Community informatics (CI) involves providing information and communication technologies (ICTs) and tools to communities to help them achieve their local development goals. CI is bottom-up and community-driven, empowering communities to own and control ICTs. It focuses on the needs of communities and implements technologies accordingly. CI draws on multiple disciplines and links researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. Examples of CI include telecenters providing rural information services, a rural health center using teleconferencing, and a rural tourism program managed through a local ICT center.

1. What is Community Informatics (and Why Does it Matter)? Michael Gurstein Centre for Community Informatics Research, Development and Training Vancouver, British Columbia, CANADA [email_address]

6. Stakeholders in CI Researchers Practitioners Policy Makers

7. Community Informatics Approach to ICT Practice Access Adoption Social Appropriation Effective Use