I prefer no to talk about "impact", analize " social apropiation" its better. In some rural comunnities ICT its being accepted, but if we talk about development its more complex. I think there is a big hole between apropiation and development, ICT dont brings development itself. Its important to investigate the link beetwen social apropiation of ICT and innovation, for example.

Or see if there are stakeholders, like universities, companies, comunnity, local government building a net of knowledge, I repeat use o ICT dosent mean something good or bad and if we want to demostrate how they help to development of rural areas we have to take into account more issues.

ICT is a very powerful media, if it can be used with proper caution. ICT doesnot depicts only the modern medias but the traditional as well. I believe, that enhancement of knowledge and education will lead to development in rural areas. And through ICT it can be achieved, as it can cover huge mass in lesser time. The issue of capacity building in the ussage of the modern ICTs is also crucial. Content development keeping the audiance in mind is very important as well capacitize the critical mass for its usage..

First, I think that ICT helps people to fell less desconected from reality, and also to get more information that can helps them to be inclued in work market (use of social media, Internet, and any basic program).

Also, It helps to break a "cultural step", I mean the acceptance in this areas is dificult for people which use to keep local relationships and dont like the tecnological "jump" in the begining. For that reason its important to teach them the facilities and uses for the comunnity, so they can fell that is something useful. When they realize that its not only a cultural imposition, and its an economic issue, the acceptance grow up!!

In the midwest United States, we've shown that acceptance of smartphone technology is occurring at quicker rate among farmers than the rest of the population because of the additional access it gives them to pertinent market/weather/etc. information. I speculate that the cause goes along with what @Shubhadeep and @Patricio stated in people seeing the technology as immediately useful and pertinent to their daily lives. One other thing that is important to add is that though farmers on average are accepting this new form of technology faster, I haven't seen any research done on those who aren't, and the level of resistance present in the part of the population not adopting. I would speculate that there may be more resistance to new technology among certain parts of the population that would be found in the general population as well.

I'd be interested to hear more from @Shubhadeep about the caution needed when moving into ICT.

Denying the possibility of influence of ICTs in any reality is naive, for promotion of rural development is no different. Of course, the acceptance may be slower or vary with the knowledge that rural communities have about these technologies, I believe the impact will be very positive to take advantage of the benefits of ICTs for the care of local interests.

Define impact please

Pois bem Marcelo Corrêa da Silva, como a questão trata de aceitação das TICs na promoção do desenvolvimento rural, a expressão impacto talvez não seja a mais adequada. Quando fiz uso do mesmo pensei nas chances que as TICs estão constantemente criando, possibilidades de informação e comunicação que antes não eram acessíveis a maioria das pessoas.

I prefer no to talk about "impact", analize " social apropiation" its better. In some rural comunnities ICT its being accepted, but if we talk about development its more complex. I think there is a big hole between apropiation and development, ICT dont brings development itself. Its important to investigate the link beetwen social apropiation of ICT and innovation, for example.

Or see if there are stakeholders, like universities, companies, comunnity, local government building a net of knowledge, I repeat use o ICT dosent mean something good or bad and if we want to demostrate how they help to development of rural areas we have to take into account more issues.

ICT is a very important and powerful media that enhanced knowledge and education in our rural community. The enhancement of knowledge and education will lead to development in our rural community as it covers huge area in lesser time.

The factors leading resistans to the usage of ICTs as mentioned by @ Bryan is to be researched meticulously . ICTs may not be universal for all target group. 1st thing to be taken care is specifying the target stakeholder. then analyzing their socio-economic-cultural background, need assessment as @ andreia rightly said about 'local interest' and then developing the content, pretesting with small sample of the target group and make it very user friendly. As poor farmers of the developing countries like India are concerned the information should concentrate more on economic benefit (as @ Patrico said) to attract their attention.

The penetration of ICT particularly the mobile phones is really astounding. The way in which the entertainment and marketing industries have captured and making use of them to propagate their business has to be understood in context. We the social sector people have to learn from them the methodology and modify the contents to facilitate the development of knowledge, opportunities and markets for the under-served population. Using local language for effective communication is necessary.

Any new technology will have early adopters. In India, with low educational levels,ICT would be the medium to reach the vast population at affordable cost. ICT in education is likely to have better assimilation as students are open to adopting and learning new things. http://aaqua.org/ is a website which helps farmers to have their immediate problems solved by agricultural experts remotely. These days mobile cameras capture pictures of a pest and the expert can view it and immediately suggest a solution or protocol to be followed. Similarly, http://www.classle.net/ is a social learning forum for students in rural areas who do not have access to quality resources. Both are spreading rapidly giving credence that ICT will be making a big impact for rural transformation.

