Vol. V No. 6
June 2007
The first monthly magazine on ICT4D
Bottom of pyramid mobile access Mobile opportunities
Information for development
w w w. i 4 d o n l i n e . n e t
Capacity building in Asian countries Internet governance
e-Publishing
ISSN 0972 - 804X
Lead up to GK 3 - Emerging Technologies
Ongoing revolution in e-Publishing
knowledge for change
Beyond the mainstream... 31 July - 03 August 2007, Hotel Taj Palace, New Delhi, India Join us for thought provoking films and invigorating discussions on Community Video as a medium of development.
Watch the films from IT for Change, Sarvodaya, SEWA, Video Volunteers, American India Foundation, D.net Bangladesh, and SAATH. ...and many more
www.eINDIA.net.in/films
Contents
Vol. V No. 6
Features
June 2007
Rendezvous 42
m-Dev: Current issues and concerns Mobiles and development conference, UK Richard Heeks, Abi Jagun
India’s Premier ICT4D event 31 July - 03 August 2007 Hotel Taj Palace, New Delhi, India
Obituary 8
Prof. V.K. Samaranayake
6
Mobile opportunities
10
e-Publishing Ongoing revolution in e-Publishing Olaf Ernst
Columns
12
Mobile banking
40
Bytes for All
15
44
Books received
Internet governance
45 46
What’s on
Bottom of pyramid mobile access Amy Mahan
Supportive payment system Christoph Stork, Steve Esselaar, Ali Ndiwalana
Capacity building in Asian countries Dhrupad Mathur
17
ICTs in teaching, LAC
27
Profile: Hastac
29
e-Bario Knowledge Fair
35
ICTs for challenged persons
36
Tele denisty, India
38
iCommons summit 2007
New technologies and education Alexandra Dans
Sri Lanka’s ICT industry champion
In Fact Towards a tech dream
An interdiscliplinary collarboratory
ICTs and indigenous people Roger Harris
Enabling technologies for differently abled Shambhu Ghatak
31 ICTD project newsletter
Telecom infrastructure for the new age Arun Mehta
Envisioning a free Internet
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19 News
Research e-Learning projects from India. www.i4d.csdms.in/elearn.asp Learn more about FLOSS www.i4d.csdms.in/floss/introduction.asp www.csdms.org/floss-portal Print edition The past issues of the magazine are available online www.i4d.csdms.in/archive/archive.htm
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i4d Editorial Calendar 2007 Month
Theme
January
Malaysian ICT for Development
February
eAsia Conference curtain raiser special + Communities of Practice in Telecentres
March
Human Rights and eAsia conference report special
April
Community Radio and Gender special
May
Promoting innovations, role of ICTs in SMEs
June
Lead up to GK 3 - Emerging Technologies
July
ICTs for livelihoods/wealth creation (BPO/KPO/Cyber cafes/Kiosks)
August
Government investments in ICT4D (Review of CSC, India Programme)
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Lead up to GK 3 - Emerging Markets
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Internet Governance
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Lead up to GK 3 - Emerging Leaders in ICT4D
December
HIV/AIDS
i4d | June 2007 | Vol. V No. 6
n Editorial Information for development
w w w. i 4 d o n l i n e . n e t
Emerging Technologies: Panacea for the poor?
Advisory Board M P Narayanan, Chairman, i4d Chin Saik Yoon Southbound Publications, Malaysia Karl Harmsen United Nations University Kenneth Keniston Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA Mohammed Yunus Grameen Bank, Bangladesh Nagy Hanna e-Leadership Academy, University of Maryland, USA Richard Fuchs IDRC, Canada Rinalia Abdul Rahim Global Knowledge Partnership, Malaysia Walter Fust Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Switzerland Wijayananda Jayaweera UNESCO, France Editorial Board Akhtar Badshah, Frederick Noronha Group Directors Maneesh Prasad, Sanjay Kumar Editorial Team
Emerging Technologies (ETs) are being seen as the new panacea for all the ills in developing countries. It is being said that these technologies are going to create a knowledge society for all. ‘Pervasive Networking’, ‘Inter-operability’, ‘Web 2.0’ etc. are becoming the buzz-words of this optimism. So what exactly is the knowledge society? The important question that is often not asked is who exactly is going to control the knowledge society. Is the knowledge society going to be fundamentally different and end state repression and police brutality? There are serious doubts being raised about the efficacy of such claims, as are being made about the capabilities of these new technologies to bring about a fundamental transformation in the current world order. It is being said that networking will unleash the voices of the marginalised onto the mainstream and therefore be heard. However, there are serious doubts about how the Internet is going to foster a political culture when most of the usage statistics suggest that political action over the Internet is confined to the symbolic and that exceptional organisation of political opposition to state policies only go on to prove the rule. The IPR regime is as stable as ever. Is Internet publishing on its way to seriously challenging the hegemony of the copyright dogma? Are new technologies going to ensure that the public-private paradigm of development is not going to be malleable to the design of special interests?
Editor-in-Chief Ravi Gupta Programme Co-ordinator Jayalakshmi Chittoor Sr. Research Associates Prashant Gupta, Shambhu Ghatak, Ritu Srivastava Research Associate Ajitha Saravanan Designers Bishwajeet Kumar Singh, Om Prakash Thakur Web Programmer Zia Salahuddin i4d G-4 Sector 39, NOIDA, UP, 201 301, India Phone +91 120 250 2181-85 Fax +91 120 250 0060 Email info@i4donline.net Web www.i4donline.net Printed at Yashi Media Works Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi, India i4d is a monthly publication. It is intended for those interested and involved in the use of Information and Commnication Technologies for development of underserved communities. It is hoped that it will serve to foster a growing network by keeping the community up to date on many activities in this wide and exciting field. i4d does not necessarily subscribe to the views expressed in this publication. All views expressed in this magazine are those of the contributors. i4d is not responsible or accountable for any loss incurred directly or indirectly as a result of the information provided.
Centre for Science, Development and Media Studies, 2006 Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License
Also there is an urgent need to investigate the international agenda of improving digital infrastructure. Who should this infrastructure service? It has to be ensured that infrastructure investments are made with the common man in mind and not just helpful to an elite class. How are the new technologies going to be used in the service of alleviating gender based oppression and violence which is at an alarming level in India? Also, although new technologies are said to revolutionise education, one needs to ask questions of curriculum design. We need to ask how new technologies are going to help in checking communalism that is on the rise. As of now it is seen that the benefits of the IT revolution are restricted to a certain class of people. How are policy makers going to ensure that the benefits are evenly distributed? We need a social science of the digital world. We need a development humanities of the digital world. We need to stay clear of ultra-optimistic and deluded forms of utopian thought. We need to examine how existing forms of democratic governance can be strengthened with help from these new technologies. There is an urgent need for public service delivery to improve and new technologies do propose a solution. We need to see how public services can be made available to citizens without the unending red-tape that plagues government service delivery. This is an imperative, so that the idea of using new technologies for development does not end up on the famished road or remain bloated in its ego with no real change in the real world.
i4d is supported by:
Ravi Gupta Ravi.Gupta@csdms.in
June 2007 | Vol. V No. 6 | www.i4donline.net
Mobile Opportunities
Bottom of pyramid mobile access Amy Mahan LIRNE.NET Coordinator Montevideo, Uruguay amahan@comunica.org
Introduction Imagine that you have just lost your job. Suddenly, there is no cash coming in and things are going to be difficult for a while. What will you have to do differently to make ends meet until you can find work? You will probably have to cut back on your mobile phone use. Certainly there will be no more long calls to your sister in Canada – it will be cheaper to use email to stay in touch with her. In fact it will be cheaper to take the bus to visit your mother on Sunday than to call her. But you cannot afford to give up the line, since it is how potential employers can reach you. Its not fun imagining ourselves in such circumstances, but, by imagining ourselves as having constrained financial resources we can use this to better understand how the poor use their phones, right? Wrong! While it may seem logical to extend and generalize one’s own experience of communication expenditure to poor people, it is simply not accurate. When there isn’t much money, as the example above notes, one has to be strategic about using existing resources. However, that same person also needs to be strategic about getting more money. Being poor, especially being at the bottom of the pyramid is not a temporary condition, it is a way of life. Accordingly, there are different challenges and strategies for negotiating day-to-day existence – including for mobile phone use, and there are different values accorded to
relationships and the means to sustain them. While it makes sense for you to cut back on international long distance mobile calls (because you have an alternative means of communication such as eMail, or because those chats can be forgone for a period), a sister in Canada may well be precisely who the poor mobile phone user contacts on a regular basis, as well as during times of extreme duress. Very poor people do not have savings or insurance (employment or health). They have families who provide support in kind and remittances to supplement inadequate incomes. Thus, maintaining contact and communicating with a sister or sisterin-law breaks down previous notions of business and family calls – and hence, for example, a perceived need to curtail family or social calls to leave the line open for business. Mobile phones are also used to reduce travel costs (both in terms of fares and time spent in transit), which means that higher usage costs may be supported as they
Empirical research about characteristics of demand and use of mobile telephony for poor sectors is particularly scarce in Latin America and the Caribbean.
imply a reduction in other expenditures. And, there are a number of studies that document strategies to reduce cost – one of the most common of these is ‘beeping’ - which is calling the number of the person you want to call you back so that your number appears on their phone, but hanging up before they answer. These kinds of differences for bottom of the pyramid users are sometimes counter-intuitive as they involve different approaches for not spending on mobile calls to save money and spending on mobile to gain money or resources. These differences, however, are important because they provide insight into how to design social programmes and services to reach this sector of the population, and illustrate the actual market size at the bottom of the pyramid, which often is undervalued or ignored. How do we get this insight about how poor people use their phones? This may be difficult information to ascertain, especially since phone usage may be inextricably intertwined with social values rather than simply correlated with how much it costs to make a call. ICT indicators overwhelmingly focus on infrastructure and connectivity – which is to say, how many phones are in use rather than who is using them for what. This is referred to as ‘supply side’ analysis, and considers the ICT terrain from the perspective of service provision: how much of the terrain is serviced by a signal, how many fixed lines are available, how big is the market and what prices are charged. ‘Demand side’ studies, on the other hand, look to evidence about how services are consumed – by whom, e.g. which members of the family, where services are accessed, whether users would like to use services more than they do – and why they i4d | June 2007 | Vol. V No. 6
can’t do this (because it costs too much, because they don’t know how to use particular service components, and so forth).
Opportunities Vs. barriers The Regional Dialogue on the Information Society (known by its Spanish acronym DIRSI) is a network of ICT researchers in Latin America and the Caribbean. A current research project of this network is a survey being undertaken in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Peru, and Trinidad and Tobago. This survey of bottom of the pyramid, urban mobile users, seeks to clarify questions about the importance and usage strategies, and how access to mobile telephony contributes to social and economic development (or – mobile opportunities). It is anticipated that the study’s findings and outcomes will provide the foundation for a set of recommendations for policymakers and decision-makers to help remove major access barriers, including identification of best-practice solutions to delivering mobile services to financially constrained users. A series of background papers produced by DIRSI have underlined the importance of the access to many and also identified a series of regulatory and market barriers to increasing mobile telephony access and use. A better understanding of how the financially constrained both value and use mobile communication will be useful challenge and break down these barriers. There are a number of studies that document benefits and opportunities provided by ICTs and mobile services in particular. These benefits include contributions to economic growth, competitiveness, employment and productivity as well as social growth through the integration of remote communities and the ability to act in an emergency. Yet empirical studies of the patterns of mobile use and social and economic implications of mobile use are rare. In exception to this, DIRSI’s sister centre LIRNEasia has conducted large scale surveys on patterns of mobile use in the Asian regions in their research project Telecom Use on a Shoestring.. Among other outcomes, their research studies found that mobile services generate social impacts by providing a sense of security in terms acting in emergency and in maintaining social relationships. Empirical research about characteristics of demand and use of mobile telephony for poor sectors is particularly scarce in Latin America and the Caribbean. Similar to the LIRNEasia studies, the DIRSI Mobile Opportunities project seeks to understand the perception of the users of mobile phone telephony regarding the impact that the access to this service has on their livelihoods, specifically in terms of employment opportunities and income; public and social services and for building social networks. Further, findings from the two sets of surveys (from Asia and LAC) may also shed light on differences between bottom of the pyramid users in the different regions. The main target group for this study consists of mobile telephone users between 13 and 70 years of age, living in poor households in urban areas where coverage of mobile telephony exists. Users are considered to be those who have made or received a call in a mobile telephony terminal during the last month. A control group of non-users will also be sampled to complete understanding around differences between the two groups as well as the barriers for increased penetration. This will help the June 2007 | Vol. V No. 6 | www.i4donline.net
researchers to further identify diverse barriers faced by non-users in terms of affordability, network coverage, business models, and issues such as buying a handset or using service resellers, etc. As noted above, in the absence of knowledge, there is a tendency to inaccurately generalise experience. The Mobile Opportunities research project seeks to document and to better understand the perception of users about the cost of mobile service and how it is valued relative to other household expenditures. This will result in valuable information about the characteristics of the demand for mobile communication. And, data that provides a glimpse into the nature of use and usage conditions will provide much clearer information for informing policy decisions, and will certainly complete the picture created by connectivity and technical components.
LIRNE.NET The LIRNE network consists of non-profit public interest oriented regional centres, which collaboratively develop expertise, dialogue and a body of critical research in support of network development via policy and regulatory reform, directed to opening market opportunities and supporting public sector initiatives at all levels. These centres include: • Dialogo Regional sobre la Sociedad de Informacion (DIRSI) Latin America and the Caribbean; • Comunica based in Montevideo, Uruguay; • LIRNEasia in Colombo, Sri Lanka; • Research ICT Africa (RIA!) and the LINK Centre, University of Witwatersrand, South Africa; • Department of Media and Communications (media@LSE), London School of Economics and Political Science; • Economics of Infrastructures Section, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands; and • Center for ICT (CICT), Technical University of Denmark.
Projects Regional Dialogue on the Information Society (DIRSI): Mobile Opportunities: Poverty and Telephony Access in Latin America and the Caribbean http://www.dirsi.net/english/index.php?option=com_content&t ask=view&id=82&Itemid=65 LIRNEasia: Teleuse at the Bottom of the Pyramid http://www.lirneasia.net/projects/current-projects/bop-teleuse/ Research ICT Africa!: African e-Index studies http://www.researchictafrica.net/modules.php?op=modload&na me=News&file=index&catid=&topic=47&allstories=1 World Dialogue on Regulation for Network Economies (WDR): Pro Poor Opportunities and Challenges in Liberalising Markets http://www.regulateonline.org/content/blogcategory/172/71/ World Dialogue on Regulation for Network Economies (WDR): Indicators and Benchmarks of Performance in ICT Development http://www.regulateonline.org/content/view/851/102/
Obituary: Prof. V.K. Samaranayake
Sri Lanka’s ICT industry champion The ICT industry in Sri Lanka lost its most valued member after Professor V.K. Samaranayake passed away on Wednesday, 07th June 2007, aged 68, in Stockholm, whilst attending a review of the Swedish government’s ICT development assistance programme. Prof. Samaranayake was the Chairman of the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka from 2004. He was also the Emeritus Professor of Computer Science of the University of Colombo. He was the founder Director, University of Colombo School of Computing (UCSC) of the University of Colombo. He served at the University of Colombo for a continuous period of 43 years since his first appointment in 1961 immediately following his graduation from the same University. He was the founder of the Department of Statistics and Computer Science (DSCS) and of the Institute of Computer Technology (ICT) of the University of Colombo. These two institutions were merged as the UCSC in 2002. He was a Fellow of the Harvard Information Infrastructure Project and the National Centre for Digital Government of the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. In 2005 he was a Visiting Fellow of the Digital Vision Programme of Stanford University, USA. Prof. Samaranayake served the Council for Information Technology (CINTEC), the apex National Agency for IT in Sri Lanka as its Chairman for a period of 12 years. In the field of IT he has pioneered work on IT Policy, Legal Infrastructure, EDI/e-Commerce, Security, Internet Technology, Computer Awareness and IT Education. He was actively involved in the formulation of the ISO 10646 standard for Sinhalese Characters and in the development of multilingual web sites. He
was also instrumental in helping to apply computers in many areas of governance, including in national elections. He was also actively involved in introducing ICT to rural communities and was
Prof. V.K. Samaranayake, passes away
CSDMS had the good fortune of being associated with Samaranayake during the eAsia2007 conference in Malaysia. We bemoan the loss of a great leader and a philanthropist and offer our condolences to the bereaved members of his family and the ICT community in Sri Lanka. engaged in developing Multipurpose Community Telecentres. He was a member of the advisory panel of the Asia IT&C program of the European Commission. He chaired the National Y2K Task Force that coordinated the very successful
crossover to year 2000. More recently he initiated the External Degree of Bachelor of Information Technology (BIT) of the University of Colombo which in its very first year of operation has attracted 5000 registrations. He was the Chairman of the Project Management Committee of the SIDA funded project to enhance internet connectivity of Sri Lankan Universities. He was the President of the National Academy of Sciences during 1998-1999 and the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science during its golden jubilee in 1994. He was also the President of Infotel Lanka Society. The Government of Sri Lanka has honoured Prof. Samaranayake for his contribution towards IT by the award of Vidya Prasadini in 1997 and the national honour Vidya Jyothi in 1998. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has presented its President’s Award for International Cooperation to Prof. Samaranayake in 1996 in recognition of his contribution. At its convocation held in January 2005, the University of Colombo conferred on Prof. Samaranayake the Degree of Doctor of Science ( Honouris Causa ) for his outstanding contribution to the University. Reshan Dewapura, COO, ICTA said: “Everyone in the ICT industry in Sri Lanka has either met or worked with Professor Samaranayake. It was his sense of commitment towards ICT development in the country coupled with his boundless energy that set him apart and allowed him to make lasting alliances and friendships both personally and professionally around the world. There is no doubt that Prof’s tireless commitment to the ICT industry has made his contribution over the years remarkable. He will be greatly missed.” i4d | June 2007 | Vol. V No. 6
E-Publishing
Ongoing revolution in e-Publishing There are some encouraging signs for eBooks adoption. For example, eBook aggregators like Netlibrary, ebrary and MyiLibrary now allow libraries to order printed books and eBooks using the same interface.
