Inclusion and exclusion in the information society

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Inclusion and exclusion in the information society
Castells 1999
Digital divide
connected
disconnected
Castells envisages a system that allows linkages
with everything that is valuable according to
dominant values and interests, while
disconnecting everything that is not valuable, or
becomes devalued. The systems has a concurrent
capacity to include and exclude people based upon
a capacity to network, and this is where the poor
in developing countries suffer from exclusion
(Nyaki Adeya 2002)
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Internet topology (inclusion et exclusion)
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ICTs Inclusion and exclusion The train
1) Some are on board
2) Some see the train passing by
3) Some dont even know that the train exists
4) Consequences?
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Digital divide definition
digital divide
The so-called "digital divide" is the gap between
people who have access to ICTs and the capability
to use modern information technology and those
who havent.
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Definition development

• GDP?
• Traditional economic development
• Quality of life ?
• Work- time, holiday, ... (Economist 2003)
• Choice ?
• Capacity to choose, freedom (Sen 2000)
• Social services ?
• Health
• Education
• Relative development ?
• Importance of close environment in
  self-definition (Economist 2003)
• Wealth distribution?
• Is an egalitarian society more developed?

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Where to invest for development?

• Health?
• ICTs
• Education?

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A cross-sectoral snapshot of ICTs
OWI 2002
Utilisation dapplications (société
civile/gouvernement/entreprises)
Capacity to understand and use applications
Capacity to create and maintain applications and
local content
Education
Health
Business
Governance
Social
Environment
Human capacity
Capacity to deploy and maintain the
infrastructure at an affordable cost
ICT infrastructure (access/software)
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Information and communication luxury or
necessity?
?
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ICTs the issues at stake
content literacy
Applications
Opprtortunity Cost
bandwidth connectivity
Infrastructure
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Infrastructure shared access
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Example telecenters
At a macroscopic level, it all seems simple

So much money for so many centers
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The human factor
Anderson 1999

• People dont use the center
• Social reasons (exclusion)
• Computer illiteracy
• Relevant content is lacking
• No feeling of ownership
• No maintenance or repair
• Applications and content are not updated
• Funds dry out and the center has to close down
• No sustainable model in place when the donor
  leaves
• Trained staff are lacking or leave
• Inappropriate technology
• Electricity is lacking
• Connectivity is poor

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Development onion (the layers)
Batchelor 2001
ValuesIdentityCommunity
Vision/Goals
Strategy
Structures/Systems
Staff/Resources
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Against dependency
In some cases, development projects may create a
dependency relationship rather than a real
development despite good intentions (in most
cases)