Manuel Ortega - Böcker

This volume contains selected papers on the latest research in the implementation of computers in education. The topics covered range from web-based applications to interactive systems for learning. The book should be of interest to teachers, lecturers, researchers, advanced students, and application designers on computers in education as well as managers of educational institutions.

SIIE is an international forum of Spanish-speaking, Portuguese-speaking and English-speaking researchers devoted to investigate and implement the use of computers in education. In 1999 the Symposium was held in Aveiro, Portugal. In the year 2000 it was celebrated in Puertollano, Spain. Other meetings preceded this Symposium, namely, the "Simposio de Investigacao e Desenvolvimento de Software Educativo" held in Lisbon, Coimbra and Evora, two Congresses held in Spain and organised by ADIE: Encuentro de Informatica Educativa, in Madrid and the so successful ConieD'99 held in Puertollano in 1999. A collection of Conied'99 papers is also published in this collection with the title "Computers in Education in the 21st Century" (2000). ADIE (Association for the Development of Computers in Education) undertook the organisation of the congresses and symposiums on Computers in Education. It is an association which organises meetings for researchers in Spain, Portugal and Latin America. ADIE publishes "Revista de Ensenanza y Tecnologia" in Latin America quarterly.

Digital Divide (DD) is a term that defines the division between people, commu- ties, states, countries, etc. with respect to the access to the new Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Nowadays, it is essential to have tech- logical skills to work in a variety of jobs (i. e. administration, education, etc. ). Moreover, ICTs have become ubiquitous and they affect almost every aspect of our daily life. The way in which people face the task of using ICTs varies depending on a plethora of variables. The most analysed ones are the technological literacy and the educational level. These are two very important factors that strongly affect the success of the individuals in accessing ICTs. Unfortunately, these are not the only variables to consider. Some people suffer from mental and physical disabilities that are real impediments to access ICTs, and they must be studied in detail. How can we help disabled people to access ICTs? Can public telecentres deal with this task? Can the ICTs be used to improve the accessibility of disabled people? Which projects aim to reduce the digital divide? Are they addressed to disabled people? These are some of the questions that we will try to answer, at least partially, in this chapter. We believe that governments must invest to avert the DD, but they are not the only actors involved in this scenario.

Digital Divide (DD) is a term that defines the division between people, commu- ties, states, countries, etc. with respect to the access to the new Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Nowadays, it is essential to have tech- logical skills to work in a variety of jobs (i. e. administration, education, etc. ). Moreover, ICTs have become ubiquitous and they affect almost every aspect of our daily life. The way in which people face the task of using ICTs varies depending on a plethora of variables. The most analysed ones are the technological literacy and the educational level. These are two very important factors that strongly affect the success of the individuals in accessing ICTs. Unfortunately, these are not the only variables to consider. Some people suffer from mental and physical disabilities that are real impediments to access ICTs, and they must be studied in detail. How can we help disabled people to access ICTs? Can public telecentres deal with this task? Can the ICTs be used to improve the accessibility of disabled people? Which projects aim to reduce the digital divide? Are they addressed to disabled people? These are some of the questions that we will try to answer, at least partially, in this chapter. We believe that governments must invest to avert the DD, but they are not the only actors involved in this scenario.

SIIE is an international forum of Spanish-speaking, Portuguese-speaking and English-speaking researchers devoted to investigate and implement the use of computers in education. In 1999 the Symposium was held in Aveiro, Portugal. In the year 2000 it was celebrated in Puertollano, Spain. Other meetings preceded this Symposium, namely, the "Simposio de Investigacao e Desenvolvimento de Software Educativo" held in Lisbon, Coimbra and Evora, two Congresses held in Spain and organised by ADIE: Encuentro de Informatica Educativa, in Madrid and the so successful ConieD'99 held in Puertollano in 1999. A collection of Conied'99 papers is also published in this collection with the title "Computers in Education in the 21st Century" (2000). ADIE (Association for the Development of Computers in Education) undertook the organisation of the congresses and symposiums on Computers in Education. It is an association which organises meetings for researchers in Spain, Portugal and Latin America. ADIE publishes "Revista de Ensenanza y Tecnologia" in Latin America quarterly.