We frame feature selection as a representation problem within a wider task of clustering feature vectors, and root its solution on a special procedure for extracting from them a set of boolean components that we expect to be independent. The overall clustering procedure is based on a divide et impera strategy: first give data a suitable representation then compute an assignment function. With t...

BACKGROUND eHealth is developing rapidly and brings with it a promise to reduce social health inequalities (SHIs). Yet, it appears that it also has the potential to increase them. OBJECTIVES The general objective of this review was to set out how to ensure that eHealth contributes to reducing SHIs rather than exacerbating them. This review has three objectives: (1) identifying characteristics...

The focus of the Japanese local telecommunications policy is moving toward how to solve the problem of the digital divide that accompanies the spread of high-speed and broadband services. This paper estimates the translog cost function of two outputs, the standard telephone service and the leased circuit service, and measures the regional gap of those stand-alone costs and incremental costs. Th...

The purpose of this pilot study was to explore the experience with computers and the meaning of computers to a group of homeless men living in a long-term shelter. This descriptive exploratory study used semistructured interviews with seven men who had been given access to computers and had participated in individually tailored occupation based interventions through a Work Readiness Program. Th...

PURPOSE In a society where technology progresses at an exponential rate, older adults are often unaware of the existence of different kinds of information and communication technologies (ICTs). To bridge the gap, we launched a 2-year project, during which we conducted focus groups (FGs) with demonstrations of ICTs, allowing older adults to try them out and to share their opinions. This study ai...

BACKGROUND The digital divide is a recognized public health problem caused by social determinants that exacerbate health disparities. Despite the "tectonic shift" in how most of the public obtains cancer information, underserved communities are at increased risk of being digitally marginalized. However, research that examines factors underlying eHealth information seeking in diverse health cont...

Information communication technology (ICT) has become a tool for achieving development goals for developing countries and disadvantaged groups. An ICT tourism project was launched for Taiwanese aborigines, suffering from low social and economic status, to support local ecological tourism and stimulate economic activities in the area. This study attempts to ascertain the impact of the project on...

Current literature abounds with evidence of how developed economies utilize information and communication technologies (ICT) for socio-economic development. On the other hand, less developed economies, including those in Africa continue to struggle with the use and diffusion of ICT. Such research, often under the theme of the digital divide, usually treats Africa as a monolith. Not much evidenc...