Epidemiology and Phenomenology of Compulsive Use of Technology: The Technological Saturation of South African Youth

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Blessing Mbatha ◽  
Blessed Ngwenya
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Pathological Internet Use ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
Compulsive Use

Modern technological advancements are increasingly reconstituting virtually every facet of social interaction. While technology plays a significant role in many people’s lives, it appears to pose interminable drawbacks, especially among the youth. This article seeks to go beyond emphasising the utopia wrought by these disruptive innovations, by looking at how technologically saturated South Africa’s youth are. This study took a qualitative approach. Focus group interviews encapsulated the viewpoints of the target population selected from four multipurpose community centres in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa. Grohol’s model of pathological internet use was found relevant to determine the compulsive use of technology by the youth in South Africa. Data analysis was done using thematic categorisation. The findings show that the youth have adopted a variety of information and communication technologies (ICTs) for different purposes. Findings also reveal that technology advancements not only offer an easier and quicker way to share information, but also contribute to sociability by providing a way to communicate with distant friends and family. Notwithstanding the negative side of technology, ICTs have positive impacts on today’s youth, namely bringing people together as well as enhancing their social and educational abilities. However, if used without discretion, technology can create a less interactive generation. The youth seem to be so fixated on technology that it affects their social life. It can be concluded that South Africa’s youth are saturated by technology. However, this saturation comes with both negative and positive consequences; some have become technologically savvy while others seem to be negatively affected.

Rethinking Religious Practice and Activities through the lenses of Information and Communication Technologies in the era of the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.Z Ramorola
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Religious Practice ◽  
Social Needs ◽  
Religious Organizations ◽  
Religious Activities ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Information And Communication

There has been a steady rise in the practice and performance of religious activities within the cyberspace since the 1980s. Many pastors have embraced the use of technology in their religious and ministerial practices. However, what would be more critical is to understand how technology, once adopted and operational would assume the function of support and fulfil religious members’ spiritual, emotional and social needs. This paper discusses technology use in religious organizations, particularly during the lockdown period of Covid-19 between March 2020 to the July 2021. The article uses South Africa as a research context to explore technology use and its role to address the challenges of support, space and practice. The paper employed a qualitative interpretive paradigm to source data from six members from different religious organizations in South Africa. Three themes arose from the data: information and communication technologies provide space for religious member to network; information and communication media facilitate religious practice and activities; and information and communication technologies enhance management of resources.

Challenges Posed by Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for South African Higher Education Institutions

10.28945/2679 ◽  
2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
ME Herselman ◽  
HR Hay
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Driving Forces ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Revolutionary Change ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Teaching Learning

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) are the major driving forces of globalised and knowledge-based societies of a new world era. They will have a profound impact on teaching and learning for two decades to come. The revolutionary change which is taking place in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), has dramatic effects on the way universities carry out their functions of teaching, learning and research, particularly on the creation, dissemination and application of knowledge. These developments pose unprecedented challenges to higher education institutions (HEIs) in developing countries particular in South Africa as South Africa is viewed as the leading country on the continent.

scholarly journals La colaboración mediada por tecnología como estrategia para potenciar visitas guiadas

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Analía Roxana Dávila
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Formal Education ◽  
Science And Technology ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Open Science ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Technology Centers ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
National University ◽  
Information And Communication

It is proposed to analyze the scope and limitations that Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) offer as collaboration mediators; and enhancers of innovative experiences in non-formal education spaces. To this end, it is proposed to implement a methodology mediated by ICTs to promote and achieve greater use of the guided visits to the interactive science and technology centers. The work contemplates, firstly, carrying out a bibliographic inquiry and background review of interactive science and technology centers in different Ibero-American countries and secondly, it is proposed to design a methodology to enhance collaboration mediated by technologies in the framework of visits to centers interactives and then apply this methodology to a particular case study to measure its impact. The experience will take place at the Open Science and Technology Interactive Center (CICyT) of the National University of Lanús and proposes, through a specific intervention, comparatively analyzing 3 types of guided visits: a) traditional in-person visit format, b) visit face-to-face with instance of collaboration activities without the use of technology, c) interaction mediated by ICTs prior to the visit, face-to-face visit with use of ICTs, and instance of interaction mediated by ICTs after the visit, which will then be contrasted with the antecedents and theoretical studies found in the bibliography.

