Re: [Winona] Digital Divide

[John Stafford]

We need a minor adjustment of our technology picture here. The Digital Divide is already closing due to ordinary market forces. Winonans who can afford a TV and cable or phone  today will be able to afford essential network access in the year 2002 at the very latest.   Do not assume todays 'computers' when considering the digital needs of the average citizen. The computer most people use today is NOT the Internet device of the future, and perhaps not even the near future. Internet *appliances are already available which are significantly less expensive than computers, and they will be less expensive again as economy of scale takes place and competition rises. Then later, as the marketplace finds the lowest common price, then the appliances will deliver more for the same money. This is a certain trend which has existed in the electronics industry for fifty years, and it is further accelerated today by the potential of advertising in the network medium. Again, Winonans who can afford a TV and cable or phone  today will be able to afford essential network access in the year 2002 -  which leads us to consider the truly Hard Questions of community communication. John Stafford   *e-mail appliances are available today for as little as $100 and network (web) appliances for as much as $600, which is of course, outrageous but those prices will come down, assuming competition. You can, however, get  the $600 appliance for only $100 if you sign your soul away to Microsoft's online service for three years. So, even in this very early development of the Netpliance, it is clear that the market considers a fair value to be about the sane as a small, cheap color TV.)   ================================= From: schenkat >We have been informed by Gene Pelowski regarding the issue of disposal of >old  computer equipment that the trend now is more to lease than buy >computers and there is a very strong market for used computers in the >Pacific Rim.  I'd like to refocus the conversation on the Digital Divide >issue around us better understanding the needs and interests of folks who >currently don't have internet and web access. Once we understand those >needs, perhaps we'd be in a better position to think of ways of resolving >the digital divide in Winona. What do others think?