Computer technology for developing areas: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 06:05, 28 October 2018

Revision as of 00:06, 13 November 2018

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{{Main|Information and communication technologies for development}}

'''Computer technology for developing areas''' is often through the donation of [[Non-profit technology|technology]] to developing areas without thought for access to electricity or equipment maintenance. Many institutions, government, charitable, and for-profit organizations require technology development often involving hardware or software design, and the coordination of donors, distributors, and deployers. Technical development overlaps with the fields of technical training, maintenance and support.<ref>[{{Cite web |url=http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-86854-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html# |title=Refurbished Computers in SchoolNet South Africa — a Comparative Study] |access-date=2010-12-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100308130513/http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-86854-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html# |archive-date=2010-03-08 |dead-url=yes |df= }}</ref>

==Opportunity==

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South Africa has one of the largest and most successful introductions of computers to the residents in Africa with the Smart Cape Access Project initiated in 2000 in Cape Town winning the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Access to Learning Award in 2003 (Valentine, 2004. The project piloted 36 computers in six public libraries in disadvantages areas of Cape Town in 2002 with four computers designated for public use for each library. Libraries had the important structure with security, electricity and telephone connections, and known access by the public. Cape Town City Council sought information from librarians to build their project realizing that free Internet access was critical to the projects success including training, a user guide, help desk support and feedback loop. They anticipated that Internet access would "create much-needed jobs for citizens, but ... it can empower people to market themselves, start their own businesses, or gain access to useful information".<ref name=valentine>{{cite journal|last=Valentine|first=S.|title=E-powering the people: South Africa's Smart Cape Access Project|journal=Council on Library and Information Resources|date=March 2004}}</ref> Funding for the project relied on donations and partnerships from private organizations with extensive volunteer help in accessing open-source software that is available from licensed vendors or free on the Internet. While the project has been plagued by slow Internet speeds, long lines of waiting users, hacking and budgets, the demand for more computers remains high. Residents have used Internet access to build their own businesses using Smart Cape for administration, to obtain jobs sometimes over seas, to create some unsanctioned small-scale ventures such as paying an educated user to write one's resume,to write letters, e-mail, play games, complete homework and do research, and to obtain information such as BMW advertisements among other uses. Older people, unemployed youth and school children have been the most prevalent users of the Internet with 79 percent being men.

With the first phase of the project completed in 2005 and the second phase consisting of monitoring and evaluation of pilot sites just completed in 2007, the roll out of the final phase of the project is underway.<ref name=tshabalala>{{cite web|last=Tshabalala|first=R.|title=Cape Access Project|url=http://capegateway.gov|accessdate=2007}}{{dead link|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801112832/http://capegateway.gov/#|archive-date=December 20172013-08-01|dead-url=yes|df=}}</ref> Over one hundred thousand people have made use of the Smart Cape Access Project computers' free access since 2002 (Brown, 2007) which is about one fifth increase in overall access to the Internet for the 3.2 million population of Cape Town increasing total access to 17 percent of the residents in 2008 (Mokgata, 2008). However, the project continues to be plagued by budget issues leading to questions about long-term sustainability because of its heavy reliance on donations and volunteers. The project reports did not address the maintenance of the computers or the network which could also be a rather large expenditure. Of further concern is the lack of use by women and girls, which culturally presents a hierarchy problem because men are the public face, and another topic to consider in the future.

====Africa and other less successful projects====

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An e-learning strategy is being developed consultatively involving various stakeholders in the environment sector which yet Uganda has no e-waste recycler with capacity to cab down the problem of accumulation of e-waste.

List of Charitable organisations

* multi-national – Digital Partnership<ref>[{{Cite web |url=http://www.digitalpartnership.org/# |title=Digital Partnership home page] |access-date=2010-12-31 |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20020808070610/http://www.digitalpartnership.org/# |archive-date=2002-08-08 |dead-url=yes |df= }}</ref>

* multi-national – InterConnection<ref>[http://www.interconnection.org website]</ref>

* multi-national – Non-Profit Computing, Inc.<ref>[http://www.click-aid.org/ website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110627081023/http://www.click-aid.org/ |date=2011-06-27 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.idealist.org/view/asset/wDCmSSFdM2Jd/ Idealist listing]</ref> (a [[United Nations]] advisor)

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Another significant problem can be the selection of software installed on technology<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2989567.stm Computers to Africa scheme criticised (5/1/2003)]</ref> – instructors trained in one set of software (for example [[Ubuntu (operating system)|Ubuntu]]<ref>[http://www.aabgu.org/media-center/headlines/computers-wiki-africa.html Students Bring Computers and Wikipedia to Africa (9/17/2010)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722002405/http://www.aabgu.org/media-center/headlines/computers-wiki-africa.html |date=2011-07-22 }}</ref>) can be expected to have difficulty in navigating computers donated with different software (for example [[Windows XP]]).

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>[http://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 the training, support, hardware and software may all be donated, it is rare for another vital component of technology, Internet access, to be made available at a discounted rate. "In about half the countries in Africa, one year of <nowiki>[dial-up]</nowiki> Internet supply will cost more than the average annual income."<ref>[http://www.schoolnetafrica.org/fileadmin/resources/Internet_prices_in_Africa.pdf Internet prices in Africa. A comparative study. (probably 2003)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728002618/http://www.schoolnetafrica.org/fileadmin/resources/Internet_prices_in_Africa.pdf |date=2011-07-28 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.satsig.net/gispa-afrispa.htm Is Africa in a Digital Quagmire? (11/6/2004)]</ref>

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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 (6/12/2008)]

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

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