Computer technology for developing areas: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 04:35, 6 January 2024

Revision as of 17:30, 21 April 2024

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Developing countries lag behind other nations in terms of ready access to the internet, though computer access has started to bridge that gap. Access to computers, or to broadband access, remains rare for half of the world's population. For example, as of 2010, on average of only one in 130 people in Africa had a computer<ref>[http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/east/Butty-U-S-Computers-for-Africa-14april10-90805754.html Computers for Africa Launches New Initiative to Help Schools (4/13/2010)]</ref> while in North America and Europe one in every two people had access to the Internet.<ref>[https://www.un.org/ecosocdev/geninfo/afrec/vol17no3/173tech.htm Africa takes on the digital divide]</ref> 90% of students in Africa had never touched a computer.<ref>[https://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5iS38zZc6d-JIIBpAx705Zz-zt94Q?docId=N0401251293791904810A Computers recycled to help Africa (12/31/2010)]</ref> Industrialized countries have an average GNP ten times larger than those of developing countries. The per capita GNP of the United States compared to the per capita of India holds a ratio of fifty to zero. This may be due to differences in economic priorities and social needs. Salaries of clerical staff in developed countries are averaged ten times larger salaries than those in developing countries. Purposes and usage of technology varies drastically due to shifts of priority between industrialized and developing countries. Underutilization of existing computers continues to be a problem in developing countries. Simple designs such as computer memory still have not been implemented or maximized in comparison to industrialized countries today.

Local networks can provide significant access to software and information even without utilizing an internet connection, for example through use of the [[Wikipedia]] CD Selection]]selection or the [[eGranary Digital Library]].

===Focusing on Africa===

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===Electronic waste statistics Press Release===

{{Main|ComputerElectronic waste recycling#Donation}}

====Unep, NEMA and Uganda Cleaner Production Centre====

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* UK – IT Schools Africa<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dedipower.asia/news/article/dedipower-donates-computers-to-african-charity |title=DediPower Donates Computers To African Charity (10/20/2010) |access-date=2011-01-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706085139/http://www.dedipower.asia/news/article/dedipower-donates-computers-to-african-charity |archive-date=2011-07-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

* US (some multi-national) – [[TechSoup|TechSoup Global]]

[[Microsoft Corporation]] has a [https://www.msregrefurb.com/RRPSite/OnlineDirectory.aspx?setlang=en global list] of approximately 1,800 Registered Refurbishers - however, the size of these refurbishers varies very greatly.

==Problems encountered==

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A pressing problem is also the misuse of [[electronic waste]] in dangerous ways. Burning technology to obtain the metals inside will release toxic fumes into the air.<ref>[https://abcnews.go.com/WN/discarded-computers-poisonous-african-children/story?id=9266722 How Discarded Computers Are Poisoning Africa's Kids (12/7/2009)]</ref> (Certification of recyclers to [[e-Stewards]] or [https://web.archive.org/web/20101004004645/http://www.r2solutions.org/ R2 Solutions] standards is intended to preclude environmental pollution.)

Finally, while countries may receive many donations of hardware, software, training, and technical support, internet penetration in developing countries is often extremely low compared with the developed world. However, in recent years, mobile internet has had massive growth in these regions and has become the primary way most people access the internet. Mobile internet penetration is not equal however, with rural areas often having much lower rates of internet access. This furthers the economic and cultural divide between urban and rural areas in developing countries as internet access is becoming more essential to everyday life.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Rodríguez-Castelán |first1=Carlos |last2=Ochoa |first2=Rogelio |last3=Lach |first3=Samantha |last4=Masaki |first4=Takaaki |title=Mobile Internet Adoption in West Africa |date=9 March 2021 |doi=10.2139/ssrn.3798904|hdl=10986/35209 |hdl-access=free |journal=Technology in Society}}</ref>

==See also==

* [[Basel Action Network]]

* [[Community informatics]]

* [[Community technology center]] / [[Telecentre]]

* [[Computers and the environment]]

* [[E-cycling]]

* [[Electronic waste by country]]

* [[Electronic Waste Recycling Act (disambiguation)]]

* [[Green computing]]

* [[Index of recycling articles]]

* [[Non-profit technology]]

* [[NTAP]] (nonprofit technology assistance provider)

* [[Personal computer]]

* [[Plockton High School#Computers for Africa|Plockton High School (Computers for Africa)]]

* [[Recycling]]

* [[Streetlites]] (African charity)

* [[Telecentre]]

* [[United Nations Information and Communication Technologies Task Force]]

* [[Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive]]

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==External links==

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090221211331/http://www.microsoft.com/emea/presscentre/pressreleases/UgandarRefurbPR_12062008.mspx Computer Refurbishment Centre Opens for Business in Kampala (6/12/ December 2008)]

* [http://www.techlearning.com/article/20270 Affordable handheld computer reaches Latin America (5/4/ April 2009)]

* [http://www.usedcomputer.com/nonprof.html Where to donate and recycle old computer equipment]

[[Category:Information and communication technologies for development|*]]