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Social network analysis of public access computing: relationships as a critical benefit of libraries, telecenters and cybercafés in developing countries

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L. Fernando Baron,

Ricardo GomezAuthors Info & Claims

iConference '12: Proceedings of the 2012 iConference

Pages 377 - 383

https://doi.org/10.1145/2132176.2132225

Published: 07 February 2012 Publication History

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Abstract

Building on theories of social network analysis, this paper discusses perceived benefits of Public Access Computing (PAC) in developing countries. Through a study of libraries, telecenters and cybercafés in Colombia, South America, we discuss users' perceptions of strengthened relationships with friends and family, stronger sense of belonging to a broader world, and new forms of entertainment, afforded through the use of computers in public access venues. These perceptions reveal an important dimension of the contribution of PAC social and economic development, emphasizing the importance of creating and maintaining social networks. The study is based on results of surveys, interviews and focus groups, combining qualitative and quantitative data gathered in five regions of the South American country during 2010.

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Sørensen K(2020)Where's the value? The worth of public libraries: A systematic review of findings, methods and research gapsLibrary & Information Science Research10.1016/j.lisr.2020.101067(101067)Online publication date: Dec-2020
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lisr.2020.101067
Pancham JMillham R(2018)Affordable Access to Internet and ICTAffordability Issues Surrounding the Use of ICT for Development and Poverty Reduction10.4018/978-1-5225-3179-1.ch005(90-110)Online publication date: 2018
https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-5225-3179-1.ch005
González-Zabala MRopero CGalvis-Lista EPaillard GMendes Neto FFerreira Coutinho EChagas do Nascimento R(2018)Identification of Information Technology Tools for the Inclusion of People in Condition of Extreme PovertyProceedings of the Euro American Conference on Telematics and Information Systems10.1145/3293614.3298782(1-5)Online publication date: 12-Nov-2018
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3293614.3298782
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iConference '12: Proceedings of the 2012 iConference

February 2012

667 pages

ISBN:9781450307826

DOI:10.1145/2132176

Conference Chair:
Jens-Erik Mai
University of Toronto

Permission to make digital or hard copies of all or part of this work for personal or classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies are not made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the full citation on the first page. Copyrights for components of this work owned by others than ACM must be honored. Abstracting with credit is permitted. To copy otherwise, or republish, to post on servers or to redistribute to lists, requires prior specific permission and/or a fee. Request permissions from [email protected]

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Published: 07 February 2012

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February 7 - 10, 2012

Ontario, Toronto, Canada

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Sørensen K(2020)Where's the value? The worth of public libraries: A systematic review of findings, methods and research gapsLibrary & Information Science Research10.1016/j.lisr.2020.101067(101067)Online publication date: Dec-2020
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lisr.2020.101067
Pancham JMillham R(2018)Affordable Access to Internet and ICTAffordability Issues Surrounding the Use of ICT for Development and Poverty Reduction10.4018/978-1-5225-3179-1.ch005(90-110)Online publication date: 2018
https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-5225-3179-1.ch005
González-Zabala MRopero CGalvis-Lista EPaillard GMendes Neto FFerreira Coutinho EChagas do Nascimento R(2018)Identification of Information Technology Tools for the Inclusion of People in Condition of Extreme PovertyProceedings of the Euro American Conference on Telematics and Information Systems10.1145/3293614.3298782(1-5)Online publication date: 12-Nov-2018
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3293614.3298782
Renken JHeeks R(2018)Social network analysis and ICT4D research: Principles, relevance, and practiceTHE ELECTRONIC JOURNAL OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES10.1002/isd2.1203684:4Online publication date: 3-Jul-2018
https://doi.org/10.1002/isd2.12036
Hilbert M(2015)ICT4ICTDProceedings of the 2015 48th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences10.1109/HICSS.2015.258(2145-2157)Online publication date: 5-Jan-2015
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1109/HICSS.2015.258
Gomez RAbokhodair NBayo IPark M(2013)Computer Training to Empower Day LaborersProceedings of the 2013 46th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences10.1109/HICSS.2013.142(2833-2841)Online publication date: 7-Jan-2013
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1109/HICSS.2013.142

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Cost and other barriers to public access computing in developing countries

Perceptions of Connectedness: Public Access Computing and Social Inclusion in Colombia

The impact of public access to ICTs: findings from a five-year, eight-country study

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Cost and other barriers to public access computing in developing countries

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