Why Doesn’t Uruguay Have Robots? Angela Wang, Eddie Lu, Hong Chen, Roy Li, Zhijun Huang

What is a Digital Divide? Divide between “haves” and “have-nots” Information and Communication Technology (ICT)‏  Internet: Access to information, global economy  Tele/mobile phones: Instant communication

Significance Access to ICTs is important in a global economy Sustains inequality between rich and poor Digital divides amplify economic differences

Where are the Divides? Global  Developed and developing nations Local  Social groups within a nation Social factors  Gender  Age  Culture  Geographic localization  Socioeconomic factors

Bridging the Divide Increasing access to Internet Affordable personal computers Computer and internet training Inclusion of technology in culture

Japan vs Urugruay Japan Uruguay

Japan

High-Tech Japan G8 summit CEATEC JAPAN Cutting-edge technology exhibitions DLNA NGN PLC

Innovations Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency  International Space Station Robotics  Honda

Methods of closing the Divide Narrowband to broadband New “super-fast, nationwide fiber system” Government encouragement Science and Technology in Society Forum

Rural Japan Limited or no internet access “Community internet” Broadband access Encouraging government subsidies Population drift to urban areas

Japan's Digital Divide

Technology in Daily Life E-commerce, mobile-commerce and the acquisition of information Mobile terminals are the most common source of internet access The number of Japanese that use cellphones is twice the number that have landlines

Economics Electronics and machinery are key exports 72% of GDP comes from service industry

Government Actions ‘e-Japan Strategy’ 'u-Japan Strategy' Huge emphasis on technological advancement  Only 1% of GDP spent on defense

Uruguay

Stats of Uruguay Ranked 2 nd according to the Human Poverty Index Ranked 3 rd poverty below $2 dollars a day

Growth of Uruguay from a Global View  Agricultural Based Economy  Relied on raw material exports until 1998  Increase of capital good imports  Exports fell by 25%

Technological Status Lack of Technological Growth led to stagnation in globalization Spending on research and development was 0.26% of GDP Of a million people in 2002:  370 are scientist  51 are technician 3% of their exports was technology

Bridging the Digital Divide Improve Education, which includes providing computers One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) - nonprofit organization Uruguay has invested in 100,000 laptops

OLPC Mission: “eliminate poverty and create world peace” Funding: – AMD – Google

OLPC: Aims Narrowing the Digital Divide  Improve education  Encourage collaboration  Increase internet connectivity  Inspire technical careers

OLPC in Uruguay Large Investment – 100,000 x $200 per laptop Full coverage of all students 6-12 Internet connectivity in all schools by 2009

Improvements Uruguay has now put more effort into software industry Uruguay was ranked 36 on the prosperity index The income inequality was ranked 88 Literacy rate is ranked 51th, at 97.7%

Internet usage 31.6 %1,100,0003,477, %680,0003,251, %370,0003,304, Percent %Internet UsersPopulationYEAR

Japan (blue) vs. Uruguay (green)‏

Bibliography news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/ stm o_intel_classmate.html o_intel_classmate.html