Summary

ICT in Africa forms the base for industries to help develop profitable opportunities. This is difficult to achieve in Africa because in order to establish an 'informational economy' ICT Africa needs infrastructure, hardware and software.

In order to support a successful economy Africa needs to be able to support a networking and communications system that is compatible with the rest of the global economy in order to produce and function along side its global competitors. Without an advanced communications system of networking and technology Africa won't be able to keep up with other competitors. The opportunity for competition within Africa is limited because of the limited market. In order to produce a larger market Africa needs to begin manufacturing and assembling products which will in turn create more opportunities for education and job opportunities. Powell states that developing products like hardware and software that is assembled and produced within Africa will not only create jobs but also offer education. Additionally, this would create a competitive market thus starting a competitive economy. In order to get an economy rolling technology has to be introduced to Africa on a mass scale so that job opportunities can be created on a mass scale to support and maintain the technology.

Africa is currently excluded from the technology revolution and thus changes must occur to include Africa is the new digital age. Currently, dominant forces do not know how to fully exploit the economic potential of the forces in place. There would be more digital potential in Africa if it were not being reluctant to shed existing culture and mindsets, and if it became more quickly adept at exploring new modes of production. The central idea here is to create a network wherever the network will serve some purpose, be it economic, political or cultural. Africans have a natural culture of sharing consumer goods-televisions, washing machines, etc., this also extends to telephones and the internet. It may be that it is the potential for generating communication and trade within Africa which will prove the most significant aspect of the Information Age in Africa. Multimedia has a large potential to offer more effective communication. New ways to develop African engagement with new technology need to be explored. The development of the digital age depends on new ways of understanding and ordering information. If people gain access to affordable communication like e-mail, they will generate ideas to exploit networks. With such bottom-up growth, there will be vastly lower costs of entry in global trading, increased access to global information tools, and greater emphasis put on ideas and attitudes in the success and failure of new ventures. Traditional African imagination and wonder could help create new wonders in an information age. In the past, African art has led to advances in European art; this same principal could be applied to technology.

New Changes in technology in Africa, whether good or bad, will have a profound impact on not only Africa, but also the world. Study on their information practice is crucial, since the results are still uncertain. The people involved in this study have to first realize that catching up to the Northern societies is not about how many computers are used, but how they are used. Productivity includes ICT for health education, organization and development information, and entertainment, as Powell mentions. He also suggests that in order for effectively and successfully impact Africa and the world, Africa needs to apply all of these ICT's and involve these applications with the rest of the world.

However, it would be in Africa's best interest if new methods and technologies were applied to the creation of other business, since their potential for growth is limited. The most effective way to maximize growth, Powell suggests, would be for African's to use their immediate connections to develop potential business opportunities and a new political organization, which will hopefully exploit the openness to new concepts of the medium. This, then, will either apply to the benefit of African network economies, or develop into ways in which the rest of the world can use on the informational practice.

Since this process is still underdeveloped, the economic bodies and the states have to carefully study the stages in order for a better understanding. ROAPE is studying a vast portion and created a realistic list of possible themes for future issues, which could help for a better understanding for Africa's role and participation in the informational practice.

Africans are enthusiastic about this potential for change and being "connected." The people of Africa see it as a way to involve themselves within exchanges with ease. In order for all of this to happen, however, everyone needs to be working together. Powell mentions that for a successful benefit for Africa, careful analysis is crucial and also immediately impacts people for the better.

Stage Summaries

The Digital Divide' & An 'Informational Mode of Production'?

Before this new knowledge and the new technologies can be applied to Africa’s economic situation, a critical analysis must be done within their economic infrastructures.
This critical analysis is necessary to determine where new knowledge and technology can be utilized within Africa. It is also needed to determine that, if supplied with the infrastructure and skills necessary to be productive, where will Africa fit within the growing global economic networks.

The 'Informational Economy' in Africa

ICT in Africa forms the base for industries to help develop profitable opportunities. This is difficult to achieve in Africa because in order to establish an 'informational economy' ICT Africa needs infastructure, hardware and software.

