Potentials of Digital Assistive Technology and Special Education in Kenya

Technology specifically designed for people with disabilities is important in lowering boundaries to education, employment and basic life needs. However, the growth of a vibrant tech sector in Kenya has had little effect on the prevalence of digital assistive technology in the country. In this chapter, the authors report on initial explorations undertaken in Kisumu, Kenya to identify existing strengths, relationships, and gaps in access to digital assistive technology. The goal was to explore opportunities for initiatives in participatory design of assistive technology, using an international community/academic partnership. Relevant literature and projects from the areas of Information and Computer Technology for Development (ICT4D), Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and Critical Disability Studies are reviewed and, these theories are grounded in the authors' experience working with stakeholders in the region. The conclusion discusses promising future directions for participatory and collaborative research in Kenya, and more broadly in the East African context.

Interrogating the Application of E-Governance for Service Delivery

This study examined the application of e-governance for service delivery in Ojo and Alimosho Local government areas of Lagos State. Questionnaire and Interviews were used as major instruments for data collection alongside other secondary sources. The simple Random Sampling technique was used to derive a sample of 100 respondents from a population size of 748 workers from Ojo and Alimosho Local Government Areas. Simple percentages were used for the demographic data analysis, as well as to test the hypotheses. The findings revealed that the application of E-governance is still a far cry in the local governments. Generally, the concept is novel among the workers as it is generally construed to mean electronic payment of salaries and lodgments into the Banks by the citizens. Beyond this, it was revealed that such facilities like web sites, constant electricity supply, enabling environments to boost tele-density, internet diffusion, adult computer literacy, cyber cafes, computer, etc. were not adequately available as expressed by the respondents.

Development of an Inclusive Participatory Democracy System

Barriers such as unequal access, lack of digital skill, low income and disability constitute limiting factors for technology-mediated citizens and government interaction in developing countries. It is against this backdrop that this work explores the integration of Voice, Web and SMS technologies, in Nigeria's democratic process. The proposed system takes advantage of the ubiquitous nature of mobile devices to explore the plausibility of increasing the level of citizens' participation in democratic practices, particularly, those in rural areas with no Internet access and the physically challenged electorates. The server module for the e-democracy system was developed in PHP. Ozeki SMS server and Voxeo Voice server were used for SMS transaction code and VoiceXML code respectively. The prototype e-democracy system shows that developing nations can take advantage of their present level of technological development to give voice to the voiceless and improve their democratic system.

Conceptual Design and Usability Evaluation of a Grid Utility SECOnD Portal for Under-Resourced Business Enterprises in Sub-Saharan Africa

Conventional grid-enabled portal designs have been primarily based on the usual traditional requirements specifications such as security requirements, grid resource requirements, job management requirements and the likes. However, the pay-as-you-use service provisioning model of utility computing platforms need to consider and satisfy certain salient requirements considered relevant in a bid to achieve better conceptual designs of Service-based Electronic Commerce On-Demand (SECOnD) that are well-usable for grid utility platforms such as the Grid-based Utility Infrastructure for Small, Micro, and Medium Enterprises (SMME) Enabling Technology (GUISET). The work aspect profiled in paper entails the conceptual design and usability evaluation of a SECOnD portal which serves as the uniform channel through which targeted under-resourced SMMEs can inexpensively access and use e-Commerce technologies and tools without owning them. The outcome of the evaluation experiment revealed that the service portal designed largely achieve the usability expectations of it users.

A Cloud Computing Adoption Framework for Developing Countries

This chapter explores Cloud computing adoption strategies for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and microenterprise that can enhance the economic growth of local industries in developing countries. This focus is based on the recognitions that (1) economic growths of local industries reduce poverty through the creation of new jobs for poor people to earn a living wage and support their families, and (2) there is a lack of research on Cloud computing adoption strategy that addresses the unique constraints of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries.

