Sustainable Delivery of Speech-Language Therapy Services in Small Island Developing States Using Information and Communication Technology – A Study of the Maldives

Small Island Developing States (SIDS), a subgroup of Majority world countries, face complex challenges providing equitable access to speech-language therapy (SLT) services. Increasing use of information and communication technology (ICT) to enhance SLT services is seen in the Minority world. This study explored the potential of using ICT to provide sustainable SLT services in one SIDS, the Maldives. A mixed method approach was used integrating data from (a) 21 online documents, (b) interview with an ICT official, and (c) surveys of 13 island councillors and 73 parents of children with communication difficulties. Almost 100% of the population had access to mobile phones and mobile broadband internet. Most parents were active and frequent ICT users. The government provided financial aid for people with disabilities which could be utilised to access ICT for services. Asynchronous service delivery using accessible ICT and parents as agents of service delivery can potentially enhance SLT services

Development of Web-Based Rtikabdimas Application With a Rapid Unified Process Approach

RTIKAbdimas is one of the annual routine ICT Volunteer programs in Indonesia. ICT volunteers use the website for information delivery, communication, and registration. Previous research has uncovered implementing and developing web platforms that support similar or benefit such programs, including information services, communications, registration, and online monitoring. Existing research still needs to provide a complete solution to the problem of printed files and manual methods in the RTIKAbdimas business process. This study aims to develop a web-based RTIKAbdimas application using the Rapid Unified Process approach by adopting and complementing existing research results for different problems. This research has succeeded in meeting the system specifications of the RTIKAbdimas business process and includes several online services on web applications developed by previous research. All actors have a dashboard to enter data and access information on data processing results. The most crucial benefit of this research is the control and time efficiency of the activities of actors other than program managers

Creating the essential links for educating the evidence-based medical practitioner of the 21st century

A new postgraduate Medical (MBBS) program at the University of Queensland has been the catalyst for the development of a range of University of Queensland (UQ) Cybrary initiatives, in areas of information resources, services and support. Over the past seven years the UQ Cybrary has successfully integrated library services into the problem-based learning and the e-learning environment of the MBBS Program. Information and communications technology developments have been harnessed by the Cybrary to support the needs of the Program which are dispersed throughout the vast state of Queensland. In particular, there has been a focus on using information and communications technology (ICT) to provide efficient and equitable access for all those involved with UQ city and rural health education. The Cybrary has risen to the challenge of providing information services and resources to support evidence-based practice (EBP) and lifelong learning, ultimately contributing towards achieving an outstanding medical workforce for the 21st Century. This paper will outline how the UQ Cybrary has addressed these issues, particularly in the areas of integration of online materials in the e-learning environment, the development and delivery of tailored information literacy programs and the use of ICT to support access to information and services

A Bridge Between Users and Library Professionals Amid and Post COVID-19 Pandemic: Use of Virtual Reference Services in the Top Five University Libraries of World

The paper discusses the importance of ICT in rendering Virtual Reference Services (VRS) in libraries during and post Covid-19. The application of ICT is not a new phenomenon in libraries. Still, the disclosure of physical buildings is a nudge for adapting technology to make the libraries relevant during and after the pandemic. The study highlights the various ways to render virtual reference services delivery that libraries can provide to their users by harnessing Information and Communication technology. The paper discusses the use of virtual reference services such as email, webform, VoIP, instant messaging, videoconferencing and online chat in libraries to serve their users swiftly in the tough time of Covid-19. The paper investigated the various modes of providing virtual reference services in the top five universities as per the QS World University Rankings 2021, which are Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Stanford University, Harvard University, California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and the University of Oxford. The content analysis of websites was used to collect data. These libraries were selected deliberately as there are rendering different modes of Virtual reference services. VRS act as a bridge to facilitate users during a pandemic and reshape and enhance the library services after the pandemic. The article is an effort to create awareness among libraries to utilise the virtual reference service and support their users virtually

Technology adoption in the public sector: an exploratory study of e-government

ABSTRACT All around the world, the quest to improve government service delivery is becoming an important agenda for most governments. Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and the Internet in particular have opened new possibilities for the government and the governed. Successful delivery of online services has rapidly become an important measure of effective public sector management and this has made many governments to deploy Electronic Government (e-Government) as a tool to achieve this vision. The dual objectives of e-Government are to reinvent the government of Malaysia in terms of service delivery through the use of ICT and to catalyze the successful development of the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) with ICT as one of the leading sectors of the economy. This paper provides the various initiatives taken by the government in implementing eGovernment projects as well as the issues, challenges and benefits derived. A brief case study on electronic procurement as one of the projects in e-Government initiative will be presented