Olaf Ernst Vice President, eProduct Management, Springer Germany olaf.ernst@springer.com
10
The Internet and electronic publishing for scientific journals has already changed the way research is conducted, collected, published, sorted and used. Last year, in July 2006, Springer took that revolution one step further with the launch of its eBook Collection, allowing researchers to access book chapters in the same way they access journal articles. Since then, Springer has placed more than 17,000 eBooks online, with plans to add approximately 4,000 more titles each year to the platform, along with more than 1,500 peer-reviewed Springer journals. SpringerLink, Springer’s electronic platform, allows a researcher to get an almost instant overview of all material available on a particular subject, whether in a journal or book. Springer’s eBooks do not differ from their hardcopy version: the content, style, and ‘look’ are the same, supplemented by added-value features within the electronic environment. Some of these features include high resolution illustrations, exceptional search capabilities and bookmarks. SpringerLink has made obtaining data as fast and easy as just a few mouse clicks. Content is accessible via the PDF or HTML formats and is fully search-able even on the book chapter level. Search-ability is not the eBook’s only feature; the content is completely linked to – and fully integrated with – all other research information so that book chapters are treated as journal articles. This not only increases the visibility of book authors within the scientific community, but helps researchers find and use the attractive book content in the same way as electronic journal content is used. In addition, Springer has been developing features for librarians who purchase and manage the collections for their academic and corporate
institutions. Springer designed MARC 21 records, enabling librarians to import titles into their access catalogs. The company also introduced COUNTER Compliant usage statistics so librarians can show the value of their eBook investment.
Simple DRM is music to researchers’ ears Springer looked to the music industry when considering Digital Rights Management (DRM). Early on record producers were forced to address the issue of digital distribution, given the ease with which songs could be copied and downloaded. Now book publishing is grappling with the same issue, seeking to adapt current business models to the digital reality while remaining economically viable. Instead of locking down its content, Springer has taken a progressive approach to DRM. Restrictions are not placed on how many users can access a single book at one time, how many times that book can be downloaded or printed, or whether members of the scientific community can access it from outside the university via registered IP addresses. So, once a university purchases eBooks from Springer, multiple students and researchers can simultaneously access them. This unlimited, simultaneous access differs from other publishers who have a one-user-pereBook policy, similar to checking out a physical book. There are some encouraging signs for eBooks adoption. For example, eBook aggregators like Netlibrary, ebrary and MyiLibrary now allow libraries to order printed books and eBooks using the same interface. Terms of usage have also been relaxed, with the annual subscription and single-simultaneous user model becoming more widely accepted. i4d | June 2007 | Vol. V No. 6
eBook trends The media has written positively about Sony’s eReader device –a dedicated, hand-held gadget for reading eBooks. Some industry observers see a future where consumers will read the latest bestseller on a bus or subway via such a handheld eBook device. But this development is not directly relevant to scientific, technical and medical books. Indeed, the market for eBooks of general interest, like fiction, has not developed as quickly as had been hoped and, indeed, may never happen. STM readers want information that is available as quickly, easily and conveniently as possible. By searching electronically, a researcher or student has an almost instant overview of what material is obtainable on a particular subject, and it helps researchers to find and use attractive book content wherever and whenever. This is what makes eBooks truly revolutionary. Springer has focused its efforts on launching eBooks for the online, and the Web-based environment already familiar to scientific researchers and university students. Most researchers now use the Web to search and find peer-reviewed journal articles about their particular areas of study. Because Springer has integrated its eBooks with such journal articles, researchers can find information regardless of the form in which it was originally published. The International Information Industry Awards recently named Springer’s eBook collection the “Best STM Information Product for 2006,” validating Springer’s belief that its method is the best way forward for research - and that its revolutionary
http://www.lbook.com.ua/sites/lbook/us_files/Foto/w4.jpg
approach to eBooks will benefit all stakeholders in the scientific and academic communities. Springer’s eBook Collection is already resonating in the marketplace, with Springer signing a number of extensive agreements with universities and other public and private research institutions all over the world.
The world of ICTs and Internet ‘Digital divide’ in the world of ICTs (Information and Communications Technology) accrues from various factors such as government spending on IT related infrastructure and education, per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP), gender inequality in access to health and education etc. Expenditure on ICTs as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) in the year 2 005, had been the highest in Latin America and Carribean (5.9 percent), to be followed by South Asia (5.7 percent), East Asia and Pacific (5.3 percent), Europe and Central Asia (5.1percent) and Middle East and North Africa (3.1percent). The expenditure on ICTs as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) at the world level, stood at 6.8 percent in the year 2005. The fixed line and mobile phone subscribers (per 1,000 people) stood at 496 in East Asia and Pacific, 898 in Europe and Central Asia, 496 in Latin America and Carribean, 389 in Middle East and North Africa, 119 in S. Asia, 142 in Sub Saharan Africa, 128 June 2007 | Vol. V No. 6 | www.i4donline.net
in India and 523 at the world level. Percentage of households with television stood at 36 in East Asia and Pacific, 92 in Europe and Central Asia, 87 in Latin America and Carribean, 84 in Middle East and North Africa, 32 in South Asia, 14 in Sub Saharan Africa, 32 in India and 79 at the world level. Internet users per 1,000 people stood at 89 in East Asia and Pacific, 190 in Europe and Central Asia, 156 in Latin America and Carribean, 89 in Middle East and North Africa, 49 in South Asia, 29 in Sub-Saharan Africa, 55 in India and 137 at the world level. Mobile phone subscribers stood at the level of 282 in East Asia and Pacific, 624 in Europe and Central Asia, 439 in Latin America and Carribean, 229 in Middle East and North Africa, 79 in S Asia, 125 in Sub Saharan Africa, 82 in India and 342 at the world level. Public current spending on education divided by the total number of students by primary level as a percentage of GDP per capita has remained at the level of 6.3 percent in East Asia and Pacific, 16.7
percent in Europe and Central Asia, 12.3 percent in Latin America and Carribean, 14.3 percent in Middle East and North Africa, 9.7 percent in South Asia, 11.1 percent in India and 15.4 percent at the world level. Poverty headcount ratio at $ 1 a day (PPP) stayed at the level of 9.1 percent in East Asia and Pacific, 0.9 percent in Europe and Central Asia, 8.6 percent in Latin America and Carribean, 1.5 percent in Middle East and North Africa, 30.8 percent in South Asia, 41.1 percent in Sub-Saharan Africa and 34.3 percent in India. One can pinpoint that in places where the poverty headcount ratio at $ 1 day (PPP) is high (such as South Asia, SSA, India), fixed line and mobile phone subscribers (per 1000 people), percentage of HHs with television, Internet users per 1000 people and mobile phone subscribers per 1000 people is low (compared to places like East Asia and Pacific, Europe and Central Asia. Latin America and Carribean, and Middle East and North Africa where poverty ratio is low).
11
Mobile Banking
Supportive payment systems A paradigm shift needs to occur in order to determine how the poor might be profitably brought into the banking sector.
Christoph Stork Senior Researcher, Link Centre, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg christoph.stork@gmail.com Steve Esselaar Researcher, LINK Centre, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg steve.esselaar@gmail.com Ali Ndiwalana End User Support Manager Directorate for ICT Support at Makerere University, Uganda ally@dicts.mak.ac.ug
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Introduction One of the issues Africa is struggling with is access to formal financial services for its citizens. Risk averse bankers, unsuitable financial products and high bank charges have been rightfully blamed for it. Poor people with irregular income and informal businesses have often no choice but to make use of informal financial services, which are usually several times more expensive, compared to formal ones. Formal financial services are usually only extended to those that have regular monthly salaries or have collateral. A critical issue to overcome is that of asymmetrical information. Someone without a bank account approaching a bank for a loan is likely to be rejected unless collateral is at hand. The bank has no transaction history with this person and hence does not know anything about the applicant’s creditworthiness. Business plans are also often hard to compile for unbanked entrepreneurs since their businesses are mostly cash based and lack accounting sophistication. Mobile banking is seen as one solution to this problem. It has been around for quite some time in several African countries. However, the existing offerings are added services, making the mobile phone an additional channel to operate on an existing bank account. These services are not geared towards the inclusion of the poor and un-banked. Instead of adding a mobile phone as an additional channel to an existing bank account one should think of adding a bank account to an existing mobile phone, therefore pushing the access frontier considerably. Each mobile phone number on an operator’s network could be the account number. The balance on the account is the airtime credit which can be used to talk and send SMSs, or to
pay someone in airtime. Currently mobile operators already maintain a kind of bank account for each of their subscribers. When airtime is purchased these accounts are credited and when calls are made or SMSs sent, they are debited. These systems could be extended to cater for add-on financial services.
Accepting airtime as currency Airtime is already being used in several African countries as a form of currency. In most cases it does not substitute cash but complements it. Often the absence of any alternative for transferring money over long distances has led to airtime becoming a cash substitute. Remittances from family members living abroad, transferred as airtime is the latest fad. The person abroad purchases airtime online and this airtime is then immediately transferred to the receivers phone. The receiver can then either use the airtime, or sell it on, or purchase goods with it. This points to the crucial success parameter for airtime being accepted as an alternative to cash. Airtime needs either to be convertible backwards to cash or it needs to be widely accepted as an alternative currency.
Parallel currency airtime If one could use airtime to pay for anything one needs, one would not need to convert it back into cash. If people could pay for dayto-day shopping with airtime they would build up a transaction history. If salaries could be paid in airtime the loop would be complete. Airtime would move in this closed loop and liquidity is increased by new airtime being bought by mobile users and reduced by airtime being used to make calls. The key success factor for airtime to be accepted as a means of payment is that it must resemble cash, i.e. there are no i4d | June 2007 | Vol. V No. 6
transaction costs for the end user and it must be widely accepted. The operators will not change airtime back into cash. However, a vendor might convert airtime to cash by selling it to someone that needs airtime.
Airtime cash convertibility The second approach to make airtime backwards convertible to cash is a bit more complicated. Three obstacles need to be overcome to allow for that: • If airtime is convertible to cash then selling airtime would equal accepting deposits and mobile operators would require a banking license. • Value is lost in the distribution channel for airtime. Mobile operators pay resellers a commission for selling it. The value lost in the distribution channel is about 20 percent. That is for every 10 US$ airtime sold the operator receives only 8 US$. If the operator would buy the airtime back it would make for a 2 US$ loss. • Value added tax is charged on the airtime. The value-added tax obstacle could be overcome by negotiating with the receiver of revenues to treat the VAT part of bought back airtime as input VAT. This would usually not be possible since private individuals are not registered for VAT and hence cannot issue VAT invoices. However, it should be possible to get to a special agreement for airtime given its potential for poverty alleviation. The issue of value loss in the distribution channel is trickier. It could be addressed by selling airtime through the current distribution channel without commission or purely electronically (anyone accepting airtime as cash can also sell it for cash). The selling of airtime through retailers would need to be incentivised differently. The third obstacle for making airtime convertible to cash could be overcome by mobile operators obtaining bank licenses. This would place them in the jurisdiction of a second regulator, the financial sector regulator. Alternatively banks could co-operate more closely with mobile operators or become virtual network operators themselves (like Virgin in South Africa which does not own any mobile infrastructure).
Regulating co-operation between banks and mobile operators The telecommunication and financial sectors are both crucial for economic and social development, and both have usually only a few players (oligopolies) and need to be regulated in the public interest. In future not only will banks and mobile operators be required to cooperate more closely together, but regulators will have to do that as well. Who dominates this relationship between banks and mobile operators will tend to determine the kind of business model that emerges. At one extreme, the network operator can dominate or own the whole value-chain. When this happens the resulting business model may be open to more banking institutions, but will almost certainly exclude other network operators. At the opposite end, when the banking institution dominates, the resulting model tends to be more open to other network operators, but less so for other banking institutions. June 2007 | Vol. V No. 6 | www.i4donline.net
The middle ground may involve a partnership of almost equal responsibility by both partners or even an independent third party, who then deals with both banking institutions and network operators. The current value being generated by both mobile operators and banks in Africa makes a partnership between them unlikely. A third party who is able to understand the dynamics of a volume based, small margin business is more likely to succeed. Finding a middle ground is critical for Africa, primarily because multiple institutions need to collaborate to make mobile payments successful through more open businesses models. There are entrenched positions and interests that various parties would like to protect: • Network operators want more influence since they control a key piece of the infrastructure—the SIM. In addition, the user is already a subscriber to their network. • Banking institutions consider mobile payments their turf, so they want more say in things, yet on the other hand are not sure how they will deal with this new class of customers without cannibalising their existing, lucrative customer base. • A host of other entities with a stake in the successful implementation of mobile phone payments and a whole new breed eager to cash in on the promise of the mobile phone revolution—mobile phone manufacturers, SIM suppliers, software developers, value-added service providers, payment processors, digital signature issuers and verifiers, etc. Policy makers need to make some strategic decisions about how to best leverage the inherent opportunity for the broad emancipation of their people and create policies and laws that better guide the regulators. Regulators on the other hand, have to quickly learn to grapple with new issues that appear to extend beyond their regular domains of expertise with responsiveness and flexibility to allow innovation. From the solutions that emerge, the market can help decide what is most appropriate for the African context. There are a host of issues pertinent for policy makers and regulators in relation to mobile payments: • Who can carry payment instructions? The goal here is to prevent emerging solutions being tied only to a particular network. • Who can help dispense cash? To explore how to extend beyond the limited network of established banking financial institutions. • What is the limit of liability of the various institutions involved? • What types of transactions should be permitted with mobile payments? • Who can have access to the resulting trail of a user’s transactions? This could be used as part of the information to determine credit worthiness of micro entrepreneurs. • What kinds of expertise do the regulators need to put in place to be able to provide oversight while staying relevant and responsive in a rapidly changing technology landscape without stifling innovation?
Results from 14 counties ResearchICTAfrica (RIA) conducted, small and medium sized enterprise e-Access & Usage survey in 14 African countries in
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Table 1: Access to formal financial services Informal
Semi formal
Formal
All
Business Savings Account
35.87%
41.90%
40.14%
38.96%
Business Checking Account
16.19%
43.76%
61.28%
37.57%
Business using ATM cards for business purposes
15.63%
20.66%
24.42%
19.69%
Businesses receiving SMSs from banks to inform them about balances, deposits and withdrawals
6.29%
12.24%
21.05%
12.33%
Private Checking Account used for business purposes
5.11%
4.94%
4.44%
4.87%
Internet banking
0.19%
1.46%
5.42%
2.07%
Electronic Fund Transfer (EDF)
0.12%
0.41%
2.04%
0.76%
Private Savings Account used for business purposes
0.06%
0.00%
0.00%
0.03%
Cellphone banking
0.06%
0.24%
1.51%
0.53%
Telephone banking
0.06%
0.24%
1.42%
0.50%
Fax banking
0.00%
0.24%
1.07%
0.38%
2005 (see Stork and Esselaar 2006). The survey showed that the mobile phone is the preferred ICT tool amongst SMEs, regardless of their formality or sector classification. The table below displays the access to various financial services by SMEs. With so many SMEs unbanked, there are advantages in providing them with easier access to formal financial services. At a more basic level, banking information (such as balance enquiries) seems to have been adopted far more successfully than full blown mobile banking. 12% of SMEs have received SMSs from their bank informing them of activity on their account and nearly 20% of SMEs use ATMs for business purposes which is a considerably more expensive alternative to mobile banking or Internet banking in the longer term. Another metric emphasising the unbanked nature of this sector is the continued reliance on cash as the major form of exchange. Out of 10 transactions, on average, more than nine are in cash for informal businesses and above eight for semi-formal ones. 44 percent of the SMEs surveyed state that cash is the most convenient form of exchange, and there seems to be a lack of alternative options to serve this market (eg credit cards, cheques etc). In fact, only 6 percent of the SMEs surveyed had a corporate credit card which obviously excludes any real possibility for eCommerce and other transaction saving devices.
There is strong demand for a banking solution that addresses the needs of the SME sector according to the technology that they currently possess – namely mobile phones. The key factor SMEs are looking for in a banking solution is convenience followed by security. The complexity of current mobile banking solutions has not addressed this concern. Of course, the costs of banking and the willingness to change banks are linked. What is noticeable, however, is that the willingness to change accounts or apply for an account is high across the formality index. Clearly, the needs of the SME sector are not being met.
