ICT

Author(s):  
Julián Briz ◽  
José María Duran ◽  
Isabel Felipe ◽  
Teresa Briz

Agriculture is facing new challenges in rural and urban areas, and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) may play a significant role. In this chapter, there is a background description of the ICT sector in the interface of urban and rural communities within the framework of agriculture. It describes some case analyses focused in agronomy and social sciences. In agronomy, the focuses are environment, food production, and pollution. In socioeconomics, there is a brief identification of ICT applications such as the collaboration between the university and firms. Considering the heterogeneousness of the analysis, the future research directions include different methods of studies for ICT programs (house of quality, structural organization, and others).

Author(s):  
Marek Angowski ◽  
Aneta JAROSZ-ANGOWSKA ◽  
Marcin LIPOWSKI

Over the last years, the economic and social structure of enterprises has undergone some important changes, especially because of the introduction of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). ICT is one of the fundamental elements driving the innovation and competitiveness of business activities which greatly influences the development of rural areas, both in economic and social terms. This publication focuses on the analysis and evaluation of the use of ICTs by enterprises in the Lubelskie Voivodeship with particular emphasis on rural areas. In the publication the authors use statistical analyses based on information from surveys conducted among entrepreneurs by the Marshal Office of the Lubelskie Voivodeship. The paper evaluates the following issues: the degree of computerisation of the company, the use of information technology in the company, the activity of the company on the Internet. The main objective of this study is to identify the relationship between the degree of computerisation and the company's innovation-oriented activities and to identify differences between companies located in urban and rural areas. The studies carried out have demonstrated that the differences in the computerisation of enterprises located in rural and urban areas are negligible and that there is a close relationship between the degree of computerisation and innovation in enterprises located in rural areas.


Author(s):  
Bongi P. Mqina ◽  
Leila Goosen

The purpose of this chapter is to investigate the roles of school management teams in curriculum delivery through information and communication technologies (ICTs) in education concerning e-schools' community engagement. In terms of summarizing the content, the background is provided regarding the context of this problem and a review of the literature as per the outlined objectives of the chapter and including applicable theoretical and conceptual frameworks. The methodology, research method, paradigm, and sampling techniques used are indicated, as are data collection instruments, data analysis and interpretation, and research ethics. Finally, in dealing with the issues, controversies, problems, and challenges presented in the research questions and objectives, the findings as per the empirical study conducted are outlined with the discussions of solutions and recommendations. Future research directions are also discussed before the conclusion provides a discussion of the overall coverage of the chapter.


Author(s):  
Eirik Årsand ◽  
Naoe Tatara ◽  
Gunnar Hartvigsen

The technological revolution that has created a vast health problem due to a drastic change in lifestyle also holds great potential for individuals to take better care of their own health. This is the focus of the presented overview of current applications, and prospects for future research and innovations. The presented overview and the main goals of the systems included are to utilize information and communication technologies (ICT) as aids in self-management of individual health challenges, for the disease Diabetes, both for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. People with diabetes are generally as mobile as the rest of the population, and should have access to mobile technologies for managing their disease. Forty-seven relevant studies and prototypes of mobile, diabetes-specific self-management tools meeting our inclusion criteria have been identified; 27 publicly available products and services, nine relevant patent applications, and 31 examples of other disease-related mobile self-management systems are included to provide a broader overview of the state of the art. Finally, the reviewed systems are compared, and future research directions are suggested.


Author(s):  
Leilani Goosen

The purpose of this chapter is to highlight technology-supported teaching and research methods for educators by presenting a case study of a massive open online course (MOOC). The objectives of this chapter will firstly be to provide a comprehensive and timely work, which can serve as an essential reference resource, in the context of a MOOC entitled Ethical Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D) Solutions. It will also build on the available literature in the field of instructional technology in developing countries, specifically as applicable in the emerging areas of MOOCs and ICT4D. Finally, future research directions within the domains related to these dynamic topics and fields will be suggested.


Author(s):  
Remus Runcan

According to Romania’s National Rural Development Programme, the socio-economic situation of the rural environment has a large number of weaknesses – among which low access to financial resources for small entrepreneurs and new business initiatives in rural areas and poorly developed entrepreneurial culture, characterized by a lack of basic managerial knowledge – but also a large number of opportunities – among which access of the rural population to lifelong learning and entrepreneurial skills development programmes and entrepreneurs’ access to financial instruments. The population in rural areas depends mainly on agricultural activities which give them subsistence living conditions. The gap between rural and urban areas is due to low income levels and employment rates, hence the need to obtain additional income for the population employed in subsistence and semi-subsistence farming, especially in the context of the depopulation trend. At the same time, the need to stimulate entrepreneurship in rural areas is high and is at a resonance with the need to increase the potential of rural communities from the perspective of landscape, culture, traditional activities and local resources. A solution could be to turn vegetal and / or animal farms into social farms – farms on which people with disabilities (but also adolescents and young people with anxiety, depression, self-harm, suicide, and alexithymia issues) might find a “foster” family, bed and meals in a natural, healthy environment, and share the farm’s activities with the farmer and the farmer’s family: “committing to a regular day / days and times for a mutually agreed period involves complying with any required health and safety practices (including use of protective clothing and equipment), engaging socially with the farm family members and other people working on and around the farm, and taking on tasks which would include working on the land, taking care of animals, or helping out with maintenance and other physical work”


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 6363
Author(s):  
Johanna Andrea Espinosa-Navarro ◽  
Manuel Vaquero-Abellán ◽  
Alberto-Jesús Perea-Moreno ◽  
Gerardo Pedrós-Pérez ◽  
Pilar Aparicio-Martínez ◽  
...  

