research-article

Integrating mobile technologies to achieve community development goals: the case of telecenters in Brazil

Authors:

Isabella RegaAuthors Info & Claims

C&T '17: Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Communities and Technologies

Pages 115 - 124

https://doi.org/10.1145/3083671.3083684

Published: 26 June 2017 Publication History

Abstract

Telecenters and mobile technologies are two of the main interventions for reducing the digital divide and are primary tools for information access. The rapid and pervasive adoption of mobile technologies had called into question the necessity of continued investment in telecenters; however, telecenters have been credited for serving different needs than private mobile technologies. Users and stakeholders are shaping new ways of access, and telecenters and mobile technologies can benefit from each other to address the issue of underserved communities' access to information. The literature has not yet extensively addressed this topic. The study presented in this paper has the twofold goal to understand (i) how mobile technologies are used by telecenters to enhance their services to the public, and (ii) whether telecenter operators perceive mobile technologies as viable instruments to innovate telecenters and pursue community development goals. Informed by the Theory of Social Representations (SR), the study presents responses to a questionnaire to Brazilian telecenter operators. Results show that telecenter operators have a positive attitude towards adopting mobile technologies to extend their telecenters' services and meet their development goals, especially in the areas of education, knowledge, information and communication.

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Cited By

Siddiquee NFaroqi M(2021)The magic bullet for rural development? Exploring the impacts of community telecenters in BangladeshInformation Development10.1177/026666692199750838:2(239-256)Online publication date: 18-Mar-2021
https://doi.org/10.1177/0266666921997508
Alao AChigona WBrink R(2021)Telecentres’ contribution to women's empowerment in rural areas of South AfricaInformation Technology for Development10.1080/02681102.2021.199187128:4(747-776)Online publication date: 4-Nov-2021
https://doi.org/10.1080/02681102.2021.1991871
Rega I(2019)Local Public Access CentersThe International Encyclopedia of Media Literacy10.1002/9781118978238.ieml0101(1-7)Online publication date: 9-May-2019
https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118978238.ieml0101
Show More Cited By

Index Terms

Integrating mobile technologies to achieve community development goals: the case of telecenters in Brazil
1. Human-centered computing
  1. Accessibility
2. Social and professional topics
  1. User characteristics

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cover image ACM Other conferences

C&T '17: Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Communities and Technologies

June 2017

345 pages

ISBN:9781450348546

DOI:10.1145/3083671

Co-chair:
Douglas Schuler
The Evergreen State College, Olympia, Washington, USA
,
General Chairs:
Myriam Lewkowicz
Troyes University of Technology, France
,
Markus Rohde
University of Siegen, Germany
,
Program Chair:
Ingrid Mulder
Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands

Copyright © 2017 ACM.

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Published: 26 June 2017

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C&T '17: Communities and Technologies 2017

June 26 - 30, 2017

Troyes, France

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C&T '17 Paper Acceptance Rate 34 of 66 submissions, 52%;

Overall Acceptance Rate 80 of 183 submissions, 44%

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Cited By

Siddiquee NFaroqi M(2021)The magic bullet for rural development? Exploring the impacts of community telecenters in BangladeshInformation Development10.1177/026666692199750838:2(239-256)Online publication date: 18-Mar-2021
https://doi.org/10.1177/0266666921997508
Alao AChigona WBrink R(2021)Telecentres’ contribution to women's empowerment in rural areas of South AfricaInformation Technology for Development10.1080/02681102.2021.199187128:4(747-776)Online publication date: 4-Nov-2021
https://doi.org/10.1080/02681102.2021.1991871
Rega I(2019)Local Public Access CentersThe International Encyclopedia of Media Literacy10.1002/9781118978238.ieml0101(1-7)Online publication date: 9-May-2019
https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118978238.ieml0101
Nemer D(2018)Going beyond the “T” in “CTC”: Social Practices as Care in Community Technology CentersInformation10.3390/info90601359:6(135)Online publication date: 3-Jun-2018
https://doi.org/10.3390/info9060135
Nemer D(2018)Wired mobile phones: the case of community technology centers in favelas of BrazilInformation Technology for Development10.1080/02681102.2018.147838324:3(461-481)Online publication date: 28-May-2018
https://doi.org/10.1080/02681102.2018.1478383

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