Re: [GKD] ICT Policy Shift Necessary To Bridge Digital Divide
After all, a bridge needs two ends to be supported firmly. While technologists and thinkers may offer ideas, thoughts and even resources, that is just one end of the bridge. It is just one node. At the other end the local beneficiary also needs to handshake with all that is offered, however well meant it may be from the other end. Some of this is direct, by way of education, peoples initiative groups, etc while the government - central and local - play a critical role, in terms of law policy as well as opinion leaders. Therefore a two-pronged effort is a must. Perhaps we could involve more potential beneficiaries in discussions like this. Udit Chaudhuri Ivo Njosa [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I have not been a member of this group for long but I have a deep appreciation as an African for those who are really trying to bridge the digital divide. I would not want to discourage. All the help is needed. However, my re-occurring theme here will be to keep putting the problem where it belongs. African governments must change for a lot of these initiatives to really take off. There are lots of good western- influenced ideas that if implemented and committed to could make a huge impact on African societies. Technology is one of those tools that can really help a nation leap-frog into the modern economy but again, the commitment must be there. African governments are amongst the most irresponsible I have ever seen. They do not even try. It is the mind-set. It is ingrained in the society and accepted by the denizens. Advocating change for the benefit of the greater society is strange to us. Until this changes, I do not see many viable programs\projects. True democracy will go a long way towards alleviating this problem but it will not be an end by itself. African governments at all levels must profoundly feel that they will be held accountable if things do not work. The one that usually gets their attention is the idea of losing power. If this gets solved, a lot of the other problems would at least have a fighting chance. When non-Africans talk about this issue, we get offended. But other societies are leaving us behind. A drunk must accept that he is a drunk before any lasting solution can be introduced. ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, a Non-Profit Organization*** To post a message, send it to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: http://www.edc.org/GLG/gkd/
Re: [GKD] Attempts to Bridge Digital Divide Could Be Costly to Africa
Dear Colleagues, I think Sally got it right when she said Attempts to bridge the 'digital divide' could lead Africa down a costly path and I think John was right when he sugested that we should focus on the last sentence, and NOT the first!. The last sentence said Good planning and utilisation - such as making computers available for community use outside school hours - and free 'open source' software however, can lower costs dramatically. Everything that is done in development in Africa has to be done on a triage basis. Tough choices have to be made. There is just not enough public resource to go round. And the development community has not yet got round to addressing the crisis in the banking and finance sector, both public finance and private financial services. Development cannot get driven either by public initiatives nor by private enterprise, because resources are just not available for what would do the most good. Professionally, I am working to use ICT in support of development, and I have had a long time interest in the economic dynamics of computerization. From the early days when IBM dominated the mainframe business to today when Microsoft dominates in the simple application software area, the dominant force in decision making was driven by the ideas of first IBM and now Microsoft .. and these ideas have had nothing to do with what is best for society, or the economy as a whole, or anything BUT what is good for IBM, and now Microsoft. The Open Source movement can be to Microsoft what Microsoft was to IBM. And that is good. The stage is set for big changes. In fact, I do all my work now with Open Source software and it works just as well (for me) as my Microsoft software used to do, and I don't have to worry all the time about the terribly frequent upgrade processes, and then the computer hardware upgrades needed to keep up with Microsoft software bloat. But is any form of computerization through public fund resource allocation appropriate in situations where society is hungry and sick and dying? What is the triage dynamic that should be being used. With hunger and famine all over Africa, and health and HIV-AIDS a galloping pandemic, and war and security and displaced people WHAT COMES FIRST? The crime against humanity is that global resources are being allocated to use that ignores the issues just recited ... it should not matter that computerization and learning about computers is maybe 5th on the list of priorities . but the reality is that there is not even resources for the 1st item on the list to get fixed properly. From my perspective, and the perspective of the poor and hungry, let's use computing to start understanding just how badly the world's economic resources have been and are being used and let's start using computing to get some analytical and management control over the prevailing aberration of global resource allocation With modern technology we can deliver a smart bomb into any room anywhere in the world from thousands of miles away, yet we cannot get development resources anywhere near where they will do the most good. There is something terribly wrong. Sincerely Peter B PS .. Please remember that within the crisis in Africa there are elements of development excellence. The sad fact is that it is difficult to see the good because there is also so much that is bad .. and in a lot that is bad the NORTH is terribly implicated Peter Burgess ATCnet in New York Tel: 212 772 6918 Fax: 707 371 7805 [EMAIL PROTECTED] for secure messages John Lawrence [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I am not in any way speaking for UNDP, but personally and professionally Please note the reciprocal contrast between first and last sentences in the introductory paragraph of this memo, then ask why the title of this email exclusively focused on the first! This goes beyond a classical example of the half-full, or half-empty glass. As part of a team who demonstrated empirically and conclusively the surprising spread of e-comms in subSaharan Africa, and the implications for social policy in key areas of development (Perspectives in Education Vol 20 #2 pp 55-76), I suggest (and I think/hope there is wide agreement) that young African children, all over the continent, have inherently the right to the same opportunities for access to these crucial technologies as their counterparts worldwide in rich countries as well as poor. Public policy should recognize unequivocally the astounding emergence of e-comms as a new reality in business,commerce, and public service, thus comprising an essential educational requirement in the development of human resources. Unless parents and communities explicitly opt out, schools which ignore this reality are actively depriving their students of critical skills acquisition in a fast moving modern age. So it is incumbent on development agencies and the private sector to work with OSS pioneers
Re: [GKD] Attempts to Bridge Digital Divide Could Be Costly to Africa
Cell Phones, not computers- web enabled cell phones are readily available at much lower cost than computers. Voice has great power whether for cyber natives or cyber immigrants (as most on this list are) and the screen agers, globally, are very cell phone savvy- much can be done at much lower cost with cells. Looking at what Nokia, Motorola and the other cell producers are going to deliver in 2003, the potential for quick adoption at reasonable prices and readily acceptable to all, leads one to look at these rather than trying to embrace an awkward and expensive technology- the computer, as we have grown to know and love it. gt w/ pgm ;) The Grameen Bank in Bangladesh nailed it with their roll out of village cell phones- Now the cost is not for technology but rather for access -- bandwidth and time -- something that cells can bring down in a hurry, today. That being said, perhaps one might really consider basic needs before bringing cake into the village. thoughts? tom abeles Janice Brodman wrote: John Lawrence wrote: I suggest (and I think/hope there is wide agreement) that young African children, all over the continent, have inherently the right to the same opportunities for access to these crucial technologies as their counterparts worldwide in rich countries as well as poor. John makes a central point. I find it incredibly frustrating that those who have access to information and communication technology decide that it's too expensive for the poor in developing countries. What they seem to miss are the opportunity costs. At this point in the global economy, ICT is an essential part of education. To paraphrase the famous quote: If you think ICT is too expensive, try the alternative. Of course we all agree that good planning is needed, funds of all kinds should be spent efficiently, computers should be utilized effectively. That is exactly where we should be focusing our energy -- not trying to reinforce existing obstacles to opportunities by deciding that we who are in wealthier countries should have ICT, while others should not. There have been a plethora of cases and stories on GKD describing the opportunities that poor communities have seized with access to IT. ..snip... ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, a Non-Profit Organization*** To post a message, send it to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: http://www.edc.org/GLG/gkd/
