Re: [GKD] Digital Information Is Vanishing

[Jan Visser]

John Lawrence wrote:
> Is this e-info dying a natural death thru inattention, thus
> relieving clogged info-highways, or is this a serious issue
> of non-archiving of essential knowledge?

It would seem the issue is a serious one.

No doubt, much more information is being produced than is worth
retaining. Publishing is no longer the privilege of a few, but everyone
can create his or her personal Web site. Some of those individual
efforts are enormously inspiring and valuable. They might never have
developed in a world in which publication was still controlled by a
limited number of publishing houses. Other efforts, while publicly
available, are destined to an audience of mainly insiders (family
members, some specific interest group, etc.). Yet, they occasionally
serve the interests of a larger group of people as they may serve as the
crucial node in the search for something else.

Example: Yesterday I was searching some historical information on
Beethoven for an article I am writing. I ended up finding what I was
looking for on the personal pages of an astrophysicist at the University
of Sidney, Australia, who happens to have an intertest in the issue.
That information would not have been obtainable after just a few minutes
of searching without the existence of the World Wide Web. Moreover, in
the pre-WWW era I would unlikely have looked for it in the archives of
the likes of physicists (even though I am myself one).

My hunch is that we better err on the side of retaining information than
deleting it. If there is a need to "clean up" a site, producers of large
quantities of information/documentation should create an electronic
archive of what is out of date for most users. Such an archive could
either remain accessible through the Web or information should be
available via the Web on how archived documentation could still be
obtained.

Beyond Web sites catering for particular current interests maintained by
individuals and individual institutions, there is a need for sites that
dedicate themselves to archiving as such, selecting their sources from
across institutions. One example I know of is
, serving a probably
limited audience with most valuable documentation about the history of
quantum physics.

The UN system itself, and UNESCO in particular, could probably set an
interesting example by creating a Web-based archive of its own history,
including the digitization of exemplars of key publications of the past
that have gone out of print and are difficult to obtain. I am thinking
here of key publications such as those about math/science education that
made UNESCO famous in the nineteen-sixties and seventies; the report of
the Faure Commission "Learning to be (1972);" or the four volumes of
case studies on "New educational media in action" published by UNESCO's
International Institute for Educational Planning in 1967.)

---
Jan Visser, Ph.D.
President, Learning Development Institute
E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Fax and voice messages:
North America: (1-928) 569-7978
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Check out: http://www.learndev.org





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Re: [GKD] The Great African Internet Robbery

[Cornelio Hopmann]

You should be more precise:

The world except US is being ripped off by the US Telcos.

Reason: the situation you describe is true for all Internet-connections
from outside the US.

According to ITU we're talking about 500 Million (!) US$ anually at
least that US Telcos would lose (or would have to charge to their
US-clients) if the normal standard of halfway would be implemented.
Please note that this does not give only unfair advantage to US-telcos
but also unfair trading advantage to us-based companies (lower
connection costs). The issue as such is recognized by ITU, however -due
to close US-resistance as in other world organizations- not even a
recomendation to change was possible.


Cornelio



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[GKD] CFP: infoDev Incubator Support Center (iDISC)

[Rafael Hernandez]

Dear GKD Members,

Call for Proposals for the infoDev Incubator Support Center (iDISC)

Responding to a growing demand on specific needs shared by incubators in
developing countries, and with support from the Government of Japan,
infoDev is launching the  Incubator Initiative. The initiative has
several components, one of which includes the promotion of knowledge
sharing and networking among technology and business incubators, as well
as among the small/medium size enterprise (SME) development community
promoting the appropriation of ICT into the business process.

The knowledge management component will be carried out by an Incubator
Support Center (iDISC) to be set up with financial support from infoDev.
This component aims at establishing the first common repository of
knowledge, best practices, experience and services - specifically
targeted to address the challenges and opportunities facing technology
and business incubators in developing countries

The organization to run the iDISC will be selected on a competitive
basis, and its main task is to provide informational, organizational,
and technical support to incubators from developing countries during the
implementation of the Incubator Initiative.

The iDISC is expected to begin operations by November 1st, 2002 and to
work under infoDev's overall guidance in providing such support for a
period of 18 months. Other activities and Request For Proposals for
grants and technical assistance funding to incubators in developing
countries will follow as per the objectives of the Initiative.

