Information and Communication Technology for Development
We live in a time where the opportunities for education, professional development and social participation depend on Internet access; Therefore, the lack of access means the lack of opportunities. In 2011, given the growing importance of socio-economic development opportunities offered through the Internet, the United Nations determined, in the Human Rights Council report , that Internet access should be considered a fundamental resource for human rights promotion. Equal opportunities in the digital age require that all people, especially the poorest, have access to the information available online as well as develop minimum skills to surf on the Internet and make use of the available information (Gates Foundation).
The expression "information and Communication Technologies for development", summarizes the convergence of various areas of knowledge used in research and public policy that study and outline guidelines for the use of computers, Internet and other digital technologies in promoting socio-economic development and human rights. The term is not widely known among Brazilians, if compared with the movement and the volume of publications about the topic outside of Brazil. It is known as ICT4D among researchers and international activists, because of the initials of the same expression in English Information and Communication Technology for Development.
The theory that justifies research and public policies in this area states that the greater the quantity and quality of information and communication, the better the development of a society will be. In addition to the obvious relationship with technology, the theme "technology for development" involves other fields of study. Each letter of the original acronym ICT4D relates to one or more areas of knowledge. The letter "I" relates to the information sciences and librarianship; "C" in the area of communication studies; T with information systems; and "D" with the study of the development that aims to equalize access to technology and apply it as a resource for the social and economic development. Developing countries lead the implementation of programs in the area, they seek to prevent that the exclusion of access to technology will increase the social differences. They also try to establish strategies for digital technologies use to reduce poverty (HEEKS & MOLLA, 2009).
At the beginning of 2000s, when the "Millennium Development Goals” were launched, combined with the growing use of Internet in the richest countries, made developing nations to invest in technology and infrastructure programs that promote the use of technology to improve the quality of life of their populations. The most common application was the creation of telecenters aiming to disseminate information on issues such as health, education, agriculture and e-government services in poor communities. Telecenters are popularly known in various countries as centers that offer computers and the Internet access to anyone, free of charge or at prices that are compatible with the possibilities of the local population. In Brazil, the concept of telecenter means free of charge technology access.
In recent decades the "technology for development" field has consolidated itself as an interdisciplinary research area with an increasing number of international conferences, workshops and publications; actions arising from the need for scientific guidelines and results validation that can evaluate the effectiveness of ongoing projects in several countries. Recent research (GOMEZ, 2011; SEY et all, 2013) shows that the telecenters, in several countries, are one option among three types of public centers. The other places where people look for computers and Internet access are the Internet cafes and public libraries. One of the challenges faced by these public access centers is the staff and users skills development in order for them to benefit from the technology and information available on the network for the promotion of development and improvement of the life quality.
In Brazil, less than half of the population can access the Internet using their own resources. The Internet is present in only 38% of Brazilian homes (CGI.BR, 2011, p. 154). Therefore, it can be inferred that more than 60% of the population depends on public access points when they want to use the Internet without asking to borrow from friends, neighbors and relatives.
The computers and access distribution in Brazilian homes is proportional to the families' income. According to the CGI.BR (2011) 93% of the households with income above 10 minimum wages have computers at home, while just 10% of the households with income equal to or less than a minimum wage have it. Moreover, the Internet connection is in 91% of the households with income over 10 minimum wages and only in 6% of the households with income equal to or less than one minimum wage (CGI.BR, 2011).
The analysis of the amount of Internet users, regardless of the availability of home access, shows that 53% of the Brazilian population has already accessed the Internet, and 45% of Brazilians accessed the network at least once in the last 3 months. This data demonstrates that policies to promote access to information and communication technologies in Brazil have not yet managed to reach half of the Brazilian population.
Among Brazilians Internet users, the number of people who access the network from their homes is increasing while the number of people who access public centers with fees (cybercafés or Internet cafes) is decreasing. Public free access centers have less quantitative expression. Only 6% of the Brazilian users often access the Internet from those centers. The chart made by CGI.BR (2011. P. 161) shows the evolution of computers and Internet use in recent years. The chart displays only urban areas because the research did not include the rural area in its early editions.
The expression "information and Communication Technologies for development", summarizes the convergence of various areas of knowledge used in research and public policy that study and outline guidelines for the use of computers, Internet and other digital technologies in promoting socio-economic development and human rights. The term is not widely known among Brazilians, if compared with the movement and the volume of publications about the topic outside of Brazil. It is known as ICT4D among researchers and international activists, because of the initials of the same expression in English Information and Communication Technology for Development.
