Re: [GKD] The $100 Computer
I am afraid this discussion tends to be focalized around the dominant consumerist perspective of development. What will we do with waste resulting from 2 billion obsolete 10$ Xputers that might pile up in 2025? Don Slater's points are however well taken. Actually there was a report a few days ago that MS was going to sell its OS and Office suite in China at much reduced prices. One can only wonder, if the company is so much concerned with supporting development in poor communities, or else by piracy, why such practices are not generalized. As to a cheap Office there is already one, free, Openoffice, which runs on MS Windows as well. Addressing the OS issue in absolute terms is often excessive. Yet there are many instances such as education or large systems where Open Source solutions present a clear advantage in terms of TCO. Not to mention the dependency effect associated with initial learning. Options might need to be considered not on the basis of countries but on the basis of users' institutions or situations. Among the options is also the support of local Open Source developers and backstoppers capacities. Michel Menou On Tuesday, March 8, 2005, Don Slater wrote: This point might seem silly, but surely a very 'sensible' alternative OS would be a very *cheap* Windows XP, with very cheap Office or Works versions? If Windows XP were sold at the price it usually commands in pirate markets, it would be perfectly OK. So doesn't it make just as much sense to pressure M$ for the equivalent of educational licences, or simply donated software? The demand would be for a more appropriate pricing structure, and would be similar to demanding that drug companies allow or produce very cheap generic versions of drugs that are essential to lives in poor countries. I tend to get worried (particularly as an ethnographer) when I see the word 'only' used in these discussions - there may seem to be only one solution *technologically*, but there are always multiple political and economic strategies, and Linux is 'only' one of these. ..snip... === Dr. Michel J. Menou Consultant in Information and Knowledge Management B.P. 15 49350 Les Rosiers sur Loire, France Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone: +33 (0)2 41518165 Fax: +33 (0)2 41511043 http://ciber.soi.city.ac.uk/peoplemenou.php ***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/
[GKD] CFP: Sustainability and Community Technology: What Does this Mean for Community Informatics?
Dear Colleagues, The Community Informatics Research Network Inc. (CIRN) calls for papers to its 2004 Inaugural Conference and Colloquium with the overall theme, 'Sustainability and Community Technology: What Does this Mean for Community Informatics?, at the Monash Centre, Prato, Italy, 29 September - 1 October, 2004. www.ciresearch.net/prato2004. The event is meant to provide an opportunity for researchers, practitioners, and policy makers to present findings and reflect in a convivial atmosphere on key issues of concern for the future of enabling communities with Information and Communication Technology (ICT). It will also be the founding organisational conference of CIRN. Further details of the conference will be forthcoming shortly. Please bookmark the website for updates. CIRN members will receive a conference discount (see www.ciresearch.net for membership information), and the number of places available is limited. Please forward this notice to colleagues. Call for Papers Papers (full length for blind peer review and discussion or position papers) from researchers and practitioners are invited. Possible topics include: .Defining 'sustainability' in a community technology context: is it an adequate concept? What are its meanings and how are they relevant? .Are there alternate concepts which are more practicable and how are they linked to the life of communities and community networking? .Sustainability and the Digital Divide: Friend or Foe? .The political economy of community technology sustainability: dependency on government, and funders' understanding of 'sustainability' .Community Technology Sustainability in different spheres: developed, developing countries: are there universal principles? .The sustainability criteria of national and international financial institutions and donors: Explanations and Critiques .Indigenous and first nations people and the sustainability of community networks .Gendered technology and the sustainability of community networks. .Is there a connection between sustainability and 'social capital'? .Time, virtual space, geography and network sustainability .Power relationships in networking and their impact on sustainability .The policy dimensions (dementia) of sustainability .Evaluating 'sustainability' .Case studies of 'sustainability' in different community informatics settings .Case studies of the policy frameworks and applications of 'sustainability' ## A special issue of Community Informatics: A Global E-Journal will be prepared as part of this event and contributors to the event will be encouraged to submit their papers for either the peer-reviewed or the commentary section of the journal. *Doctoral Colloquium* The CIRN Doctoral Colloquium offers PhD students a special forum on 29 September 2004 where they will have a chance to present their research plans and discuss them with peers and established senior researchers. Interested students should prepare a 2 page summary of their research. This should provide a context for the research, describe the methods being used, the progress to date and expectations and hopes from the colloquium. Please submit your 2 page application by 1 April 2004 to: Marcus Foth at [EMAIL PROTECTED] Applicants will be notified of acceptance by 1 June 2004. Successful applicants will be asked to prepare an 8 page paper on their research by 1 August 2004. For further details please contact the organiser of the CIRN Doctoral Colloquium, Marcus Foth, at [EMAIL PROTECTED] Key Dates *Abstracts of papers (in English only) should be sent as soon as possible. Please submit abstracts to Professor Michael Gurstein ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) or Larry Stillman ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) by 1 April 2004. *Full Papers (up to 5,000 words, including references) are due 1 August 2004 for blind refereeing via peer review and inclusion in the publication. This deadline is final if you wish to be included in the publication. Papers can be in English, French, Italian, German or Spanish. There will be a prize given for the best refereed paper and a second, for the best paper submitted by a student (please indicate on your submission whether you are a student). Position papers (up to 2,500 words) are also welcome and are due by 1 August 2004 if the abstract is accepted. Research students are particularly encouraged to attend to present work-in-progress. *Interim Conference Committee Michael Gurstein, New Jersey Institute of Technology, USA Peter Day, University of Brighton, UK Don Schauder, Monash University, Australia Michel Menou, CoVITALC (Virtual Latin American and Caribbean Consortium for Telecentres Research), Ecuador Larry Stillman, Monash University, Australia Scott Robinson, Universidad Metropolitana, Mexico Graeme Johanson, Monash University, Australia Wal Taylor, Central Queensland University, Australia Beris Gwynn, Foundation for Community
