Field Of Information And Communication Technologies Research Articles

Factors effective on Familiarity and Usage of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Iran

In today's world, professionals with little or no knowledge of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) have a much more difficult task before them in comparison to co-workers at the same level but with a reasonable knowledge of ICT. To insure an effective competitive status in educational organizations, and universities there is a need to improve the ability of such organizations to improve consistently their ICT capabilities. The main goals of the research have been to determine the level of Familiarity and Usage of university college of Agriculture and Natural resources, University of Tehran's staff members (Faculty and Experts). A researcher's made questionnaire was used. The sample population based on Cochran's formula has been 124 staff members and the reliability of the questionnaire was approved by experts’ opinion and the validity was approved by calculating the Cronbach's alpha which has been 0.95. The results indicated that the areas of familiarity of most of the members was more of public websites, for example search engines such as Yahoo and Google, and largely used software like Microsoft Office Word, and the University of Tehran's e-office system. There was a positive relationship between the level of ICT usage and field of education and academic ranking, and negatively related to work experience, and there was no correlation to age. The results of mean analysis showed a difference between the amount of usage of and familiarity with ICT between men and women and the variance analysis results showed that the amount of familiarity with and usage of ICT is different between different levels of education, academic ranks and different types of employment. Regression analysis showed that the three variables of level of education, type of employment and age had a meaningful effect on the dependent variable of amount of familiarity with organizational ICT, and the three variables of familiarity, type of employment and gender had a meaningful effect on the dependent variable of the level of usage of organizational ICT. In general familiarity with organizational ICT is the most important factor effecting organization usage of ICT opportunities.

Capabilities in, capabilities out: overcoming digital divides by promoting corporate citizenship and fair ICT

This conceptual article discusses strategies of corporations in the information and communication technologies (ICT) sector and their role in the conflict over access to knowledge in the digital environment. Its main hypothesis is that ICT corporations are very capable actors when it comes to bridging digital divides in both developed and developing countries--maybe even the most capable actors. Therefore, it is argued that ICT corporations could use their capabilities to help citizens gain sustainable access to knowledge in order to enable them to lead self-sufficient lives. In a nutshell, capabilities are presented as both the input (capabilities of ICT corporations) as well as the output (capability building for empowering citizens) of corporate strategy-making focusing on fair ICT. Corporate citizenship is put forth as the theoretical concept bridging corporate strategies and access to knowledge: If ICT corporations act in accordance with their self-understanding of being `good corporate citizens', they could be crucial partners in lessening digital divides and helping citizens gain access to knowledge. From the perspective of `integrative economic ethics' (Ulrich 2008), it is argued that ICT corporations have good reason to actively empower citizens in both developed and developing countries by pursuing `inclusive' strategies in many fields, such as open-source software development. That way, ICT corporations could enable, support and provide citizens with capabilities enabling them to help themselves. In order to make inclusive business models work, the rules and regulations companies find themselves in today must enable them to act responsibly without getting penalized by more ruthless competitors. This article explores several cases from the ICT field to illustrate the interplay between a responsible business model and the rules and regulations of the industry. From a capabilities perspective, the most desirable mix of corporate strategies and industry regulation is one that results in the highest level of generativity (Zittrain 2008). Thus, ICT should not be closed systems only driven by the company behind them. Instead, they need to be open for the highest possible level of third-party innovation.

Challenging Our Views on ICT, Gender and Education

The overall picture of the situation relating to gender and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has so far been that men have been dominating the field and have left the women behind. This has also been the point of departure for policymakers. But, as will be shown in this paper, this male domination of the entire ICT field is not the case anymore. On the contrary, the situation is far more complex. For example, when looking at younger generations, the picture appears to be nuanced; both boys and girls seem to be involved and interested in using different ICT tools, both at school and elsewhere (CERI, 2010). Moreover, along with the new generation, there is the emergence of the new social media, in which girls seem to be highly involved. The present paper explores the ways in which the gender issue appears in youngsters’ use of and attitudes towards ICT and how they perform and interact as producers and consumers of digital content.