scholarly journals THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY IN TEACHING

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-114
Author(s):  
Lazar Stošić
Keyword(s):  
Educational Technology ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Technology In Education ◽  
Technology In The Classroom ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Technology In Teaching ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
Information And Communication

Today, more than ever, the role of educational technology in teaching is of great importance because of the use of information and communication technologies. With the help of various applications for distance education, the Internet, teachers, and students themselves, they see the advantage of educational technology. The question is whether schools and teachers themselves are ready for the use of technology in education and whether they are aware of its benefits? In this paper, we try to give an overview of the importance and use of educational technology in the classroom.

scholarly journals The Access to the ICT Network as a Public Task of Local Government

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 175-195
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Chałubińska-Jentkiewicz
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Public Funding ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Network Access ◽  
Network Development ◽  
Human Right ◽  
Broadband Network ◽  
Information And Communication

The purpose of this paper is to describe the duties of local government units under the legal conditions related to access to the ICT network in Poland. Establishing public-private partnerships in the telecommunications sector, which is a field closely tied with cybersecurity, seems inevitable and necessary. The need to cooperate is the consequence of the development of information and communication technologies, which leads to their increasingly wide application in all aspects of social life. The tasks of local government involving network access have become key to the process of broadband network development. That is why public funding becomes particularly important in its absence, justified by the need to provide conditions for internet access as a human right. This has become especially topical as we face the challenges of COVID-19.

scholarly journals La competencia digital en los docentes del siglo XXI: Hábitos de uso y autopercepción / Digital Competence in 21st Century Teachers: Usage Habits and Self-Perception

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Miriam Jimenez Bernal ◽  
Marta Abanades
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
The Self ◽  
Self Perception ◽  
Digital Competence ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Professional Profile ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Nativos Digitales ◽  
Competencia Digital

ABSTRACTDuring the last years, Information and Communication Technologies have been included in the educational field, not only as support tools for teachers, but also as an essential part of the training and of the very learning environment. For this reason, the digital competence is considered one of the main competences in the teachers’ professional profile. However, there is a digital divide between the new Pre-School and Primary students, digital natives, and their teachers. Our study aims at knowing the self-perception on the digital competence and the daily habits of use of technology either in professionals of several fields and in students of the Degrees in Pre-School and Primary Education, most of them with working experience, comparing both items with the observation of their performance in blended learning subjects, with a significant online workload for the students. The aim of this communication is to present the initial results of the survey and the comparative analysis, which shows a gap between the self-perception and the usage habits, in order to suggest measures to be implemented in Higher Education.RESUMENA lo largo de los últimos años, las Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación se han ido incorporando al ámbito educativo, no solo como herramientas de ayuda al profesorado, sino también como parte integrante de la formación y el propio entorno de aprendizaje. Por este motivo, la competencia digital es una de las principales competencias del perfil profesional de un docente. Sin embargo, existe una brecha digital entre los nuevos alumnos de Infantil y Primaria, nativos digitales, y sus profesores. Nuestro estudio pretende, a través de la realización de encuestas a profesionales de diversos ámbitos y a estudiantes de los Grados en Educación Infantil y Primaria, ya diplomados en Magisterio y con experiencia docente en muchos casos, conocer su autopercepción de la competencia digital y sus hábitos básicos de uso de la tecnología, comparando ambas cuestiones con el desempeño en asignaturas semipresenciales, con una importante carga de trabajo en línea para los estudiantes. El objetivo de esta comunicación es presentar los resultados iniciales de la encuesta y del análisis comparativo, que indica un desfase entre la autopercepción y los hábitos de uso, para proponer medidas que puedan tomarse desde las aulas universitarias. Contacto principal: [email protected]

Understanding Smart City Solutions in Turkish Cities From the Perspective of Sustainability

2018 ◽  
pp. 236-266
Author(s):  
H. Filiz Alkan Meshur
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Smart City ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Single Step ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
General Practices ◽  
Urban Problems

