What's it for? Expectations of internet value and usefulness in Central Asia

Research on Internet usage in developing regions typically focuses on user demographics or challenges to usage. However, few studies explore the needs and desires of users in developing regions--that is, what users want from the Internet--and even fewer connect those needs with the skills required t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Information technologies and international development 2012-09, Vol.8 (3), p.69
Main Authors: Walton, Rebecca, Yaaqoubi, Judith, Kolko, Beth
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis
Internet
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Summary:Research on Internet usage in developing regions typically focuses on user demographics or challenges to usage. However, few studies explore the needs and desires of users in developing regions--that is, what users want from the Internet--and even fewer connect those needs with the skills required to meet them. This article addresses that gap by exploring Central Asian Internet users' expectations of Internet utility and relating those expectations to usage patterns. We found that the users whose expectations were met were those who engaged in a diverse range of online activities. We also investigated the relationship between usage characteristics and diversity of online activities and concluded that frequent and occasional Internet users were equally likely to seek information online, but frequent users engaged in more diverse activities related to interaction with others, entertainment, and financial transactions.
ISSN:1544-7529