Tuesday, November 8, 2011

LET’S CREATE DIGITAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ASEAN!



In this modern era, technology and information is a very urgent thing. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has the potential to realize better quality of life, including higher productivity and living standards, as well as improved community services. However, these benefits are not available to those who are unable to use or learn ICT, especially in developing countries. The “digital divide” between people and countries that are able to reap the benefits of ICT and those that cannot is also reflected in widening economic disparity.


The driving forces of the information revolution and the 'information society' are the development, diffusion and use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in contemporary societies. The diffusion of ICTs has contributed enormously to the growth of economies in developed nations and developing nations are earnestly facilitating policy frameworks to ensure an equitable diffusion of these technologies.

ICTs refer to the various technologies that enhance the creation, storage, processing, communication and dissemination of information. ICTs also refer to the different infrastructures used in these processes, their applications and the numerous services these infrastructures render. We identify the following technologies as the elements of ICTs:

Media of Communication (e.g radio, television,)
Information machine (e.g Computers)
Telecommunications technologies and equipment (Satellites, fibre optic cables, phones, Facsimile machines)


The development in telecommunications has impacted enormously on the applications of ICTs and their uses. Telecommunications technologies, coupled with computer technology have enhanced network-based information and communication platforms, such as the Internet. Telecommunications infrastructures in particular have become the driving forces of ICTs; they have the capability to link all various ICT elements together irrespective of locations and to provide a converging platform for these elements. The convergence of the various elements of ICTs has enhanced development in all spheres of human activities. Robin Mansell and Uta When (1998: 1) state, "Advanced microelectronics-based information and communication technologies (ICTs) are at the heart of recent social and economic transformations in both the industrialized and many developing nations".

In 1995 and 1997, the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development (UNCSTD) investigated the benefits and risks of ICTs. The result of this investigation showed many instances where the use of ICTs affords widespread social and economic benefits. There were also many instances where ICTs were making no differences in the lives of people in the developing countries. The result also showed that the diffusion of these technologies is extremely uneven throughout the developing world. As a result of this, there is a high risk that technologies and services will deepen the disadvantages of those without the skills and capabilities to make the investments required for building innovative ICT-based societies

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is an increasingly powerful tool for participating in global markets; promoting political accountability; improving the delivery of basic services; and enhancing local development opportunities. But without innovative ICT policies, many people in developing countries - especially the poor - will be left behind.

Information in 20th century is very important to every people in the world, without information we can’t see the world is. Actually to get some information is very easy today. We just bought some newspaper in the morning and read it with coffee and a piece of cake, but if we need some information immediately we can browse in internet. Internet can control a lot of information now a day, everything can be found in internet with search engine for example in Google.

Taking Information and Communication Technology aims to:
o Strengthen the capacity of young people as leaders and citizens
o Foster cross – cultural dialogue and understanding
o Increase awareness and involvement in global issues

Beside that the function of information and technology:
1) Inspiring
Young people have energy, to desire and the skills to make difference in the world. All that’s needed is a way of connecting with one another. With information and technology we can get inspire from some issues in ASEAN that make youth generation more critical and more responsible to their country and their areas especially in ASEAN. Some issues in other country can make several effects in the other one. We can learn from those issues whether bad or good, we can get lesson from that and make a new solution to solve this problem if it is to consist of your country.
2) Informing
Our world is increasingly global and interconnected. Many threats face our common humanity such as global poverty, war and conflict, HIV / AIDS, and environmental degradation. As we know poverty is one of the most problems in the world which make many bad effects in our country. With ICT we can solve this problem together and share what the best way to solve it in our country especially ASEAN which the most member of ASEN is developing country that have many problem to solve. ICT can make youth generation get many in information from our neighborhood county which have the same problem and share the way to solve this problem together ,so make relationship between developing country more stronger.
3) Involving
Young people are the most important thing in our country; we are expectation nation generation in your country. All of them have the same goal to make our country is better and more develop by the time. That’s why ITC is one of the most important in this century. Wishes man said “If we know the some issues in the world you can know how to solve better than the other young generation. We are as the young generation must be more respect the globalization. With ICT, we can involve and sharing ideas by using web page. We can help our friends; especially in ASEAN which the majority is development countries that needs to follow world improvement rapidly.