scholarly journals INTERNET USAGE BY THE ELDERLY IN SERBIA

Author(s):  
Gordana Stojić

In the last decades, the problems of the elderly have attracted the attention of the scientific and wider public, thus imposing themselves as issues of public policies. The growth of interest in the elderly is conditioned by: the increasing share of the elderly in the overall population, the change of their social status as well as the development of new conceptual frames (social exclusion, marginalization, ageism). Today the elderly live in a society which is characterized by the expansion of information-communication technologies (ICT). The Internet is a means of more efficient and faster completion of various activities, satisfaction of different needs and access to social resources. On the other hand, the adoption of new technologies has taken on a different pace when it comes to the generation affiliation. That is why it is important to examine the degree to which older citizens successfully use these opportunities. The subject matter of the paper is Internet usage by the elderly. It points to the benefits the elderly are getting from Internet usage as well as the barriers they come across. Starting from the concept of the digital divide, Internet usage by the older Serbian population is analyzed. Finally, the measures to be taken to create favorable conditions for Internet usage by elderly are pointed out.

2012 ◽  
pp. 875-899
Author(s):  
Kavita Karan

E-Governance, inclusive of e-democracy, e-government, and e-business, has the power to improve processes, connect citizens, and build interactions with civil societies. The infusion of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) by the governments, civil society organizations, and political institutions to engage citizens, have promoted greater participation in the process of governance. E-Democracy encompasses all forms of electronic interaction between the elected government and the electorate. Examples include e-voting, e-consultation, e-representatives, e-campaigning, online deliberative polling, e-petitions, and e-referendums. India is the largest democracy in the world and a frontrunner in the use of ICTs for e-governance and e-democracy. The last few elections witnessed a surge in the use of new technologies inclusive of Internet, social networking, and mobile technologies, alongside the traditional forms of electioneering. This chapter examines the e-governance and e-democracy strategies, and the innovative new media technologies used by political parties, industrial corporations, and other organizations that have e-engaged the citizens.


Author(s):  
Agnes Chigona ◽  
Rabelani Dagada

Tertiary institutions in the developing countries are investing a lot in equipping their institutions with Information Communication Technologies (ICT) for teaching and learning. However, there is still a low adoption rate in the use of the new technologies among many academics in these countries. This chapter aims at analysing the factors that impact on the academics’ effective use of ICTs for teaching and learning in the new education paradigm. Sen’s Capability Approach was used as a conceptual lens to examine the academics’ phenomena. Data was collected through in-depth interviews. The analysis of the findings has shown that individual, social, and environmental factors are preventing some academics from realising their potential capabilities from using the new technologies. It is recommended, therefore, that institutions in the developing countries should look into, and deal with accordingly, the conversion factors that are impacting on the academics’ capabilities when utilising the new technologies.


2013 ◽  
pp. 1472-1488
Author(s):  
Sunnie Lee Watson ◽  
Thalia Mulvihill

This chapter aims to explore the historical, sociological, and economic factors that engender inequities related to digital technologies in the East Asian educational context. By employing critical social theory perspectives, the chapter discusses and argues for the notion of “Technology as a Public Good” by examining the Chinese, Japanese and Korean societies’ digital divide. This chapter examines how East Asian societies are exhibiting similar yet different problems in providing equitable access to information communication technologies to the less advantaged due to previously existing social structures, and discusses the urgency of addressing these issues. Based on the analysis of the digital divide in the East Asian context, this chapter also proposes and argues for the notion of “technology as a public good” in public and educational policies for information communication technologies. Finally, the chapter invites policymakers, researchers and educators to explore a more active policy approach regarding the digital divide solution, and provides specific future research recommendations for ICT policies and policy implementation in digital divide solutions.


2011 ◽  
pp. 627-641
Author(s):  
Jennifer Martin ◽  
Elspeth McKay

This chapter introduces a design process for developing useful information communication technologies for the human services. Key to the success of the design process is an in-depth knowledge and understanding of user needs and requirements. The stages involved in the design process are presented in this chapter and include: user and task analysis, persona and scenario development and the establishment of measurable usability goals. A case study illustrates the application of this design process to develop a Web enabled electronic work requirement awareness program (e-WRAP) for people recovering from mental illness seeking employment. The challenge for social workers is to use these new technologies to improve service provision and enhance quality of life without compromising ethical standards of practice; particularly in relation to client confidentiality, privacy and self-determination.


