Evolution Of Information And Communication Technologies Research Articles

International Terrorism in the Age of Information and Communication Technology

This research delves into the profound impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on the globalization of terrorism. The central hypothesis posits that the evolution of ICT has facilitated the spread of terrorist operations across a truly global network. Leveraging Internet technology, individuals can now communicate across borders with ease, privacy, and unprecedented reach. This study specifically explores how terrorist acts are increasingly justified through ICT, examining the threats posed to international peace and security by the utilization of cutting-edge social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter by groups like ISIS. Employing a historical-descriptive approach, the author gathered data from reliable secondary sources, encompassing both public and unpublished records. The findings reveal that certain terrorist organizations, notably ISIS, capitalize on the growing accessibility of ICT, particularly via social media, to enhance communication, recruit members, radicalize individuals, and orchestrate coordinated operations. The study emphasizes the necessity of comprehending the role of social media in terrorist recruitment and radicalization. Understanding the motivations behind an individual's radicalization and affiliation with terrorist groups is crucial for effective counterterrorism measures. The study concludes with recommendations, emphasizing the importance of investing in scientific discovery and economic growth areas less susceptible to terrorist exploitation.

An Overview of ICT and Educational Change: Development, Impacts, and Factors

This paper focuses on the development of information and communication technology (ICT) in education, its impact on teaching and learning, as well as the factors that sustain change in education. Since the rise of e-learning in the 1990s, ICT has evolved rapidly in the field of education. Furthermore, ICT is seen as a catalyst for change in education, and its impact on both, students and teachers should not be understated. In addition, the sustenance of these positive changes brought about by ICT should also garner attention. This paper consequently focuses on an overview of the evolution of ICT in the field of education in the last decade or so, its impact on the changes in teaching and learning, as well as the factors that sustain the changes. Through a study of prior literature and reports, the results found that ICT has had a different focus and predicted direction each year from 2009 to the present, as well as significant effects on the content, approach, time, and place of teaching, administration, research process, and roles of teachers and students. Additional factors that influence educational change include funding, equipment software, and personnel expertise. Therefore, this article provides referenceable evidence for further ICT applications in education.

The evolution of ICTs in accessible tourism: A stakeholder collaboration analysis

Although information and communication technologies (ICTs) possess a multitude of possibilities to improve and enhance access for people with disabilities to tourism services, their added value, which is of both a social and economic nature, continues to be neglected by the industry. While existing literature considers stakeholder collaboration as an essential element for fostering sustainable product and service development, a substantial discussion on the subjective perceptions of stakeholders regarding the implementation of ICTs for accessible tourism has yet to occur. To help achieve a common strategy in this regard, this paper offers a qualitative investigation on collaboration patterns and potential pathways towards smart accessible tourism. The results of this study show a common understanding of accessible tourism within the stakeholder groups of (1) people with disabilities, (2) organizations of people with disabilities, (3) H&T service providers, and (4) governmental agencies. The weak standardization of existing websites, mobile applications, booking platforms, and social media when attempting to achieve accessible tourism has been extensively criticized. While collaboration here is visible on a regional level, stakeholders on the national level place superficial information exchange above true in-depth collaboration that aims to achieve a common goal. This tends to obscure who should possess the authority to define and control digitalization for accessible tourism. In the past, this translated into numerous information and communication platforms that were implemented without taking the time to consider the ones already in place. To address these shortcomings, the theory is enhanced via digitalization aspects, resulting in a framework on ICT development for accessible tourism, deriving implications for theory and practice while focusing on recommendations for all respective stakeholder groups.

Knowledge Intensive Software Engineering Applications

The use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)  has become a competitive strategy that allows organizations to position themselves within their market of action. In addition, the evolution, advancement and use of ICTs within any type of organization have created new domains of interest. In this context, Knowledge-intensive software engineering applications are becoming crucial in organizations to support their performance. Knowledge-based technologies provide a consistent and reliable basis to face the challenges for organization, manipulation and visualization of the data and knowledge, playing a crucial role as the technological basis of the development of a large number of information systems. In software engineering, it involves the integration of various knowledge sources that are in constant change. Knowledge-intensive software applications are becoming more significant because the domains of many software applications are inherently knowledge-intensive and this knowledge is often not explicitly dealt with in software development. This impedes maintenance and reuse. Moreover, it is generally known that developing software requires expertise and experience, which are currently also implicit and could be made more tangible and reusable using knowledge-based or related techniques. Furthermore, organizations have recognized that the software engineering applications are an optimal way for providing solutions, because it is a file that is constantly evolving due to the new challenges. Examples of approaches that are directly related to this tendency are data analysis, software architectures, knowledge engineering, ontologies, conceptual modelling, domain analysis and domain engineering, business rules, workflow management, human and cultural factors, to mention but a few. Therefore, tools and techniques are necessary to capture and process knowledge in order to facilitate subsequent development efforts, especially in the domain of software engineering.  

