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@fric@ and Bust: On the Dialectics of Technology and Development
By Geert Lovink and Patrice Riemens. This article, largely critical of past development efforts and Africa's alleged decay, wonders what the new information technology has to offer. "Thclash between the slow time of Africa and the absent time of the Net couldn't be more acute, and it is impossible to interpret the result."
Last updated on 1/16/98 by Dirk Staatsen
 
"Africa-Development": More Than Just Internet Connections Required
by Gumisai Mutume
Last updated on 1/6/98 by Dirk Staatsen. Submitted by Cliff Missen
 
African Internet Status
This article by Mike Jensen written in July 99 updates the current Internet status of African Countries.
Submitted on 3/21/00 by Rick Brenneman
 
African Connectivity, Problems, Solutions and Actions:
     Some Recommendations from Inet'96 by Lishan Adam
Last updated on 1/6/98 by Dirk Staatsen. Submitted by Cliff Missen
 
A Guide to Improving Internet Access in Africa with Wireless Technologies
IDRC Study
August 31st 1996
Mike Jensen mikej@wn.apc.org
Last updated on 1/6/98 by Dirk Staatsen. Submitted by Cliff Missen
 
Applying the Lessons of Participatory Communication and Training to Rural
     Telecentres
by Jon Anderson, L. Van Crowder, David Dion, Wendy Truelovec (1997)
This paper reviews the efforts being made to construct rural telecentres
but poses questions about the appropriateness of the technology and what is being done to accomodate the needs and abilities of the rural users.
"New information and communications technologies, in particular the
Internet, offer a potentially powerful tool for contributing to rural
development. However, the introduction of these tools into rural settings through telecentres will inevitably be accompanied by many of the same constraints and difficulties experienced with previous technology transfer attempts."
Last updated on 1/16/98 by Dirk Staatsen
 
At Ease with Email
This provides copies of an excellent handbook on email for International NGO's. The book is available in English, Spanish and French.
Last updated on 3/23/00 by Rick Brenneman Submitted by Alex Janosek
Emerging Internet

In the summer of 1996, the Institute for Information Studies, a joint project of The Aspen Institute and Nortel, sponsored a conference on the future of the Internet. That meeting produced The Internet as Paradigm, a collection of articles examining the implications of the Internet as "an emergent paradigm, one whose lineaments are neither fully realized nor defined, but that by virtue of its obvious imaginative power characterizes and reshapes all it touches." That imaginative power fueled a second Internet conference, held in the summer of 1997. This volume, The Emerging Internet, is the product of that meeting.

Introduction by Arthur A. Bushkin

Sovereignty in the Networked World by Michael R. Nelson

The New "Civic Virtue" of the Internet by David R. Johnson and David G. Post

The Internet and Community by Jeffrey Abramson

Will the Internet Transform Higher Education? by Walter S. Baer

The Internet and Electronic Commerce: A Tale of Three Cities by Elliot Maxwell

Development and the Globalization of Cyberspace by Heather E. Hudson

Submitted on 4/20/00 by Rick Brenneman

 
Going Digital
By PAUL CONSTANCE. This article tells the story behind Inter-American Development Bank's Informatics 2000 Initiative. It offers some reasons for investing in digital communication as well as some analysis of the hurdles to overcome.
Last updated on 3/17/00 by Rick Brenneman
 
Information Technology/Telematics
This site gives more information on a series of lectures held on Information Technology/Telematics in Developing Countries. RAWOO, the Advisory Council for Scientific Research in Development Problems, organizes these lectures. This council advises the Dutch government on matters involving research that is important for developing countries. Lecture topics include "Investigating the Digital World," "Information and Communication Technology: How does it Help?!," "Digitalization: Globalization and Privatization" and others.
Last updated on 3/17/00 by Rick Brenneman. Submitted by Alex Janosek
 
Making the Difference
Measuring the Impact of Information on Development: Proceedings of a Workshop held in Ottawa, Canada, 10–12 July 1995.
Edited by Paul McConnel
Last updated on 4/4/00 by Rick Brenneman
International E-mail Accessibility
This provides detailed lists and information on country codes and connectivity. It also provides a Connectivity FAQ.
Last updated on 1/6/98 by Dirk Staatsen. Submitted by Alex Janosek
Internet Access in the World**
The US is constantly advancing by developing new software, creating the best infrastructure for computer mediated communications and giving opportunities that do not end for the users. As a result of the opportunities created in this country, the net has become really global only within the US. The rest of the world ambitiously is trying to follow the path so that they can keep up with the competition and the development that the US is taking.
Submitted on 3/21/00 by Rick Brenneman
 
