1. Faculty Informatics & Design Cape Peninsula University of Technology
The contextual relevancy of the right information for the right person at the right time, for the right purpose in an online environment
Retha de la Harpe
Associate Professor
Faculty Informatics & Design
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
South Africa

2. The contextual relevancy of the right information for the right person at the right time, for the right purpose in an online environment 
AGENDA

3. Abundance of information today, Available in the global connected world.
ABSTRACT
There is today an abundance of information available in the global connected world. However, those without access to this information are increasingly becoming isolated. We live in a digital world that advances rapidly and those without the technology to facilitate access to information are left behind.

4. We live in a digital world.
INFORMATION
Those without access to this information are increasingly becoming isolated.
We live in a digital world.
ABSTRACT
There is today an abundance of information available in the global connected world. However, those without access to this information are increasingly becoming isolated. We live in a digital world that advances rapidly and those without the technology to facilitate access to information are left behind.

5. INTRODUCING TECHNOLOGY
Introducing technology solutions
Addressing information literacy
at the same time.
Introducing technology solutions to them may not improve the situation if information literacy is not also addressed at the same time.

6. INFORMATION LITERACY
the ability to know when there is a need for information, to be able to identify, locate, evaluate, and effectively use that information for the issue or problem at hand
information literacy is not also addressed at the same time.

7. DEFINING INFORMATION QUALITY
People need the right information at the right time for the right purpose.
This bring us to the general accepted definition of information quality that people need the right information at the right time for the right purpose. The question then is what is meant by these quality dimensions. The right information means that it must have meaning to the recipient of the information. At the right time means that access to the information is required when needed. The right purpose means that the information must be appropriate for the information need, to perform a task; to answer a question; etc.
innovative ways for a South-South co-operation will go a long way to improve the print industry in developing economies.

8. DEFINING INFORMATION QUALITY
Information quality is
complex,
Multidimensional
and has human involvement
Fit for purpose
This bring us to the general accepted definition of information quality that people need the right information at the right time for the right purpose. The question then is what is meant by these quality dimensions. The right information means that it must have meaning to the recipient of the information. At the right time means that access to the information is required when needed. The right purpose means that the information must be appropriate for the information need, to perform a task; to answer a question; etc.
innovative ways for a South-South co-operation will go a long way to improve the print industry in developing economies.
What is meant by these quality dimensions?

9. DEFINITION OF INFORMATION QUALITY
The right information means that it must have:-
Meaning
Recipient
Access
Appropriate
This bring us to the general accepted definition of information quality that people need the right information at the right time for the right purpose. The question then is what is meant by these quality dimensions. The right information means that it must have meaning to the recipient of the information. At the right time means that access to the information is required when needed. The right purpose means that the information must be appropriate for the information need, to perform a task; to answer a question; etc.
innovative ways for a South-South co-operation will go a long way to improve the print industry in developing economies.
R-Information
Recipient
R-Time
R-Purpose

10. ONLINE ENVIRONMENT & CONTEXT
The online environment
The information producer & consumer -in a specific context.
The information needs of these people need to be considered.
Even though the online environment does not cater for a specific context, the information producer and consumer is still situated in a specific context. When the context influences access to global information then the information needs of these people need to be considered.
So much
information!
What does
it all mean?
So many
choices!

11. INFORMATION CONTEXT
In community-based contexts, information intermediaries often provide information to individuals from communities with a low literacy level.
When the context influences access to global information then the information needs of these people need to be considered.
In community-based contexts, information intermediaries often provide information to individuals from communities with a low literacy level.
The information intermediaries typically convey information on an informal basis, via face-to-face meetings, focus groups, or discussions.
This could however result in information degradation over time, or prove inadequate for sharing and public dissemination.

12. INFORMATION INTERMEDIARIES
The information intermediaries typically convey information on an informal basis, via face-to-face meetings, focus groups, or discussions.
This could result in information degradation over time, or prove inadequate for sharing and public dissemination.
When the context influences access to global information then the information needs of these people need to be considered. In community-based contexts, information intermediaries often provide information to individuals from communities with a low literacy level.
The information intermediaries typically convey information on an informal basis, via face-to-face meetings, focus groups, or discussions. This could however result in information degradation over time, or prove inadequate for sharing and public dissemination.

