August 23, 2010
The Global Impact Study presented a poster, Open data and open tools: The Global Impact Study inventory and web application, at the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) annual conference in Sweden. The theme of the conference — open access to knowledge — offered the perfect opportunity to highlight the project’s achievements.
April 1, 2010
The Technology & Social Change Group kicks off the European Union’s e-Skills week with the launch of a new report: Immigrant women, e-skills & employability in Europe: The case of Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania, and Spain. This study examines how improving digital competences and access to computers and the Internet can advance employability and social inclusion.
February 11, 2010
Although the Global Impact Study’s basic approach remains the same, we’re learning along the way and our thinking is evolving. This post summarizes the updates in the project’s research design, articulated around four basic components: (1) inventory and surveys that provide a big-picture view; (2) focused studies of specific mechanisms through which public access impacts livelihoods; (3) an assessment of indirect and aggregated impacts, which takes the community as the unit of analysis and looks at non-users and alternative information sources; and (4) a look at alternatives and complements to public access, focusing on mobile phones.
January 26, 2010
The Landscape Study closed 2009 with an impressive collection of papers published, presented, or accepted for presentation in community informatics, ICTD, and information science journals and conferences.
December 10, 2009
Briefs are important communication tools for linking research findings to policy and practice — and ultimately affecting change. Because face it: in the attention economy no one has time to read the full report. Here’s the format we’ve developed at the Technology & Social Change Group for writing a research brief.
November 16, 2009
What’s important is the ability to gather with others and the possibility to be accompanied in your work. To be able to ask questions and bounce around ideas. I’ve been thinking for some time that public-access venues and coworking spaces are connected. This is why. They provide access to helpful people — librarians, dinamizador@s, infomediaries, the-guy-sitting-across-the-table-from-you.
October 29, 2009
People have strong beliefs about “libraries.” There are true believers and skeptics. Our work at TASCHA, recently changed from CIS, has been thinking about libraries as mechanisms for community development, especially outside the US. We have been trying to step back and focus on what they DO and what FUNCTIONS they serve. I understand libraries […]
October 7, 2009
CIS is now the Technology & Social Change (TASCHA) group! Over the last 10 years we have grown from a three-person team to more than a dozen researchers and program staff, with affiliated faculty from across the University of Washington and a global network of research partners. This year we came together to reflect, take stock of our strengths and emerging trends, and examine who we are, how we work, and how we can affect change. Our new name is the result of this process — and in the coming months you’ll witness a number of changes.
October’s Technology & Disability in the Developing World marked the beginning of a multi-stakeholder dialogue on accessible technology and employability in low-income regions. Discussions focused on policy, social research, technology, and design.
September 29, 2009
On Friday, October 2, 2009, we’re co-sponsoring a one-day workshop on technology and disability in the developing world. Michele Frix and Philip Neff, two of our affiliated researchers, will present their findings.
