[WSIS CS-Plenary] The Economist on the 'real digitaldivide'

[Andy Carvin]

I don't think there are many digital divide activists who would argue 
that illiteracy isn't one of the fundamental barriers to bridging the 
digital divide.... Combatting illiteracy is a primary aspect of 
thousands of digital divide initiatives around the world. My primary 
concern with the article is that it seems to suggest that mobile phones 
are the only technology we should be focusing on, which is just as 
misguided as arguing that computers are the only tool that should be 
addressing. It's not an either-or debate. They're using a rather narrow 
definition of the digital divide to suit their purposes....

ac

Milton Mueller wrote:
> 
> Dr. Milton Mueller
> Syracuse University School of Information Studies
> http://www.digital-convergence.org
> http://www.internetgovernance.org
> 
> 
> 
>>>>schock at riseup.net 3/13/2005 10:56:52 AM >>>
>>
>>Anyone have time write a good response to this? In fact they would 
>>probably publish a thoughtful response letter.
> 
> 
> I would hope that any thoughtful response will recognize that the
> fundamental premise expressed below, is true:
> 
> 
>>...the digital divide is not a problem in
>>itself, but a symptom of deeper, more important divides: of income,
>>development and literacy. Fewer people in poor countries than in rich
>>ones own computers and have access to the internet simply because
> 
> they
> 
>>are too poor, are illiterate, or have other more pressing concerns,
> 
> such
> 
>>as food, health care and security. So even if it were possible to wave
> 
> a
> 
>>magic wand and cause a computer to appear in every household on
> 
> earth,
> 
>>it would not achieve very much: a computer is not useful if you have
> 
> no
> 
>>food or electricity and cannot read.
> 
> 
> 
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-- 
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Andy Carvin
Program Director
EDC Center for Media & Community
acarvin @ edc . org
http://www.digitaldivide.net
http://www.tsunami-info.org
Blog: http://www.andycarvin.com
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