences with using information and communication technology and tech support services in New York City: findings and recommendations for post-pandemic digital pedagogy for older adults.

Introduction: Although Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has great potential to help older adults cope with challenges associated with aging, the intended benefits of ICT are not always realized in this population due to access barriers and low digital literacy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous tech support initiatives for older adults got underway. However, evaluation of the effectiveness of these initiatives is less common. This research partnered with a large, multi-service organization in New York City that gave some groups of their clients ICT devices, unlimited broadband, and access to technology training in response to COVID-19 lockdowns. This study investigates older adults' experiences with ICT and ICT support services to better inform the existing and emerging tech support for older adults during and beyond the pandemic. Methods: Data were obtained from interviewer-administered surveys of 35 older adult recipients of ICT devices, connectivity, and training in New York City. The average age was 74 years (range = 55-90 years). The group was diverse regarding race/ethnicity (Black 29%, Latino 19%, White 43%). All had low incomes. Surveys consisted of multiple-choice items and open-ended responses. Results: The study found that one size does not fit all when it comes to ICT training and support for older adults. While connection to devices and services and tech support led to a degree of ICT adoption, the newly learned skills did not always lead to expanded device usage. The readily available tech support training and support do not guarantee service utilization, as success with tech services is related to one's pre-existing ICT competence. Discussion: The study concludes that customized training based on individuals' skills rather than age is needed. Tech support training should start by understanding an individual's interests and incorporate tech education to help users identify a wide range of existing and emerging online services that can meet their needs. Service organizations should consider including an assessment of ICT access, use, and skills into their standard intake protocols to ensure effective service delivery.

Emerging Trends of ICT in Airborne Disease Prevention

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) are becoming indispensable nowadays for the healthcare industry. The utilization of ICT in healthcare services has accelerated even faster after the commencement of the COVID-19 outbreak. This study aims to perform a scientometric analysis of scholarly literature on airborne diseases in the discipline of science and technology. It explores the recent advancement of internet technologies in healthcare to control the prevalence of deadly airborne illnesses by applying analytical approaches. It presents publication trends, citation structure, influential sources, co-citation, and cooccurrence network analysis using the CiteSpace tool. It identifies the important research topics, current research hotspots, most active research areas, and leading technologies in this scientific knowledge domain. It inferred significant results fromanalyses thatwill benefit researchers and the academic fraternity across the globe to understand the evolving paths and recent scientific progress of ICT in airborne disease management.