Title:	THE VIRTUAL BUS: A MOBILE LABORATORY UNIT FOR THE PROMOTION OF THE NEW TECHNOLOGIES IN RURAL AREAS
Author(s):	Soulla Louca , Charalambos Christou , Andreas Hadjioannou
ISBN:	978-972-8939-07-6
Editors:	Piet Kommers and Pedro Isaías
Year:	2010
Edition:	Single
Keywords:	Digital divide, social integration, e-inclusion.
Type:	Short Paper
First Page:	415
Last Page:	420
Language:	English
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Full Contents:	click to dowload
Paper Abstract:	As the Internet races ambitiously toward critical mass, key demographic variables like income, education level, technological skills and the population density in rural areas drive Internet access and usage. Moreover, the quality of people, manifested in the human resources affects the digitization level of an economy. As a consequence, more emphasis should be given on human resource development and policies for enhancing digitization and reducing the digital divide. Emphasis should be given to policies that deal with the digital divide and should include among other strong economic and social fundamentals through the utilization of information technologies. This paper identifies methods and techniques to mitigate the digital divide and enhancing the digital skills of the citizens in the rural areas in Cyprus, through the use of a mobile laboratory, called the “Virtual Bus”, equipped with the latest technologies for internet access. The works of the Virtual Bus concentrate on the mitigation of e-exclusion and improving social integration. It promotes new tools and methodologies for electronic transactions and infrastructures, the exploitation of information technology and communications in education and culture, the promotion of e-government and new services for the citizens and the enterprises. Moreover, it eliminates barriers such as lack of ICT infrastructures, awareness, and training opportunities providing an Information Society for All.
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