The Internet and Developing Countries

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how like everything else in life, the Internet has its darker side and how the developing countries experience it more than the developed countries. In particular, it examines how certain countries in Asia are dealing with theses negative impacts. The countries looked at are Malaysia, India and the Philippines and how they are dealing with the digital divide; Thailand, India and China and how they are dealing with exclusion by language; and Myanmar (Burma), Vietnam and Singapore and how they are dealing with cultural pollution.

Outline:
Abstract
Table of contents
Chapter one - Introduction
1.1 Background
1.2 Problem statement
1.3 Objectives
1.4 Research Questions
1.5 Relevance of the Research
1.6 Scope and Limitation
1.7 Research Methodology
Chapter two - Literature Review
2.1 Early History of the Internet: The First Twenty Years
2.2 The Internet and Developing Countries
2.2.1 Internet Statistics - Host Distribution and User Demography
2.2.2 Cost and Fees
2.3 Positive Impacts of the Internet on Developing Countries
2.3.1 Education and Research
2.3.2 Health
2.3.3 Job Transfer into the Third World
2.4 Negative Impacts of the Internet on Developing Countries
2.4.1 The Digital Divide
2.4.2 Exclusion by Language
2.4.3 Cultural Pollution
Chapter Three - Methodology
3.1 Introduction
3.1.1 Nature of the Research
3.1.2 Cost
3.1.3 Accessibility
3.2 Advantages of Library/Desk Research
3.3 Disadvantages of Library/Desk Research
3.1.3 Accessibility
3.2 Advantages of Library/Desk Research
3.3 Disadvantages of Library/Desk Research
Chapter Four - Findings
4.1 Dealing with the Digital Divide
4.1.1 Malaysia and the Multimedia Super Corridor
4.1.2 India and the Software Technology Parks
4.1.3 The Philippines and her Plan to Bridge the Digital Divide
4.2 Dealing with Exclusion by Language
4.2.1 Thailand
4.2.2 China
4.2.3 India
4.3 Dealing with Cultural Pollution
4.3.1 Myanmar (Burma)
4.3.2 Vietnam
4.3.3 Singapore
Chapter Five - Summary of Findings, Limitations of the Study, Suggestions for Further Research and Conclusions
Summary of findings
Limitations of the Study
Suggestions for Further Research
Conclusion
References

From the Paper:

"In the Philippines, it is a similar story as that of Malaysia and India, in that the government is involved in the attempt to bridge the digital divide. In 2001, Macapagal-Arroyo's administration proved that it was serious about using information and communications technology to eliminate poverty. The president allocated an entire chapter of her economic agenda to bridging the so-called digital divide (Calimag, 2001). The Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Dante Canlas said that in the medium term, the Philippines government was committed to address the digitally disenfranchised, that is those who do not have access to computers. The government, he said, would address the continuing disparities in access to high-quality technologies. He stressed that in order for the country to live up to its goal of becoming a software development center and e-services hub of Asia, it had to strive to give firms and households access to quality information in real time. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Afemann, U. (1997, September). Internet for the Third World: Chance or threat? Available: http://www.uni-muenster.de/EthnologieHeute/eh1/afe.htm
• Blumler, J.G and Micheal Gurevitch. (1995). The Crisis of Public Communication. London: Routledge
• Calmag, M.G. (2001, July). "Philippine Economic Plan Tackles Digital Divide" In Newsbytes.com. Available: http://www.newsbytes.com/news/01/168109.html
• Canhos, V.P., D.A.L. Canhos, S. Souza and B. Kirsop. (1996, February). Electronic Publishing and Developing Countries: Trends, Potential and Problems Available: http://gateway.library.uiuc.edu/canhos.htm#ii
• Digital Divide Basics (not dated). In Digital Divide Network. Available: http://www.digitaldividenetwork.org/content/sections/index.cfm?key=2

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