Deman7001's Weblog

My final post

deman7001 — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 07:50:12 +0000

Throughout this project, I have examined the effects and particulars of the problem of worldwide internet access. Perhpas, the most striking thing that I have learned is how the problem is both universal and specified. By that I mean that the problem exists in almost all countries to an extent but that it is also specified to very particular region of the world (Africa, of course). Also, as I mentioned in my previous post the problem is one among a large number of development problems that parallel it form and impact. It is with these insights that I will continue my internet life. One important way to get involved in my opinion is to actively participate in online projects aimed at increasing online activity. These are the primary things that I have learned through the project.

Also, I believe it is important to get involved in social networking that way involve those all over the world to simply be active in the internet. It is not solely enough to have internet but one should be active with one’s usage of the internet. These are certainly the actions that I will take to help promote the usage of the internet. Other than that, most of the issues to fix these problem should be made at a much grander level than I have access to. Therefore, I do not think I will be able to provide an adequate solution to these.

Comments on other blogs

deman7001 — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 00:47:40 +0000

During this project in my class, I have looked at other students’ blogs as well. As we were all required to comment on other people’s blogs, I would like to mention one. And that was my comment on Zac Ammermann’s blog about female under-representation in government. I adopted the position that female under-representation, while obviously dissappointing, in no way gurantees a non-corrupted government.

At the time, I was of the opinion that the blog seemed to be more of an ode to Hillary Clinton (the author was a staunch supporter) rather than a real advocacy. However, since that time I have reasoned that perhaps there is something inherent about having a near 50-50 male to female ratio. Perhaps there is something about such a representational system that will make a state more progressive. The question of female representation clearly reflects something inherent about equality (or lack thereof) in the country in question. Surely, if females can reach proportional representation in government then it seems to me equally possible for Blacks, Hispanics and other minorities to reach adequate representation. The question is in my opinion not as narrow as it seemed to me originally. It is really a common story that everyone shares. By that, I mean that women’s struggle is paralleled by blacks and hispanics struggle for recognition within government (which in the United States is consistently stuffed with white, male protestants.

Some more thoughts about development goals

deman7001 — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 03:09:20 +0000

One thing that I realized recently that I have neglected to mention substantially is the important that the telephone plays. Indeed, the fact that internet access is a very specific part of larger development goals recently was brought to my attention by the UN’s millennium project. The other portions of information technology and indeed the other aspects of global development should certainly not be forgotten and special attention should be paid to them. The lack of telephone communication is equally destructive in hindering the spread of information around the world. It is with this in mind that I have come to the conclusion that although the internet is an extremely important part of development, it is but one on a long list. In reality, we should strive to complete the entire list. Some of these other goals include controlling the spread of dangerous diseases such as HIV/AIDS especially in Africa. Everywhere we look, we find problems that Africa has more of than any other area of the world. It is with this in mind that we should look to pursue these goals at both grand and small levels. Only then will Africa truly be free from all the problems it is beset by.

UN’s millenium goals and the internet

deman7001 — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 02:58:49 +0000

After reading over the UN’s millenium goals, I thought I would mention how internet access relates. The 8 goals are: Goal 1: Eradicate Extreme Hunger and Poverty, Goal 2: Achieve Universal Primary Education, Goal 3: Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women, Goal 4: Reduce Child Mortality, Goal 5: Improve Maternal Health, Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases, Goal 7: Ensure Environmental Sustainability, Goal 8: Develop a Global Partnership for Development.

By far the broadest of these is goal 8. This is where we find the role of technology and especially the internet and its equally important corollary of telephone access. Under this goal we find target 18. Target 18 reads as follows: “In cooperation with the private sector, make available the benefits of new technologies, especially information and communications technologie.” Clearly these represent a recognized and commendable commitment to the internet by those within the UN. These kinds of efforts should be much more universal. For more information on UN development goals, check the blogroll, where a link will be placed.

Obama’s effect on global internet access

deman7001 — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 02:45:03 +0000

One would certainly imagine that with a new president who (hopefully) will not look to solve all the world’s problems via war and violence, internet access and general development goals such as the UN’s millenium goals may comprise a more important part of the US’s foreign policy. Especially given Obama’s proximity to the African country of Kenya, we can only hope that internet penetration will be expanded towards Africa, where as I have previously mentioned the internet is hardly found at all. The idea that the US may once again be the nation that the world wants to it be offers us hope that all development goals are possible. In such a world the US role in the UN would increase and the country will be able to make amends for its widely panned policies. It is certainly a historic election and for that reason alone anything is possible.

Interesting perspective on internet access

deman7001 — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 18:26:23 +0000

Here is an interesting perspective on internet access. While it is not exactly related to global internet access, but it relates to internet access to the blind. For this blind man, the internet is used similarly to how it is used for all the rest of us. Bank accounts, online shopping and other uses are all in the cards for this man

Link

Internet access and its capability for business

deman7001 — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 20:19:24 +0000

I have previously spoken quite a bit about the internet as a fundamental human right for access to governmental information, however in this post I will focus on another intrinsic benefit to internet access. And that is, its capacity to support business. As I have noted in my most recent breaking news article (#4 if you’re counting) the speed that satellite delivered internet provides can be extremely beneficial for businesses. Thus, in addition to internet access being crucial for the spread of information from country to country, it is also instrumental in allowing businesses to compete in the global market. Thus, in Africa, if internet technology really takes hold then it should follow that business should boom as a result and they should be able to compete more capably with Western businesses. With respect to this, I now believe that the form of internet access spread through Africa should be satellite for two main reasons. The first is the aforementioned speed with which this kind of communication occurs and the second is its unique ability to provide internet access to those in remote areas (the kinds of areas that we find Africa).

On the opposite end of the Spectrum…

deman7001 — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 02:22:03 +0000

On the opposite end of the spectrum from Korea and the developing world, we have countries like Thailand where lack of internet connectivity poses significantly problems towards “growth.” Since the percentage of broadband connectivity is under 10%, the ability to access the kind of fundamental information (the kind of things that drove Estonia and Greece). Essentially, this means that Thailand is lagging behind in terms of fundamental human rights and the ability for the people to become educated is significantly hindered.

Korea as model?

deman7001 — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 01:49:03 +0000

It seems that South Korea, though not perfectly developed in many other aspects, has captured the essence of the internet and technology to an extent that should be the standard of the world. To me, this means that there is hope for many other countries to reach full internet capabilities. What is perhaps most amazing about South Korea is that they, in terms of their younger population, have even surpassed the US (by all accounts the world’s hegemon). Surprising, though this result may be, it certainly illuminates that there is potential for every country to achieve standards of internet penetration.

Plan for action?

deman7001 — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 01:26:50 +0000

After doing my most recent round of research around the topic of internet penetration, it is becoming increasingly apparent that there is a need for a global force by which internet capabilities and more generally all communications technologies, an electronic peace corps of sorts. Additionally, while I have not yet looked in to the status quo methods of proliferating the internet, I think that it is clear that these methods are not having a broad enough scope to really solve the problem at hand and whild the current techniques may be helping internet penetration in China and Korea, it is failing to “catch on” in Africa.