信息社会(4)

It is much easier to get people connected to broadband or put government online in Europe than in South America or the Middle East. However, developing countries often leapfrog the process which richer nations went through, and avoid their mistakes.

Brazil collects most of its taxes online these days. There are cyber cities in Dubai and Mauritius. And Taiwan and Hong Kong have better access to ICT than the United Kingdom.

Maybe the English language isn't so important after all. Perhaps the spread of technology means that the old centres of power are also changing. The United States introduced internet technology in the 1970s.

But people are asking why they should continue to be in charge. Why should a small organisation in California tell the rest of the world how computers talk to each other?