¡Vámonos!

How many of you knew that today is El Día Internacional de Internet / the International Day of the Internet? Or that this week is Semana de Internet / Internet Week? I certainly didn't until this morning when I checked BBC Mundo in my Google Reader.

In the article Día mundial de internet, (looking at the day from the point of view of Latin America) it reports that

'En el día mundial de internet diversos países discuten este sábado el avance de las nuevas tecnologías, y algunos expertos consideran que la clave del futuro de internet en Latinoamérica puede estar en la "creatividad" de su gente.'

(For those who don't speak Spanish - today different countries will be discussing the advance of technology and some experts will consider the key to the future of the Internet in LatinAmerica as being in the 'creativity' of the people.)

The article goes on to say that whilst technology in places like Chile is more advanced than in some European countries, many users don't fully appreciate the benefits of being online.

"Tenemos el mismo nivel que Europa", explica Menchaca (el director de Comunicación Digital de la Universidad UNIACC de Chile, quién durante una década lideró proyectos interactivos en España) "pero hay más necesidad de ser creativos".
"El problema en América Latina es que internet es aún una plataforma para estar y no es visto como una herramienta de servicios, pero creo que los latinoamericanos podrían convertirse en desarrolladores de contenidos para todo el mundo."

(i.e. the Internet is seen as a platform for 'being' rather than as a tool that can be used creatively.)
Universidad UNIACC de Chile has begun a new course linking design, marketing, technology etc together in a more 'joined up' way than previously to prepare people to change this view.

I'd encourage you to read the whole article - even if you can't speak Spanish -for an online translator, Google Translate isn't too bad you know ;o)

One thing I loved about this article was the news that, in celebration of the day, there is a 'Torta Virtual'. Anything to do with cake interests me, so I followed the link and claimed my slice! Very easy to do -

• Follow the link in the article or this one.
• Click on the piece of cake you'd like.
• Upload a picture of yourself.
• Leave your name, country, town and a message.

You will be emailed your slice of cake and your picture will appear on your part of the main cake.

Why not join in? There were 746 pieces left when I wrote this.

Shame it's not real though ... ;oD

Posted by lisibo at 10:36    

Labels: ICT, international links, internet, Latin America, new technologies