[GKD] CFP: Cultural Attitudes towards Technology and Communication
Dear GKD Members, See in particular the 2 special topics that have been added to the earlier call. Michel *** CALL FOR PAPERS Fourth International Conference on CULTURAL ATTITUDES TOWARDS TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATION (CATaC'04) 27 June-1 July 2004 Karlstad University, Sweden www.it.murdoch.edu.au/catac/ Conference theme: Off the shelf or from the ground up? ICTs and cultural marginalization, homogenization or hybridization The biennial CATaC conference series provides a continuously expanding international forum for the presentation and discussion of current research on how diverse cultural attitudes shape the implementation and use of information and communication technologies (ICTs). The conference series brings together scholars from around the globe who provide diverse perspectives, both in terms of the specific culture(s) they highlight in their presentations and discussions, and in terms of the discipline(s) through which they approach the conference theme. The first conference in the series was held in London in 1998, the second in Perth in 2000, and the third in Montreal in 2002. Beginning with our first conference in 1998, the CATaC conferences have highlighted theoretical and praxis-oriented scholarship and research from all parts of the globe, including Asia, Africa, and the Middle-East. The conferences focus especially on people and communities at the developing edges of ICT diffusion, including indigenous peoples and those outside the English-speaking world. Understanding the role of culture in how far minority and/or indigenous cultural groups may succeed - or fail - in taking up ICTs designed for a majority culture is obviously crucial to the moral and political imperative of designing ICTs in ways that will not simply reinforce such groups' marginalization. What is the role of culture in the development of ICTs from the ground up - beginning with the local culture and conditions - rather than assuming dominant off the shelf technologies are appropriate? Are the empowering potentials of ICTs successfully exploited among minority and indigenous groups, and/or do they rather engender cultural marginalization, cultural homogenization or cultural hybridization? Original full papers (especially those which connect theoretical frameworks with specific examples of cultural values, practices, etc.) and short papers (e.g. describing current research projects and preliminary results) are invited. Topics of particular interest include but are not limited to: - Culture: theory and praxis - Culture and economy - Alternative models for ICT diffusion - Role of governments and activists in culture, technology and communication - ICTs and cultural hybridity - ICTs and intercultural communication - Culture, communication and e-learning Our conference themes provide a range of approaches to the questions raised. KEYNOTE SPEAKER Nina Wakeford, Foundation Fund Lecturer in Sociology and Social Methodology. For her DPhil at Nuffield College, Oxford, Dr Wakeford studied the experiences of mature students using a sociological conception of risk. Before coming to the University of Surrey in September of 1998, she spent three years studying Women's Experiences of Virtual Communities, funded by an ESRC Post-Doctoral grant. The last two years of this Fellowship she conducted fieldwork in and around Silicon Valley while based at the University of California, Berkeley. CATaCĂ04 will also feature two particular foci, each chaired by a distinguished colleague who will oversee paper review and development of the final panels. PANEL 1: The Multilingual Internet Panel Chairs: Susan Herring and Brenda Danet Expanding on their collective work, including a special issue of the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication (Vol. 9 (1), November, 2003 - see http://www.ascusc.org/jcmc/, this thread invites papers with a specific focus on how the Internet impacts language choice and linguistic practices in traditionally non-English speaking cultural contexts. Of particular interest are situations that respond in various ways to the tension between global English dominance and local linguistic diversity, e.g., through use of English as an online lingua franca, the localization of global or regional linguistic influences, translation or code-switching between different languages, and strategic uses of the Internet to maintain and invigorate minority languages. Susan Herring is Professor of Information Science and Linguistics, Indiana University Bloomington Brenda Danet is Professor Emerita of Sociology and Communication at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem PANEL 2: Utopian Dreams vs. Real-World Conditions: Under what conditions can ICTs really help worse off communities? Panel Chair: Michel Menou. CATaC'04 will likely feature some examples of best practices in using ICTs to aid culturally-appropriate development, especially as pursued through governmental or NGOs' projects,
[GKD] ANN: Global Information Village Plaza
