Comments on: Google Wave use cases in Africa With al… http://nicharalambous.com/2009/10/29/google-wave-use-cases-in-africa-with-al/ onlinemobilecitizensocialmediaandmore Tue, 06 Jul 2010 13:14:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Mario Olckers http://nicharalambous.com/2009/10/29/google-wave-use-cases-in-africa-with-al/comment-page-1/#comment-11017 Mario Olckers Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:02:58 +0000 http://nicharalambous.com/2009/10/29/google-wave-use-cases-in-africa-with-al/#comment-11017 Nic, this is a very insightful look at the fundamental issues we face here in South Africa. I smiled when I saw you constantly bumped up against the "digital divide" and broadband access issues.. I have written about this on my own blog and was criticised by some for being too fatalistic/pessimistic. Truth of the matter is, I just cannot see how a country with millions of impoverished, starving, homeless, uneducated "masses" and all the political dynamics of redressing those "imbalances" will ever be able to meaningfully participate in any of these "shiny new web 2.0" toys. You suggests computer labs sponsored by maybe mweb/telkom etc. I have personally been involved with efforts to bring open-source tuxlabs from the shuttleworth foundation to "previously disadvantaged" schools. the frustration, bureaucracy, human ego, malicious intent and plain ignorance/stupidity is a drain on the energy, soul and will to live! I do not have the answers, I do not know what needs to be done, but I feel I want to be part of a positive effort in that direction, my past bumping up against government depts. private business depts and individual human egos with their different motivations and agendas for participating/not participating/sabotaging these processes is something I still ponder about, though Nic, this is a very insightful look at the fundamental issues we face here in South Africa. I smiled when I saw you constantly bumped up against the “digital divide” and broadband access issues..

I have written about this on my own blog and was criticised by some for being too fatalistic/pessimistic.

Truth of the matter is, I just cannot see how a country with millions of impoverished, starving, homeless, uneducated “masses” and all the political dynamics of redressing those “imbalances” will ever be able to meaningfully participate in any of these “shiny new web 2.0″ toys.

You suggests computer labs sponsored by maybe mweb/telkom etc.

I have personally been involved with efforts to bring open-source tuxlabs from the shuttleworth foundation to “previously disadvantaged” schools.

the frustration, bureaucracy, human ego, malicious intent and plain ignorance/stupidity is a drain on the energy, soul and will to live!

I do not have the answers, I do not know what needs to be done, but I feel I want to be part of a positive effort in that direction, my past bumping up against government depts. private business depts and individual human egos with their different motivations and agendas for participating/not participating/sabotaging these processes is something I still ponder about, though

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