Informatics systems for public use: A new tool for social advancement

The author points out that new digital delivery systems for public use introduce a new tool of immense potential for addressing the neglected social dimension of development. They open up a vast new market for the information industry, and can link the private sector into the delivery of public services on a large scale. It is concluded that this, and new perceptions of the role of information and communication in the development process, can carry development and social advancement beyond the confines of current systems and approaches.