TECHNOLOGY AFFORDANCES AND DIFFUSION FOR MOBILE CONNECTIVITY
AND APPLICATIONS IN ZIMBABWE

TECHNOLOGY AFFORDANCES AND DIFFUSION FOR MOBILE CONNECTIVITY
AND APPLICATIONS IN ZIMBABWE

PROF. GABRIEL KABANDA

The technology acceptance model (TAM)
proposes that perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness
predict applications usage. Affordances are the interactions
between users and tool, i.e. properties of the world that are
compatible with and relevant for people’s interactions.
Affordance offers a distinctive perspective on the use of ICT
in education because of its focus on possibilities for action.
The paper assesses the value-adding contribution of the
concept of affordances, ascertains how its application provides
new insights and enables innovation of mobile technology, and
investigates how the notion of affordances can be used to
assess the diffusion and explore possible applications of
mobile technology into Zimbabwe. The main hypothesis being
tested was: “Technology affordances are related to the diffusion
of mobile technology in Zimbabwe”. Examples of mobile phone
applications used include WhatsApp, games and Ecocash, and
potential applications to mobile learning.
The quantitative methodology was used as the research
paradigm and a survey conducted on 15 selected Zimbabwean
schools to evaluate the application of TAM to mobile
technology and e-learning. Data on infodensity on 18
countries in Eastern and Southern Africa was analysed to
assess the relative progress on mobile technology diffusion in
Zimbabwe in comparison with other neighbouring countries
for the period 2000 to 2012. The FRAME model for mobile
learning is adopted as a framework for implementation to
manage the process resulting from the convergence of mobile
technologies, human learning capacities and social interaction.
TAM was partially supported, and the results showed that
perceived usefulness is more important in determining
intention to use the technology than attitude toward using.
However, the high cost of internet bandwidth is a major
prohibitive factor to the diffusion of mobile technology and e-
learning in Zimbabwe

International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering

2014