Abstract
In today's world, technology occupies center stage in national as well as international aspects. New technologies are employed for improvement in knowledge generation as well as sharing. Information and communication technology (ICT) is one of the technologies that is contributing and enhancing national growth. The rapid adoption of information and communication technology (ICT) has enabled people to access information across the globe. But there is a widening gap between those with access to these tools and those without the ability or means to access them. In a digitally unequal world, we need to focus on bridging the gap between the digitally privileged and underprivileged community of rural India. This study is carried out to examine the digital awareness and digital literacy among rural women. Digital literacy is the ability to find, evaluate, utilize, share, and create content using information technology and the internet. Digital literacy is the knowledge, skills, and behaviours used in a broad range of digital devices such as smart phones, tablets, laptops, and desktops, all of which are seen as network rather than computing devices. Ramanathapuram and Sivagangai districts were selected for this study. A simple random sampling technique is used for selecting the sample. The total sample size is 140 respondents.
TopThe human being is blessed with a unique ability to create something from nothing. He creates, originates, innovates, generates, accumulates knowledge, produces works of art, and discovers the truth about the world he lives in. What sets the information Age apart from prior periods in history is the label we put on these intellectual creations. These days the economy of nations depends upon buying and selling facts, ideas, knowledge. Better and faster telecommunication technologies enable us to send information anywhere on the planet, twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week. Text, image, sounds, and figures can be transmitted almost instantaneously via telephone, fax, and the internet. These fundamental changes have led to a radical change in the global market. There is a strong sign that the essential aspect of competition may be based more on the use of specific information, knowledge and new technological capacity than on traditional factors.
Information is data endowed with relevance and purpose or knowledge is the product of the human brain in action. When an individual thinks, a variety of images and sensations flash across mind, this makes some information to accumulate in mind, and the memory keeps some pieces of knowledge. The random house dictionary of English Language defines information as “Knowledge communicated or received concerning a particular fact or circumstances, or any knowledge gained through communication, research, and instruction.” Information may also be defined as data of value for decision making. The processed data is information only if it is useful to someone, otherwise not. The same processed data may be information for one using it, and it is no information for another for whom it has no utility. Information is an intangible entity that eliminates uncertainty and builds up confidence. It is the method of information and being informed. Information is critical resources because it can glorify individuals, organizations, or harm their future. Information is a power that provides control, the sense of security, wealth, and recreation.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Copyright: A form of intellectual property that grants the creator of an original creative work an exclusive legal right to determine whether and under what conditions this original work may be copied and used by others, usually for a limited term of years.
Information Sources: An information source is a person, thing, or place from which information comes, arises, or is obtained. Information sources can be known as primary or secondary.
Information Literacy: Empowers people in all walks of life to seek, evaluate, use, and create information effectively to achieve their personal, social, occupational and educational goals. It is a basic human right in a digital world and promotes social inclusion in all nations.
E-Resources: An electronic resource is defined as a resource which require computer access or any electronic product that delivers a collection of data, be it text referring to full text bases, electronic journals, image collections, other multimedia products and numerical, graphical or time based, as a commercially available title that has been published with an aim to being marketed.
Library and Information Science: A profession that is full of people passionate about making a positive change in the world.