College of Science, Engineering & Technology

Are we making a better world with technology?

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Unis's Prof Judy van Biljon is the IDIA Conference Chair.

There is still little consensus among scholars on what development means—who and what needs to be developed, and for what purpose. This raises fundamental questions about the future of Development Informatics research and brings to mind Geoff Walsham’s haunting question, ‘Are we making a better world with technology?’.

ICTs have not delivered on the promise of making a better world for all; and there is evidence that technology has increased inequality in many cases. As such, the focus of the 2018 International Development Informatics Association (IDIA) Conference is on making ICT research locally relevant.

IDIA is an association serving as a forum for international cooperation between individuals and organisations focusing on research in the use of ICT for developing economies and societies (ICT4D), where various constraints impact on the use of ICT compared to highly developed regions. In response to the domination of the Global North, IDIA is of the South, by the South, and focuses on promoting high-impact, research on the sustainable use of ICT in the South.

The conference to be hosted by Unisa’s College of Science, Engineering, and Technology (CSET) on 23 and 24 August 2018 seeks to understand and respond to how politicians, NGOs, scholars, and citizens make sense of how ICTs can be used to improve the human condition. The predominant perspective is that ICTs can support the development, promotion, and realisation of a model of development that is holistic, inclusive, just, and sustainable, which will lead to an appropriate quality of life for each individual on the planet. The tenth IDIA conference, however, offers an opportunity to look back, take stock, and debate the way ahead.

According to the Conference Chairperson, Professor Judy van Biljon, incumbent of the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) Chair in ICT4D at Unisa, the IDIA conference will also provide a platform for South African researchers and practitioners to engage with international scholars and build new networks.

The IFIP 9.4 Masters and Doctoral Symposium 2018 for Sub-Saharan Africa (Southern and Eastern) is co-hosted with the IDIA conference. The International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP) is a global organisation for researchers and professionals working in the field of ICT to conduct research, develop standards and promote information sharing.

For CSET, particularly the School of Computing, this creates opportunities on many levels, including a master’s and doctoral symposium, publication opportunities, and engaging in panel discussions.

The line-up of distinguished speakers includes Professor Geoff Walsham from the University of Cambridge, Dr Jackie Phahlamohlaka from the CSIR, and Professor Robert Davison from University of Hong Kong. The delegates include researchers and postgraduate students from Africa, Europe and Asia.

This conference would not have been possible without the vision and continued support of CSET management, specifically Professor Bhekie Mamba, Executive Dean of CSET, and Professor Isaac Osunmakinde, Director of the School of Computing. The school is well represented in the conference leadership, beside Van Biljon as the IDIA Conference Chair, Professor Kirstin Krauss and Dr Filistea Naudé serve as the Proceedings Chairs with Dr Marita Turpin from the University of Pretoria.

For more information, please visit the conference website or send an email to the Conference Chair, Prof Judy van Biljon at Vbiljja@unisa.ac.za

*By Thembeka Ntuli-Mpapama

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Publish date: 2018-08-13 00:00:00.0

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