The Digitization Conundrum in India:
Applications, Access and Aberrations
Editors
Keshab Das
Gujarat Institute of Development Research, Ahmedabad
Bhabani Shankar Prasad Mishra
School of Computer Engineering, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar
Madhabananda Das
School of Computer Engineering, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar
Call for Contributing a Book Chapter
This is a call for contributing a chapter to the proposed edited volume in which Springer has expressed keen interest to publish.
Concept and Concerns of the Proposed Volume:
Since the turn of the millennium, the pace and spread of digitization in India – whether promoted or spearheaded through the state, private sector or global capital – have come to be recognized as a significant phenomenon not merely in the sphere of information and communication technology (ICT) but its multifarious applications spreading across almost all aspects of production, services and institutions have profound implications for the transformation of the society and economy at the micro, meso and macro levels. Digitization encompasses the whole range of processes from basic computerization of information (including data analysis, storage, management and sharing) to automation of manufacturing processes (or, 'tasks') to engaging robots for various utilities in both work and living spaces.
During the last decade or so there have been momentous transformations in the digitization field which are collectively denoted as 'disruptive technologies'. These include such transformative technologies as Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing, Big Data Analytics and Algorithms, Internet-of-Things (IoT), Automation, e-Commerce, Delivery Robots and Driverless Cars to mention the prominent ones. Unlike heavy machines (embodied technology), most of these technologies defy physical space, pace of mobility and inoperability between technologies. From an economic development perspective, these special characteristics/properties of the new technologies would imply massive changes in the nature and extent of demand for certain kinds of physical infrastructure as well as skill sets. The very global nature of these seamless technologies where inter-operability remains the quintessential advantage of digitization the Indian economy and society are unlikely to stay insulated from changes in the technological and concomitant spheres of finance, labour and trade.
As the changes occurring and those waiting to happen have been posing new challenges to governance and economic development of India, it is important to form an idea about the nature and implications of such changes as these would impact the micro, meso and macro levels of resources, organization and activities.
Given the complexities of the nature of interface between the new technology and the socio-economics of India the proposed volume explicitly draws upon interdisciplinary scholarship – contributors and editors belong to such diverse subject areas as computer sciences, electronics, information technology, economics, business management, sociology, development studies, geography, biology, medical and actuarial sciences.
As the title suggests, the volume shall include three Sections which would contain chapters within (but not limited to) the following domains:
Section: I Technical/Engineering Infrastructure and Applications
(Digital media infrastructure, fundamentals, and applications in Cloud; Multimedia systems security in Cloud; Multimedia information retrieval and management in Cloud; Workflow management and Web Services; Network Architecture and system design for Cloud based IoT; Big Data management through IoT; Sustainability of IoT for data management for smart society; Green IoT enabling technologies; IoT Experimentation Infrastructures)
Section: II Challenges in Access/Use
(Policy aspects of promoting IT-ITES services; introducing new curriculum and training facilities in new digitization; Role of private sector in infrastructure and skilling; Case studies dealing with issues, challenges and opportunities in accessing and managing ICT, health, education, business (retail, e-Commerce and MSMEs), employment, e-Governance, smart manufacturing, data storage, big data analytics, etc.)
Section: III Aberrations and Obstacles
(Case studies addressing anomalies and limitations of new digitization initiatives in terms of affordability, learning skills/endowments, social/identity-based/gender discrimination, etc.)
Efforts are being made to put together a set of articles of high standard from serious scholars/practitioners on the various issues/sectors as noted earlier across both engineering/technical disciplines and development studies.
Instructions for Preparing and Contributing the Article:
Article submitted must be original and must not be under review by another publication. Implications or lessons for policy must form part of the article to enhance its practical value. In case an article has recently been brought out as an institutional output (e.g., as a Working Paper or Discussion Paper) a formal letter stating that it is a pre-publication output must be included; the absence of such a declaration would be construed as an act of plagiarism by the publishers. Affiliation of author(s) and contact details must be provided with the abstracts/articles. All submitted papers will be peer reviewed.
Length of the final manuscript should be around 8000 words including tables, notes and references.
Important Dates:
- Submission of abstract (250-300 words): September 30, 2018
- On acceptance of the abstract, full chapter submission: December 31, 2018
- Submission of the revised version: January 31, 2019
- On acceptance, final manuscript submission: February 1, 2019
Please submit the proposal of your chapter(s) at
- For Section I: mishra.bsp[@]gmail.com, mndas_prof[@]gmail.com
- For Sections II and III: keshabdas[@]gmail.com
