bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Citizen-Initiated Contacts With Ontario Local E-Government
Authors: Reddick Christopher G.
Published: May 2011

This study examines Ontario, Canada’s municipal e-government adoption. This paper specifically focuses on how e-government has increased citizen-initiated contacts with these local governments. This study uses survey data of these local governments to determine the key factors that predict increased citizen contact with e-government. What these municipal governments most commonly are doing is informational e-government, such as providing downloadable forms for manual completion. Transactional e-government is done less often, with very few local governments offering online payment of taxes, for example. The regression results indicated that offering more online services or e-services and having a separate information technology (IT) department developing the e-government budget increased citizen contact with e-government. The traditional factors that are used to explain citizen-initiated contact, such as socioeconomic status of the community, were not found to have any impact on increasing citizen contact with e-government.
E-Government and Multi-Level Governance
Authors: Gascó Mila , Roy Jeffrey
Published: May 2011

E-government is entering its second decade as a widely-embraced agenda for public sector reform. There are often distinctions made between e-government as administrative reform and e-governance as democratic reform, although there is invariable overlap between both spheres. In this context, the purpose of this paper is to undertake an examination of the impacts of e-government on both administration and democracy in a multi-level governance environment. In doing so, we will provide a comparative assessment of two sub-national jurisdictions known for investing aggressively in e-government in recent years: Catalonia, Spain, and Ontario, Canada. This investigation will thus seek to identify the manner by which the pursuit of e-government by a state and a province is intertwined with – or separate from federalist structures.
E-Democracy Policy in Queensland
Authors: Henderson Monika , Hogarth Fergus , Jeans Dianne
Published: May 2011

The term e-democracy has tended to be used interchangeably in the literature with e-governance or e-government, and these terms have been described as “being in a constant state of definition, redefinition, and evolution” (Riley, 2002). For the purpose of this article, e-democracy is seen as one facet of a wider use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the business of government, where the focus is on increasing citizen participation in the public decision-making process rather than using ICTs to deliver government information, programs and services, to make financial transactions electronically, or to enhance government internal administrative practices such as record-keeping. E-democracy has been variously defined, described in one report as “easier to recognise than define” (Kellner, 2004). New terms have also been coined, such as m-democracy—“m” for mobile, addressing mobile communication technologies separate from electronic processes such as the Internet that are more commonly used for e-democracy (Brucher & Baumberg, 2002). The case study that follows proposes a simple definition: “E-democracy refers to the use of information and communication technologies in democratic processes.” E-democracy covers a wide range of activities that support public participation in democratic processes, including electronic voting, online consultation, Web-based discussion forums, electronic petitions to parliament, using the Internet to Webcast parliamentary debates, and digital polling and surveys. Clift (2002a) lists the leading e-democracy practices as e-mail notification as an active information dissemination tool; online public hearings and consultations; ICT use by members of parliament for electoral engagement; digital recording and availability of public hearing recordings and materials; and ICT-enabled local civic deliberations and global networking.
Technical and Functional Quality in the Development of T-Government Services
Authors: Pagani Margherita , Pasinetti Chiara
Published: May 2011

This chapter examines the reasons why individuals would choose electronic self-service delivery methods over more traditional methods of service delivery for government services. The chapter tests the concepts of technical quality (what is delivered) and functional quality (how the service is being delivered) in the development of t-government services. The study investigates, from the business-side and consumer-side, the factors related to decision making when people consider and evaluate the usage of an online TV government delivery mechanism. The approach taken was based on a combination of attitudinal technology adoption models and the service quality concept, with data gathered via two quantitative surveys. Accessibility, usability, and functionality of the systems are the most critical variables that service providers need to consider. The chapter identi?es some guiding lines in the design of the new services broadcast by digital television and the most important indicators to be used in order to guarantee an adequate interface to the citizens. The results are signi?cant to the public service manager who needs to consider both barriers and bene?ts of adoption if they are to develop plans to increase the take-up of their electronic services.
Towards Measuring True E-Readiness of a Third-World Country
Authors: Davidrajuh Reggie
Published: May 2011

This chapter talks about measuring true e-readiness of a third-world country. As a case study, e-readiness measurement is done on Sri Lanka. First, this chapter assesses e-readiness of Sri Lanka using a measuring tool that utilizes 52 socio-economic indicators. Second, based on the assessment, this chapter reveals that the measurement does not indicate true e-readiness of the country, as the tool do not model or incorporate parameters for measuring the domestic digital divide that exist between communities or groups within the country. Third, this chapter proposes a method for incorporating the domestic digital divide measures in e-readiness calculations.
Managing Information Exchange in E-Government Initiatives
Authors: Homburg Vincent
Published: May 2011

