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Net Literacy in Action
Author Archives: Will Petrovic
Broadband in Brazil: A Multipronged Public Sector Approach to Digital Inclusion
With 35 million fixed and mobile broadband subscribers, Brazil ranks among the top ten countries worldwide by total number of broadband users. Its large population, however, places the country’s broadband penetration outside the top-50 worldwide. This report explores the challenges, opportunities and successes that define Brazil’s Information and Communication Technology experience. Regionally, Brazil is slightly above the Latin American average in terms of penetration, but behind Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay. Speed of access follows a similar pattern – Brazil is …
CodeNow Teaches Students How to Code
CodeNow (a non-profit organization) focuses on developing the next pioneers in technology by teaching underserved youth foundational skills in computer science and programming with the objective of narrowing the current digital divide. The organization teaches high school students the basics of computer programming and computer science in free, extra-curricular, off-campus trainings and boot camps. Each student who completes their program receives a netbook, mentoring and assistance finding internships. Working with numerous partners, the organization successfully launched its pilot program in DC …
Public-Private Partnerships to Bridge Africa’s Digital Divide
Innovative partnerships involving governments, software giants and telcoms will accelerate connectivity and bridge Africa’s gaping digital divide. Experts who met at a just concluded third edition of the Africa Public-Private Partnership Conference in Nairobi hailed the potential of structured collaboration between the public and private sectors to transform Africa into an ICT hub. Zaki Khoury, the Regional Manager, Global Strategic Accounts, Middle East, North, West, and Central Africa as well as Pakistan and Turkey at Microsoft, underscored the potential of …
JobScout Teaches Job Skills Using Online Game
JobScout is like many of the start-ups launching on a daily basis in Silicon Valley, except for the fact that many of its users do not even know how to use the Internet yet. A project that has been supported and seed funded by the California State Library, JobScout is a platform that provides an interactive online environment that uses game design to teach job-hunting skills and the digital literacy basics that are necessary for finding employment. Users will be able …
Plan to get Every Australian Using Broadband by 2020 Released
A digital action plan to get every Australian using high-speed broadband by 2020 which involves the co-operation of the not-for-profit, private and government sectors has been proposed in a new report released by Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider. The report, entitled A fair go for all in the digital era: Towards a Digital Inclusion Roadmap, pointed out that to get all Australians involved in the National Broadband Network (NBN), community centres with high-speed broadband are needed …
European Network and Information Security Agency Publishes 18 Protective Recommendations Against Key Risks for Cyber Bullying & Online Grooming
The EU Agency ENISA, the (European Network and Information Security Agency) has launched a new report on cyber bullying and online grooming (preparing sexual abuse); warning that misuse of data (data mining and profiling) harms minors. The report identifies the top emerging risks and makes 18 non-technical recommendations for their mitigation. One key recommendation is to strengthen Member State’s law enforcement agencies. Other recommendations point to safeguards adapted to the needs of youth’s cyber activities. Digital devices and the internet …
Categories: Digital Literacy, Europe, Government Initiatives, Internet Safety, Policy, Privacy, Whitepapers Leave a comment
Roadmap for Digital Inclusion Completed at “Innovation for Digital Inclusion” Conference in Poland
Adoption of a document relevant for the future of all EU citizens – “Gdansk Roadmap for Digital Inclusion” – concluded the “Innovation for Digital Inclusion” conference in Gdansk, Poland. It’s participants drafted the “Roadmap” in order to indicate to the European Commission the priority actions to be taken in the immediate future. Carrying out of these actions may speed up the process of digital inclusion for 150 millions Europeans who are thus far excluded, and deliver a new and much needed …
Categories: Digital Literacy, Europe, Whitepapers, Workshop/Conferences Leave a comment
Freedom Rings Partnership will bring Internet access, training, and technology to low-income residents of Philadelphia
The Freedom Rings Partnership is a $25 million federally-funded initiative led by the Urban Affairs Coalition and the City of Philadelphia, with Drexel University as a major partner. The Freedom Rings Partnership is made up of grassroots organizations, government, and universities that will bring Internet access, training and technology to residents in low-income communities. This multi-year initiative officially kicked off on January 17, 2011 by sponsoring the signature project of the MLK Day of Service – refurbishing used computers to be distributed back into …
Google Internet Bus Exposes Offline Population in India to Internet
Google is taking the Internet on the road with its Internet Bus Project in India. The Internet Bus Project is an attempt to educate people about what the Internet is, and how it may be beneficial to their lives, by taking the Internet experience to them through a customized Internet-enabled bus, which will travel to several towns and cities across India. You can see pictures of its travels here. This unique project has great potential for starting the spread of Digital Literacy …
Categories: Asia, Corporate Initiatives, Digital Literacy Leave a comment
Grandchildren and Grandparents Team up to Increase Digital Literacy in Serbia
In Belgrade, Serbia, there was an unusual event which took place for grandparents and their grandchildren. The event was organized by local NGO IAN (International Aid Network). Teams were formed, and consisted of a grandparent who was older than 55, together with their grandchild who was younger than 13. Teams who had previously passed the qualifications had the task to efficiently and as accurately as possible provide numerous / various answers to interesting questions in an online quiz whilst using …
Categories: Digital Inclusion, Digital Literacy, Editor's Choice, Education, Europe, NGO/Nonprofit Leave a comment