Digital divide. (Developing World).

More than half the world's population has never made nor received a telephone call. It goes without saying, but we'll say it anyway, that a larger proportion has never accessed the Internet.

Technologies we take for granted in Canada and the rest of the developed world are unknown and unheard of in many parts of the world. The great majority of technological advances are made by, and for, the rich world. In 1998, nine-tenths of new patents went to the world's 30 richest nations, home to only one-fifth of the planet's population.

The Internet aids scientific research and the exchange of information. Yet, huge areas of the world are without Internet access and they are, therefore, out of the loop; left behind in the race to progress with no hope of catching up.

One key to development is information; without it advancements are slow. The United Nations Human Development Report for 2001 addresses this issue and finds the communications gap between the North and South is widening.

"A new map of innovation and diffusion is appearing," says the report. "Technology growth hubs -- centres that bring together research institutes, business startups, and venture capital -- are dotted across the globe ... linked through technology development networks. But these new networks and opportunities are superimposed on another map that reflects a long history of unevenly [shared] technology, both among and within countries.

"No individual, organization, business or government can ignore these changes.

"The new terrain requires shifts in public policy -- national and global -- to harness today's technological transformations as tools for human development."

Cost is a factor that bars many from access to the Internet. The lowest priced Pentium III computer can be had for about $1,000, but that's way out of reach for millions of people who have a total annual income of less than that. The text-based nature of Internet communication rules out its use by the millions of people in the world who can't read or write. Finally, huge areas of the world's poorer countries have no electricity or telephones. But, some people at the Indian Institute of Science have been working on breaking down these barriers. They have designed a handheld Internet device that costs less than $300; still too expensive for many people but getting closer to universal affordability. The Simputer provides Internet and e-mail access in local languages, and uses solar power and wireless connectivity. It has touch-screen functions, and future versions will have voice recognition and text-to-speech software for illiterate users. At the same time, community Internet access points are being set up in other developing countries.

Internet access through wireless devices, including mobile phones, is expected to outstrip personal computer access by 2005. This means that people and business in the developing world will be more able to access valuable Internet-based information.

Developing World Internet Users -- as
percentage of population

                          1998   2000

Latin America/Caribbean   0.8    3.2
East Asia/Pacific         0.5    2.3
E. Europe/former          0.8    3.9
  Soviet Union
Arab States               0.2    0.6
Sub-Saharan Africa        0.1    0.4
South Asia                0.04   0.4
World                     2.4    6.7

Source: UN Human Development Report Office

While more than half of all Canadians now use the Internet, the huge
majority of people in the development world remain unconnected. There
are wide disparities in use within countries also. In the Dominican
Republic, 80% of Internet users live in capital Santo Domingo. In
Thailand, 90% of users live in cities, but 79% of the population lives
rural areas. In Chile, 89% of Internet users have post-secondary
education. Men make up 86% of Internet users in Ehiopia, 83% in
Senegal, 70% in China, and 62% in Latin America. An everywhere, the
young are more likely to be connected than the old; in China 84% of
users are under 35.

FACT FILE

The cost of transmitting a trillion bits of information from Vancouver to Halifax has fallen from $200,000 in 1970 to 16 cents today.

Websites

Human Development Report http://www.undp.org/hdr2001/

Simputer http://www.simputer.org/

RELATED ARTICLE: Indian success.

A RURAL communications system has been set up near Pondi-cherry in India. The Internet connection is powered using a combination of solar and electrical energy and a mixture of wired and wireless hook ups. Farmers are able to use the system to get information on market prices, which helps them negotiate better with wholesalers. Fishers can download satellite images so they can locate the fish. Internet connections with other villages have helped people exchange information on farming techniques, negotiating loans, and find business and education opportunities. About a third of the users are from families that have almost no assets and very little income.