As I understand it, water vapour emissions can be quite damaging at normal cruising altitudes.
We find H20 emissions acceptable because water vapour is so common - at our own altitude. But remember, for example, ozone is healthy at high altitudes but is bad bad bad at ground level.
Water vapour emitted from aircraft is thought to be a serious contributor to the greenhouse effect - not because it is a particularly damaging gas, but because it is released at the altitude where it can have maximum effect.
the computers are intended to provide "free Internet access to schools, health centres, small businesses and small communities";
"in the first phase [they] will finance the Internet installation in public schools and health centres in the poorest parts of the country";
the price of R$400 - R$500 ($250) excludes tax;
they are investigating the problem of phone line costs, with possible solutions such as Government funding.
The digital divide isn't about 'computers are a luxury' and 'I have Internet but I can't afford food'. The digital divide is a growing contributing factor to social exclusion. Social exclusion is about entire communities of individuals who do not have the choices in life (education, jobs and so on) that are available to wealthier communities.
Computer literacy has been growing in importance for quite a while and the Internet appears to have accelerated the process by simply making more people computer literate. If you have no access to computers then you are being denied more than just the opportunity to natter about Star Wars on Slashdot - you are being denied basic skills training.
The effects are currently minimal but are guaranteed to grow. For many many children, computer literacy could be the differentiating factor that (a) gives them the incentive to keep going to school and (b) gets them a job when they leave.
Brazil is by no means far behind the technological curve. A glut of free Internet providers appeared in Rio towards the end of 1999, only months behind the UK. The problem, as people have mentioned, is that it is still out of the financial reach of the majority.
There is a heavy emphasis on extra-curricular education in Brazil - generally paid courses outside school hours. As in America, those in Brazil most aggressively tackling the 'Digital Divide' are the NGOs, who give courses for free. The equipment generally comes entirely from donations and the staff tend to be volunteers. CCDIA is the one I work with, but there are many more. This government scheme could give critical mass to the projects which are offering free courses to those who can't afford to pay.
I would encourage every Slashdot reader in every country to find a local project where they can help - the first-world has social problems too!
Slashdot Mirror
As I understand it, water vapour emissions can be quite damaging at normal cruising altitudes.
We find H20 emissions acceptable because water vapour is so common - at our own altitude. But remember, for example, ozone is healthy at high altitudes but is bad bad bad at ground level.
Water vapour emitted from aircraft is thought to be a serious contributor to the greenhouse effect - not because it is a particularly damaging gas, but because it is released at the altitude where it can have maximum effect.
The digital divide isn't about 'computers are a luxury' and 'I have Internet but I can't afford food'. The digital divide is a growing contributing factor to social exclusion. Social exclusion is about entire communities of individuals who do not have the choices in life (education, jobs and so on) that are available to wealthier communities.
Computer literacy has been growing in importance for quite a while and the Internet appears to have accelerated the process by simply making more people computer literate. If you have no access to computers then you are being denied more than just the opportunity to natter about Star Wars on Slashdot - you are being denied basic skills training.
The effects are currently minimal but are guaranteed to grow. For many many children, computer literacy could be the differentiating factor that (a) gives them the incentive to keep going to school and (b) gets them a job when they leave.
Brazil is by no means far behind the technological curve. A glut of free Internet providers appeared in Rio towards the end of 1999, only months behind the UK. The problem, as people have mentioned, is that it is still out of the financial reach of the majority.
There is a heavy emphasis on extra-curricular education in Brazil - generally paid courses outside school hours. As in America, those in Brazil most aggressively tackling the 'Digital Divide' are the NGOs, who give courses for free. The equipment generally comes entirely from donations and the staff tend to be volunteers. CCDIA is the one I work with, but there are many more. This government scheme could give critical mass to the projects which are offering free courses to those who can't afford to pay.
I would encourage every Slashdot reader in every country to find a local project where they can help - the first-world has social problems too!