information and communication technology (ict) policy and e-development projects in thailand: the...

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Policy and E-Development Projects in Thailand: The Impact on Grassroots and Virtual Public Sphere

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Policy and E-Development Projects in Thailand: The Impact on Grassroots and Virtual Public Sphere

OVERVIEWOVERVIEW

ICT POLICYE-

DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

IMPACT ON GRASSROOTS AND VIRTUAL

PUBLIC SPHERE

Introduction Introduction

New ICTs promise a myriad of benefits

The World Bank has launched a policy on Information and Communication Technology

2 main programs supported by the World Bank are /e-Readiness0 and /Country Gateways0 which initiatives of InforDev.

E-Readiness E-Readiness

An assessment of a country’s status regarding ICT infrastructure Includes the accessibility of ICT to the population, the suitability of

the policy environment for ICT effectiveness, and country’s everyday use of ICT.

Country Gateways Program Country Gateways Program

Purpose1) To provide country level information and resources, and promote

local content development and knowledge sharing2) Provides e-government, e-business, and e-learning3) Contribute to better connectivity and use of ICT

ICT Policy in Thailand ICT Policy in Thailand

To cooperate with public and private sectors in implementing projects to apply ICT for poverty reduction in Thailand

Most projects are involved with the ICT application for community development

ICT Policy in Thailand (IT 2000) ICT Policy in Thailand (IT 2000)

ICT Policy in Thailand (IT 2010) ICT Policy in Thailand (IT 2010)

1) E-education

•School Net

2) E-commerce

•Community Access Telecentres and Data Warehouse for Community Products

3) E-government

•Tambon Net

E-Development in Thailand E-Development in Thailand

e-Thailand Project

1) E-education-School Net1) E-education-School Net

Objectives:1. To provide Internet access for schools

2. To provide opportunities access to the world’s information and knowledge resources

3. To reduce the gap in education quality between schools in urban and rural areas

1) E-education-School Net1) E-education-School Net

Microsoft Thailand Partners in LearningMicrosoft Thailand Partners in Learning

Here comes your footer

2) E-commerce2) E-commerce

Telecenters are operatedby monks/temples, schools, NGO’s offices, post offices,and Tambons offices.

An initiative to bridge the digital divide in local community

2) E-Commerce for Rural Development2) E-Commerce for Rural Development

3) E-government3) E-government

System developed to monitor readiness for e-government development

SEE System SEE System

Online Survey System

SEE System SEE System

Monitoring and Evaluation System


Thai Tambon NetThai Tambon Net


Products with One Tambon One Product (OTOP) 5-star LogoProducts with One Tambon One Product (OTOP) 5-star Logo


Thai Tambon NetThai Tambon Net

A Case Study of E-Development and

Virtual Public Sphere of Grassroots- Lahansai

Information Technology

Computer-mediated Communication

(CMC)

•Tool for connection and socialization•Provides space for individuals to share information

Virtual Communities•Communities formed by CMC.•Social aggregation that emerge from the Net when enough people carry on those public discussions long enough, with sufficient human feeling, to form webs of personal relationship in cyberspace.

Virtual Public Sphere

•Occur in the cyberspace when the users start to debate online via e-mail and chat rooms.•People send messages on the screens to exchange argue, engage in intellectual discourse, conduct commerce, exchange knowledge and share emotional support.

Virtual Public Sphere

Organization Launched Telecentres Projects in Thailand

To explain the Non-govenment Organisation‘s roles in terms of promoting CMC in rural community and the feedback of people to create a virtual public sphere

Observation: Attended the activities

Focus group: Interview 16 people at Lahansai Information Technology Centre and observed the users at the telecentre

Questionnaire

Objectives

Method

Findings

Lahansai Information Technology Usage

Propose of use

1. Collect information of local business groups for the government

2. Typing reports and local business data

3. Sending e-mail

4. Search via Internet

5. Send Fax

6. Scans photo

User1. Local scholars and the

officers of telecentres2. Children and educated

people3. Foreigners and tourists

Telecentre is not able to attract the local adult people in communities and people living nearby.

The knowledge gap is still the main obstacle to develop IT for local people.

Most members of Lahansai Saving for Production Group are not able to use Internet although Community Organizations Dev. Institute (CODI) and Burirum Teaching College trained them.

E-commerce has not occurred in the society.

ICT seems to save local business data rather than exchanging information between the business groups.

Discussion

Recommendation

Foster the community awareness

Make telecentres

content relevant

Design and execute effective training programs

Plan for long-term

sustainability

Thai telecentres are still developing to connect rural communities with information and resources beyond their geographic boundaries, encouraging information dissemination, information exchange and communication.

Comparing to the mainstream media, the new media may not widely popular in some rural communities and the grassroots.

Both mainstream media and new media may not disseminate the information to the grassroots effectively.

Conclusion

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