ANNOUNCEMENTS
--- Panos Institute is conducting a study of communication technologies in
southern Africa

ARTICLES
--- United Nations and traditional media outlets by Thalif Deen

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In this message, please find the latest collection of snippets concerning

Telematics and Development.

Regards,

Neil Butcher

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NEWS

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Centre for Lifelong Learning Report on Technologies

EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES

Microsoft seems finally to have taken the lead in the Internet browser

battle with its release of Explorer 5. The new browser includes a number of

new features which will cause Netscape to have to scramble to include in

their next version. You can download a free copy from the Microsoft website

Another release from Microsoft is the next generation of their Office suite,

Office 2000. This suite is said to be fully Internet-integrated and will

save files directly to local drives and easily as an Internet web server.

Transparency between Internet and non-Internet work is the watchword in this

release and will, no doubt, find favour with international companies that

wish to take advantage of the Internet for staff working in different

locations around the world.

With the "average" online surfer spending six hours a week on the Internet

in the USA, the online times are stretching and some users report 100 to 150

hours per month of active, online time. For some, this involves playing

games but for an increasing number, this is for work-related activities.

Manufacturers will be racing to produce more Internet-integrated office

suites in an attempt to limit loss of ground to the mammoth Microsoft.

Computer manufacturer, Dell, will begin shipping new PCs with the Linux

operating install along with Windows in future. It is thought this will help

reduce the monopoly situation in which Microsoft now finds itself. Linux is

an example of what can be developed though the free collaboration of

programmers around the world who want to build an operating system. The

software can be downloaded free of charge via the Internet and a few of the

major software suppliers have begun to produce versions of program suites

that will run on it.

The concept of transmitting data over electricity cables is not new but has,

to date not really taken off in a great way. Siemens in Germany is said to

be having discussions with a view to commercialising this possibility within

two years.

The Pentium III processor chips are now available (and still very

expensive). Some reports have been made of processors that are rated above

their capabilities, which amounts to selling a substandard product. If you

are one of the really early adopter of this technology, you can test the

clock speed of your Pentium III by visiting the Intel website. The test

High-speed access to the Internet is the goal of many Internet service

providers and some are turning to the stars for solutions. Hughes

Electronics is proceeding with a US$ 1,4B investment in satellite technology

to offer its clients a 16 megabit uplink and 400 megabit downlink for the

Internet by 2002. At the same time Africa will see the visible returns of

recent launching of communication satellites. Current systems in South

Africa include higher-speed downlinks from satellites but the user must

still connect by telephone line to upload data. A combination of changes in

laws and reducing prices in technology are needed to make this accessible to

individual users.

A privacy flaw was recently exposed in the Microsoft Office suite. This

allowed the program to communicate an identification number that could be

used to identify the originating PC on which a particular document was

created. After being confronted about this, Microsoft posted a fix for the

"bug" on their website. If you go to http://officeupdate.microsoft.com/,

In April IBM unveiled what it claims to be the fastest 64bit, 4-way server.

It is designed to provide businesses with e-business and Internet service at

unparalleled speeds. http://www.ibm.com/products/

Internet service providers that may have been relatively few in 1995 and

1996, have multiplied over the last few years. The more serious-minded

Internet user will frequently have two or more Internet service accounts to

ensure that they are never without, at least one, good Internet connection.

Characteristics of a good service provider were recently listed as:

connection availability, network performance, network capacity, quick

repairs and price. Major providers that met the criteria included: UUnet,

PSINet, Earthlink, Sprint and IBM. Few providers offer a true global service

and even fewer users will use them. If you search your neighbourhood you are

sure to find a small company that will give a good service.

EDUCATION

The race to computerise everything can sometimes blind people to the value

of non-computerised learning packages and programmes. Some leaders of

organisations involved in educational packages are finding that "if it does

not involve computers" they cannot get funding or sell the concept. Computer

literacy is an essential skill, along with reading and all that, but one

should be cautious of an over-correction while entrenching information-age

literacy.

Internet connectivity in Africa continues to lag behind many parts of the

world but as shown above, there is hope of a rapid catch-up over the next

few years. The current state of Internet connectivity in Africa is reflected

on a site maintained by Mike Jensen at http://www3.sn.apc.org/africa/. If

South Africa is deducted from the equation, the current figure for Internet

connectivity in Africa is about 1 in 5000 people whereas the average for the

rest of the world is given as 1 in 38 people.

The Association of African Universities http://www.aau.org/ made

information technology one of its principal themes in striving to revitalise

higher education on the continent. Things are happening fast and with the

support from around the world, great changes will become visible over the

next few years. The universities are in many cases the organisations that

lead the way in establishing Internet service providers, such as they did in

Mozambique, Zambia and other countries.

