The speed and cost effectiveness of new information technology has prompted many to view these innovations as a panacea for social and economic development. However, such a view flies in the face of continuing inequities in education, health, food, and infrastructure. This volume explores these issues - along with questions of access, privilege, literacy, training, and the environmental and health effects of information technologies in the developing world - arguing that a higher level of development does not always result from a higher level of technologization.

The speed and cost effectiveness of new information technology has prompted many to view these innovations as a panacea for social and economic development. However, such a view flies in the face of continuing inequities in education, health, food, and infrastructure. This volume explores these issues - along with questions of access, privilege, literacy, training, and the environmental and health effects of information technologies in the developing world - arguing that a higher level of development does not always result from a higher level of technologization.

The book highlights the inadequate attention given to pedagogical frameworks and educational development perspectives in discussions about online learning. It reviews the apparent "technology over drive" in higher education agendas that are influenced by corporate greed rather than by pedagogical need. The author encourages a balanced focus on the use of technology in learning. Technologies, when carefully selected to add value to learning and to provide learners with alternative media to engage in learning, are expected to enhance learning. If embedded technologies do not enhance the learning experience, we have to question their inclusion in learning design. From this perspective, online learning embraces pedagogy as a framework and key focus; and supports the inclusion of technology as an additional component to enhance learning.

'Middle East' (West Asia) perspectives on technology innovation leadership bring new voices to the technology innovation discourse in international development. The approaches of technology innovation leaders in this collection demonstrate commitment to building sustainable futures among the communities in which the authors live. There is a scarcity of technology innovation perspectives from within 'Middle East (West Asia) perspectives and the initiatives and endeavours of the innovation leaders in this book have global appeal. Other developing community innovators are inspired to compete globally as they explore future oriented sustainable innovation solutions that are context specific. Innovation and technology leadership in areas such as e-government and e-commerce are national priorities for countries such as Saudi Arabia. While there is a dense literature available on innovation diffusion in other developing community contexts (for example South Asia, the Asia Pacific region, Africa and Latin America), this book fills the gaps in the literature on 'Middle East' (West Asia) perspectives on innovation technology diffusion in developing community contexts.