Technology the solution, says Gates

[rpm]

http://www.mybroadband.co.za/nephp/?m=show&id=3490

 

[skydog]

Microsoft founder Bill Gates touted technology as a solution to Africa's development problems, saying his organisation aimed to boost development on the world's poorest continent.

I'm the first to admit that I am not as smart as Bill BUT

I think Electricity is the solution
Bandwidth too.... both are so rare in Africa

just want my pea brain thinks

 

[AntiThesis]

Let me just say... DUH. Yes technology is the solution for quite a chunk of our current problems. But it's all moot without Telkom playing their part.

 

[LCBXX]

I'm the first to admit that I am not as smart as Bill BUT

I think Electricity is the solution
Bandwidth too.... both are so rare in Africa

just want my pea brain thinks

LOL! He is such a smart man. Why does he then generalise the word "Technology" as being "the" solution? It’s like saying "Microsoft is the solution to all you needs". True, perhaps, but wiping your butt with Windows XP won't do you much good, although it might feel fantastic.

 

[noxibox]

I think Electricity is the solution
Bandwidth too.... both are so rare in Africa

Those are both technology.

Africa could become a serious producer of software and engineered products.

For now we still have too many parties not playing the game. And wealthy western countries, past South Africa included, can take some of the blame for deliberately undermining Africa for their own ends.

But that's all in the past. It is done, so Africans have to look forward and decide they are going to become a great source of science and technology.

 

[BTTB]

Affordable internet in the pipeline: Bill Gates

Affordable internet in the pipeline: Bill Gates

 

[krycor]

unfortunately the contenant has to shrug off the image of being just a source of raw materials and actually build more stuff. One of the reasons India + china have moved ahead fast was their investment in science, engineering + R&D. America of late is slowly falling in this sector but continues to fight by getting other personel, for cheap too, from other countries surging in these departments.

 

[Sneeky]

Technology is surely the answer, but when we have individuals in decision making positions that dont even know how these things work or what they cost the average citizen every month what hope do we have.
These peoples main focus is to maintain the status quo, not move forward.
Pocket the money and f@ck the infrastructure and the population crying for upliftment.

 

[noxibox]

America of late is slowly falling in this sector but continues to fight by getting other personel, for cheap too, from other countries surging in these departments.

The ideal is for countries to encourage their citizens to go work there for a couple years, get knowledge, then bring it back to compete against them.

What's hurting everyone is protectionism and the elite lining their own pockets. Someone travels to the US intending to work there for a few years, then return home, but once they become accustomed to cheap goods and services they find it hard to leave. Back home these don't exist because the governments are too busy protecting their own and other vested interests.

And don't suck up to organisations like WTO that have been created for the sole purpose of helping the rich get richer at the expense of the poor. Pay lip service if you must, which is all the wealthy countries do - everything they do is weighted in their favour, but look out for your own interests. The so-called developing countries would do well to work together instead of allowing themselves to be controlled and undermined by the WTO and so-called free-trade agreements.

Things that South Africa needs aren't just things like cheaper telecoms, but laws that, for instance, protect parallel importers who undercut the prices of the traditional middlemen.