Approaching the interplay between social stability and social change as a complex network of “development pathways” and the routes people and communities take as their “livelihood journeys,” this Rural Sociological Society Presidential Address explores how information and communication technologies (ICTs) influence our capabilities to choose and navigate where to go and how to get there. Access and the literacy and skills needed for effective and safe use of ICTs are increasingly influential factors for livelihoods in the so‐called digital age, impacting wellbeing and resilience. Rural‐focused social scientists can help to inform livelihood journeys, especially by asking questions about the interplay between ICTs and social inclusion to involve often‐overlooked spatial dimensions at the local and regional levels. Doing so will require dialogue, discernment, and active engagement on the topics we explore, the research methods we employ, and incorporation of the experiences, needs, and desires of rural people and places in policies and programs. As a professional association built on diverse scholarly traditions yet rooted in a shared interest for practical application for the benefit of often excluded people and places, the Rural Sociological Society has important roles to play in the digital age.

中文翻译：

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数字时代的乡村发展：通过社会包容探索信息通信技术☆


将社会稳定与社会变革之间的相互作用视为一个复杂的“发展路径”网络以及人们和社区作为“生计旅程”的路线，这篇农村社会学学会主席演讲探讨了信息和通信技术（ICT）如何影响我们的能力选择并导航要去哪里以及如何到达那里。有效和安全使用信息通信技术所需的接入、读写能力和技能日益成为所谓数字时代生计的影响因素，影响着福祉和复原力。以农村为重点的社会科学家可以帮助为生计之旅提供信息，特别是通过询问有关信息通信技术和社会包容之间相互作用的问题，以涉及地方和区域层面经常被忽视的空间维度。要做到这一点，需要就我们探索的主题、我们采用的研究方法进行对话、洞察和积极参与，并将农村人民和地方的经验、需求和愿望纳入政策和计划。作为一个建立在不同学术传统基础上的专业协会，但植根于实际应用的共同利益，以造福经常被排斥的人和地方，农村社会学会在数字时代可以发挥重要作用。