Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solutions (e.g. e-health, telemedicine, e-education) are often viewed as vehicles to bridge the digital divide between rural and urban healthcare centres and to resolve shortcomings in the rural health sector. This study focused on factors perceived to influence the uptake and use of ICTs as e-health solutions in selected rural Eastern Cape healthcare centres, and on structural variables relating to these facilities and processes. Attention was also given to two psychological variables that may underlie an individual&s acceptance and use of ICTs: usefulness and ease of use. Recommendations are made with regard to how ICTs can be used more effectively to improve health systems at fi ve rural healthcare centres where questionnaire and interview data were collected: St. Lucy&s Hospital, Nessie Knight Hospital, the Tsilitwa Clinic, the Madzikane Ka-Zulu Memorial Hospital and the Nelson Mandela General Hospital.

Background: The use of mobile devices for education is rapidly growing, and it is a global phenomenon. The trend of bringing personal mobile devices for learning using the institution’s network to access data and other academic material is referred to as bring your own device (BYOD). Most universities in developed countries have implemented this phenomenon to enhance education. However, the rate of BYOD adoption in developing countries is lagging even though the majority of students and staff already own one or more mobile devices and are using them for personal and educational purposes. Objectives: The study determines the readiness of a South African university to adopt BYOD for teaching and learning. Moreover, the article presents the enabling factors and barriers of BYOD adoption within the university. Method: The study followed an interpretivist philosophical stance. A qualitative single-case study was used. Data were collected through questionnaires and thematic analysis was applied. Results: The BYOD readiness levels are low and are hampered both by organisational and technological factors. Key barriers include lack of comprehensive policies to govern the use of these devices, lack of infrastructure, limited top management support for innovations and security complexities, while the key enabling factors included accessibility to mobile technologies, ease of use, relative advantage and convenience. Conclusion: Bring your own device offers a suitable platform for mobile-learning (m-learning) in universities. Consideration of the readiness factors, such as adoption strategy, implementation plans, security and device management, skills development, and measures of discipline, is essential.

Abstract-South African SMEs are faced with several challenges which negatively affect their growth and sustainability, such as marketing factors, financial issues, management skills and lack of investment in Information and Communication technology (ICT). The evolution of ICT solutions such as cloud computing, have the potential to counter some of the challenges that SMEs are facing. However, most technologies are not adopted due to lacking knowledge and perceptions on their potentials and value. Therefore this paper investigates the awareness of cloud computing within SMEs in South Africa. In addition, the paper identifies SMEs perceptions on cloud computing as an alternative ICT solution. The study adopted qualitative research approach, where case study research designs was used consisting of three SMEs organisation. The data was collected through interviews, expert reviews, literature and questionnaires, where a total of 19 participants were used. The findings reveals a lacking levels of cloud computing awareness, thus limited knowledge on cloud computing benefits and services. This paper concludes that the lacking awareness and understanding of cloud computing is the main cause of slow cloud computing adoption amongst SMEs in South Africa. The paper concludes by recommending methods which can be used to increase SMEs awareness of cloud computing.

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