In the literature on e-government, the focus is predominantly on the organization of the front office and on the interaction among governmental agencies and citizens (Chadwick & May, 2003; Edmiston, 2003; Tat-Kei Ho, 2002). However, in order for e-government initiatives to be successful, back-office streamlining also has to be taken care of (Bekkers & Homburg, 2005; Homburg, 2005a). In a sense, back-office operations are the backbone of any form of e-government, and they may require information exchange and knowledge sharing among various units, departments, or organizations. The e-government phenomenon occasionally has paved the way for stirring rhetoric of technological and institutional change. For example, Wimmer, Traunmüller, and Lenk (2001) predict that “organizational boundaries will fade and give way to innovative organizational design. In this way, cooperation between administrative agencies will span wide: over distances, across organizational boundaries and even across hierarchical echelons” (p. 1). Actual e-government applications, however, show that the practice of e-government may not be as attractive as some of its benevolent proponents might claim. Back offices can be regarded as networks of organizations in which goals necessarily do not overlap and in which interests may collide. In practice, in these networks, information is the primary medium of value and exchange (Davenport, Eccles, & Prusak, 1992), and relatively uncontrolled sharing of such a powerful resource threatens information monopolies and may provide those organizations who receive information with significant power gains (Bekkers, 1998; Homburg, 1999, 2001; Homburg & Bekkers, 2002; Markus, 1983). Consequently, existing dependencies in organizational networks might be affected, and it can be expected that the exchange of information in back offices invokes a complex mixture of cooperation and conflict (Cunningham & Tynan, 1993; Homburg, 1999, 2001; Homburg & Bekkers, 2002; Knights & Murray, 1992; Kumar & van Dissel, 1996). In this article, I address the following research question: What does the nature and dynamics of interorganizational relations mean for the development and implementation of e-government information systems, and what methods and strategies are used to design and implement these systems? The focus in the analysis is on the interorganizational relations that are mobilized through the integration of various back-office systems (Bekkers & Homburg, 2005; Homburg & Bekkers, 2002). In the remainder of this article, I analyze existing e-government initiatives and, more specifically, information relations among various back offices, using a political economy view on information exchange (Homburg, 1999), and I explore methods and strategies of ICT process management in policy networks (de Bruijn, ten Heuvelhof, & In ’t Veld, 2002).
Public Administrators' Acceptance of the Practice of Digital Democracy
Authors: Kim Chan-Gon , Holzer Marc
Published: May 2011

The Internet provides a new digital opportunity for realizing democracy in public administration, and this study raises a central question: What factors determine public officials’ acceptance of the practice of digital democracy on government Web sites? We focused on online policy forums among many practices of digital democracy. To gauge public officials’ behavioral intentions to use online policy forums on government Web sites, we examined individual and organizational factors, as well as system characteristics. We administered a survey questionnaire to Korean public officials and analyzed a total of 895 responses. Path analysis indicates that three causal variables are important in predicting public officials’ intentions to use online policy forums: perceived usefulness, attitudes toward citizen participation, and information quality. We discuss implications of this study for practices and theories of digital democracy.
Content Production Strategies for E-Government
Authors: Salminen Airi , Nurmeksela Reija , Lehtinen Antti , Lyytikainen Virpi , Mustajarvi Olli
Published: May 2011

The terms electronic government (e-government) and digital government are used to refer to the utilization of the Internet and other information and communication technologies (ICT) effectively in public sectors. In e-government development activities, the concern is often in building new means to support and strengthen democracy (e.g., Watson, Alselsen, Evjemo, & Aarsæther, 1999). In other cases, the main concern may be in supporting the work of people in public sectors (e.g., Mustajärvi, 2003), or in building new kinds of services for citizens (e.g., Lyytikäinen, Tiitinen, & Salminen, 2000). Common to most development activities is the need to have the content of public sector information repositories available on information networks, including the Internet, extranets, and intranets of particular organizations. The content production practices have a major effect to what extent digital content is accessible and how well the content supports e-government goals. In planning new kinds of e-government solutions, it is important to understand the different alternatives for producing information assets and the consequences of the solutions. In the digital era, the actors on public sector have to update continuingly their content production strategies and practices for effective ICT utilization. In this article, we will introduce three strategies for content production and discuss the practices related to the strategies. We will also evaluate the benefits and challenges of each of the strategies. We will demonstrate the strategies and practices by examples from the Finnish legislative environment. Data about the case environment has been collected during long-term collaboration of researchers at the University of Jyväskylä with the Finnish Parliament and ministries (Salminen, 2003).
A Not Quite Bountiful Thanksgiving at BizE
Authors: Gogan Janis L. , Kamis Arnold
Published: May 2011

