(Inorganic) Community Design Models and the Place of (In)appropriate Technology in International Development—What if More Than “Half the World” Wants Internet Access?

Abstract

This chapter contributes to theoretical understandings of community development within the field of international development studies and sociological studies of online or virtual community development through developing a critical understanding of user-centered design methodology. The convergent result is to propose a theoretical framework for understanding inorganic community development and the process of bridging social and digital divides. By contributing to the development of a theoretical framework, this chapter takes a step toward preparing researchers and practitioners for the study of impact of the internet as a community development tool in LDCs.