Staying Connected

Carnival is busy putting the finishing touches on their new ship CARNIVAL DREAM with the usual stuff that’s now become de rigeuer on giant, mass market cruise ships, but they do have something that is really an innovation. Carnival has been the leader in harnessing the Internet and “social marketing” on the Web, and they are now innovating on board as well with something called “The FunHub” on CARNIVAL DREAM.

According to Cruise Market Watch . . .

“The FunHub creates the cruise industry’s first on-board social network, along with access to ship’s services, facilities and daily activities information.

Guests can:

• create a personal profile to meet and interact with others on-board
• create groups based on interests
• find details about the Dream’s numerous on-board activities
• browse food and beverage offerings
• learn about ports of call and excursions
• access weather updates
• read biographies of key shipboard personnel and see ship maps
• receive cruise director announcements
• participate interactive polls

. . . In addition to FunHub portals, access to the FunHub is available on any guest computer or Wi-Fi enabled device free of charge. Internet access to sites outside the FunHub is available with purchase of a special Internet package.

Panama’s new President Ricardo Martinelli is making a giant leap forward for Panama into the Information Age. According to Sam Taliaferro’s Panama Investor Blog . . .

Panama’s main cities will enjoy free wireless Internet access, within the first 100 days of the new government.

With the goal of having “border to border” coverage, Martinelli’s government will initially invest $250.000 to service 10 cities, with coverage in parks, touristic sites, schools, libraries, universities, hospitals and health centers.

“Panama is currently the most advanced Central American country in Information and Communication Technologies, and, in accordance to the road-map developed by the Panamanian Chamber of Technology, in 2018 it will become the first Information and Communications Technology Hub of the region”, said Eduardo E. Jaén, head of the Secretary for Governmental Innovation.

Technical designs and public purchasing processes are being prepared, to implement this project within the first 100 days of Ricardo Martinelli’s administration.

This is really needed, as Panama doesn’t provide students with school books. Students get assignments that require them to use the Internet and copy reams of lessons. May be OK for some, but not for children of Gnobe Bugle Indians whose family may be taking home $45 a week . . . for food, clothing, including school uniforms, shoes to wear on special occasions like school . . . now add the cost of going from Palmira to Alto Boquete to use the Internet for an assignment ($1), plus the cost of an hour on line ($1), plus the cost of copying 40 pages of a lesson on Science ($1.20) . . . and you’ve spent $3.20 that you don’t have!! The school teachers seem to assume that every Indian kid has a laptop, even if he doesn’t have shoes!