DayTimeActivity Tuesday 6 December 0900-1030 Lecture 1: ICT in rural development: Theorising rural...
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Transcript of DayTimeActivity Tuesday 6 December 0900-1030 Lecture 1: ICT in rural development: Theorising rural...
ICT and its role in rural development
Martyn Warren
www.martynwarren.co.uk
Programme
Day Time ActivityTuesday
6 December
0900-1030 Lecture 1: ICT in rural development: Theorising rural ICT – defining terms, context, innovation theories and how they apply; ICT as a tool of rural development: e-governance, e-commerce, e-health, e-learning, etc.
1045-1200 Lecture 2: Internet in rural business and community
1300-1500 Lecture 3: Social exclusion and digital exclusion – the digital vicious cycle
Briefing for seminar/workshopFriday
9 December
0800-1100 Group 1 Seminar/workshop
1100-1245,1315-1430
Group 2 Seminar/workshop
Lecture 1Internet in economic and social development
Agenda
Shaping a new world
The internet – we can’t do without it...
Potential for rural populations
Delivery and infrastructure
Improving rates of adoption – government policy
Social Media Revolution 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFZ0z5Fm-Ng
SHAPING A NEW WORLD
Digital media
Radio/TV/videoMobile phone/SMSEmailWWWWeb 2.0/Social mediaMobile internet/convergent
technologies
The internet – one of the wonders of the modern world
The internet – one of the wonders of the modern worldA critical tool in economic, social and environmental
development
The internet – one of the wonders of the modern world
"The internet is the most powerful potential source of enlightenment
ever created."
Dr H. Toure, secretary-general of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8548190.stm accessed 19/4/10
The internet – one of the wonders of the modern world
But it – or the lack of it – can cause harm to the most vulnerable in
society
The internet
Network of networks
Email, WWW, multi-user domains, etc
Originally PC, modem and telephone line (‘dial-up’)
Now dominated by alternative (‘broadband’) technologies
Mobile devices increasingly used for access
We encounter it in…
e-business
e-commerce
e-government, e-governance, e-democracy
e-health
Entertainment
Social networking
Virtual worlds
Etc, etc….
E-government
Providing access to government services through electronic means, eg:
• Education
• Welfare (elderly, young, poor, unemployed)
• Health
• Transport
• Environment
• Community
e-governance
‘Governance’ is concerned with the distribution and exercise of power as a whole – not just that vested in the state.
Involves not just central and local government, but also non-government agencies, community groups, interest and pressure groups, charities, business groupings, direct activists, and so on.
Includes various democratic processes – top-down and bottom-up.
E-health - definition
‘… the application of information and communications technologies (ICT) across the whole range of functions that affect health.
It is the means to deliver responsive healthcare tailored to the needs of the citizen.’
(Silber 2003)
Twitter 'vital' link to patients, say doctors in Japan
In the aftermath of the earthquake in Japan, Twitter is proving "an excellent system" for communicating with chronically-ill patients, say doctors. Social networking sites have been vital in notifying patients where to get medication.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-13373535 13 May 2011
Entertainment
Music
Video
Gaming
Gambling
Porn...
Online interactive gaming…
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 takes $1bn in sales
“The game’s takings as of 04 January make it the fourth-biggest ‘film’ ever made.”
BBC News,13 January 2010 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8457335.stm accessed 19/4/10
Betfair is the busiest betting site in UK in 2009
6 million transactions per day.
£303 million [€345m] revenue in the year to April 2009.
Point Topic: Broadband Money Makers Update - edition 34. 15 March 2010
Digital now accounts for 25% of music sales
... digital is taking a bigger slice of the music cake, but that cake remains at around $15 billion, similar to a year ago.
Point Topic: Broadband Money Makers Update - edition 34. 15 March 2010
And, of course, porn...
“A Spanish priest spent €17k of church funds on sex chat lines, internet porn sites and prostitutes during his one year as spiritual shepherd to villages in Toledo.
As well as relieving pious parishioners of their hard-earned cash - including that from a whip-round in aid of Haiti - [he] also offered his sexual services online at €120 a pop.”