“Clicks & Tweets” in Continuing Professional Development (CPD)? – A Cross-Cultural Comparison of ICT Usage

This study draws from concepts of socio-technical interaction to examine cross-cultural perceptions and usage of information and communication technologies (ICT). Set in the context of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) specialising in business skills, data were collected at two separate intervals in France and the UK, to observe the adoption of innovation over time in each cultural setting. The findings reflect ICT evolution and convergence, evidencing how users perceive and interact with ICT with different intensity and for different motives. Managerial implications were developed in response to the way in which ICT is shaped by the professional context in each country.

Smart Appliances and RAMI 4.0: Management and Servitization of Ice Cream Machines

The widespread adoption of information and communication technologies (ICT) is profoundly changing manufacturing. Several Internet-of-Things (IoT) and industry 4.0 solutions deployed in production environments have pushed for standardization efforts, most notably reference architecture model industrie 4.0 (RAMI 4.0), typically focusing on smart factory environments. However, the ICT evolution is also enabling novel smart appliance scenarios, where relatively cheap machines, connected and integrated, are deployed outside the typical industrial environment with a wide range of stakeholders involved. The paper reports about a real world use case composed of more than 12000 ice cream machines connected worldwide and shows how, anticipating the state of the art, the underlying design of the ICT platform presents many interesting similarities with RAMI 4.0. The integration of appliances in a smart value chain enables to develop novel services for different stakeholders, ranging from ice cream manufacturer and maintenance technicians to ice cream shop owners and final consumers. The important synergies with RAMI 4.0 and the extensive on-the-field validation make the proposed solution a compelling reference application, from which to draw useful and generally applicable guidelines for the development of future Industry 4.0 smart appliance platforms.

Smart destinations and the evolution of ICTs: a new scenario for destination management?

The impact of information and communication technologies (ICTs) on tourism and their foreseeable future evolution seem to be shaping a new scenario for destination management. This new context has given rise to the need for new management models. One of these models is the emerging smart tourism destination (STD), although it requires greater conceptual precision in order to become a new paradigm for destination management. This paper proposes a systemic model for STDs which facilitates the interpretation of the role of ICTs in the management of tourism destinations. Accordingly, the Delphi technique has been applied so as to determine the opinion of experts regarding the feasibility of the STD approach, its advantages and limitations and also the size of the impact of ICTs on the management and marketing of tourism destinations. This prospective exercise highlights the intensification of the impact of ICTs over the coming years which will shape a new scenario for management characterised by technology and data management. However, the efficiency of the STD approach will not depend exclusively only on technology but also on an appropriate governance of the destination that systematically incorporates the three levels of the STD, namely the strategic–relational, instrumental and applied levels.

An AHP-based evaluation method for teacher training workshop on information and communication technology

The emergence of information and communication technology (ICT) has created opportunities for enhancing the learning process at different educational levels. However, its potential benefits can only be fully realized if teachers are properly trained to utilize such tools. The rapid evolution of ICT also necessitates rigorous assessment of training programs by participants. Thus, this study proposes an evaluation framework based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to systematically evaluate such workshops designed for teachers. The evaluation model is decomposed hierarchically into four main criteria namely: (1) workshop design, (2) quality of content of the workshop, (3) quality of delivery of the content of the workshop, and the (4) relevance of the workshop. These criteria are further disaggregated into 24 sub-indicators to measure the effectiveness of the workshop as perceived by the participants based on their own expectations. This framework is applied to a case study of ICT workshops done in the Philippines. In this case, relevance of the workshop is found to be the most important main criterion identified by the participants, particularly on the new ICT knowledge that promotes teachers’ professional growth and development. The workshop evaluation index (WEI) is also proposed as a metric to support decision-making by providing a mechanism for benchmarking performance, tracking improvement over time, and developing strategies for the design and improvement of training programs or workshops on ICT for teachers.

Providing pervasive Learning eXperiences by Combining Internet of Things and e-Learning standards

Nowadays, learning is more and more taking place anywhere and anytime. This implies that e-learning environments are expanded from only virtual learning environments to both virtual and physical ones. Thanks to the evolution of Internet, ICT (Information and Communication Technology) and Internet of Things, new learning scenarios could be experienced by learners either individually or collaboratively. These learning scenarios are Pervasive in such a way that they allow to mix virtual and physical learning environments as well. They are therefore characterized by possible interactions of the learner with the physical environment, the Learner's contextual data detection as well as the adaptation of pedagogical strategies and services according to this context. This paper aims to take advantage of this trend and keep up also with existing e-Learning standards such as IMS LD and LOM. The solution proposed is therefore to extend these standards models with that of Internet of Things and to provide an adaptation approach of learning activities based on learner's context and her/his track using the eXperience API. In this context and in order to allow both reasoning capabilities and interoperability between the proposed models Ontological representations and implementation are therefore proposed. Moreover a technical architecture highlighting the required software components and their interactions is provided. And finally, a relevant pervasive learning scenario is implemented and experimented.

