Survey shows a growing trend in information seeking at TDIC:

According to the survey report by Tanzania firm that deals with information, media, public relations and publication known as Federated Media and Publishing Inc, say the Internet played an important or crucial role in making a major decision to the information seekers at the Center in the last year. NYASIGO KORNEL analyses.

The Federated Media and Publishing Inc survey released this week, sheds light on correlation between Internet use, relationships and how many people turn to other sources of information to solve significant problems in their lives.

A new report shows a growing trend toward seeking information about major life decisions at Tanzania Development Information Center (TDIC).

About 80 thousand Tanzanians have accessed information through the TDIC. It becomes a one-stop-shop for development information thus providing economies of scale to information dissemination and access.

Information overload did not register as significant complaint. Only 15 percent of respondents said they were overwhelmed by the amount of information they had. Of online users who relied on the Internet for one of five major decisions, only 5 percent said they obtained bad information. Seventy-one percent said they had all of the information they needed and it was manageable, and 11 percent wanted more information.
The report shows a growing trend toward seeking information about major life decisions through resource centers.
"A fairly consistent pattern is that Internet users have greater access to help about a variety of things," the report states.
Far from predictions that the proliferation of technology would cut people off from each other, the report shows communications technologies make it easier for people to maintain and cultivate social networks. Those are contacts that can be called upon for help. It also concludes that, weighing all other factors, email contact is associated with greater levels of getting help while other forms of communication are not.
The report based on surveys in May to December 2005, states that newer technologies, like email and cell phones, seem to smooth more paths toward getting help than traditional means. That may be because people "show a tendency over the course of item to use email for weighty or urgent purposes."
However, the report does not conclude whether the Internet and other technologies are changing the way users behave or whether users who tend to be better educated, more involved in their communities, and generally more advantaged than non-users are more inclined to reach out to others in the first place.

In interviewing 100 students from the Institute of Finance Management (IFM) who happened to access TDIC’s information, forty-five percent, said the Internet played an important or crucial role in making major life decisions regarding these topics: career training, education, car purchases, research data, notes and media.
About 50 people said online information was important or crucial when they considered research information; 30 said it played heavily in decisions about education, another 20 said it was key to helping someone else with entertainment.
Of those citing the Internet as an important or crucial source of information, 34 percent said it helped find advice and support from others; 30 percent said it helped them compare options and 28 percent said it led them to professional or expert services.
A Federated Media and Publishing Inc survey in December 2005, which followed up on questions about major life decisions posed in 2004, indicates that the Internet's role in assisting with major life decisions has grown.
The survey followed the need to address the allegation projected in the community that Internet is used to access phonographs.

The TDIC has created a one-stop center for public access to information on development issues. It has provided a better understanding of development projects, facilitate effective engagement of stakeholders by enhance openness and effective feedback.
The Centre has enhanced informed decision making, enable wider dissemination of achievements and lessons learnt and provide further capacity for more participants through videoconference.

The Federated Media and Publishing Inc, is a multimedia and PR consultant firm which also deals with publishing books in a author centered approach.

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