Errol Hewitt wrote: "As soon as the individual or family in the community
sees the benefit of
the technology to his/her own circumstance, is when the real economic
decision will be taken to learn the skill and "own it" -- then is when the
sacrifice will be made to 'own' it."
Sorry, that is not what I see in reality. Most people learn the skills long
before they can own a gadget. How many autorickshaw and taxi drivers in the
city of Madras own the vehicle? A very small proportion. But they all know
how to drive and they all have valid driving licenses. How many people
working in BPO offices in Madras own computers at home? Hardly anyone. But
all of them use computers with great felicity. Hundreds of villagers - men,
women, adults, children - in Pondicherry have learnt to use computers
through the 'public commons' facility made available through the MSSRF
Knowledge Centres, but hardly anyone owns a computer.
Look at the New York Public Library or the Library of Congress. If I am a
member I can use all of their collections. Can I ever magine to own even a
minute part of those magnificent collections? That is the power of the
'public commons' approach; that is the value of sharing.
Arun
[Subbiah Arunachalam]
----- Original Message -----
From: "ehewitt" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "The Digital Divide Network discussion group"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2005 9:07 PM
Subject: Re: [DDN]The Personal vs the Social Computer Was: Updateonthe
Simputer
Hi Arun,
I think you have placed your 'finger' on the essential in this discussion
when in the context of your entire note you said, "Eventually, when an
individual (or a family) earns enough to be able to afford something
he/she may decide to 'own' it"
As soon as the individual or family in the community see's the benefit of
the technology to his/her own circumstance, is when the real economic
decision will be taken to learn the skill and "own it" -- then is when the
sacrifice will be made to 'own' it.
The more heavily discounted the price-- the better [but this is in the
context where sacrifices are made even for non economic reasons e.g
'fashion' shoes etc]
The truly important core factor is maximizing the use of the limited
number of computers by meaningfully applying them to the individual in the
community "where he/she is... what they are doing and as they are..."
Taran's point is I think very valid in that the more the computer is
configured around the needs of the individuals, the quicker and more
applicable it is seen to be etc.-- the more applicable [beneficial] it is
seen to be the greater the passion and the sacrifice for the community and
the individuals to want to acquire.
To be noted as well is the fact, alluded to earlier by Taran, that while
purchase is essentially a "one off " matter, maintaining it in use is a
bigger problem as in most developing countries annual Internet use is much
higher in cost than per capital GDP.
Errol
[Errol Hewitt <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>]
At 19:24 30/05/2005 +0530, you wrote:
I agree with you Steve. At each one of the M S Swaminathan Research
Foundation Knowledge Centres in Pondicherry in southern India we have a
few computers - not more than five in any centre, and one of them is out
of bounds for all but the centre volunteers. But these are common assets
for the entire village. What is at work is the idea of public commons. We
cannot afford to provide computers and telephones and Internet accounts to
everyone in the village. That is the reality. How can we overcome the
problem? What we lack is the financial resources to buy gadgets. What we
have is a large heart, a willingness to share what little we have, a
commitment to care for others. After all development is about sharing and
caring. The computers and every other service provided at the centre (such
as information on a whole range of local needs) is open to all. It works
well. Eventually, when an individual (or a family) earns enough to be able
to afford something he/she may decide to 'own' it.
Arun
[Subbiah Arunachalam]
----- Original Message ----- From: "Dr. Steve Eskow" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "The Digital Divide Network discussion group"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Sunday, May 29, 2005 6:46 AM
Subject: RE: [DDN]The Personal vs the Social Computer Was: Update onthe
Simputer
Taran, I wish you'd reconsider your "basic economics": for example, your
belief that $480 that stays in India to buy a computer is "better" than
buying one elsewhere for $300. That may not sit well with those in India
or
Africa who have to buy a computer. Ghana, where I work, is richer than
some
of its sub-Saharan neighbors: $400 US is what the average Ghanaian earns
a
year, a year's earning not quite enough to buy your Simputer.
And I wish you'd reconsider conclusions like this one:
<<If you've ever had to share one computer with 20 people, and it was
your
only access point, I doubt you would be able to email as often. You
wouldn't have leisure time to read articles that *you* might find
interesting.>>
I've had to share buses and trains with many people, and you're right:
it's
not nearly as convenient as owning my own automobile. And I've had to get
my
learning at public schools, not nearly as convenient as private tutoring.
And I've had to borrow books from a public library, not nearly convenient
as
buying my own and owning them.
And I've used computers at libraries and internet cafes, and you're
right:
sharing a computer is not nearly as convenient as owning one.
And I ask you to consider that your convenience argument is misleading,
and
downright harmful.
If we insist on private automobiles, millions will be continue to be
without
rapid transport, and we will continue to foul the environment.
And if we insist on personal ownership of books, millions will not read,
even if we cut down enough trees for all those books.
And if we insist on the personal computer, billions will not cross the
digital divide.
If the advantages of the Simputer at $480 are so much greater than that
of
the desktop at less, let's urge small churches or cafes or schools in the
poorer nations to buy one or two or three and share them, until such time
as
the folks in the community can afford to buy their own.
<<In the focus on the reduction of cost, I sincerely believe by these
communications that the increase in quality of life as the *value* has
been lost.>>
You may have it backwards, Taran. Those who insist on personal
automobiles
and personal libraries and personal computers may be the ones who are
slowing down the erasure of the many divides between the haves and the
have-nots.
Steve Eskow
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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