The remaining five billion

Advance the Web to Empower People

The Remaining 5 Billion Why is Most of The World's Population Not Online and What Mobile Phones Can Do About It

Max Froumentin, Program Manager World Wide Web Foundation October 2010

Copyright © 2009. World Wide Web Foundation. All rights reserved 2

World population 2010

(pho

to: N

asa)


1.7 billion (25%)

Regular internet users

(pho

to: o

pte.

org)


5.1 bn (75%) Have access to the Web


3.4 bn (50%)

World population that has access to the Web but doesn’t use it

That seems like a lot


75% of the world’s population have access to the Web

Really?

What is internet access?


Desktop

It’s also mobile


It’s also mobile


Very few people


Texting Messaging


Calling

What the Web actually is


Web Browser The Web

HTTP

URI

URI URI



Web Browser The Web

HTTP

URI

URI URI

Mobile Browser



SMS Gateway

Web Browser

Apps & Widgets

The Web

HTTP

URI

URI URI

Voice Browser

Mobile Browser

The Web

URI

I The Web

The Web

The Web

The Web The

Web The Web

The Web



SMS Gateway

Web Browser

Apps & Widgets

HTTP

Voice Browser

Mobile Browser

Consequences


Why are there 3.4 billion people not using the Web?

Consequences


-  Language not supported (speech, fonts, etc.) -  No relevant content -  No interesting content -  No local content -  No useful content -  Not in my language -  I can’t read -  My government doesn’t allow it

1. Technical issues / SMS


SMS

•  Output: display of characters •  Fixed 160-byte payload •  Originally 140 7-bit ASCII •  Then 70 16-bit Unicode •  Then 140 7-bit language tables

•  Input •  12-key dial pads •  or more sophisticated

•  No documentation •  No authoring tools, etc.

1. Technical issues / Voice


Voice (Interactive Voice Response)

•  Output: prompts ok, speech synthesis very limited •  Input: either dial-pad, or speech recognition

•  Acceptance of dialog systems / NLP

•  Similar connected issues as SMS for development

2. Non-technical issues


No content that is:

•  local •  interesting •  relevant

Consequences


No knowledge of:

•  Applications •  Technology •  Business models

Consequences


Business opportunities

•  Seed funding •  Revenue model


Chhattisgarh

CGNet Swara


Chhattisgarh


The Web For Regreening Alliance


W4RA

Yacouba Sawadogo

Conclusion


Many opportunities

Many problems

The remaining five billion

Technology

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