Conclusion
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Cash Transaction average
The unbanked will only consistently transact electronically if there are limited transaction costs involved and if it convenient and secure. Tweaking the existing banking system will not achieve a breakthrough in service provision to informal SMEs or the poor. A paradigm shift needs to occur in order to determine how the poor might be profitably brought into the banking sector. Airtime-cash convertibility or airtime as an alternative closed loop solution has the potential to provide an urgently needed breakthrough. The vast majority of informal SMEs have no access to formal financial services. If the SME sector is going to be the engine of growth on the African continent, then mechanisms need to be found to allow them to grow and prosper and become part of the formal. The integration between mobile phones and banking is the most promising mechanism to date.
55% of SMEs are prepared to change banks if another bank offers a feasible mobile banking solution.
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i4d | June 2007 | Vol. V No. 6
Internet Governance
Capacity building in Asian countries There is a need to evolve a formal body of knowledge; it is important to recognise the need of Internet Governance (IG) as a formal discipline.
Asia is developing fast as a buzzing hub for ICT based industry. Therefore, due consideration needs to be given to various Internet Governance issues with an inclusive approach towards various issues like: security, privacy, freedom of expression, human rights, access, cybercrime, multilingualism, public-policy, cross-jurisdiction issues etc. Worldwide there has been an ongoing dialogue under the WSIS-World Summit on Information Society and various bodies under the guidance of the United Nations like: WGIG- Working Group on Internet Governance, IGF- Internet Governance Forum etc. to foster a multistake holder participation. To promote a multi-stakeholder approach in Asia, there is a need to sensitise and involve the stakeholders in this process. Hence, there is a need to have Internet governance capacity building for the government, the corporate sector, academia, NGOs, and civil society at large.
Understanding IG
Dr. Dhrupad Mathur Fellow & Alumni, Diplo Foundation, Geneva. dhrupadm@gmail.com
June 2007 | Vol. V No. 6 | www.i4donline.net
While there is a common understanding of the Internet, there is not yet a shared view of Internet governance, hence the mandate from the WSIS for the WGIG to develop a working definition of Internet governance. During the 10 years in which the Internet evolved from a research and academic facility into ‘a global facility available to the public’, five very different points of view emerged about the scope and mechanisms of Internet governance. The WGIG first considered the five criteria, namely that the working definition should be adequate, generalisable, descriptive, concise and process-oriented. Second, the WGIG analysed a wide range of public-sector, private-sector and multistakeholder governance mechanisms
that currently exist with respect to different Internet issues and functions. Finally, the WGIG assessed a number of alternative definitions proposed by various parties in the course of the WSIS process and related international discussions. According to the Report of the Working Group on Internet Governance: Internet governance is the development and application by governments, the private sector and civil society, in their respective roles, of shared principles, norms, rules, decision-making procedures, and programmes that shape the evolution and use of the Internet.
Implications Further, the following public policy issues have been identified that are relevant to Internet governance: • Administration of the root zone files and system • Interconnection costs • Internet stability, security and cyber-crime • Spam • Meaningful participation in global policy development • Capacity-building • Allocation of domain names • IP addressing • Intellectual property rights (IPR) • Freedom of expression • Data protection and privacy rights • Consumer rights • Multilingualism
IG forum The recent initiative under the mandate from the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) is the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), which is a new forum for multistakeholder policy dialogue.
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The IGF Agenda is being organized as per the following themes, with ‘Capacity Building’ running across all the themes.
existing systems need to have experts to handle such issues in the government, judiciary, police, and industry.
Openess
Rationale of IG
• • • • • • •
Freedom of expression and free flow of information, ideas and knowledge Security Creating trust and confidence through collaboration Diversity Promoting multilingualism and local content Access Internet connectivity: policy and cost
Many Asian countries have done significantly well in the domain of e-Governance which is a harbinger of transformation as it calls for myriad policy reforms, hence there is a rationale for IG concepts and capacities being disseminated widely. For example, the e-Governance initiatives also result in government process re-engineering and this can be utilised as an opportunity to affect the areas of policy-making, judiciary etc. to address the IG issues as well. There are certain other vital coherences between the two areas: both are ICT related or enabled phenomena. One is related to the policy for technology, the other is the application of technology for policy, thus they compliment each other and both call for policy reforms. Many issues in the IG domain are to be addressed in the e-Gov initiatives as well. Most importantly, even the key stakeholders involved are same and so are the policy makers. Thus, there is a need to realise and taking advantage of this synergy that exists.
WGIG to IGF The scenario has evolved and activities have intensified. The voices of the stakeholders identified in the WGIG process have echoed in the IGF as well. There are good number of people from across the world that are raising their concerns, hopes, desires and rights with reference to the Internet Governance. The governments have come forward to deliver their point-of-views. The civil society is also becoming active in this area, which was evident from the large number of NGOs and individuals that participated in the IGF. The industry and academia have also got interested in the issue; and there are a number of dynamic coalitions that have evolved as a result of the process so far.
Capacity building for IG Various Internet IG issues keep surfacing from time to time when there is any incident that renders the policy premises insufficient to address it. These issues are going to affect each one of us in time to come and the challenge is that, there are diverse views, understanding, and requirements of the stakeholders. Hence, there is a need of suitable capacity building interventions. There are a number of ways in which capacity building can be initiated for IG in the region. The precursor to this is a massive awareness campaign that gives the initial feeler to the stakeholders. There is a need to evolve a formal body of knowledge; it is important to recognise the need of IG as a formal discipline. In Asia, there are a few organisations that presently have the expertise or resources to develop content and deliver programmes in the field of IG. Also, there are no formal programmes or courses available and there is a general non-availability of trained professionals in the area. Industry, governments an academia will have to commit some resources towards the whole initiative. There is a need to have a dialogue for developing a regional consensus through stakeholder participation and forums etc. It is also important to forge alliances with international organisations that are already working in this area and working out relationship with upcoming and existing e-Gov initiatives, wherever possible, would be another forerunner of the Internet governance capacity building. “In only a few years, the Internet has revolutionised trade, health, education, and, indeed, the very fabric of human communication and exchange. Moreover, its potential is far greater than what we have seen in the relatively short time since its creation. In managing, promoting, and protecting its presence in our lives, we need to be no less creative than those who invented it. Clearly, there is a need for governance, but that does not necessarily mean that it has to be done in the traditional way, for something that is so very different.” Kofi Annan - Global Forum on Internet Governance
Asian scenario While there is a certain representation of people from Asia in the Internet Governance process, a large number of people in the region are still unaware or indifferent about the issues pertaining to IG. The governments have taken initiatives and the industry has shown interest but the civil society involvement in the process is still nascent. World over, it is the civil society that is working in close association with the other stakeholders to give a meaningful direction to ongoing process. This is required to be done for Asian region as well, as it is important to raise the region specific concerns and contribute to the process. Thus there is a significant need to have suitable capacity building initiatives for Internet governance in Asia as we intend to be the part of the process that is very vital in form of policy vibes enabling the ICT industry growing rapidly in the region. It is very evident of the list given above that the IG has the potential to affect the public policy affairs related to diverse areas ranging from technology to human rights. This is the time when one must have views regarding the same and this should be inclusive. The key issue here is that this will need a sensitisation across all levels: from policy-makers to the end users, to achieve this. In order to understand the complexities of the issues involved, like cross-border trade on Internet, regional/local jurisdiction, human rights, freedom of expression etc., it is essential to make to the stakeholders aware about the upcoming challenges. This is also the time when the governments in the region are forming or have just formed their Information Technology policies or Acts. Most of the policies are still evolving and one do not have a comprehensive documentation of regulations related to cyber-crime, e-Commerce, taxation, security etc. Also the
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i4d | June 2007 | Vol. V No. 6
ICTs in Teaching, LAC
New technologies and education In most cases the adoption of Information and Communication Technologies in education institutions only means giving access to students without any real change in the education programmes.
Alexandra Dans Economic Commission for Latin American and the Caribbean (ECLAC). alexdans@gmail.com
June 2007 | Vol. V No. 6 | www.i4donline.net
Latin America is a region of contrasts and inequalities: “almost 45 percent of the population in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) lives below the poverty line, which equals 225 million people. The Gini coefficient, that measures the inequality in incomes, indicates that Latin America has the worse distribution in the entire world”. (1) After 1997, the continent entered an era of financial turbulences. The economic growth was limited and even stopped, first in 1998 by the Asian crisis, then in 1999 with the Brazilian crisis, and finally in 2001-2002 with the Argentinean crisis. Since then, according to Microsoft, the knowledge economy has become one of the region’s most important means of maintaining competitiveness, improving living standards and building for the future. Also that, in 2005, technology hardware, software and services generated tax revenues of US$8 billion for Latin America; this figure is expected to grow to $11.3 billion by 2009, according to IDC. Also according to a report by Digiworld América Latina 2007, that elaborates an exhaustive analysis of the region’s digital development, for the 2003-2005 period, the digital markets in Latin America were growing in an annual average rhythm of 14 percent, more than the double of the growing rate in Europe and United States (5 percent) and the Asian-Pacific region (6 percent). By the end of 2005, Latin America had multiplied by 6,7 the number of subscriber to a broadband connection comparing to 2001 and an average of 17 percent of the population in the main economies of the region were Internet users. But in the educational context, it is interesting to observe the Latin American particularities. Garrison (1989) describes
the progress of distance education technology in three steps: correspondence, telecommunications and telematic. Taylor (2001) illustrates the same evolution by describing five generations: print, audiovisual, satellite and information technology, interactive multimedia and automatic responses systems. Today in the Latin American educative system,
we observe the coexistence of different generations: some institutions and programs are incorporating the latest technologies available in the market while others are still exclusively working in the first generation of print material. We can say that, for most cases, the educational institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean are positioned between the second and the third generation as described by Garrison and Taylor (2). It is important to highlight this issue as talking about emerging technologies in Latin America and the Caribbean in the educational field
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does not necessarily imply the same thing than in regions like North America and Europe, where they started incorporating new technologies in education some decades ago. In most cases, the adoption of Information and Communication Technologies in education institutions of Latin American and the Caribbean, only mean giving access to students or having one computer per classroom without any real change in the education programs. The knowledge process stays the same even after introducing ICT to schools. ICTs are adapted to the disciplinary system without exploring the possibilities to create new ways of learning and teaching. Two experiences of introduction of ICT in schools made in Chile and Colombia, show that frequently, more importance is given to technical training than to the communicational potential of the tool. The uses of these communicational devices are reduced to an encyclopedia that perpetrates the conventional teaching methods frustrating at the same time the efforts to promote a larger participation and creativity in the learning process. (3)
American Virtual Institute. This project was announced this year and will be funded by Microsoft and managed by two Chilean universities, the Universidad de Chile and the Pontífica Universidad Católica de Chile. The aim of the initiative is “The formation of a new, broad collaboration among Latin American and Caribbean universities. The Latin American Collaborative Research Federation will work with Microsoft Research to explore emerging information and communication technologies (ICTs) and their applications across the region, with an eye toward solving important social and economic issues and developing Latin America’s burgeoning knowledge economy.” (5) This ambitious project can perhaps illustrate the greater challenge, at the moment and for the next years, of the introduction of the new technologies in the education as much in Latin America as in the rest of the world. In fact, this challenge will not be translated by the issue surrounding universal access but rather by the issue surrounding the conscious, productive and creative use of the tool within the educative and knowledge sharing context. At her speech to launch the 3rd Global Knowledge Conference (GK3), Rinalia Abdul Rahim, the Executive Director of the Global Knowledge Partnership Secretariat, is not talking about technological access but about access to knowledge and information to improve lives. Armand Mattelart, a Communication and Information Sciences professor at the University Paris-VIII and the President of the French Media Observatory, is saying something very similar when he speaks about cyber-exclusion. He does not make reference to the ones that do not have access to a computer, but to those who have access but do not know the creative and participative potential of the tool. Mattelart says that in this context, “to teach the technical aspect is not enough”. The role of education undergoes a metamorphosis in this digital era. Although at the moment in the Latin American region the accent is primarily put in the access to the tool in the educative system, it is precise that we interrogate ourselves on the formation and the transmission of knowledge and the use of the informational device for that purpose. Only then will development be truly guided by knowledge.
Emerging technologies in education The concept of “emerging technologies” can bring together projects, initiatives, inventions; from an experimental battery which could allow a laptop to work for 40 minutes (for the 100$ laptop of the One Laptop per Child Project) to a new RSS Reader which can rank important articles based on the user interests. The educational institutions have always been pioneers in the adoption of new technologies: “Both eMail and the internet were flourishing on college campuses long before they became mainstream, and it’s a safe bet that the most talked-about gadgets of tomorrow are already making the rounds in education today. Educators see new technologies and immediately ask how these binary or silicon breakthroughs can be used to enhance learning and boost academic achievement. (…) Some of the hottest technologies in education today--such as blogs and digital media--are opening new doors for classroom instruction, while others--such as biometric technologies and radio frequency identification-- aid administrators in ways that seemed like science fiction to the previous generation.” (4) In the Latin American and Caribbean region, the effort in adopting emerging technologies for teaching and knowledge sharing can be illustrated by diverse initiatives, particularly since the last decade, to create virtual and numerical campuses. Some outstanding regional examples are: in Argentina the Virtual University of Quilmes (Universidad Virtual de Quilmes) (www.cvq.edu.ar) and the Buenos Aires University (UBA) (www.ubanet.edu.ar); in Mexico the Virtual University of Monterrey (Universidad Virtual del Tecnológico de Monterrey) (http://www.ruv.itesm.mx) and the Technological University of Mixteca (Universidad Tecnológica de la Mixteca) (http://www.utm.mx); in Chile the Technical University Federico Santa María (Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María) (http://www.utfsm.cl) and the University of Chile (Universidad de Chile) (http://www.uchile.cl/); in Venezuela, the University Nueva Esparta (http://www.une.edu.ve). But maybe the most important project yet in the field of emerging technologies and knowledge sharing in the Latin American and Caribbean region, is the Latin American Collaborative Research Federation, also known as the Latin
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References: (1) Dr. Jennifer McCoy, Carter Center , Las Vulnerabilidades de la Democracia, Democracia y Cumbre de las Américas, Panel sobre la Carta Democrática Interamericana, March 11th 2005, Buenos Aires, Argentina. (2) Marta MENA, América Latina en la búsqueda de nuevos modelos de educación a distancia, Buenos Aires, UNESCO/ ICDE, 2004, p.20. (3) Bonilla, Marcelo and Cliche, Gilles, “The Internet and its impact on Latin American and Caribbean society: Research and dialogue”, Internet and Society in Latin America and the Caribbean, International Development Research Center (IDRC), 2004, page 7. (4) Eschool News, Emerging Technologies in the Education Field: http://www.eschoolnews.com/resources/reports/ emergingtech2005/ (5) See press release at: http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/ press/2007/may07/05-09MSLACRFPR.mspx
i4d | June 2007 | Vol. V No. 6
Vol. V No. 6
June 2007
Information for development www.i4donline.net
n Agriculture Philippines Govt. to set up electronic kiosks for farmers The Agricultural Department of Philippines is planning to set up electronic kiosks across the country to help farmers. The department is preparing proposals on the e-Portal system for submission to software developer, Microsoft Corporation. Under this project, computer centres would be set up across the country for farmers to check market prices of their commodities and seek business partnerships using the Internet. The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) presented the agricultural based ICT projects, which also include “Open Academy for Philippine Agriculture,” and “Mobile Internet Bus to deliver online services to farmers”, and “Farmers’ Information and Technology Services Centers”. Microsoft is providing computers, licensed Microsoft software and training for computer programmers. The company is planning to partner with Open Academy for Philippine Agriculture (Opapa) and other ICT projects in Philippines. www.sunstar.com
n e-Commerce Indian parliamentary panel: Promote community radio in villages The Indian parliamentary committee has asked the Union Government to take urgent steps to give extensive publicity to the concept of community radio in the villages of the country. A parliamentary committee has expressed dissatisfaction about the fact thatonly 20 community radio stations June 2007 | Vol. V No. 6 | www.i4donline.net
are operating in the country and only 63 agencies have expressed their interest in the medium. According to the committee report there should be wide publicity of the community radio concept in rural areas, especially among NGOs, small institutions and communities. The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has allowed NGOs, village communities and civil bodies to operate stations under its liberalised community radio policy. www.zeenews.com
n e-Commerce HDFC Bank plans to start rural operations in India HDFC Bank is planning to provide financial services in rural areas of India, where 70 percent of country’s population lives. The bank is using a two-stage hub-andspoke model to reach out to its prospective rural customers. In the initial stage, the bank will have a full-fledged branch equipped to deal with the needs of the rural economy. In the second stage, the bank is planning point-of-sale machines capable of cash deposits and withdrawals, and allowing its customers a limited number of free transactions through ATMs of associated co-operative banks and public sector banks. Additionally, the bank is also rolling out specific rural products like tractor loans, kissan gold cards and warehouse receipts. The Bank will offer all the urbancentric banking products, including saving accounts, fixed deposits, automobile loans, foreign exchange facilities and loans against gold to its rural customers. The bank is planning to set up 100 rural branches by the end of this year. timesofindia.indiatimes.com
n Education Uganda Govt provides solar computers to rural schools The Uganda Government has approved the proposal to provide solar powered computers to children in rural schools. The government has approved the production of solar-powered computers for use in rural schools. This project would be a first of its kind in Uganda, to provide computer skills to children in rural schools. The computer is powered by a small battery. Inveneo, a US firm based in San Francisco, will produce the computer. The cost of solar powered computer is about $250. It has Internet reception capability and is compatible with both wireless and intranet. allafrica.com
Katha brings mobile school for street children of India The Tamasha Roadshow Van, a mobile school initiative, is a silver lining for street children of India. Katha, a nongovernmental organisation (NGO) has initiated the Tamasha Roadshow for street children. The Tamasha Roadshow van steers away from the monotonous educational methods and teaches street children through fun-filled methods. More than 7000 kids have been benefited from this schoolson-wheels programme. The NGO has been successful in enrolling nearly 3000 children in the mainstream schools of Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) with just three vans and nine teachers. The NGO is also organising various workshops on candle making, card making and painting. www.earthtimes.org
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The i4d News
Intel, OLPC offer laptops for Nigerian students OLPC, is a non profitable organization, which is committed to the design, testing and shipping of 15 million low cost child-friendly laptops to developing countries. Intel, just like OLPC, tested its low cost laptop, Classmate PC in Nigeria. Eight countries including Nigeria, and South Africa have signed contracts to buy more than eight million machines in the first year of roll-out. The Education Trust Fund (ETF) is supporting Intel on the implementation of the pilot project, while Intel is also involved in teacher training, curriculum development and overall mentorship. The Classmate PC project in Nigeria is the first ICT based project, which delivers ICT based learning for secondary education in Nigeria. It involves a fully developed e-classroom designed to create an ICT enabled environment for teaching and learning. The OLPC machine is Linux-based and has a 500MHz processor and 128MB of DRAM, with 500MB of Flash memory. It lacks a hard disk, but has four USB ports and wireless broadband that allows the machines to work as a mesh network and form an ad hoc local area network. www.sunnewsonline.com
n General Microsoft helps Malaysia for online system Microsoft is helping Malaysia to build an online system, which is aimed to develop the country as global trading hub of halal goods and services. Malaysia’s Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC) signed a memorandum of understanding with Microsoft Malaysia at the World Halal Forum 2007 to develop the system. The system is based on Microsoft’s Office Open XML and it is designed to be a one stop for trading halal goods and services. It will encompass a repository of information on halal and related market intelligence and a centralized Web-based system to facilitate the international halal certification process. The Malaysian halal trading hub is expected to service the 57 member states under the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), an inter-governmental body where members aim to safeguard the interest of people in the Muslim community.
