Unlike the divide between rich and poor the 'Text and Technology Divide' among nations is a growing global and social problem that never had a place meaningfully in the reality only a couple of decades ago. Therefore, it is still in the form that is manageable comparing with other stubborn global and social problems. There is good possibility to achieve greater result if more weight is given on to this particular problem rather than fighting world’s other never - ending problems. By mobilizing resources to target fighting the growing ‘digital divide’ as a priority, actually gives poorer part of the world a unique opportunity to reshape and rebuild a social structures in the process that would be based in a new 'information society' which would then automatically spark developments in all other problematic areas of the world like chain reactions. Genuine effort to close the gap between digitally divided communities in poorer countries will pave ways for not only 'digital opportunities,' for many but also will result in a 'technology breakthrough’ to overcome other problems that widens divide among nations. Poverty is one of such social divides. But, I hope and that the process to create a world wide digitally connected global society will open up new opportunities to those living in the poorest and most isolated regions of the world. It will offer a voice to those who in the past have often been unheard and forgotten. The challenge of narrowing or even closing the 'digital divide' is very doable and the success would benefit parties living in the both ends of the great divide. Think of a new digitalized connected world society that would reach remote villages of the Amazon jungles, or the inhabitants around Himalayan Mountains, not only current world information will be available to the local people who could automatically become digitally literate in the process, but also to the other end of the world who could learn about the cultural treasures found before only in a few libraries. The Challenge to find ways to ensure that the enormously powerful tools that we now possess, in the form of ‘texts and technologies’, are used to create better standards of life with larger degree of freedom in every corner of the world. Greater access to information and communication technologies can improve the lives of farmers and assist micro-entrepreneurs. It may prevent AIDS and other communicable diseases, promote women's equality and foster environmental protection.

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© 2005 ETEC 540, MET, UBC