ITU-T와 IEEE의 특허 데이터베이스 분석

세계가 하나의 시장으로 통합되면서 국제표준은 기업의 생사와 국가경제에 막대한 영향을 미치고 있다. 특히 정보통신분야에서 표준은 더욱 중요한 의미를 가진다. 기업들은 자사에 유리한 표준을 확대하려고 할 뿐만 아니라, 표준에 특허 등 자사의 지적재산권을 반영하려고 노력하고 있다. 이를 통해 자사의 기술을 보호함과 동시에 시장에서 점유율을 확대하려고 한다. 본 논문에서는 정보통신분야에서 대표적인 국제표준화단체인 ITU-T와 IEEE의 표준에 포함된 특허에 대해 살펴본다. 특허 데이터 분석은 특허 활동의 현황과 향후 방향에 대해 이해할 수 있는 의미 있는 연구주제이다. 국가별 특허 보유 현황과 기관별 특허 보유 현황을 기준으로 특허 데이터베이스를 분석하고, 특허 데이터베이스의 자세한 분석 결과와 그 의미를 제시한다. As market becomes global, international standardization is more critical for the success of businesses and countries. Especially in the field of ICT(Information and Communication Technology), standardization is more important. Businesses not only try to expand the standard favoring them, but also they try to include their IPR(Intellectual Property Rights) such as patents into the standard. By doing these, businesses can increase their share in the market. In this paper we consider the patents included into the standards of ITU-T and IEEE which are major international standards development organizations(SDO) in the field of ICT. The patent analysis is a meaningful research topic because it helps us to understand the current status and future directions of patent activities. We investigate the patent database with respect to the nationality and institution of patent owners. The results of patent database analysis are included and some comments are presented.

The state of ICT education in China: A literature review

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in education has made significant progress in China in the last two decades and this paper provides an overall presentation of its prevalence and usage. In this paper, a literature review has been conducted based on the research in the field of ICT in education. Eleven major issues have been classified and discussed according to their similarities and differences. As an overview and synthetic angle, this paper focuses on how those issues are studied, how they have evolved, and what results have been carried out from the research.

A history of internet purchasing: suggestions for web‐based entrepreneurs and SMEs

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the marketing developments since 1992 at the interface of information and communication technology (ICT) from a marketing channel and consumer perspective.Design/methodology/approachThe research method used was a review of contemporary literature in the field of ICT with particular emphasis on the internet in relation to web‐based purchasing behaviour. This paper examines the usage of the medium as an aide to shopping and selling since its inception and suggests future directions and areas for further investigation.FindingsThe findings chronicle the evolution of the internet from a mere tool to enable web‐based shopping to an entity that is able to think; and with the possibility of being able to express or channel emotions and social interaction among users.Research limitations/implicationsThis research, whilst purporting to be a conceptual theory building paper, based on thorough literature review, would by no means pretend to be comprehensive and aims to engender further scholarly discussion and empirical testingPractical implicationsIn what ever way the web‐based entrepreneur and small to medium‐sized enterprise view the internet, it is not a business‐facilitator to be ignored; and those that do not treat it with the urgency and seriousness that it deserves, do so at their peril.Originality/valueThe paper suggests a novel way of viewing what we have come to take for granted. It is hoped that the discussions will be of value to academics and practitioners alike.

Appropriate ICT as a Tool to Increase Effectiveness in ICT4D: Theoretical considerations and illustrating cases

AbstractThe need to bridge the digital divide is no longer a point of discussion and therefore focus has shifted to the design and implementation of programs that have the potential to close the information and knowledge gap between the developing and developed nations. Unfortunately, the majority of these programs are small and mimic what has been successful in the developed world. It has become increasingly clear that these successes do not necessarily translate well in the context of developing nations. This paper develops the hypothesis that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) projects in developing countries will become successful only when they are adapted to local conditions. The general concept of Appropriate Technology (AT) will be explored for the field of ICT. AT has already been embraced by fields like architecture, building technology and agriculture, but has not yet been rooted in ICT.The paper proposes a preliminary theory of Appropriate ICT along the lines of existing theories in AT and System development. The theory identifies Appropriate Technology principles at three levels: hardware, software and ICT change management. By means of real life mini cases in the ICT for Development context in Africa, the guiding principles for Appropriate ICT are illustrated. The paper will conclude with an agenda for further research in the three identified levels. The research agenda targets academia, governments, NGO's and industry.