services to patients in Africa. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India will install tele-medicine equipment at AIIMS to connect it with various hospitals in Africa. The project will connect all 53 nations of the African Union through satellite and fibre-optic network. AIIMS has identified 1215 locations, where telemedicine equipment would be installed. The MEA will soon provide the network through satellite and fibre-optics and wireless links at AIIMS. The network will connect five universities, 53 learning centres, 10 super-specialty hospitals and 53 remote hospitals in the African countries. The African network, which will cover the countries would be based on VSAT star network and connect with India through under-sea cables. The network will provide tele-education, and tele-medicine through tele-conferencing services. A data centre to manage and maintain records, storage and back-up facility, and retrieval mechanism for the medical facilities will be provided in the hospitals.
www.zdnetasia.com
cities.expressindia.com
n Health AIIMS’ telemedicine project reaches Africa Soon the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) will extend its consultancy
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First satellite based telemedicine network launched in Bulgaria The first satellite based telemedicine network would be implemented in Bulgaria. ND SatCom has partnered with Interactive
Technologies to implement the first satellitebased telemedicine network based on ND SatCom’s core technology platform SkyWAN. Interactive Technologies provides the meshed VSAT network to the Bulgarian Armed Forces for applications like live video transmissions of operations, videoconferencing, teleconferencing and file transfer between military hospitals and medical centers of competence. The company has selected ND SatCom for this project because ND SatCom’s SkyWAN platform supports a wide range of applications like video conferencing, IP video and VoIP, needed in this project. www.broadcastbuyer.tv
m-Serve w .s n Now mobile phones will guide blind people Soon mobile phone will guide blind people in finding their way. Sweden based company, Mobile Sorcery AB is developing the software, which will guide sight impaired and blind people with voice advisories from their mobile phones. This is the first hight-tech software related navigation system project, which is a part of Stockholm’s Project of Easy Access for the visually impaired program. The software is for the prototype system, which uses a Nokia 6300 Symbian phone with earphones and a separate GPS unit linked to the mobile phone through Bluetooth SIG technology. Another Swedish company, Astando AB will provide an application, which is linked to a geographic information system (GIS) to the guidance system. The navigation platform locates users and plots a path to the destination by using a highly detailed GIS, created and maintained by the city for street maintenance and traffic management purposes. The voice enabled guide alerts users for upcoming turns and obstacles through early warning rather than instructing every move. www.computerworld.com
Nokia unveils mobile phones for rural India The world’s biggest mobile phone maker, Nokia has launched seven mobile phones i4d | June 2007 | Vol. V No. 6
The i4d News for the emerging markets in India. Nokia has launched these mobile phones to introduce low-cost mobile telephony service to India’s rural masses. Nokia has offered entry-level phones with call-tracking and multiple phonebook capability. Nokia also launched four other low-cost GSM phones, including the entrylevel Nokia 1650 and Nokia 2660, and the Nokia 2630 and 2760 with features like built-in camera, an email client, an FM radio and Bluetooth connectivity. Most non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are seeing the local village entrepreneur as the best way to increase mobile penetration in rural markets. According to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), India had 166 million mobile subscribers at the end of the march. Mobile service providers have identified the rural market as the big opportunity. The Indian government is also subsidising roll-outs of mobile services in rural markets, and has proposed that operators share infrastructure to reduce costs. www.pcadvisor.co.uk
n Livelihoods World Bank grants US$156 million for Vietnam rural transport The World Bank will provide US$156 million to Vietnam, as interest free credit to fight poverty, help ethnic minorities and develop transportation in remote areas. T h e Wo r l d B a n k h a s s i g n e d a n agreement with the Vietnam Government for the programme, named as Program 135 Phase 2 (P135-2). The International Development Association, a lending arm of the bank will provide the first amount worth $50 million. The programme is designed to support socio-economic development in some 1,644 of the poorest communes and 2,500 poor villages. In the second phase of the funding, around $106.3 million will be used to upgrade the construction of some 3,100 kilometers of rural roads in 33 northern and central provinces. The project is co-financed by the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID), which will provide $25.4 million for road maintenance. www.thanhniennews.com June 2007 | Vol. V No. 6 | www.i4donline.net
Mobile phone to monitor health aspects UK based Leeds University has developed a mobile phone, which will measure a patient’s vital signs and also deliver the results straight to the GPs. The prototype mobile phone will allow patients to monitor their own health and receive advice from experts. The next generation mobile phone has a Bluetooth connection, which will ‘talk’ with wireless devices attached to a patient and take measurements like vital signs, glucose levels, or blood pressure. Even users can see more detailed information by connecting through a website. This new technology will reduce the cost of monitoring and improve clinical outcomes. The main application of the device is to help patients who are suffering from chronic conditions to take control of their own health. Patients would also be able to use the phone to track their own health progress, by manually entering nutrition-related data or by taking psychological tests on the phone. http://www.ehiprimarycare.com
n Open Source Open Source software to improve Indian civic services The e-Government foundation of India has developed an open source software to improve the management of municipal services. While speaking on `Improving municipal e-Governance for service delivery for citizens’ organised by the Centre for Policy Studies and the Visakhapatnam Centre of the Indian Institute of Architects, Srikanth Nadhamuni, Managing Trustee of the foundation, said the software has a transparent system to improve the credibility of civic bodies and the quality of service. The geographic information system helped in complaint distribution/density zeroing in on problem areas. www.siasat.com
BT, Microsoft launch web based platform for SMBs British Telecom (BT) and Microsoft have launched a web based platform for small and midsized businesses (SMBs). BT Applications Marketplace services allows independent software vendors (ISVs) to market their hosted applications directly to small business customers by using Microsoft’s Connected Services Framework. Applications Marketplace uses a means of delivery known as software as
a service (SaaS). BT announced a major internal reorganization, which is designed for the telcom major to develop and roll out new web-based applications. Applications Marketplace is part of BT’s $15.98 milion investment in delivering SaaS. BT’s model is to allow ISVs to build a “Tradespace”, or sales site. A Tradespace can be used to market new applications to SMBs, many of which will be subscription-based and hosted. www.zdnetasia.com
IACC, World Trade Center to promote SME sector in India, US The Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (IACC) has partnered with a US based organisation to help with economic activities in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in both of the countries. IACC has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a US based business development organisation, World Trade Center, Rhode Island. Under this agreement, the IACC logo will be included in the India Business Programme . So far around 13 US based companies are interested to invest in India. According to Dennis McCarthy, managaing director of the World Trade Center, approximately 35 American companies would be interested to invest in India. news.monstersandcritics.com
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The i4d News
Microsoft India develops split computer screen technology Microsoft’s new technology will allow two users to work independently on the same machine, sharing both the processor and monitor. The technology is basically developed for small businesses and schools in developing countries to reduce the cost of computer. In home, more than one family member can use the same computer. The working prototype uses a standard 19 inch screen, but it can also work on 15 and 17 inch screens. The solution is a software, so there is no need to buy a new PC. Users can simply install the software and a second mouse and keyboard plugged in for operation. The software enables two sessions of Windows to share the processor of computer. It divides the screen in the half, which is running on one operating system. Even users can move their cursor to the other of the screen, which will open the door on sharing and collaborating with documents. Even both users can open a third area, which is called an ‘airlock’, where users can place their shared files and resources. http://www.aviransplace.com
n Technology NASRDA will launch Nigeria Communication satellite The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Abuja will soon launch the first Nigerian Communication Satellite, named ìNigComSat-1 to enhance ICT initiatives in rural areas of the country. President, Olusegun Obasanjo announced that NASRDA will launch the satellite before May 29, 2007. According to the Presidentthe NigComSat-1 will introduce ICTs through electronic transactions, particularly rural telephony. The new project will enhance government’s economic reforms, particularly in the areas of e-Learning, e-Commerce, tele-medicine, tele-education, and rural telephony. The satellite will provide speedy access to real-team data and geo-spatial information, as well as the availability of relevant infrastructure and backbone for information communication. www.thisdayonline.com
(NeGP) to promote e-Governance in rural areas of India. NeGP is planning to setup 1,00,000 broadband-enabled Internet Common Service Centres (CSCs) in rural areas of the country to connect the villagers to the World Wide Web. NeGp will cover 27 Mission Mode Projects (MMPs) and eight support components, which would be implemented at central, state and local government levels. The government has decided to invest INR 23,000 million in next five years under this programme. The government has approved the proposal and it would be implemented on the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. It is expected that the project will create one lakh direct jobs and 2-3 lakh additional indirect jobs. The IT Department has also approved two pilot e-District projects covering six districts in UP and two districts in Asom. The objective is to computerise the backend workflows at the district level with appropriate Business Process Re-engineering (BPR), and to reduce the work load at the district level. www.newkerala.com
n Telecentre NeGP plans to make Internet available to remote villages in India
Microsoft Pioneers “Rural Computing” in China and India
The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology of India has initiated the National e-Governance Plan
Software Giant, Microsoft is working with the governments of India and China for encouraging the rural computing
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programme. The concept of rural computing programme is based on PC@ home, PC@Work and PC@community models. While participating in a rural computing pilot program at a small village at Luohe, Henan P rovince in Central China, Microsoft’s Vice President said the entire IT industry is agreed that technology access in rural computing space is required. Microsoft is working with China’s MII and the provincial governments to extend the benefits of technology to rural populations. The concepts includes PC@home to deliver healthcare information, entertainment and education; PC@work, which focuses on information browsing related to agriculture, crop prices and supply chain management; and PC@community, which focuses on an Information Centre for computer training, information search, e-Government and eCommerce experiences with the intention of improving the connection of China’s rural farmers with the global marketplace and the government. Microsoft is working with Drishtee of India to implement pilot programmes for e-Commerce and eHealth, and small scale business process outsourcing needs. www.socialcomputingmagazine.com
3G services arrive in Nepal Nepal Telecom (NT), the state-run communication supplier has launched third generation (3G) mobile services on May 17, 2007. The services are being launched on the occasion of the International Telecom Day. According to NT officials, Nepal is going to become the first country in the South Asia region, where 3G mobile services would be launched. According to Buddhi Acharya, Director of NT, the SIM card for 3G services would cost 64.5 U.S. Dollars (around 4,195 Nepali rupees) and it would be similar to that of prepaid mobiles. Initially, the 3G mobile services would be available to area within the Ring Road in the capital city of Kathmandu. NT has also fixed Rs 10/min for video conferencing facilities. It has fixed 2 paisa per byte as the rate for video streaming, which is roughly equal to Rs 3 per minute. According to the Mobile World data, Nepal Telecom ended up last year with an estimated 690,000 customers. This gives them a 67% market share. english.cri.cn i4d | June 2007 | Vol. V No. 6
3rd Annual ICT4D Conference and Exhibition
India's Premier ICT4D event 31 July - 03 August 2007 Hotel Taj Palace, New Delhi, India
7 tracks
40 countries
Organiser
knowledge for change
75 corporates
75 thematic sessions
Co-organisers
Department of Information Technology Government of India
Gold Sponsor
1200 delegates
Knowledge Partner
UN DP
Track Sponsors Learning Partner
eGovernance Solution Partner
Gold Sponsor Silver Sponsor Associate Sponsor Lanyard Sponsor
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Supporting Partners
ISAP
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www.eINDIA.net.in
Foreword R Chandrasekhar Additional Secretary, e-Governance, Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, Government of India
Subhas Khuntia Joint Secretary Minisry of HRD Government of India
In most cases abroad, the successful solutions in eGovernance and other sectors have been fueled by solutions created by Indian experts. However, such solutions are never found in India. One needs to understand why such absorption and evaluation is not happening in India. Several eGovernance conferences are happening in India. But in most cases, these are dominated by IT experts and there is genuine dearth of domain expertise. The eINDIA2007 conference is extremely well chosen in terms of domains. I look forward to effective knowledge and expertise sharing among the participants and all stakeholders.
The twenty-first century is a century of knowledge economy. ICT skills will contribute significantly to creation, dissemination, and application of knowledge in all spheres of life. To put in place a system which should enable this, there is a need for successful collaboration among Central Government, State Governments, academic institutions, industry, and civil society. In this context, the eINDIA2007 conference focusing on several key themes will be a valuable source of input to the Government and other stakeholders.
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Mapping ICT4D Knowledge
eINDIA2007- The location The venue of eINDIA2007, Hotel Taj Palace, New Delhiis a perfect embodiment of all qualities synonymous with the quality of Taj Hotels, Resorts & Palaces. Standing apart in service, its facilities, and of course, in its distinguished patronage, this hotel has played host to Heads of State, corporate moguls and high profile businessmen from across the world. Nestled in six acres of lush greens in the exclusive Diplomatic Enclave of the city, the hotel Taj Palace is one of the best business hotels in Delhi. It is also recognized as the Convention Centre of the city and boasts of 13 halls including a special preview hall for private screenings to large halls, to accommodate seminars for 700 delegates and even a grand reception for 1000 guests. The environment is perfect for workshops, networking and recreation.
Listen to key decision-makers' needs eINDIA2007 gives you access to government IT decision-makers with the need, the authority, and the budget to buy your products and services. Focused sessions for sponsors to position their solutions Sponsors could benefit from the key sessions, panel discussions and workshops, by participating in the discussions and presenting their solutions to the quality audience from around Asia-Pacific and beyond.
eINDIA2007 Website
Taj Palace Hotel Sardar Patel Marg, Diplomatic Enclave New Delhi, India -110 021, Tel: (+91-11) 2611 0202 Fax: (+91-11) 2611 0808, 2688 4848, Email: palace.delhi@tajhotels.com, Web: www.tajhotels.com
Top Reasons to Exhibit at eINDIA2007 Targeted audience eINDIA2007 brings the right mix of quality delegates unparalleled at any other INDIAN forum. Unlike many other general IT fairs, it addresses the need to bring region's top public sector buyers at one place thus saving time and resources of focused suppliers.
Visit the eINDIA2007 website (www. eINDIA.net.in), which will provide you all the latest information and updates, as well as all the necessary forms, making it easy for you to register online. www.eINDIA.net.in Constantly updated, the website keeps you abreast of all the latest developments as eINDIA2007 takes shape!
Registration fees Indian Delegates Pre Registration INR 5000
On Spot INR 7500
Foreign Delegates Pre Registration USD 200
On Spot USD 300
Valuable opportunity for face-to-face meetings eINDIA2007 maximises the face-to-face time exhibitors spend with key customers and prospects through informal meetings, structured appointments and many networking lunch and dinner receptions.
