Editor ' s comment
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Bridgi ng the digital divide
PUBLISHER Frank Q_ i frank.quinn@mediate, 01291-".
STEPHEN CAWLEY says more must be done to include those outside the information society ime Magazine in its flagship Time Person of the Year' feature took a radical step this year and named you, the online reader, as its choice. Following in the footsteps of Hitler and Ayatollah Khomeni, Bill Gates and Bono, online participants everywhere have been congratulated by Time for their role in `democratising media' by uploading home videos, sharing photos and broadcasting podcasts. Demanding digital
stephen.cawley@mediate_ 01 29, -
support and an affordable means of payment with a low APR are also necessary. Government and industry also need to be imaginative with the marketing campaigns and solutions they bring to market under the home computing initiative. The bases of security, online access and ease of use must be supported. There must also be variety in the packages on offer so if for example, a customer loves movies, then the appropriate software and website selections must be pre-installed, and the same applies to photography and to music, or whatever popular interests are specified.
"Government, through the Department of the Taoiseach and ICT Ireland, in partnership with Intel, is working hard
democracy This is a very exciting time for technology users, but isn't democracy supposed to be inclusive and shouldn't all citizens in the community be able to get affordable access to a PC and a broadband connection in their home? Sadly, this is still not the case in Ireland. Surveys conducted by Comreg, ECTA and the OECD all tell a tale of woe - Ireland is still near the bottom of the PC and broadband ownership league tables (See page 24). And if you enter one of our primary or postprimary schools around the country you are very unlikely to find one PC per pupil. What we clearly need now is action from government, industry and the media to help that large minority to get connected and realise the benefits that computing and internet usage will bring to their lives.
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHE Stephen Ca;.
Broadband deficit
Broadband adoption is growing rapidly, this cannot be denied but unfortunately, we started well behind the pack, and we are still left with the tragic fact that over 250,000 people in Ireland are still using dialup internet connections and haven't made the move to broadband either through lack of perceived need or lack of interest. The challenge here is for a combination of provider, government and media to educate this group on the benefits of upgrading to broadband. For on dialup, this group is alienated from the wonders of the multimedia web-peer to peer, video conferencing, podcasting and music and video on demand. Let's democratise Irish information society and give the technically disestablished a chance to play a role in the glorious rebirth of the Internet.
to bring a home computing initiative to the public"
Power to move Government, through the Department of the Taoiseach and ICT Ireland, in partnership with Intel, is working hard to bring a home computing initiative to the public. But it needs strong support from the computer industry - the PC manufacturers, the software suppliers, the broadband providers and crucially, the technology retailers who are closest to the general public. Appropriate training, technical '--,
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www.techcentr Printed in Northern Ireland by W & G I
Stephen Cawley - Editor
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