Breaking News, Business, Financial and Economic News, World News from EconoTimes

Become a contributor

Bookmark Econotimes

Wed, Jul 22, 2026 12:05 AM All times are UTC

Follow Series

©Econometrics LLC . All Rights Reserved.

Brad McKenna

Lecturer in Information Systems, University of East Anglia
I joined Norwich Business School in March 2016. My research interests can be categorised by the relationships between information technology and people. I have always been interested in how and why people use technology, and how technological configurations impact the people that use them. I have been able to explore this with multiple research interest areas such as virtual worlds, social media, systems analysis, mobile services, and user requirements. This, and my other research interests, often lead me to interdisciplinary research areas, so I am keen to collaborate with other researchers across multiple disciplines.

I did my PhD at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. My PhD thesis was about virtual worlds and computer games. During my doctoral research, I investigated how social movements (users of virtual worlds) continue to use virtual worlds which are constantly evolving as designers implement changes to the system. As more social and business activities are taking place in virtual environments, this study has implications for both societal and organisational usage of virtual worlds. It also has implications for understanding how users of information systems are impacted when designers of a system impose new technological configurations.

I have published in Pacific Asia Journal of Information Systems, Journal of Business Research, Information and Management, Information and Organization, Asian Business and Management, Information Technology and Tourism, the Journal of Information Systems Education, and the International Journal of E-Services and Mobile Applications. I have worked with research collaborators in New Zealand, USA, Finland, the Netherlands, and the UK.

I am currently the Vice-Chair of IFIP Working Group 9.5 'Virtuality and Society'

Leave your phone at home this holiday and you'll feel better (after you feel worse)

Aug 15, 2019 17:48 pm UTC| Insights & Views

What did we do before smartphones? Our devices have become an essential tool for modern life, even when were on holiday. In fact, technology is revolutionising tourism. We navigate with Google Maps, we use TripAdvisor to...

Economy

Houthi Naval Blockade on Saudi Arabia Escalates Iran Conflict, Threatens Global Oil Supply

Yemens Iran-backed Houthi movement announced a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia on Monday, significantly escalating tensions in the Middle East and raising fresh concerns over global energy supplies, oil prices, and...

ASEAN Ministers Warn Middle East Conflict Threatens Regional Stability and Energy Security

The escalating Middle East conflict dominated discussions at the ASEAN foreign ministers meeting in Manila on Tuesday, as leaders warned that renewed fighting could threaten global energy supplies, fuel inflation, and...

Trump Set to Unveil New Tariffs on Dozens of Countries as Global 10% Duty Nears Expiration

U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to introduce a fresh round of tariffs on dozens of countries as early as this week, according to a report by the Financial Times. The move comes as the administrations temporary 10%...

US-Iran Conflict Escalates as Gulf Attacks Threaten Global Oil Supply

The conflict between the United States and Iran intensified overnight as U.S. forces launched fresh airstrikes across southern Iran following President Donald Trumps vow to retaliate for the deaths of American soldiers....

US Stock Futures Rise as AI Optimism Lifts Tech, 3M Jumps on Strong Earnings

U.S. stock futures moved higher on Tuesday, led by semiconductor and technology stocks, as investors looked ahead to a busy week of corporate earnings that could determine whether the artificial intelligence-driven rally...

Politics

US, China to Hold AI Talks Ahead of Xi’s September Visit

The United States and China are preparing to hold high-level artificial intelligence (AI) talks in September, marking the first official AI dialogue between the two countries under President Donald Trumps administration....

Israeli Airstrike Kills Family of Six in Gaza as Ceasefire Death Toll Mounts

An Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Tuesday killed a family of six after their home was struck and engulfed in flames, according to Palestinian health officials, highlighting the continued violence despite an October...

Trump-Aligned MAGA Inc Builds $400 Million War Chest Ahead of Midterm Elections

MAGA Inc, the super political action committee aligned with U.S. President Donald Trump, has accumulated more than $400 million as Republicans prepare for the November U.S. midterm elections, according to a new filing with...

Japan PM Sanae Takaichi Unveils Growth Plan as BOJ Independence Concerns Lift Bond Yields

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi unveiled her first economic policy blueprint on Tuesday, pledging to increase investment in strategic growth sectors while reaffirming cooperation with the Bank of Japan (BOJ)....

Civil Rights Groups Sue Trump Administration Over Childcare Funding Freeze and Influencer's Role

Civil rights organizations have filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trumps administration, challenging its attempt to restrict billions of dollars in federal childcare and family assistance funding while seeking...

Science

Blue Origin New Glenn Explosion Could Delay Launch Operations Until 2028

Blue Origin is facing a significant setback after a dramatic explosion involving its New Glenn rocket severely damaged a launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Florida. According to NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, repairs to the...

Blue Origin New Glenn Rocket Explodes During Launch Pad Test, Delaying Space Ambitions

Blue Origin suffered a major setback after its uncrewed New Glenn rocket exploded during a launch pad test in Florida on Thursday, raising new challenges for Jeff Bezos space company as it competes with Elon Musks SpaceX...

SpaceX Delays Starship V3 Launch Ahead of Potential Record IPO

SpaceX on Thursday postponed the highly anticipated launch of its 12th Starship rocket test from Texas after technical issues interrupted the final countdown. The company now plans to attempt the Starship V3 launch again...

Trump Administration Releases New UFO Files and Apollo Mission Records

The U.S. Defense Department has released dozens of previously classified UFO-related files following an order from President Donald Trump, sparking renewed debate over unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) and government...

China vs. NASA: The New Moon Race and What's at Stake by 2030

The space race is back and this time, its a direct competition between the United States and China for dominance on the lunar surface. NASAs Artemis II mission recently made history when four astronauts flew farther into...

Technology

Morgan Stanley Downgrades Adobe, Workday as AI Transition Raises Growth Concerns

Morgan Stanley adopted a mixed outlook on the software sector on Tuesday, turning bearish on Adobe (NASDAQ: ADBE) and Workday (NASDAQ: WDAY) while maintaining an overall positive view of the industry. The investment bank...

Judge Approves Anthropic’s $1.5 Billion AI Copyright Settlement With Authors

A federal judge in San Francisco has granted final approval to Anthropics landmark $1.5 billion copyright settlement, bringing a major chapter in the legal battle over AI training data and copyrighted books closer to an...

Nvidia Reveals 9.3% Stake in AI Cloud Firm Nebius Following $2 Billion Investment

Nvidia has disclosed that it holds a 9.3% stake in AI cloud infrastructure company Nebius, further strengthening its presence in the rapidly expanding artificial intelligence ecosystem. The disclosure follows Nvidias...

SpaceX Q2 Earnings on Aug. 4 Set Stage for Historic Insider Share Unlock

SpaceX (NASDAQ: SPCX) will report its second-quarter 2026 financial results after the market closes on August 4, marking its first earnings release since its record-breaking initial public offering. The company will also...

Samsung Cuts U.S. Consumer Electronics Jobs as Headquarters Moves to Texas

Samsung Electronics has reduced its workforce in the United States as it relocates the headquarters of its consumer electronics business from New Jersey to Texas, affecting hundreds of employees while maintaining that the...