The Quest for Intangibles: understanding ICTs for Digital Inclusion beyond socio-economic impact

The article talks about an ongoing project which seeks to build an evaluation fraework of telecentre initiatives. It offers a quick review of what was considered relevant in terms of evaluation in 1999, when the first IDRC meeting was held. The current project have teams in 25 countries.

Current shortcomings of research on the topic:
- Focus on positive results
- Focus on anecdotes and success stories
- Focus on intentions, weak causality

The propose the use of Outcome Mapping as a way to evaluate the impacts of ICT projects.

Chosen framework was Real Access Framework, from bridges.org, which lists twelve themes:
 physical  access,  appropriateness,  affordability,  human  capacity  and  training,  locally  relevant  content,  integration  into  daily  routine,  socio?cultural  factors,  local  and  macro?economic  environment,  political  will  and  public  support,  and  legal  and  regulatory  framework. 

The research added new themes.

Intangible outcomes: Collaboration opportunities, ShiftingMedia Landscape, Cool Factor and where people go, legitimate use, information or communication?

The paper inspires some questions, such as the wondering if a cool place for older people would be the same as a cool place for youngster, and if the fact that legitimate use for each of them is different would make the same venue appropriate to atract both publics.
 
Gomez, R., 2008. The Quest for Intangibles: understanding ICTs for Digital Inclusion beyond socio-economic impact.

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Submitted by dani matielo on Mon, 01/12/2009 - 18:27

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