Does universal access mean equitable access? What an information infrastructure study of a rural Romanian community can tell us

摘要

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to present the findings from a field study in Viscri, a villagernin Transylvania, Romania, to investigate the current state of information and communicationrntechnology' (ICT) development in the village.rnDesign/methodology/approach - Researchers interviewed villagers in May 2007. Ethnographicrnmethods were used to collect data and to assess villagers' information needs. The informationrnlandscape in Viscri is presented and analyzed in local and national contexts. The national policiesrnshaping Romania's emerging information society are discussed and literature on the impact of ICTrndevelopment at the community level is also reviewed.rnFindings - Romania's ICT policy goal of universal access needs to be better targeted. In Viscri, fewrnadults showed interest in learning about or using computers. However, villagers understood that arngood education that included computer education was necessary to assure better economic futures forrntheir children. In light of the demographics, social conditions and cultural beliefs in Viscri, the mostrnappropriate access point for ICT initiatives there should be programs aimed at school-aged children.rnResearch limitations/implications - The paper describes and discusses the information needs ofrnone village. Further field investigation at the community level is necessary to discern the relevance ofrnthe findings to other villages both in Romania and elsewhere.rnPractical implications - Further research, especially in the most underserved communities, willrnhelp to identify ways in which the information society and related policies can be more equitablyrnimplemented in Romania. What is learned in Romania can have implications for ICT developmentrnpolicy elsewhere.rnOriginality /value - The paper assesses critically the rhetoric of universal access. If universal accessrnis going to remain an ICT policy goal, more research is needed at the community level in order tornensure that policy emphasis on access for all actually translates into equitable, meaningful ICT accessrnfor underserved communities.