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are key to create sustainable higher education institutions (HEIs). Most researchers focused on the students’ perspective, especially during the online teaching caused by COVID-19; however, university teachers are often forgotten, having their opinion missing. This study’s objective was to determine the factors that contribute to the inclusion of ICTs. The research based on a comparative study through an online qualitative survey focused on the inclusion and use of ICTs in two HEIs and two different moments (pre-and post-lockdowns). There were differences regarding country and working experience (p < 0.001), being linked to the ICTs use, evaluation of obstacles, and the role given to ICTs (p < 0.05). The COVID-19 caused modifications of the teachers’ perspectives, including an improvement of the opinion of older teachers regarding the essentialness of ICTs in the teaching process (p < 0.001) and worsening their perception about their ICTs skill (p < 0.05). Additionally, an initial model focused only on the university teachers and their use of ICTs has been proposed. In conclusion, the less experienced university teachers used more ICTs, identified more greatly the problematic factors, and considered more important the ICTs, with the perception of all teachers modified by COVID-19.


2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-56
Author(s):  
Bakhytzhan Akhmetov ◽  
◽  
Valery Lakhno ◽  
Asselkhan Adranova ◽  
Baurzhan Kassymbergebayev ◽  
...  

This article discusses the problems of ever-increasing demands on the organization and quality of the educational process on the part of society. Today there are new opportunities for the comprehensive development of students of the XXI century, new, more effective information and communication technologies (ICT), in particular cloud- oriented learning environments (COLE), are developing rapidly. The problems of the development of theoretical and methodological foundations for designing a cloud-oriented educational environment of the university and the justification of the structural scheme of its interaction with the methodological center of the ministry based on the use of cloud technologies are analyzed. It is necessary to introduce such models of the learning environment, which will allow to fully satisfy the demands of teaching staff on the organization and conduct of classes of a new type, the activation of educational activities of students, the formation of digital competence and the comprehensive development of personality. Such opportunities are provided by the use of a cloud-based educational environment of the university.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 273-295
Author(s):  
Elisa Mohanty ◽  
Anindya Jayanta Mishra

Purpose The widespread use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) has had a significant effect on various groups and communities of people including micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and their owners/managers. The current study aims to analyze recent literature regarding adoption of ICTs by MSMEs. Further, it tries to locate gender within this broader context of diffusion of ICTs among MSMEs. Design/methodology/approach Using the thematic analysis approach, the research articles pertaining to six leading journals on ICTs, gender and entrepreneurship published during the time period from 2011 to 2019 are reviewed. Findings The literature selected for the study has been discussed under two primary categories, viz. “adoption of information and communication technologies for development (ICT4D) for business purposes” and “insights on gender in ICT4D use by MSMEs.” Research limitations/implications The context-dependent nature of ICT use can enable future entrepreneurs to assess the scope of specific ICTs in given areas of operation. The gendered nature of ICTs helps to evaluate as well as question the empowerment potential of ICTs. The study emphasizes the need to account for historical specificities and transnational linkages in understanding access, adoption and use of ICT4D by women MSME entrepreneurs. Originality/value The study bridges together literature on ICT4D use by MSMEs and the role of gender in ICT-mediated entrepreneurial environments. While unraveling the interplay of power dynamics in such environments, the scope for future research in terms of tapping into the content of information exchanges and exploring the implications of “dark side of internet” for women MSME entrepreneurs is also indicated.


2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 519-533 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nubia Velasco ◽  
Juan-Pablo Moreno ◽  
Claudia Rebolledo

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the current state of logistics practices in healthcare organizations in Bogota, Colombia. Design/methodology/approach The assessment is based on case study research using open interviews, focused interviews, a questionnaire and direct observations as sources of evidence. Seven Colombian health care settings are analyzed: four public hospitals and three private clinics. Cross-case analysis allows the identification of patterns regarding supply management, inventory management, replenishment and use of information and communication technologies. Findings Manual procedures, poor planning, little recognition from top management and a lack of specialized personnel characterize the current situation. Innovative practices with a potential to improve the efficacy of logistics activities are rare, particularly in public hospitals. Research avenues Future research could replicate this study in other Colombian cities, in order to generalize the results to the whole country. It could also be interesting to document successful and less successful implementations of innovative logistics practices in Colombian hospitals to guide and promote their adoption. Research limitations/implications The small number of cases considered, and the fact that the research is concentrated in one city, limits the generalizability of the results. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research is the first to explore the state of healthcare logistics practices in Colombia.


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