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Digital Planet: 04/11/2008

Factual: Science & Nature

04/11/2008

BBC World Service - Digital Planet, 04/11/2008

Global censorship & tech firms, cloud computing, wifi project in the mountains of Nepal

Tech firms sign up for Global Network Initiative to address censorship & freedom of speech. But will it work? Cloud computing explained. Nepal's wireless network update.

TACKLING GLOBAL CENSORSHIP

Last week tech companies and human rights groups launched guidelines designed to tackle censorship. Google, Yahoo! and Microsoft have all been heavily criticised for their business strategy in countries such as China. All have signed up to the new Global Network Initiative which aims to promote privacy and freedom of speech on the internet.

However, other human rights groups such as Amnesty International have refused to sign up, saying the guidelines don’t go far enough. Boston reporter Clark Boyd asks whether the initiative will succeed in reducing censorship if companies risk losing lucrative contracts.

COMPUTING IN THE CLOUD

Cloud computing involves storing data remotely, so you can access documents, photos or other information from whereever you choose to log in. So far Amazon have been the main pioneers, with Google hot on their tail. 

Now Microsoft have announced their cloud computing offering called 'Azure'. Gareth chats to BBC technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones about what cloud computing means for small businesses and developing countries. And could there be security issues if we trust our data to 'the cloud'?

NEPAL WIRELESS MOUNTAIN PROJECT UPDATE

In 2001 just after the launch of this programme, Mahabir Pun wrote in asking for advice. He wanted to set up a wireless internet connection in his mountain village in Nepal. But there were no phone lines in the area, and wifi was very expensive.

After that interview, and the subsequent coverage on BBC News Online, he was inundated with offers of advice and manpower from around the world. Now Mahabir has wired up 40 villages with a total population of 60,000 people. 

He came into the Digital Planet studio to give listeners an update on the latest developments, from telemedicine to internet phone calls.

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