Information
and communication technologies are becoming part of our lives. In most countries
throughout the world, ICTs in the form of fix and cellular telephones, radio
and TV sets, and the internet are becoming a much more visible reality albeit
still the digital divide. The International Telecommunication Union ( ITU, 2013) estimates that about:
- -
6.8 billion total mobile subscriptions
-
- Mobile cellular penetration is 96 % (86
% in developing, with 63 % penetration in Africa and 126% in developed
countries). Mobile telephone growth rate worldwide in 2013 is only 5.4 as compared
to 24 in 2005.
- -
2.7 billion are using the internet ( 31
% for developing, with ONLY 17 % in Africa and 77 % for developed countries
-
- There is still a big gender gap between
women and men with respect to internet usage in the world.
·
41 % of men and 37 % of women worldwide
use internet
·
33 % of men and 29 % of women in
developing countries use internet
·
80 % of men and 74 % of women in the
developed world use internet
- -
Only 41 % of the world’s household use
internet that is half are in developing countries but only 7 % of African households
access the internet. However , from 2009 to 2013 internet penetration in households has grown
fastest in Africa with a 27 %
The statistics above
are revealing of an on average general increase in ICT penetration. This
implies that the core indicators of ICT measurement are also on the rise.
According to Partnership for measuring ICT for Development (2010) core ICT indicators are:
-
ICT infrastructure and access
-
Access to and usage of ICT by household
and individuals.
-
Use of ICT by businesses
-
ICT (producing) sector
-
International trade on ICT goods
-
ICT in education
Photo Barcamp 2013 Buea |
This
paper will focus specifically on the ICT producing sector (goods and services)
within the Cameroonian context. The development of computer science in most African
countries is nascent but there exist among the IT community of these countries
youths who are determined by their talent to create, innovate and solve world
and local problems with the savoir they have. Recently at the Barcamp 2013 Buea,
under the Theme “Made In Cameroon”, campers from virtually all other regions
of the country gathered in The Catholic University ( UIDB situated at Molyko/Buea/South West Region/Cameroon). Four areas of interest were highlighted :
-
- Techpreneurship Lounge
-
- Open
Collaboration Lounge
- -
Creative Industries Lounge
- -
Freebie Lounge
Photo Barcamp 2013 Buea |
ICT
and Kulture is also interested in the
processes by which scientific theoretical principles within the realms of human-computer interaction (HCI) are rendered concrete so as to
enable well being. At the Barcamp 2013 Buea, a fervent desire to move from
theory to practice was literally visible in the presentations made. It was interesting to
see that the move from theory to practice covered the range of the IT sector
that is provision of goods and service of global and local interest.The goods and
services which captivated the attention of ICT and by their innovation , creativity and impact were :
-
- Africa IT Women (AIW) created By Danielle
Akini
- -
“Feem” developed by Fritz Ekwoge
-
- A game prototype on culture by “Telesphore”
as he called himself
-
- Adding a new interface to local search
using the mobile technology by Wasmundi
-
- Online payement of bills “Kamerbills” by
Active Spaces.
Photo Didier De Masso |
ICT
and Kulture is interested among many other things in promoting ICT-awareness and
knowledge among women and children through education using ICT. The work of
these IT specialists could serve as a framework for the emulation among women
and girls and children a desire to be engaged much more into the ICT sector
taken into account that more women and
youth experientially are gradually using internet more than before.
Photo Barcamp 2013 Buea |
These
technologies and services - e.g Feem
which enables users to share files and chat on a variety of technologies
without using the internet. This is of interest to teachers, physician and
health professionals in remote areas who cannot afford internet access. This technology
is a blatant example of how theory can be made alive. Africa IT Women is a cyberspace non for profit organization created
on the 23rd of June 2013. It aims at enabling women to emerge in the
IT industry – is revealing of the potential present among youths in Cameroon.
These IT specialist by their role modelling action through their creativity are valuable resources for the educational
community (computer science teachers and guidance and counsellors and parents).
Their actions can indeed emulate a much more deeper interest into the computer
science field and why not the Sciences, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
(STEM).
It
is though regrettable that albeit the timid interest of a few undergraduates
and graduates from the University of Buea and the Catholic University, youths
from a proximity Secondary school where not present. A real privilege they
would have had to be bathed in a unique spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship
as prompted by President Obama in his introductory keynote for the Global
Enterpreneurship Summit Held in Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur from the 11th
to 12th 2013
ICT
and Kulture by its works seeks to raise more awareness about the need to create
more ICT opportunities e,g. events which will serve educational and development purposes
for women and girls and children around
the world but in Africa especially. The statistics of the ITU ( 2013) are clear, and the indicators provided by the Partnership for measuring ICT for Development (2010) are revealing of the fact the IT sector can operational within Cameroonian-African context since Barcamp Cameroon has been holding its conferences for five years now.
However, much work still needs to be done albeit the progress. We hope that in the
change that our globalized world brings that ICT will one day be better known and mastered and
accessible and used more productively for all and by all.
References
Partnership for measuring ICT for Development (2010): Core ICT Indicators retrieved from www.uis.unesco.org/Communication/.../Core_ICT_Indicators_2010.pdf
ITU (2013) . World in 2013 : ICT facts and Figures. retrieved from http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Statistics/Documents/facts/ICTFactsFigures2013.pdf
Acknowlegdements
We will like to thank the Barcamp 2013 Buea Organization Team for some the photos you see here
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please type in your comment here...