Abstract
This chapter explores how the COVID-19 pandemic affected technology in Africa, focusing on technological innovations and uptake. The COVID-19 pandemic has encouraged industrial innovation and digital transformation in Africa. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that traditional methods are ineffectual, and technology is needed. African nations need digital technology to improve healthcare, education, e-commerce, and governance. Technology narrows the digital divide by improving productivity, access to critical services, and promoting economic development. Telemedicine, e-learning, digital payments, and remote working made Africa resilient in the face of the pandemic. The chapter evaluates African technical problems and potential. Poor infrastructure, internet connectivity, high fees, and digital illiteracy are critical issues that need to be addressed. The chapter suggests that government, industry, and international organizations work together to solve these problems. COVID-19 might boost African technology. Technology may boost African economies and living standards through digital transformation if the aforementioned critical issues are overcome.
TopTheoretical Framework Of Technology Uptake.
This study is explained by varied theories, which include the Theory of Reasoned (TR), the Theory of Planned behavior (TPB), the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the Enhanced Technology Acceptance Model (TAM2), the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology’s (UTAUT) and the of Innovation Diffusion Theory. The study of Technology adoption and post-adoption behaviors is deeply rooted in social psychology, with the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) and Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) playing critical roles in establishing the theoretical framework. These intention-based theories and their applied counterparts, such as the Technological Acceptance Model (TAM), pave the way for a more complex explanation of people's decisions to adopt and use technological innovations and ICT. Adding new theories, such as Innovation Diffusion Theory and Social Cognitive Theory, broadens the theoretical landscape and allows for a more in-depth examination of the complex dynamics of technological innovation adoption that spearhead the quantum lead of technological uptake during the Covid crisis era.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Financial Technology: commonly known as FinTech, refers to the use of innovative technologies to deliver financial services, products, and solutions. FinTech companies leverage advancements in information technology, data analytics, artificial intelligence, blockchain, and other emerging technologies to enhance and automate various aspects of the financial industry.
E-Health (Electronic Health): This refers to the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) to support and enhance healthcare services, delivery, and management. It encompasses a broad range of digital tools, systems, and platforms that contribute to the improvement of healthcare processes, patient care, and overall health outcomes.
E-Commerce: short for electronic commerce, refers to the buying and selling of goods and services over the internet or other electronic networks. It involves online transactions between businesses and consumers (B2C), businesses and businesses (B2B), or consumers and consumers (C2C), facilitated through electronic platforms, websites, or online marketplaces.
AI-Powered Diagnostic Tools: These refer to medical or healthcare applications and systems that utilize artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms and technologies to assist in the diagnosis of medical conditions, diseases, or health-related issues. These tools leverage machine learning, deep learning, and other AI techniques to analyze and interpret medical data, such as images, clinical notes, and patient records, to aid healthcare professionals in making accurate and timely diagnoses.
Uptake: Refers to the acceptance and integration of new technologies or innovations within a particular community, industry, or society. For instance, “The rapid uptake of smartphones revolutionized communication globally.
Technological Infrastructure: refers to the underlying foundation of hardware, software, networks, and facilities that support and enable the operation of various technologies within a given system, organization, or society. It forms the backbone for the functioning of information technology and communication systems, providing the necessary resources and capabilities for technological services and operations.
E-Learning: short for electronic learning, refers to the use of electronic technologies, primarily the internet, to facilitate and enhance learning and education. It encompasses a broad range of educational activities, materials, and platforms delivered through digital means, allowing learners to access educational content and interact with instructors or peers remotely.
Quantum: The term “quantum” has several meanings depending on the context in which it is used: In mathematics, “quantum” is sometimes used as an adjective to describe discrete or discontinuous quantities. For example, a “quantum leap” refers to a sudden and significant change, often used metaphorically to describe abrupt progress or advancement.
Utilization: refers to the effective or practical use, application, or deployment of something for a specific purpose or function. It involves the extent to which a resource, system, service, or capability is put into operation or applied to fulfill a particular need or achieve a specific goal.
Digital Transformation: This refers to the process of utilizing digital technologies to reshape or revolutionize the way businesses operate, deliver value to customers, and adapt to the changing demands of the modern digital landscape. It involves the integration of digital technologies into various aspects of an organization, fundamentally altering how it conducts its business, interacts with stakeholders, and delivers products or services.
Momo: In some regions, particularly in Africa, “momo” is used as a colloquial abbreviation for “mobile money.” Mobile money services allow users to make financial transactions, including money transfers and payments, using their mobile phones. M-Pesa, as mentioned earlier, is a well-known example of a mobile money service, and it is sometimes informally referred to as “momo.”
Pandemic: is an epidemic of an infectious disease that has spread across a large region, multiple countries, continents, or even worldwide, affecting a substantial number of people. It is commonly used to describe the widespread and sustained impact of a contagious illness that exceeds what is typically expected in a specific geographic area.
Telemedicine: refers to the use of telecommunications technology, such as video calls, phone calls, or secure messaging, to provide healthcare services remotely. It involves the exchange of medical information from one location to another, allowing healthcare professionals to diagnose, treat, and care for patients without the need for in-person visits.
M-Health (Mobile Health): This refers to the use of mobile devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and wearable devices, in the delivery of healthcare services, information, and health-related applications. M-health leverages the capabilities of mobile technology to support various aspects of healthcare, including remote monitoring, health education, communication between patients and healthcare providers, and the management of health-related data.
M-PESA: It is a mobile money service that originated in Kenya and has since expanded to various countries in Africa and beyond. The term “M-Pesa” is derived from the Swahili words “mobile” and “pesa” (money), reflecting its nature as a mobile-based financial service. M-Pesa was launched by Safaricom, a leading telecommunications provider in Kenya, in 2007.
Digital Payments: This refers to financial transactions that are conducted electronically, using digital or electronic platforms and technologies to transfer money or make payments. These transactions replace traditional physical forms of payment, such as cash or checks, with digital methods that are facilitated through electronic devices and online channels.