Steve, I whole-heartedly agree. This is the subject of my PhD research
here in Dublin where in cooperation with local civc leaders and
residents I am developing user interfaces (plus back-end as Taran
rightly points out a hughly significant) for use in a community-based
'telecentre' that emphasise the computer's location, in a community
centre, in a community, and draw the emphasis away from the "container",
as you well say. I think what is important to bear in mind that the
'digital' divide is not anything new, rather it is a reflection of older
social divides. Emphasising community, the social, building local
capital and so forth are what are crucial, that this happens on-screen
or off-screen in incidental, the old strengths of community, belonging
and personal worth are what matter. The 'personal computer' is a poor
model for bringing this about, at least, or especially, in civic sector
spaces such as a community centre or a school.
Oliver Moran
----
Digital Media Centre
Dublin Institute of Technology
Steve Eskow wrote:
A hypotheis:
The digital divide will not be solved by "personal computers," and the
emphasis on private ownership of the new communication technologies, but by
the "social comnputesr," computers shared by many people in a public
setting.
The intention of the terminology is to switch some attention away from the
box, container of the new technology--the "center," as in :"telecenter"--and
to raise connsciousness of the need for sharing the technology and its
maintenance.
If there is merit to this proposition,--if we need to talk of "publci
computing" much in the same way that we advocate for "public
transportation," then our Digital Divide Network might take leadership in
creating the new discou\rse that emphasizes the sharing and collaborative
use of the new technologies.
The "public computer" can be in a school, an office, a library, a business,
a church, or a van. Where it is housed will of course depend on the
variables of community and culture: in some cases one computer in a church
basement will be the "center," in another there will many machines and
staff.
Perhaps we need a $500 dollar public computer more than we need a $100
private computer.
Steve Eskow
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