How important is technology in our world really? Considering that billions of subscribers use their computers with internet connection as a telephone, an educational tool, and to bring medical care to people who would otherwise not be able to have it, it’s safe to say that having internet access is definitely better than not having it.
Within our country alone there is a difference in the lifestyles of the haves and have nots of new technology and broadband internet. Globally the effects of not having recent technology and internet access could potentially leave certain countries father and farther behind. Entire civilization of people in under-developed countries are already unable to compete in the global market and without internet and new technologies this will only get worse until those countries become obsolete and forgotten.
However there are already several movements dedicated to preventing that from happening. There are many non-profit organizations out there that donate time, money, durable laptops, and education to help bridge the digital divide.
Then there is Virgin Media who is using ferrets to bridge the digital divide in London. They have dressed the ferrets in jackets embedded with microchips that are able to detect and analyze damaged underground broadband cables. According to an article on Telegraph.co.uk.
They quoted the London branch of Virgin Media’s director of broadband, Jon James as saying, "For hundreds of years, ferrets have helped humans in various jobs. Our decision to use them is due to their strong nesting instinct, their long, lean build and inquisitive nature, and for their ability to get down holes. We initially kept the trial low-key as we wanted to assess how well the ferrets fitted into our operations before revealing this enterprising scheme."
How could this help bridge the digital divide? Well the ferrets are able to provide access to places that were previously considered inaccessible. This is allowing Virgin to lay cables in places that they otherwise would not have, like the rural areas in London.
The article informs us that “The government [of England] has set a target of universal broadband access of 2Mbps by 2012.” With the unconventional approach of Virgin this goal is made even more possible.
Just imagine if this kind of success creativity where applied globally? We could use non-invasive species in other countries that have large rural areas, or where the cities are fairly far apart, to provide internet to thousands more people.
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