Usability Models Based on Network Artifacts for Rural

Development

Dr. Sanjay Kumar Gupta

School of Studies in Computer Science & Applications,

Jiwaji University, Gwalior-474002 (M.P), India

sanjay917@sify.com, sanjaygupta@jiwaji.edu

Abstract

Network role is vital to transfer benefits of information

technology in rural hands to minimize the gap between

urban and rural infrastructure. Observations represent coarse

relationships to identify and understand possible models

based on Network Artifacts (NA) to establish computer

network in rural areas. The purpose is to promote such NA

which would consume less effort to learn and use new technology to bring fast growth in rural development, and

control the situation of population burst in cities by

retaining people in rural areas by providing IT enabled

services on supreme priority.

Keywords: Rural Development (RD), Information

Technology (IT), Network Artifacts (NA).

1. Introduction

Due to strong technological development and speedy growth

of computer industries has given opportunities to serve large

number of separate but interconnected computers as tool to

offer a powerful communication medium among widely

separated group of people to facilitate and fulfill their social,

economic and computational needs. Such a nice

arrangement of resource sharing utilized by the rural citizen

may give numerous benefits like fast access of information,

better communication and control of policies, and user

friendly interactive environment. Across India lot of

possibility exist to more strengthen basic infrastructure like roads, transport, power supply, clean drinking water,

healthcare, education system, poverty eradication,

communication network etc. in rural areas. Work has been

done to educate and train innocent community of deprived

areas about buzzword of Information Technology but more

effort to be done to penetrate deep into the heart and culture

to rural people in 21st century through computer,

Information, and Communication technology to learn,

understand, use, and spread practicalities in their own

language as network. However, network may be represented

as group of resources and devices that can be linked to each

other and shared within the group [13] to improve the

standard of living of rural population. However, network

artifact is defined independently as piece of resource/

and device capable to aid/ perform intended operations to

establish network. Objective of considering usability

models of NA is to identify, classify and understand the

role of various available NA to minimize effort in

building computer network used for rural development.

Moreover, in rural perspective, NA’s are related one

another in many way which indicate the presence of

control and data relationships. However, usability (Ub) is defined as a measure of how easy is to use a product to

perform prescribed tasks [20] and use effort (Ue) is

described in [5,6,7]. Coarse relationships are symbolized

in usability models to capture the domain use of

obtainable analogous NA to implement most appropriate,

to minimize usable effort in rural scenario. This

mechanism may help to provide way to enhance use of

NA in design and use network as most of the rural

community unable to make such type of measurable

calculations.

The main content of the paper is organized in a following

way. Section 2 describes the aim and Scope of Computer

Network in rural area. Section 3 briefly discusses

importance of Networks using modern technologies for

the benefit of rural citizens. Section 4 describe

observations on usability models for analysis of NA and RD. Usability models and their issues are summarized in

section 5, and discussion and future work is given in

section 6 and 7 respectively. Lastly, conclude in section

8.

2. Aim and scope of computer network

In India, rural people are innocent and are more often

involved in traditional way to provide community

services or engaged in agriculture sector or processing

small business. Impact of new technology is clearly

Dr.Sanjay Kumar Gupta , Int.J.Computer Technology & Applications,Vol 4 (3),508-513

IJCTA | May-June 2013 Available online@www.ijcta.com

508

ISSN:2229-6093

2

visible in various sectors to boost economy of urban areas.

Rural segment is one of the prominent areas where more

than half population lives and benefits of new technology

must be reached to the farmers’ doorsteps through establish

network between urban and rural to promote use of

computers. Computers working in networks use various

resources and services breaking the distance barrier.

Therefore, good network infrastructure in rural areas

provides opportunities to have strong connections for interaction and communication. Result of that its benefits

are numerous like increase in food grain production,

commercial crops, horticulture, dairy products, service

sector; bank, insurance (crop, livestock), more funding

institutions-for agriculture sector, communication services

such as export and import of products and business,

availability of good quality seeds, agrochemicals

(pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, fertilizers),

fruits, vegetables, processed milk, marine products, use of

electronic equipment, better control of diseases, insects,

pests, improve people and animal health monitoring and

management, mathematical modeling and simulation of

agriculture processes, soil fertility analysis and

conservation, irrigation source scheduling and control, good

methods for planting, cultivating, harvesting, and storage,

use of forecasting models-weather, crops, temperature etc.

