Abstract
Information Technology is not a neutral tool but a medium which embodies the values of the civilization which produced it. This could have serious implications for Indigenous Australians as they adopt the new technologies and move into the Information Age. Computer use is certainly low amongst Indigenous Australians, but a review of the existing literature shows no evidence of rejection of the technology on the grounds of its ideological bias. Instead, there appears to be an overwhelmingly enthusiastic response, limited only by a difficulty in accessing the technology due to cost, isolation, poor telecommunications infrastructure, low computer literacy and lack of awareness. It is proposed that attributes inherent in Information Technology, such as its flexibility, interactivity, its non-judgemental and non-hierarchical nature, and its use of graphics mitigate any potentially negative effects and allow Indigenous Australians to achieve their own goals while avoiding Western enculturation.
Recommended Citation
Dyson, Laurel Evelyn, "Indigenous Australians in the Information Age" (2003). ECIS 2003 Proceedings. 34.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/ecis2003/34