Argonautica Polaris

Telecommunication in Bolivia, a possible scope for change?

Living in a country where Nokia is almost used as a synonymous word to post-war success and development, I can not help but pose the question: What are the possibilities to introduce e-Learning in Bolivia? How far out is it if I suggest that illiteracy could be fought through virtual learning-modules, much similar to what us future librarians do in or distance-course right now? It is maybe not a coincidence that some of the literature for the course is by Canadian authors and preofessors at the Knowledge Media Design Institute in Toronto, (linked below).

Finland, Canada and Bolivia have one thing in common: Long distances, large forestrial or mountainous areas in between communities, they are all relatively scarsely populated. It is not surprising that the interest in cellular phones and transmission of voice or data without any sort of cables is a large area of interest in the technology research departments in Finland. According to this site there was 2003 7,080 internet hosts in Bolivia and the number of internet users reached in 2002 270,000 persons. The road to a full scale technology park is still 311 miles according to this site
Some numbers about the population in Bolivia today can be found here. More statistics on internet-users in Bolivia from here.
Resourses exist, the callenge for Evo Morales is maybe now just the minor matter of getting past the fashion press and get in touch with the people who has information in store instead.

The link below is to Knowledge Media Design Institute in Toronto, Canada. Thus described on their website:

"KMDI's mission is research and graduate education in all aspects of building the knowledge society. Our research in knowledge media design will help shape the products, processes and practices of the 21st century.

KMDI is unique in adopting a human-centred approach to design, an approach that means people are at the heart of what we do. Furthermore, KMDI is developing a distinctively Canadian approach to design - one that respects the individual and attends to the public good.



Bolivian travellers of the globe: Post your own pitures of Bolivia here!

posted by "Amira" @ 7:00 AM