Communication Shops and Telecenters in Developing Nations

Abstract

Bai Yuxiong, a farmer from a poor area in northern Shaanxi Province [of China], traveled at least 500 kilometers to Yangling Agroscience town to learn about prices of Qinguan apples and the value of a small pumpkin variety he grew....At Yangling Information Center, for the first time he saw the computers and heard about the Internet. He saw the director of the information center typing some things on a computer. In a short time he got all he wanted from the computer.... He knew the price of the apple. And his small pumpkin was found to be of a very precious kind, an indispensable delicacy for Japanese state banquets....Computers opened his eyes and his new [export] venture. (Li, 1999)