Internet and Rural Development: Recommendations for Strategy and
    Activity Final Report and Executive Summary
Prepared for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
by Dr. Don Richardson. A broad-ranging analysis of the current state of digital communication technlogies in the developing world. This report is rich with resources, facts and figures. While essentially a document to underline the FAO's activities, the information and ideas presented here are relevant to all in the field.
Last updated on 1/16/98 by Dirk Staatsen
Internet for the People
The Peruvian Scientific Network/Internet Peru (RCP ) is bringing the Internet to low-income users in underdeveloped areas of Peru via via "cabinas públicas" that offer Internet connected computers for as little as $1 an hour.
Last updated on 1/16/98 by Dirk Staatsen
 
Internet Unwired
By Michiel Hegener (Sept 1997) A very readable analysis of the current move towards satellite-based Internetworking. Highlights the technical issues and describes the projects currently underway.
Last updated on 3/30/00 by Rick Brenneman
 
Low Cost WWW Access Internet Model for Third World Countries
By Zubair A. Shaikh, Ph.D. et al. (1995) This paper provides a wide ranging analysis of the Internet and it potential, drawing on the authors' experiences and knowledge of Internet development in Pakistan.
Last updated on 1/16/98 by Dirk Staatsen
 
"Netizens: On the History and Impact of Usenet and the Internet." 
Netbook by Michael  and Ronda Hauben 
Last updated on 4/4/00 by Rick Brenneman
Networks and CD-ROMs Aid Research, Dev. and Education in Zimbabwe
This is an article by Tim Buxton at the University of Zimbabwe. It summarizes the situation and potential in Zimbabwe at the end of 1994 with regard to computers, communications and information. It is in the January 1995 T.H.E Journal.
Last updated 3/22/00 by Rick Brenneman
 
Papers & Proceedings
    
Symposium on African Telematics- Ethiopia, April 3-7, 1995
Of particular note:
Telematics for Development by Michael Jensen
Last updated on 1/16/98 by Dirk Staatsen

"Partnerships and Participation in Telecommunication for Rural Development"
     Release of Conference Proceedings.

Conference proceedings for the "Partnerships and Participation in Telecommunication for Rural Development" Conference, hosted by the Don Snowden Program for Development Communication at the University of Guelph, Canada on October 26 & 27, 1998 are now on-line at: http://www.telecommons.com
For further information, contact info@snowden.org
Last updated on 3/21/00 by Rick Brenneman

Technology Revolution Study
Mr. Hans d'Orville. UNDP's Bureau for Policy and Programme Support
 
Perhaps the best overall assssment to-date of digital communication technology's role in development. This article includes lots of easy-to-understand technical information, examples, facts and figures.
Last updated on 3/22/00 by Rick Brenneman
 
Telecommunications in Africa - via Internet in Particular
by Michiel Hegener (1996) A well-documented and thoughtful survey and critique of the status of the Internet in Africa. Provides solid examples of the efforts to create connectivity, the players in the field, and the hurdles to be overcome.
Last updated on 3/17/00 by Rick Brenneman
 
The Internet and Middle East Studies
By Hosaka Shuji (1997) JIME Review. A paper describing in detail the state of the Internet in the Middle East and its application to Middle Eastern studies.  Reproduced by permission of Japanese Institute of Middle Eastern Economies (JIME)
Last updated on 2/13/01 by Bonnie Pedersen.
 
  The African Internet Service Provider Database
This sites serves as a guide to The AAAS Africa Program's list of databases and listings of African country's internet capabilities and related material.
Last updated on 2/13/01 by Bonnie Pedersen.
 
Information and Communication Infrastructure in Africa
Provided by the American Association for the Advancement of Science(AAAS) Sub-Saharan Africa Program, this is a country-by-country listing of Internet services and their capabilities. This database was created by Mike Jensen on behalf of the African Information Society Initiative with the collaboration of Bellanet.
Submitted on 2/13/01 by Bonnie Pedersen.
 
The Network Startup Resource Center
Provides reports and papers about networking in particular African countries, connectivity and topology maps for the regions, Africa/MidEast exchange points, and links to each country.
Submitted on 2/13/01 by Bonnie Pedersen.
African Internet Connectivity Directory
Also known as "Mike Jensen's Directory."  (Mike Jensen is an African networking pioneer who keeps close track of developments in the region).
Submitted on 2/13/01 by Bonnie Pedersen.
 
