PAPER The Drum Beat - 24 - Ohio University - Internet - Africa
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| The Drum Beat - 24 - Ohio University - Internet - Africa Additional Information and Commentary - Please contact the student identified for a full copy of their paper. By Catherine Kimuna International Student of Ohio University July 1999 ck348593@oak.cats.ohiou.edu 7. Effect Of Internet In Africa ABSTRACT The importance of networks lie not just in its being a means of disseminating information but also in its being channels for communication between people and organizations. Internet has already proved to be just such an effective and powerful communication method in matters pertaining to development in various sectors, for instance in Africa. This already alludes to the fact that ultimately most policy questions and most of the important issues and social changes will revolve around services enabled by the Internet and content made accessible through it. It is in this regard that this research proposes to highlight Internet status, its effect on various sectors of the African states' economy, and constraints and challenges faced in Africa. The choice of this topic with specific emphasis on African states will afford many other readers an opportunity to learn more about communication trends in Africa and how the Internet as a communication tool can and has influenced educational, social, economic and environmental development. Most of Africa is hampered by the problem of slow means of disseminating information for social change and development and so by making the vast majority aware and accessible through the Internet, information transfer would change drastically. And so will the rate of development. Research strategies employed were mainly secondary, and that was literature review by various authors like Kyemereh, Loudon, Mannisto, Lawrie, and Heather among others. Apart from texts, other sources were journals, magazines and newspapers. The web site too provided a lot of related information. Until the later part of the early 90s Internet use had not been affected in Africa, which explains why it is still largely centered in major towns. The smaller towns and rural areas are hardly connected meaning information transfer is still at a snail pace in these areas. The Internet is effective, fast, private and efficient in information transmission as compared to other modes of communication. Apart from this the Industry is constrained by an array of factors ranging from educational to environmental, that need to be checked to ensure sustainable effectiveness. One major draw back about the Internet (not addressed in the paper) is the alarming rate at which pornography is perpetuated on the net; it is a concern for both the present and future next generations. RECOMMENDATIONS Promoting a more cost-effective use of Africa's human and institutional resources in information and networking technologies, using existing collaborative initiatives. Establishing, maintaining, and utilizing an African Environmental data base to help promote environmental concerns as an integral part of socioeconomic efforts in the region. Bolster innovation and enterprise in Internet business, by removing barriers to local and foreign investment in Internet business as well as rewarding innovation. The development of computer networking in Africa presents a unique opportunity to make a major contribution to Africa's current and future development in ways which will simultaneously advance the continent's strategic objectives in the areas of coordination, client consultation, capacity building, decentralizing of activities and decision making, and private sector development. With the accelerated pace of change in the world, Africa needs to develop the capacity to respond quickly and flexibly to ever changing landscape. Electronic networking is a tool the African continent can use to realize this goal. |