この問題をリテラシーとして理解するため、本稿では、オーストリアにおけるリテラシーが社会参加の能力として、その対象を広げてきた歴史的文脈を例として検討し、情報通信技術の知識と技能が、リテラシーという問題の延長線上で理解できることを示す。本稿では最後に、グローバル化する社会活動の中で、個人はそれぞれの知識や技能を課題や任務に応じて組み合わせられることが求められるとする、個人能力の「ポートフォリオ」論と、情報社会のリテラシーが互いに結びつく点を指摘する。

［Abstract］

Access to information communication technology (ICT) came to be understood in terms of the digital divide. Now that various activities in society are achieved with help of the ICT, the digital divide is not only the problem of access, but it also entails the problem of competence for the individual to participate in society. This article proposes that this competence be considered as part of 'literacy' rather than the mere proficiency of technical knowledge and skills, because it gives the individual empowerment, thus enabling him/her to participate in society.

This article takes a look into how literacy has been considered as competence for social participation and extended to incorporate a wider range of knowledge and skills than just reading and writing, and presents a view that knowledge and skill in ICT be understood in terms of literacy in general. The author refers to the 'portfolio' theory of personal competence, which put more emphasis on the individual having generalised basic knowledge and skills that can be flexibly combined to perform the given task and responsibility, rather than having specialised knowledge and skills dedicated to some specific fields. The author concludes that the theory has a great implication on literacy in the ICT and information society.