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/02/25/spanish_priest/ accessed 19/4/10
Slides removed to reduce file size
Social media examples: Facebook, LinkedIn, etc
Collaborative media
Web 2.0 - wiki
Virtual worlds
‘Second Life’ uptake
March 2007 – 1.3m people logged in
209,000 German
207,000 US
167,000 Asia Pacific
104,000 French
72,000 British…
Dec 2008: 16m ‘residents’ claimed
The Register 5-5-07
http://www.brighthub.com/video-games/mmo/reviews/20426.aspx?p=2
Stuff, May 2007
Business in Second Life
“...Second Life is attracting significant interest from business and service industry … brands such as IBM, Dell, ING, Philips, Telstra …
… test bed for new ideas, where real world prototypes can be released at low cost, with direct feedback from users enriching the design.”
Business in Second Life: an introductionwww.smartinternet.com.au/ArticleDocuments/121/Business-in-Second-Life-May-2007.pdf.aspx
The seamier side…
Online affairs bust real-world marriage
A British woman is divorcing her husband after catching his Second Life avatar having cybersex with other virtual women.
The Register 15 Nov 2008
… and inevitable reaction
Society of Jesus calls missionaries to Second Life
Saving virtual souls from 'erotic simulation'
Jesuit missionaries may soon venture into Second Life, intent on saving virtual people from virtual sins.
The Register 27 July 2007
Stuff, May 2007
And…
Voice over internet protocol (VOIP), e.g. Skype, Nimbus, Vyke, with video
Instant messaging, with sound and visual links
Mobile access to databases and other information sources via PDAs, smart phones
Etc, etc…
http://point-topic.com/content/dslanalysis/BBAvoipq410.html
WE CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT IT, CAN WE?
Youth 'cannot live' without web
A survey of 16 to 24 year olds has found that 75% of them feel they "couldn't live" without the internet.
...four out of five young people used the web to look for advice.
...about one third added that they felt no need to talk to a person face to face about their problems because of the resources available online.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8305731.stm
13/12/09
In the UK
• 22m [50%] adults operate their bank accounts online.
• 70% younger users bank online, compared to 33% over-65s.
• Two thirds of adults buy things online
Guardian Money 17/4/10, p6. Report on ‘The Way We Pay 2010’ Payments Council 2010. http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/apr/14/cash-credit-card-retail Accessed: 19 April 2010
Almost four in five people around the world believe that access to the internet is a fundamental right
• Based on a survey of more than 27,000 adults across 26 countries.
• Finland and Estonia have already ruled that access is a human right for their citizens.
• International bodies such as the UN are also pushing for universal net access.
BBC News, 8 March 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8548190.stm accessed 19/4/10
... Though security is a worry...
“The cyberplague that threatens an internet Armageddon
The unchecked rise of malware could culminate in a massive global event that would change forever the way we use the internet”
The Observer, Sunday 1 May 2011
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/may/01/malware-cyberplague-internet-meltdown?INTCMP=SRCH
...and possibility of failure
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-14851455
Powerful for rural populations…
The potential of internet in rural areas
“Any online process, whether transactional or merely informational, which substitutes for one involving physical movement is likely to be of greater utility to rural than to urban populations, especially given the increasing tendency of governments… to reduce or fail to make provision in areas of dispersed population”
Furuseth 1998 p236
Overcoming spatial disadvantagein rural areas
Communicating
Finding information
Marketing products
Building networks, finding friends, collaborating
Learning at a distance
Obtaining services
Participating in democratic processes
Entertainment… … and so on
Internet infrastructure and uptake
Delivery options
Dial-up via landline (56kps)
ISDN – separate line, double the speed
Broadband (0.5 Mps to 50Mps or greater)
Broadband
Fast
Can carry large files
‘Always there’ – zero marginal cost of use
Allows real-time interaction: audio, video, games, etc
Allows businesses, individuals, to host own websites
Empowers sophisticated e-commerce, e-government
Top ten countries – total subscribers
Point Topic: World Broadband Statistics Q4 2010 March 2011
Broadband delivery
Broadband infrastructure
ADSL
Cable (by product of cable TV)
Fixed wireless, Wimax
Mobile wireless
Satellite
Powerline
Optical fibre and ‘next-gen’ (FTTP – fibre to the premises, FTTC – fibre to the cabinet)
Global quality improves by 24% in one year
Study of 72 countries and 239 cities 18 October 2010
14 countries (1 in 5) already prepared for the internet "applications of tomorrow", compared to only 1 country in 2008
Mobile broadband quality has improved significantly, with 10% users enjoying similar quality experiences to fixed-line broadband
Broadband consumption patterns diverging; basic household requiring over 2 Mbps and consuming about 20 GB per month; smart and connected home commanding over 20 Mbps and a consumption of 500 GB per month
Global broadband, Q4 2010
Point Topic: World Broadband Statistics Q4 2010 March 2011
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)
Usually Asymmetrical (ADSL)
UK standard 2 megabits per second (Mps) download, slower uploads (e.g. 128Kps)
Higher rates (10Mps and above) available for some (urban) customers.
