In many international settings, regional economies are declining resulting in lowered opportunities for these communities. This result attacks the very fabric of cohesion and purpose for these regional societies, and increases social, health, economic and sustainability problems. Community Informatics research, education and practice is an emerging area in many countries, which seeks to address these issues.

The Encyclopedia of Developing Regional Communities with Information and Communication Technology is an important and timely reference source on all topics related to the emerging field of information and communication technology (ICT) and its role in developing regional communities. This single-volume provides a thorough examination of concepts, technologies, policies, training, and applications of ICT in support of economic and regional developments around the globe. With 171 leading international contributors from 40 countries, over 940 terms and definitions, and more than 2,200 references, this publication is the single indispensable source of knowledge related to ICT and its strong positive impacts on the economic development of regional communities around the world.

Coverage:

The many academic areas covered in this publication include, but are not limited to:

Bridging practice, research and policy in the network society
Citizens assemblies in Argentina
Community technology centers
Electronic information literacy training
Information and communication technologies provision to rural communities in Zimbabwe
Information communication technologies for rural communities in Malaysia
Information-access in rural communities
Reaching out to virtual communities of older people in regional areas
Schools and knowledge production
Using technology to combat social isolation

Reviews & Statements

"This publication belongs in all research, academic and business libraries since the topic remains virtually unexplored in a general volume until this release...The editors should be commended for attracting the overall high caliber of content that keeps the book focused and reflects current experiences...highly recommended."

– E-Streams

"This a worthwhile resource book for anyone who wants to know about developing regional communities with information and communication technology, as well as for academic and professional libraries."
- Cisco Magagula, University of Swaziland, Swaziland "This a wonderful book, from which every community in the world deserves to benefit."

– British Journal of Educational Technology Volume 38, Number 1 (2007)

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Editor/Author Biographies

Professor Stewart Marshall, Ph.D. is the Director of the Distance Education Centre at the University of the West Indies (UWI). Previously, he was the foundation Dean and a Professor of the Faculty of Informatics and Communication at the Central Queensland University in Australia. Professor Marshall's research interests are in the role of communication and information technologies in distance education, and also in the emerging research area of community informatics systems (CIS), especially in developing countries. He has published several books, and over 90 book chapters, refereed articles and conference papers.

Dr. Wal Taylor is the Foundation Professor of Community Informatics at Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Capetown, South Africa. His research interests are predominantly in the social appropriation of Internet technologies, particularly their interface with public agency service delivery. He is author and co-editor of 3 books, 4 conference proceedings, 10 book chapters and 45 papers on Community Informatics. He sits on the executive of a number of international community informatics organizations including the Community Informatics Research Network (CIRN http://www.ciresearch.net). He was a key note speaker at the 2003 Salzburg Seminar on Digital Inclusion and since 2001, he has been an invited keynote speaker and presenter at a number of Community Informatics international conferences in Australia, France, Austria, Italy, Russia, United Kingdom, United States and Canada.

Xinghuo Yu is Professor of Computer Systems Engineering and Associate Dean Research & Innovation of Science, Engineering and Technology at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University, Melbourne Australia. His research interests are predominately in the areas of Information Technology, Intelligent Systems and their applications in industrial, social and economic systems. Professor Yu has published over 250 refereed papers in technical journals, books and conference proceedings. He has co-edited seven research books including “Variable Structure Systems: Towards the 21st Century” (Springer Verlag 2002) and “Applied Decision Support with Soft Computing” (Springer Verlag, 2003), “Chaos Control” (Springer Verlag, 2003), “Bifurcation Control” (Springer Verlag, 2003), and “Closing the Digital Divide" (Praeger, 2003). Professor Yu is a Fellow of Institution of Engineers Australia. He was made Emeritus Professor of Central Queensland University in 2002 in recognition of his significant contributions to the university.

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Editorial Advisory Board

Dr. Marcus Balintulo
Rector and Vice Chancellor
Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa

C.M. Magagula
Acting Vice Chancellor
University of Swaziland, Swaziland

Dr. Susana Finquelievich
Research Program on Information Society
University of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Dr. Peter Day
Faculty of Management and Information Sciences
University of Brighton, England

Shirley Gregor
Associate Research Dean
Australian National University, Australia

Narayanan Kulathuramaiyer
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Malaysia

Olesya Arkhypska
Information Programs Director
International Renaissance Foundation, Ukraine

Douglas Schuler
The Evergreen State College
USA & Public Sphere Project of Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility, USA