VP: ADVANTAGE OF TECHNOLOGY DEPENDS ON ITS USERS

Palu, C Sulawesi, April 9 (ANTARA) - Vice President Boediono said the use of ever progressing technology depends entirely on its users who would like to exploit it whether for positive or negative purposes.

"Technology which is developing rapidly always has positive and negative sides, depending on the people who use it," Boediono said in a dialog with the teachers and students across Palu, Central Sulawesi, at Aliyah Alkhairaat Islamic school (Madrasah) here on Friday.

The vice president made such a statement in response to a question raised by a student about the advantages of technology in the dialog with Boediono.

According to the vice president, the technological development could be used in different ways, whether to positive or negative direction, but it depended on the people who used it.

"It is necessary to have guidelines in the use of technology to reduce its negative impact and increase the positive one," the vice president said.

He pointed out that the use of nuclear energy for either positive or negative purposes was one of the examples in technological development.

According to Boediono, nuclear power could be used in electricity power plant at a low cost for the benefit of mankind.

"But the nuclear can also be used for weapons of mass destruction," the vice president said, adding that in genetic realm, nuclear had positive as well as negative impacts.

He admitted that even some of developed countries were unable to stem the technological advances.

"China for example has blocked a number of internet websites but remained unable to do it completely," Boediono said.

Meanwhile, National Education Minister Muhammad Nuh, who accompanied the vice president in the dialog, said technology was like a supermarket that provides various kinds of necessities that the people needed.

"If we liken the technology to a supermarket, there we will find pork, powder, rice, and a lot more necessities but it depends on the people which one they want to buy," said the education minister.

Also present to accompany the vice president in the dialog were among others Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad, and Central Sulawesi Governor HB Paliudju.