| I was just reading Jeremiah Owyang's post | | | | units for their computer classes. This means |
| titled, Internet Usage in Third World | | | | that if there are 40 students in one class, |
| Countries and couldn't help but to agree that | | | | 10 students are in one unit. The same |
| third world countries are still far from | | | | struggle could be seen here in the |
| Internet technology awareness. While America | | | | Philippines. Many students from provinces |
| is currently in debate of how the flow of | | | | suffer lack of IT knowledge because computer |
| Internet information (IT) could be handled | | | | subject for them is just a matter of "special |
| and censored, most third world countries are | | | | course" than treated as one of their major |
| struggling to have their own computers in | | | | subjects. I have a cousin that really has no |
| their institutions and at home. The figures | | | | idea on how to open a computer! Though I may |
| below by do not surprise me, but they are | | | | sound too harsh for these poor people, this |
| very alarming as I am also a believer of | | | | is only to address that the on-going problem |
| Internet's many advantages to society: | | | | could create major impact to a country. |
| •North America is only 5% of the world | | | | Knowledge on Internet technology brings |
| although 68% is online •Asia is 56% of | | | | competitiveness and a whole lot more in terms |
| the World 10% is online (but the largest | | | | of bridging cultures, communicating to |
| amount of internet users anywhere) | | | | individuals and people in distant places, |
| •Latin America is 8% of the world, but | | | | establishing business relationships, creating |
| has 14% online •Europe is 12% of the | | | | stronger economy, etc. However, I also |
| world with 36% online. •The growth | | | | understand that computers and the Internet |
| column shows Africa, Middle East, Latin | | | | are least of their concerns because there are |
| America to explode in internet usage over the | | | | still bunch of problems that really need |
| last 5 years As previously mentioned, money | | | | immediate attention like food, shelter, and |
| is still the major reason for such problem. | | | | clothing. (Sigh) I guess we could not do more |
| In India, for example, there are a lot of | | | | about this but to offer our deepest and |
| schools that only have two to four computer | | | | warmest empathy. |