Information System for NGO Libraries in Pakistan: A Proposed Model for Organizing the Grey Literature by Syed Attaullah Shah and Humera Ilhaq

Abstract In recent years, especially in developed countries, various systems have been created to advance the management and organization of grey literature. Such systems use the latest communication technology and electronic and digital resources, and have developed huge networking systems to distribute and mange grey literature. Because of the scarcity of a global standardized organization system for grey literature and often limited access to computer technology, however, awareness of existence and access to grey literature is still seriously lacking, particularly in developing countries. Based on a survey of selected Pakistani NGOs from various sectors, this study proposes a new model. This paper explains the current usage patterns of grey literature in Pakistani organizations, then assesses their needs and resources for grey literature and finally recommends anew standardized model for organizing grey literature in the developing world. In this model a separate subject and classification scheme to control various types of grey literature, a shelving arrangement system and a networking system have been introduce

ICT access in Latin America. evidence from household level

The diffusion of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) is becoming a central policy issue for developing countries, being identified by international policy-makers and scholars as an important driver of knowledge, innovation and economic growth. We analyze ICT access patterns in seven Latin American countries. In particular, we study the socio-economic determinants of the presence of computers and Internet connection at household level. Descriptive data show that ICT diffusion is concentrated in narrowly defined segments of income and educational groups in each country. Across countries, there is also evidence that the lower is the ICT diffusion, the higher is the inequality of that diffusion. Econometrically, we model the probability that a household has or has not adopted computer technologies and Internet access. The results confirm that variables such as income, education and rural/urban areas are key determinants of ICT diffusion. Additionally, there is evidence of geographical network effects and complementarities between Internet uses at different locations.ICT Access, Sample selection, Latin America

E-learning in developing countries: suggesting a methodology for enabling computer-aided assessment

Traditional education has shifted towards new methods of teaching and learning through the proliferation of information and communication technologies (ICT). The continuous advances in technology enable the realisation of a more distributed structure of knowledge transfer. This becomes critically important for developing countries that lack the resources and infrastructure for implementing cutting-edge education practices. The two main themes of technology in education for developing countries focus either on aspects of technological support for traditional methods and localised processes, or on the investigation of how such technologies may assist distance learning. Commonly such efforts are threefold, relating to content delivery, assessment and provision of feedback. This paper focuses on issues regarding the implementation of e-learning in developing countries and particularly those aspects of computer-aided assessment (CAA) that could be tailored to satisfy the needs of a limited educational infrastructure. The primary contribution of this paper is a proposed methodology for supporting both formative and summative CAA

Legal Issues in E-Commerce Transactions - An Indian Perspective

Recent advances in telecommunications and computer technologies have moved computer networks to the centre of the international economic infrastructure, everyone with a computer and connected to the Internet has become a potential player and a potential market. These technological developments have gone hand in hand with a trend, predominantly in the developed world, towards a post-industrial knowledge economy. The vast majority of these 'e-commerce' transactions to date have taken place in countries with advanced economies and infrastructure. For developing countries such as India, e-commerce offers significant opportunities; e-commerce diminishes existing advantages of cost, communication, and information, and may create new markets for indigenous products and services. Many Organizations and communities in India have begun to take advantage of the potential of the e- Commerce, critical challenges remain to be overcome before its potential can be fully realized for the benefit of all citizens

Promoting Sustainable Development through ICT in Developing Countries

This paper outlines how ICTS in general will promote sustainable development in developing countries. This can be promoted through acquiring ICT skills in various ways which include: software development commercial outfit, computer training maintenance, networking and internet service as well as enhancing teaching and learning activities. Also the paper revealed the possibilities for locating independent working environment through ICT facilities such as economic sustainability, social sustainability, and political sustainability. It also looks at the possible challenges of implementing ICT such as lacks of maintenance culture, budgetary constrain, and infrastructure related problems. Finally the paper emphasized that proper utilization of ICTs is necessary for promoting sustainable development in developing countries Keywords: Information Communication Technology (ICT) skills, sustainable development, prospects and challenges

Learning Business Negotiations with Web-based Systems: The Case of IIMB

Access to, and the ability to use computer and communication technologies varies widely between countries. It is often lack of proficiency rather than access that creates the barriers between developed and developing countries. The interNeg Web site and its online system INSPIRE and INSS, aim at overcoming these barriers by educating people around the world about decision and negotiation analysis and providing them with an opportunity to use decision support techniques. The systems allow one to conduct simulated negotiations with people from different cultures and solve realistic managerial decision problems. In this paper we present and discuss the limitations of the prevailing methods for teaching decision making and negotiation and present a technological solution that is Internet-based. We present our experiences with using our Web-based decision and negotiation support systems in executive training programs at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB). The discussion of extension to the presented methods and their use in higher education in developing countries concludes the paper

