• Journal of Information Technology Applications and Management
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.13-24
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• 2012

Usability and knowledge drawn from utilizing various ways of representing accounting data were examined. Classroom experiments were conducted to compare students' assessment of financial data using table of numbers, 2-dimensional column graphs (2D), 3-dimensional column graphs (3D), and mixed reality visualization of true 3-dimensional graphs (MR). The results showed that in assessing the financial status and performance of a firm, Table of numbers and MR took longer than 2D and 3D graphs. The time spent on true 3D graphs using MR technology was about the same as Table of numbers. When compared the assessment scores of the firm's financial status and performance between participants and experts, the difference was the least when participants used 2D graphs. However, MR was seen as being a new way to provide data of greater complexity and was very useful for financial information.

• Journal of Information Technology Applications and Management
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.1-14
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• 2011

Mixed reality (MR) representation of accounting numbers is used as an alternative way of virtually engaging users of real three dimensional graphics of financialdata. An experiment was conducted to compare the usability and knowledge drawn from utilizing a table of numbers versus MR representations. The results showed that when MR was used, the participants' ratings of the firm's financial status and performance were more congruent with those of experts than when a table was employed. Also, MR was seen as providing less complex information with a shorter amount of time being spent and was perceived as being easy and useful.

• Journal of Information Technology Applications and Management
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.1-14
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• 2013

Learning accounting has always been a challenge for non-accounting students and managers. Understanding accounting information requires more than a numerical description of financial and income statements. Current accounting practice presents accounting reports in the form of tables with values or in two or three dimensional graphs generated by a spread sheet program. The present study proposes an alternative visualization with metaphor from nature as a learning device for novice users and managers. After surveying various kinds of plants, the lotus flower was chosen as an attractive analogy because every part of the plant from leaves to roots is usable and can have economic value. Moreover, lotus flowers, whether man-made or natural, can easily be part of a familiar, natural ecology representing both beauty and serenity. Results from online survey respondents (n = 220) showed that there was no significant difference on overall usability of the Lotus visualization between expert users and novice users. However, verbally-oriented users differed Significantly from visually-oriented users in their usability assessment, perceived usefulness, and intention to use the Lotus visualization.

• Journal of Information Technology Applications and Management
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.1-12
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• 2016

Visual representations for concepts in business management are quite challenging, especially those abstract concepts in Accountancy discipline. For example, there might not be a consensus on what to use to represent such abstraction as an asset, liability, or owner equity. This is because asset can be property, estate, resources, equipment, or any tangible or non-tangible valuables. Cognitive science concepts and behavior engagement have been used to develop visual representations for financial data. The concepts include spatial processing, big picture thinking, and metaphor. Review of past studies together with a brief research plan to test the usability for learning of four new augmented reality 0visuals are provided in the present paper.

• Journal of Information Technology Applications and Management
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.51-61
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• 2017

The objective of the study is to examine the acceptance and usability of Augmented Reality (AR) visuals developed for industry analysis of Thai Banks and whether these visuals can outperform the table of numbers in representing financial accounting data. Convenient samples were used and the data were collected with self-assessed questionnaires from 109 users with minimum prior experiences with financial analyses. The results from descriptive statistics indicates that despite having over 80% of respondents with little prior experience in analyzing financial performance of banking industry, the majority of them were able to correctly make prediction (96.4%), identify trend (82.6%) and compare banks' performance (70.6%). Their attitudes and perception towards Bank-AR visuals were above average. Although the overall usability score is average (53%), the respondents rated the Bank-AR visuals to be highly useful and had high intention to use them in the future.

• Journal of Information Technology Applications and Management
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.65-81
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• 2015

This study reports a preliminary finding of the types and numbers of graphs being presented in the annual reports of about thirty top listed companies trading publicly in the stock markets of three countries-Thailand (SET), Malaysia (BM), and Singapore (SGX)-that were chosen based on their inclusion in the ASEAN Stars Index under the ASEAN Trading Link project. A total of 6,753 graphs from nineteen sectors were extracted and examined. Banking, real estate, and telecommunications are ranked the three most condense sectors, accounting for 50.2% of the total number of graphs observed. The three most used graphs are the Conservative Bar, Donut graph and Stack Bar. Less than one percent of Infographic type graphs were used. The five most depicted graphed variables are Asset, Revenue, Net profit, Liability, and Dividend. Using rudimentary framework to detect distorted or misleading statistical graphs, the study found 60.6% of the graphs distorted across the three markets, SET, BM, and SGX. BM ranked first in percentages of graphs being distortedly presented (73%). The other two markets, SET and SGX, have about the same proportions, 53.88% and 53.03%, respectively. Likewise, the proportions of Well-designed versus Inappropriate-designed graphs of the latter two markets are a little over one time (SET = 1 : 1.17; SGX = 1 : 1.13), whereas the proportion is almost triple for the BM market (BM = 1 : 2.70). In addition, the trend of distorted graphs found is slightly increasing as the longevity of the ASEAN Stars Index increases. One possible explanation for the relatively equal proportion of inappropriate graphs found is that SET is the smallest market and SGX, though the largest, is the most regulated market. BM, on the other hand, may want to present their financial data in the most attractive manner to prospective investors, thus, regulatory constraints and governance structure are still lenient.