This paper seeks to understand the role of the Internet and information and communications technology (ICT) in potential democratic movements. We propose an ecological model of technological development and democratization which recognizes that change can occur (1) at individual as well as social levels; (2) on a continuum from oppression to freedom; and (3) in multiple social spheres. Using ca...

1 CRL Lab, National Information and Communications Technology Australia (NICTA), 7 London Circuit, Canberra City, ACT 2601, Australia [email protected] 2 Australian National University (ANU), Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia [email protected] 3 ICT Innovation and Services, Geoscience Australia, Cnr Jerrabomberra Avenue and Hindmarsh Drive Symonston ACT 2609, Australia [email protected] 4...

This article presents a theoretical examination of the digital divide, tracing its origins in the centre–Left social inclusion policy agenda of the 1980s and 1990s to its current status of political ‘hot topic’. It then moves on to outline four conceptual limitations to conventional dichotomous notions of the digital divide and individuals’ ‘access’ to information and communications technology ...

Intervention programs aimed at promoting study and work opportunities in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) field to schoolgirls have been encouraged to combat a decline in the interest among girls to study ICT at school. The goal of our study is to investigate the influence of such interventions on schoolgirls’ intentions to choose a career in the ICT field by analysing compre...

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face more serious challenges to their survival than do larger firms. To succeed, SMEs must establish and maintain credibility in the marketplace to attract the resources required for survival. Most co-opt legitimacy by mimicking the cues that signal credibility to convince potential stakeholders that something stands behind their promises. This research...

In the next few years the landscape of the information and communications technology (ICT) industry will be subject to many changes. New and advanced ICT services will be brought to the market, offered over large and highly distributed infrastructures consisting of a heterogeneity of information systems and communication networks, each owned by different parties. The business of many companies ...

The rapid development and diffusion of the information and communications technology (ICT) is the major driving force of the New Economy. While there is ample evidence to suggest that the ICT industry has contributed a great deal to the overall economic growth of the developed countries, its role in the developing countries is far from clear. The pressure of unemployment that may result from IC...