With every milestone,
a divide follows

With the internet population reaching the milestone of one billion users, the UN's annual Internet Governance Forum — taking place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — is tackling how best to get the rest of the world's population online.

Given that the next billion users will likely be poorer than the first, the conference discussed the daunting task of wiring less developed regions of the world.

Furthermore, there is the issue of illiteracy and producing web content in local languages.

Hoping at least to solve the latter, innovators in component content management are attempting to improve the ease and efficiency with which content is reused in different tongues.

Verizon VP Jacquelynn Ruff believes governments should secure private investment, according to The Globe and Mail, but others argue internet access should be treated as a public priority, like health or education.

With only 4 percent of Africa online, Senegalese web consultant Mouhammet Diop believes impoverished nations need to work together in building up internet infrastructure.

Earlier this month, One Laptop Per Child brought its so-called "$100 laptops" into mass production. This effort is an attempt by multiple businesses and non-profits to bring inexpensive online and open source technology to Third World children.