Towards sustainable Economic Growth in Building the Information Society: Models for the Role of Engineers and Scientists

Transcription

1 The World Congress, Engineering & Digital Divide Tunisia Oct WFEO Towards sustainable Economic Growth in Building the Information Society: Models for the Role of Engineers and Scientists Abstract M. Mrayati Regional Advisor on Science and Technology UN-ESCWA, Beirut, The Information Society and the knowledge-based economy are the global trends being intensified with the beginning of the 21 st century. These trends could be conceptually modeled in a three-dimensional model covering the promotion of (1) information activities and its technologies including content, applications and the ICT sector as a production and services sector; (2) human resources and R&D in ICT fields and (3) means for building the information society such as the infrastructure, security and knowledge management structures. Engineers and scientists are playing an important role in each of these three axis. The paper will elaborate on models describing this role. New growth theory links economic growth directly with the technological level of the economy, the rate at which this level increases, and the saving rate. Engineers and scientists have a major role in determining these three factors and particularly the first two. Growth based on technology (or information and knowledge) is the main aspect of sustainable development to build the information society. Engineers participate in information generation, processing, distribution and usage. Language engineering, content industry, signal processing, robotics, mechatronics, chematronics, are only examples of new engineering disciplines active in building the information society and the knowledge-based economy. These engineering activities are creating new industries, new jobs, new services and consequently growth. Engineers are active partners in the development of ICT as an economic sector, which is important for the information society. This sector includes hardware, software, communication production and services. When electronics industry is included as part of this production activities, this sector becomes the largest in world economy with more than 1.2 Trillion $ in 2001, it is also the sector with the highest growth rate. Models for the role of engineers in building the information society will be presented. They include models for poverty alleviation, human resources development, content and application enhancement, access and affordability 1

2 achievement, and the diversification of language and culture in the information society. Recommendation will concentrate on the role of engineers in reducing the digital divide. Introduction: World societies are aiming towards the information society (IS), and the digital divide is a real issue facing our world. Information and communication technology is a major promoter towards this new society, while technology in general is the major driving motor. To reduce the digital divide (DD) in a society, sustained economic growth is needed. In the 21 st century sustained economic growth is not guaranteed without an economy which is based on knowledge. Consequently the digital divide issue should be dealt with through a holistic approach, it is not possible to solve the problem of digital divide by a fragmented approach dealing with one aspect or another of the DD. The new growth theory states that growth factors include technological level and technological growth. Therefore helping the developing countries to solve the DD could not be achieved in a sustainable manner without real transfer of technology, and particularly ICT, to these countries. Engineers play an essential role in this process. A conceptual 3 dimensional model for building the IS will be presented. The first (X-axis) for this model represent acquiring capacity building, while the second (Y-axis) represents the enabling environment for the creation of IS, and the third (Zaxis) details the activities related to building the IS. Dynamically this model explains how the evolution of IS interacts with the market evolution to form a dynamic system leading to the creation of the information society through socio-economic development. Six models for the role of engineers in building the IS will be proposed. These roles cover activities of engineers in each of the 3 axis of the conceptual model. The first role will be the promotion of the digital content. The second will be the role of engineers in the development of ICT applications, while the third role is in the creation of the ICT sector as such. These 3 models cover the axis of ICT activity (Zaxis). The fourth role will be that of creation of an enabling environment for building the IS, that is the X-axis of the 3-dimensional model. The fourth role of engineers covers the Y-axis of the model is that of capacity building for moving towards the IS. Finally, examples of models of engineering projects for poverty alleviation through ICT application will be surveyed. The paper will conclude with recommendations of initiative by engineering bodies through global action plan, and initiatives to reduce the DD. These recommendations are consistent with the roles of engineers derived from the 3- dimensional model. A conceptual 3- dimensional model for building the IS Figure (1) offers a conceptual model of a holistic approach for building the IS. It is useful for the analysis of the issues of the DD since these issues are multi-facet. 2

