Software for Everyone
Globalization experts Iain Morris of AMD, Nicholas Negroponte of MIT and Teresa Peters of Bridges.org discuss the dreams and realities of providing technology to developing countries.
By Maryann Jones Thompson, Sand Hill Group
May 27, 2005
Imagine a family living in a small hut. They live in a village which has no electricity, no running water and a host of health and welfare problems. But each night, the house is well-lit by the screen of the eldest child's laptop computer. The device is charged each day at the village schoolhouse where the first English word spoken by most students is "Google."
Difficult to imagine? It is happening now in villages around the world. The technology industry is working to provide the benefits of information and connectivity to the Third World in an appropriate, affordable way. But advocates differ in opinion on the right products and the right approach to globalizing technology.
"There is a gigantic business opportunity in developing the proper technology tools to serve the poor," says David Kirkpatrick, technology editor at Fortune gathered three of the world's leading experts on globalization of technology to participate in a panel at Software 2005.
* Iain Morris, senior VP, AMD
* Nicholas Negroponte, Professor & Chairman, MIT Media Lab
* Teresa Peters, executive director, Bridges.org
As panel moderator, Kirkpatrick prompted the panelists to discuss the key areas of debate surrounding globalization of technology.
The Digital Divide
There are 6.4 billion people in the world today. Only approximately 15 percent have access to technology. This "Digital Divide" prevents most of the population in developing countries from leveraging the benefits of connectivity and information access.
"We aim to build and deliver a $100 laptop to the developing world," says Nicholas Negroponte, professor and chairman of the MIT Media Lab. The organization is spearheading a research initiative to develop a $100 laptop. "It is an educational project, not a laptop project."
The problem is that technology companies have a difficult time focusing on the problem. In order to keep shareholders happy, vendors need to keep moving "up market." If they sell a cellular phone, they need to add features in order to keep the price constant or rising. The idea of selling downmarket or making products cheaper, is anathema.
"The dirtiest word in the boardroom is 'commodity,'" says Negroponte, "and yet you have to go in that direction if you are going to engage the rest of the world."
AMD is one of an increasing number of technology companies that have embraced the challenge. The microprocessor manufacturer is spearheading a "50 x 15" campaign. The program aims to connect 50 percent of the world to the Internet by 2015.
"Technology is about empowerment," says AMD's Morris. "It's about people doing better for themselves and their families."
Difficult to imagine? It is happening now in villages around the world. The technology industry is working to provide the benefits of information and connectivity to the Third World in an appropriate, affordable way. But advocates differ in opinion on the right products and the right approach to globalizing technology.
"There is a gigantic business opportunity in developing the proper technology tools to serve the poor," says David Kirkpatrick, technology editor at Fortune gathered three of the world's leading experts on globalization of technology to participate in a panel at Software 2005.
* Iain Morris, senior VP, AMD
* Nicholas Negroponte, Professor & Chairman, MIT Media Lab
* Teresa Peters, executive director, Bridges.org
As panel moderator, Kirkpatrick prompted the panelists to discuss the key areas of debate surrounding globalization of technology.
The Digital Divide
There are 6.4 billion people in the world today. Only approximately 15 percent have access to technology. This "Digital Divide" prevents most of the population in developing countries from leveraging the benefits of connectivity and information access.
"We aim to build and deliver a $100 laptop to the developing world," says Nicholas Negroponte, professor and chairman of the MIT Media Lab. The organization is spearheading a research initiative to develop a $100 laptop. "It is an educational project, not a laptop project."
The problem is that technology companies have a difficult time focusing on the problem. In order to keep shareholders happy, vendors need to keep moving "up market." If they sell a cellular phone, they need to add features in order to keep the price constant or rising. The idea of selling downmarket or making products cheaper, is anathema.
"The dirtiest word in the boardroom is 'commodity,'" says Negroponte, "and yet you have to go in that direction if you are going to engage the rest of the world."
AMD is one of an increasing number of technology companies that have embraced the challenge. The microprocessor manufacturer is spearheading a "50 x 15" campaign. The program aims to connect 50 percent of the world to the Internet by 2015.
"Technology is about empowerment," says AMD's Morris. "It's about people doing better for themselves and their families."
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