Having spent the last year trying to write articles to be published in academic journals, I’m questioning the utility of spending so much time focusing on a specific format and not having the opportunity to just “get the information out.” A year ago we completed the collection of data from a study of public access information venues in 25 “developing” countries around the world. We then spent months analyzing the data, and dove directly into “scholarly writing.” In the mean time, we came across amazing discoveries, with a new look at comparing 25 very different countries and looking at their information access and how information and communication technologies are used in very different contexts. But when you focus on just one particular aspect, that needs to fit into one particular format, with only so many words, quoting particular people, etc. there doesn’t leave much room for musing, sharing information with colleagues, and branching out to new and emerging ideas. I seem to have spent more time talking about what important people have said in the past, can I justify the trends that emerged, and what the best method is for collecting references (and how they should be cited). I’m not objecting to scholarly writing per se, obviously data needs to be supported, ideas need to be expressed so that they are comprehensible, but to whom?
So here are some things I’ve been musing about:
• How is the fact that youth are drawn to computers affecting society and culture in different parts of the world?
• What percent of computer usage is academic versus social, and how is this affecting computer use and uptake?
• What inspires older people to use computers, if not for entertainment?
• Given that there is much more access to computers in urban areas, what can reasonably be done to encourage rural access? If mobiles are the answer, what can be done to make them more universally accessible, and is this a long-term solution to equal access to technology?
• Is the “gap” between computer usage as large within countries as it is between countries? Where should the focus be if the goal is “universal access”?
• We thought gender gaps were large in terms of digital access, but found out they are not. What caused the reduction in this divide (if it ever existed)? How universal is this?
• Have we sufficiently studied different cultures to determine who wants and needs ICT access? Is this a function of lack of awareness or outside influence pushing values on other cultures?
• How does the introduction of ICTs affect a culture? If empowering women is a goal, what happens to the cultural balance, if there was one?
• As the predominant users of ICTs, how is computer use affecting youth in relation to other people within their culture?
Elizabeth Gould 
I’d love to see a series of posts about what you learned — as blogs. No academic format! You’ve spent so much time combing through this data. What have you noticed? You hint at some of these in your questions above. As you muse though these questions hoping you’ll share what you learn along the way.
That’s the plan!