[WSIS CS-Plenary] Virtual Participation - Establishment of working group?

[Fullsack Jean-Louis]

En francais ci-dessous

Hi Robert and all
For a lot of people limited skills in Internet use is the main problem and
not ideology nor any other consideration.
It's my case and I wonder I'm not alone at least I do hope so ! Imagine that
even in the WSIS SC there are such "beotians" as me, only able for typing a
"Word document" and using Internet Explorer and Outlook for gathering and
exchange information, just because their PC running under Windows 95 is
fitted with Mr Gates' products.
In contrast, there is a significant group of "Internet freaks" aware of all
possible "tricks" and far more efficient in using their laptops in any
environment (we saw some ones completely distraught during the Geneva Summit
because of poor performing WiFi !) : only these are concerned by such
virtual meetings.
Thus my question is : How can those "beotians" such me be present in the CS
debates and continue to contribute to them ?
And my main concern : How will other out of the Internet domain issues be
dealt with by a CS focusing mainly -when not exclusively- on its own
familiar issues, i.e. Internet and Internet.
As far as I know there a other issues high on the agenda such as all those
related to the "digital divide", infrastructure and financing mechanisms.
What will be the place for these urgencies and priorities for the CS during
this second WSIS phase ?

Jean-Louis Fullsack
CSDPTT

Bonjour Robert et tous
Pour un grand nombre de personnes ce sont les capacites limitees en termes
d'usage de l'Internet qui sont le probleme n°1 et non l'ideologie ni toute
autre consideration. C'est mon cas et je me doute que je ne suis pas seul,
du moins j'ose l'esperer ! Imaginez que meme dans la SC du SMSI il y a de
tels "beotiens" comme moi, capables seulement de taper un document Word et
d'utiliser Internet Explorer et Outlook pour collecter et echanger
l'information juste parce que leur PC est equipe de produits de MR Gates.
En contraste il y a un groupe significatif de fans d'internet qui
connaissent tous les trucs possibles et particulierement efficaces dans
l'utilisation de leurs PC dans n'importe quel environnement (nous en avons
vu quelques une au Sommet de Geneve completement desempares parce que la
WiFi etait minable) : seuls ceux-la sont concernes par de telles reunions
virtuelles.
D'ou ma question : Comment ces "beotiens" peuvent-ils etre presents dans les
debats de la SC et continuer a y contribuer ?
Et mon plus grand souci : Comment les autres problemes hors du domaine
internet seront-ils traites par une SC se concentrant essentiellement -sinon
exclusivement- sur ses problmes familiers àa savoir l'internet  et
l'internet ?
A ma connaissance il y a d'autres problemes d'une haute importance comme
tous ceux relatifs au "fosse numerique", aux infrastructures et aux
mecanismes pour leur financement. Quelle sera alors la place pour ces
urgences et ces priorites pour la SC dans cette deuxieme phase du SMSI

Jean-Louis Fullsack
CSDPTT - France

----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Guerra" <rguerra at cpsr.org>
To: <plenary at wsis-cs.org>
Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2004 2:02 AM
Subject: [WSIS CS-Plenary] Virtual Participation - Establishment of working
group?


> I ask , again, that if you are interested in contributing to the
> discussion - to the options, and strategy for using a VARIETY of
> different virtual participation tools to help facilitate collaboration
> among civil society groups involved in the wsis process - to visit and
> enter your details on the following Wiki page.
>
> <http://cms.privaterra.org/WSIS_WG_Virtual>
>
>
>  - This preliminary, informal (non-meeting) has as it's objective :
>
> (1) Introduction - of attendees
>
> (2) To ascertain IF there's enough interest to establish a working group
> to assess, discuss and develop strategy to bring  a VARIETY of different
> virtual participation tools to help facilitate collaboration among civil
> society groups involved in the wsis process.
>
> My initial message has generated a great deal of discussion, both
> private and public - so, i gather there's a great deal of interest.
>
> I do recognize that those amongst us use a variety of different OS
> platforms, and as to not enter into a religious debate as to which one
> is best, ideal , more appropriate or more consistent with a certain
> ideology or another my intention is to help bring people together in a
> constructive way to move from discussion to concrete actions and perhaps
> even deliverables in the weeks and months ahead.
>
>
> (3) A demonstration of some of well known collaborative conferencing
> suites.
>
> 10:00 - 10:30 Windows based OS tools
> 10:30 - 11:00 Linux based tools
>
> NOTE:  By showing one tool vs. another, or one before another, by no
> way, means or form  will it be taken to endorse their adoption by anyone.
>
> (4) Discussion of next steps -
>
> - how can those interested collaborate
> - next tools to evaluate
>
> - what, if any, sub-working groups need to be created to accommodate,
> respect linguistic, operating system, cultural and philosophical
> diversities which may exist in this subject area.
>
> - how working group (and it's sub-groups) can engage the software
> development and technical community to enhance, refine and build
> existing tools
>
> (5) scheduling of next (virtual) meeting
>
>
> The next (virtual) meeting is scheduled as follows:
>
> * March 17th, 10:00 - 11:00 EDT (New York Time)
>
> Info:
>
> a. (virtual) place: details to be posted on the Wiki address mentioned
> above.
>
> b. I'll also be available via Instant messaging on the following systems:
> - yahoo : rguerra
> - jabber: rguerra
> - ICQ: 10266626
> - AOL/AIM/ichat: cryptocobi
> - MSN: privaterra at hotmail.com
>
> See you all tomorrow!
>
>
>
> regards,
>
> -
>
> thanks
>
> Robert
>
>
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