Message-ID: <960404225252_369365647@emout07.mail.aol.com> Date: Thu, 4 Apr 1996 22:52:54 -0500 From: Guy-Maurille Massamba <mailto:GuyRille@AOL.COM> Subject: Re: Traditional I.T. Before the Internet ?! To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
In a message dated 96-04-04 09:08:06 EST, aalkhali made a comment on the following:>> >Here is an idea for using the Internet to solve such a problem: the nurse
>> >can consult an on-line "physician-on-duty" via the Internet, this
>> >physician could be in the other side of the Globe.
>>
Here is aalkhali's comment: >> Come on, that doesn't even work in the US.
>
I think you're too fast in saying that it doesn't even work in the US. Some time ago (can't remember when it was), CNN reported a case of someone who was saved through the use of the internet. Before I go on I have to ask you to forgive me for the lack of accuracy in my reporting this. That is not the matter here. This is what happened. There were two persons, one living in Britain and the other one in the US. During an internet exchange, one of them was seriously sick (of course not because of the internet), which he told his e-mail correspondent through the internet. The healthy one phoned an ambulance and medical service in the other side of the Atlantic giving the information about where to find his sick e-mail pal. As the result, someone was saved. They didn't use the internet to notify the medical service, but through the internet someone was able to know that his friend was seriously sick.
Now that I think of it, let me say that the internet is only one means among many others which should be put into perspective in the sense that what we call information technology is a whole composite of various forms. A good assessment of the priorities requires a holistic and comprehensive approach to information technology and let's not be blinded by the amazing power of something new called the internet. This means that the priority of the various forms of I.T. (be they traditional of modern) may not be (notice I say "may") assessed in terms of "before or after". Rather, the various forms of I.T. should be seen from the perspective of their usefulness and immediacy which make them a starting point or a basis for the emergence of new and more sophisticated forms of I.T. Does not technology develop incrementally ? The development of one form of technology is based upon the existing ones. For instance, the internet uses computers and telephone lines ( two forms of I.T.). This shows that when it comes to technology there is no creation "ex nihilo". Perhaps in the case of some societies in Sub-Saharan Africa, the problem is that of the availability of technological capabilities for the emergence of more sophisticated forms of I.T. How about that ?
It was just a little story which shows that the use of the internet can contribute to some good things. But as you noticed, the internet was not the only means in use in this particular instance. They had to use the telephone too !!!! And I use T.V. to know about the story and learn about one thing the internet can do. A good combination of forms of I.T., isn't it: Internet, telephone, T.V.... Each is a part of the whole I.T. This is true even for technologically advanced societies.
Oh, for more information or more accuracy about the story of the two e-mail correspondents, please check with CNN. They tape their news there.
Guy-Maurille