http://www.centralchronicle.com/20080506/0605301.htm

The great digital divide
Computers were never the source of any one's poverty and as for
escaping poverty what people do for themselves matters more than what
technology could for them.

No doubt, India is acknowledged as the Mecca of IT and software
services' industry. But the digital divide is as wide as in any
developing country. For instance, in Bangalore considered the Silicon
Valley of India, the gap between those having access to computers and
those forced to do without it is quite striking.

A recent study by a global technology company points out that there is
just one PC for every 50 Indians. "The country has one PC (Personal
Computer) for every 50 Indians today. This represents a watershed era
in the history of the Indian market. However, we still have to go
miles as a country to evolve an eco system that would help take this
trend to the next level so that the benefits of computerization reach
the masses", says its India Manager, Kapil Dev Singh. And as pointed
out by Philp Clay of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
one should not expect instant miracles in bridging the digital divide
and creating digital villages.

Clearly, computer connectivity holds the key to usher in a veritable
"knowledge revolution" which has the potential to spur the
socio-economic progress in its varying manifestations. Indeed, the
former Indian President has been stressing on the need to give
quickening impetus to the process of "knowledge revolution in India".
As one commentator has put it, "Computers were never the source of any
one's poverty and as for escaping poverty what people do for
themselves matters more than what technology could for them".

However, many bold and imaginative attempts made in India to boost the
penetration of PC through the introduction of "affordable and low
cost" computing devices have failed to meet their desired objectives.
For instance, even after five years of its much acclaimed
introduction, Simputer, India's own low-cost computing device,
designed and developed by a team of computer scientists from
Bangalore-based Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in association with
the Indian IT industry has failed to make an impact on India's
computer connectivity scenario.

Touted as multi-purpose, easy to handle computing system, well-suited
to bridge the digital divide in the country, Simputer, is yet to
become popular. It was originally envisaged that shared Simputers
would be made available to village schools, community halls or other
areas where common facilities are usually free. However, the failure
of the promoters of Simptuer to tune to the specific needs of the
targeted user community is believed to be the major reason for its
slow penetration.

It may be recalled that not long back the Union Government had
rejected the proposal of MIT Media Lab to popularize US$100 laptop in
the Indian market. For the Centre had found the product was not suited
to the Indian needs. The argument was that US$100 investment on a
laptop could be spent more productively in other ways. "We cannot
visualize a situation for decades when we can go beyond the pilot
stage. We need classrooms and tables more urgently than any fancy
toys" says a government spokesman.

On a more practical plan, serious doubts have been raised as to
whether there is enough evidence to prove that children would
spontaneously be interested in seeking out educational materials and
interacting with the rest of the world with low-cost computers.
Further, there is also concern whether developing nations can set up a
robust network in the rural areas.

For precisely these reasons the idea of Nichola Negroponte, one of the
promoters of MIT Media Lab and a staunch champion of low-cost
computing systems, to make available low-cost laptops to children of
the third world has hit an unexpected roadblock. There is lukewarm
response to the US $100 laptop proposal. For here again there is a
concern whether children and teachers who have never seen a computer
would be in a position to use them in a productive educational way.

It was in 2005 that Negroponte unveiled his by now famous "One Laptop
per Child (OLPC) programme aimed at bridging the digital device in the
third world countries. The idea was to distribute around 150-million
low-cost laptops to the world's poorest school children through the
support of governments, the IT industry and voluntary organizations.
Significantly, Negroponte had sought a pledge from developing
countries to buy such laptops in bulk.

Regrettably, very few third world countries came forward to back-up
the project under which Negropone and his 20-member team had created a
rugged, innovative laptop and smart software for learning. In
particular, this green and white mini device designed to operate with
very little power supply and also resist adverse environmental and
weather conditions failed to find favour with most third world
governments.

The global chip giant Intel which had earlier partnered with
Negroponte's project has now come out with its own version of the
low-cost computer model. In fact, Libya showed preference for the
Intel system. In India, Intel has tied up with HCL Info systems to
popularize its low priced Intel powered classmate PC. Not to be left
behind, Indian IT companies like Wipro and Zenith have too initiated
their plans to market low cost computing systems. Interestingly, the
Classmate PC forms a part of Intel's pilot programme to improve
education in developing countries.

On another front, the software giant Microsoft is also working towards
making computer systems affordable by reducing the cost of software.
Microsoft has already stated that it will offer developing countries a
US $3 software package that includes window, a student version of
Microsoft Office and educational programmes.

As pointed out by a research analyst affordability is not the basic
constraint before the PC market in India. For in the ultimate analysis
to what extent a low cost computing system would be put to use is the
crux of the problem.

Radhakrishna Rao, INFA
--
Frederick FN Noronha * Independent Journalist
http://fn.goa-india.org * Phone +91-832-2409490
Cell +91-9970157402 (sometimes out of range)
http://www.youtube.com/user/fredericknoronha