The case examines the strategic positioning of BizE (disguised) an eCommerce start-up that serves small online businesses via an Internet portal. During an economic downturn BizE encounters difficulties with its new private-label strategy. With cash running dangerously low, executives reassess the new strategy and consider what they can do to ensure the company’s survival.
Politicians as Patrons for E-Democracy? Closing the Gap Between Ideals and Realities
Authors: Mahrer Harald
Published: May 2011

Throughout the world, democratic countries, whether old, new, or in transition, are facing innovations in communications and information technology. Especially within developed economies, the challenge toward e-democracy through the digital transformation of democratic institutions has become increasingly evident. With the identification of the notion of the “middleman paradox,” recent research findings have added a new dimension to existing theories on the hesitant evolution of e-democracy, which clearly identifies politicians as an inhibiting factor. Consequently, the research in this paper attempts to explore further this newly discovered phenomenon by presenting theoretical and empirical evidence. The findings of a multiple case study carried out in all 25 EU member countries, based on an adopted exploratory research design, are presented. These findings give more detailed insights on the nature of the middleman paradox and on the ambiguous role of politicians in the further evolution of e-democracy.
Service, Security, Transparency & Trust
Authors: Roy Jeffrey
Published: May 2011

The objectives of this article are twofold: first, to examine the main conceptual dimensions of electronic government (e-government); and secondly, to critically assess both the current responses and future prospects of Canada’s public sector. The first sections of the paper are primarily conceptual as they delve into e-government’s meaning and scope by presenting a set of major thematic challenges driving public sector reform. The paper then provides a critical assessment of recent reforms and new initiatives undertaken by the Government of Canada. Building on this analysis, the article aims to sketch out the major issues and challenges likely to confront Canadian governance. Of particular interest is whether or not a sufficient balance exists in focusing on dimensions of e-government and e-governance in order to adapt effectively to a more informational, digital, and interdependent world.
Evaluating Methodologies of Financial Cost and Benefit Aspects of E-Government
Authors: Eyob Ephrem
Published: May 2011

The purpose of this article is to survey the financial cost and benefit of e-government and the evaluation methods utilized in the implementation of information technology (IT) projects in general, and e-government projects in specific.
Pursuing Radical Transformation in Information Age Government
Authors: Kawalek Peter , Wastall David
Published: May 2011

This article is concerned with the pursuit of radical organizational transformation in information age government. It focuses on three cases, each of which used the SPRINT (Salford Process Reengineering Involving New Technology) process reengineering method. This method was designed specifically for e-government projects with the objective of inculcating radical change. Although each reported case can be described as successful in some measure, this chapter questions why none of the cases seeds a process of ongoing innovation, and why all settle on a set of changes that is less radical than the vision set out within the originating project. Each case sees the remaking of processes within an accepted set of goals, and not the remaking of these goals themselves. This restriction is reported, using the concept of organizational alignment with a declared set of goals. It is shown how in each case the organization favors the less radical amongst a set of alternative proposals. It is argued that in the end, SPRINT, which places great value on its participative ethos, is also constrained by that ethos. This paper reflects the implications for e-government projects more widely.
Exploring the Roles of Intermediaries in Collective Memory-Supported Electronic Negotiation
Authors: Lertpittayapoom Nongkran , Paul Souren
Published: May 2011

Following the emergence of the Internet, electronic negotiation has become an alternative to face-to-face negotiation. The current forms of negotiation support systems (NSS) used to support many electronic negotiations offer very little support for historical negotiation data. In order to address this issue, the idea of a collective memory support in negotiations has been proposed in recent years. This article highlights the use of an online intermediary as an effective location from which collective memory support can be offered. The article proposes that an intermediary based collective memory support will increase confidence in negotiation, reduce overall negotiation time, and strengthen trust between negotiators.
A Brave New E-World? An Exploratory Analysis of Worldwide E-Government Readiness, Level of Democracy, Corruption and Globalization
Authors: Kovacic Zlatko J.
Published: May 2011