3 The first axis of the model which is the Z-axis represents 3 types of activities essential for building the IS, namely the content, the applications and the sector. The content activity, including content industry, deals with information creation, coding, acquisition, processing, dissemination, management and security. Content is the basic element characterizing the IS without which this society does not exist. It is a major issue in the DD. e-gov e-learning e-healthcare e-culture e-com e-production e-management Activity Sector Applications Industries: Hardware Telecom Software Content Services Creation Coding Information Acquisition Processing ( Content ) Dissemination Management Security Awareness R&D Education & Training Infrastructural Organizational Managerial Financial Institutional Legislative Enabling Environment Technology Transfer Diffusion Capacity Building A conceptual 3-dimensional model for building the IS M. Mrayati Table (1) Content on the Internet measured By the number of pages in 3

4 Content must be multilingual, covering in particular the language of the developing countries and not only the major languages of the world {see Table (1)}. This content should also represent the different cultures, to assure the cultural diversity in the global informational society. The second activity, on the Z-axis of the model, represents the various and unlimited applications of ICT, such as: e-government, e-learning, e-healthcare, e- culture, e-commerce, e-production, and e-management. These applications are essential in the IS since they are major factors in improving productivity competitiveness and efficiency of the socio-economic activity of the society. Failure in introducing these applications correctly will widen the DD. These applications are expected to cover gradually all aspects of our life: at home, at school, in the factory, in management, in production, in services, in healthcare and in entertainment. The role of engineers in these applications is very important. The third activity of the Z-axis of this model is ICT as a sector. It includes ICT production and service activities such as: ICT industry including hardware, software, telecom and content industries. It also includes: product services, consulting services, software services, and telecom services. The ICT sector is one of the major economic sectors in the IS, and in the knowledge based economy. The ICT sector has become, with the electronic industry as a whole, the largest economic sector in world economy. Its revenue exceeded 1.2 trillium dollar in the year 2001 (see Table 2). It is the most important economical activity in the beginning of the 21-century. It is believed to be a major element in the economic growth of developed countries, and certain developing countries. Table (3) shows the repartition of this revenue between the major players in this sector worldwide. The DD is evident in this activity. It is not realistic to deal with the issue of DD without dealing with the issue of the transfer of ICT technology and the electronic technologies to the developing countries. The ICT sector is a driving motor in the knowledge based economy, and it is essential that the DD in this activity between the developed and developing countries be reduced. The role of engineers and engineers bodies in this respect is very important. Table 2 World sales of electronics by market segment , US$ Billions Source: Dataquest 4

5 Table 3 The X-axis of the 3-dimensional model represents the capacity building needed for establishing the IS. It includes: promoting national R&D, improving the educational system and the training system, creating the absorptive capacity for technology transfer, fostering the management and diffusion of knowledge and raising public awareness of the importance of knowledge and IS. The DD between developed and developing countries in this respect is very important. Many indicators which measure these systems show the relevance of this DD. Engineers, and national and international engineering bodies can have an important input in reducing this DD. The Y-axis of the model represents the different elements which form the enabling environment necessary for building the IS. These elements are: the ICT infrastructure, the organizational modifications required for better flow of information, the managerial reform needed for knowledge management, the financial measures necessary for building the IS and the legislative environment which favor the growth of this society. National and international efforts and partnerships are needed to improve this enabling environment and consequently reduce the DD. A Holistic Approach to the Digital Divide and the Role of Engineers: Debate regarding the effectiveness of using ICT to help achieve development goals arises not only around questions concerning the evidence in support of a relationship between ICT and development, but also more substantially from inherent doubts about the relevance of ICT to achieving sustainable development and fears that investment in ICT will draw resources away from traditional development goals 1 The digital divide exists in all the elements depicted in the 3-dimensional model. Dealing with the DD in an efficient manner requires the adoption of a holistic approach. DD in each and every aspect of the elements mentioned in the model should be studied.. Engineers role could be summarized in the six types elaborated in 1 Digital Opportunity Initiative, DOI, July