13. COMMUNITY BASED CONTEXTS HEALTH INTERMEDIARIES
There is emphasis today on wellbeing through health promotion and disease prevention.
More individuals obtain relevant information to enable them manage their own lifestyles.
With the emphasis today on wellbeing through health promotion and disease prevention more and more individuals obtain relevant information to enable them to manage their own lifestyles. In community-based contexts health intermediaries take on the role as information consumers to convey relevant information to the individuals. Even in these cases the health intermediaries may also not have easy access to relevant information.

14. COMMUNITY BASED CONTEXTS HEALTH INTERMEDIARIES
In community-based contexts health intermediaries take on the role as information consumers to convey relevant information to the individuals.
Even in these cases the health intermediaries may also not have easy access to relevant information.
With the emphasis today on wellbeing through health promotion and disease prevention more and more individuals obtain relevant information to enable them to manage their own lifestyles. In community-based contexts health intermediaries take on the role as information consumers to convey relevant information to the individuals. Even in these cases the health intermediaries may also not have easy access to relevant information.

15. MOBILE TECHNOLOGY IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH
The context of ubiquitous mobile technology in the
Global South
Community-oriented information systems
Granting universal access – but is this enough?
Moreover, in the context of ubiquitous mobile technology in the Global South, community-oriented information systems become critical in addressing the shortcomings of transitory information sharing. This is especially the case in granting universal access, and in ensuring free and flexible use, in line with locally defined practices.

16. What is eHealth literacy?
Defined as the ability to seek, find, understand and appraise health information from electronic sources and apply the knowledge gained to addressing or solving a health problem. Unlike other distinct forms of literacy, eHealth literacy combines facets of literacy skills and applies them to eHealth promotion and care.
Additional information from actual work
WHO, 2013

17. Reaching poor communities
A mobile library and resource centre for outreach to support rural schools, early childhood care centres and adult education
Poor communities - rural and urban communities where people are trapped in a perpetual cycle of poverty and unemployment with the appalling social ills such as… substance abuse, family violence, child abuse, disease and crime … amongst others.  A mobile library goes out to rural primary schools to improve the reading literacy rates.

18. Health Information Literacy An Asset
For individuals & communities
Important form of social capital
and means empowerment

19. The story of a Health Intermediary Health promoter: David
Completed his Matric; works for NPO in a high-transmission area
Distributes promotional health materials (condoms, pamphlets)
A lot of tense discussions with community members, especially medical male circumcision, unprotected sex, and condom use
Uses paper-based promotional materials; wishes these were more colourful and interactive
He owns a feature mobile phone and uses a pay-as-you-go option. He has limited money available to buy more airtime

20. Context considerations to design mHealth Solutions
Four intersecting dimensions of context
Personal (micro)
Physical (meso)
Socio-economic (macro)
Interactional (dynamic)

21. Context Information need Personal (micro)
Locally defined information about treatment, prevention, and promotion.
Physical (meso)
Information that supports the services provided, including health facilities, resources, services, partners, and training opportunities in the region.
Socio-economic (macro)
Information about guidelines, policies, international best practices, and laws.
Interactional (dynamic)
Information practices; information seeking and behaviour of individuals and groups; experiences when interacting with information objects and with mobile devices, systems or applications.

22. mHealth Intermediary Information Model
Health intermediaries need information to support their work practices;
Currently, the vast amount of health information is not always accessible and locally relevant;
An intervention may be needed to facilitate the access and use of relevant health information for intermediaries. mHealth has the potential to facilitate this;
Intermediaries’ work practices are influenced by the contexts in which they function;

23. mHealth Intermediary Information Model
Contextual aspects are complex and need to be unpacked to provide for possible information interventions;
Contexts manifest as both static and dynamic modalities. Example, availability of a phone (static) against using the phone to seek and use information (dynamic).
In designing mobile interventions, both static and dynamic context considerations are required.

24. Health and Wellbeing Information
Global
Health and Wellbeing Information
Macro
Mobile
App
Information
Space
Physical
Information
Practices
Personal
Information
Recipient
Intermediary
Time

25. Two contextual design considerations
1. Determine the static context dimensions across three levels:
personal (subjective, experiential realms)
physical (temporal, spatial, material realms)
macro (geographic and socio-economic realms)
2. Determine the dynamic information space in terms of
information practices
Relations
user experiences (the ‘fourth context’)
This concerns the interaction between intermediaries and recipients, especially related to information practices, objects and behaviour.

26. Acknowledgement
INDEHELA-ISD4D Project –funded by the Academy of Finland

27. Thank you