ICT

Our last lecture was an E-lecture, meaning that everything was found on the net (a recorded lecture and two videos on youtube). ICT stands for Information Communications Technologies (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_and_communication_technologies). That this lecture was made as an E-lecture suited the topic really well. Below is a map (taken from Wikipedia) that shows how much money is spent in different locations on information and communications technology.

ICT is something that is deeply integrated with everything else in today’s world. It affects the economy and society perhaps more than we think. A lot of the things we do are somehow connected to the internet or some similar kind of network of computers (banks etc.). Just think about it, if it all were to go away today you would not have a computer, smart phone or mobile phones for that matter, internet, e-mail, credit/bankcards etc. A lot, and I mean a lot, of people would be without a job and those still with a job would have a much harder time doing it.

For this reason it should come as no surprise that the poorer countries in the world are investing in ICT. They may not have the same amount to spend as the western world but they’re doing a good job nevertheless. Since the economy of several poor countries are still dominated and controlled by the government many may say that they should get the necessities for their people first before they start spending on “luxuries” such as computers and such.

Albert Butare said in the video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UYBw0nSr1o&feature=related) in response to the statement that they should try to get the necessities to all of their people before they start to buy computers that clean drinking water, sufficient food and good shelter and computers and internet are not mutually exclusive. Rwanda aims to be a knowledge based economy by 2020.

Butare may have a point. Getting computers and internet might prove a wise decision, since if they help to get the economy going then the government will get back the money spent in a short amount of time and then that money can be spent on getting the necessities. Think of it like this; either they give you a small amount of money daily that you buy food for but it is not sufficient to buy the amount you would need or they do not give you any for a period of time and after that you get money daily with which you can buy enough food. I am not saying that it is a good solution but I can see why they do as they do. And let’s face it, in many poor countries there simply isn’t enough money to help everyone but if they get their economy going there would be enough money to go around. The problem, however, is that it takes time and money to get money.

My personal opinion is that you really need a little of both, spend some money on ICT and other venues that might generate income and some money to those that need it today to live.