Level of Computer Appreciation Skills Acquired for Sustainable Development by Secondary School Students in Nsukka LGA of Enugu State, Nigeria

This study aimed at determining the level of computer skills acquired by secondary school students in Nsukka Local Government of Enugu State, Nigeria. Specifically the study sought to ascertain the level of word processing skills, graphic application skills and Internet skills acquired by secondary school students in Nsukka Local Government of Enugu State. Three research questions and three null hypotheses were formulated in line with the objectives to guide the study. The study employed a descriptive survey research design using a sample of 272 respondents drawn from three secondary schools selected for the study. The instrument used for data collection was a 41-item structured questionnaire with a reliability index of .72, .83, and .80 using split half method. Data collected was analyzed using mean and standard deviation for research questions while t-test statistic was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The study revealed that word processing skills and Internet skills are highly acquired by students' whereas graphic skills were moderately acquired by the students. It was therefore recommended that all education stakeholders should evolve supporting strategies like donating one dollar laptops to schools, retraining programmes and counterpart funding that will enhance computer literacy in Nigerian secondary schools.

ICT for Development in Nigeria

Prior studies have x-rayed the potentials and impetus for development that can be resultant from a full scale adoption of ICT in Africa particularly in Nigeria. Current challenges relating to infrastructures, cybercrime, government policies and so on that mitigate the benefits accruable from a virile ICT growth have also been highlighted. However, research also needs to really address possible areas of developmental benefit of ICT to rural target groups such as farmers, extension officers, health and social workers This paper explores possible alignment of ICT4D2.0 goals to ICT development in Nigeria. It posited that the digital divide that ICTD1.0 sets to bridge are still very evident at grassroots level. Adding computing and Internet functionality to technologies that already penetrate the grassroots such as mobiles phones, radios and televisions will enhance ICT4D2.0 goals in Nigeria. This will in turn increase productivity among this target group with attendant contribution to national development.

Integrating Digital Literacies Into an Undergraduate Course

The purpose of this chapter is to share a successful case of how ICT was used for educational inclusiveness by students from previously disadvantaged backgrounds. This chapter further illuminates how students could be supported in acquiring digital and academic literacy skills, within a discipline context. Lecturers often find it difficult to define digital literacy beyond the use of ICT in a classroom, or understand how students' acquisition of digital literacy skills could be supported or further expanded into students' academic literacy skills. This piece of work therefore, provides insight to academics, researchers and students, on how: (1) ICT could be integrated into the curriculum; (2) digital literacy could be embedded into the curriculum; and (3) students could be supported in acquiring graduate attributes and skills that make them fit for the workplace.

E-Learning Adoption among Selected Secondary Schools of Ogun State, Nigeria

This chapter examines E-learning adoption in secondary schools of Ogun state. Constructivism Learning Theory was used to give theoretical explanation to issues of concern. Quantitative data was obtained from respondents who were purposively selected from 5 private and government owned secondary schools each. Results were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. This chapter was revealing as it concluded that despite the roles ICT-driven instructional aids has been playing in education, schools in Ogun state, especially the government-owned ones, are yet to extensively avail and adopt them for teaching and learning processes as a result of certain challenges. Owing to this, E-learning facilities are to be made available and teachers should be exposed to the use of E-learning in teaching and learning through training and continuous training as to keep them abreast of the innovation in education which will also help boost the quality of students being produced.

Embracing Biometric Voter Registration in Africa

One of the major reasons for poor voter turn-up in transitional and post conflict countries in Africa is the credibility and legitimacy of the voter's register. Many voters are disfranchised, and many of the voter's registers are erroneous and lack credibility. This has created a wave of mistrust and discontentment amongst the voters and many prefer not to participate in the election process. Yet, the most fundamental form of exercising good democracy is through participating in regular free and fair elections. However, before a free and fair election is carried out, relevant electoral bodies and authorities normally establish a comprehensive, credible and inclusive voters' list, also called a voters' register. This chapter discusses manual voter registration in Africa and its challenges. It further discusses biometric voter registration systems in different African countries; the opportunities it provides to pacify and redeem voters' registers. Finally, this chapter informs relevant governments in Africa on the most critical success factors for adopting biometric voter registration.