Don’t have a computer? You’re poor…
October 15th, 2008
Today is Blog Action Day: bloggers from the world unite to talk about a single subject, and this year it’s about poverty. I won’t talk about third world poverty, because many blogs are already on it today. I wanna focus on developed countries, so I chose to discuss about the consequence of not having a computer.
When I was a kid 20 years ago, almost no one had a computer at home, the lucky ones were considered as rich, because at this time computers where expensive. When I got my first computer in 1990, even though I didn’t feel richer than them, I knew it was a privilege.
18 years later, computers have become way more affordable, and easy to use. All of my friends have a computer, my mom and even my dad, who’s not friend with technology at all, have one! I frequently use iChat with my mom, and this year they both wished me a happy birthday by email!
When I ask my friends what they’d miss most between TV and Internet, their answer goes for the 2nd. This is the sign that computers have become a complete part of our lives. We even start to have computers in our pockets with things like the iPhone!
But what’s the link with poverty?
Computers have become so cheap that if you don’t have one, you’re considered as poor. You can get a second hand PC for a couple hundreds, but some families don’t even have money for that. A lot of people can’t afford a computer actually. Without a computer, kids can’t write their school papers, they can’t keep up with their friends on social networks, and feel more isolated than ever.
What can be done to help?
Programs such as OLPC are great, but it’s not enough. How many people have an old computer that still works, but they don’t use anymore? Instead of dropping it to the garbage or sell it for a small $100, it’s a lot better to just donate it to people who need it.
A quick search on Google and I got lots of results to donate computers, here’s a short list:
There are a lot more resources, just take 5 minutes to search on Google and I’m sure you’ll find some local organization that will get your old computer and donate it to people in need.
Poverty is not just in the third world. It’s closest to you than you think.
Update
There’s a great related post on lifehacker.com: Donate Your Old Hardware to Those Who Can Use It
Permalink Ben - October 16th, 2008 at 9:40 am
I’ve volunteered for Computers for Youth and it is a terrific organization. But they only take computers in bulk — not individual machines.
If you’d ever given out computers to kids (or given out anything, actually) you would understand. It raises havoc when David gets a beige unit and Sarah gets a black one.