Wang, Jingjing. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2013. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 58-62). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts also in Chinese.

This paper examines national Internet control from a policy regime perspective. The mechanisms through which governments attempt to control the Internet may be developed and implemented by different institutions and agencies, or fall outside of a formal regulatory structure entirely. As such, the totality of the institutions and practices of national Internet control is better conceptualized not as a regulatory regime, but as a control regime. After a survey of the critical policy and control dimensions, a six-part typology of control regimes is proposed. The purpose of this study and typology is exploratory. With comparative research about Internet control regimes at a relatively early stage, this paper aims to enable the formation of concepts and hypotheses about the interrelationship, or co-presence, of key distinguishing variables in different Internet control regimes.

This study was based on previous research that investigated the disparity or gap between those who have access to computers and the Internet and those who do not (Hoffman and Novak, 1998; NTIA, 1999b; Carey, Chisholm and Irwin, 2002; Vail, 2003 Zeliff, 2004; Glenn, 2005). The Technology Acceptance Model developed by Davis, Bagozzi, and Warshaw (1989) was used to investigate whether computer and Internet access influenced the acceptance of e-learning technology tools such as Blackboard and the Internet. Of the studies conducted concerning adoption of these technologies, a limited number have addressed the extent to which college students accept these tools. The majority of these studies failed to consider computer access as a factor regarding computer technology acceptance. The E-Learning Technology Acceptance (ETA) survey instrument was administered to business students at two universities in North Carolina. Hierarchical regression was performed to test whether or not computer and Internet access explained variance above and beyond race and socioeconomic status. Regression analysis revealed that computer and Internet access affected the degree to which students expect Blackboard and the Internet to be easy to use. As a result, creating a technology assessment to be utilized by e-learning educators and students to measure the level of computer and Internet access was recommended. The analyses also revealed that computer and Internet access significantly impacted students' attitude toward using Blackboard and the Internet. Improving the level of technology access should be addressed to promote positive attitudes regarding e-learning tools. Additional findings revealed that socioeconomic status and race did influence computer ownership. A suggestion for educators is to explore initiatives that assist low income and minority students with obtaining home computers. Finally, the findings suggested that closing the digital divide is not enough to ensure technology acceptance of students. The researcher proposed that digital inclusion should be the goal of our society. Recommendations for further research suggested by the researcher included investigating other variables that may influence technology acceptance and computer and Internet access. / Ph. D.

This study presents a methodology and the necessary analytical tools to evaluate the alternatives to provide Internet access with embedded power generation in remote areas. The objective is to provide a screening tool for policy makers to analyze possible telecom and power alternatives. Results from the study demonstrate the technical alternatives to providing sustainable Internet and power access. The dissertation investigates innovative telecom technologies currently available on the market, and develops a model that generates a Telecom-and-Internet access map of a region or a small country. The map illustrates the combination of technologies and their locations that can provide wide-area Internet access to cover a majority of the population at the least cost. The model then looks at the design of a small-scale power system for a remote location where grid power is unavailable or unreliable. The methodology takes into account locally available energy resources, technical and economic parameters of each power generating technology, and the trade-off among investment costs, environmental costs and system robustness. Lastly, a computer simulation is conducted to verify that the power system design has the ability to meet the demand at the level of required reliability. A remote area of a developing country (Chittagong and Chittagong Hill Tracts - Bangladesh) is selected as a case study. Several scenarios are simulated in order to explore the possibility of extending the reach of the Internet and electric power to the remote area, and to conceptualize pilot projects as building blocks to build a countrywide infrastructure. Since the selected area is one of the least developed and most difficult to access in Bangladesh, demonstrating that the Internet and local power access can be provided to this area can serve as a model for similar places around the world. / Ph. D.