First Africa needs to develop a communication and telephone network to support the technology. Unfortunately since many areas of Africa are remote and span long distances from eachother a traditional ground network wouldn't be the most cost efficient way to support a communications network. Instead, test satellites are being introduced to remote areas to access connectabliity. Places like cities where most of the network systems are run by the state or private organizations have an easier time but still there is little market for competition with private competitors like mobile providers.

Economic Opportunities

The opportunity of competition is limited due to the lack of a market. Africa isn't likely to become competitive int he telephone infastructure industry, and even if Africa did decide to dabble, it would not seem to an accumulation of capital because of the lack of demand. Telephone infastructure would primarily be used to enable ICT rather than collect a profit.

For software and hardware Africa seems to manufacture components rather than produce final products. As long as products are being assembled outside of Africa the competition within Africa will remain low. Educating within Africa would give the opportunity to create and assemble software and hardware within creating more of a competitive market and a higher profit margin. This will help the infastructure and create the opportunity to develop local skill and local employment, thus contributing further to the local economies.

This is the start to creating a global economy that Africa can confidently compete in. It will also increase the local human capacity to understand software and hardware and using information technology. This will create general awareness, though unlikely to generate an extensive profit it will help to transform and develop the nation.

It is important for Africa to view ICT as an economic opportunity and to involve governments to use the networking community to its fullest potential. It is important to adapt culturally. Production, management, and exchange of imformation are strengthened by the appropriate use of ICT.

Africa is currently excluded from the technology revolution; thus, changes must occur to include Africa in the new digital age. Currently, dominant forces do not know how to fully exploit the economic potential of the forces in place.
There would be more digital potential in Africa if it were not being reluctant to shed existing culture and mindsets, and if it became more quickly adept at exploring new modes of production.

The central idea here is to create a network wherever the network will serve some purpose, be it economic, political or cultural. Africans have a natural culture of sharing consumer goods-televisions, washing machines, etc., this also extends to telephones and the internet. It may be that it is the potential for generating communication and trade within Africa which will prove the most significant aspect of the Information Age in Africa. Multimedia has a large potential to offer more effective communication.

New ways to develop African engagement with new technology need to be explored. The development of digital age depends on new ways of understanding and ordering information.

If people gain access to affordable communication like e-mail, they will generate ideas to exploit networks. With such bottom-up growth, there will be vastly lower costs of entry in global trading, increased access to global information tools, and greater emphasis put on ideas and attitudes in the success and failure of new ventures.
Traditional African imagination and wonder could help create new wonders in an information age. In the past, African art has led to advances in European art; this same principal could be applied to technology.

The Political Consequences

Further study of ongoing transitions in African ICT development is a beneficial opportunity; however, unless certain known political protocols are practice the results could be drastic.

Potential intellectual advancements based upon already existing African culture could yield great results towards ICT development in Africa.

Conclusions

There are challenges for people involved in political economical struggle and those who study the processes.
Nature of the changes are unclear. Continuing research needs ongoing analysis. It's all about quality of computer use, not the quantity. Current technologies being used for productive use in Africa are:
o Using ICT for
+ health,
+ education
+ organizational efficiencies
+ development information
+ entertainment

In order for effectively and successfully impact Africa and the world, Africa needs to apply all of these ICTs and apply with the rest of the world. Potential for development is limited. It is better and more important, according to Powell, to apply new methods and technologies to the creation of other businesses.

Development depends on African using their connections through means of family, neighbors, friends, etc., that could turn business opportunities and new political organization. Africa's new way of doing things, Africa will exploit openness to new concepts of place time and knowledge. exploiting the medium can be applied to either maximizing the benefit of African networks, or become an application that impacts and markets the global informational practice. The economic bodies and the states determine good/bad of the processes.

The process needs thorough examination. ROAPE's contributions would help to chart the understanding of Africa's role and participation of the information age. Made list of possible themes for future problems.

Africans are enthusiastic about new the accessibility of technology. This also gives them new economic opportunities. Amadou Top, President of OSIRIS - on the forefront of a "technological revolution," gives more opportunities to participate.

