PEMANFAATAN TEKNOLOGI INFORMASI DAN KOMUNIKASI BERBASIS INTERNET BAGI PERLINDUNGAN PENGETAHUAN TRADISIONAL DI PROVINSI DIY

The fast development of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has been evident and is always followed by new direction of social and cultural shift toward society with knowledge-based information. The society with knowledge-based information is where its members are aware the use and function of information for public benefits. They are knowledgeable and capable to access and use the information to support the efforts of human life quality improvement through modern technology. This study focuses on the efforts of information and communication technology (ICT) use for conservation of local and traditional knowledge in Yogyakarta which is still limited. As a matter of fact, due to its capabilities, the development of ICT has influenced the conservation programs of numerous, interesting traditional and local values in Yogyakarta, potentially challenged the growing and the life of them and even encouraged the loss of the rich values of local knowledge in the region. Therefore, the research suggests that it is tremendously important to benefit the ICT uses to support the conservation programs of potential local and traditional knowledge in Yogyakarta and to protect them from their devastation and loss in the future. The research employs qualitative method with qualitative data, although some additional quantitative data is also included to support the analytical process of the qualitative data. Due to the fact that the use of ICT is hard to measure, this study focuses more to the analysis of the qualitative data with the support of the analysis of quantitative data. For data collection and gathering, the work utilizes several techniques including observation, deep interview, documentation, and focused group discussion (FGD) followed by data verification for analytical purposes. This qualitative data-based research gives the process of analysis flexibility, meaning that the analysis could be done with various methods. The study attempts to observe and analysis the uses of the ICT maximally with specific attention to the protection of local and traditional knowledge in Yogyakarta. The need of using the ICT for the protection and conservation of local and traditional knowledge has become public awareness due to development of modern society provoked by the fast growing of modern ICT. The fast growing of the ICT has also promoted the loosing of local cultures in Indonesia. People tend to slowly but seriously pay less attention to their local cultures and even leave them and move to a new direction of life style following the development and influence of the ICT. However, the awareness of the coming of the ICT as important values, not as a competing culture, is a significant support to the using of the ICT for the protection and conservation programs of local and traditional knowledge. Therefore, the system and model of protection and conservation programs need the support of the ICT uses to avoid the loss of the local and traditional knowledge and copyright claims by other people and to maintain the continuity of the knowledge to be inherited to the next generation