This is a key factor in rural devlopment as any inovation/technology/social issues etc only benficial if the community is prperly informed and involved

Gramin vibhag me ICT mahatva hai, Tribal area me abhi bhi ICT jankari puri taraha pahuchi nahi hai. ICT ki jankari rural area me develop hoti hai to rural area ka vikas aur vaha hi yuva ka vikas ki gati badh jayengi. Thanks

ICT has created acess of information by bridging the Rural urban divide with a low cost revenue model genrating employbility to millions rural unemployed - visble proof is Kisan soochna kendra in thousands of villages in India on self sustainable model . refer www.jaikisan.org.

With Employed and self sustainable healthy families you can expect good citizens and and prosperous nation.

Jaikisan !!

radio is good example of ICT on line " hellow kastakar" programme popular among framers to solve immediate problem on line its even farmers stand on farm

ICT can really bring development of the rural areas if it is reached to the target groups. The target groups are disorganised at the village level which becomes difficult to mobilise the facilities available with the government though the information reached to the target groups. The best possible way is to link the ICT with self help groups and measure the impact of the programme.

I do agree with Lawrence Gomes - the best possible way is to link the ICT with Self Help Groups (SHG) and measure the impact of the programme - this is what I am trying to focus in my Ph.D thesis by selecting one or two rural development programmes using ICT and SHGs to measure the actual out against the desired output by identifying the variables that are responsible for the observed deviations. Thank you

Measure the impact in any environment is challenging, but ICT was joined major complications because of its diversity, which generate constant change of nature, and the impact areas and their relationships can be explored in the contexts: social, economic and environmental, and we obtain as a result of a complex web of relationships between individual impact areas such as economic growth and poverty reduction and other important factors such as level of education of a country and government regulation.

IN NORTH GUJART AREA."its grt impact of social as well as economical in dairy farmers.I have lot of material for ICT area in rural part.

ICT in rural dairy farmers its grt impact emergency animal treatment rural part(Dairy Co-operative) .Many animals save after ICT and easy dairy management....

I think the importance of ICT in rural area, by providing a new network between the rural community, with a space in which the community can express themselves, and may have power to take decisions, thus helping the local development, thus creating a democracy local strengthened.

The ICT as such may impact rural areas in many conflicting ways. It is very important to see which social forces are implementing the ICT and how it is related with other resources of development. ICT may be used to control the resources of the rural areas in a more effective way, and/or it may be used to empower local communities. I agree that social networks are important here, because ICT enforces the communications inside networks and it enables the creation of totally new kinds of networks combining old and new social actors in new ways. But I have started to think that networks are not enough. We have to recognise power relations in the networks. Networks are run by some kind of communities. Rural areas need new kinds of communities aiming at development. The key is not only technology but connecting the technology with the skills and the motivations, which improve one's everyday practices.

We had an information society experiment in eastern peripheral Finland. At first the experiment was a success story. When it was attempted to be formulated into a best practice model and to be transformed into other areas, the transfer process did not bring new successes but disappointments. I have written about it in some book chapters in english. (For the list of publications, see http://www.lammasoja.net/joksa/oksapube.htm )

The main theme of ICT relates to information gathering and disemination. the question should be how far has ICT impacted on the rural environment. This will to some extent depend on the context to which it is applied. In some rural communities of Sub-Saharan Africa there are some villages that do not have power supply which is the main source of modern ICT in this 21st century with the poverty nature in these communities, there is the need to tackle some of the basic necessity of live before thinking of ICTY

There is no doubt that ICT can realise tangible benefits in rural communities thus enhancing development. ICT is diverse in its making. The major issue and challenge springing up from ICT is acceptance, especially in some African communities with relatively low development and majority of occupants in rural areas are old age, retired and never got opportunities to be exposed to technology and these will respond with resistance. Furthermore most rural communities are undeveloped thus not electrified and some might not even have access to radios.

The ICT can bring real changes in the life of rural poor people in the following ways . The expected results may be :

1. Awareness of all rural development schemes meant for the poor class which remained suppress by the vested interest groups to exploit the rural poor people.

2. After getting such information of the schemes the rural poor people may organise in the form of groups i.e. farmers clubs, self help groups, mahilla mandals, youth clubs etc to avail the facilities for their development.

3. It may really cause social and economic impact upon the rural poor families.

The use of ICT is closely linked to debates about Learning Regions and Creative Milieus. However, any evaluation of its efficacy has to be viewed in the light of several aspects:

1. ICT is a resource which needs to be used - the use of ICT relies on the individual capacities of the inhabitants, and secondly on the capacity of the networks using ICT to improve their connections (see Jukka Oksa´s comment)

2. ICT can be used to improve the internal communication and exchange between those members of society who have access to it; thus ICT technology could have a disintegrating effect by distinguishing ICT-capable from ICT-uncapable people.

3. However, in the context of Learning regions and creative milieus ICT has a very important role as it allows local or regional actors to communicate with the world outside their networks. These communications possibilities might lead to innovations or at least to a better adoption rate of innovations.

