New to New Media (Jessica Kendra)

Universal access may be the easiest answer to the most important resolution, but I argue that it is actually the best answer.

The purposes of the Information Society are circular; they would like to use equal access to technology to bring up the disadvantaged (poor, women, people with disabilities etc.)  However, it is these people who are lacking access.  People in poor nations, or the disadvantaged of wealthy nations, cannot afford access financially.  People with disabilities may have access, but the technology may not be suited for them to use it (e.g. the blind- there are limited programs, like Jaws, that can read internet sites, but these may be costly and could be improved).

The document does include a resolve to ensure access (number 19) for everyone.  They encourage “stakeholders” to work toward building communication infrastructures to allow access to everyone.

The largest barrier to this is money.  Some countries lack roads to even get laptops, wires, etc. to people.  Building roads would cost money, as would the physical wires and laptops.  The reasons that there is a divide in access to older technologies like phones, televisions, etc. will continue with new technologies.  “Stakeholders” (it is not clear if these are government heads, CEOs of technology corporations, or presidents of non-profits) may or may not be motivated to make altruistic contributions to give everyone access.

http://www.explodingdog.com/dumbpict51/pleasedrinkresponsibly.jpg

One solution I could think of (for corporations) is the idea of do-gooder advertising (AEM majors help me- I researched and could not find what this is called.  The closest thing I could think of is reciprocity persuasion).  For example, beer companies put a “Please drink responsibly” message in their commercials to make you feel positive towards that company, and Dove uses the “Campaign for Real Beauty” for women to feel positively towards Dove’s mission, and therefore, toward Dove,  and other companies emphasize their volunteer work (law firms promote their pro bono efforts etc.).  So, a company like Comcast  could do a documentary on their “purely philanthropic” mission to introduce internet access to a developing area to make people in the US feel more positive toward their services.  Therefore, Comcast wins and the developing nation wins.

http://lawinquebec.wordpress.com/2009/04/02/pro-bono-quebec-hopes-to-improve-access-to-justice/