Non-instrumental Use study begins pilot testing in Brazil

The research team for the Non-Instrumental Use study began pilot testing of survey instruments in Brazil on September 16. Throughout the trip so far, the researchers have had the opportunity to explore different public access venues and identify possible challenges they may encounter in the study's implementation.

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The socio-economic impact of public access venues on families left behind by overseas Filipino workers

Public access venues provide an arena for people to connect with their friends and family. Given that more than 9% of the population in the Philippines (over 8 million Filipinos) are working abroad, this in-depth study will explore how public access venues in the Philippines are used by families left behind by Filipinos working overseas.

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Common research tools, contrasting contexts: lessons from the Infomediaries team

The Infomediaries in-depth study team recently compiled a Lessons Report based on what was learned along the way to create common data collection tools for three countries. We hope that our Lessons Report may help other scholars who are working in various contexts with a common set of research tools.

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Public access, private phone: the interplay of shared access and mobile internet

Mobile phone use is soaring, especially in developing and transitioning countries. What does the dramatic increase in mobile use — and particularly mobile internet use — mean for public access venues? Will mobile internet compete with, complement, or coexist with public access? A new in-depth study, Public Access, Private Phone, will explore the interplay between mobile internet and public access venues.

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Five new in-depth studies approved

Five new project in-depth studies will investigate relationships between public access ICTs and mobile phone use, community-level impacts of public access ICTs, the influence of public access ICTs on information ecologies, and the costs and benefits of public access ICTs.

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