Ict policies in Developing Countries: An Evaluation with the Extended Design‐Actuality Gaps Framework

Gender: Woman 
Domicile: Urban 
Education: Graduate 
Income: High 
~50 years old school 
teacher 
Her children permanently live in the United States. She said: “I don’t cry anymore; I can speak 
with my children as much as I want without worrying about the bill”. Calls to United States and 
most other countries do not cost more than local call toll. She said she used to wait every 
weekend for her children to call her. Now she can call whenever she wants. “I sometimes see my 
children on a webcam as well” she said. This is one of the most important changes that ICT have 
brought in her life.
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Gender: Man 
Domicile: Rural 
Education: Illiterate 
Income: Low 
~40 years old honey 
farmer 
He travels to find places with flowers for his bees. In addition to keeping in touch with his family, 
he relies on his cell phone to find markets where he can get best rates for his honey. He said: “I 
do not have to run around anymore to find a better rate”. Sometimes bees develop a deadly 
fungus. He can immediately call someone to bring treatment for his bees from a far off city. He 
said: “It is very expensive and difficult to raise bees once again if they die due to fungus. I don’t 
suffer those losses anymore because I can get medication right away”.

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EJISDC (2015) 71, 1, 1-34 
The Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries 
www.ejisdc.org
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5 
Gender: Man 
Domicile: Urban 
Education: Illiterate
Income: High 
~38 years old 
entrepreneur 
This “illiterate mechanical engineer” was making a pulley system for a machine that could be 
used in construction or agriculture businesses to fetch loads or water. He said: “I got the idea 
from a TV program. I already have a customer who will be using it in his construction business”. 
Additionally, he runs public transport system with 5 passenger vans. “I can keep in touch with my 
employees and know exactly where they are when the van breaks down and I have to go and fix 
it” he said.
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