the development of digital technologies and their popularity in e-commerce is undeniable. However, consumers need to have a certain level of digital skills. The main aim of the paper was to examine and evaluate the development of consumers’ digital skills in the European Union and to identify the potential significant impact on online shopping. The EU countries studied experienced an increasing trend in both internet users and online consumers over the period under review, with Romania and Estonia experiencing the most significant year-on-year increases in internet users and online consumers respectively. The trend of consumers with digital skills was volatile and in some EU countries it was decreasing year-on-year. When comparing the share of online consumers and the share of consumers with digital skills, it was not possible to generalize the results as in some countries the values were at comparable levels, but in selected countries the share of consumers with digital skills was higher than the share of online consumers and in other countries the opposite was true. The results showed the existence of a significant impact of the level of digital skills on online shopping and also of the use of the internet for online shopping. The results obtained can provide a basis for online retailers to promote the increase of consumers’ digital skills, which will ultimately lead to the growth of e-commerce.

Color visually communicates the product’s flavors to consumers and further influences their taste perception. This study explores the perceived taste of tea beverages caused by the logo’s principal colors, using hand-shaken tea beverages in Taiwan as an example. To identify the linkage between the logo color and tea tastes, this study divides the taste of tea beverages into four categories: sweetness, freshness, bitterness, and astringency. Then, the 69 tea beverage logos are allocated into the 14 color sections in the CIELAB color space according to their primary colors. The Correspondence Analysis method is employed to visualize the relationships between the logos and the perceived tastes. The tea tastes are then mapped into the color sections in the CIELAB color space. The analysis results reveal that the sweetness links to logos in the Warm Scheme colors (hue angle from 0 to 59 degrees). The fresh taste is bound with the logo with the Cool White Scheme colors (hue angle from 90 to 149 degrees and brightness >80). Finally, the bitter and astringent tastes link to the logo colors in the Cold Black Scheme colors (hue angle from 60 to 89 degrees, 150 to 329 degrees, and brightness <25). This study expands the color and taste association literature from general food to tea beverages. Our obtained empirical results can be applied to hand-shaken beverage companies to select principal colors for designing logos and packages that align with tea beverages’ perceived tastes to convey brand recognition accurately.

This study aims to explore the feasibility of using virtual reality technology to educate students with learning difficulties in the Asir region. To achieve the study aims, the researcher employed a descriptive design and deployed a quantitative technique, depending on the questionnaire as the main instrument for data collection. The research was carried out on a cohort of 240 educators hailing from the Asir region who were enlisted through a process of random sampling. The results of this study show that factors like infrastructure, human resources, administrative regulation, and student population have an impact on the use of virtual reality technology. The results suggest that there are no statistically significant differences in the development of using virtual reality technology among teachers of students with learning disabilities in the Asir region when taking into account factors such as experience and level of qualification.

Sustainability is a top priority for municipal administrations, particularly in large urban centers where citizens rely on transportation for work, study, and daily errands. Public transportation faces a significant challenge beyond availability, performance, safety, and comfort: balancing the cost for the city with fare attractiveness for passengers. Meanwhile, bicycles, supported by public incentives due to their clean and healthy appeal, compete with public transit. In Curitiba, the integrated transport system has been consistently losing passengers, exacerbated by the pandemic and the rise in private vehicle usage. To address this, the city is expanding bicycle infrastructure and electric bike rental services, impacting public transit revenue, and prompting the need for financial compensation to maintain affordable fares for those reliant on public transport. Therefore, this study’s objective is to analyze the bicycle’s impact on public transportation, considering the impact of public policies on economic and social efficiency, not just ecological and environmental factors. Data from six main bus lines were collected and analyzed in two separate linear regression models to verify the effects of new bicycles in circulation, bus tariffs, and weather conditions on public transportation demand. Research results revealed a significant impact of bus tariffs and fuel prices on the number of new bicycles that are diverting passengers from public transportation. The discussion may offer a different perspective on public transport policies and improve city infrastructure investments to strategically change the urban form to address social and economic issues.

This research aims to determine and analyze the extent of the influence of community empowerment and sustainability-oriented innovation on sustainable performance through coworking spaces in the city of Bandung. To achieve the research objectives, a deductive approach is employed, intending to test a hypothesis to strengthen or reject existing hypotheses. Therefore, this research is also categorized as explanatory research. The research method used is the survey research method. The research sample is determined based on proportional stratified random sampling. This study focuses on business groups in coworking spaces in the 28 districts of Bandung City, with a total of 408 business operators. The sample selected consists of 208 business operators. Based on the research results, several conclusions are drawn, as follows: (1) Community empowerment has a significantly positive influence on sustainability performance, with a contribution of 84.5%; (2) Sustainability-oriented innovation has a significantly positive influence on sustainability performance, with a contribution of 69.2%; (3) Community empowerment has a significantly positive influence on Coworking Space, with a contribution of 93.6%; (4) Sustainability-oriented innovation has a significantly positive influence on Coworking Space, with a contribution of 36%; (5) Community empowerment has a significantly positive influence on sustainability-oriented innovation, with a contribution of 90.6%; (6) Coworking Space has a significantly positive influence on sustainability performance, with a contribution of 34%; (7) Community empowerment has a significantly positive influence on sustainability performance through Coworking Space, with a contribution of 20.7%; and (8) Sustainability oriented innovation has a significantly positive influence on sustainability performance through Coworking Space, with a contribution of 12.2%.

This study aims to underscore the relevance of pre-existing resilience experiences within communities affected by socio-political violence in Colombia, particularly in the context of developing effective risk management practices and enriching the CBDM model. This research employs a qualitative design, incorporating a multiple case study approach, which integrates a comprehensive literature review, in-depth interviews, and focus groups conducted in two Colombian communities, namely Salgar and La Primavera. The community of La Primavera effectively harnessed community empowerment and social support practices to confront socio-political violence, which evolved into a form of social capital that could be leveraged to address disaster risks. Conversely, in Salgar, individual and familial coping strategies took precedence. It is concluded that bolstering citizen participation in disaster risk management in both communities and governmental support for community projects aimed at reducing vulnerability is imperative. This study reveals that capabilities developed through coping with the humanitarian consequences of armed conflict, such as community empowerment and practices of solidarity and social support, can enhance community resilience in the face of disasters.