Technological innovation is increasingly contributing to the development of smart objects, meant as semi-autonomous devices augmented by sensing, processing and network capabilities that facilitate older adults being independent and in control of a healthy lifestyle. Given the lessened familiarity that the ageing population has with internet-based technologies, a 'digital divide' among generations is often observed. This research is premised on the basis that design interventions can develop intuitive and understandable smart objects minimising age-related differences and promote a greater technology adoption. The aim of this thesis is to investigate how the understandability of smart objects for the ageing population could be supported through the application, at the product design level, of Smart Materials (SMs), a category of engineered materials whose properties can be designed to both stimulate human sensorial abilities and to develop engaging experiences. In line with such research enquiry, SMs are adopted in this thesis for their ability to embody 'analogies' and 'metaphors' into product designs and systematically stimulate the prior knowledge and memories of older adults to facilitate their understanding of new concepts, following the principle of 'familiarity'. Analogies and metaphors, powerful learning tools for written, verbal and visual communication, have been recently investigated as 'non-linguistic' tools, when physically embedded into product designs, to facilitate the users' understanding how technology works. How non-linguistic metaphors help to cope with age-related differences is still incomplete. In order to demonstrate that embodied SMs can minimise differences in the understandability of technologies across generations, a qualitative and exploratory study was conducted; empirical evidence was collected through four techniques to accomplish the following objectives: 1. identify critical areas that affect older adults' everyday life and that smart objects should cope with; 2. define a set of embodied Smart Materials to be included into the prototype of a Smart Radio, a novel communicative device specifically design for the ageing population; 3. evaluate the prototype of the Smart Radio, where age-related similarities and differences in the interpretation are made explicit. 62 participants (n=31 under-60-year-old and n=31 over-60-year-old participants) evaluated the developed Smart Radio, the main evaluation study conducted in this thesis, using four different families of SMs. Findings reveal that embodied SMs considerably help mitigate age-related differences in the understanding of smart objects; this in return may increase the chance of technology adoption among ageing users. The embodiment of Smart Materials that enable metaphorical processing shows promising improvements on the older adult's ability to reaffirm their own subjective awareness, hence control, of the world around them along with opportunities for a human-centred technology development.

The development of digital networks has allowed the largest news media organisations to consolidate and centralise their publishing businesses in flourishing capital-city markets. This has resulted in a withdrawal from other less-viable markets, especially those which are geographically remote, and the subsequent emergence of the 'digital divide' with its attendant negative effects. This thesis proposes that the combination of technologies, theories and processes which has brought about the 'digital divide' can now be realigned to reverse those negative effects, and to enhance the possibility of focussed participatory communication taking place within and between those previously less-viable markets. This enhanced participatory communication - which I have named 'integrated journalism' - brings with it measurable and positive effects, generally known as community capacity building effects, which lead to better outcomes for the members of enhanced communities, a more innovative and flourishing approach to life and business, and a more innovative and forward-looking atmosphere within enhanced communities. Two new models are devised and presented: the first allows members of audience communities to learn and implement the process of publishing a community newspaper under the tuition of an experienced journalist; the second enables both journalists and audience members to measure and direct the effects of news publication within communities.

Lower rates of computer adoption and usage in rural areas has been called a "digital divide." This work explores the current state of connectivity within a rural town of the Pacific Northwest with a quantitative and qualitative overview of computer usage and access within civic and activity clubs, ranging from town's Rotarians to its bowling leagues. An Anthropological Rapid Appraisal Process (RAP) leverages focus groups, mini-surveys and ethnographic methods within the clubs to explore the topography of the digital divide. Civic clubs with younger, higher-income, better-educated members have higher rates of e-mail penetration (93%-56%) while activity clubs fare far worse on average (28%). Research establishes a link between club demographics and e-mail penetration rates, by showing that older clubs report less e-mail usage. This work explores the conditions that exacerbate the digital divide as well as highlighting those which may mitigate it. Variables include the presence or absence of technological leadership and the nature of ties to corporate and/or national organizations. Additionally, research shows that rural settings limit and structure the opportunities for computer skill acquisition. Civic clubs are increasingly reliant on computer-mediated communication (CMC) and computer-mediated information (CMI) sources and correspondingly, also upon the computer proficient members who can manage websites, or create and distribute electronic bulletins. "New media" is challenging traditional club norms and favors the contributions of more technological literate members, while handicapping the participation of non-computer using members. Beyond the hyped-up prospects of increased efficiency and communication amongst geographically dispersed members of such clubs, the technology is also creating new forms of exclusion. Recommendations include: 1) a technology decision-making process that ensures consensus among club members by including non-users; 2) creative capacity-building to support computer usage; and 3) by-laws which ensure that members are not marginalized because of a current or chronic lack of computer usage. This work grounds expectations of new technology, by providing a factual account of computer usage within clubs and exploring how clubs are using computers to facilitate their activities. / Graduation date: 2003

