Challenges and opportunities in introducing information and communication technologies to the Kelabit community of north central Borneo

This article described an action-research pilot project to provide opportun ities for the remote Kelabit community in the Malaysian state of Sarawak, o n the island of Borneo, to use information and communication technologies ( ICTS) for sustainable human development. The project aims to establish a te lecentre as a place for the community to use ICTs. Although many in the com munity have heard about computers, they have not seen or used them. In Phas e I of this project, a team of University Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) researc hers were involved in the collection of base-line data to provide a socio-e conomic profile of the community; to establish existing pattern., of commun ication and computer awareness and finally to determine the current attitud es towards computers in Bario's secondary school (SMK Bario). Findings indi cate that due to Bario's relative isolation, community members cited their relatives to be the main source of information and face-to-face communicati on as the major channel of communication, and that a majority of school tea chers had a positive attitude towards using ICTs. Recommendations for futur e directions in promoting the utilization of ICTs to lead to the establishm ent of a telecentre are discussed.