Assistive Technology Divide - A Developing Country Perspective

Allen Nnanwuba Adum, Mercy Aguocha, Uche Patricia Ekwugha

2013

Abstract

Potentially, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) can shape our individual and collective lives. Access to information, in relation to physical challenge, especially visual impairment, is a problematic issue. This is more so, in the light of digital divide. The question now is who among visually impaired adults in developing countries are aware of; have physical access to, and the resources and skills needed to use assistive digital and information technologies? Against this backdrop, this study explored awareness, accessibility and use of specialized ICTs among visually impaired adults in selected urban cities in South- eastern Nigeria. Thirty In-depth Interviews were conducted to collect data from purposively chosen visually impaired students and government employees. The study established a general awareness of ICTs, and limited awareness of specialized ICTs, among these visually impaired persons. It also found that ownership and access to these specialized ICTs, among these persons, were almost equal to zero; while the use of specialized ICTs among them appeared a distant reality. This led to the conclusion that a ‘divide’ exists in terms of accessibility and use of assistive technology for the visually impaired persons in this region. The study recommended individual and governmental interventions, to help bridge this ‘divide’.

Paper Citation

in Harvard Style

Nnanwuba Adum A., Ekwugha U. and Aguocha M. (2013). Assistive Technology Divide - A Developing Country Perspective . In Proceedings of the International Conference on Health Informatics - Volume 1: HEALTHINF, (BIOSTEC 2013) ISBN 978-989-8565-37-2, pages 341-347. DOI: 10.5220/0004236003410347

in Bibtex Style

@conference{healthinf13,
author={Allen Nnanwuba Adum and Uche Patricia Ekwugha and Mercy Aguocha},
title={Assistive Technology Divide - A Developing Country Perspective},
booktitle={Proceedings of the International Conference on Health Informatics - Volume 1: HEALTHINF, (BIOSTEC 2013)},
year={2013},
pages={341-347},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0004236003410347},
isbn={978-989-8565-37-2},
}

in EndNote Style

TY - CONF
JO - Proceedings of the International Conference on Health Informatics - Volume 1: HEALTHINF, (BIOSTEC 2013)
TI - Assistive Technology Divide - A Developing Country Perspective
SN - 978-989-8565-37-2
AU - Nnanwuba Adum A.
AU - Ekwugha U.
AU - Aguocha M.
PY - 2013
SP - 341
EP - 347
DO - 10.5220/0004236003410347