Blended learning in distance education: Sri Lankan perspective

The purpose of this paper is to explore the implementation of online learning in distance educational delivery at Yellow Fields University (pseudonymous) in Sri Lanka. The implementation of online distance education at the University included the use of blended learning. The policy initiative to introduce online for distance education in Sri Lanka was guided by the expectation of cost reduction and the implementation was financed under the Distance Education Modernization Project. The paper presents one case study of a larger multiple case study research that employed an ethnographic research approach in investigating the impact of ICT on distance education in Sri Lanka. Documents, questionnaires and qualitative interviews were used for data collection. There was a significant positive relationship between ownership of computers and students’ ability to use computer for word processing, emailing and Web searching. The lack of access to computers and the Internet, the lack of infrastructure, low levels of computer literacy, the lack of local language content, and the lack of formal student support services at the University were found to be major barriers to implementing compulsory online activities at the Universit

Development of a Healthy Eating and Lifestyle Program (HELP) Online Website for Filipinos: A Case Report

Background and Purpose: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a major public health problem in the Philippines and around the world. Preventive measures to reduce its continuous rise require improvement in the health system. Utilization of information and communication technology-(ICT)-based tools will allow dissemination of evidenced-based information in the population. This case report contains the description of the development process of a Web-based nutrition Website. Case Description: ICT-based tools were explored as means of communicating nutrition information to the public because of the increasing access and usage of the Internet among Filipinos. An iterative process with five major phases were followed in the development. Outcome: The Website HELP Online can be accessed through (http://i.fnri.dost.gov.ph/helponline). There is integration of two modules: one for the general public and the other for registered nutritionist dietitians (RND) of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI). The first module contained the nutrition counseling platform that connects and records all interactions of online and walk-in clients with their RNDs. The second module contained nutrition calculators, a health tracker, and nutrition education materials. Discussion: The developed HELP Online Website was used for online users to easily access nutrition information and services offered by Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-FNRI. The user-centered design focus in combination with a responsive Web platform resulted in improved user satisfaction. In terms of content, use of the current and accepted scientific information translated to simpler and easier messages were found to be more effective among the target group. Although many issues exist with the continuous use of ICT-based tools, the main purpose is to improve the delivery of evidence-based information to the public

The e-Municipality in South Africa as a Panacea for Adopting and Implementing Sustainable Online Services: A Case of the City of Tshwane: E-Municipality

Since municipalist praxis has proliferated, so too have the use of e-Municipality with multiple political motives and municipalist monikers springing up across public administration. All this typological creativity in digital governance suggests a new and pre-paradigmatic way of empirical inquiry aimed at improving service delivery and enhancing good governance through means of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). However, there seem to an ongoing problematic issue signifying a misconception jostling for academic attention in providing an understanding of e-Municipality within the context of political settings particularly in South African municipalities. This is necessary in clarifying the confusion and obscuring of what’s at stake in relation to service delivery within municipalities. This study used the adoption and implementation model for e-Municipality and Public Value theory to position e-Municipality services. Methodologically, the study adopted the qualitative research approach with the aid of secondary data gathered from scholarly journal articles, books, trusted websites, municipal database, government legislations and peer-reviewed articles. With the City of Tshwane adopted as a case study, the researcher analysed data using the online content analysis techniques to present e-Municipality results. The findings reveals that, the e-Tshwane system’s failure to automatically update or reflect changes made by customers in relation to home addresses and payments made to municipal account often result into a large number of disgruntled customers. To address this issue, this study recommends that the City of Tshwane must find alternative online mechanism to identity system faults to reduce the number of disgruntled customers. This study offers policy-makers in government some insights in relation to the adoption and implementation of sustainable online services by addressing issues aimed at improving online mechanisms to eliminate physical contact at municipal offices in order to access services. &nbsp

ASSESSMENT OF E-COMMERCE USAGE FOR EFFECTIVE SERVICE DELIVERY IN NIGERIA BANKING SECTOR

This study assessed the extent of e-commerce usage for effective service delivery in Nigeria banking sector. Four research questions and four null hypotheses guided the study. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The study covered 64 microfinance banks in Oyo State, South-West, Nigeria. The population was made up of 1275 staffs from the 64 microfinance banks. The sample size consisted of 28 microfinance banks of which 280 staffs were purposively selected. A 28-item structured questionnaire was used as instrument for data collection. Four experts carried out the face and content validity of the instrument. The reliability was determined using Cronbach’s Alpha statistic Reliability Coefficient and reliability coefficient of 0.86 was obtained. The arithmetic mean and standard deviation were used to analyze data, answer research questions and determine the homogeneity or otherwise of the respondents’ means while ANOVA was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that microfinance banks in Oyo State have not use electronic payment cards as e-commerce delivery channels. They also use Internet marketing for product advertising and loan availability display; electronic fund transfer but have not been using it for online customers’ enlightment, online promotion of services and sending statements of account. It was recommended among other things, that management of microfinance banks should adopt most of the e-commerce delivery channel used by commercial banks in order to boost their standard of operation within the banking sector also, microfinance bank management should engage, encourage and sponsor their staff for re-training programmes to update their ICT knowledge, skills and competencies to effectively use the resources for quality customer service delivery.  Article visualizations