Therefore, high usability of network for communication successfully bridged the gap between rural community and

urban resources, to increase income level of farmers.

3. Networks Related Work

Work has been done by researchers to offer inexpensive

hardware and software solutions to establish network for

rural applications. There are good numbers of grassroots

projects in India that are using modern technologies for the

benefit of urban and rural citizens [17]. APSWAN is a

State-wide network for voice, data and video

communication established by AP from the state

headquarters to all the districts and the other important

centers [9]. A satellite network, which connect several Bhoomi Data Centres located at various taluk Centres

[10,11,12]. Network connects local self-governing bodies in

Kerala to expedite transactions accessible to the public in

Panchayat wards. Drishtee offers services including access

to government programmes and benefits, market related

information and private information exchanges and

transactions [16, 11,12]. The Computer-Aided

Administration of Registration Department (CARD) in AP,

deploys networked computers to reform the processes of

registering deeds and stamp duties etc. [17]. Information

Village Project connected by network many villages near

Pondicherry in southern India [12]. Mandi Board in M.P.

has a scheme to computerize its activities and for integration

of Mandi network. Akshaya an implementation of Kerala

State IT mission, aims to set up a network of large number

of information centres that serve as agri-business centres

to the farmers [17]. An industrial PC based electronic

monitoring and control system for cropping process stage

at National Research Centre for Mushrooms, Solan, H.P.

[19]. Baatchit aim is to facilitate Information access,

communication, entertainment and socio-economic

opportunities within villages [17]. In TARAhaat the in-

built motivation has empowered people to eliminate

middle men in marketing their produce directly over network, online services to several rural communities

and consumer-to-consumer, and e-choupal [16,11,12].

4. Observations on Usability Models

To represent NA usability, assumption is to how hard the

physical component to use. However, In each category,

pool of ITNA is available as per requirement of

application (say 1.. N). Task of each physical network

component is performed by changing many finite states

& properties (say 1.. M). These all possibilities put

together and attempt has been made to represent in form

of coarse relationship as crude subjective metrics to

quantify usability in form of models of NA usability

resources in IT led RD climate in India to keep usability

high and costs low in day to day life to make better

operation of this segment. This part pertains to various NA models on observations for usability analysis

considering few design related issue in rural climate.

4.1 Network Process Model

Communication among computers and other resources demand to establish a network which can understand and

propagate data to appropriate recipients. Each of these

devices fulfills a specific role in a network; however,

only the largest and most complex environments use all

of them to promote rural development.

Use of HuB (HB) Connects all computers in a network to

each other and helps direct messages to appropriate

recipients. It is a central connection point for wiring the

network [1]. It forwards data to all ports, regardless of

whether the data is intended for the system connected to

the port [15]. Therefore, use of HB in rural segment help

to expedite NA by providing services. Therefore, NA

usability of HB will be

Thus, use of HB can enhance rural communities’

opportunities by improving their access to market information and lower transaction costs. Result of that

increase efficiency, competitiveness and market access

for poor farmers and traders.

Use of SWitcH (SWH) provides a central connection

point for cables from workstations, servers, and

Dr.Sanjay Kumar Gupta , Int.J.Computer Technology & Applications,Vol 4 (3),508-513

IJCTA | May-June 2013 Available online@www.ijcta.com

509

ISSN:2229-6093

3

peripherals. It helps to overcome the problem of accessibility

which has opened new ventures for rural citizens. Therefore,

NA usability of SWH in IT led RD will be,

Thus, use of SWH facilitates easy and affordable

information accessibility for rural citizens that make

agriculture business more productive and remunerative.

A BRidGe (BRG) will connect to distinct segments (usually referring to a physical length of wire) and transmit traffic

between them. It connects two similar networks and also

allows segmentation of large networks into two smaller,

more efficient networks [1] that operates at physical and

data link layers [18]. Therefore, NA usability of BRG in IT

led RD will be

Thus, use of BRG provides rich contents to the rural

segment related to awareness of socio economic, and

agriculture domain which accelerate community

development. Result of that rural communities are empower

to access information as urban communities.

RouTeR (RTR) can be used to connect different types of

networks and, it operates at physical, data link and network

layer [18] because of that can dynamically make the best

(cheapest, fastest, etc) choice of route between the networks.