Uses existing landline infrastructure, but needs investment in adapting telephone exchanges.
Distance from exchange affects speeds.
Sensitive to poor cable (e.g. aluminium, old copper).
Cable (with TV, phone)
Similar limitations, prices to ADSL.
Huge infrastructure costs for underground cables and street cabinets.
Not normally viable for dispersed populations.
(but note proposals in UK to allow cable providers to use telephone poles in rural areas)
Optical fibre
Primarily used for core infrastructure, but increasingly employed to deliver to cabinet* (fttc) or even to premises (fttp).
Greater capacity, speed potential than copper-based wires
Huge initial capital cost, though long useful life
Used in many developing countries (e.g. China, Rwanda) to leapfrog older technologies.
*Wireless, powerline or DSL (eg VDSL) used to distribute from cabinet to premises
Satellite
Ideal for remoter locations, where investment required for landlines is too high
High investment and running costs
Asymmetrical – often only one-way
Dependency on satellite operator (risk)
‘Latency’ (delay while signal bounces off satellite) affects voice over internet (VOIP), gaming, video conferencing
Fixed wireless
2.4GHz most commonly used. 802.11b standard can delivery up to 11Mps: later standards much higher. Unlicensed.
Use of peer-to-peer MESH technology can extend range, increase performance, reduce radiation. Cheap hardware.
Low barriers to entry for small hi-tech providers, community schemes
Problems - security; resistance to masts; needs leased-line feed
WiMax
High speed, wide area wireless (up to 110km)
Needs international agreement on frequencies
Chip and equipment manufacturers anticipating growth in WiMax – more probably in developing areas, rural, where alternatives limited.
Needs masts – planning permission, cost – easier in small rural communities in developing countries
Mobile wireless
Broadband available via 3G networks
Very rapid growth
But dependent on network coverage
Mobile wireless
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-14655654
Powerline
Making use of spare capacity in power cables
Broadening customer offering for power companies (e.g. Endesa in Spain)
Interference and other problems being overcome
Needs stronger interest from power companies
Virgin Media and power-poles
Virgin Media plans to expand its cable network to up to a million homes in areas where BT doesn't think upgrading its network will be worthwhile - and the cable company says it won't need subsidies to do it.
It is in talks with power companies for access to their street-side poles, which are used to deliver electricity in many rural and semi-rural areas.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/06/23/virgin_media_subsidies/ 23 June 2010
‘Next-gen’ (next-generation)
BT promises biggest ever rural broadband project
BT, with a large slice of help from the European Union, is promising the largest ever superfast broadband programme for Cornwall.
The money is coming from European convergence funds (£53.5m) and from BT (£78.5m).
