E Bario Project

Abstract

This chapter highlights an initiative by a group of researchers2 from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) to connect villagers in the remote and isolated village of Bario to Information Communication Technologies (ICTs), which include computers, telephones, the Internet, and VSATs. This project has eased the information flow in and out of Bario, affecting the well-being of the people by providing a means to keep in touch with friends and relatives in urban areas. The response of the Bario community has been positive, but the objective of the e Bario project is more ambitious than to just provide access to the Internet, computers and other related technologies. The main objective is to identify opportunities for remote and rural communities in Sarawak to develop socially, culturally and economically from the deployment of the technologies. The results of the initiative are expected to demonstrate the many ways in which ICTs can be used to improve the lives of marginalized groups, specifically, here, the rural and remote communities in Malaysia. However, to ensure that the objectives will ultimately be met, the team has had to search for an appropriate methodology that will ensure the full benefits of the initiative to the community. This chapter describes and discusses the approaches adopted, emphasizing the benefits of a close association between the researchers and the community as well as the adoption of suitable participatory methods for engaging with the needs and opportunities that were discovered.

From the Margins to the Mainstream: Indigenised Development in Borneo With Information and Communication Technologies and Its Contribution to Global Sustainable Development

“…• as a team, the community-researchers should be capable of critically reflecting upon iterative cycles of action in order to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes from the project (Bala, Songan & Harris 2008).…”

Developing Webgis for Buildings in Nagari Koto Gadang, Agam Regency, West Sumatra Province

“…Starting with the provision of access to electricity, several ASEAN countries (Malaysia and Thailand), have taken the initiative to use IT to develop villages to realize Smart Villages, such as the Long Lamai, e-Bario projects, and the Phu Kradueng National Park [1], [2], [3]. Utilization of IT, in this case, the internet can improve the welfare of rural communities, such as supporting Homestay tourism and opening market access to the results of the handicraft industry.…”