Over the past four years, we have established more than hundred Internet bases at Yellow Sheep River Town, Gansu province and other underdeveloped areas in China including Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, Chongqin,Qinghai, Sichuan, Tibet and Inner Mongolia provinces. These Internet bases prove that computers and networks are capable of changing the course of people's lives. In the 1980s, the Drs. Tofflers, renowned futurists, predicted that through the use and popularization of computers and network technology, agricultural societies could bypass the industrial society and transform directly into information societies. Without ever having experienced the industrial society, they could avoid all of the negative effects and social turmoil associated with the industrial stage. From our experience over the last four years in setting up Internet bases, we firmly believe that the transformation from an agricultural society to an information society requires seven steps. Below are listed the seven steps: schools leading local economic developing, expanding e-business, improving agricultural and pastoral economy, establishing Internet Villages, concentrating scattered villages in a central location, developing the service industry, and enacting a system of remote employment and service. Each of these seven steps accomplishes a separate goal and services its own purposes. By using scientific methods and the tools of the information society, improving agricultural and pastoral economy, establishing Internet Villages, concentrating scattered villages in a central location, developing the service industry, and enacting a system of remote employment and service. Each of these seven steps accomplishes a separate goal and services its own purposes. By using scientific methods and the tools of the information society, we can evaluate the progress.
As the ultimate goal is transforming into an information society, it is important to note that information economies are knowledge-based. Hence, we must first introduce a range of new concepts and ideas. This includes the new definition of wealth in the 21rst century and how to effectively use this knowledge to create wealth. Knowledge is of greater importance than capital in bringing about successful transformation of agricultural economies (based on agricultural and pastoral products) to information economies (based on knowledge). The seven steps are separated into two stages: the first focuses on furnishing underdeveloped areas with outside knowledge, which would in turn attract investors and capital. Corresponding modern techniques would be added to agricultural villages in the latter stage.
The first stage begins with schools leading local economic development. By using the Internet, towns and villages in distant areas could be remotely trained in essential software, English, and typing skills. This would elevate the level of knowledge in underdeveloped areas to equal that of the eastern coastal region of China. Schools would become Internet bases, assisting villagers in performing e-business and facilitating the inflow of outside knowledge. This would also significantly improve the agricultural and pastoral economy of these areas. It would offer the opportunity for locals to create wealth without relocating, permitting skilled workers to remain in their hometowns. The latter stage commences with constructing Internet Villages. These Internet Villages would serve as communication platforms to encourage exchange between the western and eastern regions of China. Internet Villages would concentrate people from nearby scattered villages in selected locations. This ready pool of laborers could then switch to working in the growing service industry. By doing so, this would attract even more outside capital. Remote employment stands as the key to accelerating rural economic development. It would elevate disposal income level in these areas to equal that of the eastern coastal region of China. This would raise the standard of living and permit those living there to enjoy a comfortable life without ever having to leave their hometowns.
In agricultural societies, people are invariably tied to the caprices of weather and land, forever toiling in hard physical labor. This is the only means of survival. In the industrial society, people are dependent on technology, exploiting natural resources to create wealth. However, in the information society, by way of network technology, people can utilize knowledge to create immense wealth.
The Internet is the greatest gift that the Heavens could ever have bestowed. In this new era of endless possibilities, everyone is now competing on a level playing field. With the aid of Internet Villages, the level of knowledge in underdeveloped areas can easily and quickly match that of developed regions. The people can once again exist in harmony with nature. With this changed perspective, people can further develop their local culture. This would create a powerful model for the world to effectively eliminate poverty by use of network technology. This is in every way a dream come true for China's 800 million impoverished farmers. |
Becoming an Information Society: Seven Steps