This dissertation is about the role of institutions in bridging the Digital Divide. Its thesis is that governments must encourage the consistently increased use of information and communications technology (“ICT”) if they hope to foster sustained economic growth. Superficially, the Digital Divide describes differences in ICT usage between rich and poor nations, but it is more profoundly concerned with poor nations’ integration into a global economy. Intensive academic study demonstrates that four factors are critical to the relationship between ICT usage and economic growth: institutions; telecommunications infrastructure; investment in ICT; and human capital. The dissertation addresses three perceived shortcomings in the literature. First, proponents of institutions’ importance use the term vaguely, often obscuring important distinctions between policies, laws and institutions, thereby inhibiting detailed analysis. Second, many writers see the institutional reform needed for growth as an exceedingly slow process due to factors beyond governments’ control. Third, the literature does not adequately address which institutions are salient to the relationship between ICT usage and economic growth or how to create them. The dissertation attributes more precise meanings to key terms and contests the view that institutional reform can only proceed at a glacial pace. Its primary goal, however, is to identify specific institutions that help mediate the relationship and to suggest how they might be built relatively quickly. Good institutions can create the enabling environment that allows for the building of telecommunications infrastructure, investment in ICT goods and services and the development of human capital to lead to economic growth. The analysis of institutions identifies several salient institutions and concludes that the manner in which they are designed often determines their effectiveness. Case studies of Singapore and Malaysia examine their successful, but divergent, development paths. Their different rates of development can be attributed, in part, to the quality of their institutions.

Industry Canada’s Community Access Program (CAP) aims to provide affordable public access to the Internet and the skills that people need to use it effectively. In fact, the CAP is an Industry Canada effort to bridge the digital divide (rural-urban, intra-urban). In the City of Toronto Industry Canada funding is used to support CAP sites managed by two organizations, the Learning Enrichment Foundation and the Toronto District School Board. CAP was implemented through the establishment of community-based public Internet access facilities. The implementation of the CAP in Toronto has resulted in the use of a wide range of organizations and locations including: libraries, schools, community centres, employment and social service agencies, and language development centres. This research asks the question, is the current network of CAP locations adequately geographically organized to meet the demand for service provision? Adequate supply means that the neighbourhood CAP supply is not over-served and under-served. Data from Industry Canada’s CAP database and the Canada census are input to a modeling process that combines multi-attribute decision analysis with a location-allocation model. The results suggest that there is likely a need to reevaluate the geographical structure of the current CAP network, with a view to achieving a more equitable allocation of supply.

Industry Canada’s Community Access Program (CAP) aims to provide affordable public access to the Internet and the skills that people need to use it effectively. In fact, the CAP is an Industry Canada effort to bridge the digital divide (rural-urban, intra-urban). In the City of Toronto Industry Canada funding is used to support CAP sites managed by two organizations, the Learning Enrichment Foundation and the Toronto District School Board. CAP was implemented through the establishment of community-based public Internet access facilities. The implementation of the CAP in Toronto has resulted in the use of a wide range of organizations and locations including: libraries, schools, community centres, employment and social service agencies, and language development centres. This research asks the question, is the current network of CAP locations adequately geographically organized to meet the demand for service provision? Adequate supply means that the neighbourhood CAP supply is not over-served and under-served. Data from Industry Canada’s CAP database and the Canada census are input to a modeling process that combines multi-attribute decision analysis with a location-allocation model. The results suggest that there is likely a need to reevaluate the geographical structure of the current CAP network, with a view to achieving a more equitable allocation of supply.

This dissertation is about the role of institutions in bridging the Digital Divide. Its thesis is that governments must encourage the consistently increased use of information and communications technology (“ICT”) if they hope to foster sustained economic growth. Superficially, the Digital Divide describes differences in ICT usage between rich and poor nations, but it is more profoundly concerned with poor nations’ integration into a global economy. Intensive academic study demonstrates that four factors are critical to the relationship between ICT usage and economic growth: institutions; telecommunications infrastructure; investment in ICT; and human capital. The dissertation addresses three perceived shortcomings in the literature. First, proponents of institutions’ importance use the term vaguely, often obscuring important distinctions between policies, laws and institutions, thereby inhibiting detailed analysis. Second, many writers see the institutional reform needed for growth as an exceedingly slow process due to factors beyond governments’ control. Third, the literature does not adequately address which institutions are salient to the relationship between ICT usage and economic growth or how to create them. The dissertation attributes more precise meanings to key terms and contests the view that institutional reform can only proceed at a glacial pace. Its primary goal, however, is to identify specific institutions that help mediate the relationship and to suggest how they might be built relatively quickly. Good institutions can create the enabling environment that allows for the building of telecommunications infrastructure, investment in ICT goods and services and the development of human capital to lead to economic growth. The analysis of institutions identifies several salient institutions and concludes that the manner in which they are designed often determines their effectiveness. Case studies of Singapore and Malaysia examine their successful, but divergent, development paths. Their different rates of development can be attributed, in part, to the quality of their institutions.

