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| Sunday, 28 July 2002 |
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Technology for prosperity Biz Buzz : Iris & Aved The internet has provided unlimited technological possibilities to the global village. The benefits of the internet were being discussed at the National Conference on Education organized by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce at an exotic beach resort three months ago. How e-mail has cut down communication costs, how the internet has opened vast data bases to anyone who has access to a computer wired to a telephone line, how the internet is used to file tax returns and various statutory forms in India and the ability of a patient, say in Anuradhapura, to channel a specialist doctor in Colombo without physically having to make a trip to Colombo to pay the fee and book an appointment were some of the applications discussed to illustrate the potential benefits of just one invention of recent technology - the internet. Proponents of the advantages of technology at this conference of academics, private sector representatives, government administrators, policy makers and educationalists far outweighed those who cast doubts on its merits. To balance this view, Mr Bimal Ratnayake, Honourable Member of Parliament representing the JVP and a beneficiary of the education system that guided him to a leading school in Colombo and to the University of Peradeniya argued that getting electricity (and perhaps telephone lines) to villages should be a priority before discussing the potential of the internet, especially for distance learning. His argument was the need to provide the basic facilities to all (if not at least the majority of the rural poor) before the policy makers embraced the idea of taking the latest technology - the internet - to the doorstep of the village folk. The argument made perfect sense. Before installing a computer, electricity supplies (and telephone facilities) are needed. The JVP Parliamentarian's stand was not against the relevance of technology for prosperity. Electricity (and telephones) are themselves marvels of technology that have transformed the lives of people for the better. But they are inventions that had been around for quite some time. Was it then a question on the timing of introducing technological advances to the masses? There are certain groups, in particular some NGOs and environmentalists, who fear that technological advances, if embraced too hastily, can harm the people. The Honourable Minister of Power and Energy recently said that a project to generate wind power was objected to, through fear that the fans would kill all the birds in the locality. Over the past year, only two birds got killed. When electric light bulbs were introduced, the New York Times had warned that it might cause blindness. Indian bank employees went on strike some thirty years ago against the proposed computerization of banks; fearing that computers would take over their jobs. Technology helps the developed countries and the rich, but it widens the gap between the rich and the poor, keeps the prices of agricultural products (of developing countries) low and helps the rich to exploit the poor. Further, there are perhaps many examples of hardship suffered by a section of the population due to technological advances. Fibre optics replaced copper wires to carry voice data over the telephones. This depressed copper prices and hurt the industry in Zambia. The state of the art textile mills the Japanese and Koreans built after the second world war, killed the steel industry in the U.K. British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher allowed the steel industry to collapse. The courage of her convictions, to let technology take over for the overall good of the people paid rich dividends. The British steel industry re-emerged with modern technology to build steel plants that could compete with the Japanese and Koreans. It is true that the developed countries will get richer due to technology and widen the gap among rich and poor countries. But the wave of technological advance will help the poor. The disease fighting medicines, water purification plants, transport systems, hybrid varieties of seeds to produce more food are some of the advantages that have benefitted the poor countries because of the pioneering work done in the laboratories of nations. They are good examples. It is true that those companies who patent medicines make huge profits. But would they have invested the effort and the funds without the prospect of such rewards? And have not the benefits spread to the poor countries, that have seen over the past century increases in life expectancy by two to three (or more) times, eradication of smallpox, polio (almost) and other diseases. Are not the people of this country better fed and living longer than they were 50 years ago? The message is clear. As a nation, Sri Lanka can leapfrog to an advanced state by having policies that will position the country to use and exploit the technological change coming out of the vast investments made by the industrialized countries and their business enterprises. Some technological advances can be home grown, for instance ayurveda, and herbal plants. Whilst the entrepreneurs exploit these, leaders of industry and commerce, and policy makers should move fast to protect our heritage and ancient medical formulae. For this purpose, they should examine patent laws and secure trade names - using the WTO regulatory mechanism should be a priority. |
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