Building ICT literate human capital in the third world: a cost effective, environmentally friendly option

Continually dropping prices of information and communications technology (ICT), and continually increasing ubiquitous ICT power, have created an environment where ICT literacy is vital for competing effectively in a globalised world. In the past, nations have developed through technologies that are expensive and environmentally destructive. However, ICT promises a new development model that is relatively inexpensive and environmentally friendly. This model provides a means for relatively poor third world nations to be able to compete effectively in a globalised world, without sacrificing their environment. A key tenet for such a model to work effectively is the establishing of ICT literate human capital, on a large scale, that is able to take full advantage of the opportunities provided by the ICT revolution. Hence, third world countries need to work on a cost effective model to promote large scale ICT literacy at the national level, in order to be able to run ICT based systems that will enable them to compete effectively in this ICT driven world. One solution is to open up large numbers of computer labs that will help to lift the ICT literacy levels nationwide, just as in the developed nations. However, the lack of funds and expertise in third world nations make this option, which involves environmentally unfriendly large scale construction, difficult. This paper suggests an environmentally friendly alternative that helps addresses both the financial constraints and the problems of limited expertise, particularly in the need to continuously upgrade ICT systems.