This book presents pioneering research that is designed to show, from a qualitative and ethnographic perspective, how new information and communication technologies, as applied to the school system and to local governance initiatives, merely reproduce traditional pedagogical approaches and the dominant forms by which power is exercised at the local level. The studies thus constitute points of departure for further thinking about the need to promote an Internet culture based on the social application of a OC right to communication and cultureOCO and an OC Internet right, OCO that will permit the establishment of true citizen participation and free access to knowledge, with due regard to personal and individual rights such as those of privacy and intimacy."
In recent years the internet and other network technologies have emerged as a central issue for development in Latin America and the Caribbean. They have shown their potential to increase productivity and competitiveness in the economy, to create new ways to deliver education and health services, and to be driving forces for the modernisation of the provision of public services. This book examines some of the key unanswered questions: Will the internet in Latin America and the Caribbean remain open over the next ten years? Will online surveillance increasingly challenge individual privacy? Will open data, social media and new forms of participation improve democracy in the region? Will we be able to harness the collaborative potential of the internet to create more socially meaningful and sustainable economies? Will digital education, science and creativity flourish in the region, reflecting the diversity and culture of its people? The answers to these questions will be central to determining whether or not the internet will effectively contribute to a more open and developed society in our corner of the world. The book builds on a seminar, "Open Development: Exploring the future of the information society in Latin America and the Caribbean," held in Montevideo on 2-3 April 2013. Organised by Fundacion Comunica and IDRC, and held alongside the "Fourth Ministerial Conference on the Information Society in Latin America and the Caribbean," the seminar was an opportunity to reflect on the direction of the changes happening in the region, to bring new themes to the table and to explore how they can better be addressed in regional efforts. The 25 chapters in the book include the reflections of many of the region's leading experts in the area. Rather than present a single consolidated perspective, the authors dive into the issues, explore new ways to frame the problems and seek new solutions. Despite the considerable diversity, the book highlights many emerging points of agreement about new opportunities and challenges for the information society in the region.
Foreword -- The shifting digital paradigm in Latin America -- The demand gap: drivers and public policies -- Regional and international connectivity -- Broadband, digitization and development -- Mobile broadband: the urgent need for speedier roll-out -- Cloud computing, structural change and job creation in SMEs -- National broadband plans -- Broadband and industrial policy: the Korean experience -- Net neutrality: debate and policies -- The advance of cloud computing -- The challenge of over-the-top content and services
Examines the problem of inedequate access to information and communication technology (ICT) and the need to develop appropriate pro-poor ICT policies. Shows how market reforms have failed to ensure that the benefits of the Information Society have spread across the region.
This publication studies the way information technology can be used to achieve broader developmental goals and integrate the region into the global information society. It addresses three main questions: what kind of information society is desirable; what are the specific regional traits of the move towards an information society; what policies are needed to support the transition. The book also contains the text of the Bavaro Declaration, which lays out some guiding principles.
"This book analyses the development of information societies in the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, and provides input for public policy on information and communications technologies (ICT) issues."--Provided by publisher.
This volume examines many aspects impacting the digital divide in Latin America and the politics of digital inclusion including mobile youth identities, technology affordability, school transformation by digital media, the diffusion of e-commerce platforms and digital technology in SMEs.
The relevance of technology in development has been long discussed during the WSIS1 process and it has also been included regional plans and initiatives, like the Latin American Plan of Action for the Information Society, eLAC 20072. Internet Governance, as a more specific but not less important issue, also has a close relationship with development in Latin America and the Caribbean. The region is unique because it is the most inequitable region in the World3. This inequity is related with a highly uneven distribution of assets (land, capital, education and technology) and unequal access to them4. During the last decade many changes in regulations shaped the telecommunications and Internet industries in ways that not always benefited the developing countries of the region, broadening this social and economic gap. This gap is also present in the access of the society to the services and networks that provide Internet connectivity. There are also facts that influence this situation related with geography, distances in between north and south and availability of infrastructure in rural areas. In this context, there are several initiatives and activities done in existing global Internet Governance mechanisms, that may have an impact in global and regional development. In ICANN there are several examples that can be evaluated from this perspective. The Governmental Advisor Committee is growing in the number of active participants and is reviewing relevant subjects for development as IDNs, security and IPV6 implementation. Other constituencies of ICANN are also involved in Internet public policies definitions that will have an impact in the Internet space, like the GNSO which is involved in the definition of the “whois” and “new gTLDs” rules. All countries also work close together at the ccNSO focusing their efforts in those rules that will have a direct impact in the local country codes registries, like IDNs. Internet users have their space at the At Large Advisor Committee, where every year more organizations from developing countries make hear their voices. Also ICANN has launched an interesting Fellowship program to promoting participation from developing countries, specially in the GAC and the ccNSO. This document explores these activities and programs in relation with the positive or negative impacts that they may have on development, from a global and a regional perspective.
This publication studies the way information technology can be used to achieve broader developmental goals and integrate the region into the global information society. It addresses three main questions: what kind of information society is desirable; what are the specific regional traits of the move towards an information society; what policies are needed to support the transition. The book also contains the text of the Bavaro Declaration, which lays out some guiding principles.