Wiring Africa
You go to a small village in Africa. People are hungry. Is the real solution 100 kilograms of corn - or an electronic mailbox?
Last updated on 6/12/98 by Dirk Staatsen
 
World Internet Connectivity
This map, another by Larry Landweber, shows that most countries have some sort of Internet connectivity, but no indication of how many people use the Internet.
Submitted on 2/13/01 by Bonnie Pedersen.
 
Internet for the Third World: Chance or Threat? (Oktober 1997)
The use of Internet in Third World has its benefits, but usually only
the elite of the countries will profit from it. By Uwe Afemann.
Submitted on 4/5/00 by Rick Brenneman
 
THE INTERNET AND POVERTY: Real help or real hype? (April 1998)
Governments, donors and development organisations are rushing to realise the benefits that Internet access promises in the fight against poverty. But are the benefits it has brought so far merely isolated examples or are they signs that a revolution is underway?
Submitted on 4/5/00 by Rick Brenneman
The Internet and the South: Superhighway or Dirt-track? (Oktober 1995)
Hopes and fears of the electronic future
What does the internet mean for its users?
Who set up the internet?
Why has the internet spread so fast?
Submitted on 4/5/00  by Rick Brenneman
Challenges to the Network: Internet for Development, 1999 (February 1999)
The ITU's Telecommunication Indicator Reports present an analysis of trends and developments in the global telecommunications sector, backed 
by official statistics from the world's leading source of telecommunication information.
Submitted on 4/5/00  by Rick Brenneman
Information Technologies: Articles and Links
At a time when the world confronts immense social problems, many hopes for progress are grounded in the development potential of new information technologies. But technical breakthroughs in themselves are not a sufficient condition for improving the lives of most people in Third World countries.
Submitted on 4/5/00  by Rick Brenneman
CEOs Discuss "Digital Divide," September 10, 1999, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
At a time when the world confronts immense social problems, many hopes for progress are grounded in the development potential of new information technologies. But technical breakthroughs in themselves are not a sufficient condition for improving the lives of most people in Third World countries.
Submitted on 4/5/00  by Rick Brenneman
Supporting Women's Use of Technologies for Sustainable Development
Submitted to the Gender and Sustainable Development Unit, IDRC 18 February 1997 Prepared by Sophia Huyer Women in Global Science and Technology.
Submitted on 4/14/00  by Rick Brenneman
Creating Virtual Learning Communities in Africa: Challenges and Prospects
This paper discusses the growing application of information communications
technologies in Africa and other parts of the world. It examines the growing
global information technology revolution and how it is transforming
educational institutions. It then discusses the state of distance education
in Africa, identifying the institutions offering distance education and the
nature of the delivery platform used. The prospects and challenges in
introducing distance education to Africa tertiary institutions is discussed.
Finally, it offers suggestions to overcome the challenges confronting
technology-based education in Africa. 
By Osei Darkwa and Fikile Mazibuko
Submitted on 5/02/00  by Rick Brenneman
 
Connecting Women from Developing Countries to the Internet: Searching for  the Appropriate Paradigm
Women from developing countries, using the Internet for gender activism, have specific Internet needs - and even among this ‘group’ the needs vary. These users further represent women on the grassroots level without access to computer networks.  By Ellen S. Kole
Submitted on 2/15/01 by Bonnie Pedersen.

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A New Satellite Connection to the Internet

Summary: Steve Cisler, Advisor, Tachyon, Inc. discusses a new satellite service he is working with. The article was written for the December 1998 print version of Community Networking, the newsletter of the Association For Community Networking <bcn.boulder.co.us/afcn>.

High Rates Limit Net Access in Sudan

Sunday, February 15, 1998: The Tech Channel
 
Summary: Sudan's sole Internet Service Provider (ISP) started operations last January. With 300 subscribers, the company does not expect to sign up more than an additional 500 hundred during this year.

The Internet and the Developing World

British Medical Journal 1998 ; 316:1111 (11 April )

Summary: Richard Smith talked to India's premier information scientist, Subbiah Arunachalam, about whether the internet will solve the information problems of the developing world.

World Wide Wireless

New York Times, 2 June 1998

Summary: A new wireless phone that can operate without modification on different continents has been developed.