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development. Telecommunications enables a whole range of commercial functions to be carried
out quickly and easily, functions which previously were at best slow and costly, and at worst could
not be carried out at all. Functions now made easier including finding markets for farm produce,
fisheries catches and handicraft products, negotiating prices and quantities, arranging for pick up
and delivery, and so on. On the input side of commercial enterprises, telecommunications
facilitates such functions as arranging for the required factors of production (e.g., obtaining
supplies of all sorts, including both raw materials and production tools) and making arrangements
with and for workers. On both the input and the output side of commerce, telecommunications
makes it much easier to follow up on contracts, and explore potential business development
opportunities.
Telecommunications makes it possible to obtain and to distribute information of all sorts.
Databases and other information sources can be accessed, providing information, amongst many
other things, on distant markets, market and consumption trends, and future markets.
Detailed information regarding «best practices» methods and techniques can be made
available, to the great advantage of agriculture, fisheries, and cottage handicraft industries. The
widespread distribution of detailed, well-substantiated «best practice» methods and market
information has proven to be very valuable over many years in the steady and continuing
improvement of agricultural productivity in North America.
Telecommunications brings the ability to carry out all sorts of transactions electronically.
This includes financial transactions (e.g., making bank deposits, paying bills, and obtaining cash)
and also information-type transactions (e.g., arranging to obtain licenses of all sorts). The flow of
information in the reverse direction also brings value. The government and other appropriate
organizations can now obtain census-type and other statistical information electronically, and, as
a result, can improve the quality and timeliness of decision-making and delivery of services.
Tourism is a commercial area which is just not feasible without adequate
telecommunications, which are essential in developing the business, in promoting it, and in making
the reservations and detailed arrangements that this industry requires. Experience indicates that
potential tourism customers refuse to go to areas where «reasonable» telecommunications are not
available. Tourism is a rapidly expanding industry worldwide, and offers a significant commercial
opportunity for many developing countries.
Educational opportunities can be greatly expanded by tele education, or «distance learning»,
techniques. There are examples of educational programs available through telecommunications,
that embrace the whole range of education from primary school to university. For many of the
residents of the rural and remote areas of developing countries, this capability has the potential to
open a broad spectrum of new educational possibilities. In educational applications, a variety of
technologies can play a role. Often, the transmission arrangement is asymmetric, the transmission
medium providing both images and voice from the teacher to the students, with only voice
response from student to teacher. Pedagogically, this arrangement has been found to work well.
Telemedicine is an active and expanding field. Good quality data service capability is
necessary so that medical readings and records and files can be transmitted reliably. Now, instead
of having to move either the patient to the doctor or vice versa, it becomes possible to move only
the relevant medical information. As well as direct patient care, experience has demonstrated that
valuable telemedicine applications include in-service coaching and training of remote-located
health care staff.
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