The Evolution of Information and Communication Technology in Public Administration

SummaryOver the last decades, governments all over the world have tried to take advantage of information and communication technology (ICT) to improve government operations and communication with citizens. Adoption of e‐government has increased in most countries, but at the same time, the rate of successful adoption and operation varies from country to country. This article outlines the evolution of ICT in the public sector over the past 25 years. It presents general trends by examining interactions and mutual shaping processes between ICT evolution and several inter‐related institutional changes including government operations, public services delivery, citizen participation, policy and decision making, and governance reform. The authors suggest that within a short time period, e‐governance has evolved rapidly from rudimentary uses of ICTs as simple tools to support highly structured administrative work to the integration of ICT throughout government operations. The growing use of Web 2.0, social media, and mobile and wireless ICT by citizens can also heavily impact the way public services are delivered and how citizen engagement processes are carried out. However, new management approaches, governance structures, and policy frameworks are still missing, posing a challenge for governments to operate effectively in the age of big data. Generally, developing countries are lagging behind in e‐government adoption compared with developed countries. Thus, for developing countries to successfully adopt ICT and try to leapfrog some of the obstacles encountered by early ICT adopters in developed countries, systematic analyses need to be conducted to understand the interactions among stakeholders and ICTs and co‐create the institutional environment to lead to a positive impact of ICT on public administration. Only when this relationship is clearly understood can innovative ICTs be seamlessly integrated into the governance structure. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Technology leadership or technology somnambulism? Exploring the discourse of integration amongst information and communication technology coordinators

This research aimed to explore information and communication technology (ICT) coordinators' discourse in relation to ICT integration in a sample of Irish post-primary schools. As ICT leaders in their schools, how they conceptualise ICT significantly influences school-based policy and use. The research involved semi-structured interviews with a sample of nine ICT coordinators in the Mid-west region of Ireland. The study found that the coordinators drew heavily on the prevailing policy discourse when justifying the use of ICT in schools. However, they tended to see the evolution of ICT as something beyond their control and perceived ‘progress’ only in relation to hardware acquisition. The findings suggest that the shift from ‘electronic janitor’ to pedagogical leader is in its infancy in Irish schools. Policy-makers may need to take greater cognisance of the importance of pedagogical leadership within a context dominated by a focus on acquiring hardware and resources. At a broader level, educators need to define their collective vision for ICT, rather than placing sole responsibility on a single agent of change.

Electronic Government Outsourcing Issues in Malaysia

In today’s knowledge-driven economy, information and communication technologies (ICTs) are major enablers in all sectors particularly in government departments. Furthermore, it is infinitely acknowledged that information is power, thus, in keeping up with the ICT evolution, the transformation to e-government has continued to be Malaysia’s main agenda for economic resilience, capacity building and social capital integration. However, not all government agencies are able to offer the core e-government services to the public as cost, legacy systems and advance ICT skills are the main barriers. Therefore, agencies have to resort to outsourcing where another set of issues have to be contended with. Consequently, the objective of this paper is to provide preliminary insights on a case study of a federal agency’s issues with outsourcing, specifically by assessing the feasibility of outsourcing an agency’s core e-services including other aspects of backsourcing or insourcing. Also, the findings from the qualitative inquiries and analyses would provide a new framework on outsourcing issues, particularly for e-government services. The implications of this study is that online public services are crucial to a country’s socio-economic development as this offsets other important agenda to catapult the country’s growth and wellbeing toward Vision 2020 as well as to sustain these positive developments. Also, the ripple effect of an effective and efficient e-service delivery will certainly affect other national issues such as citizen integration, public well-being, international relations, and political stability.

Energy indices for environmental sustainability

The energy consumption of information and communication technologies (ICTs) is today significant even when compared with other industries. The evolution of ICT in coming years will increase energy need, so energy consumption is becoming one of the key issues. Currently, in the telecommunication field there are not yet accepted indices, definitions and procedures that could allow a standardised energy evaluation. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the need of energy key indices in all the life-cycle (LCA) of devices and networks for improving energy savings. This study starts with the analysis of what is already implemented in other sectors and it proposes a method for device and network energetic classification.

