Title: Background Paper for Identifying the Best Practice of ICT Implementations in Asia and the Pacific
Pages: 36 pp.
Publisher: UNESCAP
Date (published): 16/10/2009
Date (accessed): 10/12/2009
Type of information: research paper
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
This 36-page paper describes and assesses major and strategic information and communication technology (ICT) projects that have been undertaken in Asia and the Pacific with a view to expanding ICT access. It emerges from an October 19-20 2009 meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, organised by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)'s Information and Communications Technology and Disaster Risk Reduction Division (IDD). The "Sub-regional Workshop on Strengthening ICT Policies and Applications to Achieve MDGs and WSIS goals in South-East Asia and the Pacific" presented the findings of the in-depth research and analysis on the current status of ICT access in the region and examined policy options at the national level, taking into account new and emerging technologies.

The paper is a desk study and literature review of ICT projects in Asia and the Pacific based on project reports, annual reports, research papers, and case studies, with a focus on materials published from 2004 through to July 2009. The specific emphasis is on ICT connectivity as a foundation of an inclusive information society.

Recognising the digital divide as a criterion to measure the level of a country's readiness to take advantages of ICT for socio-economic development, a core section of the document examines ICT penetration in this region, using data from 2003 and 2008; the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) is applied in each category for the 5-year period.

See also:
Sub-regional Workshop on Strengthening ICT Policies and Applications to Achieve MDGs and WSIS Goals in South-East Asia and the Pacific, 19-20 October 2009, Bangkok
presentations, documents, programme

Title: “Him and Her” - Gender differentials in ICT uptake: A critical literature review and research agenda
Author Editor: Ruth Nsibirano
ISSN: 1814-0556
Source: International Journal of Education and Development using ICT, Vol. 5, No. 5 (2009)
Publisher: International Journal of Education and Development using Information and Communication Technology
Date (published): 24/10/2009
Date (accessed): 07/12/2009
Type of information: peer-reviewed article
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
Observed gender differences in the use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) constitute a form of digital divide. Differences between male and female ICT users are of increasing interest world wide as the digital divide evolves. This gendered digital divide is more prominent in the developing world and Africa provides a very obvious illustration. The result is an inequitable distribution of benefits that come with the use of ICT. The objective of this paper is to review literature on the gendered digital divide. This paper draws on arguments advanced in feminist standpoint theory and gender symbolism to consider how gender symbolism contributes to a better understanding of differences in ICT use in University education. This includes how understandings and experiences of ICT, influence the decision to use / not use ICT.

Title: First Experiences with OLPC in European Classrooms
Authors: Martin Ebner, Johannes Dorfinger, Walther Neuper, Christian Safran
Pages: 9 pp.
Source: E-Learn - World Conference on E-Learning in Corporate, Government, Healthcare, & Higher Education ; 2009
Date (published): 03/10/2009
Date (accessed): 03/12/2009
Type of information: research paper
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
The use of laptops in educational settings is discussed by lots of e-Learning researchers for years now. Since 2002 the One Laptop Per Child project (OLPC-project) tries to bring digital devices to developing countries avoiding the increase of the digital gap. Austria has been one of the first countries in the European Union (EU) to start an OLPC-project on its own. The focus was on the use of digital devices in education at a very early stage. Accompanied by a solid research team, bringing teachers, e-learning experts as well as software developer together, a first attempt was established. This publication aims to carry out the description of the prework, the first real life setting and concludes with the experiences of the whole research group. Furthermore it summarizes a recommendation for a transfer of the project to developing countries.
Keyords: OLPC, XO, classroom, e-learning, digital literacy, digital device, children

Title: Clearing m-health hurdles
Author: Lezette Engelbrecht
Source: ITWeb
Publisher: ITWeb Limited
Date (published): 18/11/2009
Date (accessed): 23/11/2009
Type of information: article
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
Language, cost and infrastructure challenges prevent mobile health technologies from being accessible to all.
The demand for ICT-assisted healthcare solutions like mobile health (m-health) is growing exponentially in developing countries due to the lack of suitably qualified doctors and specialists, says Yashik Singh, lecturer at the University of KwaZulu-Natal's department of tele-health.

Singh adds, however, that there are limitations to what m-health can do. “Like with all technology there are drawbacks. The prerequisite of the use of m-health applications by patients themselves is that they will be required to understand basic health information, medication, nutrition, and treatment regime to manage their disease.

“M-health may contribute to the patient gaining this knowledge, but in the short-term patients with low health literacy will not benefit as much.”
(via http://twitter.com/ICT_Works)

Title: Indigenous Communications Program
Source: Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Australian Government
Date (published): 10/09/2009 (last modified)
Date (accessed): 11/11/2009
Type of information: government documents
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML and numerous pdfs)
Abstract:
The Indigenous Communications Program is a $30 million initiative to help improve communications services in remote Indigenous communities...will provide essential telephone services, basic public internet access facilities and computer training for many remote Indigenous communities. The program is part of the Australian Government's response package to the Regional Telecommunications Review.