The theory that justifies research and public policies in this area states that the greater the quantity and quality of information and communication, the better the development of a society will be. In addition to the obvious relationship with technology, the theme "technology for development" involves other fields of study. Each letter of the original acronym ICT4D relates to one or more areas of knowledge. The letter "I" relates to the information sciences and librarianship; "C" in the area of communication studies; T with information systems; and "D" with the study of the development that aims to equalize access to technology and apply it as a resource for the social and economic development. Developing countries lead the implementation of programs in the area, they seek to prevent that the exclusion of access to technology will increase the social differences. They also try to establish strategies for digital technologies use to reduce poverty (HEEKS & MOLLA, 2009).
At the beginning of 2000s, when the "Millennium Development Goals” were launched, combined with the growing use of Internet in the richest countries, made developing nations to invest in technology and infrastructure programs that promote the use of technology to improve the quality of life of their populations. The most common application was the creation of telecenters aiming to disseminate information on issues such as health, education, agriculture and e-government services in poor communities. Telecenters are popularly known in various countries as centers that offer computers and the Internet access to anyone, free of charge or at prices that are compatible with the possibilities of the local population. In Brazil, the concept of telecenter means free of charge technology access.
In recent decades the "technology for development" field has consolidated itself as an interdisciplinary research area with an increasing number of international conferences, workshops and publications; actions arising from the need for scientific guidelines and results validation that can evaluate the effectiveness of ongoing projects in several countries. Recent research (GOMEZ, 2011; SEY et all, 2013) shows that the telecenters, in several countries, are one option among three types of public centers. The other places where people look for computers and Internet access are the Internet cafes and public libraries. One of the challenges faced by these public access centers is the staff and users skills development in order for them to benefit from the technology and information available on the network for the promotion of development and improvement of the life quality.
In Brazil, less than half of the population can access the Internet using their own resources. The Internet is present in only 38% of Brazilian homes (CGI.BR, 2011, p. 154). Therefore, it can be inferred that more than 60% of the population depends on public access points when they want to use the Internet without asking to borrow from friends, neighbors and relatives.
The computers and access distribution in Brazilian homes is proportional to the families' income. According to the CGI.BR (2011) 93% of the households with income above 10 minimum wages have computers at home, while just 10% of the households with income equal to or less than a minimum wage have it. Moreover, the Internet connection is in 91% of the households with income over 10 minimum wages and only in 6% of the households with income equal to or less than one minimum wage (CGI.BR, 2011).
The analysis of the amount of Internet users, regardless of the availability of home access, shows that 53% of the Brazilian population has already accessed the Internet, and 45% of Brazilians accessed the network at least once in the last 3 months. This data demonstrates that policies to promote access to information and communication technologies in Brazil have not yet managed to reach half of the Brazilian population.
Among Brazilians Internet users, the number of people who access the network from their homes is increasing while the number of people who access public centers with fees (cybercafés or Internet cafes) is decreasing. Public free access centers have less quantitative expression. Only 6% of the Brazilian users often access the Internet from those centers. The chart made by CGI.BR (2011. P. 161) shows the evolution of computers and Internet use in recent years. The chart displays only urban areas because the research did not include the rural area in its early editions.
At first sight, the data above may show that public access points are losing importance regarding Brazilian Internet access. However, it is important to note that the chart monitors only the places where half of the Brazilian population access the Internet, this means where the ones who are Internet user often access it. The chart does not display the other half of the Brazilian population. While 69% from users from urban areas access Internet at home, it is important to remember that only 38% of Brazilian households have Internet access. In order to identify opportunities for strengthening the theme "Technology for Development" in Brazil, two questions emerge from this scenario:
By analyzing the CGI.BR Report (2011), with data collected from November 2011 to January 2012 in 25,000 Brazilian homes, we can identify that the main reason for not having computer at home is the high cost of the equipment. This reason was pointed out by 70% of the interviewed people. Among households that have computer, but do not have Internet access, the most frequent reason for not having Internet in a house is also the high cost of connection (48%), followed by the lack of availability of the Internet in the area (25%), possibility of access in another location (18), lack of interest (14%) and lack of computer skills (10%). In rural areas, where 90% of the households do not have Internet connection, non-availability of technology in the area is what prevails as an argument (54%), followed by the high cost (33%). This shows an inverse relationship when compared to the proportions of urban areas, where the cost has greater importance (50%) compared to the lack of availability (21%).
