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ICT for Development@ (129)

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A Rural-Urban Digital Divide? Regional Aspects Of Internet Use In Tanzania

A paper from the International Conference on Social Implications of Computers in Developing Countries, this document looks at the digital divide within Tanzania. (by Bjorn Furuholt and Stein Kristiansen)

http://www.comminit.com/en/node/223840

(Added: Tue Oct 30 2007   Hits: 21)

Bridging the digital divide in the islands of Ocean by Jayshree Mamtoraia

With the advent of the Information Age, it has become feasible to consider providing electronic access to library tools (bibliographies, indexes and directories) published in the South Pacific. That something is feasible however, does not necessarily make it desirable. To explore this further, a research project was initiated to survey four countries in the South Pacific: Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu. Knowledge gained from this survey will help determine the most suitable format for, and the best approach to publishing library publications in the South Pacific.

http://www.ifla.org/IV/ifla67/papers/169-163e.pdf

(Added: Mon Dec 17 2001   Modified: Wed Jun 22 2005   Hits: 255)

Computer Aid International

Computer Aid International aims to bridge the digital divide by refurbishing computers from the UK for re-use in schools and community organisations in developing countries. It aims: *To refurbish computers to be re-used overseas *To increase the number of UK organisations donating their used IT equipment for re-use overseas. *To identify and work with those organisations in recipient countries able to derive maximum value from refurbished computers. *To provide training and work experience in computer repair to people from socially excluded communities in our workshops in the UK.

http://www.computer-aid.org

(Added: Thu Nov 13 2003   Modified: Wed Jun 22 2005   Hits: 215)

Digital Division is Cultural Exclusion. But Is Digital Inclusion Cultural Inclusion?

D-Lib Magazine March 2002. By Karen Worcman. Undeniably, the availability and proliferation of digital technology signifies a huge global transformation. The use of this technology in the field of History opens a broad range of possibilities that, I believe, can and will be greatly explored in the future.

http://www.dlib.org/dlib/march02/worcman/03worcman.html

(Added: Sun Mar 24 2002   Modified: Wed Jun 22 2005   Hits: 243)

Digital Opportunity Channel

Digital Opportunity Channel is a joint endeavour of OneWorld and the Digital Divide Network. By joining hands, the two organisations seek to bring in a global perspective to the discussion over ICTs and the digital divide. ICTs by themselves cannot be drivers of social transformation; they cannot substitute for good governance, economic reform or social policies. But they can create new employment opportunities, increase efficiency and productivity, and supplement development efforts. ICTs also widen civic participation, and support welfare services. Healthcare, education services, disaster assistance and environmental protection, for instance, can be delivered and used more efficiently through ICTs. Above all, ICTs can be valuable tools for people in overcoming development obstacles.

http://www.digitalopportunity.org

(Added: Mon Jul 14 2003   Modified: Wed Dec 07 2005   Hits: 231)

Equal Access

Equal Access is an international not-for-profit organization based in San Francisco, California. Equal Access is dedicated to delivering readily usable information and education to under-served regions, primarily in Asia. Communities in these regions are in vital need of information and education for their development on a broad range of issues, including HIV/AIDS Prevention, Micro Enterprise, Public Health, Gender Equality, Literacy, Early Childhood Development, Conflict Resolution, Sustainable Agriculture, Landmine Education, and Environmental Education.

http://www.equalaccess.org

(Added: Thu Nov 13 2003   Modified: Wed Dec 07 2005   Hits: 213)

Info kiosks in every village by 2007 - a reality or myth?

The need for accelerating the pace of ICT enabled interventions towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the Indian context makes it imperative to look closely on their potential to cover over six lakhs villages in the country within a shorter span of time. One would require picking up the leaves out of these interventions that show us the potential for accelerated up scaling of these interventions. Moreover, an understanding of the key supporting requirements both at the macro policy level and mapping of demand and supply of services at the micro level (or community/individual level) would be critical to provide the necessary momentum for ICT4D initiatives in India. Towards this end, OneWorld South Asia is seeking to initiate an online discussion over the next six weeks. The major themes identified are : Scalability, Sustainability and Collaboration. The sectoral focus within each of these themes would be on Education, Health and Livelihoods.

http://www.dgroups.org/groups/infokiosks/

(Added: Fri May 21 2004   Modified: Wed Jun 22 2005   Hits: 187)

Information Economy Report 2005 [PDF 587.61 KB]