Routers divide the network logically instead of physically

[1]. Therefore, NA usability of RTR will be

Thus, use of RTR delivers easy to access, cost effective

form of information in transmission of knowledge to

farmers which speed up rate of literacy. Result of that urban

service will be available in rural areas that empower rural

communities by promoting greater transparency and speed-

up decision-making process

A GaTeWay (GTW) connects two dissimilar computer

networks. It operates at all the seven layers [18]. A gateway

allows a LAN user to access a mainframe network without

leaving his or her PC. Similarly, a gateway between a LAN and a WAN enables a LAN user to send E-mail over the

WAN [1]. Therefore, NA usability of GTW will be

Thus, use of GTW provides aid to new methods of doing the

same traditional activities by changing the life style of the

rural people. Result of that urban amenity will be available

in rural areas.

From combining the observations as equation 1 to 5, NA

usability of Network Access Devices (NAD) is derived

as an equation:

Thus, Network process model considering use effort of

NA, can be represented as

4.2. Network Interface Model

Due to networking, data can move from one place to other

place. For performing fast communication good interface

mechanism is required to connect various artifacts of

Network. Usability of Network Interface artifacts have

influence on network for rural development as

NeTwork Adapter (NTA) (also known as NIC) is the

mechanisms by which computers connect to a network

[15]. It is a major factor in determining the speed and

performance of a network and concerned with bus and

port compatibility. Therefore usability of NTA is greatly

influenced by many factors. Therefore, NA usability of

NTA in IT led RD will be

Thus, use of NTA makes available network functionalities

as foremost tools to bridge the gap between rural in

remote locations and urban areas. Result of that promotes

real time communication to improve the surroundings of

remote rural areas.

Use of MoDeM (MDM) offers computers to interact

through serial communication potential across phone

lines. It modulates the digital signal into analog at the

sending computer and performs the reverse function at the

receiving computer. Therefore, NA usability of MDM in

IT led RD will be

Thus, MDM propose useful communication links to

establish a network among communities of rural and

urban areas. Result of that lead to shared understanding to

promote cultural, socio, economic development

irrespective of distance in the globe.

TraNsceiveR (TNR) is a device that can be both a

transmitter and a receiver of signals. A transceiver is a

device that functions as a transmitter and a receiver of

signals such as analog or digital. Therefore, NA usability

of TNR in IT led RD will be

Dr.Sanjay Kumar Gupta , Int.J.Computer Technology & Applications,Vol 4 (3),508-513

IJCTA | May-June 2013 Available online@www.ijcta.com

510

ISSN:2229-6093

4

Thus, TNR enables several tasks to be performed over a

network. Result of that villager may easily share or update

knowledge of agriculture and rural segment.

From combining the observations as equation 7 to 9, NA

usability of Network Interfaces (NTI) is derived as an

equation:

Thus, Network Interface Usability model considering learn

and use effort of NA, may be expressed as

4.3. Network Media Model

Communication media is the medium that carries the

information from one place to another. Wired

Communication Media (WCM) that contains some

conducting material or metal to carry data or signal [18]. IT

Infrastructure include a physical medium to pass signal from

one device to another is not frequently available in remote

places.

Use of Twisted Pair Cable (TPC) is for connecting relatively

slow digital resources. It is available in two forms;

unshielded and shielded and helps for providing accurate,

timely, relevant information and services to the farmers,

thereby facilitating an environment for more remunerative agriculture. Therefore, NA usability of TPC in IT led RD will

be

Thus, use of TPC provides aid to move information. Result

of that easy availability to use plan & policies to escape

poverty.

Use of CoaXial Cable (CXC) carries signals of higher

bandwidth that in turn provide interface to transmission of

Information Knowledge to farmers. Therefore, NA usability

of CXC in IT led RD will be

Use of CXC conducts transactions in greater volumes. Result

of that rural people can live a more dignified life.

Use of Fiber Optics Cable (FOC) carries light impulses to

transmit data through tiny glass or plastic fibers which is

thinner than the human hair. It can transmit data at very high speed without error. Therefore, NA usability of FOC in IT

led RD will be

Use of FOC supports rapid information flow. Result of

that better availability of agriculture, veterinary, health

and land services.

Thus, from combining the observations as equation 11 to

13,

Wireless Communication Media (WLCM) transports

electromagnetic signals among computers through air using radio wave, microwave, infrared, laser wave,

satellite. These signals are available to anyone who has a

device capable of receiving them [18]. Therefore,

transport electromagnetic wave without using a physical

conductor (wireless) is more suitable in rural segment

because of uneven geographical conditions in different

part of country.

