The Information Need
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There
is a strong need for people in developing countries to have on-demand
access to information and communication services via the telephone.
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Arguably, after access to basic needs like food, shelter, and health
care, access to information and communication is most important. It
will help people meet their basic needs, enhance their standard of living
and develop their community as a whole.
Rural areas in developing countries in general have particularly poor
access to information. They seldomly have newspapers or television and
have limited radio and telephone access. They have no access to the
internet, no (voice) messaging services. Moreover, in many developing
countries there is a clear difference between written and spoken text.
The formality of written information will form a barrier for many poor,
less literate people.
Spoken information builds on people's oral
traditions of sharing information. It has instant appeal and user-friendliness,
enhancing real access.
The Digital Divide
With thanks to bridges.org
for part of the text on this page.
The term 'digital divide' refers to an uneven diffusion of information
and communications technology (ICT). Simply put, the digital divide
is the wide division between those who have access to ICT and are using
it effectively, and those who do not.
Since information and communications technologies (ICTs) are increasingly
becoming a foundation of our societies and economies, the digital divide
means that the information 'have-nots' are denied the option to participate
in new ICT jobs, in e-government, in ICT-improved healthcare and in
ICT-enhanced education.
More often than not, the information have-nots are in developing countries
and in disadvantaged groups within countries.
It is frequently quoted that over three-quarters of the world's population
has never made a phone call, let alone used the internet (World Resource
Institute). In the year 2000 more than three-quarters of internet users
lived in high-income OECD countries, which contain 14% of the world's
people (see UN Human Development
Report 2001). The list of disparities goes on, showing that the gap
between the haves and the have-nots is even greater when it comes to ICT.
ICT can be a powerful tool for development, and there is already ample
evidence that a focused, micro-level application of ICT can contribute
to individual development goals, like health, education, economic opportunity,
empowerment and participation, and protection of the environment, see
UNDP and the Digital
Opportunity Initiative , "Creating a Development Dynamic".
There is a wealth of literature and organisations focusing on the digital
divide. See for example: Bridges.org, an international non-profit organisation, combines ICT initiatives
with ICT policy to help span the digital divide. Their website contains
many links to information on the digital divide.
The Global
Knowledge Partnership is a network of public, private and not for
profit organisations that aims to promote broad access to -and effective
use of- knowledge and information.
The Open Knowledge
Network wants to share local knowledge in local languages, across
the world.
Digital Partners
is a nonprofit institute which uses the power of the digital economy
to develop market-based solutions that benefit the world's poor.
