IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 30

products and services that are integrated and universally accessible. By the same token, digital convergence offers the possibility of improving the
operations and organizational structure of different
segments of the value chain of corporations, government agencies, and nongovernmental organizations.
From the sociocultural perspective, digital convergence expands the range and availability of tools for
accessing the Internet, thereby increasing the possibilities for interaction and collaboration between people. However, some authors have expressed concern
that such digital interaction may actually decrease
other more relevant types of human encounters [2],
[3]. Nevertheless, changes in education do not arise
simply as the result of a purely technological process;
various factors of a diverse nature - cognitive, psychological, social, ethical - impact the way people
learn and access educational resources. Furthermore,
a highly competitive knowledge-based society with a
free exchange of products, services and ideas requires
transcendental changes and continuous innovation
in its educational efforts in order to train the human
resources that human prosperity and sustainable
development demand.
We posit that the impact of ICT in education is
enhanced by the adoption of digital convergence
through the availability of a variety of integrated
products and services that improve and expand the
possibilities of communication, interaction and collaboration in a mobile and ubiquitous fashion. Digital
convergence also facilitates the production of access
to and diffusion of knowledge by means of tools for
the creation and virtualization of personal learning
environments not available before.
We propose that a basic framework for the development of comprehensive educational programs
for future ICT engineers, scientists, and practitioners should consider the inclusion of the disciplines
described in Fig. 1.
Access to information and knowledge has been
dramatically changed through the pervasive influence

Arts and
Humanities
Sustainable
Development

Design
and Creativity

Moral Leadership

Innovation

Fig. 1. Elements of an integral curricula.
30

of ICT. Education, research, and development have
also been affected significantly, although questions
regarding the pace and nature of such change call for
reflection and new evaluation models, for which interdisciplinary approaches are necessary [4]. For this
purpose, the reductionist perspective of most current
educational programs cannot provide a society under
the influence of globalization and digital convergence
with adequate and effective answers. We suggest that
sustainable development, arts and humanities, design
and creativity, innovation, and moral leadership
are critically important disciplines through whose
influence the capacities of ICT could be channelled
towards the goal of promoting human prosperity.
There are additional elements that should be added
to this proposed framework, such as those related to
psychology, sociology and behavioral economics [4].
However, we have emphasized those that we consider
of particular significance for understanding the role of
digital convergence as potential contributors to community development and progress.
In addition to the mentioned fields, fostering a
vision of service to society in ICT education is central
for achieving an understanding of our interrelatedness
as human beings. Fostering this vision serves to direct
efforts towards the development of technologies that
have the potential to mitigate the effects of socioeconomic disparities, or to address the lack of access to
quality health services in all sectors of the population, or to provide support to communities afflicted
by natural disasters - to cite just a few possibilities. In this scenario, moral leadership furnishes the
insight and human perspective required to respond in
a more effective manner to these urgent social issues,
and offers an ethical foundation so greatly needed
for cybersecurity concerns. Meanwhile, an innovation focus that incorporates concepts such as collaborative work, value creation, and entrepreneurship
contributes necessary elements for socioeconomic
development projects in key areas like green technology development. For their part, design and creativity have in recent years come to be considered areas
of priority in major universities and research centers
throughout the world.
The knowledge and skills required for the design of
systems and devices focused on the needs of the population are in great demand all over the world. Arts and
humanities constitute another integral element because
they can contribute to stimulating the creative mind
and to the creation of awareness and the social outlook
conducive to community involvement and participation in digital inclusion projects. These disciplines are
interrelated and cannot be isolated from each other
or taken out of context and separated from the cultural, social, intellectual, and economic needs of the
population [5]-[7].
IEEE TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY MAGAZINE

WINTER 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014