Cutting Edge Technologies And Microcomputer Applications For Developing Countries

This report is based on a conference on the applications of microcomputers in development sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development and the U.S. National Academy of Sciences in collaboration with a host country.

Explains and assesses the uses of computers in record-keeping, accounting, education, CAD-CAM, expert systems and geographic information systems, and provides a methodology for attacking the problems of resource assessment, utilization and communication.

The growth of microcomputer applications in industrialized countries is predicated on an existing base that includes the ready availability of affordable hardware and software, trained personnel, capable maintenance, efficient communication systems, and a benign environment; applications are selected and facilitated by a wide range of underlying ex

Microcomputers are an increasingly important tool in all aspects of development as the need to handle and assimilate vast quantities of information becomes ever more critical for both the international development community and the developing countries. In addition, the microcomputer represents the first significant technological advance that a developing country can assimilate and exploit with a relatively low capital investment and without prior knowledge or involvement in other technologies. Unfortunately this new technology represents not only an opportunity if properly exploited but a threat if ignored. The widespread and increasing incorporation of microcomputers into all aspects of the developed countries represents a major technological advance and an inevitable social change. If a developing country fails to take advantage of the opportunity that microcomputer technology represents, its level of development in relation to developed countries will be significantly lowered. Organized by the Board on Science and Technology for International Development in response to a request from the U.S. Agency for International Development, this book is an overview of microcomputer applications in developing countries and the issues associated with their use and abuse. The first section of the book is an assessment of the need for microcomputers in development. Written primarily for those in the development field and other computer-literate individuals, the second part is divided into applications in agriculture, health, energy, and municipal management. Policy concerns are addressed in the final section. It discusses the technology transfer that takes place as countries try to establish national computer policies that meet local needs while encouraging creative and useful applications.

World Bank Discussion Paper No. 281.This study examines the best practices of eight OECD countries--Canada, Germany, Ireland, Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States--in designing national policies and programs to accelerate the effective use of information technology in support of industrial competitiveness. New technologies in computing, communications, and multimedia are changing the competitive advantage of industries, services, and entire economies. Enterprises must therefore increase their technological development and education through government assistance.The emerging experience is rich and diverse. The study draws on the tacit knowledge of the designers and implementors of national policies and programs to establish key rules-of-thumb for future programs. The authors outline broad directions for adapting these practices to the conditions of developing countries.

Computerization, microcomputers, technological change, developing countries - information processing, technology transfer, information system, telecommunications cost, sectoral applications in agriculture, health service, energy and local government, case study of Sri Lanka. Bibliography, flow charts, graphs, glossary, illustration, maps, statistical table, tables.