Impact of Information Society Research in the Global South

doi:10.1007/978-981-287-381-1

“…We would like to nevertheless acknowledge that digital divide and digital access are influenced by much more that just physical access (Dodel 2015;Selwyn 2004) and therefore this study requires a follow-up into questions of usage, appropriation and outcomes in order to provide policy makers and planners with a more comprehensive understanding of how spatial, social and economic factors can be influencing digital divide at the intra-urban scale. Clarifications and notes on data Location Quotient (LQ) as applied in this study is explained below:…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A recent literature review of the field of digital divide studies has shown that the concept is often defined as access and use of ICT technologies, invoking as well factors that can influence its use, namely skills, access to technology, education, etc. More recent definitions also focus on digital divide as referring to the social stratification that results from the difference in access, and ability to produce new knowledge in the interaction with ICTs (Hanafizadeh et al 2013), or what Dodel (2015) refers to as the three stages of hierarchical digital achievements (access, usage and appropriation). Emerging ICT services in urban areas present a mix of opportunities and threat of exclusion of certain segments of the city and can function as an ''amplifier of other social and economic factors and processes'' (Hanafizadeh et al 2013: 47).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial analysis of urban digital divide in Kigali, Rwanda

Otioma

¹

,

Madureira

²

,

Martínez

³

2018

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Access to Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) and its potentials for cities are often uneven across geographies and demographics, a condition that has been referred to as the digital divide. Given the invisibility of digital access, certain geo-demographic groups could face the risk of digital exclusion. However, where not aspatial, most studies explore the digital divide at macro-spatial levels (national and regional levels), which makes them less relevant for knowledge generation and policies at intra-urban scales, the actual hubs of innovations. This paper explores the state of ICT access in Kigali City, at an intra-urban level. It analyses official census data on ICT Access Indicators across dimensions and space, 35 administrative areas called sectors. The paper establishes the relative digital access performance of the sectors based on the measurement of their ICT Location Quotients. In Kigali City spatial distribution of ICT access is significantly clustered, with areas of concentration at the core and sparsity on the northeastern periphery of the city. This espouses spatialitydigitality relations. Using data reduction, we establish that existing urban inequality in infrastructure, urban agglomerative strength, planning status and household socio-economic status are replicated as correlates of the digital divide in Kigali City. We recommend that the baseline spatial-statistical analysis be applied for spatially-targeted ICT policy interventions and that the dimension of ICT be incorporated in policy making targeting urban inequality.

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“…They are meant to stimulate consistent research undertakings in ICTs and socio-economic development growth in Ghana among researchers, students and practitioners in Ghana. Indeed, Ordóñez (2015) proposes a set of questions which need to be explored in ICT for development research, particularly, that which "focuses on finding policy options and understanding the factors that may affect them and successfully implement them" (p. 79). To ensure and enhance the value, relevance and utility of ICT research questions, findings and outputs for both policy and practice, Harris (2015) also suggests among other things interactions between researchers and stakeholders at various levels as well as sharing and publishing experiences of how research results have been used for policymaking and practice.…”

Section: Policy Initiativesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Harnessing ICTs for Development in Ghana: A Research Agenda

Kwame Boafo

2017

PBJ

0

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The revolutionary transformations, dispersion, and convergence of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the past few decades, especially since the 1990s, have generated radical changes in the methods of communication within countries and across international borders, in social interactions, and in doing business. The phenomenon has also had major impacts on the transmission and reception of news and information of diverse nature as well as on development processes, social, economic, political, and cultural change. Since the early 1990s, a considerable amount of attention has been devoted to the role and functions of ICTs in international, regional, and national discourses and conferences. The increasing prominence of ICTs in discourses on communication, socio-economic change, and development is also reflected in the increased number of research and publications on that topic in recent decades, particularly since the beginning of the 21st Century. It is in this context that the present paper examines the implications and applications of ICTs in socio-economic development process in Ghana. It briefly looks at the broad landscape of ICTs in Africa with a focus on Ghana. It highlights some initiatives in the ICT sector, including selected studies carried out on ICTs and their applications. The paper makes a case for more research to examine the contributions of ICT to Ghana’s socio-economic development, with a focus on ICT availability, accessibility and, utilization as a crucial and necessary enabler for development.

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“…They are meant to stimulate and encourage consistent and research undertakings on ICTs and socio-economic development and growth in Ghana among ICT for development researchers, students, and practitioners. Indeed, Ordóñez (2015) proposes a set of questions which need to be explored in ICT for development research, particularly research which "focuses on finding policy options and understanding the factors that may affect them and successfully implement them" (p. 79).To ensure and enhance the value, relevance, and utility of ICT research questions, findings and outputs for both policy and practice, Harris (2015) also suggests, among other things, interactions between researchers and stakeholders at various levels as well as sharing and publishing experiences of how research results have been used for policy-making and practice. Ultimately, the value and relevance of the research agenda proposed here reside in the extent to which it contributes to building a body of thought, knowledge, and understanding of the ICT landscape and produce empirical data for evidence-based policy reformulation or adjustments of policies, strategic actions, and practice to effectively harness ICTs for socio-economic development, growth, and well-being among the population of Ghana.…”

Section: Capacity Building Initiativesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Harnessing ICTs for Development in Ghana: A Research Agenda.

Kwame Boafo

2017

PBJ

0

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The revolutionary transformations, dispersion, and convergence of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the past few decades, especially since the 1990s, have generated radical changes in the methods of communication within countries and across international borders, in social interactions, and in doing business. The phenomenon has also had major impacts on the transmission and reception of news and information of diverse nature as well as on development processes, social, economic, political, and cultural change. Since the early 1990s, a considerable amount of attention has been devoted to the role and functions of ICTs in international, regional, and national discourses and conferences. The increasing prominence of ICTs in discourses on communication, socio-economic change, and development is also reflected in the increased number of research and publications on that topic in recent decades, particularly since the beginning of the 21st Century. It is in this context that the present paper examines the implications and applications of ICTs in socio-economic development process in Ghana. It briefly looks at the broad landscape of ICTs in Africa with a focus on Ghana. It highlights some initiatives in the ICT sector, including selected studies carried out on ICTs and their applications. The paper makes a case for more research to examine the contributions of ICT to Ghana’s socio-economic development, with a focus on ICT availability, accessibility and, utilization as a crucial and necessary enabler for development.

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Impact of Information Society Research in the Global South

Cited by 5 publications

References 173 publications

Spatial analysis of urban digital divide in Kigali, Rwanda

Spatial analysis of urban digital divide in Kigali, Rwanda

Harnessing ICTs for Development in Ghana: A Research Agenda

Harnessing ICTs for Development in Ghana: A Research Agenda.

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