Author(s):  
Ayesha Saleem ◽  
Kiyohide Higuchi

In the globalized environment, the economic growth significantly depends on the countries capacity to develop, to apply new technologies and vice versa. Diffusion of information communication technologies is a global phenomenon. Despite of rapid globalization there are considerable differences between nations in terms of adoption and usage of new technologies. This paper aims to draw together the highly eclectic literature on the diffusion of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Innovation in order to know what have been done, highlight the generic issues, relevant to policy and will initiate further research and develop potential opportunities. This paper also highlight the low level and high level income countries data and ICT policies frame work to draw conclusions and some case studies as an example. The objective is to review the finding the social economic factor for diffusion of ICT Innovation to make policy recommendation for the development of the country.


10.28945/2651 ◽  
2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Mitchell

The digital divide is widely recognized as a contemporary problem between society and technology. Strategies for bridging the digital divide are often informed and guided by quantitative assessments of the deployment of information communication technologies. There are few rigorous qualitative attempts to assess the digital divide from either an ethnographic or a futures-oriented perspective. This paper reports findings from a study that examined the possible, probable and preferable futures of the digital divide from an ethnographic perspective. The contents of this report include background to the problem of the digital divide, a review of literature describing the relationship between society and technology, findings from the data collection, and implications for future strategies to bridge the digital divide.


Author(s):  
Jennifer Martin ◽  
Elspeth McKay

This chapter introduces a design process for developing useful information communication technologies for the human services. Key to the success of the design process is an in-depth knowledge and understanding of user needs and requirements. The stages involved in the design process are presented in this chapter and include: user and task analysis, persona and scenario development and the establishment of measurable usability goals. A case study illustrates the application of this design process to develop a Web enabled electronic work requirement awareness program (e-WRAP) for people recovering from mental illness seeking employment. The challenge for social workers is to use these new technologies to improve service provision and enhance quality of life without compromising ethical standards of practice; particularly in relation to client confidentiality, privacy and self-determination.


Author(s):  
Manjit Singh Sidhu ◽  
Lee Chen Kang

Improving and enhancing education is a goal for higher learning institutions that seek to provide better learning techniques, technologies, and educators and generate knowledgeable students to fulfill the needs of industry. A field in need of significant improvement is engineering. One approach is to review the delivery and pedagogies used in the current educational system. This paper examines the problems faced by staff and students in the field of mechanical engineering. In addition, the authors explore new technologies that enhance and promote the learning process.


Author(s):  
Sunnie Lee Watson ◽  
Thalia Mulvihill

This chapter aims to explore the historical, sociological, and economic factors that engender inequities related to digital technologies in the East Asian educational context. By employing critical social theory perspectives, the chapter discusses and argues for the notion of “Technology as a Public Good” by examining the Chinese, Japanese and Korean societies’ digital divide. This chapter examines how East Asian societies are exhibiting similar yet different problems in providing equitable access to information communication technologies to the less advantaged due to previously existing social structures, and discusses the urgency of addressing these issues. Based on the analysis of the digital divide in the East Asian context, this chapter also proposes and argues for the notion of “technology as a public good” in public and educational policies for information communication technologies. Finally, the chapter invites policymakers, researchers and educators to explore a more active policy approach regarding the digital divide solution, and provides specific future research recommendations for ICT policies and policy implementation in digital divide solutions.


Author(s):  
Alexious Muunga

The advent of computers and information communication technologies (ICTs) has drastically changed the acquisition, storage, and retrieval of information. Further, information can be accessed through various media as new technologies continue to spring up. Since information can be accessed anywhere as long as one has internet connectivity, this has resulted in many users not using the libraries and other information centers. The decline in the use of libraries is worrying, hence the need to understand how the emerging technologies have changed information provision in the libraries. The chapter addresses challenges that affect the provision of the needed services in the libraries. Finally, alternative services that libraries are adopting in order for them to remain relevant in this information age are outlined. This chapter provides insights on how libraries can continue to play their role as information providers and how they can fit into the present information age.


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