Information and Communication Technologies for Development: The Bottom of the Pyramid Model in Practice

The currently influential model for information and communication technologies for development (ICT4D) is based on increasing the well-being of the poor through market-based solutions, and by using low-cost but advanced technologies. Using ethnographic methods, we chart out the contradictions that could arise when such a development-through-entrepreneurship model is implemented. We examine the Akshaya project, a franchise of computer-service kiosks in Kerala, India, which strives simultaneously for social development through access to computers and financial viability through cost recovery and entrepreneurship. We show that tensions within the state and among entrepreneurs and perceptions of public versus private among consumers make it challenging to meet the twin goals of commercial profitability and social development.     

Entering the European Information Society: Four Rural Development Projects

This article compares four European information and communication technologies (ICT) development projects spawned by national and EU initiatives to create the “European information society.” These projects, which sought to support learning and better use of ICT, were all the result of opportunities opened up by political initiatives. The analysis indicates that the main problems that afflict these projects stem from varied expectations and interests of the major actors. These problems can be mitigated considerably if a feeling of ownership is generated among the participants. This sense of belonging, however, is difficult to foster in a “top-down” project. Hence there is a need for a better balance between the “top-down” and “bottom-up” influences in the development of such projects.     

Entering the European Information Society: Four Rural Development Projects

This article compares four European information and communication technologies (ICT) development projects spawned by national and EU initiatives to create the “European information society.” These projects, which sought to support learning and better use of ICT, were all the result of opportunities opened up by political initiatives. The analysis indicates that the main problems that afflict these projects stem from varied expectations and interests of the major actors. These problems can be mitigated considerably if a feeling of ownership is generated among the participants. This sense of belonging, however, is difficult to foster in a “top-down” project. Hence there is a need for a better balance between the “top-down” and “bottom-up” influences in the development of such projects.     

城市公共信息亭“信息生态系统”的失衡与治理

城市公共信息亭是政府提供公共信息服务的重要阵地,近年来在推广过程中却遇到了公众参与热情不高、操作不便、频繁遭遇破坏等现象。本文以信息生态系统视角分析上述现象,认为是信息、信息主体、信息环境互动关系中的某些环节出现问题而导致的信息生态失衡,其核心原因是公共信息亭运营商信息整合能力不足,宣传不够,管理不善。要达到公共信息亭的信息生态平衡,政府必须发挥核心作用,建立＂城市公共信息库＂,并通过市民宣传教育、强化管理等措施逐步将公共信息亭建成城市的数字窗口。     

信息技术变革与发展对情报学科的影响

本文首先介绍了信息技术及情报学的产生与发展,全面论述了信息技术对情报学学科发展的影响,包含正面与负面影响两部分,最后提出两者的合理发展之路及情报学的可持续发展方向。     

Impact and Sustainability of E-Government Services in Developing Countries: Lessons Learned from Tamil Nadu, India

We find that the presence of village Internet facilities, offering government to citizen services, is positively associated with the rate at which the villagers obtain some of these services. In a study of a rural Internet project in India, we identify a positive correlation for two such Internet services: obtaining birth certificates for children and applications for old age pensions. Both these government services are of considerable social and economic value to the citizens. Villagers report that the Internet based services saved them time, money, and effort compared with obtaining the services directly from the government office. We also find that these services can reduce corruption in the delivery of these services. After over one year of successful operation, however, the e-government program was not able to maintain the necessary level of local political and administrative support to remain institutionally viable. As government officers shifted from the region, or grew to find the program a threat, the e-government services faltered. We argue that this failure was due to a variety of Critical Failure Factors. We end with a simple sustainability failure model. In summary, we propose that the e-government program failed to be politically and institutionally sustainable due to people, management, cultural, and structural factors     

融合趋势下的信息资源开发战略

分析了融合的原因,借鉴Ono & Aoki的理论分析方法提炼出融合视角的信息资源开发模型,运用结构方程组对信息资源开发路径进行实证分析,提出融合趋势下的信息资源开发战略.     

科技发展规划的信息支持系统建设研究

本文在对科技发展规划目的和信息需求分析的基础上,探讨了我国目前科技发展规划中信息的来源与运用,并从提高我国科技发展规划的科学性和信息资源的有效利用角度提出了构建我国科技发展规划信息支持系统的必要性和方法。     

信息技术视域下人的全面发展路径探析

信息技术的发展和广泛应用给人们带来了快捷便利的服务,同时也在一定程度影响了人的自主发展。图像为核心的信息表达方式对人抽象思维的淡化,信息管理安全隐患对主体地位的冲击,快速更迭的技术分工加剧个体的碎片化发展趋势,信息占有差距对群体发展失衡的影响等等。只有实现资本逻辑到人的逻辑的转变,旧式分工到自觉分工的转换,建构互联网为依托人的全面交往,才能突破信息技术对人发展的限制,真正实现人的全面均衡发展。     