6 this study and shown in Box 1-. It is not sufficient to deal with DD in infrastructure and applications only. Most of the studies dealing with DD show indicators covering these 2 elements. The DD in building ICT sector in developing countries is often ignored, while it is actually the driving motor of the knowledge based economy, and it is needed for economic growth, and consequently the capacity to invest in infrastructures and the applications. It is difficult to invest in ICT infrastructure and ICT applications without real positive economical growth. Detailed analysis of experience around the world reveals ample evidence that, used in the right way and for the right purposes, ICT can have a dramatic impact on achieving specific social and economic development goals as well as play a key role in broader national development strategies. The real benefits lie in the provision of technology per se, and in its application to create powerful social and economic networks by dramatically improving communication and the exchange of information. The Knowledge Based Economy and the DD: The impact of technology on economic growth is becoming more evident. Many studies have shown evidence of the multiplying effect of technology on growth. Solow 2 has linked technology to growth indirectly. The New Growth Theory considers technological level and technological growth as direct factors of growth (see Romer 3 ) figure (2) explains one of the simplest forms of this theory. It says that growth is directly proportional to technological change and to capital deepening (technological level). Figure (2) The new growth theory simplified: Y = A * K Y/Y = A/A + K/K K = S* Y K = S * A * K Classically: Y = L * K Y = GDP Y = GDP Growth A = Technological Level A = Growth in A K = Capital K = Capital Growth S = Saving Y/Y = A/A + S * A Growth = technological change + capital deepening 9 2 Solow, Robert M. Growth Theory 2end Edition, Oxford University Press, Paul Romer, Innovation: The New Pump of Growth, Blueprint Winter 1999, Volume 2, Paul M. Romer, Economic Growth, From The Fortune Encyclopedia of Economics, David R. Henderson (ed.) 6

7 ICT, as a major technology, plays an essential role in economic growth of modern economies. This fact is reflected by terms like: The Digital Economy, The Internet Economy, The New Economy, The Knowledge Based Economy. The DD is very much related to the technological level in a society and to the growth of this level. Buying technology by developing countries without absorbing and introducing it in the economical activity of the country may not reduce the DD, and may even have a negative effect on the economic growth (see figures 3 and 4). Figure (3) Calculate over the period TFP Source: World Bank Figure (4) 7

8 These figures are from a World Bank study showing the contribution of technical progress to economic growth. Technical progress means producing more output from giving inputs. One measure of technical progress is total factor productivity (TFP). As the chart in figure (3) shows, TFP growth from 1960 to 1992 was negative in Sub-Sahara Africa and the Middle East, and about 2.5% in Latin America. Total factor productivity growth accounted for about 12% of output growth in East Asia (excluding China and Japan); and was less significant to growth in East Asia than to growth in South Asia and in the high-income industrialized countries. Figure (4) show FTP contribution to be around 70% for Germany and France. Promoting ICT technology, as well as other technologies, should aim at socioeconomic development, in order to raise economic growth, and consequently enable the building of the IS. Figure (5) schematizes this dynamic process where engineers can play a pivotal role. Figure (5) Conceptual dynamic model for building the IS Engineers play a pivotal role of IS Technology push Socioeconomic development Culture IS Activities ICT industry Enabling environment & Capacity building Infrastructure Community development ICT Services Legislation Social development Economic Diversity Market evolution Applications E- Production IS Evolution Organization Management Employment E-Management Education & Training Growth Content R&D, TT Socioeconomic trends Applications pull 8

