TASCHA Talk focuses on Non-instrumental Uses in-depth study

On March 3rd, Judith Yaaqoubi, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering, discussed initial and revised instrument development for the Non-instrumental Uses in-depth study. Judith discussed the study's background, as well as the structure of the study, the research questions that underlie it, and how they initially planned to collect data.

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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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Do computer games and chat build useful skills?

The Non-instrumental Use of ICT as a Component of General ICT Skill Acquisition Study will explore the benefits library and telecenter users gain from playing computer games, sending email, and chatting. These types of uses — known as "non-instrumental" — are often ignored in studies on public access to ICT. But we suspect that they can help people develop the comfort, skills, and expertise they need to improve their social and economic situations, particularly in the areas of employment and education.

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