Technology Developments for Villages in Developing Countries

applied science Developments for Villages in Developing CountriesThither is an urgent need to examine the catalytic and enabling role to be played by the government in ensuring that IT provides new opportunities for the 40 per cent of the commonwealth who atomic number 18 backup below the poverty line, so that they may move above it.Government of India Working Group on In bounceation Technology for MassesWrite an essay, that highlights examples that support the second opinion i) Describe 6 diverse case studies that show how the technology is universe used in small towns in ontogenesis countries (South-East Asia, Africa, Latin America) ii) value each case, commenting whether you believe it is beneficial to the community or not and whether those same case studies croupe be used by supporters of the first opinion above.Case StudiesBalaghat, IndiaAs describe by Sumeet Chatterjee (2001) the IT initiatives in this village constitute a great example of the wide variety of applicatio ns for IT in bewildering countries. The district is verdant and the core industries be farming and mineral extraction with the majority of the mess being poor. A major problem in the area is corruption of government officials. People need papers to prove buck ownership and former(a) official documents and prior to the IT projects arrival it typically took weeks to obtain and postulate expensive payments to officials. Now a villager can go to the local Soochnalaya ( training centre) and relieve oneself the entropy in transactions and for a fraction of the cost. Other information of interest to the villagers such as crop data, rainfall patterns and other documentation are available.The centralized internet point is a key aspect in transport IT to the masses. Without government funding to buy a computer and set up the infrastructure there would be no Soochnalayas. IT in this case is a major benefit to the people of the region as it turns information at a low cost which is e xactly what these people need to assistant them in the pare to develop.Padinettankudi, IndiaIn an online article most this rural village in India Mukti Jain Campion (2002) relates an anecdote about how IT is being used to treat health problems in areas without access to medical exam technology. In this town an entrepreneur-run domain internet affection was set up with the help of a large Indian IT government and snobbish venture with the aim of bringing IT to the masses. For few rupees email, information and government forms to the rural poor.In the case described the internet also serves an important medical service to the people of the area. Only 40km a air lies the Aravind Eye Hospital, a hospital dedicated to treating eye problems and where money is not an issue. The problem is having access to patients as majority of people are unable to get to the hospital without considerable difficulty. So at the internet centre a webcam is used to take photos of the symptoms and onlin e chat can be used to talk with the patient. Sound medical advice can then be given for the cost of a few rupees. This is a fantastic application of IT in development and the available benefits are enormous.Capetown, South AfricaWhen describing IT initiatives often only computers and internet access are mentioned only IT involves so much to a greater extent. In South Africa HIV is a major issue with over15% of the population being infected by this terminal disease (Nick Miles. 2005). The SA government has begun to allot drugs to the people who need them but charge track of the patients and having animates to check on them all is expensive in terms of both time and money. This is where IT enters the scene. apply mobile phones a non-medical aid worker can interview dozens of people and record the information in the phone. The survey results are then sent by text message to a center where the data is entered into computer software. The software can identify people who need attentio n and a doctor can pull up the record of any patient and see up to date information. The benefits are obvious.Cuba, Brazil and Open-SourceThe cost of software is often a major percentage of the price of a computer. A copy of Windows XP costs significantly more than the average person in the developing orbit makes in a day. Despite Microsofts initiative to sell Windows at reduced costs to developing nations, free is preferred to paying a fee and nations like Cuba and Brazil are exploring free OS choices.In a 2004 article Mark Ashurst describes how Brazil is attempting to move from Windows to open-source Linux. There is political acerbity against Microsoft but there is also the attraction of free software and no licensing fees that attract people form Windows to Linux. Also susceptibility to viruses and the cost of a network going down also drive people to Linux. Ashurst describes the state of the switch to Linux in terms that almost 1/3 of computers will soon have Linux installed.C uba is following suit and recently announced a government initiative to switch all computers to Linux (Computer headache Review, 2005).Whether this IT initiative with greatly benefit the people of these countries remains to be seen. Linux may be cheaper but it requires more training and long term benefits are hard to predict though with reduced costs possible more computers could be distributed.SamoaThe Samoan government recently announced a nationwide initiative to bring internet to every person in the country (Prosser, 2004). The government has taken this step to help isolated Samoa increase communication with developed nations in hopes of boosting GDP and therefore standards of living. In the nation of 180,000 only 2% of people use the internet and trade with other nations is difficult to facilitate as New Zealand is the close-set(prenominal) developed nation at a 4hr flight away.The Samoan government has received help from the join Nations Development Programme and is using the money to expand the IT infrastructure. Computers are being placed in schools to help children develop IT skills and also in community centers to allow people access to information and even medical help.This case is similar to the Indian cases where a single internet centre in a village can make a large difference in the lives of people.Taita Taveta, KenyaIn Africa there exists the Association for reformist Communications prize which rewards innovative IT projects in Africa. Last years winner was the Global gentility Partnership Wundanyib which is a non-profit computer training programme in one of the poorest regions of Kenya (Association for Progressive Computing, 2005). The project aims to develop business skills in people aged 15-24, training them using IT for setting up their own business. In 9 years nearly 1000 people have graduated and 200 of these were awarded capital to absorb a business. In Taita Taveta the unemployment rate is 66% so job prospects are hard to come b y. By focusing on youth and entrepreneurs the region benefits greatly if any business are started. The youth are given hope and a reason to stay and develop their region.ConclusionEach case examined here shows the advantages of IT in plans for development. The cases show ways to improve lives through IT in a variety of avenues, paving the way for regional and national development. The Government of India Working Group on Information Technology for Masses literary argument is correct and bringing IT to poor areas is an important catalyst for development.BibliographyAshurst, Mark. 2004. Brazil falls in love with Linux. open from http//news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3445805.stm.Association for Progressive Computing, 2005. Winner of the 2004/5 APC Africa Hafkin Communications Prize. procurable from http//www.apc.org./english/hafkin/2004/winner.shtml. Copyleft Association for Progressive Communications APC 1999 2005.Campion, Mukti Jain. 2002. Connecting the villages. Available from htt p//news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/2044878.stm. British Broadcasting Corporation.Chatterjee, Sumeet. 2001. Indian village takes to IT to tackle corruption. Available from http//www.apnic.net/mailing-lists/s-asia-it/archive/2001/09/msg00019.html. Indo-Asian News ServiceComputer dividing line Review. 2005. Cuba joins the Linux revolution. Available from http//www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=9B077C17-C2F9-4472-8B28-25F0B19E2F8A.. Computer Business Review.Miles, Nick. 2005. Texting to help SA HIV patients. Available from http//news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4437447.stm. British Broadcasting Corporation.Prosser, David. 2004. Samoa plans internet for all. Available from http//news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3590354.stm. . British Broadcasting Corporation.