Group 4(T20)

Abstract
Is there a method of adopting and achieving cutting edge technology to the benefit of everyone in developing countries? Apparently, there is, but it's road is both long and treacherous. This is the core of T20G4's research and investigation into the technological developments within developing and recently developed countries. Focusing arbitarially on India and China, T20G4 took a look at the two countries and their people before and after the proliferation of computer technology. In the process, it became obvious that the criteria "for the benefit of everybody" was most convoluted and not always met, bridging social issues of economics, education, and environment; always, it was tied together through the actions - and lack of actions - taken by the government of each country on the issue.

Introduction
Group Members

Franchesca Wong Kurtis James Wright Andrew Hay Yip Aisha Eram Zaman Youyou Zhang

Topic: Technology in Developing Countries

UPDATE MARCH 31ST

OUR BASIC QUESTION: Is there a method of adopting and achieving cutting edge technology to the benefit of everybody in developing countries?

OUR ARGUMENT: Yes, but the method is usually 1) expensive - who's paying for all this?, 2) difficult to achieve worthwhile equality - who gets what, and, more importantly, who decides?, and 3) prone to backfire - are these adopted technologies even worthwhile?

Remember that to advance these arguments, choose points, facts, or concepts from your research that can be summarized quickly (like in a few sentences) and that can be presented in a logical or chronological sequence to support the argument.

UPDATE APRIL 1ST

Notes: a quick analysis of the question, from my (Andrew's) opinion at least...

In asking "is..." we are asking specifically for a yes or no, but at the same time, because such a simple answer would seem not suitable to our needs, we should also inlude what kind of method and/or problems with implementing it - as we see from our research in supporting our argument.

By "cutting edge technology," we refer for the most part to computing-related hardware, software, operating techniques and procedures...and related, which is current or recently introduced in "the west" (North America and Europe). In the odd case, we may have to backtrack to even more basic technologies like wired telephones or simple electronics, especially when dealing with the poor or undeveloped sections of the developing country.

"To the benefit of everbody" implies equal oppourtunity to the members of a developing country in the adaptation of that tech, and that the given tech also has a positive net contribution to it's adopting society.

Summary:

(Andrew) Is there a method of adopting and achieving cutting edge technology to the benefit of everybody in developing countries? This is the core question of T20G4's research and investigation into the technological developments within developing and recently developed countries. Focusing specifically on India and China, T20G4 will take a look at the two countries and their people before and after the proliferation of computer technology. We hope to see both the cons and the pros of these technologies to the two countries, the different methods each employed to acquire and implement the technologies, and, ultimately, if one of the two technology progressions is better in terms of efficiency, equality, ethically, socially...

Suggested research range: 1990's to present. The fall of the Soviet Union and the historical height of decolonization marks the groundroots of today's India and China, and their respective technological difficulties. It is also within this time period that we see the rise of new markets for technology in both countries, state-organized hardware aquisitions from the West, and changing social currents in response to their development. If it is appropriate, the group might speculate as to the future for these two countries and other countries/regions following in their footsteps, but by no more than a decade to keep on topic.

Promising subjects that can be touched upon to help advance the project:

The state and technology - related: Chinese state censorship - intellectual property rights crises Social class technological disparities - between the rich and poor in both countries - related: the emergence of a middle class - related: urbanization and technology; Hong Kong, Shanghai anybody? Technological competition with the West - hey, Japan is just next door, and we all know the Americans are EVERYWHERE... - related: globalization and the world market Technology and culture; changes in both at the same time just a coincidence? - related: Bollywood

OFFICIAL PRESENTATION SECTIONS:

Intro - who we are, what we're doing, our topic question, etc.

Social - rift in wealth, unequal development, government handling of technology, information security at all levels.

Educational - literacy rates (or lack thereof), information access, brain drain, technological handicaps

Environmental - pollution, energy consumption, geographical degradation

Conclusion - after all this, is there a good way to adapt technology, and what might it involve?

Discussion and comments? Append your name to your sections in brackets and add your section/view.