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Bridging the Digital Divide in Sri Lankan Tea Estate Areas
Stockholm University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Computer and Systems Sciences.
Stockholm University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Computer and Systems Sciences.
Stockholm University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Computer and Systems Sciences.
Stockholm University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Computer and Systems Sciences.
2015 (English)In: Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Social Implications of Computers in Developing Countries / [ed] Petter Nielsen, Oslo: University of Oslo , 2015, p. 773-784Conference paper, Published paper (Refereed)
Abstract [en]

Sri Lanka is characterised by rapid economic growth combined with fast technological advancements. However, these advancements do not reach out to the entire society. The purpose of this paper is to examine the manifestations of the internal digital divide in the Sri Lankan tea estate context. With their particular history and socioeconomic structures, tea estate areas face serious challenges in bringing their whole population into the 21st century where digital literacy plays a crucial role in facilitating a full participation in the society. This study analyses the digital divide with a specific perspective on gender issues and people with disabilities. We discuss the role of education, social-economic structures, cultures and languages in the manifestations of the digital divide. We also examine the telecentre projects and their role in the effort of bridging the digital divide as they provide access to the information and communication technology (ICT) and the Internet as well as they provide training in digital literacies. We comment on the potential of open data movement underlining the crucial role of education and training in the process of citizen empowerment.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Oslo: University of Oslo , 2015. p. 773-784
Keywords [en]
Digital infrastructure, Digital divide, Digital literacies, Education for all, Tea estate areas, Sri Lanka
National Category
Information Systems
Research subject
Computer and Systems Sciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:su:diva-122793ISBN: 978-82-7368-465-3 (print)OAI: oai:DiVA.org:su-122793DiVA, id: diva2:868656
Conference
13th International Conference on Social Implications of Computers in Developing Countries (IFIP 9.4), Jetwing Blue, Negombo, Sri Lanka, May 20 – 22, 2015
Available from: 2015-11-11 Created: 2015-11-10 Last updated: 2023-07-24Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. Inclusive Digital Socialisation: Designs of Education and Computer Games in a Global Context
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Inclusive Digital Socialisation: Designs of Education and Computer Games in a Global Context
2017 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

Digital socialisation is to learn the ways of living online, across national borders, local cultures and societies and has to be inclusive for equal participation. Conditions for this socialisation process are different due to both local and individual limitations. In a high-income country like Sweden, playing computer games are one of the most common practices for digital socialisation among youth online (digital youth), but rarely in school with teachers. Thus, there is limited institutionalised support taking responsibility for the socialisation process online of digital youth. As contrast, in a lower middle-income country like Sri Lanka, telecentres provide holistic community services with free access to computer hardware and sometimes also Internet to bridge an internal digital divide. However, there are still several barriers for inclusive digital socialisation, such as shortage of teachers, infrastructure, accessibility and a language barrier. The problem is that digital youth have to overcome barriers for inclusive digital socialisation, often with limited institutionalised support. Game oriented education (GOE) is a potential approach to bridge these barriers. Thematic questions were: How can environments for inclusive digital socialisation be designed for digital youth who: T1) are gamers that are excluded in school; T2) are living in underprivileged communities; and/or T3) have disabilities and play games? A related thematic main question is: T4) how can education about game accessibility be designed for game developers? Within a design science framework, ethnography showed that GOE with entertainment games enabled gamers excluded in Swedish schools to be included, but could not be sustained by the schools. GOE workshops about programming were a possible way to raise awareness about ICT opportunities at Sri Lankan telecentres. Furthermore, a game prototype for deaf versus blind was demonstrated in workshops within formal education settings in Sweden and Sri Lanka, exploring a design method. Finally, two international online surveys provided data for designing a game accessibility curriculum framework, based upon opinions from researchers and game developers. Conclusions are that GOE may be an environment for inclusive digital socialisation, if it is: 1) sustained in the educational social system; 2) enabled within limits of ICTD; and 3) accessible for digital youth with disabilities. The latter requires: 4) education for game developers. This thesis shows how these requirements may be fulfilled, enabling GOE as a design to achieve inclusive digital socialisation in a global context.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Stockholm: Department of Computer and Systems Sciences, Stockholm University, 2017. p. 110
Series
Report Series / Department of Computer & Systems Sciences, ISSN 1101-8526 ; 17-003
Keywords
computer games, education, socialisation, inclusion, exclusion, development, accessibility
National Category
Information Systems, Social aspects
Research subject
Computer and Systems Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:su:diva-141340 (URN)978-91-7649-815-6 (ISBN)978-91-7649-816-3 (ISBN)
Public defence
2017-05-22, Lilla Hörsalen, NOD-huset, Borgarfjordsgatan 12, Kista, 09:00 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Note

At the time of the doctoral defense, the following paper was unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 5: Manuscript.

Available from: 2017-04-26 Created: 2017-04-04 Last updated: 2022-02-28Bibliographically approved

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Peiris, RanilMozelius, PeterMännikkö Barbutiu, SirkkuWestin, Thomas

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