信息检索可视化技术

首先对可视化信息检索进行了简单介绍,然后讨论了可视化基本技术、面向不同信息类型的可视化技术以及面向网络及大规模信息资源的可视化技术,并在此基础上分析了两个具有代表性的可视化信息检索工具。     

视频信息检索技术的发展及应用

今天视频检索的重要性已经越来越被人们所重视。本文总结了视频信息检索技术的发展历程、技术特点及国内外应用现状，最后预测了未来的发展趋势。     

院士信息资源共享服务系统门户网站建设的思考与实践

院士著作馆及其网站系统是院士资源共享服务的重要载体,汇集了我国两院院士丰富的数字化信息资源。本文作者为该体系的门户网站建设提出了一些设想,为有效地弘扬科学精神,传播院士文化提供依据。     

虚拟空间信息交流模式的分析

从目前已有的信息交流模型来看，它们大多停留在对一般信息交流情况的讨论。然而，伴随着互联网的发展，我们急切需要对它的信息交流模式进行分析研究，找出其中的规律。本文试图通过对互联网信息交流模式的讨论，总结出一种新的信息交流模式。最后，我们通过引出虚拟空间已经存在的现象或事例来说明虚拟空间信息交流的正确性。     

市场营销中的信息交流活动

按照著名营销学专家菲利蒲·科特勒的定义 ,市场营销是“个人和集体通过创造、提供、出售并同别人交换产品和价值 ,以获取所需所欲之物的一种社会和管理过程”。营销活动的最终目的是交易双方通过交换得到自己所需之物 ,消费者得到商品或服务以满足自己的需求 ,企业得到发展所需的资金。为了能实现这种交换 ,交易双方进行信息交流是必不可少的 ,本文拟对市场营销中的各种信息交流活动进行阐述和分析 ,并对各种信息交流工具的优缺点和发展趋势进行评述 ,从而为企业更好地利用各种信息交流工具开展营销活动提供参考。1　信息交流是开展营销活…     

河南省科技情报工作持续发展战略研究

分析河南省科技情报工作现状及问题,提出持续发展的对策。     

Assessing the Need and Potential of Community Networking for Development in Rural India Special Issue: ICTs and Community Networking

This article reports the results and conclusions of a mixed-methods research strategy designed to assess the potential of community networking in rural Tamil Nadu, India. The data reported and analyzed in this article include socioeconomic and household spending, agricultural marketing and price search, availability and use of information on agricultural problems, and communication media use. We use these data to define a framework of existing sources of information for various community agents, with a special emphasis on farmers. We analyze the methods and costs at which these agents obtain information, and identify information and communication gaps that information and communication technologies (ICTs) may help alleviate. This study allows us to demonstrate opportunities for socioeconomic development through ICT-enabled information access. The article concludes by stating the importance of basic communication technologies and contextually relevant information services, and suggesting recommendations for future research in this area.     

专利情报分析在科技发展战略制定中的应用研究

简要介绍了专利分析、科技发展战略的相关概念,从科研管理部门制定科技发展战略信息需求的角度出发,探讨了专利分析在科技发展战略制定中的作用,构建了基于专利分析的科技发展战略决策支撑体系,并提出将专利分析引入到科技战略制定过程的常态机制。     

Institutional Environment and the Development of Information and Communication Technology in India

This article examines the impact of institutional environment on the growth of the Indian information technology (IT) industry. The study reveals that before the first generation of reforms, that is, 1991, the government was pursuing a structuralist approach toward economic development. After liberalization in 1991, the government embarked on pro-active economic policies for the diffusion and production of IT. Consequently, the IT industry experienced an unprecedented growth rate in domestic as well as export markets. However,foreign direct investment (FDI) policies have not been successful in attracting the desired level of foreign investment, which is very important for a high-tech sector such as IT hardware manufacturing. The study suggests that immediate corrective measures need to be taken to augment the IT manufacturing industry, which can significantly contribute to national economic development and employment generation.     

Assessing the Need and Potential of Community Networking for Development in Rural India

This article reports the results and conclusions of a mixed-methods research strategy designed to assess the potential of community networking in rural Tamil Nadu, India. The data reported and analyzed in this article include socioeconomic and household spending, agricultural marketing and price search, availability and use of information on agricultural problems, and communication media use. We use these data to define a framework of existing sources of information for various community agents, with a special emphasis on farmers. We analyze the methods and costs at which these agents obtain information, and identify information and communication gaps that information and communication technologies (ICTs) may help alleviate. This study allows us to demonstrate opportunities for socioeconomic development through ICT-enabled information access. The article concludes by stating the importance of basic communication technologies and contextually relevant information services, and suggesting recommendations for future research in this area.     

我国信息服务业发展战略模型

本文通过对我国信息服务业发展现状的研究,针对目前的现实问题和发展问题,结合国际国内的相关理论和研究成果,从我国的实际国情出发,站在战略层面对我国信息服务业的发展模型展开了研究。借鉴先进国家信息服务业的发展模式,结合我国的实际情况,总结了我国信息服务业的发展经验,创造性地提出了我国信息服务业发展的二段式发展战略模型。