Many Voices, Many Places - Electronically Enabling Communities for An Information Society: A Colloquium
Proceedings

Listed here are the blind peer-reviewed abstracts (and papers) in alphabetical order of papers presented on 15-16 October. The outcome statement, as a Communique for the World Summit on the Information Society, Prato, September 2003 was also developed (see the attachent below).

For papers, please see the attachments by name at the end of the page.

Many Voices, Many Places - Electronically Enabling Communities for An Information Society: A Colloquium
Research Results, Lessons Learned, Policy Recommendations

This is an archive site for the conference. For papers, please use the following link

Prato , Italy 15-16 September, 2003

Conference Outcomes

Ong, C.E. (2003). Informing Science + Information Technology Education Joint Conference, Pori, Finland, June 24-27, 2003.

Abstract
The rise ofconsumer concerns of trust issue in e-commerce is due to the fact that when disputes occur in the cross-border environment, what is the level of protections (redress) that is available and which juris-dictions that is applicable and enforceable. This paper discuss the issue that with the current three major redress mechanisms, Online Dispute Resolution (ODR), Country of Origin and Country of Destination. Yet, consumers trust still an issue. It is well recognized that Cross Border environment and Jurisdiction that give rise to the concerns. This paper raises perhaps more important issues that relate to the gap and loophole that be living in the three redress mechanisms and jurisdictions.

Stillman, Larry (2003). A Search conference report, edited by Larry Stillman, December 2003.

Information and Communications Technology, Capacity Building and Meeting Community Needs:

A search conference about the impact of ICT on the social, community and non-profit sectors took place in October 2002. The Search Conference aimed to explore the following issues:

What are the aspirations that we have for the way in which ICT can change society in ways that were not previously available?

Williamson, Kirsty & Johanson, Graeme (2003). Evaluation and a commissioned report to the Department of Education Science and Training, June 2003.

Hardy, G. & Johanson, G. (2003). In Online Information Review, 27(5), 344-358.

Abstract: Provision of public Internet access has been viewed by governments as a key step towards encouraging uptake among people who do not have access to information communication technologies, and as an important means of building an equitable information society. The Victorian Public Library network has led Australia in providing this access, at no small cost. However, little substantial data is available about the users of this public access, little is known of what they use the access for, nor how well it meets their needs. Through a wide-scale survey, and through focus groups this study explores the demographic characteristics of public library public access Internet users, the extent to which public access Internet provision meets the needs of those users, and users' planned/future use of public access Internet. The role of public access and the policy implications of this data are discussed.

Tom Denison, Larry Stillman, Graeme Johanson, Don Schauder (2003). Many Voices, Many Places - Electronically Enabling Communities for An Information Society: A Colloquium. Research Results, Lessons Learned, Policy Recommendations, Prato, Italy 15-16 September, 2003.

Prato Conference proceedings

Denison, T. (2003). In E-Governance: Regions, Devolution, Participation, Formation, 13-14 November, 2003. Monash University, Gippsland.

Abstract
In 2002, the Centre for Community Networking at Monash University commenced a research programme aimed at improving the understanding of the use of communications and information technology (ICT) by community and third sector organisations within Australia. The first product of this research was the creation of the Monash Community ICT Index, designed to be a national longitudinal data series providing indicators of use of ICT by community sector organisations, describing patterns of use and barriers. The creation of the index was seen as having significant potential benefit for the public sector for planning, policy development and national co-ordination as well as providing a basis for further research and analysis.

The Challenge, the Outcome, and the Opportunity.

From http://www.itu.int/wsis/basic/about.html.

The Challenge

The global information society is evolving at breakneck speed. The
accelerating convergence between telecommunications, broadcasting
multimedia and information and communication technologies (ICTs) is
driving new products and services, as well as ways of conducting
business and commerce. At the same time, commercial, social and
professional opportunities are exploding as new markets open to
competition and foreign investment and participation. The modern world
is undergoing a fundamental transformation as the industrial society
that marked the 20th century rapidly gives way to the information
society of the 21st century. This dynamic process promises a
fundamental change in all aspects of our lives, including knowledge
dissemination, social interaction, economic and business practices,
political engagement, media, education, health, leisure and
entertainment. We are indeed in the midst of a revolution, perhaps the
greatest that humanity has ever experienced. To benefit the world
community, the successful and continued growth of this new dynamic
requires global discussion