Thesis (M.A. (Communication studies)) -- University of Limpopo, 2019 / The rates of Internet uses are still devastatingly low especially in developing countries and South Africa is no exception. However, South Africa has had a state policy commitment to attain Internet access for those who have been unconnected in the post Apartheid era (Electronic Communication Act, No 36 of 2005). The problem is that the policy application has been one-sided, only focusing on providing public fixed Internet access through community libraries, Thusong service centres, hospitals and public schools. While this effort is credible, it does little to address the upsurge of mobile Internet access that is increasingly characterising the digital age. The age of digital mobility represents a shift from fixed public Internet access to individualised mobile Internet access through mobile phones. However, the high prices of mobile Internet data make Internet access exclusionary in South Africa, making the needy persons to remain outside of the digital revolution. This study explored issues regarding the high cost of Internet data in South Africa and suggests ways on how universal service and access policy can be formulated to focus on individualised mobile Internet connection. Using a mixed method approach, a convenience sampling technique was used to recruit 200 University of Limpopo students to participate in a survey, and a purposive sampling technique was used for selecting one official from the Independent Communication Authority of South Africa (ICASA) and another official from the Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa (USAASA) to participate in the standardised semi structured interview. The results indicate that unless the universal service and access policy focuses on addressing the individualised mobile Internet access for needy persons, tapping the benefits that the Internet provides will remain out of reach for many South African youths.

The Public Internet Terminal (PIT) is the Department of Communication initiative that aims to bring electronic communication to all South African citizens. It was launched in 1998 as a joint venture between the Department of Communications (DoC) and the South African Post Office (SAPO).This study postulates that the massive roll out of the Public Internet terminals (PIT‘s) has enhanced the lives of the poor by providing easy access to government services. It further assumes that the PITs are able to facilitate access of eService‘s to all the citizens in particular where electronic services are not freely available such as in the rural and remote under serviced areas of South Africa. In addition, it explores the envisaged value added initiatives stipulated in the memorandum of understanding entered in between the Department of Communication (DOC) and the South African Post Office (SAPO).

School districts have implemented filtering and safety policies in response to legislative and social mandates to protect students from the proliferation of objectionable online content. Subject related literature suggests these policies are more restrictive than legal mandates require and are adversely affecting information access and instruction. There is limited understanding of how filtering and safety policies are affecting teaching and learning because no comprehensive studies have investigated the issues and trends surrounding filtering and safety policy implementation. In order to improve existing safety policies, policymakers need research-based data identifying end user access issues that limit technology integration in the kindergarten-12th grade (K-12) educational setting. This study sought to examine Internet filtering and safety policy implementation issues in South Carolina's K-12 public schools to determine their influence on information access and instruction. A mixed methods research design, which includes both quantitative and qualitative approaches, was used to investigate the research problem. Quantitative data were collected from information technology (IT) administrators who were surveyed regarding filtering and safety policy implementation, and school library media specialists (SLMS) were surveyed concerning the issues they encounter while facilitating information access in a filtered environment. Qualitative data were collected through interviews with a subset of the SLMS population, thereby providing further insight about Internet access issues and their influence on teaching and learning. School districts' Acceptable Use Policies (AUPs) were analyzed to determine how they addressed recent legislative mandates to educate minors about specific Web 2.0 safety issues. The research results support the conclusions of previous anecdotal studies which show that K-12 Internet access policies are overly restrictive, resulting in inhibited access to online educational resources. The major implication of this study is that existing Internet access policies need to be fine-tuned in order to permit greater access to educational content. The study recommends Internet safety practices that will empower teachers and students to access the Internet's vast educational resources safely and securely while realizing the Internet's potential to enrich teaching and learning.

This research examines how social networking fosters the mobility of young people in a rural Spain. Generally, rural areas have been overlooked in the discourse on Globalization and Network Society, which is the foundation of the concept of “linked city”. Although many scholars have highlighted the direct link between the increase in the modes of communication of people and the increase of any kind of interaction, face-to-face included, it is necessary to stress that most of these studies are conducted in urban context where a certain grade of efficient transport exists. This study provides an approach to the impact of mediated communication on the lives of people in villages. Based on the concept of Digital Natives this study addresses the Social Network use of young people in a determined rural area in Spain and its correlation with the aim of mobility of the respondents. The results bring to light a certain degree of correlation between the increase of interaction via the Internet and the wish of mobility. Besides, this study uncovers a transportation shortage among locations in this rural area that forces young people to reduce the face-to-face interactions around specific nodes (e.g. High School or a near big city). Finally this study stresses the need for improvement of the transportation networks in terms of cost, flexibility, functionality and reach among rural population in order to avoid a cultural, economic and social backwardness in comparison to urban environments.

