A normative approach to technology transfer for information and communication technologies - Universities and communities: from the ivory tower to the grass roots

As we enter the 21(st) century, many universities are rethinking their roles and responsibilities with respect to technology transfer. For our purposes, technology transfer means enabling end-users to take effective advantage of advances in technology. Because technology, especially information and communication technologies (ICTs), are developing at an ever-increasing pace and universities are known for being slow to change, this apparent disconnect presents a challenge to most campus leaders who seek to diffuse their capabilities throughout the larger community. Using the Georgia Institute of Technology (a top-ranked research university in the United States) as an example, the authors explore the question of what the responsibilities of universities are to their community, and will detail a particularly successful approach in disseminating ICT benefits to traditionally underserved populations.