
Carlos Alves
Carlos Manuel Ferreira Alves, born on the 25th of June in Braga, is currently a PhD researcher in Informatics at…
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Knowledge Discovery from Urban Mobility Data in Guimarães
Urban mobility has been a challenge for policymakers in several cities, including Guimarães. This scenario is the result of population growth and the increasing number of vehicles per person, making it imperative to adapt urban planning to this expansion. This study aimed to examine urban mobility in Guimarães, considering factors such as the time of day, temperature and whether it is a working day. The results indicated that the flow of pedestrians is lower than that of cars, with considerable differences. The number of pedestrians and cars was also quite different under different conditions, such as seasonality, time of day, type of day and type of avenue. The final contribution of this study, based on the analysis of mobility on each avenue and its profiles, demonstrated not only the usefulness of the results for optimising the resources of municipal authorities, but also made it possible to identify the territorial conditions and characteristics that promote more sustainable mobility.
The Emotional and Empathic Dimension of Augmented Reality in E-Commerce: A Theoretical Framework for Purchase Intention
Augmented Reality (AR) is transforming e-commerce, offering immersive experiences that transcend the simple visualisation of products. However, understanding the impact of the emotional and empathetic dimensions created by such experiences on consumer purchase intent remains limited. This article proposes an innovative theoretical framework that integrates emotional constructs (valence and activation), perceived empathy (influenced by mirror mechanisms simulated in AR), user experience factors (interaction time, sensory salience, cognitive load) and perceived usefulness to model user engagement (UE) and, subsequently, purchase intention (PI) in AR-enriched e-commerce environments. The model is based on a review of recent literature (with the majority of articles between 2020-2025) on AR in e-commerce, the psychology of emotions, neurodesign and consumer behaviour, using open-access articles indexed in Scopus and Web of Science. We present specific mathematical functions to quantify EU and PI, the latter modelled using a logistic function. The proposed framework aims to offer a deeper understanding of how AR can be designed to evoke positive emotional and empathic responses, optimising engagement and enhancing the purchasing decision. The theoretical and practical implications for researchers and marketers are discussed, as well as directions for future empirical research to validate and refine the proposed model, contributing to the advancement of knowledge at the intersection of technology, psychology and marketing in the context of e-commerce.
La computación espacial como motor de innovación en marketing y comercio
Spatial computing emerges as a technological convergence that significantly transforms both marketing and commerce. This study examines this phenomenon through a systematic theoretical review complemented by the analysis of five representative cases, covering diverse sectors such as retail, cosmetics, e-commerce, construction, and agri-food. Through technologies like augmented reality, mixed reality, and advanced geolocation systems, organizations develop immersive, personalized, and contextualized experiences in real environments. The results identify consistent emerging trends: real-time contextual personalization, visualization as a trust-generating mechanism, and the extension of storytelling into physical spaces. Simultaneously, technical, ethical, and evaluative challenges are evident, requiring rethinking of traditional paradigms. The study concludes that spatial computing not only provides competitive advantages but fundamentally redefines the relationship between consumer and brand. This research offers practical implications for innovation management and proposes future research directions aimed at evaluating the experiential and symbolic impact of these technologies in various commercial contexts.
Impacts of Augmented Reality in E-commerce: Advances and Trends in 2024—A Literature Review
This literature review explores recent advancements in the application of augmented reality (AR) within e-commerce, with a specific focus on consumer behavior and technological integration in 2024. AR has emerged as a transformative technology, enabling immersive shopping experiences that allow consumers to virtually interact with products, enhancing their decision-making process. The review analyzed 11 studies published in 2024, highlighting key trends such as the personalization of recommendations through the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), the impact of sensory perceptions on impulsive buying, and the barriers to AR adoption in developing markets. The methodology followed a systematic approach, with articles sourced exclusively from the SCOPUS database and filtered by relevance based on keywords and open-access criteria. The results indicate that AR positively influences purchase intentions boosting consumer confidence through enhanced visual and interactive experiences. However, challenges remain in terms of usability, accessibility, and the need for simplified interfaces to broaden adoption. Furthermore, the studies point to the potential of combining AR with AI to analyze consumer emotions and dynamically tailor experiences based on real-time emotional responses. This review concludes that although AR has the potential to revolutionize e-commerce, further research is needed to address the long-term impact of AR on consumer behavior, explore its adoption in diverse geographical contexts, and develop more intuitive and accessible AR solutions. Investigating the role of AI in emotion analysis and the personalization of AR experiences also presents a promising area for future research.
Keywords
Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Personalized E-Commerce Strategies in International Business Expansion
Artificial Intelligence is reshaping personalized e-commerce and global growth, blending machine learning, predictive analytics, and newer models like LLMs and LAMs is turning shopping into an experience that feels culturally tuned - opening fresh international paths along the way. Studies show ultra-local personalization can boost engagement by 28–42% and reduce market entry timelines by 40–60%. Yet, this advancement brings ethical and operational challenges that differ by region. Based on extensive literature, this work proposes practical - if sometimes messy - frameworks addressing technical, ethical, economic, and legal aspects. Leading brands report NPS increases of 18–35% and internationalization cost cuts of 22–37%. More than automation, AI emerges as a strategic tool, especially when guided by human insight and cultural awareness. Success hinges on balancing global ambitions with local relevance, where AI acts both as a growth driver and a cultural bridge.







