Utilizing ICT to prevent loneliness and social isolation of the elderly. A literature review

Ageing of the population is a worldwide phenomenon. Numerous ICT-based solutions have been developed for elderly care but mainly connected to the physiological and nursing aspects in services for the elderly. Social work is a profession that should pay attention to the comprehensive wellbeing and social needs of the elderly. Many people experience loneliness and depression in their old age, either as a result of living alone or due to a lack of close family ties and reduced connections with their culture of origin, which results in an inability to participate actively in community activities (Singh & Misra, 2009). Participation in society would enhance the quality of life. With the development of information technology, the use of technology in social work practice has risen dramatically. The aim of this literature review is to map out the state of the art of knowledge about the usage of ICT in elderly care and to figure out research-based knowledge about the usability of ICT for the prevention of loneliness and social isolation of elderly people. The data for the current research comes from the core collection of the Web of Science and the data searching was performed using Boolean? The searching resulted in 216 published English articles. After going through the topics and abstracts, 34 articles were selected for the data analysis that is based on a multi approach framework. The analysis of the research approach is categorized according to some aspects of using ICT by older adults from the adoption of ICT to the impact of usage, and the social services for them. This literature review focused on the function of communication by excluding the applications that mainly relate to physical nursing. The results show that the so-called ‘digital divide’ still exists, but the older adults have the willingness to learn and utilise ICT in daily life, especially for communication. The data shows that the usage of ICT can prevent the loneliness and social isolation of older adults, and they are eager for technical support in using ICT. The results of data analysis on theoretical frames and concepts show that this research field applies different theoretical frames from various scientific fields, while a social work approach is lacking. However, a synergic frame of applied theories will be suggested from the perspective of social work.

GIS technologies and spatial organization patterns among hunter-gatherers: an archaeological case study from Southern Patagonia (southern South America)

This paper discusses some aspects of hunter-gatherer spatial organization in southern South Patagonia, in later times to 10,000 cal yr BP. Various methods of spatial analysis, elaborated with a Geographic Information System (GIS) were applied to the distributional pattern of archaeological sites with radiocarbon dates. The shift in the distributional pattern of chronological information was assessed in conjunction with other lines of evidence within a biogeographic framework. Accordingly, the varying degrees of occupation and integration of coastal and interior spaces in human spatial organization are explained in association with the adaptive strategies hunter-gatherers have used over time. Both are part of the same human response to changes in risk and uncertainty variability in the region in terms of resource availability and environmental dynamics.

The perception of the African-American community through the eyes of the Hispanic media in the U.S.: a critical discourse analysis of the reporting of the death of Michael Brown

In this paper, 36 English and 38 Spanish news articles were selected from English and Spanish newspapers and magazines published in the U.S.A. from August 2014 to November 2014. All articles discuss the death of Michael Brown, the ensuing protests and police investigations. A discourse analysis shows that there are few differences between reporting by the mainstream and the Hispanic media. Like the mainstream media, the Hispanic media adopts a neutral point of view with regard to the African-American minority. However, it presents a negative opinion with regard to the police. It appears that the Hispanic media does not explicitly side with the African-American community, but rather agrees more with the mainstream media’s opinion and is substantially influenced by it.

A Telefonia Movel Celular na Cidade de São paulo: Uma Descrição de Sua Indústria sob a Ótica das Forças Competitivas de Michael Porter

A importância da indústria de telefonia móvel celular aumenta em ritmo acelerado no mundo conduzindo a vários estudos a seu respeito para maior conhecimento de sua estrutura; no Brasil, os resultados desses estudos apontam a crescente participação do setor de telefonia móvel em seu PIB. A análise e a compreensão da estrutura de uma indústria mostram as raízes de sua lucratividade proporcionando uma melhor visão do setor para que seus operadores possam se antecipar à concorrência, bem como influenciá-la ao longo do tempo. Nesse sentido, o objetivo deste artigo é investigar e descrever a estrutura da indústria de telefonia móvel da cidade de São Paulo, nos últimos três anos, à luz do modelo de concorrência ampliada de Michael Porter. Promoveu-se, para a análise da estrutura do setor, um estudo exploratório baseado em referencial teórico clássico sobre estratégia competitiva e atratividade setorial, buscando-se dados secundários para o conhecimento das influências externas que atuam sobre as forças competitivas descritas por Michael Porter. Após o estudo e interpretação dessas forças, conseguiu-se obter as informações necessárias para apresentar uma descrição da indústria e seu comportamento sob suas influências.

A Arte de Governar: o exercício do poder pelo saber segundo Michael Foucault

As obras de Michel Foucault exercem influencia em várias áreas das ciências humanas. O mesmo fato se repetiu em teoria das organizações, onde as idéias foucaultianas estão sendo empregadas fundamentalmente para trazer novas luzes para as discussões sobre poder nas organizações. A despeito da influência significativa na área, não há discussões sobre como as obras de Michel Foucault estão sendo utilizadas. A presente dissertação de mestrado tem por objetivo sistematizar os estudos que utilizaram as idéias de Michel Foucault em teoria das organizações, problematizá-los e indicar alguns caminhos para o desenvolvimento desse tipo de análise. De uma forma geral, percebemos que a produção acadêmica em teoria das organizações baseadas nas obras de Michel Foucault tratam majoritariamente das disciplinas e deixam de lado outros aspectos da analítica do poder. Ademais, percebemos que há uma adoção simplificada da analítica do poder e uma junção acriteriosa de conceitos e noções oriundas de diferentes matrizes epistemológicas, além da inadequação da designação “pósmoderno” para classificar as obras de Michel Foucault e suas utilizações em teoria das organizações. Como possíveis desenvolvimentos, indicamos as possibilidades de análise que podem ser abertas na teoria das organizações pelo uso das noções de biopolítica e governamentalidade. / The works of Michel Foucault exert influence in various areas of the humanities. The same thing happened in organization theory, Foucauldian where ideas are being used primarily to bring new light to the discussions about power in organizations. Despite the significant influence in the area, there are discussions about the works of Michel Foucault are being used. This dissertation aims to systematize the studies that used the ideas of Michel Foucault in organization theory, problematize them and indicate some directions for developing this type of analysis. In general, we find that the academic production in the theory of organizations based on the writings of Michel Foucault deal mostly of disciplines and leave out other aspects of analytical power. Moreover, we realize that there is an adoption of simplified analytical power of an indiscriminate and a junction of concepts and notions from different epistemological matrices, besides the inadequacy of the term "postmodern" to classify the works of Michel Foucault and its uses in organizational theory. As possible developments, indicate the possibilities of analysis that can be opened in organization theory by using the notions of biopolitics and governmentality.