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Jul 28th, 2006 - 20:53:42 |
Ned Hamson
The Mac Guatemala Project -- Margaret Molinari, the Peace Corps person who is handling all the on-the-gournd aspects of getting 400 Macintosh computers into 15 schools in Guatemala for students and parents reports that everyone is still working hard at completing the project. The money has not all been raised for builiding the room for each school ($50,000 total) but they are getting closer. They also need to get some cabling for some of the computers and a number of batteries for maintaining the PRAM in a number of machines. It does not seem like a lot ($7.00 a battery) but raising that money is getting started too.
We hope that before the year is out - many of the schools will see the beginnings of the standalone rooms.
You see, this is not all that easy as it is saying this is a good goal. 
Jul 28th, 2006 - 20:46:39 |
Ned Hamson
Not the biggest news but I do have a student who is researching and writing a paper on a Laptop for Every Child. It's related to the MIT project to create an under $100 wind up, wilress laptop computer.
We have agreed that while the goal of the organization is a good one, it will not get far unless some one figures out how to:
1. Get the under $100 US for a billion or so pepole. You see, when you do even those numbers, you begin to wonder if the lofty project is designed to promote MIT and not really do anything about digital opportunity.
2. Chldren will need to basic training in how to use aa computer - that's a lot of trainers, eh? and Hours.
3. They will need "free" access to the internet. So, who is going to provide that bandwidth?
4. Parents will be to be involved to both monitor activity and to encourage learning.
None of these things are insurmountable but they do show some badly needed light on to the problem. 
Dec 4th, 2002 - 11:22:56 |
Maja Andjelkovic
New York, July 16, 2001 - The Digital Opportunity Initiative -- a collaboration between Accenture, the Markle Foundation and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) -- today released a report demonstrating the critical role that information and communication technologies (ICT) can play in helping developing countries to enhance the lives of their citizens.
Creating a Development Dynamic lays out a strategy for developing nations to work with developed countries, and the private and non-profit sectors, to generate sustainable development and achieve a range of social goals. These include improvements to education, healthcare, and increased economic opportunity.
At their summit later this week in Genoa, leaders of the G8 nations will focus on how to work with developing countries to meet vital human goals. The report draws on extensive case studies from a range of countries to demonstrate the critical role ICT can play in meeting these development needs. It recommends the adoption of a strategy that addresses the inter-related elements of infrastructure, human skill development, entrepreneurship, sound government policies and the development of local content and applications.
The report encourages the G-8 leaders to continue their commitment last year to harness the unique potential of ICT to meet developing countries' needs, tapping the power of collaboration between the public and private sectors. Developing countries do not face an "either/or choice" between ICT and other development priorities like health and education, it says, citing examples where the two go hand in hand.
"Creating a Development Dynamic" examines the experiences of countries from Tanzania to Estonia, and India to Costa Rica. It sets out a strategic framework that developing countries can use to create a cycle of sustainable development. However, it stresses that such strategies will be effective only if they involve the full range of stakeholders in international development - governments, both industrialised and developing, the business and non-profit sectors, multilateral agencies, and community organisations on the ground. Strategically deployed, ICT can trigger a "development dynamic" that gains momentum as targeted steps are taken in key areas like technology training, policy reform and enterprise building.
For example, in the decade since regaining its independence, Estonia has pursued a concerted strategy to produce a modern telecommunications network, low connectivity costs, high rates of computer literacy and a highly educated and skilled workforce.
Similarly, South Africa's IT Strategy Project is harnessing the power of ICT to create new economic opportunities while meeting its commitment to social equity, political empowerment and improved government services.
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