“The £132m project is one of the most ambitious in the world ... If Cornwall were considered a country it will be in the top five most connected nations by the end of 2014.“
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/09/30/bt_cornwall_broadband/
30 Sep 2010
Broadband in CZ
http://www.internetworldstats.com/eu/cz.htm 30 June 2010
Czech broadband
Over the past five years, the Czech Republic has seen a massive spread of internet users. According to the latest official figures, the number of Czech homes connected to the worldwide web rose by 125 percent over that period. Even in some other post-communist countries like Slovenia, Estonia, Slovakia and Poland, the numbers of online homes are higher.
Around 2.7 million Czech households now have access to the internet, according to a survey by the Czech Statistical Office released on Tuesday. That accounts for 62 percent of all Czech homes, and represents a marked increase compared to five years ago
Radio Praha 29-11-2011 http://www.radio.cz/en/section/curraffrs/despite-rising-numbers-of-online-homes-czechs-still-behind-eu-average
Czech broadband
But despite such a sharp rise in the numbers of internet users, the Czech Republic is still behind most other EU member states. In some of the leading countries like the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Sweden, around 90 percents of homes have internet connections, the EU average being 70 percent.
Even in some other post-communist countries like Slovenia, Estonia, Slovakia and Poland, the numbers of online homes are higher.Radio Praha 29-11-2011
http://www.radio.cz/en/section/curraffrs/despite-rising-numbers-of-online-homes-czechs-still-behind-eu-average
Czech broadband
“In recent years, Czech officials have launched a series of projects aimed at bringing the internet to larger numbers of people.
One of them, called Internet to Schools, was meant to provide online connections to elementary schools; another, entitled Wireless Prague, was aimed at building wifi free spots in parts of the capital.
But nearly all such projects failed or ended with corruption allegations...”
Radio Praha 29-11-2011 http://www.radio.cz/en/section/curraffrs/despite-rising-numbers-of-online-homes-czechs-still-behind-eu-average
Options for increasing the rate of adoption?
Can’t it be left to the market?
Maybe, but…
Is the market working efficiently, with no element of market failure?
Will it meet society’s needs in terms of equity?
Will society be happy with the consequent redistribution of business (and thus employment) location?
Policy intervention
Most countries accept the need for some degree of policy intervention in support of agricultural and/or rural development
Countering market failure…
Subsidising rural infrastructure
Encouraging community initiatives
Funding research on innovative solutions
Aggregation of public service demand
Tax breaks on ICT equipment for SME
Establish telecottages and telecentres
Pump-priming pilot projects
Policy – EU vs US
EU – a competition policy that eventually required minimal government intervention or subsidies in order to advance broadband
Strengths of EU system – focus, simplicity, relative efficiency and willingness to change the course of policy as needed.
Focus of US system – too often on needs of carriers and not on consumers. Instead of managing the competition, the US manages the competitors.
Benton Foundation http://www.benton.org/index.php?q=node/5597
E-Europe Action Plan 2005
By 2005, Europe should have:
modern online public services
e-government
e-learning services
e-health services
a dynamic e-business environment
And, as an enabler for these
widespread availability of broadband access at competitive prices
E-Europe Action Plan 2005
Member States, in co-operation with the Commission should support, where necessary, deployment in less favoured areas, and where possible may use structural funds and/or financial incentives. Particular attention should be paid to outermost regions.
“i2010 – A European Information Society for growth and employment”
i) the completion of a Single European Information Space;
ii) strengthening Innovation and Investment in ICT research;
iii) achieving an Inclusive European Information Society that promotes growth and jobs in a manner that is consistent with sustainable development and that prioritises better public services and quality of life.
Europe's Digital Agenda
The Digital Agenda is Europe's strategy for a flourishing digital economy by 2020. It outlines policies and actions to maximise the benefit of the Digital Revolution for all.
To achieve these goals, the Commission will work closely with national governments, concerned organisations and companies. An annual Digital Assembly will bring stakeholders together to assess progress and emerging challenges.
‘Next-gen’ (next-generation)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-15320628
Summary
The internet and what it can deliver
Potential for rural populations
Delivery and infrastructure
Improving rates of adoption – government policy
A valuable resource:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/virtualrevolution/
ICT and its role in rural development
Martyn Warren
www.martynwarren.co.uk