This paper reports research results on the relationship between e-government readiness and its components and the level of democracy, corruption, and globalization for 191 countries. A supply-side approach to e-government analysis using data about national government Web sites, telecommunication infrastructure, and human capital was taken rather than a demand-side approach, which is based on the real use of e-government Web sites by citizens, businesses, and government, or their perceptions of the online services delivery. Statistically significant differences in the level of e-government readiness and its components between three groups of countries classified according to the level of democracy were identified using ANOVA. It was also shown, using correlation and regression analysis, that e-government readiness indices are related to the level of democracy, corruption, and globalization.
Towards Building E-Government on the Grid
Authors: Li Ying , Chen Yue , Li Minglu
Published: May 2011

This chapter introduces the goal of ShanghaiGrid and its sub-project E-government on the grid. It first presents the main achievements of the E-government in Shanghai, points out that one of problems of the E-government is how to integrate each government agency’s resources to form cross-agency services for citizens, and argues why grid technique is an ideal way to solve that problem: grid can enable municipal government to integrate its information resources dispersed in different organizations in secure way with open standards and strengthen collaboration and information sharing. Then it gives a conceptual framework of E-government on the grid. Based on the GT3 core services, some core middlewares are developed to support the E-government infrastructure, i.e. workflow, transaction. OGSA-DAI is used to integrate data from different government agencies. The real-name citizen mailbox along with the MyProxy is the basic authentication method used in E-government.
Immigration and Digital Government
Authors: Passaris Constantine E.
Published: May 2011

The information age of the 21st century has transformed the economic, social, and political landscape in a profound and indelible manner. It also has changed the role and functions of government and redefined the scope and substance of good governance. Never before in human history has the pace of structural change been more pervasive, rapid, and global in its context. The information age has precipitated profound structural changes in the economic landscape and has given birth to the new economy. The new global economy is composed of a trilogy of interactive forces that include globalization, trade liberalization, and the information technology and communications revolution. Globalization has melted national borders, free trade has enhanced economic integration, and the information and communications revolution has made geography and time irrelevant (Passaris, 2001). Immigration has taken on a new perspective in the context of globalization. There is no denying that the spread of Internet-based technologies throughout society has become the dominant economic reality of the 21st century. E-economy—the use of information and communication technologies for product and process innovation across all sectors of the economy—has emerged as the primary engine of productivity and growth for the global economy. In large part due to advances in information and communications technologies, the role of international borders in this globalized economy has been transformed from the traditional geographical frontiers to virtual economic communities. Innovations in transportation and information and communications technology also has impacted immigration flows and made the world, in the phrase coined by Marshall McLuhan (1988), truly a “global village”. Borders have become less relevant for digital content communications and transactions. Cyberspace has no natural demarcations or border patrols. Indeed, knowledge-based products, such as software, games, and music, cross borders without impediment and with relative ease (Passaris, 2003). The advent of the information age has had a profound impact on the nature and scope of e-government and has given birth to the digital government of the 21st century. In particular, the interface between government and immigration management has been redesigned and restructured in terms of access to immigration information and application forms, the processing of immigration applicants for admission, enforcement of security measures and the prevention of terrorist infiltration, and the time line for adjudicating immigration applications, to name just a few of the significant changes to the contemporary process by which the governments of immigrant-receiving countries enforce their immigration policies.
Call Centre Evolution in the Digital Government
Authors: Ambriola V. , Bertagnini S. , Pratesi L.
Published: May 2011

Public administration is undergoing a radical transformation. Citizens, rather than administrative documents, will be the primary and active subjects of the process of service supply. A new attitude toward administrative service is emerging. Citizens interact with public administration through new channels such as unified administrative counters, multifunction administrative counters, citizen liaisons offices, and Internet. Furthermore, having in mind the goals of shortening the distance between citizens to public administration and improving efficiency and efficacy of public bodies, the use of call and contact centres is quickly spreading out. It is worth to recall the recent case of Allô Service Public, the unified call centre of the French public administration, which on its first day of activation has been contacted by more than 100,000 people, more than any optimistic expectation. For a public administration, a call centre represents a simple way for interacting with citizens. Call centres provide many advantages such as improved efficiency, increased hours of operation, and reduced costs. The main advantage for citizens is that call centres can provide the information they need, as fast as possible and reducing waiting time. Call centres and contact centres are based on an innovative use of the phone channel, on one side, and on multi-channel strategies of access to service and information, on the other side. The combination of these two aspects allows public administration to develop and activate new modes of managing interaction with citizens. A phone-based information service is often the first channel chosen by citizens that want to get in touch with a public body. Call centres, on the other hands, have a relevant role for implementing the link between front-office and back-office services.
The Scholarly Literature on E-Government
Authors: Norris Donald F. , Lloyd Benjamin A.
Published: May 2011

