ICTs for inclusive communities in developing societies

Abstract This paper will explore the meanings and roles of information and communication technology (ICT) for communities in underserved areas, and how these discourses affect the use of available technology artefacts. Since a certain degree of "technological determinism" is still rife in the field of information and communication technology for development (ICT4D), there is a need to operationalise more inclusive, contextual and socially responsive technologies for societal development. It becomes critical in this regard for academics and practitioners to uncover the discourses and concepts that emerge from grounded research when designing, implementing and evaluating projects. Through an empirical case study in Cape Town, South Africa, the authors will explore and discuss some 'collective implications' of ICT for urban poor communities. From this study, a series of meanings around ICT was identified from discussions with community groups as performative, survival, modernity and unspoken discourses. From these, specific collective capabilities, possibilities and risks emerged and revealed the relative knowledge about material and motivational accessibility, as well as the knowledge around usage, costs, and skills

ICTs for inclusive communities in developing societies

Abstract Personal Health Records (PHRs) offer various advantages for individuals making use of these systems to document and maintain information related to their health. In addition, PHRs may play a positive role in preventative care and efforts to prevent and control non-communicable lifestyle diseases. Despite numerous benefits adoption rates are low, and little is known regarding the factors that affect adoption in the South African context. This exploratory paper highlights socio-technical factors that can affect the adoption of PHRs in the South African context. Socio-Technical Systems theory is applied as a theoretical lens to identify the social, technical, and environmental factors that can affect the adoption of PHRs. Factors that can positively contribute to, as well as negatively inhibit, the adoption of PHRs are identified

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Tesis (M. Sc.) -- Universiteit van Stellenbosch, 1993.Een kopie mikrofiche.Full text to be digitised and attached to bibliographic record

Formal usability testing - informing design

The goal of this paper is to discuss the role of usability testing in software development in South Africa. Throughout the software industry software engineers develop user interfaces (Ul) with little or no support from professional UI designers. As a consequence of this, commercial software often contains serious design errors. Producing a good computer system is not just about ensuring that both the computer and the human perform as efficiently as possible; in order to be usable it has to conform to ISO standards for usability. The results of formal usability testing can provide essential empirical information for the software design process that cannot be obtained using other usability evaluation methods