Among the households of families with lower purchasing power, considered to be classes D and E, 95% of them do not have Internet access. The information is consistent with the answers given by the interviewed people who pointed out the high cost of equipment and Internet connection as the primary reason not to take advantage of technology at home.
Inequality is also reflected in the network use when we analyze the population regardless having or not access at home. Among Brazilians who are 10 years old or older, 55% are not Internet users. They are people who did not use the resource in the last three months prior to the time of the interview. The percentage of users goes up to 86% among the poorest (Classes E and D) and 82% among residents in rural areas (CGI 2011-BR, Local Internet access Table p. 452).
Among Brazilians considered internet users, the most common place for accessing the network is the home (67%), followed by the workplace (29%), someone else's house and paid access centers both with 28%, school (16%), cell phone at any location (15%), and free access centers (6%). Based on this data, we can infer that 34% of Brazilian users access the Internet at public access centers, whether they are paid (cybercafés or Internet cafes) or free (telecenters, libraries).
Regarding only the less favored population, D & E social classes, the scenario changes completely: 69 % access Internet in public access centers (60% paid centers and 9% in free of charge centers), 33% at somebody else’s house, 21% at home, 19% at school, 13% cell phones and only 9% at work.
Analysis demonstrates that the Public Access Points to information and communication technologies are very significant when providing to less favored population. In addition to that, it also shows that the country still has a big challenge ahead in order to enhance access to 86% of the less favored population (D and E classes)
The scenario of public access points to information and communication technologies was the target of the "Global Impact Study". A study was coordinated by the University of Washington and implemented in several countries in order to identify the impact of public access to information and communication technologies. (SEY et all, 2013). The Fundação Pensamento Digital was responsible for leading the Global Research Impact Study (GIS) in Brazil, conducting questionnaires with 966 users of 242 public access centers distributed in 5 large geographical regions. Among users interviewed by GIS in Brazil, 31.2% of them hold a monthly household income of two to three minimum wages and 22% fall into the income range between one and two minimum wages. When the users were asked about what the most significant impact that technology access centers has in their lives (GIS Brasil), most of them pointed out entertainment as the first one, communication came in second place followed by learning as the third theme most impacted by the use of public access centers (ALVES & VOELCKER, 2013).
Search for information
- Why half of the Brazilian population does not access the Internet?
- Where do users who are poorer access the Internet?
By analyzing the CGI.BR Report (2011), with data collected from November 2011 to January 2012 in 25,000 Brazilian homes, we can identify that the main reason for not having computer at home is the high cost of the equipment. This reason was pointed out by 70% of the interviewed people. Among households that have computer, but do not have Internet access, the most frequent reason for not having Internet in a house is also the high cost of connection (48%), followed by the lack of availability of the Internet in the area (25%), possibility of access in another location (18), lack of interest (14%) and lack of computer skills (10%). In rural areas, where 90% of the households do not have Internet connection, non-availability of technology in the area is what prevails as an argument (54%), followed by the high cost (33%). This shows an inverse relationship when compared to the proportions of urban areas, where the cost has greater importance (50%) compared to the lack of availability (21%).
Among the households of families with lower purchasing power, considered to be classes D and E, 95% of them do not have Internet access. The information is consistent with the answers given by the interviewed people who pointed out the high cost of equipment and Internet connection as the primary reason not to take advantage of technology at home.
Inequality is also reflected in the network use when we analyze the population regardless having or not access at home. Among Brazilians who are 10 years old or older, 55% are not Internet users. They are people who did not use the resource in the last three months prior to the time of the interview. The percentage of users goes up to 86% among the poorest (Classes E and D) and 82% among residents in rural areas (CGI 2011-BR, Local Internet access Table p. 452).
- Only 14% of the Brazilian population from social classes D & E are Internet users.
Among Brazilians considered internet users, the most common place for accessing the network is the home (67%), followed by the workplace (29%), someone else's house and paid access centers both with 28%, school (16%), cell phone at any location (15%), and free access centers (6%). Based on this data, we can infer that 34% of Brazilian users access the Internet at public access centers, whether they are paid (cybercafés or Internet cafes) or free (telecenters, libraries).
Regarding only the less favored population, D & E social classes, the scenario changes completely: 69 % access Internet in public access centers (60% paid centers and 9% in free of charge centers), 33% at somebody else’s house, 21% at home, 19% at school, 13% cell phones and only 9% at work.
- 69% of the Internet users from D & E social classes go to public centers to access information and communication technologies.
Analysis demonstrates that the Public Access Points to information and communication technologies are very significant when providing to less favored population. In addition to that, it also shows that the country still has a big challenge ahead in order to enhance access to 86% of the less favored population (D and E classes)
- How to extend access to the less fortunate?