The authors conducted a comprehensive review of articles on the subject of e-government that were published in refereed scholarly journals through the end of 2004 to serve as a baseline for future analysis of this emerging field. They found over 100 e-government articles, but only 57 with empirical content. The authors then examined the articles using 12 analytical categories. They conclude that the scholarship about e-government comes primarily from the United States, and from authors trained in the social sciences. Few e-government articles adequately used the literatures that were available (e.g., IT and government, e-government, or any specialized literatures), and few created or tested theory or hypotheses. Articles employed both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, but many contained conclusions that were not supported by their data or analyses. The authors conclude that e-government research is a young and growing field that has yet to achieve adequate scholarly rigor.
The E-mancipation of the Citizen and the Future of E-Government
Authors: Frissen Valerie A.J.
Published: May 2011

In this chapter, the author considers the notion of the e-mancipated citizen against the background of current trends in social and political participation of citizens. The role of ICTs in shaping these new forms of civic engagement is discussed and the implications of these developments for e-government and e-governance. This chapter argues that in exploring this new frontier, e-government risks seem to take the wrong direction. Up to now, government largely seems to ignore actual developments in citizens’ participation that are taking place both in the off-line and online worlds. In this chapter these trends were brought together under the headings of sub-politics and life-politics and their political character was described mainly in terms of the “empowerment” of citizens.
An Assessment of the Open Government Web Site in Mongolia
Authors: Ariunaa Lkhagvasuren
Published: May 2011

The open government Web site was initiated and developed under the direct guidance and support of the prime minister of Mongolia in 2002. The project was initially supported by USAID (United States Agency for International Development) and The Asia Foundation from 2004. The main purpose of the Web site is to strengthen the linkage between the private sector and government and to facilitate public contribution of opinions to state policies and laws. The Web site has four major sections namely: legislation (draft laws, Parliament agenda, and links to laws); discussion (forum, online conference, questions, and answers); links; and search engine. Moreover, there is an opportunity to subscribe to the Open Government newsletter. This article describes the current status of the open-government Web site in Mongolia, its strengths and weaknesses and provides a framework for future action in order to improve service delivery
Holistic Evaluation of the Roles of ICTs in Regional Development
Authors: Keen Chris , Steer Dean , Turner Paul
Published: May 2011

Regional Australia continues to be the recipient of public programs premised on assumptions about the benefits of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) related development, at the same time as it is experiencing a reduction in basic services and problems associated with the digital divide. From a research perspective, these circumstances pose challenges on how to evaluate meaningfully the impacts of ICTs on regional development. These challenges are compounded by the considerable confusion that exists over what is meant by regional development, how it can be achieved, and how to measure and evaluate the role ICTs play in reviving and sustaining regional communities. The exploratory research reported in this chapter examines the issues surrounding what is meant by ICT-related development in a regional context. It also explores the usefulness of multiple measures, as opposed to single measures, to describe what in reality is a very complex process. In this context, the chapter outlines the preliminary development of, and the rationale behind, a holistic approach for evaluating the role of ICTs in regional development, based on insights generated from ongoing research in Tasmania. The role of ICT … in economic growth and social change has received considerable attention in recent years [but] … reliable and comprehensive indicators are needed to track developments in new information technologies and understand their impacts on our economies and societies. (OECD, 2002, p. 3)
ICT-Based Learning
Authors: Rahman Hakikur
Published: May 2011

ICT mediated learning provides utilities for achieving the goal of education for all, and in turn acts as an enabler in reducing the digital divide, reducing poverty, and promoting social inclusion. However, the integration of ICTs in education deserves considerable investment in time and resources. Consequently, during planning to integrate ICTs in evidence-based information for making sound decisions by the end users incorporate extensive research and sharing of critical information along different phases of planning. Furthermore, implementation of ICT based learning demands in depth analysis and intelligent feedback of the processes. Technology does not improve learning in a straight way and the fundamental question remains always unanswered, in assessing the effectiveness of ICTs or assessing the effectiveness of instructional treatments that were initially (and effectively) less than perfect. This chapter has tried to critically analyze the effective role of ICT methods in learning and put forwards several success cases of learning mechanisms that assisted in socioeconomic empowerment and at the same time, provided a few futuristic recommendations in establishing similar endeavors in promising economies.
An Explanatory Approach to the Political Uses of ICT Initiatives for Participation
Authors: Borge Rosa
Published: May 2011

