Why Would Information and Communications Technology Contribute to Development at All? An Ethical Inquiry into the Possibilities of ICT in Development

Autor/in	Lanki, Jari
Titel	Why Would Information and Communications Technology Contribute to Development at All? An Ethical Inquiry into the Possibilities of ICT in Development
Quelle	In: E-Learning, 3 (2006) 3, S.448-461 (14 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1741-8887
DOI	10.2304/elea.2006.3.3.448
Schlagwörter	Human Capital; Ethics; Program Implementation; Developing Nations; Economic Development; Cost Effectiveness; Program Effectiveness; Resource Allocation; Foreign Countries; Computer Mediated Communication; Internet; Access to Computers; Influence of Technology; Technology Planning; Information Technology; Program Costs; Policy Analysis; Public Policy; Africa + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Humankapital; Ethik; Developing country; Developing countries; Entwicklungsland; Wirtschaftsentwicklung; Kosten-Nutzen-Analyse; Kosten-Nutzen-Denken; Ressourcenallokation; Ausland; Computerkonferenz; Informationstechnologie; Politikfeldanalyse; Öffentliche Ordnung; Afrika
Abstract	This article looks at the ethical implications of the use of information and communications technology (ICT) in bringing about development in developing societies. Any proposed means to enhance development has costs as well as benefits. Hence, the evaluation of a given means to development should always be a matter of "applied ethics". When ICT is fully functional, it can help to overcome many problems of material resources that plague developing societies. However, reaching this point requires a lot of resources. As a complex technological system, ICT requires substantial material requisites before it is able to function within a given context. Further, the ability to use ICT will require investments in human capital resources, such as in people's ability to read and write. The article concludes that ICT does indeed have many beneficial applications in the context of developing societies. However, a chosen means for bringing about development always excludes other possible means towards achieving the same goal. As ICT has very substantial requisites, its current use should be recommended with caution in many contexts, and always with the other possible means to development in mind. (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10