Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.91.960513133308.26669B-100000@altair.herts.ac.uk> Date: Mon, 13 May 1996 14:37:39 +0100 From: Angwafo <mailto:A.V.Angwafo@HERTS.AC.UK> Subject: Re: Computers to Africa To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
On Thu, 9 May 1996, Dr Eberhard W Lisse <mailto:el@LISSE.NA> wrote: >
> What is so wrong with sending 386s or 68020s (or even 68000)? They are
> almost as outdated but they can do whatever you want them to do.
>
> el
>
> ps: I feel much better now :-)-O
To send or not no send, should not be the question! As William Shakespeare would have put it, "tis not enough to help the feeble up, but to support him after." If some concerned donor feels that they will not be capable of providing support for 386s then it will be foolish (on their part) to donate it to anyone (be they in Africa or in Space) and not expect it to be converted into thrash. CRAYS, Pentiums or 1234... can become thrash without proper management or support!
After all, computer technology only benefits individuals/groups/companies or nations with a deep understanding of its true worth, limitations, capabilities, disadvantages and requirements. Computers, like any other technological derivative, is neutral. It is all the important decisions - about how to deploy the particulary technology, measure its performance, and undertake some fundamental adjustments (where necessary) - that should be of great interest to us. These are the managerial decisions that we -Africans or not- interested in developing the technology building capacity of Africa should focus on.
It is my seasoned opinion that there should be proper, honest and constant dialogue between givers and takers to ensure that whatever is acquired for Africa (or developed for Africa by Africa) will be useful to the African space-time conditions (abundant sunlight, hot-hot-hot, breezy winds, etc). Know Africa, Know African technology.
Good luck to everyone involved in technology diffusion and remember what Thomas Jefferson once said in 1825, "never buy what you do not want, because it is cheap; it will be dear to you."
a la prochaine
Ade Angwafo III Hat. of Herts. UK