Les points d'accès public à internet ou au multimédia sont des dispositifs permettant aux usagers qui les fréquentent d'utiliser les équipements numériques et d'avoir un accès à internet. Selon les structures qui en sont à l'origine et selon le public cible, plusieurs dénominations existent pour désigner ces lieux : les espaces publics numériques (EPN), les Netpublics, les cyberbases, les cybercases, les espaces culturels multimédias (ECM), les Points-cyb, les cybercommunes, les points d'accès public internet (PAPI) et les cybercafés. En France, les points d'accès public ont un double objectif : permettre à toute personne qui n'a pas les moyens de s'équiper et de se connecter à internet d'avoir accès aux outils numériques et accompagner le public à l'apprentissage et à l'utilisation des TICs. A Madagascar, les points d'accès public proposent un libre accès au public sauf que contrairement aux précédents, leur stratégie est basée sur une logique marchande. L'objectif de cette thèse est de s'interroger sur les rôles des points d'accès public auprès du public qui les fréquente dans l'appropriation de l'ordinateur et d'internet. Du point de vue théorique, la notion d'appropriation des TICs est d'abord questionnée en ayant recours à trois approches : celle de la diffusion, celle de la traduction et celle de l'appropriation. Dans un second temps, une analyse comparée des usages de l'ordinateur et d'internet dans les points d'accès public brestois, réunionnais et tananariviens permet de souligner le rôle important que jouent les facteurs sociétaux, économiques et géographiques sur les trajectoires d'appropriation des TICs. Au-delà de la définition des pratiques effectuées dans ces espaces, ce travail de recherche tente d'identifier les usagers et d'évoquer les raisons pour lesquelles ces espaces sont fréquentés. Il s'appuie sur des observations, des enquêtes par questionnaires dans 18 points d'accès public brestois, réunionnais et tananariviens complétées par des entretiens auprès des usagers sur leurs pratiques de l'ordinateur et d'internet, leur apprentissage, les raisons qui les poussent à fréquenter les points d'accès public, leur dépendance aux TICs et leurs opinions sur ces technologies. / Internet access points are a place where users can access and use digital equipment and connect to internet. Various terms are used to indicate these places : « espaces publics numériques (EPN) », « Netpublics », «cyberbases », « cybercases », « espaces culturels multimédias (ECM) », « Points-cyb », « cybercommunes », « points d’accès public internet (PAPI) » and « cybercafés ». In France, internet access points help people without computer and internet access to use these technologies, to learn and to be assisted in their uses. In Madagascar, internet access points provide access to computer and internet networks but services are fee-based. The objective of this dissertation is to examine the roles of internet access points in ICTs appropriation process by public who visit these places. This research work analyses the theoretical concept of appropriation by using three approaches: the diffusion, the translation and the appropriation. This is followed by a comparative analysis of the uses of computer and internet in internet access points situated in Brest, Reunion Island and Antananarivo. The analysis shows the important role played by societal, economic and geographic contexts on ICTs appropriation. Beyond the uses of ICT in these places, this research attempts to identify users and discuss the reasons of their visits. The results are based on observations, questionnaire surveys and interviews with users in 18 internet access points in Brest, Reunion Island and Antananarivo.

Thesis (Ed.D.)--Boston University / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / Computer skill scores of 166 high school sophomores were derived from a survey instrument and correlated to their GP A and state standardized test results. The survey instrument gathered demographic data, including home access to a computer and Internet, and used Likert questions to gauge the respondent's skill with various computer tasks. The computer skill categories measured were general operative skills, word processing skills, spreadsheet skills, and Internet communication skills. Results of the correlation testing revealed numerous significant and positive correlations between computer skill survey scores and both GPA and the state standardized tests. Further analysis revealed a significant difference in academic performance between survey respondents with access to multiple home computers versus single. Respondents with home high speed Internet access exhibited significantly higher computer skill scores than those with dial-up Internet access. Results are discussed and suggestions for further research are explored. / 2031-01-02