Fee Entitlements
Organisers
Contact Us
eINDIA2007 is organised by Centre for Science, Development and Media Studies (CSDMS), who have more than 10 years of experience in organizing niche events on ICTs for Development across continents along with several government partners.
Sushma Nautiyal (Tel: +91-9873757536)
The Delegate Registration entitles the individual to participate in all technical sessions, workshops, keynotes and plenary sessions, and social functions for all seven: egov India 2007, Digital Learning India 2007, Indian Telecentre Forum 2007, eHealth India 2007, mServe India 2007, e-Agriculture India 2007, and Community Radio India 2007 conferences.
eINDIA2007 Conference Secretariat: G-4 Sector 39, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, 201 301, India Ph.: +91 120 2502180 to 85 Fax: +91 120 2500060 Email: registration@eINDIA.net.in
Key Speakers at eINDIA2007 Ashis Sanyal
Aruna Sundararajan CEO, IL&FS
Amar Kumar Joint Secretary Department of IT, Government of Uttar Pradesh
Astrid Dufborg Executive Director GeSCI
Deepinder Singh Bedi
Senior Director, Department of IT, Ministry of Communications & Information Technology, Government of India
Amit Goel Advisor, Ministry of Panchayat Raj, Government of India
Arvind Kumar Director (BP&L), Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India
Ajay Madan CEO Essar Telecom Ltd.
Aakash Sethi
Basheerhamad Shadrach
Executive Director, QUEST Alliance, International Youth Foundation
Sr. Programme Officer telecentre.org/IDRC, India
G Narendra Kumar
G P Sinha
Director, Tulip IT Services Ltd.
Deputy General Manager, Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd. (MTNL)
Joselyne Josiah
K. K. Gupta
Advisor, Communication and Information for Asia, UNESCO
General Manager, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)
Secretary, Department of Training & Technical Education and Higher Education, Government of NCT of Delhi
Capt K J S Brar CEO Designmate India Pvt. Ltd.
M Moni Michael Clarke Director, ICT4D IDRC, Canada
Deputy Director General , National Informatics Centre, Ministry of Communication & Information Technology, Government of India
M. Rajamani Joint Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India
Maxine Olson United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in India
Nancy L. Knowlton President and Co-CEO Smart Technologies Inc.
Dr. P. L. Gautam Vice Chancellor G B Pant University of Agriculture and Technology
Manish Gupta
Dr M C Pant
Vice President Aperto Networks
Chairman, National Open School
Pravin Srivastava
O Nabakishore Singh
Director Ministry of Health & Family Welfare Government of India
Commissioner, Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, Government of India
Dr. Ravinder Singh Director, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India
Richard Alvarez CEO and President Canada Health Infoway
R Chandrashekhar Additional Secretary, e-Governance, Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, Government of India
Shantanu Prakash
Ranjan Dwivedi National Professinal Officer (eHealth) WHO
CEO Educomp Solutions Ltd.
Shashank Ojha
Sajan Venniyoor
Subhash Khuntia Joint Secretary, Ministry of HRD Government of India
Shankar Nath Goswami Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Media Lab Asia
Vishal Gandhi Vice-President Life Sciences & Technology, YES Bank
Solutions Exchange, UNDP
World Bank
S Abbassi
Trevor Hodge
Department of IT, Ministry of Communications & Information Technology, Government of India
Vaibhav Magow Director, Marketing HughesNet Fusion Hughes Communications India Ltd.
Sr. VP Investment Strategy and Alliances Canada Health Infoway
Where are you?
www.eINDIA.net.in/register
Profile: Hastac
An interdiscliplinary collarboratory HASTAC (Humanties, Art, Science and Technology Advanced Collaboratory) is a consortium of humanists, artists, scientists, and engineers from the nation’s leading institutions dedicated to working together to develop innovative computing and information systems that support interdisciplinary research and teaching in the humanities and arts and that stretch the possibilities and applications of existing computational technologies. HASTAC’s vision of Humanities has been elaborated by two of HASTAC’s founders, Cathy N. Davidson (Vice Provost for Interdisciplinary Studies at Duke University, co-founder of the John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute, and Ruth F. DeVarney Professor of English at Duke University) and David Theo Goldberg (Director of the University of California Humanities Research Institute and Professor of African-American Studies and of Criminology, Law, and Society at the University of California at Irvine) in “Why We Need the Humanities Now: A Manifesto for the Humanities in a Technological Age”. The manifesto outlines a very critical point by suggesting that the promises of the information revolution will only be realised if technology is able to think of some questions that moden humanities scholarship has raised. These are diverse strands of scholarship like the antifoundationalist humanities, which challenges the idea of grand universals. Another strand has brought to the fore the idea of representation, and the making of popular consent. The humanities have also questioned the role of the university in history and iterated the need for the academia to be critcal of the world and its representations. The humanities have tried
to examine social policy and formation, and question assumptions of values, traditions, and mainstreamed questions of class, caste, and gender. HASTAC intends to identify major research identify major research projects that have broad impact and draw on key issues and cutting-edge knowledge. The projects will be structured to design new, innovative automated data acquisition, synchronization, registration, retrieval, and communication tools and integration portals. These new tools will allow the integration of data never before brought together, extending far beyond traditional texts and images to include buildings, caves, landscapes and archeological sites, sculptures and other representations of three-dimensional objects, paintings, recordings, movies and oral history videos, as well as all other forms of human creativity. Whether studying Machu Picchu or ancient Hyderabad, the Old Silk Road or Middle Passage, Renaissance Florence or contemporary L.A., the biblical Near East or the modern Middle East, researchers will be able to make new inferences about how cultures have evolved, test theories of why certain cultures, regions, or religions have flourished and others fallen throughout time, and to determine the consequences of this historical understanding for the geopolitics of the way people live and behave today. This vision of cyberhumanities seeks to change how we know and teach the humanities, how we create and preserve artistic works and all our cultural heritage, how we conceive of the next generation of computational science, and most crucially how we understand the nation’s relations to the complex world and its regions in which we are embedded.
Also, to accomplish the massive task of visualizing and sonifying, accessing and communicating the foundational archives of the humanities and arts requires the joint effort and support of academe, industry, and government agencies. Within funding agencies and corporations, HASTAC seeks to engender recognition of the vast potential of the new humanities to address problems with a scope barely imagined to this point.
Four concrete goals Creating: HASTAC is dedicated to creating new knowledge in humanities domains and fields based on vigorous interactive interdisciplinary scholarship. Communicating: HASTAC’s projects also deals next-generation communication technologies. Fot his there is a need to arrive at standardised procedures for data sharing. All projects would require daily, synchronous and asynchronous multi-site and multi-user communication. HASTAC will also develop better communication software that can be used on existing Internet platforms. Educating: HASTAC ultimately seeks to pave the way for new scholarship and a new generation of scholars—today’s school children, college undergraduates, graduate students, and recent PhDs. HASTAC projects will aim to have a pedagogical component applicable for K-12 as well as multimedia education products for the general public. Transforming Institutions: HASTAC is dedicated to creating guidelines for participating in and evaluating new forms of collaborative, interdisciplinar y scholarship and advocating for the adoption of these guidelines.
Sources: www.hastac.org Cathy N. Davidson and David Theo Goldberg, A manifesto for the Humanities in a Technological Age, http://chronicle.com, The Chronicle Review, Vol. 50, Issue 23 June 2007 | Vol. V No. 6 | www.i4donline.net
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Award Nominations open for i4d Award, eINDIA2007 Welcome to i4d Award 2007. Nominations are invited for the i4d Award 2007, to be presented at the eINDIA2007 Conference and Exhibition, in recognition of exemplary and innovative projects which demonstrate the potential of Information and Communication Technologies for sustainable and equitable development. The i4d Award will be presented on 31 July, 2007, the opening day of the eINDIA2007 Conference and Exhibition. The award winners will be duly felicitated and will mingle with a multidisciplinary cast of professionals from the development sector, government officials, corporate representatives, other researchers, and domain experts. Last Date for Nomination July 15, 2007
www.i4donline.net/i4daward2007 Prashant Gupta (Tel: +91-9312198353) eINDIA2007 Conference Secretariat: G-4 Sector 39, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, 201 301, India Ph.: +91 120 2502180 to 85 Fax: +91 120 2500060 Email: prashant@csdms.in
E-Bario Knowledge Fair, 3rd Global Knowledge Conference, December 2007
ICTs and indigenous people Knowledge fair Dr. Roger Harris Roger Harris Associates, Hong Kong, China harris38@netvigator.com
Introduction Asia contains the majority, about 70 percent, of the world’s present-day indigenous populations. Indigenous peoples continue to feature among the least-served sections of many societies. They face a diverse range of issues and concerns associated with their status and interaction with other cultural groups, and changes in their inhabited environment. Issues include cultural and linguistic preservation, land rights, ownership and exploitation of natural resources, political determination and autonomy, environmental degradation and incursion, poverty, health, and discrimination. At the same time, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in the form of community-based telecentres are rapidly spreading into the rural and sometimes isolated areas that are inhabited by such people, offering them opportunities to deal with some of these issues. Many countries in Asia are in the process of setting up national networks of rural telecentres with the intention of raising living standards and providing opportunities for underserved sections of society for full and equal participation in their emerging knowledge economies. Whilst it is commonly understood that technology is essential yet of itself insufficient, the mechanisms for ensuring that desirable outcomes will actually emerge are far from well-understood. Left to its own devices, technology is fully capable of reinforcing social disparities. June 2007 | Vol. V No. 6 | www.i4donline.net
In December 2007, as part of the run-up to the 3rd Global Knowledge Conference, the e-Bario Knowledge Fair will present the experience of a very remote indigenous community as it adapts to and integrates ICTs as a basis for its social, economic and cultural development. The Knowledge Fair will be held in the remote village of Bario, in the Kelabit Highlands of Sarawak, one of the East Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. It will allow those from outside the community to experience first hand daily life in Bario. This is a unique event, organised to bring researchers and practitioners into face-to-face dialogue with the indigenous people of Bario; the beneficiaries of the e-Bario project. It is expected that the opportunity for such two-way
The research colloquium will focus on the social appropriation of ICTs by underserved rural and indigenous people, within the context of the e-Bario project and its impact on the Kelabit people of Malaysia.
direct learning will be of considerable benefit and interest not only to the community but also to other similar communities and NGOs, administrators, researchers, practitioners and policy makers. Cultural events and workshops will be scheduled into the programme. Further excursions are also available, principally trekking and adventure trips into the surrounding forested highlands. The e-Bario Knowledge Fair is also an opportunity to generate collaborative proposals for longer term research involving the Kelabit community, their use of ICTs and the surrounding environment. The people of Bario welcome opportunities to host activities by outside researchers that support their development aims. There are many local resources to facilitate such research; including the e-Bario telecentre, skilled staff and adequate accommodation and logistical arrangements.
Research colloquium The purpose of the Knowledge Fair and research colloquium is to share the experiences of e-Bario and the indigenous Kelabit people in order to accelerate its own rate of contribution to community development as well as the progress of other similar initiatives worldwide. The research colloquium will bring together a range of stakeholders; indigenous peoples, researchers, policy makers, donor organisations, development agencies and practitioners along with the UNDP’s Asia Pacific Development Information Programme (APDIP) and the UNDP Regional Initiative on Indigenous Peoples’ Rights and Development in the Asia Pacific (RIPP). The focus will be on Information and Communication Technologies for Indigenous Peoples (ICT4IPs) and will present e-Bario as a case study to illuminate the
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Keynote speakers: research colloquium
broad issues relating to the use of ICT4IPs. The colloquium format will be a combination of presentations and panel discussions that will include peer-reviewed papers. Contributions are invited, initially in the form of abstracts dealing with among other areas: • The role of telecentres in development in remote and rural areas, • ICTs, community informatics and development among indigenous and rural and remote populations, • Evaluation and impact assessment for rural ICT projects, • ICTs, and indigenous culture. The research colloquium will focus on the social appropriation of ICTs by underserved rural and indigenous people, within the context of the e-Bario project and its impact on the Kelabit people of Malaysia. Topics to be addressed will include, but need not be limited to the following: n The e-Bario Telecentre as a case study of ICTs for Indigenous Peoples • History and operation of the e-Bario project and other ICT4IP projects. • Technology for ICTs in remote locations and community informatics • Telecentre operations. • Community participation • Challenges and lessons learned. • Finances and sustainability. n Replicating e-Bario and ICTs4IP • National contexts for bridging the digital divide. • Lessons learned for rural development with ICTs. n The Cultural and Economic Context of e-Bario and ICT4IP • ICTs and the Kelabit culture. • Prospects; ICTs for cultural, social and economic enrichment of the Kelabits and other indigenous peoples. • Implications for indigenous peoples. • E-commerce in highland commodities. n The Impact of e-Bario and ICTs4IP • Highland tourism for ecological conservation. • Potential for income-generation from tourism. • Avoiding the negative impacts of tourism. • Impact of the internet on education. • Use of computers at the schools in Bario and other indigenous peoples • e-Bario & the clinic; the impact on health care for IP’s. • Social communications. • Publicity & awards; influence on public policy. • Stories from e-Bario; impact on social, economic and cultural aspects of life. • ICTs and indigenous Peoples • Rural telecentres • ICTs for rural development • Bridging the digital divide • e-Inclusion for the underserved • Globalisation and voices of the poor • ICTs, culture and the environment • Policy implications
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Dr. Michael Gurstein: Dr. Michael Gurstein is widely recognized for his work in the development and definition of community informatics as the area of research and practice concerned with enabling and empowering communities through the use of Information and Communications Technology. His book “Community Informatics: Enabling Communities with Information and Communications Technologies”: (Idea Group, 2000) provided a focal point for the emergence of Community Informatics as the research and praxis discipline underpinning the social appropriation of ICT. Professor Heather E. Hudson: Professor Heather Hudson is Director of the Telecommunications Management and Policy Program in the School of Business and Management at the University of San Francisco. Professor Hudson’s recent publications include “From Rural Village to Global Village: Telecommunications for Development in the Information Age”, published by Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, January 2006.
Details The event is intended to initiate a global network of indigenous peoples’ telecentres. Bario is accessed by air from Miri, in Sarawak, Malaysia. The approximate total cost for the colloquium is estimated at around US$150, which will include conference registration with 3 days accommodation and meals in Bario and return transportation by chartered aircraft from Miri to Bario. Air connections may require an overnight stay at the registrant’s cost in one or both directions in Miri, depending on flight schedules. Hotel accommodation can be had in Miri for US$25 per night upwards. Approximate return air fare from Kuala Lumpur to Miri is estimated at between US$80 and US$380 depending on choice of airline (i.e. Air Asia or Malaysian Airlines). For international travellers who may be attending the 3rd Global Knowledge Partnership Conference GK3 in Kuala Lumpur, the additional cost to fly from Kuala Lumpur to Miri may be negligible, depending on your airline and starting point. Delegates will stay in local lodgings, which are clean and comfortable, and which will provide a taste of the local culture and life-style, as well as contributing to the local economy. The event is supported by the following organisations: • UNDP Regional Indigenous Peoples Programme (RIPP) • UNDP Asia Pacific Development Information Programme (APDIP) • Malaysian Airline System • Centre for Community Informatics Research, Training and Development • Universiti Malaysia Sarawak • Center for Integrative Conservation Research, University of Georgia • Roger Harris Associates (Hong Kong) For further details �������� please �������������� visit: http://ebarioknowledgefair.org/ �������������������������������
i4d | June 2007 | Vol. V No. 6
June 2007
ICTD Project Newsletter
ICTD Project Review Workshop It is time to take stock of the ICTD project since the project is now moving into its final phase with only a few months to go before the project ends. This workshop focused on the lessons learnt which would be useful for replication and upscaling.