Advancing Australia as a digital economy: an update to the national digital economy strategy

The Government’s 2011 National Digital Economy Strategy (the 2011 NDES) set the goal of Australia becoming a leading digital economy by 2020. In doing so, it nominated eight goals to position Australia as a world leader in broadband connectivity and the use of digital technologies, and set out a bold vision for Australia to be a vibrant, trusted hub in the global digital economy. Advancing Australia as a Digital Economy is an update of the 2011 NDES, building on the 2011 NDES, and laying out the next steps towards delivering the government\u27s 2020 vision. Executive Summary In 2013, the use of online services by Australians covers almost every aspect of daily life, from checking tomorrow’s weather forecast to preparing a meal, paying bills, arranging a holiday or accessing education or health services from remote locations. Almost every aspect of life can be enhanced through some form of online service delivery. New ideas that apply digital technology to everyday situations emerge almost daily. Amid the relentless digital transformation of the global economy, more and more services are becoming available online. But there is much more to do before Australia is a leading digital economy. This strategic update provides an overview of the dozens of individual initiatives, and outlines a number of new initiatives, that represent the progress being made by the Australian Government to embrace our digital future. To advance Australia as a leading digital economy in the networked world, there are many small steps needed to achieve genuine transformation. The headline initiative is a Digital First commitment for government to offer its services digitally. As part of Digital First, priority government transactions will be end-to-end digital by 2017. Some alternative channels of service will remain so that agencies can provide assistance to those individuals who cannot easily access online services. As the economy moves to a greater reliance on online transactions there will be a corresponding need to improve performance and acceptance of online identity arrangements. The Government will contribute to developments in this critical area by significantly enhancing the existing government Document Verification Service and making this more widely available to the private sector. Businesses will be able to reliably identify customers by matching details from customers’ identity documents with records held by the documents’ issuing authorities. Recognising the role secure digital mailboxes can play in secure online communication, the Government will expand the use of digital mail by myGov and conduct proof-of-concept trials for other digital mailboxes. The trials are expected to demonstrate how digital mailboxes can better and more securely connect Australians with essential government services. The Government will seek to ensure that Australians have the skills required as the digital future unfolds by promoting a more cohesive approach to ICT skills development. In particular, it will develop a lifecycle approach to ICT skills, beginning with completing the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority’s development of the Australian Curriculum: Technologies and the development of stronger links between industry and tertiary education institutions. For Australia to become a leading digital economy, our ICT companies must also be working at the cutting edge of digital and technical innovation. Recognising the need to encourage the development of such companies, the Government will enhance the regulatory environment for innovative ICT start-up companies. For example, the Government will examine possible changes to improve employee share scheme arrangements for start-ups by the end of 2013. Looking even further ahead, the Government will also conduct a review of regulations governing crowd-sourced equity funding. In parallel to this document, the Government has released Australia’s first National Cloud Computing Strategy, which aims to address barriers to adoption while maximising the benefits of cloud computing for the whole Australian economy. It includes a series of actions such as changes to procurement policy to ensure that government agencies consider cloud services for ICT procurements. There will be help for digital economy beginners too. Individuals, businesses and not-for-profit organisations yet to engage meaningfully in the digital economy will be given a helping hand to do so. Digital Business Kits containing online skills tutorials that have been specifically tailored for different industries will be developed. Additionally, the Digital Enterprise and Digital Local Government programs will be extended to enhance household and business understanding of and engagement in the digital economy. High-speed broadband will be used to deliver services to older Australians with chronic disease. The Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record will be strongly promoted, as will Medicare- funded telehealth services. These services have opened up a new avenue for the delivery of health services that will particularly benefit people living in regional and remote Australia as well as those with limited mobility. The Government will also support the increased use of digital platforms to provide aged care services. Through annual National Telework Weeks the Government will continue to promote the uptake of telework, which is a key tool by which organisations will benefit from the digital economy. These initiatives are supported by a suite of actions outlined in the next section of this paper, which collectively form an integrated strategy to support our ambition to become a leading digital economy. This document has been fashioned as a strategic update to the 2011 National Digital Economy Strategy—the first of what is intended to be a regular series— to reflect the fast-moving, rapidly changing environment that is our digital future