- Would it be the solution to replicate the public access points?
- Or would it require changes in the existing public access points models?
The scenario of public access points to information and communication technologies was the target of the "Global Impact Study". A study was coordinated by the University of Washington and implemented in several countries in order to identify the impact of public access to information and communication technologies. (SEY et all, 2013). The Fundação Pensamento Digital was responsible for leading the Global Research Impact Study (GIS) in Brazil, conducting questionnaires with 966 users of 242 public access centers distributed in 5 large geographical regions. Among users interviewed by GIS in Brazil, 31.2% of them hold a monthly household income of two to three minimum wages and 22% fall into the income range between one and two minimum wages. When the users were asked about what the most significant impact that technology access centers has in their lives (GIS Brasil), most of them pointed out entertainment as the first one, communication came in second place followed by learning as the third theme most impacted by the use of public access centers (ALVES & VOELCKER, 2013).
Search for information
Internet usage was also investigated by CGI.BR (2011), by filtering CGI BR data and selecting only D and E classes, there are similarities with the activities of users of public access centers shown by GIS Brazil.
The research data from CGI 2011 that analyzed Internet usage in the country (no restriction of place) show that 47% of the users from D and E social classes declared that, the activities they most do on the Internet, are those related to search for information on fun and entertainment, secondly, pointed out by 39% of the users, regards information on goods and services. The CGI data BR 2011 reported that 29% of the Internet users from D and E social classes told they do not look for information on the Internet.
The research data from CGI 2011 that analyzed Internet usage in the country (no restriction of place) show that 47% of the users from D and E social classes declared that, the activities they most do on the Internet, are those related to search for information on fun and entertainment, secondly, pointed out by 39% of the users, regards information on goods and services. The CGI data BR 2011 reported that 29% of the Internet users from D and E social classes told they do not look for information on the Internet.
The use of the Internet to search for health information is common to 22% users from social classes D & E, well below the 67% percent from class A users who use the Internet for this purpose. A similar situation happens with searching for information on virtual encyclopedias site, an activity pointed out by 20% users from social classes D and E, while 65 % users mentioned it from social class A (CGI.BR, 2011).
Most of the Internet users from social classes D and E (69%) use the network in public access points. We conducted some analyses that involve both interviewed groups: public access centers' users from Brazil GIS data collected in 2010 and 2011 and the social classes D and E users that use Internet anywhere from CGI.BR (2011) .
It is observed that the Internet use in public points to access information as well as the use of the Internet (anywhere) by the less-favored social classes (D of E) features the predominance of activities that involve fun or entertainment.
Education is a significant difference between the two groups. Users of public access venues indicated education as the third area in which the access center impacts more significantly on their lives and as the main theme of information searching (though only 24% of the users in public access venues search for information). The analysis of users from social classes D and E shows that a much larger group (71%) uses the internet to search for information, but they indicate other issues as priorities in their searches. In addition to entertainment (47%) searches, this group's searches also focus on goods and services (39%). Therefore, education or learning (searches in encyclopedias) is mentioned by only 20% of them. One hypothesis to explain this difference is the age of the users of public access venues. The GIS Brazil found out that 62% of them are under 24 years old, being most likely their involvement with educational activities. Health appears as the interest of a few users of both groups, mentioned by 3.6% of the users of access centers (15% out of the 24% of users searching information) and in 15% of the users of the social classes D and E (22% among the 71% searching information). Again the age group can be the explanation, because older users tend to have more interest in health issues.
As for other development-related themes, users of both groups showed that technology is significant in their lives regarding search for employment. However, they did not indicate clear goals related to social and development issues, such as income generation, e-Government, citizen participation, minority issues, and community, home, family, and education improvement.
The Brazil GIS report indicates that 74% of the clerks or operators from the visited public access venues did not receive any professional development when they started to work. It is assumed that the lack of information of the staff of these venues contribute to the low rates of internet use there for issues regarding the socio economic development.
Knowing that the spontaneous use of internet in less favored classes of Brazilian population does not involve or involves few motivations related to socio-economic development, it is assumed that the public access venues need to develop strategies that involve, motivate and guide their users to take advantage of the information to improve their life quality.
The libraries take up only a small segment of the analyzed in sample Brazil GIS research. They are not significant in quantitative terms in regard to technologies for development national scene. National public policies for internet access in relation to digital technologies or digital inclusion distribute computers and internet connection for NGOs, community centers, community associations, social service centers, other government offices and libraries.
