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Assessing the need and potential of community networking for developing countries : a case study from India

BLATTMAN, Christopher
JENSEN, Robert
ROMAN, Raul
February 2002

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This paper presents a set of methods and tools that can be used to assess the community networking and information needs of specific communities and thereby influence the design of ICT projects. It describes a strategy that uses a range of both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies to undertake such an assessment, and provides a specific case study of an ICT project in rural Tamil Nadu, India. The study gathered data on the following topics: socio-economic status, agricultural marketing and price search, availability of information on agricultural problems, employment availability and search, media use, household spending, and use and satisfaction with government services. These data are used to construct an 'information and communications profile' that depicts current ICT and media usage and existing sources of information for various community agents (farmers and producers, laborers, government, etc.). The methods and costs at which agents obtain information, as well as gaps and information needs are analysed. These analyses demonstrate opportunities for community and economic development through improved information access, and identify critical issues that should be considered in the design of ICT projects

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