Political actors use ICTs in a different manner and in different degrees when it comes to achieving a closer relationship between the public and politicians. Usually, political parties develop ICT strategies only for electoral campaigning and therefore restrain ICT usages to providing information and establishing a few channels of communication. By contrast, local governments make much more use of ICT tools for participatory and deliberative purposes. These differences in usages have not been well explained in the literature because of a lack of a comprehensive explanatory model. This chapter seeks to build the basis for this model, that is, to establish which factors affect and condition different political uses of ICTs and which principles underlie that behaviour. We consider that political actors are intentional and their behaviour is mediated by the political institutions and the socioeconomic context of the country. Also, though, the actor’s own characteristics, such as the type and size of the organization or the model of e-democracy that the actor upholds, can have an influence in launching ICT initiatives for approaching the public.
B2B E-Commerce Diffusion
Authors: Henriksen Kim Virborg , Andersen Helle Zinner
Published: May 2011

The chapter explores the role of institutional discourse on B2B e-commerce diffusion. Using the case of EDI in the Danish business environment, the analysis demonstrates a lack of active industry involvement and severe implications of the absence of large users in the policy forum for the national EDI-strategy. Government branches and business associations formulated by and large the visions and strategies without direct involvement of the successful EDI-players or companies that were the intended adopters. As a possible consequence, the EDI diffusion has evolved by the same companies exchanging still more messages and type of documents whereas the number of new companies adopting EDI has been fairly limited. The policy implications of the Danish EDI-case could be to have a more focused involvement of intended adopters of similar and future technologies that has high policy saliency.
Deconstructing the South African Government's ICT for Development Discourse
Authors: Moodley Sagren
Published: May 2011

The post-apartheid South African government has placed ICTs at the centre of the national agenda for social and economic development (Mbeki, 1996, 2002b; Presidential National Commission on the Information Society and Development (PNC on ISAD), 2003a). The question of whether the application of technologies to improve information and communication access can increase the capabilities of disadvantaged and poor people is central to whether the new ICTs (particularly the Internet) will support or undermine real development. Technology appears in the South African government’s ICT for development discourse as a politically neutral force with the power to develop, and without which people are classified as information-poor. As Wajcman (2002) cogently argues, “governments everywhere legitimate much of their policy in terms of a technological imperative” (p. 348). One effect of this discourse is to render poor people passive and dependent, as objects to be developed, rather than as active agents of development. Failure to address these assumptions may lead social scientists to become complacent in distracting attention away from the very real global economic, social, and cultural inequalities, to virtual inequalities, which merely hide an unwillingness to address the core failings of the development paradigm. The paper attempts to meet the challenge put forth by Robert Wade (2002): The current campaign to promote the uptake of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in developing countries and to get aid donors to redirect their aid budgets needs devil’s advocates to challenge what John Stuart Mill once called ‘the deep slumber of a decided opinion.’ (p. 443)
Telecommunication Problems in Rural Areas of Armenia
Authors: Melkonyan Gevorg
Published: May 2011

The Synergy Project “Priorities in the Development of Telecommunications Sector in the South Caucasus” (2003) has the task of modernising the telecommunications system.
Design and Implementation Approaches for Location-Based, Tourism-Related Services
Authors: Kakaletris George , Varoutas Dimitris , Katsianis Dimitris , Sphicopoulos Thomas
Published: May 2011

The globally observed recession of mobile services market has pushed mobile network operators into looking for opportunities to provide value added services on top of their high cost infrastructures. Recent advances in mobile positioning technologies enable services that make use of the mobile user location information, offering intuitive, attractive applications to the potential customer. Mobile tourism services are among the primary options to be considered by service providers for this new market. This chapter presents the key concepts, capabilities, and considerations of infrastructures and applications targeted to the mobile tourist, covering data and content delivery, positioning, systems’ interactions, platforms, protocols, security, and privacy as well as business modelling aspects.
Agent-Based Architecture of a Distributed Laboratory System
Authors: Lin Hong
Published: May 2011