Drivers of Personal Health Information Privacy Concerns among Individuals in Developing Countries: A Conceptual Model

In recent years, there has been increased use of electronic healthcare (e-health) in developing countries. E-health can contribute immensely to addressing the myriad of health challenges facing these countries (e.g., extending geographic access to care, improving management of health information). The emergence of e-health, however, has raised individuals’ concerns about personal health information (PHI) privacy, being often identified as a key barrier to the successful implementation of e-health. To ensure the sustained growth and development of e-health in developing countries it is important to understand and respond appropriately to individuals’ concerns regarding the electronic storage, use and communication of PHI as well as the factors driving these concerns. This paper reports on a study which seeks to address the above research problem by developing and examining a model of key determinants of individual PHI privacy concerns in developing countries. More specifically, the study examines a model of the impacts of individual characteristics such as gender, individual experiences such as computer experience, and individual beliefs such as trust in e-health systems and trust in health services providers, on PHI privacy concerns. A survey study which tests the proposed model in the healthcare setting of Ghana, a Sub-Saharan African nation, is outlined. Implications for research and practice are also discussed

The Effect Of Electronic Tourism In Enabling The Disabled Tourists To Communicate With The Touristic And Archaeological Sites Case Study – Jordan

Since the early 1980s, the information and communication revolution created radical changes in the international tourist industry in all the advanced and developing societies even though the said changes were relatively slow in the developing countries. Electronic tourism dominated tourist industry on the international level. For example, identifying tourist Sites electronically has become a reality by connecting the disabled tourists with the information and communication technology (ICT) as a facility to enhance and enrich their capabilities to recognize tourist sites. Assistive technology includes all the modern technology means used by the disabled to get to know the tourist and archaeological sites, through the various technological techniques incorporated in this digital technology such as adjusted keyboards, software to read the texts shown on the screen through a voice produced by the computer and the technology that enables the disabled to communicate through the computer by means of computers that work by eye movement, in addition to other developed devices by using a number of specialized software like Geographic Information System (GIS), Remote sensing (RS) and Digital Modeling (DM) and other data. The study indicated that the information and communication technology applications have significant impact pushing the disabled tourism development forward, and empowering the tourists of this category, starting from identifying the tourist sites and ending with remote booking. However, many Arab countries suffer from weak investment in the infrastructure of the information and communication technology related to the disabled category as this technology is only used as a promotional propaganda, and their tourist offers through their websites lack the modern software that help the disabled to communicate with tourist locations

Information System for NGO Libraries in Pakistan: A Proposed Model for Organizing the Grey Literature by Syed Attaullah Shah and Humera Ilhaq

Abstract In recent years, especially in developed countries, various systems have been created to advance the management and organization of grey literature. Such systems use the latest communication technology and electronic and digital resources, and have developed huge networking systems to distribute and mange grey literature. Because of the scarcity of a global standardized organization system for grey literature and often limited access to computer technology, however, awareness of existence and access to grey literature is still seriously lacking, particularly in developing countries. Based on a survey of selected Pakistani NGOs from various sectors, this study proposes a new model. This paper explains the current usage patterns of grey literature in Pakistani organizations, then assesses their needs and resources for grey literature and finally recommends anew standardized model for organizing grey literature in the developing world. In this model a separate subject and classification scheme to control various types of grey literature, a shelving arrangement system and a networking system have been introduce

The role of intellectual property rights in information and communication technologies

The paper starts by recapitulating the basic arguments provided by economic theory to explain the existence of the patent system. The paper then concentrates on the three important ICT industries viz., telecommunication equipment, computer hardware and semiconductor industries. The issues covered in the discussion on these industries are the technological characteristics; market structure and technology transfer experiences of selected developing countries. Even though there are some differences in these industries, what come out clearly are some similarities. These similarities pertain to concentration by firm as well as country; rapid technological changes; existence of scale economies; rising minimum efficient levels of production; entry barriers to the industries both financial and technological etc. Bresnahan, Stern and Trajtenbert [1997] show that in the computer PC market brand name and being on technological frontier help the firm in appropriating inventions. Taylor and Silberston [1973] observe that in electronics while patents by themselves are not important method of appropriation, it encourages firms to accumulate patents so that they can have an advantage in cross-licensing agreements. This finding was reiterated by Hall and Ham [1999] for semiconductor industry. They name this phenomenon "patent portfolio race". The paper briefly touches upon the issues pertaining to Internet and the problems it raises for copyright; protection of computer software and the discussion on a sui generis protection for databases. The paper concludes that the role of IPRs in ICT seems to be marginal and as prices are falling it does not seem to be attracting negative attention.Intellectual property rights, patents, information and communication technologies