Costs associated with using the internet

NAIS is expensive: -

As you all assume that everybody has access & can access the internet any where in the world. This is very wrong when you consider developing and underdeveloped countries where in most cases the majority of their population have not heard about computers, not seen it or touch it while the community of modern digitals is just a dream to them. Take for the case of Kenya which is a developing nation; digital use is rampant in the cities only because the cities are well supplied with the power/energies that are used to operate them while the rural areas are very unfortunate as they are not enjoying the same.

The NAIS project is conducted through the internet, to me and my students we are finding it to be expensive for the following: -

1. Commercialized internet access. - We have to pay for the duration of time we spend browsing and because the city where we have the internet is a distance, not all the students can visit there so we have to print the information which we carry home for all to see and read. And again, on sending information we spend a lot of time and money when typing, scanning and e-mailing. When considering the frequency at which we have to download and send back the project work, it is just but too much money.

2. Mobility: -We have been moving around to the internet centres, contacting some resource facilities and persons for information, arranging meetings for local exchange of ideas about the digitals. All this needs money.

3. Amount needed now.

Comparing the remaining weeks (7weeks) to the past where we have been using an average of US $ 40 every week. We may still assume that we need this also for every week that is a total of US dollars 280 to complete the task of NAIS, 2006/7.

Rapemo

Costs in the USA

In Colorado if you do not own a computer you may use one for free in a public library. In many libraries you can sign up for a time and the computer will be reserved for you to use for one hour. These computers are connected to the internet. If you own a computer in your home you can connect to the internet for $10 - $50/month depending on the speed of your internet connection. If you own a laptop computer you may use the internet for free in many coffee shops.