Digital Divide and the $100 Computer

by Andrew Bast

There are two undeniable facts about computers: 1) technology is expanding so quickly that any personal computer you buy today will be next to useless in two years and obsolete in four; 2) computer knowledge is absolutely essential for success in today’s economy.

Then why are research, development, and marketing resources allocated in such a way as to throw up fences around technological playgrounds so that many children are left to hang outside, marveling at the wonders within?

Undoubtedly computer users are hot for the latest, fastest machine. When I had my first IBM PC XT 8088 that putted along at 10 Mhz (the machine you’re likely using now runs about 200 million times faster), I savored the visits to my friend’s house where his 386 machine at 25 Mhz rendered video game screens in brilliant VGA color. There’s a wonder about computers, and twenty years into the PC revolution that wonder hasn’t worn off.

However, when development is accelerating, machines quickly become useless. A wise business model, isn’t it? Perhaps, for those who can afford it; but, what about families with children growing up in a world run with computers? Do they have the money to upgrade a machine? Not all of them do. If you look all the way down the digital divide, it’s not just children but entire countries full of people who’ve no means to keep up with insanely-expanding technology.

Can anyone explain why there’s no $100 computer capable of word processing, basic Excel, and web browsing available for purchase? “Because it would ruin the market” is an unacceptable response.

The United Nations Development Program—a gigantic and far-reaching arm of the UN—has been working to set up exactly such a program in poor countries around the world. A handful of computer companies have kicked in $2 million each to design and carry out the production of the open-source machine (some can even be powered by hand-cranks). Results: to come.

If computing technology is accelerating at exponential speeds—soon to exceed the capacity of the human brain—what happens then to those left behind? Does the deceleration of their adapting technology then actually increase, so that the faster get faster and the slower get slower?

True technology would answer this question.

(Image from Free Geek Penn.)