Industry Canada’s Community Access Program (CAP) aims to provide affordable public access to the Internet and the skills that people need to use it effectively. In fact, the CAP is an Industry Canada effort to bridge the digital divide (rural-urban, intra-urban). In the City of Toronto Industry Canada funding is used to support CAP sites managed by two organizations, the Learning Enrichment Foundation and the Toronto District School Board. CAP was implemented through the establishment of community-based public Internet access facilities. The implementation of the CAP in Toronto has resulted in the use of a wide range of organizations and locations including: libraries, schools, community centres, employment and social service agencies, and language development centres. This research asks the question, is the current network of CAP locations adequately geographically organized to meet the demand for service provision? Adequate supply means that the neighbourhood CAP supply is not over-served and under-served. Data from Industry Canada’s CAP database and the Canada census are input to a modeling process that combines multi-attribute decision analysis with a location-allocation model. The results suggest that there is likely a need to reevaluate the geographical structure of the current CAP network, with a view to achieving a more equitable allocation of supply.

Third Public Television Service (Channel 3) plays important roles in enhancing sense of community and encouraging involvement in community. The Cable Television Channel Planning and Management Regulations, which was promulgated on December 13 in 2004, indicate clearly that each cable station s third channel is the public channel to practice community people s media access rights. Its major purposes are to protect the freedom of speech, to ensure citizens having channels to express their opinions, and to facilitate the diverse social developments. Recently, the issue of new immigrants has become the main issue discussed in the society. In the past, scholars apply the theories of society science to the research of the issue of new immigrants. The number of study regarding the interaction of cable station¡¦s public channel is much fewer. This paper aims to use the media access rights and theory of life adjustment of new immigrants from the concept of public channel. Taking KuanSheng CATV Co., Ltd. in Pingtung as the example, we aim to explore if cable station¡¦s third public channel can play a more positive role in enhancing the right to access to the media of new immigrants to reduce digital divide, cultural gap, and life adjustment in addition to the social work unit. For the aspect of data analysis, a questionnaire was designed according to the research goals and questions, and further in-depth interview was conducted to cover the insufficient parts of questionnaire. Data were collected via either giving away the text of questionnaire or sending email. A total of 323 questionnaires were administered, leaving 176 valid questionnaires. This research has adopted statistical package software for social science including SPSS13.0 and AMOS 4.0 as the tool for data analysis. The result of research can be described as follows: public channel has brought the positive influence to the adaptability of new immigrants. Among them, programming of public channel and support of government¡¦s policies are not only crucial to public channel¡¦s impacts on the viewing of new immigrants but also the key factors of new immigrants¡¦ adjustment to new life in Taiwan.

Under the trend of ICT implementation in education, students’ learning becomes highly reliant on ICT. A student will thus suffer in his / her learning process if he / she lacks the chance of using ICT at home. This is what a divide in student’s learning is. As the occurrence of this divide is due to digital ICT devices and its effect is focussed on students’ academic performance, such divide is termed as digital divide in education (DDE). To bridge this divide, most governments around the world have spent a lot purchasing hardware for schools and even assisting students from low income families to have computers at home. The divide, however, still persists. Nowadays, almost all students have the chance to use ICT. If a student is skilful in using ICT, he / she can learn more effectively by searching useful materials on the Internet. Otherwise, the student may lose his / her learning path. Thus there is a divide in learning between the skilled and unskilled students using ICT. In addition to the learning-related usages, recent studies showed that most students mainly use ICT to play games or for social communication. The divide in learning still exists and shifts to the difference between the students who use ICT for their learning and those who mainly use ICT for other purposes. Moreover, even some of the students using ICT for their studies, such as doing assignments, may use it inappropriately for copying and reassembling materials from the Internet as their assignments for submission. Such surely impedes their learning. The divide in learning then extends to whether students use ICT appropriately. The aim of this research is to investigate the effect of DDE on students learning in terms of four facets: the chance of using ICT (access disparity), the skilfulness in using ICT (skill disparity), the ways in using ICT (usage disparity), and the appropriateness of using ICT (ethical disparity). The objective is three-fold. The first one is to examine whether the four facets of DDE affect students’ academic performance, the second one is to investigate whether the four facets are interrelated, and the third one is to explore the factors contributing to the four facets empirically. After reviewing various literatures, the potential factors are categorised into three groups: students’ personal factors, environmental factors, and ethics-related factors. A survey has been conducted to achieve the objective. A pilot test was carried out first to check the reliability and validity of the designed questionnaire. 825 valid responses were obtained from a set of random samples taken from Secondary 2 students in Hong Kong. Statistical methods are employed for investigating the relationship between the four facets and also the factors of each facet. The analysis results indicate that the latter three facets are the main constituents of DDE, significantly affecting students’ academic performance. The facets are also interrelated in a sequence. There is a significant effect of skill disparity on the other two disparities, and there is also a significant effect of usage disparity on ethical disparity. A number of key factors were also found for the facets, including students’ gender, SES, ICT experience, and also their parents’ parenting styles and ICT abilities. Their peers’ behaviour also plays an important role in affecting their appropriateness of using ICT. A number of policy implications are then proposed according to the results, in terms of financing approach of government (e.g. direct subsidy scheme), revision of curriculum, and enhancement of parenting skills. / published_or_final_version / Education / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy