Message-ID: <00a901bdd189$0b878f00$700393d0@default> Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1998 14:05:04 +0700 From: Natapon & Sophia Buranakul <mailto:beartai@BKK.LOXINFO.CO.TH> Subject: Re: [Fwd: INFORMATION AGE HAVES AND HAVE-NOTS (fwd)] To: mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU
Thanks for this posting!I should just like to add that while the internet does have the potential to provide a relatively unrestricted means by which information that can be used for more participatory development can be disseminated, there are lots of current barriers which perhaps those of us connected to the net have a tendency to forget or put aside.
- telecommunications systems in developing countries are not sufficiently well-developed to provide complete access or to support the latest upgrades in internet technology; - the education system in most countries does not provide training in the use of computers, but then many schools don't have electricity so this is not likely to be the major priority for the near future! Also, literacy in English is very limited. - the race to "upgrade" hardware and software which we see happening in Western Europe, Japan and North America seems distant from most countries of the world. Here basic computers are prohibitively expensive. I long for the day that Microsoft brings out a new Windows version that works efficiently on less memory than a Pentium - now that would really be something to write about, and a step towards opening up access to computers worldwide.