Digital Doorway: Social-Technical innovation for high-needs communities

Abstract

The application of the Living Lab (LL) approach to social-technical innovation to the Digital Doorway Initiative in Zandspruit near Johannesburg is outlined in the context of the initiative’s evolution from an educational project to a broader community innovation initiative. The relationship between different stakeholders is explored in a theoretical and practical sense as a future research and practice challenge for both the study of ICTs in society (in this case, a poor community), and the fostering of community-driven innovation. The activity also offers a research challenge for understanding the cultural transformations that are necessary for bringing about more effective integration between technical and social-technical viewpoints about design and research in a social context. Current and projected community-based research activity is also outlined.