Computer Training at vifu: Digging Out Curiosity

Abstract

The above scene took place in the Cip pool of the International Women’s University (ifu) in Hanover in the summer of the year 2000. For over 300 ifu women the Cip pool, with 50 computers, three vifuites and one regular Cip pool employee, was a central point for communication, co-learning, and community building. When they finally made it through the registration, the women could access the Cip pool’s NT network with Netscape Communicator as browser. Then they could access the vifu server which our Berlin-bound team had started developing the year before with many functions running on a Linux server.

“Excuse me, Diana. I have a question. This picture of me which is now in the computer. How is it that I just sent it to my family and I still can see it on my computer?” Diana, one of the vifuites¹ is completely touched by the question, which announces a turning point in understanding the possibilities of digital media, and she screams with joy. Rumana Hashem, one of few students who came to the Cip pool² and initially had close to no experience with computers, is completely taken aback by the reaction, thinking she may have said something completely awful. Diana turns around to the classroom and repeats the question out loud. “Rumana this is great, exactly this is the magic of digital media and you’ve got it, you can send that picture to a million people and you will still have a copy on your computer, you can store, copy, or destroy this picture, or any other digitalized information within a matter of milliseconds. Your picture is no longer just a physical matter, but now a piece of digital information that can be reproduced as many times as you wish.” Most of the heads in the room continue to be turned to the interaction between Diana and Rumana while others dive back into the depths of the Internet. From the back of the room somebody pops the next question, “Diana, after Rumana, could you please show me how to make this digital media send my picture?” Diana, already on her way to yet another impatient Cip pool visitor answers: “Why don’t you ask Rumana?”