Iam Vamsi, Came across this link accidently while browsing the net and it caught my eye. I felt I could share my views about itso here it goes… I read the article in NY Times about Pctvt and was smitten by the thought that actually something was finally being done to reduce the digital divide. I feel strongly about what Sindy says, we need to focus on the basic problems of people on the other side of the digital divide and PCtvt could be the first step towards it. PCtvt attempts to provide services (Information (about health care too) and entertainment(primary reason why people would want a PCtvt as in rural India even the poorest of poor would buy a tv first if he had enough money, for him entertainment is important!)). PCtvt can facilitate literacy programs(online), provide employment opportunities (PCtvt kiosks and trainers, takes care of means to earn bread) and mostly empowers,giving the edge of being digitally literate (one can use a system without being scared of something going wrong).
Bottom Line - Its a noteworthy effort and a first step towards greater good, lets not be too critical about it. Instead focus needs to be on, thinking of ways to address their basic needs and if technology can help then why not? The PCtvt usability study can perhaps determine how the users are using or not using PCtvt, what is that people need and how could technology(PCtvt) facilitate that(literacy,food, water, clothes r fine but there must be a way to get to them). Also, one relevant issue that Sindy talked about is that the digital divide has different sense in different communities. Cultures do determine how people use technology. Lot of work has gone into dealing with ethnogrphic issues (particularly Intel) perhaps a ‘mega-project’ like PCtvt could benefit from such work.