Frustrated by the Dot Force, Dot Opportunity, Dot Future, Dot For-All, Dot You-Name-It? Join the Global Information Village Plaza Celebrating ASIST SIG/III 20th Anniversary @@@ Apologies for duplication. Please forward to all relevant lists and colleagues.@@@ A major feature in the so-called information society or else digital economy is its global nature. This aspect is analyzed, described and commented upon by many specialists. The same specialists and other happy few are involved in the preparation of policies and programs supposed to support the transition into this new era. Yet the lay professional public has little opportunity to express and confront its views in a truly open and participative fashion, unbiased by corporate, political or career stakes. While general economic and social challenges or current practices are often debated, what do this new society mean and imply for people is more often than not overlooked. This event will provide a unique opportunity for all ASIST members and information professionals at large to express and share their personal views. In keeping with the spirit of the Plaza -e.g., the 'public place' or shared community space reminiscent of the public sphere- the social interaction between the various participants and contributors is an important part of the process of reflecting about these issues. HOW TO PARTICIPATE? Step #1: Send to the SIG/III discussion list [EMAIL PROTECTED] a short (300 words maximum) position statement on the following questions: 1. What in your opinion will be radically changed in your professional life as a result of the globalization of the information society? - Why? - What should you do in order to cope with the change? - What should the information science technology community do to help you cope with the change? - What should the information science technology community do to help itself cope with the change? 2. What in your opinion will be radically changed in your personal life as a result of the globalization of the information society? - Why? - What should you do in order to cope with the change? - What should the information science technology community do to help you cope with the change? Messages should clearly indicate Plaza in the subject line. Anyone can post messages to the sigiii-l list but if you wish to see what others have posted and participate in further discussion, we recommend that you subscribe to the list (see http://mail.asis.org/mailman/listinfo/sigiii-l for details on how to subscribe). Note that the list will be moderated to avoid spamming and unrelated announcements. Step #2: Send your comments about the statements posted on the list Step #3: Attend the Global Information Plaza session on Tuesday November 19 from 12-1pm, at the ASIST Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, PA (http://www.asis.org/Conferences/AM02/index.html) and participate in the debates. WHAT WILL HAPPEN AT THE ASIST ANNUAL MEETING? A few weeks before the session, the moderators will summarize the major themes that arose from the statements and discussions into poster form. A poster with an overview of the main topics identified will be placed in the Registration area. Attendees are encouraged to contribute their ideas by putting stickers with their comments and suggestions throughout the conference. At the special session on Global Information Plaza: a) Posters on the various topics identified will be placed on the walls around the room. Participants will be able to move around the room and contribute to the topics by placing stickers with their ideas, or discussing these with other participants b) Volunteers will be asked to moderate each poster discussion. c) Halfway through the session, individual discussions will stop. The volunteers and moderators will then gather the various ideas (and stickers) and produce a short position statement summarizing the main concepts and proposals. d) The volunteers and moderators will briefly introduce the position statements and highlight the contentious issues. This will be followed by a general discussion (recorded). A summary of the session will be subsequently posted on the Sigiii-l discussion list along with edited position statement(s). It is our hope to then revise and expand these for publication in a professional journal, along with reflections on the process and outcomes of the experience. Don't miss the opportunity to say your word (politically correct language NOT required). It might not change the course of history but it may make you feel better. The moderators: Michel J. Menou, Department of Information Science, City University London ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) and Nadia Caidi, Faculty of Information Studies, University of Toronto ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) for the Special Interest Group on International Information Issues SIG/III of the American Society for Information Science Technology ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, an NGO that is a GKP member*** To post
Re: [GKD] Acknowledging the Digital Divide
A quick reaction to Monday, December 17, 2001, 6:05:20 PM, Alan Levy wrote: My true goal is to achieve universal access to IP communications. It is possible, if sufficient political will is created. This requires voices, nothing more. Fine but this is not the only fundamental issue in development. The digital divide solely exists due to a surprising few reasons. While Mr. Levy's presentation of the vicious logic of telecom markets is quite appropriate, the digital divide is of limited concern if not considered as part of the overall social divide. It does not matter much to be able to call emergency assistance if one cannot pay for the treatment in the hospital and have to. snip [More ominously, one might conclude government does understand this, and is willing to sacrifice generations to gain tighter control over communications, and a subsequent power to participate in determining who in the future will own the small number of large content producers. This creates franchises (ie. Disney) and also generates taxes from worldwide sources.] This, and all the demonstration that preceded is certainly part of the picture. But government should be considered here a shorthand for techno-structure so much governments and big business have incestuous relations at this time. However, it is unlikely that change could occur in any area, much less the telecom one, as long as the overall premises and foundations of social order will remain unchanged. snip Sadly, no one believes a minimum degree of access to communications, to basic information-exchange, should be considered a basic human right. Sadly, no one recognizes the cost for failing to share equitably such right. Sadly, no one has made proper use of their $5.00 calculator. Well, Mr. Levy may feel lonely but there are plenty of people and organizations who did and act about these issues. Not least the telecentres which he said in another message, if I got it correctly, are not appropriate. They may not be from his perspective of universal individual access to telecoms. But true telecentres do not seek to provide acces to telecoms, they seek to support social transformation efforts by the communities themselves, using telecom facilities whenever they can be of help. Michel Menou ***GKD is an initiative of the Global Knowledge Partnership*** 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.globalknowledge.org