Networks & CD-ROMs Aid Research, Development and Education in Zimbabwe

摘要: Zimbabwe has sent a number of its citizens to be trained abroad, many whom are reluctant return and lose contact with colleagues. It also seen steady stream outside experts coming in, who take months acclimatize our culture form professional contacts, then leave, taking their store experience acquaintance "network" them. shortages both teachers up-to-date instructional materials for the tremendous students enrolled in schools. The University scant funds journal subscriptions those they can afford delayed delivery. Many university staff would like collaborate counterparts other countries region. But mail is slow unreliable; faxes garbled, go missing expensive any case; phone discussions impossible or prohibitively expensive; travel budgets extremely limited. A major ingredient solutions all these problems use computer-based information transfer via telephone network links CD-ROMs. This paper briefly discusses great promise technologies as applied research, education development Zimbabwe. proposal rural agencies e-mail incorporate schools worldwide networks suggested. * E-Mail: Connections & Possibilities e-mail-only connections surrounding - South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, Malawi, Namibia Zambia others well. E-mail service provided by two separate systems. first Fidonet Zimbabwean machines comprising MANGO, HEALTHNET ESANET subnets. MANGO serves Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs); health care workers; an academic network. countrywide linked Internet provider Africa high-speed 14.4 bps modem dial-up several times per day. UZ Computer Centre link (uucp) Rhodes generally called Zimbix after name machine. direct-access terminals on campus three dial-in lines Both increasingly used. While systems currently communicate each other, ironically, only through long-distance calls direct gateway between them planned. become so important researchers students, that it been suggested supplying returning Zimbabweans (as well competitive salaries) way lure away from foreign prefer.[1] Increasing numbers assistance workers using find out about country, starting cultural adjustment before arrival. They remain colleagues return. Medical Library Zimbabwe's Nursing Science at UZ, clinics areas medical requires services. library has, African libraries, severe underfunding new books periodicals. interlibrary loans possible some time, one know what available order ask it. Carnegie Foundation supplied computers equipped CD-ROM drives plus monthly CD issues Medline databases. Now users librarians perform Boolean searches keyword combinations suitable articles. In cases requested articles forwarded fax. cases, used request articles, which may returned fax e-mail. News feeds, such AIDS Update Mednews, arrive e-mail; printed archived disk searches. …