4. ICT helps communities and regions to explore how other communities solved similar problems.

To conclude: There are advantages and disadvantages; the most serious for the commmunities might be the digital divide. In my view, more important is the fixation of central governments on ICT: Even in Germany the governmental logic is as such: We give you Broadband Access to ICT and you develop! If you do not, we cannot do anything else

yes sidney I am fully agree with you the rural peoples does aven write or read tha what is the ICT and all

Mr.Sidney,Thank you very much for giving appropriate solution for the development of under developed countries like India.In India an average litracy is more than 50 % but the still we have more than 30 % population are belongs to Below poverty line.Many world bank projects and other schemes of the central govt to uplift the poor but still there is big gap .Every where corrution is flourising that kill our country prestige.

I am working with people whose view of western ways is jaded by a long history of persecution and colonial oppression. In order to get information from national workers we need to send a teams that speaks English and has a team member who is fluent in the native language. The national worker often does not even have good writing skills in their native tongue. We would love to have more up to date newsworthy things to report but we do not have translators for 1700 written languages in India or the United States, While ideally broadband and other delivery sources can help, in working with the poorest people - there literally is no access to tech stuff. Corruption does not even begin t describe the government. We have had a newly constructed orphanage building seized and locked up because foreign money built it. Now it is vacant and not used. Those types of stories abound and kill donor support.

When we speak of the literacy problem - imagine the entire US population not being able to read, and not have any automobiles. The people need to survive and will do almost anything to do so. Then you have the traditional problem of a dowry being paid from the brides' parents to the groom. This causes women to have ultrasound and selectively abort female babies. The population is massive and the problems expansive and technology can certainly help but the answer is found in the Bible. Honor God and respect life.

Eustace Ndanga, Malawian at the University of Jyvaskyla, Finland

Issues to do with cultural and traditional beliefs also impacts the e-development. National culture is known to play a big role in the ICT development. If the State adopts the use of ICT, the results can be seen to trickle-down to the rural communities, and with this, the rural dwellers may also realise the benefits of ICT, and encouraged to use the facilities, for example, telecentres and mobile phones, therefore, enhancing e-development.

In India the are lot of impact particular in e-governance project and reduce corruption .

In most developing countries, the rural areas are largely deprived of meaningful infrastructure that can make life worthy of living. Essentially, is electricity and literacy level is low. Therefore, the use of internet could not likely gain any prominence. Therefore, the impact of ICT would be significantly reduced. Nonetheless, the use of GSM is gaining ground and its usage is extending to the rural dwellers.

Ict is very importent in uman life without ict is the part of our lifein today world.so many people in rural area they eeeeeven don't know about the ict. The rural people never see the computer. In indian village still so far away fron modern world activities.

Regarding the last comments one must take into consideration that ICT has indeed the tendency to enlarge the gap between urban and rural as well as the gaps between various types of rural areas or even between rural communities.

That relates directly to the question of spatial differentiation and the reasons for such spatial disparities - Does the use of ICT enlarge or reduce such disparities?

The digital divide.....but it is more that just spatial differentiation. There is a divide, that ICT has enhanced, based on geography and the urban/rural issue. However there is also a socio-economic divide which is not geographically specific. There are people in urban communities who do not access broadband, for example, but it is readily available to them, and there are people in rural communities who would love to have broadband but their low population density has not made them an attractive investment opportunity for the free market. Much of the research focuses on supply drivers and it is refreshing to see that the discussion here has alluded to the demand drivers and building an infrastructure that is not technologically determined policy but socially and educationally conceived.

I agree - we do have a set of factors and processes which determine the use of ICT. It is most interesting to observe how rural communities try to gain access to ICT. Roughly, for Germany we can differentiate between three positions: (a) Wait and see, what the public authorities can offer; (b) actively apply for public funding; (c)establishment of a local distribution system through local ressources.

It seems as if the determination of rural communities (or at least their actors and stakeholders) plays a vital role - having massive effect on all people in the community (if options a or b are choosen).

That is so true Karl. The 'animateurs' of a community are the key drivers. I was just reading about the Technological Acceptance Model (TAM) and how the take up of ICT by individuals is based upon 1) perceived usefulness and 2) perceived ease of use. The key word here is 'perceived' as there are many factors at play which affect perceptions. The key actors within communities play a huge role in perception as well as provision of infrastructure. They, the local culture, social norms and behavioural influences are the gatekeepers to effective ICT usage.

