ICT Challenges and Opportunities in Building a "Bright Society"

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have introduced great changes into our personal and professional lives. Although the debate over the benefits of ICTs (and how to measure them) still lingers (Remenyi, Money, and Bannister, 2007), there is a general consensus that ICTs have driven innovations in key societal dimensions, including economic development, health care, education, and connectivity. Since the 1990s, for instance, ICTs’ contribution to the U.S. GDP has increased to 25 percent1. ICTs have also significantly affected health care services across the globe and now contribute to the delivery of high-quality patient care. Furthermore, ICTs have promoted increased access to education and enhanced the quality of teaching and learning (Livingstone, 2012).