[Telecentres] Basic Telecentre Items/ICT Definition

[Elizabeth Carll, PhD]

David,

Excellent point, as ICTs are certainly only a means to the end product of
learning and participating.  To what other appropriate tools are you
referring, in addition to ICTs?

Elizabeth
  -----Original Message-----
  From: telecentres-bounces at wsis-cs.org
[mailto:telecentres-bounces at wsis-cs.org]On Behalf Of David Leeming PFnet
  Sent: Sunday, October 03, 2004 7:04 PM
  To: telecentres at wsis-cs.org
  Subject: Re: [Telecentres] Basic Telecentre Items/ICT Definition


  Hi,

  If we're talking about the Information Society then we should concentrate
on the information activities and not the techology. A telecentre may be
simply described as a place where people can participate (and learn to
participate) in the wider emerging information society, using appropriate
tools including ICTs.

  David
    ----- Original Message -----
    From: Elizabeth Carll, PhD
    To: telecentres at wsis-cs.org
    Sent: Sunday, October 03, 2004 12:21 PM
    Subject: RE: [Telecentres] Basic Telecentre Items/ICT Definition


    Dear Don, Bevis, and all,

    I think you bring up a very important point, which is the definition of
information and communication technologies (ICTs).  The definition of ICT is
broad and inclusive of all ICTs, which is also the definition used by the UN
and described in the rationale for the development of WSIS.   ICTs include
both traditional (e.g.. radio, TV, print, video/film) and newer technologies
(Internet, virtual reality, distance education applications, mind-computer
interface technologies, etc).  Therefore, telecentres can operate utilizing
any form of ICTs, even smoke signals if that were a form in a given region.

    It is amazing how many people are not aware of this broad definition,
including media people.  It is also one of the reasons the Working Group
which I founded/chair for the UN NGO Committee on Mental Health is called WG
on Media/ICT  which actually is redundant, but was necessary so that people
know the functions of the WG.  I have started to use the phrase "traditional
and newer ICTs" when writing articles/during interviews, etc,  in the hopes
of informing the public as well as techies/specialists who may only
associate ICTs with the Internet and computers.

    It is important for the telecentres WG to at least agree on the
definition of ICTs as encompassing both traditional and newer ICTs.  This
definition is inclusive, consistent with the UN's definition,  and therefore
applicable to ANY type/form of telecentre, such as those described by Don,
Bevis, and others.  It also facilitates tying it to the WSIS Declaration and
the MDGs.

    Elizabeth

    Dr. Elizabeth Carll
    Focal Point
    International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies;
    Chair Media/ICT Working Group,
    NGO Committee on Mental Health, New York
    Tel: 1-631-754-2424
    Fax: 1-631-754-5032
    ecarll at optonline.net


----------------------------------------------------------------------------


    _______________________________________________
    telecentres mailing list
    telecentres at wsis-cs.org
    http://mailman-new.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/telecentres
    To unsubscribe, send a message to telecentres-request at wsis-cs.org with
the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman-new.greennet.org.uk/pipermail/telecentres/attachments/20041003/7ae87e9d/attachment-0001.htm