Ken Novak: Digital DevelopmentCommunications and info tech in developing countries, especially wireless broadband and high-value applications(Untitled)- March 31, 2004 UN CONFERENCE ON WIRELESS INTERNET INITIATIVES: "The 'Wireless Internet for Underserved Populations and Local Communities' programme had been designed to achieve one of the leading development goals of our time -- universal connectivity. The initiative involves all key stakeholders, from government and civil society to the private sector and field practitioners. Among global partners participating in the programme, are IBM, Intel, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United...http://www.novak.com/weblog/categories/digitalDevelopment/2004/03/31.html#a1838 (Untitled)- March 31, 2004 Indian Lake Unwired: Dal lake in Srinagar, Kashmir, now has WiFi service available for the houseboats.http://www.novak.com/weblog/categories/digitalDevelopment/2004/03/30.html#a1827 (Untitled)- March 24, 2004 Cuba restricts Internet to those with hard currency: 20040130 "The Cuban government plans to prohibit access to Internet from telephones paid for in local currency, a move seen as directed in part against the Church. Since January 14, access to Internet from phones is only allowed for lines paid for in dollars. Generally, only businesses and foreigners can pay for such lines."http://www.novak.com/weblog/categories/digitalDevelopment/2004/03/23.html#a1810 (Untitled)- March 24, 2004 Key stats on development: ' "Madness is running over our planet" said World Bank President James Wolfensohn addressing students at Stanford University.. World development help is running at about $56 billion a year, he said, while military expenditures are almost 20 times higher at more than $900 billion. Subsidies and tariff protections for world agriculture, including large commercial interests, reach about $350 billion a year. "This is a huge frustration. We have to find a...http://www.novak.com/weblog/categories/digitalDevelopment/2004/03/23.html#a1809 (Untitled)- March 22, 2004 Combining Renewable Energy With Information And Communication Technologies: a New Solution to Rural Poverty And Global Competitiveness: Nice to see a UN panel endorsing the concept: "Combining the use of renewable energy, such as solar power, with wireless technologies and energy efficient computers should be a key strategy for developing nations in addressing the rural development crisis and in improving global competitiveness. This was the central conclusion of the Task Force for...http://www.novak.com/weblog/categories/digitalDevelopment/2004/03/21.html#a1807 (Untitled)- March 19, 2004 Microsoft goes even more global: "The latest versions of the company's dominant Windows computer operating system and popular Office software will soon be available in languages ranging from Ethiopia's Amharic to Inuktitut of the Arctic's Inuit, under a project between Microsoft and various local governments and universities. The Local Language Program has already resulted in a Hindi version of Microsoft's software, and there are plans to make Windows and Office available in a total of...http://www.novak.com/weblog/categories/digitalDevelopment/2004/03/19.html#a1791 (Untitled)- March 19, 2004 WiFi paid hotspots disappoint: Hotspots worldwide generate $80myr, in the US $28m -- "what Verizon Wireless generates every 12 hours" with cell phones. Analysts expect that no hotspot provider will make money before the end of 2005. Cometa has built only 230 hotspots and won't say how many of the original 20,000 planned will actually get built. In Asia, providers are selling access at lower prices. In S Korea, one provider offers unlimted wifi for $13mo, or only...http://www.novak.com/weblog/categories/digitalDevelopment/2004/03/19.html#a1788 (Untitled)- March 11, 2004 Radio E-mail in West Africa: IRC uses a Codan-based HF radio email network, using Qmail and other open-source packages on salvaged computers. "The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has one of their largest operations in Guinea, providing services and support to a population of up to 200,000 refugees quartered in many camps established throughout the country. I became involved with IRC when my wife accepted the position of Country Director for the program in the summer of...http://www.novak.com/weblog/categories/digitalDevelopment/2004/03/11.html#a1764 (Untitled)- March 5, 2004 Mobiles 'narrow information gap': "The Washington-based Worldwatch Institute says that in developing countries, the proportion of people with access to a phone has grown over the past 10 years by more than 25%. One in five of the world's population had used a mobile phone by 2002, it reports - up from one in 237 in 1992. In 2002, for the first time, the number of mobile phone subscribers (1.15 billion) was greater than the number of fixed-line connections (1.05 billion). The...http://www.novak.com/weblog/categories/digitalDevelopment/2004/03/04.html#a1753 |