Special Session

Abstract

               Information and communication technology (ICT) has become a vital and versatile tool for tackling challenges across various fields such as management, social and healthcare services, transportation, security, and education. With the significant reduction in equipment costs, ICT is becoming increasingly accessible in developing nations. However, the high expenses associated with training skilled personnel, obtaining advanced software, and hiring consultants to facilitate ICT access remain significant barriers to its widespread adoption in these countries.

This special session highlights a range of successful initiatives that demonstrate the integration of ICT in developing economies. It also addresses key challenges likely to arise and offers practical solutions to overcome them. As such, it provides a valuable resource for showcasing effective applications and promoting the seamless adoption of ICT in developing societies and nations.

              
Motivation, Impact, and Expected outcome of this session

The motivation behind this session is to address the growing importance of ICT as a versatile tool for solving diverse challenges in management, healthcare, education, transportation, and security. While ICT is becoming more accessible due to falling equipment costs, significant barriers such as high training expenses, limited access to advanced software, and consultancy needs hinder its adoption in developing countries. This session aims to bridge these gaps by showcasing successful ICT initiatives and practical solutions.

The session aims to make a tangible impact by providing insights into effective ICT integration strategies in developing economies. By identifying challenges and presenting actionable solutions, it has the potential to inspire policymakers, educators, and technologists to implement ICT initiatives that can address critical issues, foster innovation, and drive sustainable development in these regions.

 

The expected outcome of this session includes:

·        Enhanced understanding of successful ICT applications in developing countries.

·        Practical solutions to overcome common barriers to ICT adoption.

·        Increased capacity for stakeholders to implement and sustain ICT initiatives.

·        A roadmap for integrating ICT into key sectors, ultimately improving quality of life and driving socio-economic progress in developing societies.

 

Topics for the session include, but are not limited to:  

§  Innovative ICT Applications in Developing Economies

o   Case studies of ICT solutions in management, healthcare, education, transportation, and security.

§  Overcoming Barriers to ICT Adoption

o   Strategies to reduce training costs for ICT personnel.

o   Affordable access to advanced software in developing nations.

o   Cost-effective consultancy models for ICT integration.

§  ICT and Sustainable Development

o   Role of ICT in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

o   ICT as a driver for economic growth in developing countries.

§  Capacity Building Through ICT

o   Models for ICT training and education in resource-constrained settings.

o   Bridging the digital divide through community-centered ICT initiatives.

§  Emerging Technologies in ICT for Development

o   Role of AI, IoT, and big data in addressing societal challenges.

o   Blockchain applications for governance and security in developing nations.

§  Policy Frameworks and Governance for ICT Implementation

o   Policies promoting equitable access to ICT resources.

o   Regulatory challenges and solutions for ICT adoption.

§  ICT and Social Services Transformation

o   ICT innovations in healthcare delivery and management.

o   Enhancing education systems through ICT tools and platforms.

§  Affordable ICT Solutions for Developing Countries

o   Low-cost hardware and software innovations.

o   Open-source software applications for public services.

§  Public-Private Partnerships in ICT Development

o   Collaborative models between governments, NGOs, and private sectors for ICT projects.

o   Financing and funding mechanisms for ICT initiatives.

§  Measuring the Impact of ICT in Developing Nations

o   Evaluation metrics for ICT-driven social and economic changes.

o   Long-term outcomes of ICT interventions in key sectors.

o   Pervasive computing and ambient intelligence

o   Semantic web techniques and technologies

o   Sensor integration, fusion, and perception

o   Soft computing theory and applications

o   The role of artificial intelligence in software engineering

o   Virtual reality applications

o   Web intelligence applications and search

o   Artificial Intelligence in E-Learning

Format

One days (Preferred date: 31 Jan or 1 Feb 2025)

 

Tentative schedule (what will be the balance between contributed and invited talks, posters, panel discussions, etc…)

Ten contributed talks spreading over 1 days of the session.

 

Tentative Website URL

TBA

 

Session Chairs

§  Sakorn Mekruksavanich, University of Phayao, Thailand

sakorn.me@up.ac.th