We have had some exposure in displaced rural South Africa (ex- homeland areas) where efforts were made to use ICT in order to overcome some of the accessibility constraints people residing in these areas face. ICT is in my view however not the issue, but rather the views, perceptions and culture of the residents has a bigger role to play. Past research indicated that often a human element or 'broker' is needed that acts as an interface between the community and the 'ICT systems'. No ICT service system exist that stand out in terms of their contribution to rural development in South Africa. Acceptance is also not straighforward - whilst a project is running there often seems to be a 'false sence of buyin, support and acceptance' even though much effort is often put in to ensure sustainability - technology and ICT type systems (although with good intentions) seems to be 'brought to the people' in a more top down manner than entended. In these rural areas in South Africa the ICT infrastructure (especially mobile networks) although there is good coverage is lacking in capacity (especially regarding data). This also has a negative affect on ICT uptake and wider application.

@ Johan: Your idea of the necessity to have a human broker is very interesting as it fits into the situation of many Europeans countries. Could you suggest any papers focussing on that issue?

Karl have a look at the following:

http://safipa.com/2011/01/31/infopreneurs%C2%AE-a-new-paradigm-in-understanding-how-ict-enabled-networks-can-enhance-development-actions/

http://researchspace.csir.co.za/dspace/handle/10204/3933

http://researchspace.csir.co.za/dspace/handle/10204/4404

Rensie van Rensburg is a colleague from the Meraka unit (at the CSIR). He has a lot of experience with ICT in difficult rural settings such as in SA. There should be more papers authored by him and others from Meraka.

Johan

I agree with Johan's position the views, perceptions and culture of the residents has a bigger role to play than ICT does. As a planner i need to work with people and this entails knowledge of their culture, beliefs and perception when it comes to planning decisions. This should emanate from the people whom the planner is selecting, pallning and implementing a conceived project or program.

http://www.mirandanet.ac.uk/ftp/enlaces.pdf that´s the Chilean experience. In the rural areas, the "ICT Center" are the primary schools. The people access to the internet in that places.

http://www.connectaschool.org/sites/default/files/pdf_cache/9b0e6e491f0922cd5476639414b3d96b.pdf

ICT can transform rural society ,change conventional thinking and connect people beyond the specified geographical boundary

I support that ICT can also break the traditional geographical barriers to development.

With ICT rural regions can get access to almost all the needed skills and resources (specially human) for their development,

If we think, for instance, about the metanational companies we will see how easy, apparently, can be the break up of the old barriers to the development of rural regions. What we need, effectively, is a true development strategy, invonving main actors withiun the region, to reach the required development.

@Jose Portfirio

I agree in your assessment that ICT is an important factor for development as it provides skills and ressources (mostly information).

However, it seems to be a difficult terrain if we look at the meta- or multinational companies: Of course, they will require and need ICT-infrastructure and skills and might probably support the ICT development. But the costs might be the impact of gobalisation, breaking-up of regional value-chains etc.

But equally as ICT has no geographical range when it is established it can be used to the establishment for regional value-chains as well.... So we are back at the question how to control potential negative effects.

Hi,

I believe that the best way to control potential negative effects is to be prepared for them.

That's why I called for the need of a clear and sustainable strategy for the region and for the economic agents that start this development processes.

Globalization effects are not possible to avoid unless we are able to live isolated... The question is whether we are prepared to give the first step and then support our position and reinforce it. Sooner or latter we will need distintive resources.

The alternative will be to do nothing and be awaiting for the future?

@ Jose, globalisation effects are not ALL that possible to avoid completely but in case of ICT viz-a-vis rural development in the rural region the centre of focus must be MAN. If the people are not prepared -enlightenment-wise whatever technology is being introduced might not be adopted; used and accepted.

The alternative of waiting and doing nothing by leaving everything to CHANCE is the worst. We just have to do something. Even if the result is poor, there is always room for review and IMPROVEMENT

I have done a research on rural ICT in Malaysia sometime in early 2000, but have nor follow up the current development.. It would be interesting to revisit the situation now. Your query rekindle my thought to look into that topic again. Thank you.

@Sidi, 2000 is not too far away; What are your major findings in Malaysia then? This may be of interest to us that are into rural planning and studies

The ICT component has indeed made a real dent in awareness as well as understanding level of people in general, and the rural mass in particular. What is significantly imp is the style and medium of communication - it's reachability to those it has been aimed for. Rural areas as it is are/have been devoid of such communication system so far. Its only recently that the improved communication system has reached - still reaching - and is yet to cover more (rural areas). The improved technology has been able to improve livelihood (partly), health services, education, and broadly awareness vis a vis on going development initiatives/efforts.

Aberdeen University has an entire research hub dedicated to such topics. They are researching very diverse areas, such as public transport, goods transport, culture, healthcare... Have a look at http://www.dotrural.ac.uk/ for further details!

Dear Venkatrao,

See the paper of Baltina and Vitola in the journal European Countryside, vol. 5, No. 3::

http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/euco.2013.5.issue-3/euco-2013-0016/euco-2013-0016.xml?format=INT

Best,

Antonin