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Unlikely Businesses Team Up to Bring Computers to the Poor By Haroon Cambel
It always surprises people when rivals put aside their differences and work together to help those in need. That is what bitter enemies America Online and Microsoft aim to do in the near future. Along with sports-snack maker Powerbar Inc., Gen. Colin Powell and others, these adversaries plan to unite their resources and begin building technology centers throughout poor communities in America for the next few years. This proposed move is set up to bridge the gap between the upper and lower classes, opening up doors to the less privileged by supplying them with facilities that will house computers, online accounts, and various other services. Other organizations that have gotten involved in this effort include Sun Microsystems, YMCA, the National Urban League, and about a dozen other major corporations. Some specific features of this effort include an initial $10 million grant from The Case Foundation, 50,000 computers from Gateway, and 100,000 free accounts from America Online. Microsoft and Sun Microsystems Inc. are reaching out to their respective local communities, sponsoring sites in their hometowns. Even the American government is getting involved in this effort, loaning AmeriCorps-VISTA volunteers who will serve as mentors and trainers. This conglomeration of corporations and non-profit organizations comes about at the same time that the British government has started a similar program. They intend to bring computers to those that can't afford to buy them by renting computers out to them. The availability of technological devices for different types of people focuses on not leaving anybody out of the technology age. AOL's chief executive, Steve Case believes that this coming millennium will be known as the 'Internet Century.' He feels that it is vital for all kids to have computers in this age, saying, "Nothing is more important than making sure every child has a part in this exciting new world." Some technology centers have already been built in some of the major cities in America. In the near future, many more hope to be fully functional. The players in this effort are hoping that youth will not only use these facilities as a resource for using computer programs and surfing the web, but also hope that these technology centers will be used as a safe place for youth to go to after school. They especially think this will benefit inner-city youth, serving them as a sort of after school program where they can type up term papers, work on their multiplications tables, and do research on the web.
Hopefully this program will spin a positive light on the recent battles between AOL, Microsoft, and various other corporations who are fighting for computer supremacy. This is definitely a step in the right direction towards working together to make the lives of lower income people more positive.
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