We present a method for designing the architecture of an agent-based e-educational system. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our method by its application in the design of a computational grid built to be an environment for lab activities. An integrated lab package was developed to allow students to utilize the grid services and support the learning process. Our architectural design strategy ensures an outstanding feature of the system: It allows lab modules to be added into the system in an incremental fashion while ensuring the correctness of the system. Students are recruited in our research program to develop lab modules and build the grid. Initial use of the lab package indicates that it allows lab activities to be performed more efficiently and it enhances the learning effectiveness.
An Analysis of Student Persistence in Online Education
Authors: Tello Steven F.
Published: May 2011

This study examines the relationship between instructional interaction and student persistence among adult students in online courses. A survey research methodology was used to examine the frequency and the method of instructional interaction in online courses, student attitudes regarding instructional interaction, and the reasons online students provide for persisting in, or withdrawing from, online courses. The results indicate that student perceptions regarding the contribution of asynchronous, discussion forum use combined with frequent use of asynchronous discussion account for 26% of the variance in course persistence rates. Consistent with the literature on adult student dropout, the findings identify additional situational and institutional barriers to persistence among students in online courses. The findings suggest that strategies to facilitate student persistence in online courses should address online instructional techniques, faculty development, technology development, and program development.
ICT-Enabled Education in Africa
Authors: Isaacs Shafika
Published: May 2011

This essay prompts critical thinking on the way ICT-enabled education programs in Africa have been conceptualized and implemented. It reflects mainly on the experiences of the African SchoolNet movement over the past decade. It highlights important lessons and demonstrates the beneficial effects of technology-enhanced learning programs on African learners and teachers who have had the privilege of being included in SchoolNet initiatives. However, it also shows that the accumulated interventions and programs to date remain insignificant in scale to catalyze a resounding shift toward resolving the crisis in Africa’s education systems; it makes the case for integrated system-wide, locally led approaches that soberly takes account of the challenges imposed by globalization. The chapter traces the historical evolution of frameworks to promote African inclusion in the information society, and allusions are specifically made to the emergence of the NEPAD eSchools, and the Global eSchools and Communities Initiative of the UN ICT Task Force, which hold the potential for advancing the frontiers of learning in Africa. Here, the author emphasizes, however, that these new initiatives need to draw on the accumulated learning and experience of the SchoolNet movement over the past 10 years in Africa to succeed. Finally, the chapter raises the dearth of evidence-based research made in Africa by Africans who would verify or refute the case for stronger investment in ICTs for education. It then proffers suggestions on areas for further research.
E-News
Authors: Simpson Matthew , Burmeister Jay , Docherty Michael
Published: May 2011

This chapter describes the development of the E-News project which examined an interactive journalism approach in Rockhampton, Australia. This project provided an opportunity to examine how the introduction of this new technology into regional media and communication brings into question the traditional roles of the journalist, the editor, the graphic designer and the audience in the production and ‘consumption’ of written material. Such an approach provided the opportunity for grass-roots journalism to be examined for its capacity to provide a clearer insight into the nature of a community journalism-based approach such as the E-News system. It also allowed the examination of the resultant interaction that occurs between users and community. The experiences resulting from the E-News project provide a framework for discussion regarding the potential of approaches such as E-News for community informatics in regional areas resulting from online news environment.
Digital Bridges
Authors: Olla Phillip
Published: May 2011

Space technology has advanced rapidly in recent years. Nevertheless, a number of countries still lack the human, technical and financial resources required to conduct even the most basic space-related activities, such as meteorology, communications natural-resource management and education. The need to make the benefits of space technology available to all countries has thus grown more urgent with each passing year. This chapter proposes a two phased approach for using space technology to deliver Information Communication Technologies (ICT) to underserved areas. The first phase involves the definition and implementation of the Satellite Global infrastructure to provide connectivity to underserved regions. The second phase introduces the concept of a Coalition of Space Internet Providers (COSIP) model. The aim of this model is to encourage the diffusion of space technology delivered by the GBBS infrastructure to the grassroots level. The model defines how Internet capabilities should be introduced to rural underprivileged societies to provide health and educational services in a sustainable manner. This model is a reincarnation of the Local Information Utility (LIU) model that was successfully implemented over a decade ago, to aid the diffusion of the Internet to rural American communities. This chapter explains the technology at the foundation of the COSIP model and describes the actors required along with their roles and responsibilities.
ICT for Knowledge and Intellectual Capital Management in Organizations
Authors: Bulchand Jacques , Rodríguez Jorge
Published: May 2011