Over four years commencing in 2009-10, the Indigenous Communications Program will deliver:

* a fixed or mobile satellite community telephone to around 300 remote Indigenous communities that do not currently have access to a public telephone;
* ongoing monitoring and maintenance of around 550 Indigenous community telephones, comprising around 300 new phones and 250 existing phones; and
* in collaboration with state and territory governments, expanded public internet access and delivery of computer training in up to 120 remote Indigenous communities that have limited or no public access internet facilities.

Title: Public Internet Access Points: impact vs. sustainability
Author: Ismael Peña-López
Source: ICTlogy
Date (published): 25/10/2009
Date (accessed): 28/10/2009
Type of information: blog post
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
"Let’s imagine there are only two kinds of Public Internet Access Points, that is, a place, different to your house or your work where you can connect to the Internet:

* A library, a civic centre, or an ad hoc place equipped with computers and connection to the Internet; access and usage is free...Let’s call them telecentre.
* The other kind is similar to the previous one but it is not free... Let’s call them cybercafé.
...
If things were that binary, telecentres would be having an impact on people’s lives while cybercafés wouldn’t; on the other hand, cybercafés would be economically sustainable (self-sustainable) while telecentres would not."

Title: Consultation on financing ICT for development
Publisher: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
Date (published): 12/10/2009
Date (accessed): 26/10/2009
Type of information: press release
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
The United Nations Group on the Information Society held the first-ever Open Consultations on Meeting the Challenges of Financing ICT for Development. Financing ICT is important in order to bridge the digital divide and for developing countries to connect to the global economy.

See also:
Open Consultations on Financial Mechanisms: Meeting the Challenges of ICT for Development (8-9 October, Palexpo, Geneva, Switzerland)

Title: Information Economy Report 2009
Pages: 153 pp.
ISBN: 978-92-1-112778-2
ISSN: 2075-4396
Source: unctad.org
Publisher: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
Date (published): 22/10/2009
Date (accessed): 25/10/2009
Type of information: report
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML and pdf)
Abstract:
The Information Economy Report 2009: Trends and Outlook in Turbulent Times is the fourth in a series published by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The report is one of the few publications to monitor global trends in information and communication technologies (ICTs) as they affect developing countries. It serves as a valuable reference for policymakers in those nations. It gives special attention to the impact of the global financial crisis on ICTs.

Contents:

* Global and regional trends in the diffusion of ICTs such as fixed and mobile telecommunications, Internet, and broadband
* Ranking of the most dynamic economies in terms of increased ICT connectivity between 2003 and 2008
* Monitoring of the “digital divide”
* Survey of national statistical offices on the use of ICT in the business sector
* A review of the changing patterns in the trade of ICT goods
* A mapping of the new geography in the offshoring of IT and ICT-enabled services.
* Policy recommendations on how developing countries can reap greater benefits from ICT
* A statistical annex with global ICT data.

Title: LAN Houses: A new wave of digital inclusion in Brazil
Authors: Ronaldo Lemos and Paula Martini
Source: Publius Project
Publisher: Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University
Date (published): 21/09/2009
Date (accessed): 24/09/2009
Type of information: essay
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
The majority of Brazilians who access the Internet today do so through lan-houses. LAN stands for “Local Area Network”, i.e, computers assembled together to allow people to play multi-player games. Popular in Asia, in places like Korea, and previously existing only in the rich neighborhoods of Brazil, they have now become a phenomenon proliferating in poor communities, especially the favelas.

Title: The Gender Digital Divide in Rural Pakistan - To Measure and to Bridge it
Source: Sustainable Development Policy Institute, Islamabad
Date (accessed): 27/08/2009
Type of information: series of research papers
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML, PDF)
Abstract:
The importance of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to economic development has been recognized widely during the last decade. The development promises made by the significant growth of ICTs are challenged by the so-called digital divide. The ‘digital divide’ refers to the drastic differences in levels of ICT access between different population groups. While in Pakistan during the past years, the number of mobile phone users and computer applications has been tremendously increased, rural areas are significantly underserved. A significant but largely invisible aspect of the digital divide is the gap in access to and use of ICTs between women and men, girls and boys. For Pakistan, the assessment for gender-specific ICT use and its impact on development has yet to be made.The specific objectives of the project are to measure the extent of the gender digital divide in rural Pakistan, to raise awareness about the issue and to draw lessons for appropriate technology and governance conducive for improved access of women and girls to ICTs. The research techniques include gender specific FGD’s, structured questionnaires and key informant interviews. Dissemination of the research is an important focus and will be done through a seminar series, academic presentations, trainings, policy briefs, newspaper articles etc.