Ageing and Technology: A Review of the Research Literature

While the ageing of the population around the world raises serious concerns about social security, pensions, long-term care, health care and family systems, digital-age tools have been proposed as possible resources to improve outcomes. Considerable literature has appeared suggesting that Assistive Technologies (ATs) and Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) may improve quality of life, extend length of community residence, improve physical and mental health status, delay the onset of serious health problems and reduce family and care-giver burden. The goal of this review is to separate the evidence base for these claims from simple optimism about the ultimate value of technology-based tools. This is accomplished through an extensive examination of the empirical research literature in the field of ATs and ICTs as they relate to older adults and ageing populations. In this review, we describe how these technologies are being utilized by older adults and barriers to their use, and we identify what is known-based on scientific studies-about the utility and effectiveness of the technologies. Appropriate social work practice in the digital age requires knowing what tools are available and their documented effectiveness and limitations. This review will thus consider the implications of current research knowledge for social work practice, education and research.

Technological innovation and knowledge network in Asia: Evidence from comparison of information and communication technologies among six countries

South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, China and India have become much larger force in the world economy. Due to the enormous contribution of the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in economic growth, this study investigates four main issues related to technological innovation and knowledge network in ICT among six countries. First, indicators of technological innovation were evaluated and used to compare capability of technological innovation in ICT between the six countries. Secondly, differences in innovation configurations among six countries were manifested. Thirdly, relative innovation strengths of these six countries were examined in five sub-technological fields. Finally, this study consists of analyzing the interactions into knowledge network among them; moreover, this study manifests the difference of knowledge network in five sub-technological field of ICT. The empirical findings of this study, based on analysis of a patent and citation dataset comprised of all patents granted by the U.S. Patents and Trademark Office (USPTO) to assignees in six countries from 1976 to 2006, are helpful to understand the comparative development of technological innovation of ICT in six countries .

ICT and inclusive education in primary schools ‐ pupils with motor disabilities

This paper is based on a study aimed at ascertaining whether information and communication technology (ICT) can be used as an integrating link for children with motor disabilities in primary school. The study includes an introductory questionnaire with parents of 16 children and observations in the classrooms of five pupils attending a school in a small town in Sweden. In this article inclusion is exemplified with one of these pupils. The results of this study show agreement with other research that the computer, which often symbolises the whole ICT field, is used as a pedagogical tool for learning at school. However, it is difficult to see whether ICT is used in a way that enhances inclusion, an overall goal for many people with disabilities in today's society. One reason for this is the school's strong focus on learning, another that limited efforts have been put into communication and collaborative work between the pupils.

African business schools: Information and communication technology survey

Purpose: The aim of this paper is to report on research into the status of information and communication technology in use at members of the Association of African Business Schools (AABS).Design/Methodology/Approach: The research reported on in this paper was carried out using a questionnaire sent by email to the target population (all the members of the AABS). The questionnaire covered a wide range of issues, including information technology strategy and governance, as well as the operational aspects of the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the institutions surveyed. Questions were based on topics identified from the literature and a recent industry survey conducted in one of the member countries, and the assessment criteria were based on a maturity rating scale. Findings: This research helps to further an understanding of the use of ICT in the organisations that responded to the survey. Overall, there was a high level of understanding or applicability (over 95%) among the topics surveyed across all schools, but there was a significant proportion where no action on that topic had yet been taken (over 30% of all maturity ratings across all respondents). Average maturity rating across all topics for all respondents was 2.3 (action taken but an informal approach to the topic is currently used) on a scale from 0 to 5. Implications: This research has important implications for the organisations responding to the survey and their awareness of the issues they face as institutions that seek to leverage their investments in ICT to raise their own competitive position and thus that of African organisations which have students educated at these business schools. There are also implications for the future success of the newly-formed AABS and its other initiatives in terms of meeting the objectives of the Association. Originality/Value: This research is original in terms of which there is a broad understanding of the extent to which ICT is available and in use amongst the members of the AABS. Prior to the foundation of the Association, no suitable forum existed for the conduct of this research. The originality therefore, is in the opportunity presented to form a broader understanding of the status of the use of ICT to support the activities of business schools across Africa. The value of this research may be applied to both those respondents to the survey, other members of the AABS and other business schools operating in Africa that wish to understand the issues in the field of ICT that they should be addressing.