EDSS Implemented by Development Alternatives & Tarahaat, the Enterprise Development & Support Services (EDSS) project focuses on providing entrepreneurship opportunities to youth, women, self-help groups, landless and small land holders. Ranjit Khosla and Praveen Manikpuri from Tarahaat reiterated that the project is an ICT based solution for developing entrepreneurs, training them for setting up enterprises and helping them in their marketing initiatives. The core of the project is to develop an Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) and two Enterprise Packages (EP) for Micro Concrete Roofing Tiles (MCR) and Broiler-based poultry farming. The EDSS project focuses on identification, setting up and management of mini rural enterprises. Built on
a multimedia platform, the products have been developed using pedagogically sound courseware keeping in mind the low level of literacy. Potential entrepreneurs are also trained and assisted on financing opportunities, writing business proposals, loan application process etc. Linkages have been established with key banks such as NABARD, Regional Rural Bank, State Bank of India etc. Informal linkages with key government departments such as KVIC, Employment Exchange Bureau, District Industries Centres have been established. These will help the entrepreneurs establish themselves. As on March 2007, 31 enterprises have been set up with the aim to establish 8,500 enterprises by June 2010. Over the next 6 months, it is envisaged that more Enterprise Packages will be de-
veloped and rolled out over the Tarahaat network. Mahiti Manthana The status of Mahiti Manthana, a project targeting women empowerment was elaborated by Parminder Singh from IT for Change - an NGO based in Bangalore. This initiative was designed in response to a felt need by Mahila Samakhya that knowledge and women empowerment interventions need technology support, both for sustainability and for enhanced effectiveness. Different ICT tools, such as radio, video, helplines and computers are being explored to develop contextual socio-technical processes for empowerment. The project is being implemented in three talukas of Mysore district. The Kelu Sakhi radio initiative has facilitated in promoting home grown informal processes during
Make ICTs Work for People
production of radio programmes and collective listening aligned to Sangha (SHG) processes at the community end. The Sangha Shale introduced as part of the project has established a new robust institutional form of learning and self growth. Videos developed by the Sangha women showcasing simple workshop recordings, process captures, discussions etc are shown to the Sangha women and discussions are held revolving around the video topic. It is envisaged that the stronger sanghas will use such discussions to shape the community discourse, agenda and action over a period of time. The Namma Mahiti Kendras (telecentres) provide a platform to reach outside agencies, and establish a better ‘equation’ within the community. The telecentres run on three main planks namely providing government information (and RTI), community databases, and communication platform for chat, video conferencing etc. The centers have provided the disadvantaged women the feeling that ’information is available’ and the attitude to ‘seek information’, and then, use it in empowering ways. The impact can be seen by the greater social role of the women in the community and
32
inclusion into governance structures. Process changes and empowerment are assessed on the basis of Internal Qualitative Assessment (IQA) framework along the dimensions of Acceptance, Integration and Ownership Bangalore One Vipin Singh, Director, Integrated Citizen Services, GoK presented the status of the Bangalore One project. Started in April 2005, 16 Bangalore One centres have been
services being offered by the private partner is being tracked on the basis of SLAs. Three more B1 centers will be opened during the next 3-4 months. The project will also be expanded to other towns of Karnataka, starting with Hubli-Dharwad.
e-Procurement Ms. Sathyavati, Joint Secretary (e-Governance) in the Govt. of Karnataka explained that the eProcurement project is being designed as an end-toend e-Procurement system in Karnataka comprising of various modules like Supplier Registration, Indent Management, Catalogue Management, Contract Management, e-Auctions etc and not e-Tendering alone. The e-Procurement application Senior officials of UNDP and DIT at the will be hosted in the Sugam Centre State Data Centre set up with a vision to enhance with physical and logical secugovernment service delivery to rity controls resting with GoK. citizens and businesses, by offer- HP India Ltd has been engaged ing an integrated interface, for a as the private partner for the broad spectrum of government project. The project will be initially implemented in 6 pilot deand private services. partments and will be rolled out Currently 18 different services to all offices in the state by 2011. of 11 government departments The solution, which is PKI enand 6 private services are being offered under the B1 project gen- abled, will be accessed by governerating over 3.5 lakh transac- ment employees and the contractions per month. The quality of tor community over the Internet.
HP India will run the e-Procurement system as a service and will be paid by users on a transaction basis and not by the government. Five percent of the monthly transaction charges will be retained by GoK for managing the e-Procurement cell. A bank would be selected for opening a central pooling account for the Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) collected from contractors and suppliers. In lieu of returning the interest generated the bank will fund certain activities of the project implementation. GoK is working on critical process reform decisions and has initiated necessary groundwork for electronic submission of EMDs. It has been proposed that EMDs will no longer be accepted in the form of a bank guarantee. Over the next 6 months, digital certificates will be issued to government officials. All the components will go live and a fullfledged e-Payment system will be implemented. Training of contractors and government users will be an ongoing process.
i-CoSC (Sugam) The Integrated Community Service Centres (iCoSC) project is being implemented by the Department of Communications & IT, Govt. of Himachal Pradesh, in the district of Shimla. Manish Garg, Director-IT, informed the participants that the project was being renamed as ‘Sugam’ to have widespread appeal in rural areas. With a vision to deliver integrated citizen services across all tehsils, subtehsils and sub-divisions of Shimla district, the project is currently providing e-Government services as well as services focusing on socio economic progress (such as education, health etc.), income generation (G2B services, market information etc.) and improving quality of life (edutainment, training etc.). Currently, over 50 services across 27 departments are made available for access to citizens across 17 Sugam centres. An integrated portal to access all i-CoSC services has also been put in place. Sanjeev Gupta, Secretary IT, GoHP stated that the application for providing certificates (e-Praman) and for Record of Rights (HimBhoomi) have been accessed the most number of times by citizens. Some of the
Touch Screen Kiosk at the Sugam Centre
other applications include HIMRIS (for land and property registration), Vahan & Sarathi (for driving licenses and registration of new vehicles), arms licensing, job portal, ticket reservation of HRTC etc. The Himchal Pradesh State Wide Area Network (HIMSWAN) will be operational by June 2007 and all the backend applications will be hosted in the data centre. After integration of all services, the project will be rolled out in other districts. Village Information System The Village Information System (VIS) is being implemented in 100 villages of Patan and Mehsana districts of Gujarat to provide various G2C and B2C
33
Make ICTs Work for People
The system would be integrated with legacy systems such as inventory management and financial management system of departments, Khajane system of the State Government and an e-payment gateway. A well-built MIS reporting system would be put in place as an inherent compliance to the RTI act.
Make ICTs Work for People 34
services to rural citizens. Neeta Shah, Director (e-Gov), GIL and Vijay Nehra, DDO, Patan district, informed the participants that the appointment and training of Village Computer Entrepreneurs (VCE) has been completed in all 100 villages. The VCE would assist the Talati at the village level to maintain accounts and provide required government services to the citizens. It is also proposed to engage an agency to provide entrepreneurship training to the VCEs. Connectivity has been provided in 10 villages of Mehsana district by extending the GSWAN connectivity. The challenges for the project implementation include ensuring reliable Internet bandwidth to provide services, maintaining uptime of the systems, retaining VCEs and regularly building capacity of VCEs with respect to various G2C & B2C services. Additional resources are being appointed at the district and taluka levels to help in speeding up the project implementation. GSWAN connectivity will also be extended to 1015 villages of Patan district to roll out VIS services. Discussions Amit Chakravarty and Sandeep Krishna, Managers at NISG
34
summarised the proceedings of the two days and also presented the Results Based Management (RBM) system dashboard for all the projects. Shri A.K Balani, Director, DIT urged partners to complete project activities by December 2007 when the ICTD Project comes to an end. Ms. Deirdre Boyd, Country Director, UNDP, summing up the workshop stated that sharing of views, ideas and learnings across the pilots was a very im-
stated that during the year Common Service Centres (CSC) would be in place for most states. Reacting to a common query of participants on the status of the existing centres once the CSCs are implemented, he stated that agencies can apply to run the CSCs if they have a large number of centres already running in the region. To avoid stagnation, he also recommended that applications must be shared across pilots and should not be used for commercial purposes.
The workshop was a platform to share lessons among the various projects being implemented over the last two and a half years. Getting all the projects to focus on the larger set of outcomes and results has helped in ensuring that the overall theme of develSugam Centre at DC Office, Shimla opment is emphasised upon. The coming portant exercise. “The ICTD months will witness projects beProject is playing a small part in ing up-scaled and replicated in the a much bigger national strat- country. egy,� she said, while emphasising After the workshop, the parthat gender mainstreaming was ticipants went on a field trip to a very important component and the Sugam Centre located in the needs to be incorporated as part DC Office, Shimla. ICTD of the project implementation. NISG and i4d jointly hold the copyExpressing happiness at the right to the articles printed in the ICTD progress of the pilot initiatives, section of the i4d magazine and R. Chandrashekar, Additional website. For permission to reprint the Secretary (e-Governance), DIT articles please write to the Editor i4d.
ICTs For Challenged Persons
Enabling technologies for differently abled Empowering the physically challenged For too long, it has been observed that the benefits of ICTs are not reaching the visually and physically-challenged persons. However, things are changing slowly and steadily. Multi-national IT giants have started producing interactive-softwares for the visually-challenged. IBM is soon going to launch a multimedia browser code-named the Accessibility Browser or A-browser, in order to make audio and video content accessible to people with vision impairments. The software has been created by a blind employee of IBM in Japan named Dr. Chieko Asakawa. Nowadays, innovative softwares are also being produced by the common man, which are much cheaper than the branded software products. According to one recent news, a visually-impaired student from India has developed ‘Brailleface’ software, which converts Braille commands into ‘Devnagari’ script on the computer screen. The point is to reveal that a licensed copy of Microsoft’s JAWS—the most popular screen-reader for the visually impaired, costs INR 70,000, and it cannot read most Indian languages. With the advent of Text to Speech Technology, computers have become accessible to visually challenged persons. In the National Association of Blind (RK Puram, New Delhi, India), there are computer centres where blind students undergo training in Windows, Word Processing, Internet, e-Mail, spread-sheets etc. With the help of computers enabled with speech synthesizers, students with vision impairment doing higher studies, are becoming independent in all their reading and writing needs. Computer literacy is giving the blind and low vision persons new professional opportunities, thus enhancing June 2007 | Vol. V No. 6 | www.i4donline.net
their job status, and giving them additional proficiency (edge) and confidence at work. It has been widely recognised now that disability is ‘a social construct created by ability-oriented and ability-dominated environments’. According to this model ‘even though impairment has an objective reality that is attached to the body or mind, disability has more to do with society’s failure to account for the needs of persons with disabilities’. It is now increasingly felt that challenged (differently-abled) people
http://www.un.org/Pubs/chronicle
should get the facilities a normal human being enjoys. There should be regulatory frameworks and standards regarding the designing of ICT-devices so that challenged persons can access and utilize them without facing problem. This is expected to ensure equality of opportunities.
Adaptations and assistive devices Visual impairments: Glare protection screens, large monitors with high resolution, Magnified displays of computer screens, Magnified displays of hard-copy materials, large print production, Color and contrast selection, Keyboard orientation aids. Blindness: Speech synthesizers, Screen reader software, Braille printers, Braille translation software, Braille displays,
Braille note-takers, Braille input devices, Optical character recognition (OCR), and Speech recognition. Hearing impairments: Visual redundancy on computers, Interpreters, Hearing aid compatible phones, Speech amplification telephone, Speech amplification meeting or conversation, Text telephony, Text telephone relay services, Signaling systems, Electronic mail and fax, Videoconferencing. Mobility impairments: Sequential keystroke input, Key repeat rate control, Keyboard macros, Alternative keyboards, Non-keyboard dependent input devices, Word prediction software, Speech recognition, Robotic devices, Mouse alternatives, Key guard, Speaker phone, Gooseneck receiver holder, Phone headset, Speed dialing. Some of the softwares in order to support the disabled are: (i) Dragon Naturally Speaking—Voice Dictation Software; (ii) Jaws—Screen Reading Software; (iii) Magic—Screen Magnification Software, and (iv) Openbook—Scanning Software.
Conclusion ICTs can play a crucial role in the empowerment of the differently-abled provided the policies, legal standards and regulatory frameworks are ‘justly’ guided, structured and created at the local, national, regional, and international levels. There is thus the need for wider level of social networking among the donor agencies, the government, the local-level institutions and the civil society organisations for capacitybuilding of the society and the social actors so that benefits of ICTs reaches the differently-abled. There is also impending need for more humane approach to empowerment especially when we talk of reaching the differently-abled. Shambhu Ghatak, shambhu@csdms.in
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n Telecentre Talks Tele Density, India
Telecom infrastructure for the new age Lately, the telecommunications infrastructure in India has grown by leaps and bounds. Teledensity has risen dramatically, as has its reputation as an IT super-power. Yet, there are many worrying gaps: the digital divide is widening.
Prof. Arun Mehta Chairperson Department of Computer Engineering, JMIT, Radaur mehta@vsnl.com
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Widening gaps
Alternate means
The North-South gap in telecommunications is still growing in India. While all are delighted to finally have ‘broadband’ DSL providing a megabit connection at a reasonable price, still many are laying copper cables in the ground, when the developed world is well on its way to providing gigabit connections on optic fibre. The gender gap is growing too: typically, only when the family can afford more than one mobile phone,does the woman get one. Rural areas are, of course, far worse served than urban. The disabled often struggle to find access to computing and the range of functions a modern telephone provides as well. Given the spectacular growth of telecom in recent years, it is tempting to assume that the phone companies will come around to addressing these problems soon. On personal opinion, that would be a grievous error, for two reasons: not only are they intrinsically handicapped in dealing with these problems, we no longer need giant telecommunications multinationals to solve them. The phone company spends an inordinate amount of effort in keeping account of one’s call, from where to where, at what time, for how long, on which plan. Using this information, they courier a complicated bill, then need to deploy plenty of staff to dispute small sums with one for months. When bandwidth indeed was very expensive, it may have made sense to treat it like such a precious resource. Bandwidth costs have, of course, plummeted, with the growing capacity of optic fiber. Of each rupee you pay to the phone company, the cost of the call is only a few paise. The rest is for the movie stars that seduce you into buying the phone, and, of course, for the complex billing.
It is possible to provide far cheaper connectivity, as indeed the same companies do, when they give you an Internet connection, where sending a megabyte only costs about a rupee. A typical SMS costs roughly the same, which means that per byte, assuming a message of 20 characters, its cost is 50,000 times higher! The Internet is a very difficult phenomenon for the telecom industry to deal with. On the one hand, it is good business: bandwidth consumption has been growing at something like 500 percent per annum. But the Internet has hardly been deferential to its host. The technological direction of the telecom industry was decided by the ITU, where all the governments and major telecom companies are represented. Technology grew at the rate at which lawyers negotiated there. This gave the industry plenty of time to recoup development costs. For instance, a GSM phone is basically a 9600 bit per second modem. Even in the early nineties, that would have been considered slow, on the Internet. Today it is hopelessly out of date. The Internet did not wait for the ITU to make standards. Its TCP-IP, the standard that allows a global network of computers to talk to each other, was functioning extremely reliably, when the ITU chose to ignore it and mandated X.25. e-Mail was working fine on the Internet too at the time, but the ITU preferred to make its own X.400 standard. Even with the backing of all the governments of the world, these quickly sank without a trace. In India, for instance, the government introduced services based on these ITU standards, and even mandated them for the private sector, when the area was opened up. All such
i4d | June 2007 | Vol. V No. 6
services quickly sank. Why didn’t the telecom industry simply adopt Internet technology, instead of trying to reinvent the wheel? Because the Internet is de-central, while the industry wanted to route all communication through central exchanges, so that each bit could be accounted and billed. That insistence may well prove to be a fatal flaw.
Dotcom boom During the dotcom boom, the telecom industry invested vast sums in dubious Internet startups, and got almost nothing in return. Then, via the World Summit for the Information Society (WSIS), the ITU attempted to take charge of Internet governance, as futile an attempt. The future, which belongs to rural communications, does not look any different for the telecom industry. The WiFi standard was established by the computer industry to get rid of cables for computer networking over short distances. It was not designed to be a telecommunications facility. However, hackers had other ideas. Replacing the poor inbuilt antennas of off-the-shelf WiFi equipment with better ones, they found they could reliably communicate megabits a second over tens of kilometres. Since WiFi gear talked TCP-IP, all the existing Internet software could be used on these networks. For communities around the world that were not willing to wait for the phone company to bring broadband to them, WiFi taking you to the nearest optic fibre was a faster, cheaper alternative. The telecom industry is trying to bring in WiMax as a means of providing wireless broadband connectivity over large distances. But it still retains the centralised model. In any case, it will take a few years before equipment from different vendors will be able to reliably talk to each other, as was the case with WiFi as well. The quantities in which WiMax equipment will be manufactured are orders of magnitude smaller than those of WiFi, reflecting in price.
Challenges A new threat looms for the telecom industry. The one area in which it has made a lot of money recently, is mobile handsets. These June 2007 | Vol. V No. 6 | www.i4donline.net
http://opengardensblog.futuretext.com/archives/wimax.JPG
have become ever smarter, more versatile and compact. Old timers are reminded of the early days of personal computers, but there is one crucial difference this time: the telecom companies rigidly control the design of these phones, and even what software is allowed to run on them. However, this bastion may soon be stormed as well. GNU Radio takes advantage of progress in integrated circuit design,for instance the field -programmable gate array (FPGA). In this device, one can, in effect, change the internal wiring of the circuit. The big advantage of this technology is its versatility, in that it allows one to rapidly change what the device does, and to improve designs. Bugs are far less costly. The same device, with different software, could communicate via WiFi or Bluetooth. It could even morph into a GPS receiver to help one navigate, or an RFID reader to help manage inventory. The GNU Radio software, as the name suggests, is shared as free and open source, unlike that developed by the likes of Nokia and Motorola, where such effort is expensively duplicated.
Synopsis and solutions The PC revolution came out of the garages of geeks, made possible when
computers became affordable. GNU Radio similarly opens up the world of wireless communications technology to ordinary people. The implications for rural areas in developing countries are immense. Imagine a device in the village, which recognises one’s GSM or CDMA phone, or even one’s Bluetooth headset, downloads appropriate software into the FPGA, ands lets to make the calls, free of cost, through the Internet. That same device could be the community radio or TV transmitter, ham radio, and myriad other products rolled into one – just as the PC lets you run a spreadsheet one minute, and a chat programme next, or even alongside. Think of the ways in which it could help a blind person navigate using GPS, recognise street names and billboards, and use the Internet at WiFi hotspots What is required for this to become reality? The realisation by NGOs, that they do not have to wait for multinational telecommunications giants to come to their village, or develop a cheap solution for their problem. When people take charge of their own telecommunications, they get the benefits of broadband connectivity much quicker, at far lower cost, while creating local jobs.
