Communication technologies and cultural identity a critical discussion of ICTs for development

Author

McArthur, Victoria

Author_Institution

Grad. Program in Interdiscipl. Studies, York Univ., Toronto, ON, Canada

fYear

2009

fDate

26-27 Sept. 2009

Firstpage

910

Lastpage

914

Abstract

In this paper we discuss the design and deployment of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the developing world - specifically, the issues of culturally sensitive design and subjectivity through an analysis of the hardware, software, and deployment of the One Laptop per Child (OLPC) computer. In our analysis we examine the design of the OLPC computer, and discuss its deployment within the context of information fetishism in the west. The goal of this paper is to encourage a critical discussion of the ways in which technologies are being designed for and deployed in developing nations.

Keywords

human computer interaction; laptop computers; ICT development; OLPC computer; cultural identity; hardware analysis; information fetishism; one laptop per child; software analysis; Collaborative software; Communications technology; Cultural differences; Global communication; Hardware; Human computer interaction; Information analysis; Military computing; Peace technology; Portable computers; Information and communication technologies for development; culturally sensitive design; subjectivity;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Science and Technology for Humanity (TIC-STH), 2009 IEEE Toronto International Conference

Conference_Location

Toronto, ON

Print_ISBN

978-1-4244-3877-8

Electronic_ISBN

978-1-4244-3878-5

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/TIC-STH.2009.5444367

Filename

5444367