The digital divide is not what it used to be
In this video cast of yesterday's lecture I provide an introduction to the (mobile) Internet in China, Iran, India, the United Arab Emirates, and Africa. How are cell phones used in Africa? Will English-language content dominate the web, net much longer? What are some of the main websites of the Chinese Internet? Why do we talk of an "alternative" Internet in China? Is the phenomenon of user-generated content a global occurrence? Is the created content mostly local or does it have international references (i.e. the infamous Chinese Backstreet Boys video)? Which countries are the worse enemies of the Internet? What is in the way of worldwide access to knowledge? What do you know about the One Laptop Per (Poor) Child Initiative? (Is not the concept that technology can fix social problems problematic?) How do non-profit organizations working in developing countries address issues such as Africa's focus on oral cultures? Which countries pioneer the use of open source software?In the end of this 31 minute long lecture I point to some weblogs, books, videos, and podcasts that deal with the mobile Internet in developing countries.
(To watch the video cast, download this 11 MB “.m4b” file and then open it in QuickTime, resize. Turn your sound on, please.)
[Trebor]
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