Ester Ferrari - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Ester Ferrari
New technologies have a potential to contribute to achieving significant economic, social and env... more New technologies have a potential to contribute to achieving significant economic, social and environmental benefits in agriculture sector. However, the adoption of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have encountered some difficulties among farmers. This paper reports investigations on the adoption of ICT in agriculture among Italian tractors users and explores their opinions on technologies applied to agricultural tractors. A survey was conducted during the International Exhibition of Agricultural Machinery (EIMA). The results show that, while economic benefit is recognized as the primary reason to adopt new agricultural technologies, other attitudes play roles in the adoption decision of the tractor users.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
In the last decade mechanized cut-to-length (CTL) forest harvesting has increased significantly a... more In the last decade mechanized cut-to-length (CTL) forest harvesting has increased significantly as a consequence of the need to address productivity, safety, environmental, and cost issues. However, the speed of its advancement varies depending on the country. In Italy, while the number of CTL machines is increasing, the majority of operators is still pondering whether they should acquire the new technology or stick to the old one. The objective of this study was to determine the attitudes of Italian loggers towards CTL technology, investigating their opinions and pinpointing real or perceived obstacles to its expansion. A survey was conducted during the 2011 edition of FORLENER forest machinery fair in Biella (Italy), one of the most popular events for forest mechanization in Italy. 90 Italian loggers filled out a questionnaire after interacting with a forwarder portable machine simulator. A sample of 44 valid questionnaires was selected to be included in this study analysis (only ...
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Journal of Pest Science
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
International Journal of Human-Computer Studies
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
RO-MAN 2007 - The 16th IEEE International Symposium on Robot and Human Interactive Communication, 2007
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Advanced Robotics, 2009
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Interaction Studies, 2012
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Advanced Robotics, 2009
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health, 2013
Workspace characteristics affect the perceived comfort level of the operator and uncomfortable wo... more Workspace characteristics affect the perceived comfort level of the operator and uncomfortable working conditions have been found to have a negative impact on productivity and safety. The comfort of the operator is increasingly recognized by manufacturers as a product's added value. Comfort can positively distinguish a product and increase its competitiveness. The concept of comfort is controversial, and a clear operational definition is missing. Nevertheless, it is widely accepted that comfort is a subjective phenomenon that can be evaluated by the final users. In this study, comfort aspects of the tractor workspace interior (i.e., the cab) were investigated. Users with various levels of expertise and two medium-power utility tractors of different brands were used in a 2 x 2 mixed-factorial experimental design. Participants were involved in a dynamic assessment of the cabs, and their opinions about the different workspaces were collected through a questionnaire. Additionally, objective measurements were taken on both tractors, and subjective data were compared with objective data. Results indicate significant differences in terms of the ease of locating and operating the controls (i.e., rear-mounted three-point linkage, hydraulic system, and power take-off), the ease of starting the tractor, the ease exiting the cab, the required level of concentration in executing the tasks, the adequacy of lateral visibility from the driving station, and the level of noise at the operator's position. This article provides guidance for improving the comfort of tractor workspace interiors. Agricultural machinery manufactures would benefit from research results, differentiating themselves from competitors.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Robot and Human …, 2008
Page 1. Abstract This paper describes the user-centred development of play scenarios for robot a... more Page 1. Abstract This paper describes the user-centred development of play scenarios for robot assisted play, as part of the IROMEC project that develops a novel robotictoy for children with special needs. The project investigates ...
