Cluster: Archive

Swiss economy shows new signs of life

This content was published on Nov 27, 2003 The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco) said the upturn was mainly fuelled by a boost in exports. The economy grew by one per cent in the third quarter of 2003, slightly exceeding expectations. Economists had predicted an average growth of 0.9 per cent. Seco still expects the economy to have declined overall in 2003,…

Geneva test drives broadband internet access

This content was published on Nov 26, 2003 The experiment, run by the utility company, Services Industriels de Geneve (SIG), is the first of its kind in Switzerland and one of only a handful in Europe. Launched in mid-September, the Voisin-Voisine (Neighbour to Neighbour) project uses state-of-the-art fibre-optic technology to link hundreds of nearby apartments and stores together. Students at the local elementary…

Mountains conceal entrance to underworld

This content was published on Nov 26, 2003 At 190 kilometres in length, the Hölloch – or Hell’s Hole – cave system is the longest in Europe. Guide Thomas Frauenfelder refuses to go along with the joke that he is opening the gates of hell as he unlocks the door to the cave. Even though “Hölloch” translates into English as Hell’s Hole, Frauenfelder…

Technologies to revolutionise our daily lives

This content was published on Nov 26, 2003 New wireless solutions will in the future allow employers to benefit from a mobile workplace thanks to high-speed connections. According to research carried out by information technology analysts, the Gartner Group, changes in working habits and new advances in telecommunications will push half of the workforce towards irregular working patterns by 2010. Today more than…

Political activists embrace the internet

This content was published on Nov 26, 2003 This new phenomenon first became clear in 1999, when 50,000 demonstrators put a stop to a World Trade Organization summit in Seattle. “The internet is very important for us; we launch our campaigns on it, and we use it to mobilize people for protests,” said Sibylle Spengler from the development organization, the Berne Declaration. “We…

Swiss school offers reading classes for adults

This content was published on Nov 26, 2003 swissinfo spoke to Rosita Della Morte, the head of the Bern branch of the Read and Write organisation, which offers literacy classes to adults. swissinfo: One in six people in Switzerland are unable to read or write well despite having attended school for the obligatory nine years. How can you explain such a shortcoming? Rosita…

What does the term ‘information society’ mean?

This content was published on Nov 26, 2003 The information society is one where everyone is able to create, receive, share and use information and knowledge for his or her economic, social, cultural and political development.The term was coined in the 1940s, but it was the spread of the internet and mobile phones in the 1990s that convinced experts that the information society…

What is the digital divide?

This content was published on Nov 26, 2003 Currently, the technology to access information is distributed very unevenly – not just between rich and poor countries, but even within the most developed countries.Less than 20 per cent of people worldwide have their own telephone line, while 60 per cent of all internet connections are used by just ten per cent of the world’s…

Why is the summit being held?

This content was published on Nov 26, 2003 The decision to hold this summit dates back to 1998. Its aim is to reduce the digital divide. The WSIS is being held under the patronage of the United Nations secretary-general, Kofi Annan, with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) taking the lead role in preparations.The summit will be held in two phases. The first will…

Who is taking part?

This content was published on Nov 26, 2003 To be effective, the measures adopted at the summit need political backing at the highest level and the summit hopes to bring together as many political leaders as possible.However, access for all to ICTs will depend largely on the prices set by industry, which is responsible for both the equipment and the infrastructure. That’s why…

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Swiss economy shows new signs of life

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Geneva test drives broadband internet access

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Mountains conceal entrance to underworld

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Technologies to revolutionise our daily lives

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Political activists embrace the internet

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Swiss school offers reading classes for adults

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What does the term ‘information society’ mean?

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What is the digital divide?

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Why is the summit being held?

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Who is taking part?

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