9 Box 1- Holistic approach to the role of engineers in building the IS and reducing the DD Role I: Engineers and the promotion of digital content Chain of activities on Information Creation: New kind of science - Coding: Encryption, error free transmission - Acquisition and processing: - Language engineering - Content industry - Signal processing (image, voice, film, sesmic) - NLP, machine translation - Transmission: - Communication engineering - (fixed line, mobile, etc..) - Dissemination: - Man-Machine Communication - Display, printing - For the handicapped 13 Role II: Engineers in the development of ICT Applications Intelligent cities (civil engineers, architects): New cabling New recreation Digital libraries E-learning new kind of science New book: e-book Teleconferencing E-management: JIT : Just In Time ZD: Zero defect RPD: Rapid Product Development RPT : Rapid Prototyping Technology Software engineering: E-culture, E-healthcare ] Engineers are designing new systems E-com, E-finance ] 14 Role III: Engineers in the ICT Sector Role IV: Engineers and the Creation of an Enabling Environment for the IS The ICT sector is the largest in world economy: (a) Industry: Hardware Software Telecom content (b) Services: Services for ICT systems 15 Engineers participate in the development and implementation of tools and mechanisms needed for the IS: (a) Infrastructure: - mobile/ fixed telephone - the internet backbones (b) (c) (d) (e) - servers and hosts - Universal interface Promotion of Institutions: - MSTQ, TI, SP, Laws and regulations Organization and management Finance 16 Role V: Engineers in Capacity Building for the IS Role VI : Models for Engineering Projects in Poverty Alleviation (Through ICT) Fostering absorptive capacity towards the IS in: a) Higher education and training b) R&D c) Capacity for the transfer of technology d) Raising awareness Design and Implement development projects: 1. Rural connectivity model 2. community-based content model 3. Virtual business incubator model 4. Community vocational training model 5. Community health-care model 6. Community empowerment and participation Model

10 Possible Models of Initiatives for Poverty Alleviation Using ICT ICT has a real impact on poverty alleviation. ICT is already being used highly effectively to directly address development goals. In Gambia, for example, it is being used to achieve better health outcomes. In Chile, it is starting to reap significant results in primary school education. In Bangladesh, it has led to the creation of direct employment for thousands of local women and men, while in parts of India new Internet-enabled centers mean better access to different government services for remote communities. In Indonesia, too, ICT is enabling local citizens groups to monitor compliance with environmental standards. 4 Initiatives that are properly conceived and implemented can have an impact that extends beyond the individual communities they are designed to serve. Model initiatives can be scaled nationally or even regionally, contributing to the critical mass and the threshold levels needed to ignite a virtuous cycle of development. In such circumstances, the increasing use and pervasive impact of ICT can substantially enhance the ability of developing countries to address the full range of development goals. There are a number of ways ICT is enhancing rural productivity. ICT enables solution sharing between local people and communities, and provides access to practical information on small business accounting, weather trends and farming best practices. Timely access to market information via communications networks also helps farmers make good decisions about what crops to plant and where to sell their produce and buy inputs.. To be of use to rural families, the generic information should be rendered into locality-specific knowledge that the poor and marginalized rural women and men can act on. This section reviews the experience of efforts to apply ICT in key areas identified by the UN Millennium Summit as parts of development imperatives. Six models of engineering initiatives using ICT for poverty alleviation will be surveyed. They cover models for: rural connectivity, community-based content, virtual business incubator, community vocational training, community healthcare, and community empowerment. Several types of initiatives for each model will be sited with examples of real success stories implemented for each type. The impact of each of these initiatives is mentioned as reported by its site on the Internet. 1. Rural connectivity model (a) Three examples of rural connectivity Initiatives can be mentioned, they are: The digital village; At least one telephone and Internet terminal in every community; and E- municipality. (b) Success stories (i) Village Pay Phones, Bangladesh [1]: Village Pay Phones is an initiative of the Grameen Bank aimed at reducing poverty through the economic empowerment of women in rural Bangladesh. The Grameen Group manages the entire phone system, operating the GSM network and loaning money to village women to purchase GSM cellular phones. Phone owners rent the phones out to village farmers and other community members for a fee and also provide messaging and incoming call services. - Phones have been placed in 1,100 villages; - The 6 7 year goal is to serve 500,000 subscribers, including 68,000 phones dedicated to serving rural areas; 4 Digital Opportunity Initiative, DOI, July

