[Telecentres] Basic Telecentre Items/ICT Definition

[David Leeming PFnet]

Then perhaps a definition of a Telecentre needs to map out the functions these human resources perform. There are also functions that are required for useful information exchange to take place, that may not be strictly associated with the telecentre. These include awareness raising, training, mobilisation of the stakeholders all along the information "chain" including the "knowledge centres" (in a country like ours, CRM is not widely practiced....the central institutions are often the worst at communication). ICT strategy building is important, too. In fact it is difficult to see where to demarkate a telecentre, looking at it from the "information flow" point of view.

As a simple example, to allow rural people to obtain legal advice by email, it was not as simple and notifying them of the (say) Public Solicitor's email address. We had to train (remotely) the rural ICT operators to publicise it and raise awareness, hold meetings with the Public Solicitor and other stakeholders and discuss the procedures required and other practicalities, and above all get everyone on board. (now it works marvellously). Information doesn't just flow - it needs to be driven by the knowledge owners as much as their "customers" or "clients". 

I suppose we are getting into a defination of "content" as well as "function".

David


 ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Elizabeth Carll, PhD 
  To: David Leeming PFnet ; telecentres at wsis-cs.org 
  Sent: Monday, October 04, 2004 12:48 PM
  Subject: RE: [Telecentres] Basic Telecentre Items/ICT Definition


  David,

  Thanks for the clarification.  I always thought that such staff support would be available at all telecentres and considered that to be in the category of human resources.  It is always interesting to hear how others view and designate telecentre support activities.

  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 8:36 PM
    To: telecentres at wsis-cs.org
    Subject: [Telecentres] Basic Telecentre Items/ICT Definition


    Elizabeth et al.

    Well, how about living ones - human intermediaries. Community intermediaries to help people understand their needs, to interpret and respond to incoming information, for consultative processes, to learn how to filter information appropriately. Technical intermediaries (commonly known as "assistants" or "operators") to help people use the ICTs, when there are no existing skills, and to train them as the demand and awareness grows. The community driven ethic is extremely important, these are facilitators only.

    David

    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
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