The improvements in connectivity between institutions in Africa will bring

to an end the isolation of the skilled people in African universities. A

project is underway to establish an Internet directory to support education

and development in Africa. It is hoped that this will form the cornerstone

of a resource to find information to support lecturers, learners and

institutions. The new directory on education in Africa can be found at

Academic staff, who are prepared to post their work on the Internet for

others to access can open websites free of charge. Homestead

to know how to develop a web page. All that is needed is the typed contents

you want to publish and their programs will do the rest. Once you have

posted your personal resume and work on the Homestead site, remember to go

to the Africa directory mentioned above to establish a link. That way other

people will be able to find you and your hard work!

While some countries are struggling to catch-up others have found they have

maybe gone too fast. The California State's Virtual University at:

a "lack of fuel". Grants to the University of US$ 625 000 were said to be

not enough to get the whole concept off the ground.

Educational institutions continue an uphill battle to retain their best

staff. Industry normally pays better and is frequently less bureaucratic and

more entrepreneurial than higher education institutions. Microsoft recently

showed its might again by skimming some of the best brains in US

universities. Microsoft Research will have some 350 researcher and 600

faculty by the end of next year. It spends around US$3B on R&D. Compare that

to the total endowment of Carnegie Mellon at US$600M, add the

entrepreneurial spirit of a commercial company and you will see why the

company can develop much faster than a university.

BUSINESS AND THE INTERNET

The transfer from the industrial age is becoming more visible in the USA

where the government reported that 1,7 million of jobs, at 17 000 locations

in 1997 were in computers and manufacturing. The number of e-mails exceeded

snail mail in 1997 and companies bought more PCs than cars. So long as motor

vehicles continue to crash less often than PCs the roads and motorways

should remain usable!

New business models are the name of the game as we change era, free

computers were given away a while ago in exchange for personal information.

Now 1 000 PCs have been given away in exchange for using Microsoft's online

HomeAdvisor to conclude a home loan of at least US$125 000. Some may mock

this as being an upgrade on giving away free toasters to new customers but

the encouragement of a free PC will certainly attract new business.

Another free PC bonanza is being offered by DirectWeb, an Internet service

provider in Philadelphia. In exchange for unlimited Internet access,

accounts cost between US$19.95 and US$49.95 per month. The higher price will

give the customer a higher-grade computer but the ISP says customers will

not be forced to watch screen advertisements.

Getting a job is important to most people who have not started their own

company yet. Getting the right job is being emphasised in the latest merger

deal between Netscape and America Online. The merger is likely to cause up

to 25% of Netscape's workforce to lose their jobs. Among these people will

be some of those who helped pioneer the present Internet. The trick seems to

be to try continually to increase your personal value to an employer in your

field and make absolutely sure that you strive to be as important a part of

your employer's business as possible.

FEEDBACK

If you have a comment, request or suggestion on this report, please e-mail

it to Paul West at: pgwest@pgw.org.

These reports are available on the Internet at: http://pgw.org/str

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On April 21st the Australian government tabled Internet censorship

legislation, in the most sweeping attack in decades on the freedom of

Australians to read and view what they choose.

Detailed information and analysis can be found at

http://www.efa.org.au/Campaigns/99.html

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ONLINE RESOURCES

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New content via the IDRC Telecentre site (for those who may not have seen

this Report’s article yet) http://www.idrc.ca/pan/telecentres.html

Latin American Telecentres: The Community Networking Pilot Project

by Kelly Cryderman, March 1, 1999,

Reports

"The Internet is coming to indigenous peoples in the Amazon rainforest. The

Community Networking Pilot Project in Ecuador is bringing telecentres

equipped with computers and radio modems to three isolated communities in

northeastern Ecuador - villages where the local environment has been damaged

by oil exploration and production - as part of a broader effort to help

indigenous peoples protect their culture and their lands."

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Self-development ideas

The Personal Space Training and Development website provides a range of

self-development ideas and activities for users to access and use.

http://www.personalspace.co.uk

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Support for Better Business

The Better Business website is a mine of information for small businesses,

entrepreneurs and freelancers. Much of the information is highly relevant to

individuals and small organisations running training and consultancy

operations. Check out the site for newsletters, feature articles and good

advice.

http://www.better-business.co.uk

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Freedom From The Press: Alternative Academic Publication Strategies and the

True Potentials of Information Technology by Mike Sosteric

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An edited book, "The *First* Mile of Connectivity: Advancing

Telecommunications for Rural Development" is now available from the website

of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. The URL for the Sustainable

Development Department:

highlighted on the top of the homepage. The book is edited by Don Richardson

& Lynnita Paisley. If you have any difficulty with the long URL, simply go

to www.fao.org and click on the link to "Sustainable Development" from the

main homepage.

Contents of the book are presented in four sections:

2) Starting with the First Mile of Connectivity: Affordable, Adaptable,

Profitable and Practical Rural Telephone and Telecommunication Systems

3) ICTs as Tools to Support Participatory Communication Initiatives for

Rural and Agricultural Knowledge Systems

4) The Policy Context: The Keystone to Improving Rural Telecommunications

and ICT Application for Development

The First Mile is published by the United Nations Food and Agriculture

Organization (FAO) http://www.fao.org in collaboration with the Don

Snowden Program of the University of Guelph http://www.snowden.org, with

the support of the TeleCommons Development Group

http://www.telecommons.com.

