Understanding the smart society in rural development

Abstract

The smart society is a global movement that is highlighted in line with digital technology advances. Most studies of the smart society focus on the use of technology to aid human activities, especially in urban areas. Yet, the study on how technology impacts rural communities is still limited. As such, this paper provides an understanding of the smart society in a rural development context by examining the role of digital technology.The study applied qualitative research methods to understand the complexity ofan empirical study and used in-depth interviews with key informants. Then, a qualitative content analysis method was used by analysing communication systematically and objectively. The study found that the rural community was able to access and utilize external resources to provide added value to the community. Moreover, interactions between the rural and urban communities generated ideas through a learning process. One of these ideas was the application of digital technology to stimulate the social and economic development of rural communities. Digital technology was used to promote the potential of the village and facilitate the community in preserving local culture. Regardless, rural communities still have limited skills in usingand developing this technology independently.