The costs of cell phones or "use cell phone" is high in Brazil. This fact transform its use at the small communities impossible for all people. We have had work, suported for some organizations (govern and non governamental) to introduce Telecenters in rural communities. In some cases, the cell phone is the unique way to linking to the world. At introduce the computer and the link by satelit all the people can transform the way to view her life. Our preocupation is introduce technology and knowledge (How to use at the cultural reality). Know our organization at: www.gemasdaterra.org.br
D�nio M�gno Volunteer Gemas -----Mensagem original----- De: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] nome de Lisa Smith Enviada em: s�bado, 18 de dezembro de 2004 16:52 Para: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Assunto: RE: [DDN] the cheap computer Walmarts been selling these $200 computers for at least a couple of years. You can find similiar deals at tigerdirect.com although you may have to wait for a rebate and may have to install a harddrive. They also have a Systemax 1.1 ghz as opposed to the 1.5 ghz offered by the Walmart version, runs $100 more but comes with XP home installed and twice the RAM of the Walmart computer. I sure there are other places to shop where there are cheap computers as well since I didn't do an exhustive search at all. However, I agree that cell phones and pda's are of importance especially in developing countires. For example cell phones and pda's are used in Africa and Latin America for field workers and case manager to gain remote access to database's to assist with collection of treatment information about AIDs patients. In many places there isn't infrastructure to support internet access from a computer, but cell phone access is available. There is also concern that if the computers could be acquired theft would be a major issue. There is even a problem with pda's and theft so that cell phones may be the preferred method for some areas. Lisa Smith IT and Office Manager American Humanist Association 1777 T Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009-7125 202-238-9088 Fax 238-9003 [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------- Original Message -------- >> From: "Alfred Bork" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> Sent: Saturday, December 18, 2004 7:14 AM >> To: "'The Digital Divide Network discussion group'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> Subject: RE: [DDN] the cheap computer >> >> Daniel, I do not think these decisions should be made on what device is >> cheaper, or currently more widespread, but rather, for education for all, on >> what devices are best for highly effective learning material. I know how to >> do highly adaptive tutorial material on PCs, but I do not see anyone doing >> it on cell phones. >> >> >> Alfred Bork >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Daniel O. >> Escasa >> Sent: Friday, December 17, 2004 8:46 AM >> To: The Digital Divide Network discussion group >> Subject: RE: [DDN] the cheap computer >> >> Sabi ni Alfred noong Wed, 15 Dec 2004 11:31:44 -0800: >> > I have long argued that the digital divide is not simply a hardware >> > problem >> > to be solved by cheaper computers. Rather, there must be something useful >> > for the possessor of such computers to do with them, in the native >> > language >> > of the user. >> >> I'll go even further, if I may. You can only make computer prices so >> low. I don't think you can *ever* lower a computer's price close to a >> low-end cell phone's. I posit that in most of the developing countries, >> cell phone penetration is orders of magnitude higher than that of PCs. >> In the Philippines, for instance, there are about 20 million cell phone >> subscribers out of a population of 80M -- a penetration rate of 25%. I >> don't see PC penetration as anywhere near 10%. >> >> Second, the PC is only one access device into the Internet. The cell >> phone is another. And I'm not necessarily talking about WAP-over-GPRS -- >> data rates are still too high for most people. What the cell phone has >> done in the Philippines is let more people access the Internet, even if >> they're not aware of that. No, they don't browse the World Wide Web, not >> in great numbers anyway. Instead, they request and receive data through >> Short Messaging Service (SMS). Having been involved in a project to >> provide SMS Value-Added Service (VAS), I can tell you SMS VAS users *do* >> use the Internet, albeit transparently. One concrete example is >> http://www.doctorgeorge.com.ph, in particular the Text-a-Doc service. >> Subscribers of Smart Telecomms send a free-form medical query to a >> special number, and a live doctor at the other end browses a Web page to >> read and reply to those queries. That's almost a live chat. >> >> Another, more prominent example, is http://www.b2bpricenow.com, which is >> something of an exchange far as I can tell. Suppliers register and price >> their goods and services on the Web, then (registered) users can request >> those services and goods and corresponding prices by sending a keyword >> to a special number. I *think* they may also close transactions through >> SMS but I'm not entirely sure. >> >> As an aside, I called b2bpricenow.com "prominent" because it's received >> awards and citations from international agencies, and both houses of >> Philippine Congress. DoctorGeorge.com's Text-A-Doc is largely unknown >> even here >:( >> >> As to hardware pricing, a PC is approximately 4x the cost of a low-end >> cell phone. In regard to SMS VAS pricing, each text message costs >> PhP2.50, or approximately US$0.04 -- well within reach of even poorer >> Filipinos. >> >> No, you can't do word processing or spreadsheet calculations or >> presentations on a cell phone. On the other hand, all three carriers >> even have gateways to Friendster now. At least two have gateways to >> Yahoo! IM. More importantly, you *can* use SMS to get information. >> >> Point being that the PC isn't the only device for bridging the digital >> divide. >> _______________________________________________ >> DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide >> To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with >> the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message. >> >> _______________________________________________ >> DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide >> To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message. _______________________________________________ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message. _______________________________________________ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