Use of WLCM plays prominent role in expanding many

services like data, video, multimedia, voice to remote

areas. Result of that it brings rural urban communities and

services as group breaking the distance and geographical

conditions for the development of deprived sector.

Communication in rural areas among computers may be

built using more than one type of media to suit as per

geographical conditions. Therefore, Network media model

considering use effort of NA, may be expressed by

combing equation 14 and 15 as

4.4. Network Safety Model

Security is an issue which has been associated with resources used in network. To use the functionality of

network devices, security should be considered.

FireWalL (FWL) is a networking device that controls

access to your organization’s network. This controlled

access is designed to protect data and resources from

outside threat. Therefore, NA usability of FWL in IT led

RD will be

Thus, Network safety model considering use effort of NA

(Security Devices (SCD)), may be expressed as

Dr.Sanjay Kumar Gupta , Int.J.Computer Technology & Applications,Vol 4 (3),508-513

IJCTA | May-June 2013 Available online@www.ijcta.com

511

ISSN:2229-6093

5

4.5. Network Support Model

Network Protocols (NPL) are the languages that allow

computers to communicate with each other. There are many

standard protocols, among them: AppleTalk, Ethernet,

NetBEUI, and TCP/IP [1]. Therefore, NA usability of NPL in

IT led RD will be

Use of NPL offers communication as per requirement to

transfer data. Result of that NA usability of NPL to form &

use efficient network (village network to Internet) more for

RD.

File ServeRs (FSR) is the central data storage unit for

computer network. It is used to controls the communication

of information between the nodes on a network. Therefore,

NA usability of FSR in IT led RD will be

Use of FSR offers many services requested by users. Result

of that of that rural people facilitates more.

Network TopoloGy (NTG) refers to the physical layout of the

network in which connections are made among all computers

and other network devices. It is a geometrical arrangement of

computer network in which all resources are systematically

more efficiently used.

Use of NTG connects all of the devices on a network to

provide more efficient services. Result of that better

connectivity available for rural people to provide

agriculture, veterinary, health and land services.

Thus, Network support model considering use effort of

NA (Other Auxiliary Components (OAC)), may be

expressed by combining equation 19 to 21 as

5. Summarized Table

Issues to represent NA usability of resources/services of

technical infrastructure to promote IT among rural section

for rural development are summarized. If any component

of NA infrastructure in rural area consumes greater effort,

then its NA usability will be less. Therefore, effort

required to understand, learn and operate IT resources in

rural area to determine the impact on rural development.

Each of the usability model discussed has different

intention which is disclosed in table-1 however, best

approach of each NA usability model may be employed to

build computer network in rural areas that consume less effort to operate.

Table-1 Applicability of NA usability models

S.No. Category Usability model Referred

to

Equation

Applicability of model

1. Network Device Network Process model 06

When devices are concern to

communicate

2. Network Interface Network Interface Model 10

When Interfaces are of concern to form

network

3. Communication Media

Network Media Model 16

When communication channels are of concern to establish network

4. Security Device Network Safety Model 18

When safety of network resources are of

concern

5. Auxiliary Component Network Support Model 22

When auxiliary components are of

concern to build network

6. Discussion

A constant is associated with each model which covers

barriers to access infrastructure, high costs and minimal

human resources that use NA often prevent those living in

poverty in reaping the benefits. These models for NA access

in rural areas require extensive perfection to transform from

coarse subjective to objective relationships, based on

statistical data obtained with clear-cut purpose for the

analysis of NA usability of infrastructure and rural

development relationships described in this paper.

Dr.Sanjay Kumar Gupta , Int.J.Computer Technology & Applications,Vol 4 (3),508-513

IJCTA | May-June 2013 Available online@www.ijcta.com

512

ISSN:2229-6093

6

7. Future Scope

Largest numbers of observations on usability models are

efforts to put various network related artifacts altogether in

domain as choice to further promote researchers to estimate

them. Each coarse model is subjective only to represent pool

of artifacts to select as per requirement. Thus, it should be

further critically analyzed to explore the unknown variables,

factors and their relationships with limitations and

characteristics to identify and control their usability to yield

the meaningful outcome. Numbers of symbols are assigned to

the network artifacts of IT in real world to express them to

measure according to clearly identified imperatives. Further,

it needs to define each artifacts in sufficient detail to make

these models of practical use so further investigations and

research are very much needed to collect data and compute it to make observations more general and meaningful to drive

conclusion of practical use in rural environment.

