Increase in people going on-line
Description:
More people go online; bottom-up Internet is all about delivering content to people and also make them (individual) the source for new content. The more people go on-line the more gets contributed
Enablers:
1. ISPs: responsible for the infrastructure and delivering of the service
2. Government: for both funding as making a statement in how “connected” the country/state should be
3. New technologies like WiMAX to increase availability in the most remote locations
4. Support of 3rd world projects like the $100 laptop to get developing countries on-line 5. Increase in acceptance of IT 6. Increase in relevant and reliable resources on the Internet 7. Increase in on-line functionality/services
Inhibitors:
1. ISPs usually don’t want to provide services to locations that costs more than they will make
2. Lack of support on new (wireless) hardware standards; wireless technology plays an important role in further spreading Internet availability. When standards aren’t being recognized the level of compatibility will decrease making ISPs very reluctant to invest in.
3. Internet threats; when people don’t feel safe on the Internet they will be unwilling to use certain services for instance ones that require you to identify yourself or require on-line payment
Paradigms:
More people going on-line also makes it a more interesting market for scams and will decrease the amount of users going on-line which would make the Internet safer again. Just getting people connected isn’t the way. Especially people from 3rd world countries need to be educated. Just connecting people unaware of the treats makes the Internet an unsafe place to be.
Availability doesn’t mean usage. Without targeted services the usage of the Internet won’t increase by just connecting people. Experts
Timing:
Web Resources:
Computer and Internet availability for students http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/frss/publications/2001037/3.asp
Availability of Broadband Internet access http://itel.mit.edu/itel/docs/MISC/LehrGillettTPRC99_0523.doc