Theoretical base
“Traditional uses of ICT for development have relied heavily on text based media, often delivered
via the Internet. Given that the penetration of the Internet is limited to 18% of the global
population and that in developing countries there are typically relatively low rates of literacy, the
playing field of power is hardly heading for equality. How will the power balance be affected if we
think of voice media and local content? The Figure on the next page shows that for devices such as
hand held voice devices which can record local content the power balance is tipped towards local
people. In cases where the Internet predominates in the delivery of text based media the balance
of power is away from local people.
The figure helps us to conceptualise the effect of both media type and content source as
determinants of power balance. We might propose that power is more likely to be retained at the
local level if voice media and local content are used. The case study has illustrated a practical
project where all the stakeholders were sensitive to the potential ability of technology to change
the power relations in a community. The case is an illustration of an intervention which is at the
bottom left quadrant of the Figure, using local content in local voices.”
Source: Grimshaw, D.J. and Gudza, L.D. (2010:9)
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