Even in Well-Off Nations, the Digital Divide Is Evident
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Even
in well-off nations that are part of the "first world," this digital
divide is clearly present.
But
at least in the United States and Western Europe, resources exist. Internet
access is available free in schools and libraries, broadband communications
technology is spreading, albeit slowly and painfully in some places, and the
price of the technology is dropping in places. But this doesn't help much in
areas where a good job will net you a dollar a day.
When
you're making a dollar a day, even a basic cell phone is a major investment. A
smartphone may be a fantasy. Wireless service is a major expense. Yet, where
these devices have penetrated, they are already changing the lives of millions
of people, from farmers to fishermen to office workers. Even some form of
communication with the world is a major improvement, and it makes life far
better than nothing at all.
So
the next question is about those who have nothing at all.
If
the lives of those people are to be improved by technology, there must be a way
for them to have access. But governments can't do this, although governments
can be enablers. Private industry can't do this because the job is too big. So
where does the answer lie?
Perhaps
the answer is in something that Schmidt alluded to, but didn't mention
directly. He pointed out the massive response from the world to help the
Japanese people following the earthquake and tsunami that devastated the region
in 2011. But the community can do much more. Perhaps communities of those who
have can help spread access to information to those who have not. Perhaps once
helped, those next communities can pass that along to other communities in
need. If there is a place where Eric Schmidt can help, this is the place, not
in providing a search engine, but in helping communities form and help each
other.
The
payoff for Google may be far down the road, but in the meantime, Schmidt and
his company will be helping that part of the world, and eventually will help create that payoff.
Wayne Rash is a Senior Analyst for eWEEK Labs and runs the magazine's Washington Bureau. Prior to joining eWEEK as a Senior Writer on wireless technology, he was a Senior Contributing Editor and previously a Senior Analyst in the InfoWorld Test Center. He was also a reviewer for Federal Computer Week and Information Security Magazine. Previously, he ran the reviews and events departments at CMP's InternetWeek.He is a retired naval officer, a former principal at American Management Systems and a long-time columnist for Byte Magazine. He is a regular contributor to Plane & Pilot Magazine and The Washington Post.
