Thanks very much Dr Eskow. Honestly, I did not follow what Mr Errol Hewit wrote in reply to my comments. I will read it again when I have more time at hand. Best wishes.
Arun > Arun's case for the public computer thesis, below, is powerful and > compelling. > > That we can do much to bridge the digital divide without public computing > is > a fiction that needs to be exposed and contested. > > Steve Eskow > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Subbiah > Arunachalam > Sent: Wednesday, June 01, 2005 3:27 AM > To: The Digital Divide Network discussion group; [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: [DDN]The Personal vs the Social Computer Was: Updateonthe > Simputer > > > 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] >>> >>>_______________________________________________ >>>DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list >>>DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org >>>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 >> DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org >> 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 > DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org > 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 > DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org > 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 DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org 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.
