This report includes the results of the research project ‘Exploratory study on explanations and theories of how telecentres and other community-based eInclusion actors operate and have an impact on digital and social inclusion policy goals’. This study was commissioned by IPTS to feed into a forthcoming...
The study assesses and describes the interplay between public PC-based Internet access and private mobile-based access for urban teenaged public access venue (PAV) users in Cape Town. South Africa is a particularly fruitful “leading edge” environment to do this work since not only mobile use, but...
The study assesses and describes the interplay between public PC-based Internet access and private mobile-based access for urban teenaged public access venue (PAV) users in Cape Town. South Africa is a particularly fruitful “leading edge” environment to do this work since not only mobile use, but...
Libraries are typically overlooked as partners in development. This despite the existence of 230,000 public libraries located in the developing world, and despite the widespread recognition that access to information plays an essential role in development. This report examines the question: what are...
Public access to information and communication technologies (ICTs) can play an important role in development. Communities benefit when people can access information and communicate with experts and people in their social networks to learn about health, jobs, education, leisure activities, or whatever...
Within the digital divide of access to information and communication technologies (ICT) in developing countries exists another gap: between boys and girls, men and women. Particularly in developing countries and rural areas, girls and women are often restricted to traditional roles, and do not have equal...
Public libraries, as public Internet access points and as physical and social community hubs, play an important role in the aftermath of disasters. Information and communication resources are critical. Communities also need spaces for regrouping and organizing. The 2010 earthquake in Chile dramatized...
In 2010, a massive earthquake struck Chile, followed by a tsunami that devastated several coastal communities. The Libraries, Telecenters, and the 2010 Chile Earthquake project examines post-disaster information and communication needs, services provided by libraries and telecenters, and how emergency...
Las bibliotecas y telecentros han jugado un papel fundamental en situaciones de emergencia y esta investigación examina su rol después del terremoto y tsunami que ocurrió en Chile en Febrero del 2010. Las diferentes iniciativas se llevaron a cabo por la necesidad de proporcionar acceso a la comunicación...
This working paper describes the methodology for the Global Impact Study’s five-country surveys of public access ICT venue operators, users and non-users. The surveys collected detailed information about the conditions of public access to ICTs, characteristics of public access users, patterns of usage,...
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...
To help frame their findings and discussion, the authors begin with a review of the existing published literature on user fees and other barriers to use of public access venues. At the heart of this chapter lies the findings and discussion section where they offer an analysis on how influential user...
In order to understand the implications of this study, it is important to understand the context in which it was conducted. Consequently, this book begins with a chapter that explores the differences and similarities, strengths and weaknesses, of each of the three different types of public access venues...
Digital inclusion is the ability of individuals and groups to access and use information and communication technologies. Not all members of a community benefit equally, and some communities have been left out altogether. Building Digital Communities: A framework for action is a resource for...
Based on a survey of public access ICT users in five countries, this working paper outlines some basic characteristics of users – their demographics, history of using ICTs and reasons for using public access ICTs. This preliminary analysis indicates that while a large proportion of public access ICT...
Libraries, telecenters, and cybercafés offer opportunities for wider public access to information and communication technologies (ICT). This paper presents findings of a global exploratory study on the landscape public access venues in 25 countries around the world. The goal of the project was to better...
Public libraries have provided free access to the Internet and computers since the 1990s. Libraries have also provided access to digital resources, databases, networked and virtual services, training, technical assistance, and technology-trained staff. However, little research has examined the relationship...
Public access to computers and the Internet can play an important role in social and economic development if it effectively helps to meet the needs of underserved populations. Public access venues such as libraries, telecentres and cybercafés are sometimes free, and sometimes charge user fees. User...
The use of information and communication technologies (ICT) can contribute to local community development and help connect local communities to global issues. Public access computing (PAC) venues such as telecenters, public libraries and cybercafés make ICT more broadly available and extend the benefits...
Public access to computers and the Internet can play an important role in social and economic development if it effectively helps to meet the needs of underserved populations. Public access venues such as libraries, telecentres and cybercafés are sometimes free, and sometimes charge user fees. User...
In this paper we describe a general class of information and communication technology (ICT) access in transitioning and developing countries known as intermediated ICT access. We contend that intermediated access is the most common ICT transfer mechanism in public access computing venues. Intermediated...
An exploratory, qualitative study in 25 countries around the world identifies success factors for centers that offer public access to Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). The study considered public libraries, telecenters, and cybercafés, and grouped the findings into four types of success...
The use of information and communication technologies (ICT) can contribute to community development. Public access venues such as telecentres, public libraries and cybercafés make ICT more broadly available, extending the benefits of ICT to underserved sectors of the population. Development is seen...
This codebook accompanies the survey of public access venue non-users, which was designed to capture non-user characteristics, indirect impacts, and to serve as a control for the user survey. The survey is divided into five sections: 1) Household screening and information, 2) ICT exposure, skills, and...
This survey of public access venue non-users was designed to capture non-user characteristics, indirect impacts, and to serve as a control for the user survey. The survey is divided into five sections: 1) Household screening and information, 2) ICT exposure, skills, and usage, 3) Perceived impacts, 4)...
Este artículo presenta los resultados de un estudio de caso sobre puntos de acceso público a Tecnologías de Información y Comunicación (TIC) en el municipio de El Carmen de Bolívar, en el norte de Colombia. El estudio indagó por la contribución de los sitios de acceso a TIC al desarrollo comunitario...
