Geographical distribution of technology

Geographical distribution of technology

1. The distribution of, and dependence on, technology varies markedly across the planet

2. Access to electricity is one of our most basic expectations, but it is not universally available

3. Digital technology

   • Countries at higher levels of development tend to have greater access to communications technology
   • Countries with a digital access index of over 75 are hyperconnected
     • They have the infrastructure to support digital information transfer and competition has lowered costs
     • Unsurprisingly, these countries correspond to the triad of economically wealthy areas - the powerhouse of the knowledge economy.
   • On the other side of the digital divide are countries with index scores of 15 or lower. These countries, largely in Africa, are still far from entering the digital age
     • For such places, unfortunately, gaining access to digital technology is not simply a question of importing a lot of computer.
   • For internet technology to work, a range of other technologies and systems have to be in place, for example:
     • A wireless or hard-wired network
     • A reliable power supply
     • Internet service proider companies
     • A sales, distribution and repair network
     • Useful websites and software in a familiar language
   • Many benefits of the digital age have been slow to reach those who might have most to gain

4. Fossil fuels

   • A key feature of the developed world is its dependence on fossil fuels
   • Coal, oil and gas store energy fixed by photosynthesis millions of years ago
   • Exploiting fossil fuels give us access to the vast amounts of cheap energy on which modern technology depends
   • Large-scale exploitation of coal began around 200 years ago, oil has been used since about 1880 and natural gas only since the 1950s.
   • In 2004, fossil fuels supplied 86% of global energy use
   • Without access to the technology to exploit and burn fossil fuels, or the money to buy them, much of the developing world is dependent on capturing energy directly, for example by using biomass, wind or water power
   • Dependence on these sources restricts development
   • They are unreliable, small-scale and inflexible power sources
   • Our dependence on oil extends beyond energy
   • The petrochemicals industry, which refines crude oil into petrol, diesel and paraffin, also produces plastics.
   • The 20th century could well be called the 'plastic century', as polystyrene, nylon, PVC, synthetic rubber, Teflon and ployethylene were all perfected during this period
   • Plastics are cheap, versatile materials and virtually all are made from crude oil
   • The cars we drive depend directly on oil for power, but the dependency is also indirect: many car and engine parts are made from plastics
   • If oil becomes scarce or very expensive, we will require a whole range of new technologies, perhaps very quickly