11 - Village Phones have increased incomes and savings accumulation among phone owners, mostly women. ( (ii) SANGONet [1], is an electronic information and communications network for development and human rights workers in Southern Africa. It provides relevant information to people working on development issues by allowing them to communicate with each other on its web site ( and by building capacity in electronic communications within non-governmental, community-based, government and private sector organizations. SANGONet's priorities include open government, ICT, education, health, economy, labor, women, human rights and the environment. SANGONet is a member of the non-profit Association for Progressive Communications (APC). Source: (iii) The Digital Village [3]: Towards a sustainable community technology center. Digital Villages are computer education and resource centers located within disadvantaged communities intended to provide training in and access to information and communication technology (ICT). Africare works with disadvantaged communities to support the establishment and operation of viable, sustainable community technology centers for use by marginalized communities. Since 1997, Africare and its partners have implemented the Digital Village project, an initiative aimed at making educational, cultural, and business resources available through the computer technology superhighway in an accessible, affordable and sustainable way for the development of disadvantaged communities throughout South Africa. During the initial stages of Digital Village formation, Africare works closely with community members and existing Community Based Organizations (CBOs) to ensure that the Digital Village meets the real needs of the community and that there is genuine commitment to the project. Day-to-day operation of the center rests solely with the on-site Digital Village manager/trainer, a local resident hired by the Digital Village. Policy decisions lie with a management committee of local community leaders. (Source: 2. Community-based content model (a) Initiatives - Multipurpose info-center or tele-center; - Village information shop. (b) Success stories (i) Information Village Research Project [2]: To be of use to rural families, the generic information should be rendered into locality-specific knowledge that the poor and marginalized rural women and men can act on. This is demonstrated by highlighting the Information Village Research Project evolved by the M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation in villages in Southern India. This project has established a hub-and-spoke model of data-cum-voice communication in a group of 10 villages in Pondicherry in South India. The village centers can communicate with each other as well as with the Internet. The hub provides such connectivity, and the staff there creates locally useful content. It also highlights the need to have a holistic approach towards the development of any rural society, with technological intervention being only one of the components. The project started in 1998 and it is supported by the International Development Research Center (IDRC), Canada. It makes an attempt at establishing a sustainable replicable model in which the rural community is not a mere user of ICT but the manager of the knowledge system. (Reference: 11

12 (ii) TaniNet[3]: An Internet-based System for the Agricultural Community. Despite the rapid Internet evolution in Malaysia, the farming community is not fully benefiting. Efforts to get them use the Internet without the availability of proper resources and appropriate content are ineffective. TaniNet is an interactive on-line agricultural and biotechnological website aimed at providing the agricultural community with information on advances of planting materials and practices. The goal of TaniNet is to get the rural farming community to use information and communication technology such as online services as means of accessing and sharing information. It is also to familiarize them with the latest biotechnology advances and their applicability within the Malaysian agricultural context. Community development is an important integral part of the project. Through collaborative efforts in the form of a smart partnership among the private sector, government and community organization, TaniNet has demonstrated to be an effective system using ICT for the benefit of all. Among its achievements, TaniNet has introduced on-line services and e- commerce to the rural farming community, and it is set to become a specialized agricultural portal for the agricultural community within Malaysia and the Asia Pacific region. In sum, TaniNet is an information service toolset. Its prime objective is to introduce the Malaysian rural farming community to agricultural biotechnology through an interactive internet-based service both in English and the Malaysian native language, Bahasa Melayu. This includes the following specific objectives: - Provide on-line information and services on agriculture and biotechnology; - Increase local understanding of agricultural biotechnology and local applications of new technology; - Provide a forum for discussion among rural farming community through managed bulletin board and chat room; - Provide searchable information on agricultural biotechnology; - Provide access to expert advice and troubleshooting related to agricultural problems via internet; - Educate community as to use of internet to access important and useful information and services; - Introduce e-commerce to the small and medium scale agricultural industries. (Source: 3. Virtual business incubator model (a) Initiatives - Artisanal trading network; - Local business information systems and portals (markets, prices, best practices, Weather for farmers ); - Employment portals; - Community financing (micro-financing). (b) Success stories (i) The Virtual Souk, E-Commerce for Underprivileged Artisans [3]: Artisans from the Middle East and North Africa region, as well as indigenous traditional artisans of Africa, face tremendous challenges. These mainly consist of limited or no access to: markets, information, technical skills and financial services. The Virtual Souk is a service to local development NGO's engaged in the promotion of income generating activities at the grassroots level. The anticipated outcomes vary depending on the participating partner 12