Although outnumbered among the public access points to information, public libraries are organizations that rely on larger teams, composed of professionals with more training and lower turnover compared to Internet cafés (small private business generally short-lived) and telecenters whose staff, usually young students with scholarships sponsored by digital inclusion programs of short duration. Public libraries are integrated with government public policy organizations with missions that include access to information, among other objectives. In spite of Brazilian libraries having the main focus in cultural area and in reading promotion, assumedly they are potential centers for developing forms of technology use that provide development or improvement of life quality of underprivileged populations in particular in Brazil.
This research starts from the hypothesis that public libraries, public access venues to information and communication technologies, may be the best option for developing a pilot using technology for development in Brazil. However, they are in small number.
It is assumed that using information for development concept can be strengthened in Brazilian public libraries' ecosystem. It is believed that libraries are the most appropriate environment to pilot and develop programs that encourage the circulation of relevant information in order to improve life quality and poverty reduction of communities' users. It is not only building a culture led by libraries, but also spreading it naturally through other public venues that access technology and information such as telecenters, cybercafés and population with home access.
Most of the Internet users from social classes D and E (69%) use the network in public access points. We conducted some analyses that involve both interviewed groups: public access centers' users from Brazil GIS data collected in 2010 and 2011 and the social classes D and E users that use Internet anywhere from CGI.BR (2011) .
It is observed that the Internet use in public points to access information as well as the use of the Internet (anywhere) by the less-favored social classes (D of E) features the predominance of activities that involve fun or entertainment.
Education is a significant difference between the two groups. Users of public access venues indicated education as the third area in which the access center impacts more significantly on their lives and as the main theme of information searching (though only 24% of the users in public access venues search for information). The analysis of users from social classes D and E shows that a much larger group (71%) uses the internet to search for information, but they indicate other issues as priorities in their searches. In addition to entertainment (47%) searches, this group's searches also focus on goods and services (39%). Therefore, education or learning (searches in encyclopedias) is mentioned by only 20% of them. One hypothesis to explain this difference is the age of the users of public access venues. The GIS Brazil found out that 62% of them are under 24 years old, being most likely their involvement with educational activities. Health appears as the interest of a few users of both groups, mentioned by 3.6% of the users of access centers (15% out of the 24% of users searching information) and in 15% of the users of the social classes D and E (22% among the 71% searching information). Again the age group can be the explanation, because older users tend to have more interest in health issues.
As for other development-related themes, users of both groups showed that technology is significant in their lives regarding search for employment. However, they did not indicate clear goals related to social and development issues, such as income generation, e-Government, citizen participation, minority issues, and community, home, family, and education improvement.
The Brazil GIS report indicates that 74% of the clerks or operators from the visited public access venues did not receive any professional development when they started to work. It is assumed that the lack of information of the staff of these venues contribute to the low rates of internet use there for issues regarding the socio economic development.
Knowing that the spontaneous use of internet in less favored classes of Brazilian population does not involve or involves few motivations related to socio-economic development, it is assumed that the public access venues need to develop strategies that involve, motivate and guide their users to take advantage of the information to improve their life quality.
The libraries take up only a small segment of the analyzed in sample Brazil GIS research. They are not significant in quantitative terms in regard to technologies for development national scene. National public policies for internet access in relation to digital technologies or digital inclusion distribute computers and internet connection for NGOs, community centers, community associations, social service centers, other government offices and libraries.
Although outnumbered among the public access points to information, public libraries are organizations that rely on larger teams, composed of professionals with more training and lower turnover compared to Internet cafés (small private business generally short-lived) and telecenters whose staff, usually young students with scholarships sponsored by digital inclusion programs of short duration. Public libraries are integrated with government public policy organizations with missions that include access to information, among other objectives. In spite of Brazilian libraries having the main focus in cultural area and in reading promotion, assumedly they are potential centers for developing forms of technology use that provide development or improvement of life quality of underprivileged populations in particular in Brazil.
This research starts from the hypothesis that public libraries, public access venues to information and communication technologies, may be the best option for developing a pilot using technology for development in Brazil. However, they are in small number.
It is assumed that using information for development concept can be strengthened in Brazilian public libraries' ecosystem. It is believed that libraries are the most appropriate environment to pilot and develop programs that encourage the circulation of relevant information in order to improve life quality and poverty reduction of communities' users. It is not only building a culture led by libraries, but also spreading it naturally through other public venues that access technology and information such as telecenters, cybercafés and population with home access.