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

ICT in Latin America: A Microdata Analysis

This book is the final report of the ECLAC-IDRC project Observatory for the Information Society in Latin American and the Caribbean (OSILAC), Third Phase”. OSILAC III is a cooperating project between the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Division of Production, Productivity and Management, ECLAC-UN, which aims at understanding the dynamics of the ICT evolution and revolution and producing evidence on its potential to support socio-economic development, particularly in developing countries. As such, microdata analysis drawn from National Household Surveys and National Innovation Surveys in Latin America were used in the framework of the project in the attempt to reach those objectives Both statistical information sources provide attractive potentialities in order to investigate not only determinants of innovation activities and technology diffusion, but also its economic impacts.ICT, Innovation, Productivity

Digital (Dis)Engagement in Older Age : Determinants and Outcomes

Information and communication technology (ICT) hold the promise of improving the quality of life of older people and of increasing the accessibility of public services for them. The chapter aims at distinguishing the predictors of ICT increased or decreased use specifically for older adults and outlining the potential outcomes that it can bring. To achieve it, the concept of digital (dis)engagement is viewed in relation to the non-digital engagement, the concept of digital divides is defined and the literature on digital divides predictors is reviewed. The discussion section states the gaps in literature and possibilities for future research

DIGITAL INCLUSION IN THE LIS LITERATURE: AN INTERSECTIONAL ANALYSIS

Digital inclusion refers to the conditions and degrees of access to information and communication technologies (ICT) among individuals and communities. This includes the variable determinants and outcomes associated with ICT connectivity, as well as efforts to mitigate digital exclusion. With the proliferation of ICT in the past 30 years, digital inclusion (and related concepts like the digital divide and digital literacy) has been a major focus of policymaking and public service efforts, with libraries serving as leaders in offering free public ICT and digital skills training. Digital inclusion research has commonly relied upon sociodemographic variables to survey determinants of digital inequality, with digital inequalities often characterized as reproductions and expansions of extant structural and social inequalities. The overlap and mutuality of digital inequalities is a consistent theme in digital inclusion studies, echoing the major points of intersectional theory, which seeks to understand inequality and discrimination as a complex multiaxial experience. In performing content analysis across the library-focused library and information science (LIS) literature, this thesis plans to use an intersectional framework to observe the relationship between presently surveyed digital in/exclusion and structural inequalities, and to provide an account of the myriad ways libraries engage with digital inclusion

From the 'Digital Divide' to 'Digital Inequality': Studying Internet Use as Penetration Increases

The authors of this paper contend that as Internet penetration increases, students of inequality of access to the new information technologies should shift their attention from the "digital divide" - inequality between "haves" and "have-nots" differentiated by dichotomous measures of access to or use of the new technologies - to digital inequality, by which we refer not just to differences in access, but also to inequality among persons with formal access to the Internet. After reviewing data on Internet penetration, the paper describes five dimensions of digital inequality - in equipment, autonomy of use, skill, social support, and the purposes for which the technology is employed - that deserve additional attention. In each case, hypotheses are developed to guide research, with the goal of developing a testable model of the relationship between individual characteristics, dimensions of inequality, and positive outcomes of technology use. Finally, because the rapidity of organizational as well as technical change means that it is difficult to presume that current patterns of inequality will persist into the future, the authors call on students of digital inequality to study institutional issues in order to understand patterns of inequality as evolving consequences of interactions among firms' strategic choices, consumers' responses, and government policies.Digital divide, Internet, World Wide Web, computer use, social inequality

Exploring the Intersection of the Digital Divide and Artificial Intelligence: A Hermeneutic Literature Review

Given the rapid advancements in information communication technology (ICT), researchers and practitioners need to understand the impact that emerging phenomena, such as artificial intelligence (AI), have on existing social and economic challenges. We conducted a hermeneutic literature review to present the current state of the digital divide, developments in AI, and AI’s potential impact on the digital divide. We propose three theoretical framings: 1) conceptualizing the divide, 2) modeling the divide, and 3) analyzing the divide. These framings synthesize the digital divide’s essence in relation to AI and provide the foundation for a socio-technical research agenda for the digital divide in light of the evolving phenomena of AI

Addressing Digital Divide through Digital Literacy Training Programs: A Systematic Literature Review

Digital literacy training programs (DLTPs) are influential in developing digital skills to help build a more inclusive and participatory ecosystem. This study presents a review of 86 studies related to DLTPs for marginalised populations in developed and developing countries. It aims to understand (a) the profile of DLTPs, (b) the digital competences incorporated in the training curriculum and (c) tangible outcomes of Internet use post-training. The review indicated that developed countries focus more upon developing digital literacy in elderly populations. In contrast, the focus still lies in developing digital literacy among people with low skills and education levels in developing countries. The training curriculums focus mainly on developing information-seeking and communication competencies, besides the basic operations of digital devices. Most of the studies reported an increase in the personal-level outcomes around health, leisure and self-actualisation achieved post-training. This study can help policymakers, practitioners, and educational researchers improve the scope and quality of educational programs and contribute to people's digital empowerment and well-being

Social and Digital Skills on Social Media Use in Tanzania

The study explores the relationship between digital and non-digital skills on social media use in Tanzania. The study examines the role played by three types of skills: social skills, business support skills, and digital skills on extensive and intensive social media use. Specifically, the study attempts to scrutinize relevant skills needed by a user when encounters a challenge while using social media. Researchers used the Heckman selection model on the national representative sample.Results suggest that digital skills are essential to social media use. In addition, social skills, the ability to request assistance from the close network when experiencing challenges during interaction with social media platforms, play a crucial role in fostering social media use. The results pose an imperative argument to the literature in the way that digital skills are acquired. It suggests that individuals within a close network of people possessing higher digital skills are most likely to acquire those digital skills. Hence enable them to cultivate individual social media use

Digitalisation in Regions of Latvia – Problems and Challenges

Digital skills are defined as a basic competence, the same level as reading or writing and it is important for country to provide successful digitalisation in regions as regional development is the basis for national development. Purpose of the study is to analyse digitalisation in the regions of Latvia. The tasks of the study: 1) to analyse theoretical background of digitalisation in context of regional development; 2) to analyse existing research of digitalisation in the regions in EU; 3) to analyse problems of digitalisation in the regions of Latvia. Research methods used in preparation of this article: scientific publication and previous conducted research results analysis, analysis of Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI), EU-SILC results (in 2014–2017) and results of the survey realised in Latvia at the end of 2017 and beginning of 2018 on internet shopping in cooperation with company iMarketing.lv, University of Latvia and Chamber of Trade and Commerce of Latvia (n = 2513). Data are compared with the results of other Eurozone and OECD countries. For data analysis there were used indicators of descriptive statistics (indicators of central tendency or location – arithmetic mean, mode, median), indicators of variability (indicators of dispersion – range, standard deviation and standard error of mean), cross-tabulations for regions in Latvia, for household members, for urban – rural living and analysis of variance – ANOVA are used. The results of analysis have indicated different challenges for decision makers on different levels.The research was supported by the NATIONAL RESEARCH PROGRAMME “LATVIAN HERITAGE AND FUTURE CHALLENGES FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE STATE” project “CHALLENGES FOR THE LATVIAN STATE AND SOCIETY AND THE SOLUTIONS IN INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT" (INTERFRAME-LV, Project No.VPP-IZM-2018/1-0005