Telecentres Access And Development

Based on field research carried out in 2003, reviews the situation in selected urban and rural communities regarding availability of information and communication technologies (ICT) such as phone shops, Internet cafés, and telecentres providing photocopying, computer typesetting, faxing, computer training or related services. Presents recommendations for policymakers, donor agencies, NGOs and others that may wish to support shared ICT-access centres and their developmental impact.

Juxtaposes the global discourse on ICT-D with in-depth case studies on the pattern of access and use of telecentres to draw implications for the possible development trajectories induced by the provision of ICTs in rural hinterlands of India.

Volume 3 documents the processes used, and institutions created, to bring computers and connectivity into schools, as a means of enhancing the use and integration of ICTs in teaching and learning. A range of project, administrative, and cultural settings are explored as are a wide variety of technical solutions. The results, observations, and conclusions presented in this book will be useful for policy- and decision-makers in education and ICTs. The book will also be useful for teachers, researchers, and development practitioners and professionals with interests or active programs in the area of "ICT for development." Information technology professionals looking to service the potential education market will also find this book valuable.

Public venues are vital to information access across the globe, yet few formal studies exist of the complex ways people in developing countries use information technologies in public access places.Libraries, Telecentres, Cybercafes and Public Access to ICT: International Comparisons presents groundbreaking research on the new challenges and opportunities faced by public libraries, community telecentres, and cybercafés that offer public access to computers and other information and communication technologies. Written in plain language, the book presents an in-depth analysis of the spaces that serve underserved populations, bridge "digital divides," and further social and economic development objectives, including employability. With examples and experiences from around the world, this book sheds light on a surprising and understudied facet of the digital revolution at a time when effective digital inclusion strategies are needed more than ever.

Assessing Community Telecentres

As the world becomes digitalized, developing countries are starting to see an increase in technological advancements being integrated into their society. These advancements are creating opportunities to improve both the economy and the lives of people within these areas. Affordability Issues Surrounding the Use of ICT for Development and Poverty Reduction is a relevant scholarly publication that examines the importance of information and communications technology (ICT) and its ability to aid in developing countries and the methods to make such technologies more accessible and cost less. Featuring coverage on a wide range of topics, including community networks, infrastructure sharing, and the digital divide, this book is geared toward academics, technology developers, researchers, students, practitioners, and professionals interested in the importance of understanding technological innovations.

Inspired by the vision and framework outlined in Christopher Alexander's classic 1977 book, A Pattern Language, Schuler presents a pattern language containing 136 patterns designed to meet these challenges. Using this approach, Schuler proposes a new model of social change that integrates theory and practice by showing how information and communication (whether face-to-face, broadcast, or Internet-based) can be used to address urgent social and environmental problems collaboratively. Each of the patterns that form the pattern language (which was developed collaboratively with nearly 100 contributors) is presented consistently; each describes a problem and its context, a discussion, and a solution. The pattern language begins with the most general patterns ("Theory") and proceeds to the most specific ("Tactics"). Each pattern is a template for research as well as action and is linked to other patterns, thus forming a single coherent whole.

Critiques global mediascape through feminist perspectives, highlighting concerns of policy, power, labor, and technology. Starting with the state of international communications, this work covers cases on online news, pornography, democracy, policies for women's development, violence against women, information workers, print media and telecentres.