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for Technology in Education (ISTE) site for the NETS (National Educational

Technology Standards for Students). It outlines standards for accrediting

teacher and student competence in using technologies.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

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The Panos Institute is looking to conduct a study of communication

technologies in southern Africa. The study aims "to examine the policy

environments in southern African countries, and to assess the extent to

which policy and technology are likely to address the needs and aspirations

of the politically and economically marginalised".

Panos is keen to avoid duplication of efforts, and has asked me to find out

whether any similar studies/research have been / are being conducted. Panos

would also like its study to build on existing research and information.

Therefore I would be extremely grateful if people could let me know about

any similar research which has taken place, and where it can be found. I

would also be grateful for the co-ordinates (preferably on-line) and/or

details of any other information that may be relevant to the study.

Thank you in advance for you help.

Best wishes.

David Lush

Freelance Journalist

PO Box 8828, Bachbrecht, Windhoek, Namibia

Tel. +264 61 252946

e-mail: shirumbu@iafrica.com.na

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ARTICLES

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By Thalif Deen

UNITED NATIONS, May 4 (IPS) - A coalition of 133 developing countries wants

the United Nations to keep radio, and other traditional media outlets, as a

means of disseminating information rather than relying only on the internet.

The switch to the global information super highway would give an unfair

advantage to rich nations over the poor, say the developing nations.

Ambassador Samuel Insanally of Guyana, chairman of the Group of 77, says

that the introduction of modern information technology increasingly has

favoured rich nations and is detrimental to the peoples of the developing

world ''who are clearly disadvantaged by their lack of access to such

advanced technologies.''

''The gap in information technology is likely to affect inter State

cooperation in a number of areas, including commercial and economic

relations,'' Insanally told the UN Committee on Information Monday.

''The United Nations must ensure that developing nations are more equitably

served,'' he added.

Insanally said that Secretary-General Kofi Annan has admitted that about 90

percent of all access to the UN web site www.un.org comes from industrial

countries. As a result, Annan assured the Group of 77 that the UN's

Department of Public Information will continue to maintain and expand the

use of traditional means of information - including radio and printed

material -because of the constraints faced by developing countries in an age

of computers and the global information superhighway.

Insanally says that despite these assurances, there seems to be little or no

progress in a proposed pilot project for the establishment of a UN

broadcasting facility.

''The radio remains for most of our countries, the major medium for the

dissemination of information,'' he says.

''Our Group would therefore expect that, as attempts are made to introduce

costly, high-tech changes within the United Nations, such as digital

television technology, similar diligent efforts will be made to strengthen

the UN Radio...''

Insanally says there is a need to proceed with the proposed broadcasting

facility in order to reach a world wide audience and thus redress, to some

degree, the imbalances and inequalities between developed and developing

countries in the field of information and communication.

Kensaku Hogen, UN Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public

Information, told the Committee that the United Nations has tested the

viability of an international radio broadcasting facility. But the

development of the long-term project depends on the availability of

substantial extra-budgetary resources. So far, he says, there have been no

concrete financial offers either from member states or private Organisations

which will lead to the establishment of the pilot project.

''In the circumstances, we have no choice but to await such offers, before

commencing with concrete measures on any aspects of the proposal,'' he adds.

Hogen says the UN web site has attracted strong interest by UN member

states. Accesses to the web site have grown exponentially over the past

year.

As of last week, the UN recorded some 45.8 million ''hits'' for this year

compared with 25 million during the corresponding period last year. ''Even

more encouraging is the fact that the UN web site is becoming known around

the world,'' Hogen says.

This year, some 150 countries have gained access to the web site. ''While

the bulk is still from the industrialised countries, current growth

indicators suggest a very rapid and encouraging expansion of accesses from

the developing countries,'' Hogen says.

He also points out that the capacity of the Internet to carry messages

instantaneously around the world has enabled the Department of Public

Information to place a great variety of information materials on it.

Such material included statements by the Secretary-General, reports of major

inter-governmental bodies, daily news highlights, promotional materials on

major UN themes and priorities, and information about major world

conferences and special sessions of the General Assembly.

Hogen says his Department also plans to introduce digital technology which

is expected to replace analog technology in the near future. ''New

technology is indeed a key factor in expanding outreach and in getting

messages to target audiences on time.''

With assistance from UN Information Centres worldwide, the Department's News

Service will transmit breaking news via electronic mail and facsimile

directly to news desks of key media and other opinion-influencing audiences.

The Department also will continue to place planned and coordinated op-ed

articles by senior UN officals in newspapers and other journals around the

world.

''The central focus of the new service will be to ensure that media

everywhere will be able to receive the latest news material from the United

Nations in a redily useable format almost immediately as it is issued at

Headquarters,'' Hogen says. (END/IPS/td/mk/99)

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Telematics for African Development Consortium

P.O. Box 31822

Braamfontein

2017

Johannesburg

South Africa

Tel: +27 +11 403-2813

Fax: +27 +11 403-2814

neilshel@icon.co.za

www.saide.org.za

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