"analysis of emerging forms is immediately useful to people struggling to shape for the better" (Marx).

Raw Notes

• The new information and technology trends could be applied to Africa’s economic situation.

• Before this new knowledge and the new technologies can be applied to Africa’s economic situation, a critical analysis must be done within their economic infrastructures.

• Africa must first understand what the fundamental processes and changes in technologies that could potentially be utilized.

• The access, usage and production of content in the new information age of technology is much more widespread in advanced capitalist countries.

• There is a digital divide within prosperous countries and between them and poor countries.

• In order for Africa to be able to take advantage of new information age possibilities, Africa needs computers, the infrastructure to connect to the internet, training to learn how to operate both, and the ability to access and use content and technologies which can be used towards developmental ends.

• Before there can be progress in Africa there needs to be a critical analysis on the way in which informational economic development is, and will continue to, impact Africa’s society.

• Manuel Castells sees informational industries and processes as “integral parts of a world order dominated by global financial networks exchanging huge flws of capital.”

• Africa is in a poor position because its national and regional economies are not suited to adapt to the informational model.

• The way in which labor works in the informational model requires the ability to constantly learn new skills and reinvent oneself.

• We are trying to analyze what exactly people want or need in countries in Africa first off, and secondly what means of productions are then realistic to make Africa more productive, effectively raising it’s standards of living.

• ICT in Africa forms the base for industries to help develop profitable opportunities. This is difficult to achieve in Africa because in order to establish an 'informational economy' ICT Africa needs infastructure, hardware and software.

• First Africa needs to develop a communication and telephone network to support the technology. Unfortunately since many areas of Africa are remote and span long distances from eachother a traditional ground network wouldn't be the most cost efficient way to support a communications network. Instead, test satellites are being introduced to remote areas to access connectabliity. Places like cities where most of the network systems are run by the state or private organizations have an easier time but still there is little market for competition with private competitors like mobile providers.

• The opportunity of competition is limited due to the lack of a market. Africa isn't likely to become competitive int he telephone infastructure industry, and even if Africa did decide to dabble, it would not seem to an accumulation of capital because of the lack of demand. Telephone infastructure would primarily be used to enable ICT rather than collect a profit.

• For software and hardware Africa seems to manufacture components rather than produce final products. As long as products are being assembled outside of Africa the competition within Africa will remain low. Educating within Africa would give the opportunity to create and assemble software and hardware within creating more of a competitive market and a higher profit margin. This will help the infastructure and create the opportunity to develop local skill and local employment, thus contributing further to the local economies.

• This is the start to creating a global economy that Africa can confidently compete in. It will also increase the local human capacity to understand software and hardware and using information technology. This will create general awareness, though unlikely to generate an extensive profit it will help to transform and develop the nation.

• It is important for Africa to view ICT as an economic opportunity and to involve governements to use the networking community to its fullest potential. It is important to adapt culturally. Production, management, and exchange of imformation are strengthened by the appropriate use of ICT.

• Need capital to close the gap within the digital divide.

• Need capital to fund technology

• important to decide whether to upgrade existing technology, introduce older technology and the ability to upgrade once usage is successful, or to start with standard and state o the art technology.

*Newspapers, radio's vs internet and cell phones perhaps better to start small.

• Work on things like transportation, health, and education before entertainment. Health education and transportation creat jobs to start a strong and healthy and growable economy.

• In order for technology to be financed there needs to be a growing and stead economy to be able to finance technology projects. Transportation, education, and health all create jobs and recycle money back into the economy to help fund technology.

• Most important to establish an economy and a universal system within Africa

• Unified governments working together to create a successful economy

• Introduce jobs and competition to maintain economy.

• Globally financed- need Africa to contribute. Profit needs to be made in order to maintain the economy and technology.

• Most important, can't lose cultural values. Instead it needs to be integrated into the education and economy. Can't lose emphasis on culture while integrating into a more developed continent.

• priorities- 1. health 2. education 3. development of economy will follow 4. competition will emerge based on a developing economy.

