New Media and ICT4D

This presentation in MS PowerPoint format was given for the Communication for Development Programme at Malmo University in 2007. The content summarises recent developments in information and communication technology (ICT), along with frameworks for analysis, case studies, and trends with accompanying roadmaps.

The presentation focuses on world information and communication technologies, particularly in Africa, Asia, and South Asia. It contrasts what was new media 10 years ago - proprietary online services like bulletin boards systems and international internet providers, as well as developing technologies, hardware, and software including fax, personal computers, mainframe computers, email, and audio-visual conferencing - with the new media of 2007 - wireless, mobile, and embedded technologies, aggregation (e.g., portals) and disaggregation (e.g., RSS feeds), narratives (e.g., blogs, citizen journalism), knowledge management (e.g., Wikipedia), outsourcing, and the information society. The 'old versus new' on a more theoretical level includes contrasts like mass media versus emerging and digital media. It includes mass media theories in transition from structural news flows, media gatekeepers, ideological state apparatus, and agenda setting to interactive, customisable, personalisable, archives, searches, immediate posting, global, ubiquitous, and peer-to- peer (P2P) contact between participants in a network.

The presentation explores the "8 Cs"of ICT for development (ICT4D):

1. Connectivity
2. Content
3. Community
4. Culture
5. Capacity
6. Cooperation
7. Commerce
8. Capital

It continues with a list of the dimensions of ICTs first as instruments: requiring affordable access, navigation and content in local languages, and "sectoral" organisation and development (e.g., news, education, business, environment, and healthcare); and then as industry: requiring the boosting of content industries, venture capital, stock markets, technical training, regulations, and global alliances. Next, the author classifies information societies on a scale from restrictive through embryonic, emerging, negotiating, mature, advanced, and agenda setting in terms of a progression in ICT development. As an example, the focus is on Asia and its developmental ICT diversity from the powerhouses of Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan to China, with the world's largest mobile subscriber base and second largest internet population, to Bangladesh, with innovations like Grameen Telephone, combining shared mobile access with microfinance.

Shifting to challenges, the presentation notes recent foci on scalability and reliability, on social entrepreneurs, on clusters and teams for learning and assessing workability, and the future of regional development and South-South linkages. There is mention of the "dark" or problematic side of technology, e.g., junk mail, spyware, worms, addiction, and identity theft as part of a long list of digital dilemmas. It states the risks of new media as: data and intellectual property risks, personal and organisational risks, and cultural and spiritual risks, followed by some promising examples of "m-government", like disease control alerts, voting reminders, and pollution reporting.

The summary continues with opportunities and objectives of ICT4D, including disaster management, poverty alleviation, better education, improved healthcare, revitalised private sector, freedoms and conveniences for citizens, and a more equitable and just society.

Case studies that follow include samples of kiosk and telecentre projects, disaster management, healthcare possibilities, higher education in Africa, areas for advancement in developing countries, and e-trade guides. The conclusions include impacts of ICT, metrics of ICT4D, and thoughts on neglected partners like radio, libraries, post offices, and bus and train stations.