Message-ID: <19990123170508.AAA24141@LOCALNAME> Date: Sat, 23 Jan 1999 13:04:58 -0400 From: Kerry Miller <mailto:kerryo@NS.SYMPATICO.CA> Subject: Re: Underestimating Wired Africa To: mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU
Richard wrote:{ Yet very few have their own accounts: they use { their organisation's one account; they use the account of a { family member; they use the account of a friend, acquaintance { or neighbour. The model we may hold in the West - of one { email account serving one individual - is therefore { inappropriate for Africa. {
Two thoughts: never mind the model 'we' hold; if the African telecoms hold it, they wont see as much need for improved land lines and switches, thus leaving POTS (plain old telephone service) in he dust while communications organize around collectively-owned satellite relays --
and if the higher rates paid in (Europe and) Africa keep the 'undesirable' uses of the WWW to a minimum, it may look like a solution in the US, too - i.e. to the new ICANN corporation, forcing communal acquainance and coopperation down our individualistic throats ;-)
kerry