Globalizing internationals: business portfolio and marketing strategies in the ICT field

The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) companies originating from small and open economies (SMOPEC), such as Finland, face the tremendous challenge of moving from the international to the global arena and developing global marketing strategies. Earlier studies have merely recognized the phenomena and postulated preliminary assumptions about the behavior of globalizing internationals. In the ICT field, all the major globalization drivers—be they changes in the macro environment, industry globalization, or pressure for increased internal efficiency—point in only one direction: globalize or die. Limited managerial and financial resources are often the challenge for companies originating from small and open economies. The study received preliminary empirical support from the ICT field that globalizing internationals select only one or at most a few of a large number of unrelated international businesses for globalization. As globalization matures, they further seek growth through related diversification. Implementation at the business unit level seems to require a change in marketing strategies; both the broadness of the marketing offering and the degree of standardization were found to evolve as globalization proceeds. At the beginning of the globalization process, a more focused marketing strategy was selected, which was then broadened as globalization proceeded. Moreover, the marketing strategy was increasingly standardized in respect to products, but also to a certain extent for brands and channels. The article develops a framework and propositions that are examined with the multiple case-study method. It also suggests further empirical testing with a survey study. Finally, it draws both theoretical and managerial conclusions that are expected to be particularly useful for ICT companies from SMOPEC countries, but interestingly also for the US companies that are competing fiercely against globalizing internationals.

Will The Real MIS Please Stand Up

One problem for information and communication technology (ICT) is its lack of commonly agreed upon classification frameworks and definitions, due mainly to the ICT field not possessing a sound theoretical foundation. It is considered that viable classification frameworks are important. In particular this paper considers issues of how to best classify different information types comparing a ‘Yes/No’ or digital approach with an analogue approach that allows different information system types to overlap. For example, in defining ‘true’ management information systems (MISs) it is considered that these systems should have all of the following characteristics: (a) focus is on information retrieval rather than input of data; (b) use of the system is voluntary not mandatory; (c) user population is predominantly at management level across the organization; (d) data contained in the MIS repository comes from both internal sources as well as external sources; and (e) major interactions by end users with the system is for structured decision making. Other information systems types may also possess one or more of these features but not all. Finally, as a test of the analogue approach to classifying information system types comparisons are made of decision support by transaction processing systems (TPSs) and MISs.

The Appreciative System of Urban ICT Policies: An Analysis of Perceptions of Urban Policy Makers

ABSTRACT Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has become an important tool to promote a variety of public goals and policies. In the past years much attention has been given to the expected social benefits from deploying ICTs in different urban fields (transportation, education, public participation in planning, etc.) and to its potential to mitigate various current or emerging urban problems. The growing importance of ICTs in daily life, business activities, and governance prompts the need to consider ICTs more explicitly in urban policies. Alongside the expectation that the private sector will play a major role in the ICT field, the expected benefits from ICTs also encourage urban authorities to formulate proper public ICT policies.Against this background, various intriguing research questions arise. What are the urban policy‐makers’ expectations about ICTs? And how do they assess the future implications of ICTs for their city? A thorough analysis of these questions will provide a better understanding of the extent to which urban authorities are willing to invest in and to adopt a dedicated ICT policy.This study is focusing on the way urban decision‐makers perceive the opportunities of ICT policy. After a sketch of recent development and policy issues, a conceptual model is developed to map out the driving forces of urban ICT policies in cities in Europe. Next, by highlighting the importance of understanding the decision‐maker's “black box,” three crucial variables are identified within this box. In the remaining part of the paper these three variables will be operationalized by using a large survey comprising more than 200 European cities. By means of statistical multivariate methods (i.e., factor and cluster analysis), the decision‐makers were able to be characterized according to the way they perceive their city (the concept of “imaginable city”), their opinion about ICT, and the way they assess the relevance of ICT policies to their city. Next, a solid explanatory framework will be offered by using a log‐linear logit analysis to test the relationships between these three aspects.

Researching the impact of ICTs as change catalysts in Africa

Compared to about a decade ago, following the advent of the modern “mass” Internet (especially the World Wide Web), e-mail and cell phones around the mid-1990s, academic and general interest in the impact of these new information and communication technologies (ICTs) has increased tremendously. One of the most popular realms of interest has been the influence of digital ICT media on political expression and change, an area where opinion has been sharply divided between optimists (utopians) and pessimists (dystopians), with realists (pragmatists) trying to bridge the rift. A key issue ICT researchers have been concerned with is whether to come up with new theories and methods or to use old or existing ones in humanities and social sciences (especially in the fields of media and communications). Related to this, and not restricted to the field of ICTs, is whether researchers from non-Western regions like Africa should expect to make a meaningful contribution to academia and to their countries’ policies and “life world” if they use perspectives originating from the highly industrialised world.

