Imagine a village, in Africa perhaps, where 200 literates are ready to use computers.
Their average yearly income is $300 US. Forcing the "personal computer" solution--even when the $100 computer becomes a reality-- requires that each family pay one-third of its annual income for the device. Service and maintenance and the other costs associated with perosnal computer eats further into tthe meager family budget. $20,000 US for computer plus related expenses: an invitation unlikely to happen quickly, a slow and painful way to cross the digital divide. The "social computer" alternative: The village association or cooperative purchases 20 computers at $100, for $2000 US. Each villager who wants to use the computers pays an annual fee: say $25. Such a fee pays for the cost of the computers plus a sum for maintenance and service and other related expenses. Even $25 is difficult for a family living on $300. In the light of the history of squandered donor aid in the Third World, Negroponte's notion of having governments buy and distribute the computers to families seems like an invitation to more of the same. The analogy to the public library (or the public school, or the public road, or the public water supply) is this: if 200 people who cannot afford to buy the book have access to 10or 20 copies of the book, all can read it, even though they may have to wait a bit. This is not a socialist fantasy, but a proven social response to human needs. Perhaps the best metaphor for the social approach to the digital divide is the bridge, the public bridge across any divide. The bridge allows many to cross the divide, although they may have to wait a bit for their turn. The social computer allows many to enjoy the benefits of the new communication technologies, to cross the digital divide before they can afford to cross it on their own. Steve Eskow [EMAIL PROTECTED] -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Taran Rampersad Sent: Thursday, October 13, 2005 8:58 AM To: The Digital Divide Network discussion group Subject: Re: [DDN] A Littl' More On Bridging the Digital Divide in the US Dr. Steve Eskow wrote: >My own hunch is that leaping the stage of "the social computer" and moving >immediately to "the personal computer" is an invitation to failure. > > Well, if you think in terms of computers, I can understand that hunch. But a network of computers is a separate thing; a 'social computer' is also a computer that allows social networking by allowing access to others across a network. So if people have personal PCs to join the network, then I don't see how there can be a failure. >Unless the computers never need servicing, never get infected. > > By these criteria, mankind would not have grown crops. They will always need servicing. There will always be security issues. But people adapt. >Unless the computers are never given to the home without local and free >servicing made available. > > I am vehemently against 'free' servicing. I do believe, however, that costs can be lower. >Unless free and ongoing instruction in their use is made available to >parents as well as students. > > It's available in many guises, and will continue to be. >Unless the computers are solar powered or hand cranked. > > Solar might be better. The less moving parts, the better. >A social setting for shared use of computers-- a school, a library, a >church, a community center--allows for instruction and servicing. Each user >of such a computer as the Simputer can have his or her own card that allows >for personal use of a shared device. > > Let's not forget another social setting: The Internet. Sure, it's not a bunch of people in the same room, but then would you really want to share a room with me, Steve? >The arrival of the low cost paper back book did not make the library >obsolete. > > No. It didn't. >The arrival of television did not make the shared technology known as the >school obsolete. > > It depends on how you consider 'obsolete'. But I'm sure that television was only a factor in what I consider modern education. I also fault top heavy administrative spending on administration, in which I will enjoy Metzger's company. Bigger buildings and more administrative staff does not a better school make. And as such, neither will forcing people to group together to form an basic 'social computer'. A web server is a social computer, you said so yourself a while back. People will meet. People will get together. It's the nature of people. Perhaps we should let people choose how to interact with each other. At least, we could offer our species some dignity. -- Taran Rampersad Presently in: San Fernando, Trinidad [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.knowprose.com http://www.easylum.net http://www.digitaldivide.net/profile/Taran Coming on January 1st, 2006: http://www.OpenDepth.com "Criticize by creating." — Michelangelo _______________________________________________ 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.