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, 2005. This report 2005 is being published to coincide with the second phase of the World Summit on the Information Society, at which the international community is expected to agree on further steps to realize the full potential of ICTs. The Report highlights the extent to which developing countries are striving to close the gap that separates the "information haves and have-nots". It also describes the enormous challenges the world still faces in key areas such as increasing access to the Internet and strengthening the security of the online environment. Most important, it shows that when there is awareness, political will and stakeholder involvement in national "e-strategies", progress in the use of ICTs for development is already an exciting reality.

http://www.unctad.org/en/docs/sdteedc20051_en.pdf

(Added: Mon Nov 14 2005   Hits: 128)

ITU Digital Access Index: World's First Global ICT Ranking

Education and affordability are key to boosting new technology adoption, according to the first global index to rank Information and Communication Technology (ICT). The Digital Access Index (DAI) distinguishes itself from other indices by including a number of new variables, such as education and affordability. It also covers a total of 178 economies, which makes it the first truly global ICT ranking. Countries are classified into one of four digital access categories: high, upper, medium and low. The DAI forms part of the ITU's upcoming 2003 edition of the World Telecommunication Development Report (WTDR). Published to coincide with the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), it will be a vital reference for governments, international development agencies, non-governmental organizations and the private sector to assess national conditions in information and communications technology.

http://www.itu.int/newsroom/press_releases/2003/30.html

(Added: Mon Nov 24 2003   Modified: Thu Jun 01 2006   Hits: 233)

Microsoft Loses to Linux in Thailand Struggle

Thailands has subsidized 'people's PC project,' which has proved highly popular. The include Linux software that is in Thai. In response, Microsoft has dropped the price of its Windows and Office packages from nearly US$600 to $37. Other Asian countries are lining up to duplicate the Thai program. As a result of the events in Thailand, analysts have begun to predict the end of Microsoft's long-standing 'one-price-fits-all-markets policy...'. Significantly, first-time PC users in Thailand are finding the Linux Thai Language Edition easier to master than Windows...

http://www.linuxinsider.com/perl/story/32110.html

(Added: Thu Nov 13 2003   Modified: Wed Jun 22 2005   Hits: 193)

On the one laptop per child movement

The one laptop per child project aims to make laptops widely available to children in developing countries. Is it utopianist folly, some form of western naive semi-colonial oppression, or in fact a radical political act? (Tom Coates, Plasticbag.org, 20/2/08)

http://www.plasticbag.org/archives/2008/02/on_the_olpc_movement/

(Added: Thu Feb 21 2008   Hits: 70)

Open source helps education effort in Third World

By Dan Gillmor, Mercury News. "Around the globe, educators, companies and governments are getting tired of paying the Microsoft tax, which tends to rise inexorably, and sending the money to America. They don't like the upgrade cycle, especially when older computers run Linux just fine. They want to inspire more software innovation at home, and suspect Linux may be the best platform in a world where Microsoft also takes most of the profits in Windows application software."

http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/6769286.htm

(Added: Thu Sep 18 2003   Modified: Wed Jun 22 2005   Hits: 187)

PCs for the poor: as good as their hype?

Technologists are at odds over how - and even whether - to bridge the digital divide. What one group calls the ultimate solution, another dismisses as "the scam of the century". (Waleed al-Shobakky, SciDev Net, 31 July 2006)

http://www.scidev.net/Features/index.cfm?fuseaction=readfeatures&itemid=539&language=1

(Added: Tue Aug 22 2006   Hits: 88)

Project PROBE - Aotearoa New Zealand

Project PROBE has been developed jointly by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Economic Development to rollout high speed Internet access, or broadband, to all schools and provincial communities. Almost all schools are now connected to the Internet, but many schools in provincial areas are affected by very slow connection speeds or cannot afford the available high speed connections. As a result the Internet is not being used as an integral teaching, professional development or administration tool in these schools. Project PROBE is intended to ensure that all schools, in particular provincial schools, will have sufficient bandwidth to meet their needs. The bandwidth will also be available to others in the communities - libraries, farmers, local government, marae, welfare agencies, community services and home users. It is up to those groups to maximise the available benefits.

http://www.minedu.govt.nz/index.cfm?layout=document&documentid=7328&CFID=38011&CFTOKEN=79744117

(Added: Fri Jun 06 2003   Modified: Wed Jun 22 2005   Hits: 190)

Rits/Sampa.org: Internet Access and Effective Use by Third-Sector Organizations in Brazil

