[Telecentres] Basic Telecentre Items/ICT Definition

[Elizabeth Carll, PhD]

David,

Thanks for the further clarification.

Elizabeth
  -----Original Message-----
  From: David Leeming PFnet [mailto:leeming at pipolfastaem.gov.sb]
  Sent: Monday, October 04, 2004 8:16 PM
  To: Elizabeth Carll, PhD; telecentres at wsis-cs.org
  Subject: Re: [Telecentres] Basic Telecentre Items/ICT Definition


  Eliz,

  Maybe I am just making general points and not adhering to the task this
group has. However, as we have largely concluded sustainability is a
critical factor/requirement, I would say that in our experience, that can
only be acheived if one includes capacity building further out from the
community, working with the providers/knowldge
centres/institutions/projects/etc. If we just provided connectivity in these
remote island communities, the linkages required to achieve critical mass -
or a dynamic growth - would not happen naturally. This is just our
experience here. So these linkages are very much part of our "telecentre"
model here.

  I hope this concludes my point and focuses it a bit on what we should be
discussing.

  David
    ----- Original Message -----
    From: Elizabeth Carll, PhD
    To: David Leeming PFnet ; telecentres at wsis-cs.org
    Sent: Tuesday, October 05, 2004 8:24 AM
    Subject: RE: [Telecentres] Basic Telecentre Items/ICT Definition


    David,

    Your points are well taken.  Not being a techie, my view of a telecenter
is fairly simplistic.  I see it as a point/place in a community for
interactive (two way flow) dissemination of information.  I view telecenters
as interactive libraries.  Community libraries disseminate information, have
community meetings/ seminars/discussions.  It is the interactive nature of
the ongoing communication that distinguishes the telecenter from a library,
which obviously is related to the medium of the communication.

    The importance of including necessary content areas in the language of
any outcome document is similar to insuring that all the necessary sections
for books are included in the library from the outset.   Once a plan (of
action) is implemented, funding and space allocation become very
competitive.  What is not in the initial agreement/plan may end up being
excluded.

    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

     -----Original Message-----
    From: telecentres-bounces at wsis-cs.org
[mailto:telecentres-bounces at wsis-cs.org]On Behalf Of David Leeming PFnet
    Sent: Monday, October 04, 2004 12:39 AM
    To: telecentres at wsis-cs.org
    Subject: Re: [Telecentres] Basic Telecentre Items/ICT Definition



      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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