RE: [atlarge-discuss] List/website/connectivity

[espresso@e-scape.net]

At 18:30 -0700 2002/10/07, Bruce Young wrote:
>I think what we need in areas that are underdeveloped communications-wise >is
>to look at bypassing older technologies that are pervasive in the US and
>elsewhere, and deploy portable wireless devices.  802.11b chipset prices are
>falling rapidly, and we can expect to see them as standard equipment in
>almost every digital device.  I see something similar to Microsoft's Tablet
>PC (without their price!), maybe running all open-source software, with
>built-in Wi-Fi, and using one of several new organic displays that will be
>very cheap to manufactur in quantity.  This would be less expensive to
>deploy than traditional desktop PCs, would be easier to modify for non-roman
>character sets, and would be more useful being a portable device.

That's all very well, Bruce, but we are in no position to supply the developing countries, or even the poor in our own, with that technology. Not even the UN or the World Bank has come anywhere near a viable plan to deploy the ICTs by 2010, let alone immediately. 

Meanwhile, even if everyone had a Wi-Fi-capable handheld, one would have to take into account the facts that these devices have much smaller displays than current desktop systems and that not everyone has 20/20 vision.

I'm not knocking your suggestion that everyone on the planet *should* have these devices. But I do have to say, as Eric did, that we should be taking present realities into account in our Web site design. What sort of voice can this organization be for all Internet users if we make it impossible for  the less-affluent, the handicapped, and those for whom Internet connections are difficult and expensive to use our own Web site? 

It seems to me that the last thing the planet needs is yet another organization to represent the interests of the technically-inclined and the affluent, which simply dismisses the needs of the rest on the grounds that some day some of them may have what we have now. Isn't that part of what we object to in ICANN's behaviour?

Regards,

Judyth
(looking forward to various efforts to represent the needs
of all to the 2003 World Summit on the Information Society,
and rather surprised that this group doesn't seem to care)


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Judyth Mermelstein     "cogito ergo lego ergo cogito..."
Montreal, QC           <espresso@e-scape.net>
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"A word to the wise is sufficient. For others, use more."
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