Ricardo Gomez

Dr. Ricardo Gomez specializes in the social impacts of communication technologies, especially in community development settings. He is also interested in qualitative research methods, and in group facilitation and process design. He seeks creative ways to communicate complex ideas and research results in everyday language. He has worked with private, public and non-profit sectors around the world, with a particular focus on Latin America and the Caribbean. Before joining the University of Washington he worked with Microsoft Community Affairs, and with the International Development Research Center in Canada. He holds an MA from Université du Québec à Montréal (1992) and a Ph.D. from Cornell University (1997).

Publications

Conceptualizing a Contextual Measurement for Digital Divide/s: Using an Integrated Narrative
Conceptualizing a Contextual Measurement for Digital Divide/s: Using an Integrated Narrative
Karine Barzilai-Nahon, Ricardo Gomez, Rucha Ambikar. © 2013. 15 pages.
Measurements for the digital divide/s have often engaged in simplified, single factor measurements that present partial and static conceptualization and, therefore, measurements...
Users of ICT at Public Access Centers: Age, Education, Gender, and Income Differences in Users
Users of ICT at Public Access Centers: Age, Education, Gender, and Income Differences in Users
Ricardo Gomez, Kemly Camacho. © 2013. 21 pages.
Libraries, telecenters, and cybercafés offer opportunities for wider public access to information and communication technologies (ICT). This paper presents findings of a global...
Success Factors in Public Access Computing for Development
Success Factors in Public Access Computing for Development
Ricardo Gomez. © 2013. 20 pages.
An exploratory, qualitative study in 25 countries around the world identifies success factors for centers that offer public access to Information and Communication Technologies...
Libraries, Telecentres, Cybercafes and Public Access to ICT: International Comparisons
Libraries, Telecentres, Cybercafes and Public Access to ICT: International Comparisons
Ricardo Gomez. © 2012. 608 pages.
Public venues are vital to information access across the globe, yet few formal studies exist of the complex ways people in developing countries use information technologies in...
Libraries, Telecenters and Cybercafés: A Comparison of Different Types of Public Access Venues
Libraries, Telecenters and Cybercafés: A Comparison of Different Types of Public Access Venues
Melody Clark, Ricardo Gomez. © 2012. 10 pages.
In order to understand the implications of this study, it is important to understand the context in which it was conducted. Consequently, this book begins with a chapter that...
Who Uses Public Access Venues?
Who Uses Public Access Venues?
Ricardo Gomez, Kemly Camacho. © 2012. 13 pages.
Who are the customers of public access venues, where do they come from, and what are their needs? In order to better understand the situation – success or failure – of public...
Perceptions of Trust: Safety, Credibility, and “Cool”
Perceptions of Trust: Safety, Credibility, and “Cool”
Ricardo Gomez, Elizabeth Gould. © 2012. 11 pages.
In this study, the authors found that trust is a key factor that drives people to actually make use of ICT in public access venues. Several factors contribute to building this...
Gender and Public Access ICT
Gender and Public Access ICT
Allison Terry, Ricardo Gomez. © 2012. 14 pages.
Studies show that due to systemic gender biases in the use of and access to ICTs and their applications, as well as socio-cultural norms that position computing as a...
Challenges for Libraries in the Information Age
Challenges for Libraries in the Information Age
Elizabeth Gould, Ricardo Gomez. © 2012. 8 pages.
Libraries play a central role as venues that offer public access to information. Increasingly, libraries in developing countries are offering access to computers and the...
How do Public Access Venues Meet Information Needs in Underserved Communities?
How do Public Access Venues Meet Information Needs in Underserved Communities?
Elizabeth Gould, Ricardo Gomez, Kemly Camacho. © 2012. 9 pages.
User information needs vary by geographic location as well as by economic and social standing, among other factors. These factors drive the format, content, currency, and...
Success Factors for Public Access Computing: Beyond Anecdotes of Success
Success Factors for Public Access Computing: Beyond Anecdotes of Success
Ricardo Gomez. © 2012. 13 pages.
Throughout this book, we have detailed the profile of a public access venue user, discussed the role of venue staff in public access venues, identified the critical role that...
Users of ICT at Public Access Centers: Age, Education, Gender, and Income Differences in Users
Users of ICT at Public Access Centers: Age, Education, Gender, and Income Differences in Users
Ricardo Gomez, Kemly Camacho. © 2011. 20 pages.
Libraries, telecenters, and cybercafés offer opportunities for wider public access to information and communication technologies (ICT). This paper presents findings of a global...
Success Factors in Public Access Computing for Development
Success Factors in Public Access Computing for Development
Ricardo Gomez. © 2011. 19 pages.
An exploratory, qualitative study in 25 countries around the world identifies success factors for centers that offer public access to Information and Communication Technologies...
Conceptualizing a Contextual Measurement for Digital Divide/s: Using an Integrated Narrative
Conceptualizing a Contextual Measurement for Digital Divide/s: Using an Integrated Narrative
Karine Barzilai-Nahon, Ricardo Gomez, Rucha Ambikar. © 2010. 15 pages.
Measurements for the digital divide/s have often engaged in simplified, single factor measurements that present partial and static conceptualization and, therefore, measurements...