Reader response Draft 1

Wakefield (2010) observed that sources from ITU ranked countries based on internet connectivity, where the more economically developed countries are the most connected. Reports from NAF also showed that the internet usage of a nation was not proportionately represented as the rural areas tend to have lesser internet access and usage. Thus, the less developed countries in Europe tried to increase their countries' access to internet by providing wifi infrastructure to their suburban villages. This helped some villagers to improve their lives socially, economically and culturally.

Although I live in a developed country like Singapore, I do not consider technology a basic need in life. I was quite shocked that the world have placed more focus on technological advancement over other necessities such as food and healthcare. I believe that it boils down to how we define our needs and wants.

As a science student, I have learnt that the basic needs for human survival was food (including water), shelter, clothing and basic healthcare. Technology was not mention at all. In many developing countries, what the citizens need was not the access to computers or wifi connections, but to have sufficient food and water to survive. Taking Eastern Europe as an example, Wakefield (2010) reported that the government was coming up with a wifi village programme to reach out to those of its population living in rural poverty. However, there were also many Street children and orphans in Eastern Europe who faced many problems and troubles such as malnutrition and HIV. Therefore,  Instead of focusing on wifi connectivity, I feel that developing countries should focus more on basic necessities for survival before moving on to luxuries.

In many developing countries, education may not be adequate. Even if the citizens were provided with internet access and information in the tip of their fingers, they may not know how to utilise it well. Statistics shown that for all Africans over the age of 15 and 50% of women above the age of 25 are illiterate and that half the population of Africa lives on less than US $1 a day. Even if wifi connections and computer access was provide, most African will not know how to utilise it. Furthermore, they do not have the economical capability to own a computer. Hence, I feel that if countries such as Africa wants direct resources to implement the wifi village scheme as reported by Wakefield (2010), it will better if these resources are diverted to providing more basic necessities.

World wakes up to digital divide by Wakefield (2010) clearly shown that technological advancement have been considered a basic human necessity in developed countries. Many developing countries have neglected the basic necessities and have concentrated their resources onto technological advancement in order to be considered “developed”. This problems seems to be persisting until countries can correctly differentiate their needs and wants.