Rural Connectivity to the World Wide Web Tam Yuen COMS E6125, Columbia University

Rural Profile Remote, isolated countryside communities  Far from urban centers Poor social infrastructure  Limited access to safe drinking water and reliable electricity  Limited healthcare facilities such as clinics and hospitals  Poor transportation (roads, railway, buses) Poor economic infrastructure  Limited employment opportunities other than farming  Limited upward mobility due to poor education

Rural Profile (cont) Financially underprivileged  Low income due to limited education and employment opportunities Rural crime  Thefts of crops, hay, livestock, and farm equipment  Unreported arsons and burglaries Over 50% of world population  Over 3 billion people!!

Some Benefits of Rural Connectivity Weather Forecast  Latest weather forecast and in-depth analysis Rainfall amount, temperature extremes, relative humidity, dry spells  Advanced warnings on disasters such as tsunami, droughts, and torrential rain  Assist in planning and coordinating agricultural activities (crop rotation, irrigation, and harvesting)  Avoid devastation of farm and financial losses

Some Benefits of Rural Connectivity (cont) Distance learning  Convenient and flexible schedule No need to travel onto campus Download courses that suit one’s schedule and other commitments Farmers with young children and physical disability Farmers who cannot leave the farm to attend lecture on campus  No travel and babysitter costs  More choices among many providers of distance education

Summary Web connectivity benefits rural communities  Weather forecast and analysis in preparation for natural disasters  Distance learning for improved employment opportunities  Other benefits highlighted in my research paper titled “Benefits of Rural Connectivity to the World Wide Web as a Catalyst to Poverty Reduction”