Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Reaching the Other side of the Chasm...Successful or Not?
The power of the digital revolution demands that people all over the world should have some sort of technological access. This idea that Sarah Lacy's article, "Help for Info Age Have-Nots" is brought across. While reading this article, I came to the conclusion that the information age is requiring all societies, even the undeveloped, to have computer access not as a luxury but as a necessity. According to the article, the Advance Micro Device Company (AMD) aims to get fifty percent of the world connected tot he internet by 2015.
While this is a good venture for AMD and a benefit to economically challenged societies, it is hard to bridge the gap of this digital divide and fulfill the needs to underprivileged countries. Lacy raises it's because of several issues; one of them being that some tech companies find it difficult to raise money to provide for the lesser developed countries and they have to be motivated to invest.
"After all, growth for computers, software, and other consumer-electronic
devices is stalling in North America, Western Europe, and more developed,
affluent parts of Asia, such as Japan. Real growth will come through reaching
the next billion customers, and while it will take a lot of upfront investment
and creating new types of affordable products, it's in companies' self
interest. "
Another issue that is raised, is a social issue. Adults in these societies are not too fond of the digital world. As a result, there are obstacles in reaching almost everyone in having technological access. At the end of the article, it is summed up that it is not an easy road for bridging the gap. It's a gradual process that takes social and economic steps and will not happen overnight.
While this is a good venture for AMD and a benefit to economically challenged societies, it is hard to bridge the gap of this digital divide and fulfill the needs to underprivileged countries. Lacy raises it's because of several issues; one of them being that some tech companies find it difficult to raise money to provide for the lesser developed countries and they have to be motivated to invest.
"After all, growth for computers, software, and other consumer-electronic
devices is stalling in North America, Western Europe, and more developed,
affluent parts of Asia, such as Japan. Real growth will come through reaching
the next billion customers, and while it will take a lot of upfront investment
and creating new types of affordable products, it's in companies' self
interest. "
Another issue that is raised, is a social issue. Adults in these societies are not too fond of the digital world. As a result, there are obstacles in reaching almost everyone in having technological access. At the end of the article, it is summed up that it is not an easy road for bridging the gap. It's a gradual process that takes social and economic steps and will not happen overnight.
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A good post. Computers are both a luxury and a necessity at the same time. It depends on just how destitute your life is at the moment. Your conclusions are correct, the bridging of the divide will take time and require both governments and corporations working together to provide the infrastructure needed.
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