Developing world not found on Web

• Article
• Comments ()
• Click-2-Listen
• Videos

By

GENEVA -- Rahul Dewan typed "India" into the search box of an online stock-photo service, hoping to find digital images of his native country. He found only three -- all of flags.

Mr. Dewan then typed "Switzerland," a country smaller than his, and found 33. "USA" returned 72.

His demonstration underscores a major challenge in getting the developing world online: Even with access, the Internet remains meaningless to most of the world's population -- its Web sites heavy in English and reflecting a Western tilt.

Mr. Dewan, managing director of the New Delhi software company Srijan Technologies, ultimately settled for Western faces and hands on his Web site, after failing to find Indian images that he could use or a similar photo service catering to Indians.

So much for promoting his company as a homegrown business.

"They probably think this company belongs to somebody in the USA," Mr. Dewan said at the Dec. 10-12 U.N. information-technology summit in Geneva. "Everything caters to the Western audience."

People and organizations who work on connecting villages and schools throughout the world say their work only begins with providing Internet access and teaching people how to use computers.

There must be compelling information, in native languages and mindful of local traditions and distinctions -- such as audio and illustrations for the illiterate.

"Getting technology into people's hands is one thing. Getting people to use it is key," said Daniel Wagner, director of the International Literacy Institute at the University of Pennsylvania.