Researching the impact of ICTs as change catalysts in Africa

Compared to about a decade ago, following the advent of the modern “mass” Internet (especially the World Wide Web), e-mail and cell phones around the mid-1990s, academic and general interest in the impact of these new information and communication technologies (ICTs) has increased tremendously. One of the most popular realms of interest has been the influence of digital ICT media on political expression and change, an area where opinion has been sharply divided between optimists (utopians) and pessimists (dystopians), with realists (pragmatists) trying to bridge the rift. A key issue ICT researchers have been concerned with is whether to come up with new theories and methods or to use old or existing ones in humanities and social sciences (especially in the fields of media and communications). Related to this, and not restricted to the field of ICTs, is whether researchers from non-Western regions like Africa should expect to make a meaningful contribution to academia and to their countries’ policies and “life world” if they use perspectives originating from the highly industrialised world.

What about ICT in special education? Special educators evaluate information and communication technology as a learning tool

The focus in this study is special educators working with children with disabilities and in need of special support and their relation to information and communication technology (ICT). The study is an evaluation of a National State Programme intended to train special educators in the field of ICT. The study is based on a questionnaire answered by 618 special educators, and interviews with 20 educators and 10 headteachers. The results from the study show that there is a great need of education in the ICT field and that the lack of time and financial resources affect the work in the school. The training programme focused on difficulties in reading and writing, although most of the teachers desired a more general knowledge about children with disabilities. It also appears that the knowledge within this area of special education is mainly based on how these practitioners understand their own work. New thinking and innovations in the area are judged, accepted or rejected on the same basis. The headteachers lacked knowledge about the training and were not engaged in this special effort, although they are responsible for the development of the school. One conclusion is that technology was stressed more than the pedagogy.

Some aspests of intedration information tachnologies into education

Information and communication technologies (ICT) are increasingly running into all kinds of activities in education. Modern technologies are applied in various fields and many institutions are involved in their development. The Institute of Mathematics and Informatics (IMI) is one of the research institutions that paid attention not only to pure theoretical investigations but also to various researches in the integration of ICT into education.The paper deals with several trends in the field of ICT performed at the institute: Fostering the cultural heritage and e-democracy (1), Didactics and methodology of informatics (2), Localization of software (3), Information technologies in Lithuanian studies (4), Cooperation with business companies in the field of education (5).Transfer know-how to less enabled institutions, development and active promotion of educational material on digital publishing are the most significant works done in the field of cultural heritage preservation and accessibility in digital space. Researches in the area of didactics and methodology of informatics provided at the institute are recognized all over the country. The investigations in software localization and Lithuanian philology have been the most important tendency for the last decade. The cooperation with business companies in the field of education as newly emerging trend is also discussed in the paper.

INTERDISCIPLINARY APPLICATION OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS IN THE MODERN WORLD

Communications have become irreplaceable part of eveJydayaccivities. Mobile communication is gaining in importancedue to the mobility of terminals and persons. Telecommunications,computer and media indus fly are getting connected andthe chain of values shifts from components to overall solutions.Possibilities offered by information technology are limitless,and its application enables better working conditions since theykeep humans away from dangerous working places and facilitateheavy tasks. The applications in the field of informationand communication technology make it possible to drive fromone end of the continent to another without needing any maps.The computer onboard a vehicle can choose the best directionand adapt to the travelling conditions.

Definindo o Paradigma das TICs e seu diálogo com a Divisão Global Digital

O artigo busca apresentar como o desenvolvimento de Tecnologias da Informação e da Comunicação (TICs) e o advento de um novo paradigma desencadearam alterações de ordem econômica que não foram uniformes em todo globo e levaram estes fenômenos a um diálogo com os efeitos da Divisão Global Digital. Para isso, o trabalho foi divido em três partes. Na primeira, após uma análise comparativa com outros conceitos, é apresentado o conceito de Paradigma das TICs. Na segunda, explora-se o diálogo entre o Paradigma das TICs e a Divisão Global Digital e como ele permitiu uma dinâmica que aciona economicamente determinados lugares do planeta enquanto deixa outros em standby. E na terceira parte, são apresentados os números da Divisão Global Digital com base nos estudos de instituições internacionais a fim robustecer empiricamente a argumentação. Conclui-se que a desigualdade quantitativa e qualitativa em acessibilidade, comércio e desenvolvimento de TICs entre os dois extremos da Divisão Global Digital indica a necessidade de modificação do padrão atual que divide o mundo em regiões com acesso facilitado e desenvolvedoras de TICs avançadas (turn on) e regiões com acesso reduzido, intensivas em mão-de-obra a baixo custo e ausentes em termos de pesquisas para o setor (standby).