The purpose of this chapter is to analyze the concept of smart city and its potential solutions to correct urban problems. Smart city practices and solutions have been investigated through the lens of a sustainable perspective. As the general practices in the global scale were examined, particular focus has been directed to smart city practices in Turkey and applicable suggestions have been developed. A number of cities in Turkey rank the lowest in the list of livable cities index. Consequential to the rapidly rising population ratios, the quality of provided services declines; economic and social life in cities are adversely affected and brand images of cities are deteriorated. With the implementation of smart city practices, such problems could be corrected, and these cities could gain competitive advantage over their rivals. The key component of this smart administration is to most effectively utilize information and communication technologies during each single step of this process.

Ambient Assisted Living and Care in The Netherlands

2014 ◽  
pp. 205-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. van Hoof ◽  
E. J. M. Wouters ◽  
H. R. Marston ◽  
B. Vanrumste ◽  
R. A. Overdiep
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Assisted Living ◽  
Ambient Assisted Living ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Primary Focus

Technology can assist older adults to remain living in the community. Within the realm of information and communication technologies, smart homes are drifting toward the concept of ambient assisted living (AAL). AAL-systems are more responsive to user needs and patterns of living, fostering physical activity for a healthier lifestyle, and capturing behaviours for prevention and future assistance. This study provides an overview of the design-requirements and expectations towards AAL-technologies that are formulated by the end-users, their relatives and health care workers, with a primary focus on health care in The Netherlands. The results concern the motivation for use of technology, requirements to the design, implementation, privacy and ethics. More research is required in terms of the actual needs of older users without dementia and their carers, and on AAL in general as some of the work included concerns less sophisticated smart home technology.

Understanding the Context of Green ICT

2011 ◽  
pp. 1824-1835
Author(s):  
Deepa Gheewala ◽  
Vivek Gheewala
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Software Applications ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Software Implementations ◽  
Green Ict ◽  
Operational Processes

Green ICT can be considered as the adoption of eco-friendly processes by an organization in its practice of Information and Communication Technologies. The last decade, in particular, has seen profound awareness on the part of individuals as well as organizations in adopting such processes that are environmentally friendly. While automation and related computing activities continue to lead to exponential use of energy quotient, Green ICT continues to chip away at the ‘resigned‘ views of the decision makers to their environmental responsibilities. It is vital today to understand the increasing importance and the context provided by ICT in helping prove the green credentials of an organization. ICT operates at systems and applications level; at the end-user level through the desktops and printers; and at the enterprise level through its data centers, servers and other infrastructure. Green ICT is all about optimization and improvement of the organization’s operational processes without hindering its progress in use of technology. This chapter discusses the context provided by ICT in helping an organization to prove its green credentials. The issues discussed in this chapter include hardware and software implementations, infrastructures, attitudes and policies of decision makers, and how they influence global warming. Therefore, it includes carbon emissions, and the use of software applications in measuring and reporting carbon emissions.

ICT Considerations for a Municipality in South Africa

2011 ◽  
pp. 1158-1170
Author(s):  
Udo Averweg ◽  
Siyabonga Manyanga
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Data Gathering ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Daily Lives ◽  
Goods And Services ◽  
Ict Adoption ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Internet Networks ◽  
Transfer Of Information

The availability of publicly accessible Internet networks and services are the first prerequisite in ensuring that all citizens and nations can benefit from information on the World Wide Web (UNESCO, 2003). Information and communication technologies (ICT) are playing an increasingly important role in the daily lives of citizens, revolutionising work and leisure and changing the rules of doing business. ICT encompass all technologies that facilitate the processing and transfer of information and communication services (United Nations, 2002). In the realm of government, ICT applications are promising to enhance the delivery of public goods and services to citizens not only by improving the process and management of government but also by redefining the traditional concepts of citizenship and democracy (Pascual, 2003). The spread of ICT brings hope that governments can transform (Pacific Council on International Policy, 2002). This article is organised as follows: • Background to the research is given • ICT adoption in the eThekwini Municipality in South Africa is described • The research goals, method, data gathering, and results are discussed • Management implications towards implementing a successful e-government strategy are given • Future trends are then suggested and a conclusion is given

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