• Africa is, for the time being, excluded from the information technology revolution

• Changes must occur to include Africa in the digital age

• Current dominant forces do not know how to fully exploit the economic potential of the forces currently in place

• Generating globally significant ICT businesses within Africa is not very effective in improving Africa's relative position to the rest of the world

• Potential more likely in Africa if it were not being reluctant to shedding existing culture and mindset, and become more quickly adept at exploring new modes of production. This not likely to happy in ICT industries, but through innovations in other areas

• Africans have a natural culture of sharing consumer goods-televisions, washing machines, etc., this also extends to telephones and the internet

• The idea is to create a network wherever the network will serve some purpose, be it economic, political or cultural

• It may be that it is the potential for generating communication and trade within Africa which will prove the most significant aspect of the Information Age

• If people gain access to affordable communication like e-mail, they will generate ideas to exploit networks. With such bottom-up growth, there will be vastly lower costs of entry in global trading, increased access to global information tools, greater emphasis put on ideas and attitudes in the success and failure of new ventures

• New ways to develop African engagement with new technology need to be explored

• Multimedia has large potential to offer more effective communication

• Development of digital age depends on new ways of understanding and ordering information

• Reality versus imagination

• Traditional African imagination and wonder could help create new wonders in an information age

• In the past, African art has led to advances in European art; this same principal could be applied to technology

• Present day and future economy are also known as 'the knowledge economy', and Africa can exploit this to its benefit. Africa's potential 'intellectual property' has a high price depending on how it is used.

• Because of Africa's uniquely established conceptions regarding information networks (in the form that excludes technology) Africa could positively transition into the digital era on a high note versus previously failed transitions from the industrial age in other communities.

• Focused study that identifies the relationship between African culture and newly developed technologies could be an institution belonging to Africa alone.

1) contrast and compare how the technologies are being used in Africa versus other communities
2) contrast and compare past traditionally established theories of development with ongoing African development

• How Africa will develop once they become enhanced with digital technologies is dependent upon the cumulative input from the participants.

• The relevance of the cultural link with new technology in Africa is demonstrated in Cabral's "The Weapon of Theory" Speech presented to the Tricontinental Congress in Havana (1966).

• The level of production in Africa will be equal to the level of change in political and social arenas.

• ICT inspires closer reach towards long time dream of African unity throughout the continent

• ICT should not be limited to one group because without adequate distribution the society as a whole will fail

• Africa is a continent filled with several diverse countries, which means national issues will depend upon each individual country. Each country can ease the transition by doing the following:

1) states should be more facilitative not authoritative
2) states should not support business ventures under the guise of collecting money
3) states should not stifle the information network with unwarranted laws

• State control of information can lead to a bad situation, which doesn't work with transition

• Challenges for people involved in political economical struggle and those which study the processes.

o Nature of changes= unclear. Need to be analyzed. Doesn't matter how many computers are used, but how they are used, hopefully effectively. technologies being used for productive use in Africa

o Using ICT for
+ health,
+ education
+ organizational efficiencies,
+ development information
+ entertainment.
o In order for effectively and successfully impact Africa and the world, Africa needs to apply all of these ICTs and apply with the rest of the world. Potential for development is limited. It is better and more important, according to Powell, to apply new methods and technologies to the creation of other businesses.

• Development depends on African using their connections through means of family, neighbors, friends, etc., that could turn business opportunities and new political organization. Africa's new way of doing things, Africa will exploit openness to new concepts of place time and knowledge. exploiting the medium can be applied to either maximizing the benefit of African networks, or become an application that impacts and markets the global informational practice. The economic bodies and the states determine good/bad of the processes.

• The process needs thorough examination. ROAPE's contributions would help to chart the understanding of Africa's role and participation of the information age. Made list of possible themes for future problems.

• Africans enthusiastic about accessibility of technology. also gives them new economic opportunities. Amadou Top, President of OSIRIS - on the forefront of a "technological revolution," - gives more opportunities to participate.

• analysis = immediate success
• will shape people for better.