This case study of a Brazilian organisation set up to facilitate internet access for poor families found that by combining community centres with telecentres, a greater degree of integration and impact on individuals and families occurred.

http://www.comminit.com/en/node/147802

(Added: Tue Oct 30 2007   Hits: 23)

The Digital Divide Network (DDN)

The Digital Divide Network, examines the digital divide from many perspectives. The website offers a range of information, tools and resources that help practictioners stay on top of digital divide developments. It also serves as forum where practictioners can share their experiences with colleagues around the world. We look at the causes and effects of the divide from four distinct angles: technology access, literacy and learning, content, and economic development. In each of these areas, we pay particular attention to the role of local individuals and organizations when it comes to bridging the divide.

http://www.digitaldividenetwork.org

(Added: Thu Mar 14 2002   Modified: Wed Jun 22 2005   Hits: 380)

The Global Impact of the Internet: Widening the Economic Gap Between Wealthy and Poor Nations? (pdf)

H.C Lucas, R. Sylla, University of Maryland, Robert H. Smith School of Business (2002). (Abstract) Does the Internet have the potential to accelerate development in poor nations? Or is it an innovation that will widen the gap between wealthy and poor countries? This paper places the internet in a framework of major innovations in modern economic history that have contributed to increased global economic inequality. To study whether the internet has the potential to do the same, this paper investigates the determinants of internet diffusion and explore differences between developed and developing nations. Our findings indicate that developing countries are being left behind as the transformation to the 'new economy' takes place in wealthier countries. If this trend continues, it may have dire consequences for world economic inequality and political stability, as did great innovations of earlier eras. We consider policies that may accelerate the development of information technology in poorer countries so that these nations can benefit from the technological revolution occurring in wealthier countries. We also discuss why it might be in the interest of the developed countries to pursue such policies. did great innovations of earlier eras

http://bmgt3-notes.umd.edu/faculty/km/papers.nsf/66117572fd72b90685256a5600767089/90b97612d4a0b5b68525697b00624847/$FILE/lucassylla.pdf

(Added: Thu Jul 17 2003   Modified: Fri Feb 09 2007   Hits: 195)

Voices from the South: Summary of discussions on Knowledge Societies

The main theme line of discussion was "Information Society: What does it mean for the South?" Sub-topics were: (1.A.) Should ICT be always associated with Information Society? (1.B.) Information society for grassroots development: Who takes the most important role (of the information intermediaries)? Government? Private sector? NGOs? Community cooperatives? Individuals? Who and why??? What could be the possible roadmap? (1.C.) Indigenous knowledge and information for local needs: How to collect, process and deliver that?

http://www.digitalopportunity.org/article/frontpage/308/4726

(Added: Mon Jul 14 2003   Modified: Wed Jun 22 2005   Hits: 181)

Websites are failing disabled: UN study

Ninety-seven per cent of websites are failing to provide even the most basic levels of accessibility for people with disabilities, suggests a UN-commissioned survey released Tuesday. The survey was released two days after Secretary General Kofi Annan spoke during the UN International Day of Disabled Persons on the importance of making the internet available to everyone. (CBC, 5 December 2006)

http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2006/12/05/access-web-un.html

(Added: Thu Dec 07 2006   Hits: 122)

Wire-less Networks in Rural Cambodia

James Brooke/NYT Monday, January 26, 2004 O Siengle, a Cambodian village without wires for electricity or phones, is taking part in development project set up by American Assistance for Cambodia and run by Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Media Laboratory to connect 13 rural schools to Internet; motorcycles equipped with wireless Wi-Fi chips drive by schools regularly, creating Internet hot spots that allow for e-mail exchanges; the system, developed by First Mile Solutions, uses receiver box powered by motorcycle's battery; the school's computers are powered by solar panels; the system lets schools cut costs by sharing satellite dish and uplink fee in country where government monopoly inflates dish prices and fees.

http://www.iht.com/cgi-bin/generic.cgi?template=articleprint.tmplh&ArticleId=126572

(Added: Mon Feb 09 2004   Modified: Wed Jun 22 2005   Hits: 242)

World's poor to get own search engine

People in poor countries could soon have a new and cheap way to get hold of the wealth of information on the internet. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are developing a search engine designed for people with a slow net connection. Someone using the software would e-mail a query to a central server in Boston. The program would search the net, choose the most suitable webpages, compress them and e-mail the results a day later.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3065063.stm

(Added: Fri Jul 18 2003   Modified: Wed Jun 22 2005   Hits: 229)