The Gap Between Technology Access and Efficient Use in Rural Communities of Less Developed Nations

Simple item page
dc.contributorBallina, Bianka
dc.contributorBlaetz, Robin
dc.contributor.advisorGabriel, Satyananda
dc.contributor.authorHaware, Dnyaneshwari
dc.date.accessioned2023-07-06T18:03:37Z
dc.date.available2023-07-06T18:03:37Z
dc.date.gradyear2023en_US
dc.date.issued2023-07-06
dc.descriptionFilm, Media, Theater departmenten_US
dc.description.abstractThis research aims to investigate the gap between access and efficient use of communication technology in less developed rural communities, with a particular focus on rural Indian communities. Economic processes, infrastructure, behavioral and social factors influencing efficient technology adoption in low-income, low-resource, and information constrained communities are explored to identify strategies to overcome these barriers. The potential for media related technologies to uplift rural communities is analyzed, including the emergence of mobile phones as a primary form of media communication infrastructure. The research compares digitization plans and initiatives by less developed country governments to expose limited effort to enhance media exposure and media literacy within rural communities. Common factors that affect the efficient use of technology are lack of investment in local telecommunications infrastructure, lack of diffusion of devices for accessing information, improvement in literacy rates, exposure to a wider range of social norms, and willingness to learn new work and life strategies. Through qualitative data collected from a survey of residents in the Amravati district of Maharashtra, India, and case studies from other developing nations, this research shows the significant impact digitized social and information technology can have on rural communities' quality of life, poverty alleviation, enhanced self-employment, including farming, reduced unemployment for those seeking jobs, and development of other social sectors with critical media literacy. The study emphasizes the need for media literacy and related technological infrastructure to support rural communities ability to innovate and protect these communities from potential adverse impacts of social media misinformation and to encourage increased awareness of and participation in telecommunications and media-related policy-making processes. It should be a major policy goal to improve rural citizens’ participation in these policy-making processes.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipFilm Studiesen_US
dc.description.sponsorshipOther or Special Majoren_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10166/6451
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.rights.restrictedpublicen_US
dc.subjecttechnologyen_US
dc.subjectmedia literacyen_US
dc.subjectrural communitiesen_US
dc.subjectdeveloping nationsen_US
dc.subjectinfrastructureen_US
dc.subjectdigitizationen_US
dc.subjectcritical media literacyen_US
dc.subjectmediaen_US
dc.titleThe Gap Between Technology Access and Efficient Use in Rural Communities of Less Developed Nationsen_US
dc.typeThesis
mhc.degreeUndergraduateen_US
mhc.institutionMount Holyoke College

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Dnyaneshwari Haware Thesis.pdf
Size:
8.08 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Dnyaneshwari Haware Thesis
Download

Collections

Student Theses and Honors Collection