Message-ID: <330DC9D5.31E4@scorpion.cowan.edu.au> Date: Fri, 21 Feb 1997 08:14:13 -0800 From: Desire Mallet <mailto:dmallet@SCORPION.COWAN.EDU.AU> Subject: A different sort of technology encounter .. To: mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU
Wilbur Streett wrote: >
> >THIRD WORLD ENCOUNTER
> >
> > A boy and his father visiting from a third world country
> > were at a mall. They were amazed by almost everything they
> > saw, .... et caetera etc etc
> -----------------------------------------
> Putting a Human Face On Technology ;-)
> -----------------------------------------
How is it possible to "put a human face on technology" when some people use a certain form of technology to make fun of the other people who may lack access to or knowledge of certain other forms of technology?
It is sad to see that some people--from outside what they refer to as being the "third world"--use certain form of communication (ex. internet/email) to belittle people from the so-called Third World in a sexist way ... by "putting a human face on technology"!
Unfortunately, this type of action is not only the work of isolated individuals, but it is often the work of well-organised and powerful groups. For example, there was an advertisement produced by "HOOVER" which was recently on television here in Western Australia. It was for a washing machine. In this advertisement, "the third world encounter" concerned the people of India who were depicted as being stupid and ignorant: They were shown as not even being able to sort out why there was the (electrical) cord attached to that 'strange piece of technology' which they finally used ... in a very traditional way!
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Thank you for reading this email.
Desire Mallet [I am originally from Mauritius--which appears like a very tiny dot in the middle of the Indian Ocean)