8. Conclusion

Rate of growth of Network services in rural areas has

increased but still it has been largely slower than in urban

areas. Even then, a quiet IT revolution is developing where

the illiterate farm workers ready to use web cams, voice mail

and e-mail regularly. The purpose of Network process model,

Network Interface Model, Network Media Model, Network

safety Model, Network support model are to provide way to

analyze and construct such NA that exhibit high usability in rural areas. The objective is to build network using such NA

in rural areas that consume less effort to operate which show

rural people a profitable path for self growth.

9. References

[1] Chakravarty , Pranab Kumar, Computer Networking Technologies and Application to IT Enabled Services Available

at http://agropedia.iitk.ac.in/openaccess/?q=content

/computer-networking-technologies-and-application-it-enabled-

services

[2] Dhingra,A.,Misra, D.C, Rural Informatics in Indian Governance,

Available at: http://ruralinformatics.nic.in /files/4_9_0_0.pdf

[3] Gupta V., Ansari, M.A., Impact of Information Technology on

Societal Development and E-Governance, Electronic Journal of

Academic and Special Librarianship, v.8 no.1 (Spring 2007) Available at

http://southernlibrarianship.icaap.org/content/v08n01/gupta_v01

.htm

[4]. Glossary of academic information technology terms Retrieved

April 4, (2007), from San Diego State University Rohan

Academic Computing Web site: http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/glossary2.html#I

[5] Gupta, Sanjay Kumar, On Usability Relationships of Computer

Technology Input Artifacts and Rural Development in India,

International Journal of Electronics Communication and

Computer Technology (IJECCT) Volume 2 Issue 6 (November 2012) , pp.297-299

[6] Gupta, Sanjay Kumar, On CTA usability and rural

development in India, Journal of Global Research in Computer Science (JGRCS), Vol.4 issue 3, 2013, page

60-64 Available at http://www.ijecct.org/v2n6/(297-

299)0206M32.pdf..

[7] Gupta, Sanjay Kumar, Usability of Software’s and

Application Packages (SAP) in development of rural

India, Varahmihir Journal of Computer and Information

Sciences, Vol. 6, No.1-2, 2011, pp1-10.

.[8] Gulati, Anubha, Dubey, Sanjay Kumar, Critical analysis

on usability evaluation techniques, International Journal of Engineering Science and Technology (IJEST), Vol. 4

No.03 March 2012, pp 990-997, available at

http://www.ijest.info/docs/IJEST12-04-03-118.pdf.

[9]http://www.utlindia.com/utl/templates/services/egoverna

nce_apswan.jsp.

[10] http://bhoomi.karnataka.gov.in/HOME.aspx [11] Journal of Information Technology Available at

http://www.palgrave-

journals.com/jit/journal/v19/n3/fig_tab/2000019t1.html

[12] Kumar, V.L.,.Suseela, A.L et al, Taking Information

Technology To The Heart Of India, Available at:

http://www.acm.org/ubiquity/views/v6i9_kumar.html

[13] Ms. Ambica, Explore your computer, progress

publishers Delhi

[14] Manwani, Harish, Rural India-An emerging Power

house, Available at/

http://www.hul.co.in/images/harish-manwani-agm-

speech-2012_tcm114-269988.pdf

[15] Networking components and devices chapter-3

available at http://catalogue.pearsoned.co.uk/samplechapter/078973

2556.pdf

[16] Sharma, M.K., Role of Information and communication Technology in rural area development,

CSI communication, vol 30 (12), March 2007, Pp.19-

21.

[17] Siriginidi Subba Rao, Role of ICTS in India Rural

Communities, The journal of community informatics

Vol 5, No 1 (2009) Available at http://www.ci-journal.net/index.php/ciej/article/view/313/429

[18] Singh, Charanjeet, Data communication and

networks,kalyani publishers, third revised edition 2011.

[19] Prasad, P.B., Singh, Manju et al, Schemes for

productivity Enhancement of Computer based

electronic process monitoring and control CSI, Vol.30, Isuue 12 march 2007, pp 23-26.

[20] Usability in Software Design Available at http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms997577.

aspx

Dr.Sanjay Kumar Gupta , Int.J.Computer Technology & Applications,Vol 4 (3),508-513

IJCTA | May-June 2013 Available online@www.ijcta.com

513

ISSN:2229-6093