The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

Improving the knowledge exchange landscape in the Cape Flats, a developing community in South Africa

Improving the knowledge exchange landscape in the Cape Flats, a developing community in South Africa
Improving the knowledge exchange landscape in the Cape Flats, a developing community in South Africa
South Africa has a national shortage of Information Communication and Technology (ICT) personnel. Great strides are being made to improve the level of ICT literacy among the school population. However, it will take some time before the current school population has the necessary background training needed to use ICT in a corporate setting and fill this gap. Web 2.0 services have created a virtual world that brings people closer through the formation of networks. Web 2.0 services tend to be single function, easy-to-use tools. This research explored the use of Web 2.0 services to lower the barrier to take-up of ICT, by people living in a socially and economically deprived area, and affected by gangsterism and drugs. This article reports on an investigation into the use of Web 2.0 technologies to enhance the information flow within the community to assist preventing the growth and spread of gangsterism and the use of drugs among South African communities, especially those in the Cape Flats. Ex-gang members and ex-drug addicts were interviewed, none of whom finished high school or had previous experience of using ICT. The findings showed that, through the use of Web 2.0 technologies, interviewees learnt to use, exchange and disseminate information.
Web 2.0, knowledge exchange, information, developing communities, Information Communication and Technology (ICT)
1560-683X
Parker, Marlon
bfeb884b-e228-478a-8434-d36af4cc54f4
Wills, Gary
3a594558-6921-4e82-8098-38cd8d4e8aa0
Parker, Marlon
bfeb884b-e228-478a-8434-d36af4cc54f4
Wills, Gary
3a594558-6921-4e82-8098-38cd8d4e8aa0

Parker, Marlon and Wills, Gary (2009) Improving the knowledge exchange landscape in the Cape Flats, a developing community in South Africa. South African Journal of Information Management, 11 (3).

Record type: Article

Abstract

South Africa has a national shortage of Information Communication and Technology (ICT) personnel. Great strides are being made to improve the level of ICT literacy among the school population. However, it will take some time before the current school population has the necessary background training needed to use ICT in a corporate setting and fill this gap. Web 2.0 services have created a virtual world that brings people closer through the formation of networks. Web 2.0 services tend to be single function, easy-to-use tools. This research explored the use of Web 2.0 services to lower the barrier to take-up of ICT, by people living in a socially and economically deprived area, and affected by gangsterism and drugs. This article reports on an investigation into the use of Web 2.0 technologies to enhance the information flow within the community to assist preventing the growth and spread of gangsterism and the use of drugs among South African communities, especially those in the Cape Flats. Ex-gang members and ex-drug addicts were interviewed, none of whom finished high school or had previous experience of using ICT. The findings showed that, through the use of Web 2.0 technologies, interviewees learnt to use, exchange and disseminate information.

Text
SAJIMv11issue3.pdf - Other
Download (374kB)

More information

Published date: November 2009
Keywords: Web 2.0, knowledge exchange, information, developing communities, Information Communication and Technology (ICT)
Organisations: Electronic & Software Systems

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 268191
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/268191
ISSN: 1560-683X
PURE UUID: dc6266d8-1152-4269-bf18-250e16e068b3
ORCID for Gary Wills: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-5771-4088

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 11 Nov 2009 17:29
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 02:51

Export record

Contributors

Author: Marlon Parker
Author: Gary Wills ORCID iD

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×