Approaches to the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Movement

Abstract

The evolution of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) applications for development has been diverse and dynamic over the few years that ICT has been available in most developing countries. Progress has been pronounced in Asia with substantial levels of international support, and in numerous other countries of developing regions and sub-regions. These applications benefit considerably from partnerships, not only with public agencies but also with non-governmental organizations, the international community and increasingly the private sector.

The greatest problem encountered by application developers and users in developing countries is limited availability and high costs of access to the Internet, particularly in smaller, disadvantaged and rural communities. It is rather universal access to basic Internet services which is the first step in narrowing the digital divide.

Information provides short cuts to the rural community development. ICT stands out as the best potential mode to deliver information between communities. Proposed Multipurpose Community Telecenters (MCT) and Community Multimedia Centers (CMCs) will be new approaches to fill the vacuum, linking ICT with the techniques of social mobilisation. MCTs can offer basic telecommunication and public service activities, and CMCs provide access to radio and television production.. MCT/CMC will offer rural communities with the access points to the ICT. Trained local people as Human Interfaces can work as Social Mobilisers linking the access points (MCTs/CMCs) with rural community breaking the barriers of technical skills and language.

It must be stressed that a fundamental criterion for (and determinant of the success of) a community telecentre project is the participation and co-operation of a wide range of local organizations. These organisers should also be involved in establishing the facility and in developing "content" and applications.

Biography

Dr. Susanne Ornager
United Nations Eductional, Scientific and Cultural Organization,
UNESCO, New Delhi, India.
Email: s.ornager@unesco.org

Education:

Ph.D. Data Linguistic, Copenhagen Business School (1999). University degrees in Computer Science (1984) and in Theory of Science (1982). MLSc, Royal School of Library & Information Science (1977) and B.A. Archaeology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark (1973).

Working activities:

Speaker at several international conferences in Asia, Pacific, Europe and United States on development and use of online information systems, image retrieval, user needs assessments, marketing etc.

Adviser for Communication and Information in Asia & the Pacific in UNESCO New Delhi, India. Professor, Head of Department for Knowledge Organization, the Royal College of Librarianship, Copenhagen, Denmark. Chief Librarian, the Academic Library of the Royal College of Librarianship and Lecturer at the same university.

For three years employed as an Associate Expert in Information Services and Systems in UNESCO's regional office in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Consultant work for different international organizations. Working places Europe, Asia and Africa. Areas of responsibility: System analysis and design; Establishment of computerized information services; and Training courses in computer software packages.

Research:

Main areas of research: Image storage and retrieval; Subject analysis and indexing; Thesaurus construction and use; marketing and user interfaces.

© 2003-2006 CIMAP| Last modified: 08/28/2006