Proponent organizations from developed and developing countries with a
strong background in the integration of ICT into small/medium enterprise
incubation, and/or ICT and non-ICT business incubation consulting,
preferably partnering with successful incubators and providing
considerable co-financing resources, are particularly welcome to apply
for the iDISC contract. Prior experience in developing countries, and/or
work in collaboration with incubators in developing countries will be
particularly helpful. Demonstrated experience in promoting ICT-based
small and medium enterprises in developing countries to establish
themselves in local and international markets will also be an important
consideration. The 18-month contract to be awarded, will have the
possibility of renewal beyond that period based on performance and need.

Eligibility: This call for proposals is open to any organization,
including for-profit, non-for-profit, academic and public-private
consortiums. Any proponent, including partners in consortiums, should
belong to a member country of the World Bank group. The organization,
including partners, awarded the iDISC contract will not be eligible to
apply for Incubator grants through subsequent activities under the
infoDev Incubator Initiative.

The deadline for proposals for the iDISC contract is September 2nd,
2002. For more information on the above initiative and call for
proposals, please visit us at:

http://www.infodev.org/incubator/IDISCrfp.htm
http://www.infodev.org/incubator/

To receive the infoDev calls for proposals by e-mail as well as related
information, please susbscribe to the infoDev-l distribution list at:

http://www.infodev.org/news/discuss/

For any questions related to the Incubator Initiative and the call for
proposals for the Incubator Support Center, please contact us at
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Thanks and best regards,

Rafael Hernandez
infoDev Program
http://www.infodev.org




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[GKD] ICTs for Development: Course Announcement

[Barbara Fillip]

COURSE TITLE: Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for
Developing Countries
Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Precedence: bulk
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]

INSTRUCTOR: 
Barbara Fillip, Ph.D. 
Independent Consultant, Researcher, Instructor 
 

INSTITUTION 
United States Department of Agriculture - Graduate School, aka USDA
Graduate School. Evening and Weekend Program - E-learning. For more
information about the USDA Graduate School, see the school's web site at


Note:  the USDA Graduate School has nothing to do with agriculture
except its institutional origins.

COURSE DURATION AND SCHEDULE 
12 weeks: September 14-December 14, 2002 
This will be the fourth online session of the course. 

COURSE OBJECTIVES 
The course is meant to give participants: 
1.  A clear conceptual framework for addressing issues related to the
use of ICTs for sustainable development purposes and the identification
of key issues and relevant concepts;

2. Specific examples of ongoing activities in developing countries that
involve the use of ICTs for development purposes, covering fields such
as education, health, e-commerce, agriculture and e-governance;

3. A broad picture of ongoing programs and activities undertaken or
supported by bilateral and multilateral agencies as well as the private
sector and non-governmental organizations.

DELIVERY MODE 
The course is delivered through a combination of CD-ROM and email-based
discussion list.  All communications are email-based.  Course materials
are provided on a CD-ROM.  Participants are not required to have access
to the web to enroll. However, participants need a reliable email
account.  For additional information regarding computer requirements,
see the syllabus at .

CERTIFICATE 
While the USDA Graduate School does not grant degrees and this
particular course does not belong to any "certificate program",
participants who do complete all the requirements to receive a grade
will be given a "certificate of completion" for the course.

BEFORE REGISTERING 
1. Read the syllabus 
The syllabus has been posted on the instructor's web site at


If you do not have access to the web, request a copy of the syllabus by
sending an email to the instructor at <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>.

2. Is this course for you?

* Look at the self-assessment questions to find out.  The questions can
be found at 

* Check the sample course materials posted on the instructor's web site
at 


REGISTRATION 

Each session is limited to 30 participants.

The USDA Graduate School is providing 10 tuition-exempt places for
participants in developing countries. Additional information to apply
for these places can be found in the syllabus. The application process
for the tuition-exempt places started JULY 1, 2002. As a result of high
demand, the application process is becoming increasingly competitive. If
you are interested in applying, please do not delay.

Tuition: US$269 
Registration online starts AUGUST 12, 2002. 
Go to  
Follow instructions to register online.  The course code is PUAP2270.
More detailed instructions can be found in the syllabus.


Best regards,
 
Barbara Fillip 





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