Dot Com Mantra

Billions of dollars are being spent nationally and globally on providing computing access to digitally disadvantaged groups and cultures with an expectation that computers and the Internet can lead to higher socio-economic mobility. This ethnographic study of social computing in the Central Himalayas, India, investigates alternative social practices with new technologies and media amongst a population that is for the most part undocumented. In doing so, this book offers fresh and critical perspectives in areas of contemporary debate: informal learning with computers, cyberleisure, gender access and empowerment, digital intermediaries, and glocalization of information and media. Chapter 1 Introduction; Chapter 2 Frogs to Princes: Taking the Leap; Almora; Chapter 3 This is India, Madam!; Chapter 4 New Technology, Old Practices; Computers and Rural Development; Chapter 5 Goodbye to the Patwaris; Chapter 6 1A version of this material has been published as an article in the British Journal of Educational Technology. I would like to thank Colin Latchem, the Asia-Pacific Corresponding Editor of BJET for his tireless effort in shaping this article. Also, I would like to thank David Hawkridge for his insightful comments and the anonymous reviewers for their feedback. I am much indebted to Sugata Mitra for challenging and engaging me in this novel and important arena of informal learning; Computing and Cybercafés; Chapter 7 1Some material from this chapter has been used to produce a case study for educational technology and learning. This case study has been published in S. Marshall and W. Kinuthia (eds) (2010), Cases n places: Global cases in educational and performance technology. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing; Chapter 8 Let’s Go Shopping!; Chapter 9 Leisure, Labor, Learning; Chapter 10 Conclusion;