prolonging the life of electronic equipment to reduce the digital divide may 2007

Prolonging the life of Prolonging the life of

electronic equipment to electronic equipment to

reduce the Digital Dividereduce the Digital Divide

May 2007May 2007

ContentsContents

Introduction to the Information and Knowledge Society

Information society statistics

Digital Divide

The SISOSCAT Foundation

What is the Information Society?What is the Information Society?

The Information or knowledge Society:

◦ Society: a set of people who form a group and have the same concerns, culture, hobbies, etc.

◦ Information: to give shape to a set of data, setting it in context, categorising it, etc.

◦ Knowledge: something deeper than information.

A society in which information or knowledge is a marketable good which, from an economic point

of view, turns around information

What is the Information Society?What is the Information Society?

Previously, there was the Industrial Society. The Industrial Society resulted in the building of factories

and cities. Workmen, employers and others also appeared.

The Information and knowledge Society is bringing other types of changes:

◦ A different use of knowledge-related products: Books Newspapers Music Images Communications ....

◦ Different ways of working◦ Teleworkers◦ ....

The Internet is the main symbol of the Information Society...

But any technology which works with information is also included: Mobile telephony Digital television Digital radio Video on demand Voice over IP TV over IP ....

Is there only the Internet?Is there only the Internet?

ContentsContents



Digital Divide


- Over 1,100 million people are connected to the Internet.- This is 16% of the world's population.- In 2002 only 500 million people were connected.- China accounts for 10.4 % (2nd) (137 million) of connected people.- India accounts for 3.5 % (4th) (40 million) of connected people.- Asia, which has over half the world's population, has only 10%.- Germany is in 5th place, with 50 million. - Spain has 20 million Internet users.

Looking at Internet penetration in the world...Looking at Internet penetration in the world...

- Mobile phone penetration of over 100% in some countries

- More than one computer per person (home, work and laptop)

And regarding equipment:And regarding equipment:

We can see that growth potential for use is very high:

- At user level

- At e-commerce level

- At company level

- It is therefore also very high for sale and use of new equipment

Therefore:Therefore:

240.6 million computers were sold in 2006

Gartner

Looking at the no. of computers sold in the world Looking at the no. of computers sold in the world in in 20062006

Looking at the no. of computers sold in the world Looking at the no. of computers sold in the world in 2006in 2006

According to Professor Rüdiger Kühr of the United Nations University (UNU), each computer with a 17” screen requires 22 kg of

chemical products and 1,500 kg of water

WasteWaste

ContentsContents



Digital Divide


Digital DivideDigital Divide

All this user and growth potential has its own problems when it comes to applying it in

practice

Companies and organisations don't know where to start

Many private users have problems too

This makes it difficult to use and implement new technologies

This difficulty gives rise to the so-called Digital Divide

It decreases companies' and organisations' competitiveness and effectiveness

Problems arise from fear...Problems arise from fear...

Fear of the content I can accessFear of losing the data I have entered Fear of the unknown:

I won't know how to answer the machine's questions Lack of knowledge of languages Lack of knowledge of machine logic Lack of knowledge of basic programs

Fear makes some people stay awayFear makes some people stay away

On the grounds of age or generational reasons (digital natives)

On the grounds of genderOn the grounds of incomeOn the grounds of geographical locationOn the grounds of disability

◦ This leads to lack of motivation

Some are real socioeconomic reasons, and others are simple fears....

How can we fight the digital divide?How can we fight the digital divide?

There are mechanisms to provide greater security and confidence when we are online:

•Computer tools•Legal and regulatory tools•Social action

• Protection and validation mechanisms through electronic signatures

• Encryption codes • Digital identity card• Double password validation•....

Tools for fighting the digital divideTools for fighting the digital divide

We must find mechanisms to provide security and confidence for the various actions carried

out by the various actors interacting on the Internet. Given the many aspects of the Internet, this will not be limited to legal

measures. There will be other aspects, such as self-regulation.

Regulatory and self-regulatory measures Regulatory and self-regulatory measures

Social action to fight the Digital Divide?Social action to fight the Digital Divide?

Infrastructure improvement actionAccess improvementTelecentres for accessing new technologiesInformation actionsTraining action and programmesOnline content improvementImprovements to e-commerce possibilities (electronic

transactions)Access to compulsory applications (Tax Authorities,

Justice, Health System,etc.)e-Government actionsLegislation

ContentsContents



Digital Divide


Needs and problems detectedNeeds and problems detected

Increasingly serious environmental problems

Ability to prolong the life of computer and electronic equipment

The need to fight the digital divide by giving computer equipment to organisations

The need to train high risk groups to make them eligible for new jobs

Helping NGOs use new technologies

SISOSCAT's aimsSISOSCAT's aims

To promote the Information Society among the most disadvantaged groups

To fight the digital divide, providing the most disadvantaged groups with training in new technologies

Recovering and recycling computers with a certain degree of obsolescence

Giving recovered equipment to social organisations with no purchasing power

Legal Form: Private FoundationLegal Form: Private Foundation

Public and private patrons Generalitat (Catalan Government): Social Action

and Citizenship, Environment and Housing, Government and Public Administrations, Employment and Justice.

Localret Catalan Association of Telecommunications

Engineers Public and private collaborators

Scope of actionScope of action

Catalonia Third world, with responsible

organisations and concrete projects

Operations ChartOperations Chart

Organisation that wishes to donate material

(DONOR)

Channels of access to information on how to donate/transfer material:- Catalan Government- Website- Articles published in newspapers

Supervisory organisation that

checks the material to assess its condition

and collect it

Barcelona Activa AGBAR Mitsubishi Enterprises Catalan Government…

NGO orEnterp.

Is it correct?

Y N

ADAPTATION of material

RECYCLING of material (authorised waste MANAGER)

OrganisationsBENEFICIARIES

Donor organisationsDonor organisations

Donors organisations

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

2003 2004 2005 2006

Donor organisations

Items receivedItems received

Items given

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

2003 2004 2005 2006

Items given

Items given in 2004, 2005 and 2006Items given in 2004, 2005 and 2006

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

Any

Donor organisations

Items given

Working methodsWorking methods

SISOSCAT Case

Presentation screen

Beneficiary screens

Message screen

Donor screens

Magazine management screen

Magazine screen

Working methods: PresentationWorking methods: Presentation

Working methods: Form for beneficiariesWorking methods: Form for beneficiaries

Working methods: Beneficiaries' editionWorking methods: Beneficiaries' edition

Working methods: MessagesWorking methods: Messages

Working methods: DonorsWorking methods: Donors

Working methods: Magazine managementWorking methods: Magazine management

Working methods: Database managementWorking methods: Database management

4 ideas4 ideas

We have to fight to protect our planet

The 100 $ computer are for the first world

We have a problem with digital divided. Internet is here to stay with us.

Web with cooperative work

SISOSCATCarles Martín Badellsisoscat@@sisoscat.orgwww.sisoscat.org

Thank you.

prolonging the life of electronic equipment to reduce the digital divide may 2007

Documents