Geeks Close the Gap |
| The new economy offers infinite opportunities
for high-technology entrepreneurs, professionals, and the digitally literate.
But the socially and economically disadvantaged aren’t plugged in. They’re
on the other side of the ‘digital divide’ – confined to the fringes of
an increasingly interconnected world community. Most people in the developing
countries and many in the richest nations are unable to participate in
the new economy.
The digital divide has generated concern at the community, national and international levels. Most governments and international aid agencies view it as a serious problem, and they’re implementing programs to improve the prospects of the digitally disenfranchised. In a speech last fall at a telecommunications conference in Geneva, Switzerland, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Anan made the issues clear. “People lack many things: jobs, shelter, food, health care and drinkable water,” he said. “Today, being cut off from basic telecommunications services is a hardship almost as acute as these other deprivations, and may indeed reduce the chances of finding remedies to them.” The UN has estimated that while one in four people in the United States have access to the Internet, only one in 1,000 have access in sub-Saharan Africa and only one in 2,500 in Southeast Asia. While North America has less than seven percent of the world’s population it accounts for 55% of online users. In addition to causing governments concern, the digital divide has attracted attention from individuals who have been influential in defining the new economy, and who have benefited financially from its roller coaster ride. Responding to the need, a number of high-tech leaders have created service organizations that are helping to transfer technology skills and knowledge to the Third World, and to the disadvantaged within their own countries. Geekcorps is one of the new aid organizations, formed to provide Internet know-how to emerging nations. The non-profit organization was created last February by Ethan Zuckerman, a 27-year old Internet millionaire, who made his fortune as vice-president of research and business development at Tripod.com, a successful Internet start-up. Geekcorps is currently funded by Zuckerman and by people like him who have done well in the new economy and want to give something back. A new-millennium version of the Peace Corps, Geekcorps places its volunteers in small and medium-sized businesses. While they are in the host country, they help to install networks and implement Internet applications, transferring knowledge to local people who can take over once they’re gone. Last month Geekcorps sent its first contingent of six high-tech volunteers to Ghana. In the future, teams will be sent to other nations in Africa, Latin America and Asia. Zuckerman’s goal is to be working in 10 to 15 countries within five years. In the future, Zuckerman says, a for-profit venture capital pool may be created to provide financing for companies that have a winning idea but little likelihood of obtaining the required funds. Supporters of Geekcorps’ objectives could then choose whether to make donations to fund the activities of the non-profit organization, or to provide direct financial support to Third World businesses through investments in the venture capital pool. In Canada, the Federal Government has created a similar organization with funding from the Youth Employment Strategy. NetCorps Canada International offers six-month internships to Canadian youth, to provide technology assistance in the developing world. Participating agencies include Canada World Youth, Alternatives, Canadian Crossroads International, the Canadian Society for International Health, CUSO, Human Rights Internet, Oxfam-Québec, VSO-Canada, and the World University Service of Canada. The program is administered in partnership with Industry Canada. Other organizations have been created to eliminate disparities closer to home. Even in the world’s richest country the problem is immense. A United States Department of Commerce report published in 1999 (“Falling Through the Net: A Report on Telecommunications and the Information Technology Gap in America”), disclosed that households with incomes over $75,000 are over 20 times more likely to have access to the Internet than poor households. The publisher of CIO, an American high-tech trade magazine, founded Tech Corps in the United States in 1995 to help overcome the domestic digital divide. Since then, thousands of technology professionals have volunteered to work in schools and communities throughout the country. The goal is create a technologically literate society with equal access for all. The problem seems immense, but Ethan Zuckerman and those who share his vision have taken the first step – demonstrating that with their technology skills and the motivation to help, the net-smart generation can really make a difference. RESOURCES: Digital Divide Network – Geekcorps – NetCorps – Tech Corps – United States National Telecommunications and Information
Administration (Digital Divide Web Site) – Yahoo News (Digital Divide) – |
www.innovationwatch.com |