Content and ICTs: Challenges, Innovation and Prospects

Writing on the behalf of the Authors' Working Group on Content of the Digital Review of Asia Pacific, Danny Butt and Madanmohan Rao discuss the information and communication technology (ICT) challenges, innovations and prospects facing the content sector: "Content plays an important role in the potential use of ICTs to develop the diverse societies of the Asia-Pacific region. In many cases, the availability of relevant content and related services motivates groups to adopt digital tools, platforms, standards and channels to create and access digital content." The authors also recognise the value of providing digital content in non-digital formats such as books, newspaper and radio as these mediums will only help to raise awareness of the potential of digital content.

Challenges

One primary challenge to digital content development is the availability of inexpensive, reliable and sustainable software tools to develop content in a local language.

Innovation

Several Asian organisations have successfully addressed the challenges of digital content. For example, “local language tools, international standards and conversion programs are emerging for many Asian languages via initiatives such as the International Forum for Information Technology in Tamil.” [Click here for website.]

Prospects

Open-source (free) software is becoming more reliable and accessible and will certainly have a positive impact on the development of digital content for many developing countries.

In the long term, the authors believe "the digital future of Asia Pacific will increasingly reflect the cultural and linguistic diversity of the region. Content will be a key issue on the digital agenda for the Asia-Pacific region, as a key driver of the use of ICTs..."

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