Global Impact Study at ICTD 2012

Many of the Global Impact Study research partners will be attending ICTD 2012 in Atlanta in March. In addition to TASCHA staff members, representatives from our survey implementation teams from Bangladesh, Brazil, Chile, Ghana, and the Philippines will attend, as will some of the principal investigators of our in-depth studies. Components of the Global Impact Study will be highlighted in two open sessions and one poster presentation.

Continue reading...

Who uses public access ICTs? First survey working paper released

Who uses public access ICTs? With the release of the first survey working paper, Public access to ICTs: Sculpting the profile of users, the Global Impact Study offers insight into who the users of public access ICTs are. Written by George Sciadas, with input from Hil Lyons, Chris Rothschild, and Araba Sey, this working paper results from data analysis of the user surveys in Bangladesh, Brazil, Chile, Ghana, and the Philippines.

Continue reading...

Cost benefit analysis of public access venues in Chile

Given the proliferation of public access venues, such as cybercafes, telecentres, and public libraries, in developing countries, it is important to understand what value and perceived costs users associate with using and having access to these venues. By employing benefit cost analysis (BCA) methodologies, this in-depth study will explore the costs and benefits of providing and using public access information and communication technologies (ICT).

Continue reading...

Fieldwork in Chile begins for public access ICT in disaster research

TASCHA researchers, Maria Garrido and Beth Patin, visited Chile in February to participate in fieldwork for their study investigating the role of telecentres and public libraries in disaster management. The visit included focus groups with public access venue users and staff, interviews with government officials, and visits to telecentres and public libraries affected by the 2010 earthquake and tsunami. Maria, Beth, and their partners from ATACH made many interesting preliminary observations about how these public access venues adapted and responded to local community needs following the disaster.

Continue reading...

Public access ICT in disaster management

It is becoming clear through recent research that public access ICT venues can play an important role in various crisis situations. As a contribution to the growing field of crisis informatics, we are pleased to announce our partnership with a related research study, The Role of Public Internet Access Venues in Disaster Management and Prevention: The Case of the 2010 Earthquake in Chile. Exploring the experiences of public access ICT venues in Chile after the 2010 earthquake, this study aims to identify findings that could help in other settings. Exploring the experiences of public access ICT venues in Chile after the 2010 earthquake, this study aims to identify findings that could help in other settings.

Continue reading...