VOA常速英语2007年-Africa Slowly Struggles to Bridge Digital Divid

By Jade¹ Heilmann
Dakar
19 December 2007

Africa is slowly bridging the gap that divides it from the digital world. Government officials and technology companies are trying to implement² programs such as telemedicine and electronic education within the next five years. But problems with infrastructure³ make it difficult for individuals to get connected. Jade Heilmann has more from our West and Central Africa Bureau in Dakar.

Although Internet connections in Senegal are some of the most extensive and affordable⁴ in Africa, residents are still struggling to connect.

Mossa Diallo is a Senegalese college student. He does not have a computer at home. He cannot afford one. So two or three times a week he sits at a cyber cafe in downtown Dakar in order to be connected, check his email, and do his schoolwork. At about 60 cents an hour, he says this is difficult to afford.

He says buying a computer is not the only problem. Monthly Internet connection fees are also expensive.

Mamadousa Sarr visits another cyber cafe in Dakar. He has Internet at work, but not at home because he too cannot afford the connection fees.

After work, he goes to the cyber cafes. But sometimes, especially during power outages, they are full, because only some of them have back-up generators⁵.

In Microsoft's West and Central Africa division, Wemba Opota is responsible for creating software to get Senegal's digital network up and running

He says electrical power is a major problem holding back Africa's digital evolution. But he adds the existing speed of the Internet in Senegal is also limiting.

He says bridging the digital divide is important for Africa's development, especially in education.

"I had a meeting with the minister of education, and he told me the story of some excellent students that have started their studies here in Senegal and are now in top schools in Europe and the United States," Opota said. "When they [go] to school, they are losing one to two months just because they do not know how to use a computer to surf the Internet properly."

Microsoft is also translating its new operating system into Wolof and other African languages to make it easier for local communities to use its software.

Geneva-based Global Digital Solidarity⁶ Fund is another group dedicated⁷ to the evolution of Africa's digital network.

The fund's executive secretary, Alain Clerc, believes the digital divide is also holding back Africa politically.

"If you see a map of the backbones⁸ of the world you will see that Africa is not linked to this network," he said. "It means in other words at Africa is not participating in the global discussion."

He believes African countries can leapfrog certain technologies to catch up to developed countries. For example, wireless⁹ networks can be put into place instead of laying cables across vast distances to create fiber-optic networks.

Microsoft's Opota thinks alternative technologies such as cell phones have potential in aiding progress.

"Not a lot of people have computers, but a lot of people have cellular¹⁰ phones, so I think there is an interesting alternative by having people having access to digital technology using cellular phones," he said.

Such alternative technology will be even move beneficial in rural areas with limited access.

Cyber cafe users, like Mossa Diallo, say it is paramount¹¹ that everyone has a web-connected computer at home. But that goal appears to be achievable only far into the future.

1 jade   

n.玉石；碧玉；翡翠

参考例句：

• The statue was carved out of jade.这座塑像是玉雕的。
• He presented us with a couple of jade lions.他送给我们一对玉狮子。

2 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

3 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

4 affordable   

adj.支付得起的，不太昂贵的

参考例句：

• The rent for the four-roomed house is affordable.四居室房屋的房租付得起。
• There are few affordable apartments in big cities.在大城市中没有几所公寓是便宜的。

5 generators   

n.发电机，发生器( generator的名词复数 )；电力公司

参考例句：

• The factory's emergency generators were used during the power cut. 工厂应急发电机在停电期间用上了。
• Power can be fed from wind generators into the electricity grid system. 电力可以从风力发电机流入输电网。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 solidarity   

n.团结；休戚相关

参考例句：

• They must preserve their solidarity.他们必须维护他们的团结。
• The solidarity among China's various nationalities is as firm as a rock.中国各族人民之间的团结坚如磐石。

7 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

8 backbones   

n.骨干( backbone的名词复数 )；脊骨；骨气；脊骨状物

参考例句：

• Why do hummingbirds and gorillas both have backbones? 为什么蜂鸟和大猩猩都有脊骨？ 来自辞典例句
• Simply adding bandwidth to the Internet backbones is not an answer. 只是简单的在互联网骨架上增加带宽是应付不了的。 来自互联网

9 wireless   

adj.无线的；n.无线电

参考例句：

• There are a lot of wireless links in a radio.收音机里有许多无线电线路。
• Wireless messages tell us that the ship was sinking.无线电报告知我们那艘船正在下沉。

10 cellular   

adj.移动的；细胞的，由细胞组成的

参考例句：

• She has a cellular telephone in her car.她的汽车里有一部无线通讯电话机。
• Many people use cellular materials as sensitive elements in hygrometers.很多人用蜂窝状的材料作为测量温度的传感元件。

11 paramount   

a.最重要的，最高权力的

参考例句：

• My paramount object is to save the Union and destroy slavery.我的最高目标是拯救美国，摧毁奴隶制度。
• Nitrogen is of paramount importance to life on earth.氮对地球上的生命至关重要。