Message-ID: <Pine.3.88.9604091145.A14592-0100000@go> Date: Tue, 9 Apr 1996 11:13:23 -0500 From: Abubakr Alkhalifa <mailto:aalkhali@CIS.USOUTHAL.EDU> Subject: Appropriate Software Proposal To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
To those who are not members of Afrik-IT list. _________________________________________________________________________Abubakr Alkhalifa "I.T. vs. Poverty" 612 Montclaire Way Graduate Student Mobile, AL 36609 School of Computer & Information Sciences USA University of South Alabama Tel/Fax: (334)660-0242 mailto:aalkhali@cis.usouthal.edu _________________________________________________________________________ ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Mon, 8 Apr 1996 16:05:46 -0400 From: Darren Bolden <mailto:daaim@VISIDEL.CAU.EDU> To: Multiple recipients of list AFRIK-IT <mailto:AFRIK-IT@IRLEARN.UCD.IE> Subject: Re: Internet influence on rural development
On Apr 5, 7:32am, Dan Henrich wrote: > Subject: Re: Internet influence on rural development
> In a message dated 96-04-05 01:15:39 EST, you write:
>
> >How might the Internet better help rural
> >Africans communicate locally as well as internationally?
>
> Are you serious? Most of rural Africa has no electricity, much less phone
> lines?
>-- End of excerpt from Dan Henrich
I find it hard to believe that anyone responding to that question unable to understand alternate methods to wire-based strategies.
First of all, microwave links are being implemented to forego the costly investments involved with wiring Africa. In fact the school of thought goes that it may be a blessing in disguise that Africa has not invested millions in cable only to migrate later to wireless strategies. The development of satellite transmissions with terrestrial VSAT terminals is slow, but shows lots of promise.
Secondly, there are means of using solar energy in as a source of power for the African infrastruture. The advent of solar products (i.e. television and video sets) are coming to the market in countries like Zambia. Obviously, solar solutions have a long way to go, but we all agree that Africa has no shortage of this type of energy.
I would like to refer AFRIK-ITers to a very useful article titled, Africa's Survival Plan for Meeting the Challenges of Information Technology in the 1990s and Beyond," by Saul F. C. Zulu in Libri, 44 (1), 77-94. He details the problems of IT in Africa, but more importantly, he presents a framework for solutions.
Yes, Africa can definitely benefit from Internet use in the areas of agriculture, health and education. However, it will take a concerted effort by those who understand the intricacies of the political, economic, cultural, legal and infrastructural variables.
D. Bolden Clark Atlanta University Box 222 Atlanta, GA 30314