What is Open Access to Research Data? Is it free and open access to raw data? Access to data collection tools and instruments? Access to data with tools to organize and analyze? These are the types of questions the Global Impact Study is considering as we develop an open approach to our research on the...
This survey of public access venue users was designed to capture user characteristics, usage patterns, and perceptions of impact. The survey is divided into six sections: 1) Basic information, 2) ICT exposure and skills, 3) Access, 4) Usage, 5) Perceived impacts, and 6) Demographics. The survey was implemented...
This survey of public access venue operators was designed to capture types of services public access venues offer, cost of service provision, perceptions on impact, users, usage patterns, and perceptions of impact. The survey is divided into ten sections: 1) About the venue, 2) About the venue layout,...
This codebook accompanies the survey of public access venue users, which was designed to capture user characteristics, usage patterns, and perceptions of impact. The survey is divided into six sections: 1) Basic information, 2) ICT exposure and skills, 3) Access, 4) Usage, 5) Perceived impacts, and 6)...
This codebook accompanies the survey of public access venue operators, which was designed to capture types of services public access venues offer, cost of service provision, perceptions on impact, users, usage patterns, and perceptions of impact. The survey is divided into ten sections: 1) About the...
Public libraries have provided free access to the Internet and computers since the 1990s. Libraries have also provided access to digital resources, databases, networked and virtual services, training, technical assistance, and technology-trained staff. However, little research has examined the relationship...
This report provides a review of the Infomediaries study's key variables and articulation of its hypotheses. Having completed Inception Missions to Chile (October 2009), Bangladesh (December 2009) and Lithuania (January 2010), we now have a foundation on which to build this analysis. This “Lessons...
This paper — drawn from the larger ‘Landscape Study,’ the first of its kind to look across 25 developing countries to compare how public access venues, including libraries, telecenters and cybercafés, are being used — looks at how public perceptions of libraries in these countries affect the...
The Global Impact Study maintains an online database of public access technology venues in Bangladesh, Brazil, Chile, Lithuania, and the Philippines. The database offers multiple search options, three different visualizations of the data, the ability to export in CSV format. All data in the database...
Purpose – This paper aims to present the research methodology for the global study “Landscape of public access to ICT in 25 countries” (referred to as the Landscape study), a study conducted in 2007-2009 by the University of Washington's Center for Information and Society, with a grant from the...
Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and public access to computers with Internet connectivity in particular, can assist community development efforts and help bridge the so-called digital divide. However, use of ICT may not be the same for women as it is for men. Technical, social and cultural...
Purpose – This paper aims to determine how trust and perceptions shape uses of information and communication technologies (ICT) in public access venues (libraries, telecentres, and cybercafés) in 25 developing countries around the world.
Design/methodology/approach – As part of a global study...
This special edition contains reports from the Harvard Forum II, a two-day event held September 2009 at Harvard University. Sponsored by Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and hosted by the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University, the Forum assembled a prominent...
Information and communication technologies and development (ICTD) is a field that has grown largely outside the purview of public libraries. In bringing information access and services to communities with fewer economic and social resources, the organizations and innovations emanating from the ICTD community...
The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (Global Libraries initiative), and the Technology & Social Change Group (TASCHA), at the University of Washington Information School, believe that the library and ICTD fields are...
The Landscape of Public Access Technology in Developing Countries project examines how people around the world access and use information and computers in public settings such as public libraries, telecenters, and cybercafés. Understanding public access is particularly important in developing countries...
The U.S. IMPACT studies have two research projects underway that employ a mixed method research design to develop and validate performance indicators related specifically to the outcomes of public access computing (PAC) use in public libraries. Through the use of a nationwide telephone survey (n = ...
Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are widely acknowledged as important resources for socio‐economic development. Due to resource constraints, shared access forms the dominant mode of access to these technologies in most developing countries. Governments, non‐governmental institutions...
This paper presents the research methodology for the global study “Landscape of Public Access to ICT in 25 Countries” (referred to as the Landscape Study), a study conducted in 2007-2009 by the University of Washington’s Technology & Social Change Group, with a grant from the Bill & Melinda...
Este informe presenta resultados parciales de una investigación global sobre lugares de acceso público a Internet, en particular bibliotecas públicas, telecentros y cibercafés. Como parte de una iniciativa más grande del Centro para la Información y Sociedad (CIS) de la Universidad de Washington,...
This paper aims to offer early insight into ongoing research comparing public access venues such as libraries, cybercafe´s and telecenters in 25 countries around the world. The authors studied information needs and uses of information and communication technologies (ICT) in these public access venues,...
This paper is based on a comparative study of venues that provide public access to information and communication technologies in 25 countries. We study how diverse people can and do access and use ICT and what factors influence availability at these venues. Our aim, through such an analysis is first...
This paper aims to review what type of research has been done on public access to ICTs, including issues investigated, methods used, main findings, and gaps in the literature. This document summarizes our preliminary findings. This review is based on approximately 80 journal articles and reports on public...
This paper offers early insight into ongoing research comparing public access venues such as libraries, cybercafés and telecenters in 25 countries around the world. We study information needs and uses of information and communication technologies (ICT) in these public access venues, with a particular...
