The Contribution of Socio-Cultural Aspects of Smartphone Applications to Smart City Creation. Poland–Turkey Comparison

Abstract

The main objective of this article is to analyze the use of modern information technologies, referring to the example of smartphones, paying particular attention to selected cultural aspects of the phenomena that appear to play an important role in creating the concept of a smart city. The authors asked a research question: whether there is a difference in the perception of smart cities between Poland and Turkey in terms of a set of individual criteria and cultural differences in the context of globalization processes. The authors decided to compare the use of smartphones in an international environment. In their analysis, they examined Poland and Turkey, the countries which are characterized by markedly distinct culture and customs, but simultaneously present a similar level of IT development. The research was conducted in two stages at the turn of 2019 and 2020, and it involved more than 600 selected young people aged 18–25. It is important to mention that the study consulted the group of the most active internet users who are taking advantage of the benefits of internet-aided globalization. In order to carry out the survey questionnaire, the authors applied a CAWI (Computer Associated Web Interview) method. The original study aimed at identifying the character traits of smartphone users that appear to be most important from the point of view of implementing the concept of a smart city. As a result of this research, 15 such characteristics were identified, and the impact of smartphones on the strengthening or weakening of such qualities was tested in the course of conducting the survey questionnaire. The survey was translated into native languages and initially tested as part of the pilot studies. The results were compared, and the authors have identified and commented on differences between them. They also assessed the degree to which the hypothesis formulated in the research has been verified. The main limitation of the conducted study was the selection of a random group since the research sample consisted only of members of the academic community. The part of the study which is presented in this article fills the research gap related to the impact of smartphones on selected aspects of user behavior (punctuality, individualism, the quantity and quality of contacts) as well as social behavior (homogenization of cultures, the impact on economic and technological progress, strengthening of social bonds, civic responsibility (both in the social and economic sense), personal development initiatives, increase in social activity, sense of security, technological progress, and achieving prosperity). The examined features are particularly important in shaping the idea of smart cities. The results obtained in the study are conducive to expanding the research in this area.

Integrated Development of Smart City Tourism and Cultural and Creative Industries Based on Internet of Things

“…On the contrary, the value of α determines the credibility of the data. Generally speaking, if α is less than 0.5, it means the reliability is too low, and a large number of amendments need to be made to the questionnaire: if α is between 0.5 and 0.8, it means that the questionnaire setting is acceptable and reasonable [20,21]. When the reliability of the questionnaire reaches 0.8, it means that the reliability of the measurement or questionnaire is excellent.…”

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“…Mobility apps integrate various modes of transportation, including public transit, ridesharing, bike-sharing, and walking, into a single platform. This encourages residents to choose the most suitable and sustainable mode for each journey (Chmielarz et al, 2021). Smartphone apps can assist in traffic enforcement and safety efforts.…”

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“…In times of emergencies, smartphone applications contribute to community safety by offering features such as emergency alerts, real-time incident reporting, and location-based services. This aids in effective emergency response coordination and ensures the well-being of residents (Simonofski et al, 2023;Chmielarz et al, 2021).…”

“…Crucially, smartphone applications prioritize inclusive design to ensure accessibility for diverse populations. Features such as voice commands and intuitive interfaces enable broad community engagement, ensuring that everyone, regardless of ability, can actively participate in the benefits of smart city initiatives (Chmielarz et al, 2021).…”