13 The aim of the Virtual Souk is to extend to virtually all countries of the MENA region in order to network the different countries, to exchange experiences from all NGOs of these countries and to share investments and lessons between all participating organizations and artisans. Having a web site that presents arts and crafts for the entire MENA region is an incentive to potential customers to come and shop for crafts from these different countries. The Virtual Souk began with Morocco and was extended first to Tunisia then to Lebanon. Extensions to Egypt, Palestine and Jordan are planned for the first semester Besides generating additional income, capacity building is a key element of the Virtual Souk approach. The Virtual Souk provides its partners (among the NGO's and artisans) training in Internet, E-commerce, marketing, basic management skills, micro-credit etc. So far, the Virtual Souk has organized 3 training workshops in Tunisia, Lebanon and Morocco. Employment opportunities for the poor are critical for poverty reduction, and should be created mostly in the informal sector, especially for women. The Virtual Souk provides an opportunity for those who risk being left out from the benefits of the information technology because of lack of access and information. The concept of the Virtual Souk goes beyond the market place, it is a development tool designed to empower local artisans and NGOs through training and access to information and knowledge.. ( (ii) Through PEOPLink's [1] global artisans trading exchange local craftspeople in developing countries are increasing their incomes not only through access to new markets, but also because the wholesaling intermediaries for their produce have effectively been removed. Local craftspeople can now receive up to 95 percent of the selling price for their produce where previously they received only 10 percent. Viatru is a similar initiative offering indigenous peoples opportunities to globally market their traditional crafts and farm products. (iii) AKASHGANGA [1]: Using simple but appropriate information technology, to facilitate timely collection of milk and thereby generating, higher profits for the rural milk producers (India): This project was conceptualized more than four years ago, when IT awareness in the country was limited to big urban centers only. The fact that illiterate and semi-literate farmers accepted the system and are operating it confidently is an achievement by itself. Computers are being used for very basic activities like the collection of milk. Since this has been done for so many years the rural masses are comfortable with it and have placed their confidence in it. The popular and widespread usage of AKASHGANGA breaks the myth that ICT will not help in solving the day-to-day problems of the rural masses. On the contrary, the farmers are very open to adopting new technologies (without being granted any kind of subsidies!), provided it delivers tangible benefits. AKASHGANGA (meaning The Milky Way ) is being used at the Dairy Cooperative Society (DCS), which is a farmer-owned, grass-root level unit in the cooperative structure. All the farmer(members) of the DCS congregate twice a day at its premises to sell milk. Before AKASHGANGA, all the milk collection activities were performed manually. Due to the climatic conditions, milk would often get spoilt, as producers had to wait in long queues. Secondly, the payment for the milk sold was often delayed. The simple technology used in this product has enabled the timely collection of milk, thus generating higher profits for the producers, who are now paid well in time. A basic milk collection transaction done by AKASHGANGA comprises: - Measuring weight of milk with Electronic Weighing Scale; - Fat testing using Milko Tester; - Capture of unique member ID by the PC software; - Printing of pay slip, with all this data and the amount to be paid. 13

14 The key success factor in the cooperative movement is the ease and efficiency of the milk collection system, whether done manually or with IT. The elimination of the middleman, accurate fat measure of milk, thereby enabling the producer to get a higher profit are the basic pillars on which the design of the cooperative movement stands. AKASHGANGA has been implemented at more than 400 locations. At each and every location, it is being used 365 days in a year, and for more than 6 hours in a day. As of 15/04/2001 the project was benefiting approx. 1.5 million farmers daily. (Source: (iv) TARAhaat [1], a portal designed to serve villages in rural India: ICT can contribute to better employment opportunities in developing countries both through improved labor market facilitation and direct employment. Using electronic job marketplaces, employers and employees can match labor skills and availability to satisfy their demands. For example, TARAhaat, a portal designed to serve villages in rural India, provides job opportunity information on local web sites in local languages. In addition, the establishment of local telecenters in countries such as Bangladesh, India and Senegal has created direct employment for thousands of local women and men. (Source: (v) Utilities Afrique Exchange[1]: Established by Omega Scientific Research (OSR) and Izodia (formerly known as InfoBank Africa), utilitiesafrique.com is Africa's first B2B electronic exchange. This portal offers comprehensive e-trading to African utilities in the power, water, gas and telecommunication organizations and to their several hundred suppliers. It also offers utilities access to rich, real-time information such as news, business opportunities and events in Africa. - This initiative is expected to help African businesses become active participants in the new economy; - OSR expects that suppliers can reduce sales costs by 80 percent and purchasers can reduce the processing costs of procurement by a minimum of 50 percent; - The B2B exchange initially focused on South Africa before expanding into East and West Africa. It has received expressions of interest from other countries such as Ghana, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Tanzania. (vi) Rural Trading Networks[1]: In Chincheros, a small rural village in Peru, village leaders formed an Internet-enabled partnership with a national export company to trade rural produce in overseas markets. - Village income has increased five-fold to US$1,500 per month; - The village vegetables are now sold daily in New York. 4. Community vocational training model (a) Initiatives - Technical and vocational training. (b) Success stories (i) University of South Africa[1]:The six largest distance-learning universities in the world are located in developing countries: Turkey, Indonesia, China, India, Thailand and Korea all of which offer expanding virtual campuses. 14