This chapter describes which information and communication technologies (ICT) can help in the process of managing knowledge and intellectual capital in organizations. We start the chapter examining the risks we face when we use technologies for knowledge management (KM) and for intellectual capital management (ICM). Once we have done this, we review the literature to see which technologies different authors mention; choosing then the most frequently cited ones. We classify these technologies in base technologies and technological applications, getting to a final number of 17. Each of them is then summarily described and its possibilities in helping KM and ICM are stated. The chapter ends by classifying all of them according to their utility in helping in KM and ICM and in which of the processes needed in organizations for managing knowledge and intellectual capital they can be used.
Game Mods
Authors: Fanning Elizabeth
Published: May 2011

A game mod describes a modification within an existing commercial computer-based game that has been created by a user. By game modding, a user can participate in the creative process by taking the setting of his or her favorite game and customizing it for entertainment purposes or to convey information. For years, commercial computer-based game developers committed considerable resources toward preventing users from hacking into or hijacking their games. Now several computer-based game developers provide editors with their products to encourage users to create content and to allow educators, for instance, to take advantage of the benefits and production quality of commercial computer games in order to create customized instruction. This article focuses on mainstream, accessible games with straightforward modding tools that easily can be integrated into a learning environment.
Assessing the Effectiveness of Programmed Instruction and Collaborative Peer Tutoring in Teaching Java
Authors: Emurian Henry H.
Published: May 2011

Students in two Java programming classes completed an individualized tutoring system that taught a simple applet program. Before and after using the tutor, students completed questionnaires that assessed software self-efficacy and understanding of general programming principles. The questionnaires also were administered following a lecture session on the program that included having the students successfully run the applet in a browser on the Web. For the second class, a collaborative peer tutoring session based on the applet program occurred between completion of the tutor and the lecture session. Students in both classes increased in software self-efficacy and program understanding across the assessment occasions. For students in the second class, correct answers on the final test of understanding were higher than observed in the first class. Collaborative peer tutoring used in combination with a programmed instruction tutoring system may potentiate learning for novitiate students.
An Interactive Tool for Teaching and Learning LAN Design
Authors: Sarkar Nurul I.
Published: May 2011

It is often difficult to motivate students to learn local area network (LAN) design because many students appear to find the subject rather dry, technical and boring. To overcome this problem the author has developed a software tool (named LAN-Designer) that gives students an interactive learning experience in LAN design concepts. The LAN-Designer is suitable for classroom use in introductory computer networking courses. This chapter describes LAN-Designer and its effectiveness in teaching and learning LAN design. The effectiveness of LAN-designer has been evaluated both formally by students and informally in discussion within the teaching team. The feedback from students indicates that the development and implementation of LAN-Designer were successful. It also discusses the impact of LAN-Designer on student learning and comprehension.
Innovation in Wireless Technologies
Authors: Ragazzi Diego
Published: May 2011

There is no doubt that wireless communication technologies have been one of the most interesting innovation fields in the telecommunications industry in recent years. The spectacular rate of innovation in this field has enforced the vision of ubiquitous connectivity: the vision of a world where every human being and every electronic device, from high-end supercomputers to tiny sensors of temperature in your car, can talk to each other through a dense web of communication links. A vision of this kind, although more “human-centric,” is proposed, for example, in the “Book of Visions” (2001) published by the Wireless World Research Forum. Of course, wireless communication technologies are instrumental in accomplishing this vision, as we cannot possibly imagine to connect everything by means of cables. Moreover, wireless communications offer the advantage of supporting mobility even at high speed.
Foreseeing the Future Lifestyle with Digital Music
Authors: Yoshikawa Masataka
Published: May 2011

This chapter aims to explore the future trajectory of enjoying digital music entertainment among consumers comparing the characteristics of the usage patterns of digital music appliances in the U.S. and those in Japan. As the first step of this research, the author conducted two empirical surveys in the U.S. and Japan, and found some basic differences in the usage patterns of a variety of digital music appliances. Next, a series of ethnographical research based on focus-group interviews with Japanese young women was done and some interesting reasons of the differences were discovered. In Japan, sharing the experiences of listening to the latest hit songs with friends by playing them with mobile phones that have the high quality, ring tone functions can be a new way of enjoying music contents, while hard-disk music players like iPod have become a de facto standard of the digital music appliances in the world.