Information, Knowledge, and Technology for Teaching and Research in Africa: Human Machine Interaction and User Interfaces (Synthesis Lectures on Information Concepts, Retrieval, and Services)

​This book focuses on human machine interaction and user interfaces for teaching and research in Africa. The importance of digital humanities (DH) is recognized by focusing on the theoretical and historical development of DH in the context of LIS education and how infrastructure influences DH programs/initiatives in respective LIS schools. These findings and recommendations provide valuable knowledge for developing the domain and establishing potential areas of collaboration in DH research and curriculum. The book explores and explicates what the Diffusion of Innovations theory is about as well as the characteristics of innovators. The Diffusion of Innovations theory is relevant to the LIS field, which has widely adopted numerous innovations to automate a wide range of administrative and technical processes, build databases and networks, and provide better services to library users. The diffusion and adoption of technology have become imperative for the efficient management ofmodern libraries and LIS as a field in general. Existing literature that is related to the adoption, use, and challenges facing the development of clinical informatics in teaching hospitals in developing countries is reviewed. It is also revealed that hospitals in developing countries should embrace the use of tools for effective healthcare delivery and that nursing informatics is very significant in nursing practice. In addition, the role of academic institutions and the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) by librarians for information and knowledge (IKM) in such institutions in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is addressed. The book acknowledges the marginalization of indigenous knowledge and that there is a need for Africa to develop and accelerate strategies for enhancing indigenous knowledge for future generation and ICT is poised to play a crucial role.

Dennis Ocholla, Ph.D., joined the University of Zululand(from Moi University, Kenya) as Professor and Head of the Department of Library and Information Science (1996-2014) and was appointed Senior Professor at the University in 2006( retired in 2022 and currently Research Fellow at the University) having been Dean( 2yrs) and Deputy/Vice Dean(10yrs).  His research and teaching interests include information seeking, ICT4D/human computer interaction-user interfaces, data science and bibliometric /informetrics, information ethics, scholarly communication, and research methods.

Omwoyo Bosire Onyancha, Ph.D., is a Research Professor in the Department of Information Science at the University of South Africa. His areas of research interest include informetric and scientometrics, information and knowledge management, science communication, and knowledge mobilization.  Dr. Onyancha has explored these areas of research in order to advance the academic and societal understanding of how information and knowledge are created, disseminated, and utilized in various contexts.

Aderonke Olaitan Adesina, Ph.D., is currently the International Students Employability Project Officer at Nottingham Trent University. She has garnered work experience in the health, education, and consulting sectors over the last 25 years. Dr. Adesina earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physics and information science, respectively, from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and her doctoral degree from the University of Zululand, South Africa.