15 (ii) University of South Africa (UNISA): (1)UNISA's distance learning programs provide education to over 120,000 students per annum, mostly from Africa and other developing countries. (2)The distance education programs are less expensive (80 percent less) than those of residential universities. (3)The programs allow students to obtain higher education at their own pace while they work to support their families. (4)UNISA encourages gender equality by providing women with educational and employment opportunities: 56 percent of UNISA students and 51 percent of staff are women. (5)The organization provides professional employment opportunities within South Africa: there are 3,000 staff members including academic, administration and support staff. (Source: (iii) NIIT's Education Program[1]: A leading Indian software services and education provider in India is promoting education by setting up computer labs across the country, establishing scholarships for economically weak students and launching programs (such as the Hole-in-the-Wall) aimed at under-privileged children. - Two hundred computer labs have already been established; - IT training will allow students to participate in the burgeoning IT sector of the economy; - The 'Hole-in-the-Wall' program will educate underprivileged children and increase their chances of enrolling in the formal education system; - Web-enabling IT courses will further extend the reach of IT education in the country. (iv) StarMedia[1]: This initiative intends to provide a better future for millions of underprivileged youth in Latin America and the Caribbean by providing training in information technology skills, counseling and job placement. - More than 60,000 students who participated in the programs have graduated from 190 schools in Brazil; - More than 30,000 young people per year have been given improved education opportunities in Latin America. 5. Community healthcare model (a) Initiatives - Health care delivery facilitates remote consultation, diagnosis and treatment; - Networking for collaboration among physicians; - Medical training through ICT-enabled delivery mechanisms. (b) Success stories (i) HealthNet[1] is a system of local telecommunications sites used to provide low cost access to healthcare information in developing countries through a link to basic . Users mainly physicians and medical workers connect to the network through local telephone nodes to access services such as physician collaborations, medical databases, consultation and referral scheduling, epidemic alerts, medical libraries, and shared research reporting databases. HealthNet is provided by a non-profit organization, SatelLife, with assistance from local and international donors. 15

16 (ii) HealthNet is used by healthcare workers in more than 150 countries worldwide. (Source: (iii) ITU Telemedicine Pilot Projects[1]: The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is conducting telemedicine pilot projects in developing countries. Network connectivity is used for access to medical services and databases, tele-consultation, teleeducation, vital sign monitoring, image transfer and video conferencing applications. - A telemedicine system in Uganda based on ISDN point-to-point data link facilitates information exchange between hospitals; - An Internet link in Georgia allows online medical consultations; - A telemedicine link based on ISDN enables video-conferencing between hospitals on the islands of Malta and Gozo; - An information and telecommunications system in Myanmar improves medical services delivery. (iv) Telemedicine in Ginnack[1]: In Ginnack, a remote island village on the Gambia River, nurses use a digital camera to take pictures of symptoms for examination by a doctor in a nearby town. The physician can send the pictures over the Internet to a medical institute in the UK for further evaluation. X-ray images can also be compressed and sent through existing telecommunications networks. - Physicians in remote locations can take advantage of the professional skills and experiences of colleagues and collaborating institutions; - People in Ginnack have better healthcare and medical services. (v) Disease Response in Sub-Saharan Africa[1]: Across Sub-Saharan Africa, the Internet is used to report daily cases of meningitis to monitor emerging epidemics. When threshold levels are reached, mass vaccination is required and the Internet is used to rapidly mobilize medical personnel and effectively coordinate laboratories and specialist services. - Information exchange via the Internet allows monitoring of disease evolution and provides essential communication support to disseminate reliable information to public health officers and professional vaccination teams in the field; - Both of these applications help reduce loss of life from tropical diseases and epidemics. 6. Community empowerment and participation model (a) Initiatives - Reach of government services by isolated communities: farmers getting copies of land titles. (b) Success stories (i) In the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh[1], the government is introducing an experimental intranet computer network for government services and local information. This allows citizens to have faster and more transparent access to government services. For 16

