Abstract

The rising use of mobile smartphones by people in rural areas of the developing world has resulted in increased deployment of information and communications technology for development (ICT4D) solutions targeted at empowering rural communities to overcome various socio-economic challenges. However, shortfalls in infrastructure, community buy-in, training, and management of ICT interventions are widely cited as impeding user acceptance and sustainability of potentially useful rural ICT4D interventions. This article outlines a deployment of the living lab approach to develop and adapt a mobile, web-based, e-procurement solution for small-scale retailers in Kgautswane, a remote rural area in South Africa’s Limpopo Province. The living lab approach is an open-innovation methodology for development of context-based sustainable ICT4D solutions.

Highlights

  • Deployment of information and communication technology for development (ICT4D) is increasingly being regarded as a key driver of socio-economic upliftment (Brown & Grant, 2010)

  • We propose that a living lab be understood as follows (EC, 2009): A user-centred, open innovation real environment based on a multistakeholder partnership which enables real-life end users to take an active role in the research, development and innovation process (EC, 2009, p. 50)

  • Evaluation of the intervention The core element of our research was a usability evaluation of the intervention,aimed at determining the usefulness of the context-based solution that had been implemented via the living lab methodology

Read more

Summary

Introduction

Deployment of information and communication technology for development (ICT4D) is increasingly being regarded as a key driver of socio-economic upliftment (Brown & Grant, 2010). Using the living lab approach to develop and adapt a context-aware ICT4D solution. The living lab approach provided an additional opportunity to acquire information that was contextualised and utilised during the development of the context-aware solution.

Results
Conclusion
Full Text
Paper version not known

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.