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iCommons Summit 2007
Envisioning a free Internet The iCommons Summit 2007 was held at Dubrovnik, Croatia, from 15 to17 June, 2007. The summit brought together pioneers of the free Internet to make sure that, at its crossroads, we guide the world along a path that will enable the kind of free culture and decentralized innovation that has characterized the early years of the Internet. With an impressive lineup of iconic free Internet philosophers, the participants heard from people like Creative Commons CEO, Larry Lessig, CC Chairman and Digital Entrepreneur, Joi Ito, Wikipedia Founder, Jimmy Wales and CTO of Linden Labs, Cory Ondrejka. Some new voices were added to the debate this year including India’s Lawrence Liang, who has become renowned for his considered commentary on the positive impact of piracy in developing countries, Jonathan Zittrain discussing themes from his new book ‘The Future of the Internet and How to Stop It’, Benjamin Mako Hill from MIT who will talk about competing visions of ‘free culture’ from the free software perspective, and Becky Hogge from the Open Rights Group, who will talk about successful campaigns to rid the world of restrictive IP laws. Apart from the insight of the great ‘philosophers of the commons’, the Summit also brought together practitioners, activists and technologists working on concrete projects that continue to inspire us about the possibilities of a free culture on the Internet. In these workshops, leaders of the open education movement seeded new ideas for global cooperation, and participants shared insights on how open content is planned, strategised and built from the ground up. Ideas on how
to curate open content using tools like del. icio.us and concepts like ‘crowd sourcing’ and ‘peer production’ were also discussed. And experiences on how to increase government use of open access licensing for publicly-funded materials, and look at new opportunities to fund open content using alternative business models, were shared. The iCommons Summit was supported by cutting edge Internet companies around the world whose success is based on a free Internet - companies who recognise the potential of commons-based peer production for growing their networks and their businesses, and doing it in a way that benefits all of humanity.
rates with organisations and communities from around the world to demonstrate and share best practice and discuss strategies for continuing the positive impact that ’sharing’ practices are having on participation in the cultural and knowledge domains. Creative Commons has spawned an array of initiatives like the Science Commons (www.sciencecommons.org), ccInternational (www.creativecommons.org/worldwide), ccLabs (http://labs.creativecommons.org/), ccMixter (http://ccmixter.org/).
iCommons core values •
•
• • Incubated by Creative Commons (www.creativecommons.org), iCommons is an organisation with a broad vision to develop a united global commons front by collaborating with open education, access to knowledge, free software, open access publishing and free culture communities around the world. Using the annual iCommons Summit as the main driver of this vision, iCommons features projects that encourage collaboration across borders and communities, and promote the tools, models and practice that facilitate universal participation in the cultural and knowledge domains. The Summit collabo-
•
• • • •
Defend, protect, support and encourage the freedom of societies to create, build upon and share works of culture. Encourage broad participation in the growth of the intellectual commons from business to the public sector, and throughout wider civil society. Respect the diversity of creativity and innovation by creators around the world. Promote and support efforts to achieve a more equitable global development based on access to technology, knowledge, science and culture. Promote the highest levels of open access to intellectual products for organisations and individuals - especially those with a public mandate Employ open and transparent governance and processes organisationally. Promote and seek global diversity in participation in iCommon activities. Actively seek out, and productively network with other organisations that promote like values. Encourage accessibility principles within iCommons.
Sources: www.creativecommons.org, www.icommons.org
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i4d | June 2007 | Vol. V No. 6
Global Knowledge Partnership (GKP) is the leading international network which facilitates the building of effective multi-stakeholder partnerships (MSPs). Aimed at harnessing ICT to generate innovative and practical solutions to development challenges, these MSPs create opportunities for scaling up ICT initiatives and spreading their benefits.
Sharing Knowledge
¡
Building Partnerships
www.globalknowledge.org
www.GKPEventsOnTheFuture.org Global Knowledge Partnership (GKP) presents its Event On The Future, - GK3, 3rd Global Knowledge Conference on 11-13 December 2007 in the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Malaysia. GK3 will gather over 2,000 visionaries, international leaders, practitioners and policy-makers in Knowledge for Development (K4D) and Information & Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D) from Business, Governments and Civil Society. Participants will share knowledge and contribute to the confluence of emerging people, markets and technologies as change factors of The Future, and draw on experiences to help shape The Future.
Rich Event Wide array of expert panels, hands-on workshops, interactive forums, networking spaces, key launches and showcases to demonstrate the future of K4D and ICT4D, including: Emerging Solutions Workshops Partnership Initiatives Launchpad Market of Opportunities Associated Events Young Social Entrepreneurs Forum World Telecentre Leaders Forum Global Action Network Meeting on Learning and Knowledge Sharing UN Global Alliance on ICT and Development International Task Force on Women & ICT Meeting
Third World Electronic Media Forum (WEMF3) BBC World Panel Debate @ GK3 Stockholm Challenge – GKP Awards 2007 GKP 10th Anniversary: Celebrating 10 Years of Sharing Knowledge and Building Partnerships 2007 AISI Media Awards
GK3 is targeted to: Make the Future Bridge differences and strengthen effort to achieve a global Knowledge Society
Sponsors Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) International Development Research Centre (IDRC) Microsoft Corporation Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Showcase and share creative and empowering solutions Build multi-sectoral K4D and ICT4D collaborations Add value to the global Knowledge Community
Knowledge Partners M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), India Omar Dengo Foundation, Costa Rica The Foundation for Development Cooperation (FDC), Australia The United Nations Economic Commissions for Africa (UNECA) Young Asia Television (YATV), Sri Lanka BBC World Service Trust Global Action Network Global Alliance on ICT and Development
International Task Force on Women & ICT Stockholm Challenge telecentre.org World Broadcasting Unions (WBU) Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) Asian Media Information and Communication Centre (AMIC)
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Bytes for All... Software piracy in India drops by one percent. Patrice Riemens informs that a most interesting article in yesterday’s Financial Times Digital Business supplement details the stunning costs, direct and indirect, that are associated with the ‘management’ of software licenses for business and other professional organisations. It’s called ‘The hidden cost of being too cautious’ and is by Alan Cane (Published: May 30, 2007) Source: Patrice Riemens, patrice@xs4all.nl
Google offers help to Mysore University (Karnataka) to digitise 800,000 books The Mysore University library has around 100,000 manuscripts that are written both on paper as well as palm leaves. These would include India’s first political treatise, the ‘Arthashastra’ written in the 4th century BC by Kautilya. The idea behind digitising for free is to get free links to these materials once the necessary patenting is complete. Google will also provide expertise, software, and manpower for the digitisation work. Mysore University is training some of its select Physics students to help in the digitisation process. http://www.techshout.com/inter net/2007/21/google-todigitiz e-800000-books-at-mysore-university-in-india/ http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/bytesforall_readers/message/10340
Let’s make poverty a ‘copyright free zone’ Nalaka Gunawardene argues that we all know the power of moving images. Used strategically, moving images can move people to change lifestyles, attitudes and behaviour. Indeed, the right kind of information -- whether about microcredit, contraception, home gardening or immunisation - can vastly improve the quality of life, and even save lives that are needlessly lost. Says Nalaka: “Broadcasters need to let go of development related TV content after initial broadcasts. They must also allow educational and civil society users greater access to vast visual archives, gathered from all over the world. In this context, I would like to repeat a proposal I first made last year, which I have since presented at the UN Headquarters and other forums. It’s simple: Let us make poverty a ‘copyrights free zone’.” http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/bytesforall_readers/message/10338
Cheaper laptops for children A programme to provide millions of low-cost laptops to students in poor countries is set to start production in September even as commercial competitors prepare to offer even cheaper models. The idea from Nicholas Negroponte, a co-founder of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Laboratory, who proposed the project at the World Economic Forum in Davos two years ago, has moved closer to fruition. The non-profit organisation he formed -- One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) -- attracted support of leading businesses and institutions and will start production later
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this year, Michail Bletsas, chief connectivity officer at OLPC, said. The laptop is being made by the Chinese firm Quanta: the goal is for Quanta to manufacture 40,000 laptops a month beginning in September, then step up production to 400,000 per month by the end of the year. ‘OLPC would like to manufacture at least three million units in the first round of production,’ he said. ‘OLPC is in talks with Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Peru, Nigeria, Thailand, Pakistan, Russia, Rwanda and many other countries -- but nothing definite just yet,’ OLPC Spokeswoman Jackie Lusting. http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1099381 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/bytesforall_readers/message/10332
Cellphone call from Everest British climber Rod Baber on Monday became the first man to use a cellphone for making a call from Mount Everest. He used the GSM technology. Earlier, satellite phones had been used to make calls from the Everest summit, but this is for the first time that a call has been made using the 3G technology. The call was made possible with the help of a cell tower installed by China Telecom in Rongbuk, about 12 miles from the mountain peak. http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/bytesforall_readers/message/10321
Stockholm challenge Earl Mardle in Sydney meanwhile calls on mobile developers from anywhere to take part in the Stockholm Challenge. ‘We are very aware that mobile is vital to many areas of development and the more interesting and innovative programmes we can contact, the better,’ says he. Contact: earl.mardle@stockholmchallenge.se
Telecentres in the Madrasa The school based telecentre project of RI SOL has launched Internet-enabled telecentres in two Bangladeshi ‘madrasas’ (Islamic religious schools), in Khulna and Dhaka. See Khulna Alia Madrasa Advocates for an Inclusive Information Society on World Information Society Day Link to the news story and photos of the celebration. Source: Nazrul Islam nazrul07@gmail.com http://www.connect-bangladesh.org/content/view/418/101/
e-Choupals: Networking rural India Ranabir Majumdar writes that the agricultural system has also traditionally been unfair to primary producers. Farmers have only an approximate idea of price trends and have to accept the price offered to them at auctions on the day that they bring their grain to the mandi. As a result, traders are well positioned to exploit both farmers and buyers through practices that sustain systemwide inefficiencies. Initiated in 2000, the e-Choupal project placed computers with Internet access in rural farming villages. The e-Choupals serve as both a social gathering place for exchange of information (choupal means ‘gathering place’ in Hindi) and an e-Commerce hub. http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/web2.0story asp?id=ARTEN20070012289 i4d | June 2007 | Vol. V No. 6
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Bytes for All... Peer-to-peer, online
Podbharti.com, podcasts from India
Michel Bauwens (michelsub2004@gmail.com) of that amazing resource called the http://p2pfoundation.net in Bangkok also has an amazing set of bookmarks at http://del.icio.us/mbauwens. He has an interesting set of books are listed here at: http://www.p2pfoundation.net/Category:Books Some of interest http:// www.p2pfoundation.net Wireless_Networking_in_the_Developing_ World http://www.p2pfoundation.net/African_Digital_Commons http://www.p2pfoundation.net/Building_Sustainable_Communities For inspiring policy reforms http://www.p2pfoundation.net/Democratising_Innovation
Here is good news for Hindi web community. Indo-Asian News Service reports from New Delhi that a new website has come up with Hindi podcasting service, which will provide rich coverage of news and views on Indic blogging concerning India, tools and technology, current affairs and entertainment. Maharashtra based blogger duo Debashish Chakrabarty and Shashi Singh have launched the website www.podbharti.com. It is India’s first pure Hindi podcast and targets towards Hindi speaking users in India as well as abroad. Growing number of India centric podcasts like IndiaTech (http://www.podtech.net/indiatech) and advent of community events like Podworks (http://www.podworks.in) are testimony to the growing prowess.
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• • • •
Some interesting ICT for Development books Code: Collaborative Ownership and the Digital Commons http://pdf.codev2.cc/Lessig-Codev2.pdf http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code:_Collaborative_Ownership_and_the_Digital_Commons Mobile Communication and Society: A Global Perspective http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_Communication_and_ Society:_A_Global_Perspective Challenging The Chip http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Challenging_The_Chip Coding Cultures (Francesca da Rimini, ed) http://www.dlux.org.au/codingcultures/handbook.html Free as in education: a 2003 Finnish study on Free Software/Open Source in the “developing” world, by Niranjan Rajani et al. Download from OneWorld Finland special section. Floss: http://fi.oneworld.net/article/view/56261; Main report: http://oneworld.net/filemanager/download/1255/
First rural BPO company in Sri Lanka Horizon Lanka Foundation started a new BPO company named OnTime Pvt. Ltd. recently to carry out BPO operations. http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/bytesforall_readers/message/10261
Free Media vs. Free Beer (By Andrew L) The free beer Richard Stallman loathes is everywhere. Media companies are currently falling over themselves to produce the new hive for user generated content. The names have rapidly become common place - YouTube, MySpace, Flickr - and their affect has been enormous, dramatically changing the production and distribution of media globally. Free beer pours from the taps of these new hubs of participatory media as they clamor to get you in the door. But free beer, as Free Software Foundation founder Richard Stallman has always emphasised, is not the same as freedom. http://nettime.freeflux.net/blog/archive/2007/05/04/nettime-free-media-vs-free-beerby-andrew-l.html; http://www.engagemedia.org/Members/andrewl/news/freebeer/
June 2007 | Vol. V No. 6 | www.i4donline.net
http://in.movies.yahoo.com/070516/43/6fv5l.html Hindi portal Lokmanch (http://www.Lokmanch.com) Hindi blog magazine Nirantar (http://www.Nirantar.org)
Regional reports: •
• •
• •
Asia: http://oneworld.net/filemanager/download/1253/ Africa: http://oneworld.net/filemanager/download/1252/ and Latin America: http://oneworld.net/filemanager/download/1254/ Microsoftt claims that free and open-source software violates 235 of its patents. See the analysis at Groklaw for a different view http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20070513234519615 APDIP e-Notes 14 and 15 by Roger Harris 14: Telecentre 2. http://www.apdip.net/apdipenote/14.pdf 15: Telecentre Sustainability http://www.apdip.net/apdipenote/15.pdf All APDIP e-Notes are available at http://www.apdip.net/ apdipenote/ All APDIP e-Resources are available at http://www.apdip. net/elibrary/
Tiny Goa and cyberspace Goa, the former Portuguese colony on the west coast of India, is seeing students get access to computers. But what are they being used for? Dr Nandkumar Kamat (nkamat@unigoa.ac.in )points to various resources available. He writes: “Instead of giving substandard CDs to students, it is advisable to use MIT opencourseware. Undergraduates and postgraduates, just log on to ocw.mit.edu and get information on 1600 courses.” Enter the Blogosphere: The Politics, Profits, and Perils of Blogs: Interesting syllabus on blogging.... http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/bytesforall_readers/message/10243
Bytes for All: www.bytesforall.org or www.bytesforall.net Bytes for All Readers Discussion: http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/bytesforall_readers To subscribe: bytesforall_readers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com Compiled by Frederick Noronha, Co-Founder, Bytes for all, India, fredericknoronha@gmail.com
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n Rendezvous Mobiles and Development Conference, 16 May 2007, University of Manchester, UK
m-Dev: Current issues and concerns m-Development issues There are more mobile than fixed lines in the global South. There are likely to be more mobile phones in the South than the North. That is why “m-development” should be on the agenda. Mobiles have a one-per-user model in the North, but shared-access models in the South. Thus perhaps three or four times more people in the South have access to mobile services than in the North.
Continuing mobile divide We should take care not to go completely overboard with the hype. Yes, mobiles are now reaching into the poorest communities and livelihoods, but there are still global and national inequalities. There is still a “mobile divide”. Fundamental issues of electricity, coverage, and affordability are still barriers related to accessibility.
Role of the private sector The state and NGOs have a vital role to play in promoting those aspects of m-development that the private sector cannot cover or address. However, as a generalisation, the m-development activities of the private sector – e.g. Mbanking, mobile infrastructure and services – seem to be working better than those of the public sector – e.g. m-education, landlines. We can ask – which sector holds most responsibility for the mobile explosion – public, private or civil?
Making connections, flattening asymmetries In their role as communication devices, mobiles are making connections for users. For example, linking poor communities to members of the global diaspora for the purposes of remittances. And mobiles are flattening information asymmetries. For
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example, providing previously inaccessible information about education, health, agriculture, and market prices. The world may not yet be flat due to mobiles. But it is getting flatter.
Needs and wants. Development actors often talk about needs of citizens and communities, but not about their wants. Mobile clearly fits into the “wants” category for many. Since it is modern and an aspirational good, the cell phone is becoming a delivery mechanism of choice for many in developing countries. They want projects that deliver via mobiles regardless of what they may, top-down, be deemed to need. We are still finding our way through to what mobiles deliver in terms of development needs, but there is growing evidence on this too.
can increasingly do what PCs or community radio can do. Will this lead to complementarities or tensions? Second, in relation to socio-economic processes and responsibilities. For example, over mfinance, telecoms and financial regulation are colliding as cell phones become mobile banks using airtime as currency.
Communication to transaction. Mobiles to date have largely been seen through a “telephone lens” – as communication devices. Increasingly, though, we will need to see them through a “laptop lens” – as devices that can process data and can handle transactions. To understand mobiles in development, can cannot simply cut-and-paste from past telephone/telecommunication studies.
