Africa: a continent of contrasts
Africa: looking to the future
This lesson looks at the future of Africa.
Key questions
- What advantages and disadvantages does modern technology bring to people in developing countries?
Key concepts:
Place
Space
Physical and human processes
Diversity
What advantages and disadvantages does modern technology bring to people in developing countries?
It is increasingly realised that modern technology has a key role to play in even the poorest of the developing countries. In spite of the many obstacles, the use of mobile phone communications and ICT has shown that it can transform the lives of people in both rural and urban areas. Mobile phone companies have a rapidly growing market and are doing their best to improve the infrastructure whilst keeping customer costs as low as possible.
The high costs of providing ICT equipment and of training people in its use is a difficult issue in many developing countries. One of the methods of increasing access is to make use of the services of companies which recycle and upgrade computer hardware from the richer, developed countries. This system provides both advantages (low cost of equipment, some training and support) and disadvantages (out of date, low-spec equipment and software that will often not run). Alongside this generally positive system is the increasing frequency with which countries such as the UK and USA are sending their unusable e-waste to countries in Africa to be recycled or disposed of. The low-technology techniques employed in the processing of computers, etc is extremely hazardous to the health and safety of the workers. Whilst work is undoubtedly created, the moral dilemma is clear.
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