Are We Ready for Satellite-based Multimedia Technologies for Rural Development?*

There are four issues that I would like to highlight here.

1. There seems to be a much clearer focus on the discussion of the technologies than is probably actually needed. This has led to the question: are we not unnecessarily pushing to the sideline the point about content or substance?

   I believe that we need to focus as much attention to content. For example, designing messages and educational materials, to make them effective, requires that we consider appropriate principles of social communication and learning theories.

   Moreover, content and substance must be appropriately designed to suit the basic nature and characteristics of the technology to be used. This is perhaps the best we can do since the technology is already here.

   This point of the technology being here now and so has to be used like it or not is a contentious issue among engineers and educationists. I wish that the educationist can really tell the engineer, "Mr. Engineer, I have something that I want to deliver to my learners, and I want it doe this way. Could you kindly develop the technology appropriate for this purpose?"

   Instead, what has happened is the other way around. The engineer is saying, "Mr. Educator, here is a good technology, use it."

2. In discussions in various international fora, we have perhaps unwittingly made it sound like using satellite technology is so cheap. Well, making the technology available is probably cheap. For instance, the basic hardware requirements for a VSAT (very small aperture terminal) terminal may be cheap, and in any case this is only a one-shot expense.

   What we are not looking more carefully into is how much it costs to use over time. The cost of satellite transmission is a recurring cost, and it is not very cheap all the time. In fact, this is what makes the whole thing expensive over time.

3. In designing interventions using satellite technology, perhaps there should be a conscious effort to advance the welfare of the marginalized groups, which constitute the traditionally underserved sector of society.

   Therefore, we should perhaps use satellite-based technologies to make services such as information and education more accessible to the marginalized groups.

   We should discontinue serving the marginalized groups in the same way that we serve the mainstream of society. Let us level the playing field, so to speak, in favor of the marginalized groups.

   To the extent possible, given that satellite technology is in fact available, let us use it as a means to make quality education more accessible to everybody, particularly the traditionally disadvantaged.

   Satellite technology, as a resource, should be a means to facilitate rather than hinder people development.

4. In the area of distance education, satellite technology can provide interactivity between the learner and the teacher.

   Interaction is the necessary ingredient that enhances more effective learning. This is usually limitgy, we can bring back the interaction mode, even if the physical distance may be there.

   If these fundamental issues are dealt with, I believe that we will be on our way to beneficial use of satellite-based technologies for rural development.