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Latest advancements in tractors engineering have allowed farmers to increase productivity, and si... more Latest advancements in tractors engineering have allowed farmers to increase productivity, and simultaneously to reduce operator’s hazards. However, little attention has been given to farmers’ behaviour and attitude toward the adoption of technological innovations concerning agricultural tractors. The study explores farmers’ behaviours on agricultural tractors current and future technological trajectories. A main case study concerning Italy is analyzed. Results show three different behaviours of farmers concerning tractors’ technological innovations. These adopters’ profiles would help developing new technologies that satisfy, more and more, farmers’ needs and expectations, speeding up the adoption process, enhancing agricultural tractors’ efficacy and efficiency.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
New technologies have a potential to contribute to achieving significant economic, social and env... more New technologies have a potential to contribute to achieving significant economic, social and environmental benefits in agriculture sector. However, the adoption of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have encountered some difficulties among farmers. This paper reports investigations on the adoption of ICT in agriculture among Italian tractors users and explores their opinions on technologies applied to agricultural tractors. A survey was conducted during the International Exhibition of Agricultural Machinery (EIMA). The results show that, while economic benefit is recognized as the primary reason to adopt new agricultural technologies, other attitudes play roles in the adoption decision of the tractor users.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
In the last decade mechanized cut-to-length (CTL) forest harvesting has increased significantly a... more In the last decade mechanized cut-to-length (CTL) forest harvesting has increased significantly as a consequence of the need to address productivity, safety, environmental, and cost issues. However, the speed of its advancement varies depending on the country. In Italy, while the number of CTL machines is increasing, the majority of operators is still pondering whether they should acquire the new technology or stick to the old one. The objective of this study was to determine the attitudes of Italian loggers towards CTL technology, investigating their opinions and pinpointing real or perceived obstacles to its expansion. A survey was conducted during the 2011 edition of FORLENER forest machinery fair in Biella (Italy), one of the most popular events for forest mechanization in Italy. 90 Italian loggers filled out a questionnaire after interacting with a forwarder portable machine simulator. A sample of 44 valid questionnaires was selected to be included in this study analysis (only ...
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Journal of Pest Science
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
International Journal of Human-Computer Studies
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
RO-MAN 2007 - The 16th IEEE International Symposium on Robot and Human Interactive Communication, 2007
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Advanced Robotics, 2009
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Interaction Studies, 2012
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Advanced Robotics, 2009
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health, 2013
Workspace characteristics affect the perceived comfort level of the operator and uncomfortable wo... more Workspace characteristics affect the perceived comfort level of the operator and uncomfortable working conditions have been found to have a negative impact on productivity and safety. The comfort of the operator is increasingly recognized by manufacturers as a product's added value. Comfort can positively distinguish a product and increase its competitiveness. The concept of comfort is controversial, and a clear operational definition is missing. Nevertheless, it is widely accepted that comfort is a subjective phenomenon that can be evaluated by the final users. In this study, comfort aspects of the tractor workspace interior (i.e., the cab) were investigated. Users with various levels of expertise and two medium-power utility tractors of different brands were used in a 2 x 2 mixed-factorial experimental design. Participants were involved in a dynamic assessment of the cabs, and their opinions about the different workspaces were collected through a questionnaire. Additionally, objective measurements were taken on both tractors, and subjective data were compared with objective data. Results indicate significant differences in terms of the ease of locating and operating the controls (i.e., rear-mounted three-point linkage, hydraulic system, and power take-off), the ease of starting the tractor, the ease exiting the cab, the required level of concentration in executing the tasks, the adequacy of lateral visibility from the driving station, and the level of noise at the operator's position. This article provides guidance for improving the comfort of tractor workspace interiors. Agricultural machinery manufactures would benefit from research results, differentiating themselves from competitors.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Robot and Human …, 2008
Page 1. Abstract This paper describes the user-centred development of play scenarios for robot a... more Page 1. Abstract This paper describes the user-centred development of play scenarios for robot assisted play, as part of the IROMEC project that develops a novel robotictoy for children with special needs. The project investigates ...
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Latest advancements in tractors engineering have allowed farmers to increase productivity, and si... more Latest advancements in tractors engineering have allowed farmers to increase productivity, and simultaneously to reduce operator’s hazards. However, little attention has been given to farmers’ behaviour and attitude toward the adoption of technological innovations concerning agricultural tractors. The study explores farmers’ behaviours on agricultural tractors current and future technological trajectories. A main case study concerning Italy is analyzed. Results show three different behaviours of farmers concerning tractors’ technological innovations. These adopters’ profiles would help developing new technologies that satisfy, more and more, farmers’ needs and expectations, speeding up the adoption process, enhancing agricultural tractors’ efficacy and efficiency.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact