Wagner, D. A. 2001, ‘IT and education for the poorest of the poor: constraints,

possibilities and principles’, Techknowlogia, July/August 2001, pps. 48 – 50,

viewed 23 July 2009, <http://www.literacy.org/products/WagnerTechKnowLogiaArticle.pdf>.

 

I will use this source to inform my discussion of the Global Digital Divide. In this piece Wagner is discussing the implications that information and communications technologies can have on the lives of poverty stricken populations. He outlines the challenges for poor communities in the developing world and stresses the interconnectedness of literacy and ICT tools and skills. He discusses the role that ICT can play in overcoming poverty in these areas.  Wagner states that between two and three billion people, roughly half the world's total population, are in need of these skills.

Additionally this piece focuses on the digital divide as a broad development gap including social and cultural factors as well as technical needs in poor areas. This relates to my paper by setting up the context for what the digital divide is, why it is relevant to international and national policy makers, and what the potential benefits may result from closing the gap.  Wagner outlines some core principles that are necessary in closing the digital divide.  First, today ICT tools are too cheap to ignore and may offer more cost effective solutions to poor areas than ever before possible.  Additionally, he stresses the interconnectedness of literacy and technology in today's world, and the need for culturally-sensitive ICT tools.  Finally, he places emphasis on the collaboration of the private, public, and civil society sectors in bridging the digital divide.  Due to the complexity of the issues, no one sector will be successful if acting alone.  I will be able to use these core principles to evaluate some of the GAID projects I will discuss in my research paper.

This research paper will focus on the role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in achieving the United Nations (UN) Millennium Development Goals (MDG). The specific issue I will focus on is the debate regarding Open Source Software (OSS) and its potential for spreading ICT's to developing nations at lower costs than proprietary software. I will investigate the UN's Global Alliance for ICT and Development (GAID) and the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). Also I will look at some development projects that have benefitted from the use of OSS and present arguments in opposition to OSS. The first part of this paper will analyze the concept of the Global Digital Divide and how it impacts other social problems such as poverty, literacy disparities, etc. Next, I will discuss efforts by the UN to use ICT in the achievement of the MDGs. Specifically I will focus on the creation of the GAID as a forum for addressing issues surrounding the digital divide and international development policy. Finally, I will discuss the specific issue of Open Source Software. This is one area of ICT development that may have potential for bringing low cost and efficient technologies to impoverished communities to improve lives. Some development projects have been successful in their use of Open Source Software, such as the non-profit organization Inveneo. However, Open Source Software does have is critics, and I will discuss these views as well.