17 example, farmers can get copies of land titles for 10 cents that previously cost as much as US$100 from corrupt officials. Andhra Pradesh in India has also launched Internet-enabled integrated service centers providing access to different types of government services. (ii) Andhra Pradesh Citizen Service Centers[1]: Andhra Pradesh, a state of India, has launched Internet-enabled Integrated Citizen Service Centers. Access to services including bill payments, issuance of certificates, permits and licenses, public information and administration procedures are provided. - People in Andhra Pradesh can take advantage of more efficient, transparent government services. (iii) APC Women's Networking Support Program[1],[4]: This program promotes gender equity in the use of ICT technologies by providing IT training and research capabilities in the fields of ICT policy, skill-sharing and women's network-building. Various programs addressing inequities based on women's social or ethnic backgrounds are being launched worldwide. - APC helps empower women by encouraging communications among women's organizations providing training and support activities and building strategic alliances with media networks. (Source: Conclusion and Recommendations New technologies, if used innovatively, can help in bridging technology, knowledge and income divides. However, the introduction of ICTs or any new technologies in a community should involve the active participation of the community. Content creation should address the needs of the community and a holistic bottom up approach must be followed. Recommendations: Engineers, and national and international engineers bodies, can promote the adoption of initiatives in the Global Action Plan that will be adopted by the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS). Such initiatives could include the following, classified in correlation with the X, Y, and Z-axis of the 3-D model and the proposed four types of roles of engineers: 1- Foster capacity building for the creation of the IS in developing countries, particularly in education, R&D and training systems. 2- Transfer of information technology, and technologies in general, to developing countries 3- Raise awareness on the role of engineers in the move towards IS and KBE. 4- Develop a universal and cheap Interface, to increase the public accessibility and affordability of the Internet. 5- Improve telecom affordability by reducing cost. 17

18 6- Promote multilingualism for content diversity, and cultural pluralism and interaction. 7- Improve security for personal privacy and secure applications. 8- Foster the roles of engineers in the trend towards IS and KBE in the developing countries. 9- Helping developing countries in establishing sustainable local ICT sector, in both production and services. 10- Innovating engineering solutions for spreading ICT applications in developing countries, such as multilingual applications and universal cheap interfaces. 11- Adopt initiatives using ICT to reduce poverty. 12- Promote telecom rural access REFERENCES The description of the initiatives for poverty alliviation has been cited as is given by their corresponding references below: [1] Creating a Development Dynamic, Final Report of the Digital opportunity Initiative, July 2001, Accenture, Markle and UNDP. [2] Anita Vasanth, Senthil Kumaran S. Reaching the Unreached: The use of Information Communication Technologies, Experiences of the M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, anita@mssrf.res.in. [3] The International Institute for Communication and Development The association for Progressive Communications, The Internet and ICTs for Social Justice and Development. [4] The association for Progressive Communications, The Internet and ICTs for Social Justice and Development, [5] UNDP Human Development Report 2001, [6] Parmesh Shah, Promoting Participation, Empowerment and Entrepreneurship through IT, Social Development Department, The World Bank, [7] Solow, Robert M. Growth Theory 2end Edition, Oxford University Press,