Teaching Tobacco Cessation Skills to Uruguayan Physicians Using Information and Communication Technologies

Since 2004, with the ratification of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, Uruguay has implemented a wide range of legal restrictions designed to reduce the devastating impacts of tobacco. This legal process generated an increase in demand for tobacco cessation treatment, which led to the need to train a large number of physicians. Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are evolving constantly, creating new opportunities to make online education more interactive. The evolution of ICTs presents an opportunity to develop innovative continuing medical education (CME) experiences to meet the increasing demand for this topic. A blended-learning course on tobacco cessation was developed and implemented, combining face-to-face and online activities. Educational strategy focused on (1) facilitating interaction among generalists and between generalists and experts, and (2) providing high impact CME incorporating multifaceted interventions with wiki-type collaborative construction of practical knowledge. Multiple-choice tests and commitments-to-change were used for evaluation. Three hundred thirty-five health professionals participated in the course. Of these, 145 (43.3%) attended the on-site workshop, 216 (64.5%) participated in the online activities, and 109 (32.5%) completed both phases. Fifty of the 105 (47.6%) participants completing the pretest had a passing score, while 78.1% received a passing score on the final test (p < .001). Differences between mean pretest and posttest scores among those who completed both phases compared with those who only did the online phase were statistically significant (p = .003 and p = .009, respectively). The need to train physicians on tobacco cessation skills can be addressed via ICTs and educational activities that include participant interaction.

An African Pioneer Comes of Age: Evolution of Information and Communication Technologies in Uganda

Introduction A specific international discourse dominated development theory and practice in much of the 1990s. The issues were framed around the utility of information and communication technologies (ICTs) for socioeconomic development. This attracted the attention of many developing countries especially in Africa still reeling from the effects of the lost decade of the 1980s and structural adjustment programs. Also, there was continental interest in the prospects of information and communication technologies for development (ICT4D). This was expressed by organizations such as the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD). Unlike many countries in Africa, Uganda responded to the ICT4D debates early on. However, while it was pioneer by getting head start through its various initiatives and programs, it was not until 2005 that it finally articulated systematic policy on ICTs as fundamental tools for socioeconomic development. The began with the Ugandan Communication Act, enacted in 1997. It was response to the 1996 mandate of the UNECA-sponsored African Information Society Initiatives (AISI) for African countries to formulate policies that would accelerate their advancement toward the global information society. For many countries, the interest in creating an information society immediately led to the deregulation of the telecommunication sector. Policies on the telecommunication also provided oversight to the Internet sector at the initial stage. The creation of an appropriate policy framework for both the telecommunication and Internet sectors was the central purpose of the Ugandan Communication Act. The Act was itself implemented through the highly influential Ugandan Communications Commission (UCC). Uganda presents an interesting case for an examination of the application of ICTs for development in an African for two major reasons. First, the was one of the earliest to respond to the discourse that made the connection between ICTs and socioeconomic development. While some countries were still trying to understand the substance of the debates, the Ugandan government had already enacted the Communication Act to provide a framework for the development of telecommunication sector in the country (UNECA, 2009). That act unwittingly set model for ICT policymaking in other African countries where telecommunication policies became the proxies of state interventions in the sector. An important part of the Communication Act was the role that it assigned to the Ugandan Communications Commission (UCC) The UCC implements the provisions of the Ugandan Communication Act by controlling and promoting developments in the partially deregulated telecommunication sector (broadly defined to include all ICTs). The Commission's major mandate was the integration of universal access provisions in the delivery of communication and information services in the country. The Commission works to improve communication services generally and to ensure equitable distribution of services throughout the country (Ugandan Communications Commission [UCC], 2008, p. 10). Another aspect of its mandate was the establishment of the Rural Communication Development Fund (RCDF) which was expected to prevail on telecommunication operators to provide 2.5% of their growth revenues for rural communication services. The evolution of ICTs in Uganda and the gradual journey toward an information society--at least going by the standards of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)--raise important issues for research, some of which we explore in this article. Arguably, there is nothing significantly remarkable about the growth of ICTs in Uganda. Yet there is sense of measured and progressive steps toward the future as the different technologies continue to diffuse widely over the years. Our study examines this spread of ICTs in Uganda with an emphasis on Internet connectivity and the manner in which access to the Internet has become coping mechanism, if not conflict resolution strategy, in war-torn Northern Uganda. …

The Dynamics of Cyber China: The Characteristics of Chinese ICT Use

This paper provides a preliminary examination of the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs)—limited to mobile phone and internet use—in contemporary China. Based on fieldwork undertaken since 2003 in Guangzhou and Beijing, the paper focuses on the relationship between society and technology in the Chinese cultural context. An analysis of the data on ICT use in China shows how Chinese cultural traits and the speed of the ICT evolution in China have combined to bring about a unique cyber experience. This analysis may be helpful to other scholars who wish to compare the impact of ICTs in various cultures or who are interested in discovering how Mainland China went ‘cyber’.