Convergence.
ICT4D 2.0.
There are two aspects, both about mobile being able to do what other technologies or services do. First, technically, mobiles
If the epitome of ICT4D version 1.0 was the rural telecentre, are we seeing emergence of ICT4D 2.0? If yes, then its artefact: the cell phone. Its focus: urban not rural development. Its emerging trend: revival of the Internet as a development tool through GPRS (and – for laptops and PCs – through the roll-out of free WiFi networks). Its catchphrase: Digital Cities for Development.
If the epitome of ICT4D version 1.0 was the rural telecentre, are we seeing emergence of ICT4D 2.0? If yes, then is its artefact: the cell phone!
m-Development research priorities Delivering on m-development: There remains still a lot of work to be done on mapping and planning how to “build development” on the digital platform that mobiles are providing. Understanding social networks: Poor citizens and communities face key problems of lack of effective social capital, and of social exclusion. How are mobiles changing this? i4d | June 2007 | Vol. V No. 6
Beyond calls and texts: What are the new possibilities being opened up by other mobile devices (PDAs, iPods, etc); ability to transact as well as communicate via cell phone; GPRS and WiFi roll-out? Innovation: What are the innovations around mobile devices; who is innovating; what are they innovating; what are the issues they face; how do we capture, disseminate and scale-up? Three possible locations: ‘traditional innovation’ e.g. in university/laboratorytype institutions; ‘semi-traditional innovation’ in technology enterprises e.g. small Infomation Technology and software firms; ‘non-traditional innovation’ by users (hardest to capture but perhaps the most interesting). Design: What is the match/mismatch between the design of mdevelopment applications, and the realities of the communities and livelihoods into which they are being introduced? What design and implementation lessons should we learn from past work in information systems and technology studies, and in development studies? Convergence: What are the developmental implications of the convergence of technologies? What are the policy implications
of the convergence of socioeconomic process and responsibilities that mobiles enable? Environment: What are the environmental implications of infrastructure construction, phone recycling from North to South, phone use, phone disposal?
Conceptualising the artefact For any research, we need to be more rigorous about “conceptualising the artefact”. What do we see as the specific role of the mobile technology we are studying? What is the difference that mobile technology – the bundle of hardware and software applications (and their related socio-economic processes) – is making?
Contenders • • • • •
Reach: as a technology that penetrates farther than others. Economic model: as a technology that is more affordable than others. Mobility: as a technology that is more mobile than others. Texting: as a technology that can SMS as well as call. Other technical functionality: as a technology that permits other functions, e.g. the storage & exchange of airtime.
Richard Heeks, richard.heeks@manchester.ac.uk, Abi Jagun, abi.jagun@manchester.ac.uk, Manchester University, UK
Note: This briefing summarises some key issues and research priorities emerging from the workshop on “Mobiles and Development” held at the University of Manchester in May 2007. The workshop was a meeting of the UK Development Studies Association’s “Information, Technology and Development” study group. It was organised by the University’s Development Informatics Group with the support of the Brooks World Poverty Institute.
The Ubunto FOSS Mark Shuttleworth who is a successful entrepreneur from South Africa, wants open-source zealots to lose their religion and concentrate on ease-of-use instead. He has been funding the Ubuntu project since 2004. He became the first African in space, and the world’s second space tourist, in 2002. He wants the Ubuntu to be a user-friendly version of Linux, the opensource operating system. The term Ubuntu has its origin from Zulu and Xhosa that roughly means “universal bond of sharing between humans”. Hence, Ubuntu software’s slogan is “Linux for human beings”, and it is aimed at mainstreaming computer users. Mr Shuttleworth points to an open-source platform called Croquet, an immersive environment that is similar in many ways to Second Life, a popular online virtual world. Linux is not used by everybody since it is perceived to be made for geeks. The aim of Ubuntu is not to create an ideological debate on using or not using the open source, or to show the supremacy of Microsoft over Linux or vice-versa. The aim of the Ubuntu software is to reach the user. Ubuntu is basically a complete bundle of software, from operating system to applications and programming tools, that is updated every six months. Mr. Shuttleworth does not want to limit his action towards just providing the world with a cheap and friendly operating system.
Although, it has been accused that free softwares are just copying the proprietary providers’ softwares, one should know the fact that a lot of innovation is done while producing free softwares. The collaborative approach of the open-source community is the richest model for stimulating innovation, as per Shuttleworth. In some areas, open-source software is not seeking to catch up the proprietary softwares, because it is already in the lead. Even, Michael Dell, the company’s founder, who recently took over again as its chief executive, runs Ubuntu on his own laptop. The biggest challenge to make Ubuntu popular is by translating it into various languages. Nowadays, it is believed that open source softwares can be used in portable devices such as phones, cameras, GPS units and music-players. Many such devices are already powered by Linux and other free software, and their numbers are growing. Linux is the fastest-growing operating system in the field of smart phones. In 2001 the Shuttleworth Foundation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to educational and open-source projects in South Africa, was set up. It has launched innovative projects such as the Freedom Toaster, a machine for copying free software onto CDs in remote regions, where lack of bandwidth makes downloading software impractical.
Source: http://www.economist.com/science/tq/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9249327 June 2007 | Vol. V No. 6 | www.i4donline.net
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Books received On Line Citizenship: Emerging Technologies for European Cities Edited by: Eleonora Di Maria, Stefano Micelli Published by: Springer ISBN: 0387234748 Pages: 218 Cities are traditionally identified as places for generation of collective memory, where knowledge and experience expand, develop and are shared. In the scenario of a developing knowledge economy, relative connections between distributed innovation processes in specific contexts lead to the identification of a new model for value creation. The book thus discusses the evolutionary trends of cities in terms of e-Government in the technological scenario. It focuses on the connectivity factor between city administrations and citizens due to ICTs and the emerging technologies. It also gives an analytical overview of the projects and activities undertaken by TeleCities in order to contribute actively to the development of an inclusive information society in Europe with a particular focus on the role of cities administration as the fundamental engines of economic growth and social inclusion. It enumerates original contributions and documents presented at the International Conference ‘On Line Citizenship - Emerging Technologies’ for European Cities promoted by Telecities-Eurocities and the City of Venice in cooperation with Venice International University and sponsored by SUN Microsystems, held in Venice, May 30-31, 2003. The book is also an exhaustive and useful copy for central and local administrative authorities, policy-makers, public administrations and municipalities, researchers etc. focusing on technology as well as on urban studies.
Stakeholder Engagement: A Good Practice Handbook for Companies Doing Business in Emerging Markets Authored by : Debra Sequeira and Michael Warner Published by : International Finance Corporation Pages: 201 The handbook titled ‘Stakeholder Engagement: A Good Practice Handbook for Companies Doing Business in Emerging Markets’, by the International Finance Corporation, the corporate branch of the World Bank, shows how good practices are essential for companies who are engaged in implementing projects in order to
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build and sustain constructive relationships over time as a means of risk mitigation, new business identification, and enhancing development outcomes. The handbook draws lessons from various parts of the world in order to showcase the importance of engaging with the key stakeholders of the community who are likely to be affected, either positively or negatively, by any project. It offers new and detailed guidance and insights in a number of areas, including gender, indigenous peoples, grievance mechanisms, sustainability reporting, management functions, and the integration of stakeholder engagement activities with core business processes. The handbook is divided into two parts. Part one contains the key concepts and principles of stakeholder engagement. Part two shows how these principles, practices, and tools fit with the different phases of the project cycle. Each of the phases of any project presents different environmental and social risks and opportunities. Hence, engaging with the stakeholders of the project is essential on the part of the management. The publication will be made available in French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Arabic and Russian as of July 2007 to facilitate use by regional offices and clients.
Information Economy Report 2006: The Development Perspective Published by : UN Prepared by : UNCTAD Secretariat Document No : UNCTAD/SDTE/ECB/2006/1 ISBN: 92-1-112700-9 Pages : 346 Information Economy Report 2006: The Development Perspective, discusses the ICT and e-Business plans and strategies found suitable for developing nations. It studies the ICT policy options required for developing nations and proposes a framework for national pro-poor e-Strategies. It is designed to help policy makers in developing countries make informed choices in the field of ICT and e-Business strategies that would recommend ICTs for the development community and to promote sustainable development for all. The report says that the ICT diffusion in developing countries still should have government intervention in areas where private providers might be discouraged to go. This sets to evaluate the public-private partnership models currently in vogue. Broadband was also encouraged to develop an information economy and the complementing policies should support the enterprising capacity of the nation. The report has been segregated into eight major headings containing an introduction for each. i4d | June 2007 | Vol. V No. 6
What’s on
Indonesia 11-13 September, 2007 Indo ICT Expo and Forum Jakarta Convention Centre http://indoict.com/
Africa 27-30 August, 2007 Contact Centres World 2007 Sandton Convention Centre Johannesburg, South Africa http://www.terrapinn.com/2007/ccwza/
8-11 October, 2007 Cards Africa 2007 Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa http://www.terrapinn.com/2007/cardsza/
Australia 17-19 July, 2007 Near Field Communication Australia Sydney http://www.terrapinn.com/2007/nfc%5Fau/
14-16 August, 2007 Search World 2007 Amora Jamison, Sydney
Computers and Industrial Engineering - CIE37, Alexandria http://www.cie37.net/
Germany 8-11 October, 2007 Broadband World Forum Europe 2007 Estrel Convention Centre, Berlin
India
27-29 November, 2007 International Conference on Engineering and ICT Malacca
15-17 November, 2007 Seventh Global Conference on Flexible Systems Management NOIDA, Uttar Pradesh http://www.giftsociety.org
15-17 December, 2007 Second CPRsouth conference - Empowering rural communities through ICT policy and research, Chennai http://www.cprsouth.org/index.html/?q=cprsouth2
CSDMS Events
31 July - 03 August, 2007 Hotel Taj Palace, New Delhi, India
Bulgaria
http://www.eINDIA.net.in/egov
Digital Learning India 2007 http://www.eINDIA.net.in/digitalLEARNING
http://www.itu.int/EUROPE2007/index.html
Indian Telecentre Forum 2007
China
eHealth India 2007
11-13 September, 2007 Asia Mobile TV Congress 2007 Conrad Hotel, Hong Kong
http://www.eINDIA.net.in/eHealth/
http://www.eINDIA.net.in/Telecentre
20-23 October, 2007 37th (2007) International Conference on
http://www.gkpeventsonthefuture.org/gk3/
11-13 December, 2007 ICET 2007, Kuala Lumpur http://www.icet.unikl.edu.my/
10-11 July, 2007 Digital Latin America (DLA07) Mexico City
NewZealand 20-22 August, 2007 Government Technology Duxton Hotel, Wellington http://www.terrapinn.com/2007/gtw%5Fnz/
Portgual 3-6 December, 2007 E-ALT’07 E-Activity and Leading Technologies, Porto http://www.iask-web.org/e-alt07/e-alt2007.html
mServe India 2007
Vietnam
http://www.eINDIA.net.in/mServe/
3-5 October, 2007 CommunicVietnam2007 Ho Chi Minh International Exhibition and Convention Centre (HIECC) Ho Chi Minh City
eAgriculture India 2007 http://www.eINDIA.net.in/eAgriculture/
Egypt
11-13 December, 2007 3rd Global Knowledge Conference Kuala Lumpur
http://www.worldsummits.com/
eGov India 2007
http://www.terrapinn.com/2007/mobiletvhk/
http://www.icei2007.org/
Mexico
http://www.somerset.qld.edu.au/conflib
3-6 December, 2007 ITU TELECOM EUROPE, Sofia
http://www-users.cs.york.ac.uk/~derrick/WMEE2007
Malaysia
http://www.terrapinn.com/2007/kpo%5Fau/
10-11 March, 2008 Somerset Conference for Librarians, Teachers, et al, Queensland
23 July, 2007 The first International Workshop on Web Mining for E-commerce and E-services Tokyo
http://www.iec.org/events/2006/bbwf/
http://www.terrapinn.com/2007/search%5Fau/
15-16 November, 2007 KPO Australia 2007 Hilton Hotel, Sydney
Japan
Community radio India 2007 http://www.eINDIA.net.in/CommunityRadio/
http://www.communicvietnam.com/
Get your event listed here. www.i4donline.net/events June 2007 | Vol. V No. 6 | www.i4donline.net
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In Fact
Towards a tech dream Ten most wanted technological innovations in the future: • Hundred terabyte thumb drive: This small device, can be used for storing data. The device can be kept in pocket. Protein will be used for storing data. • Universal translator: This hardware device would be used like Babel Fish, translating multiple languages on the fly. • Battery replacement: The purpose of the new device would be to replace batteries and act as a new-genre battery that last longer (for ages) than an ordinary battery/ cell. • Real virtual reality: Real virtual reality technology is something similar to what we have seen in the movie matrix, which makes no difference between real and virtual world. • Matrix knowledge: This technology would enable the user to plug into data source and instantly know how to do something or anything (similar to something which one has seen in the movie Matrix). • Mind control user interface:This is a device which a person can control by using his/ her mind. • Faster travel: By utilising this technology, a person can travel to any place in the universe instantly. (Something similar to the Star Trek transporters or Ringworld Stepping disks) • Real Al: These are smart computers or computers with artificial intelligence. • Safe nanotech: During the advance stage of nanotechnology, there will be options to utilize technology for curing human ailments and prevent environmental degradation. However, the technology will be used for positive purposes and not for wars. • Tech invisibility claok: Modern technologies is taking away the privacy of the individual. So on demand, there will be a technology that makes one invisible to all of the RFID, video scanners, GPS trackers etc. World Internet usage Region
Internet Users (millions)
Percent of Population
Percent of World Users
Growth 2000-2005, (% change)
Asia
364.3
9.9
35.6
218.7
Europe
291.6
36.1
28.5
177.5
North America
227.3
68.6
22.2
110.3
Latin America
80.0
14.4
7.8
342.5
Africa
23.6
2.6
2.3
423.9
Middle East
18.2
9.6
1.8
454.2
Oceania/ Australia
17.9
52.6
1.7
134.6
Total
1022.9
15.7
100.00
183.4
Internet users as a percentage of population is 9.9 in Asia, 36.1 in Europe, 68.6 in North America, 14.4 in Latin America, 2.6 in Africa, 9.6 in Middle East and 52.6 in Oceania/ Australia. 35.6 percent of world Internet users is constituted by Asia, 28.5 percent by Europe, 22.2 percent by North America, 7.8 percent by Latin America, 2.3 percent by Africa, 1.8 percent by Middle East and 1.7 percent is constituted by Oceania/ Australia. The percentage growth of Internet users during the period 2000-2005 was 218.7 percent in Asia, 177.5 percent in Europe, 110.3 percent in North America, 342.5 percent in Latin America, 423.9 percent in Africa, 454.2 percent in Middle East, 134.6 percent in Oceania/Australia. ‘Digital divide’ in the world of ICTs (Information and Communications Technology) accrues from various factors such government spending on IT related infrastructure and education, per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP), gender inequality in access to health and education etc. Indicators related to ICTs have been provided, in order to see regional divide in ICTs penetration and access. Expenditure on ICTs as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) in the year 2005, had been the highest in Latin America and Carribean (5.9 percent), to be followed by South Asia (5.7 percent), East Asia and Pacific (5.3 percent), Europe and Central Asia (5.1 percent) and Middle East and North Africa (3.1 percent). Source: http://etech.eweek.com/content/infrastructure/the_ten_most_wanted_future_technologies.html, Internet World Stats, Internet Usage Statistics – The Big Picture: World Internet Users and Population Stats. Internet, World Stats. (http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats.htm)
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i4d | June 2007 | Vol. V No. 6
The world is talking. Are you listening?
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31 July - 03 August, 2007 Hotel Taj Palace, New Delhi, India www.eINDIA.net.in/CommunityRadio
Contact Details Jayalakshmi Chittoor (mob: 9811309160) email: jchittoor@csdms.in eINDIA 2007 Secretariat Centre for Science, Development and Media Studies (CSDMS) G-4, Sector 39, Noida, India - 201301 Tel. : +91-120-2502181- 85, Fax: +91-120-2500060
CSDMS in association with Department of Information Technology, Government of India and UNDP Presents
India's Premier ICT4D event 31 July - 03 August 2007, Hotel Taj Palace, New Delhi, India
7 Tracks 75 corporates 75 thematic sessions 1200 delegates Key Participating Organisations Government Organisations • Chattisgarh Infotech & Biotech Information • • • • • • • • • • •
Society Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy, Dehradun Media Lab Asia Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation Ltd. (MKCL) NAFED NABARD National Open School Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti National Informatics Centre STQC, STPI Supreme Court of India State Governments
International Agencies
Private Sector Organisations
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Canada Health Infoway World Health Organization World Bank USAID Bellanet International Commonwealth Connects Global e-Schools & Communities Initiatives (GeSCI) telecentre.org/IDRC GTZ SEAMEO Swiss Agency for Development & Cooperation (SDC) Software Park Thailand UNESCO Commonwealth of Learning Korean Agency for Digital Opportunity & Promotion (KADO) ICRISAT
...and many more
...and many more
3i Infotech ACL Wireless Computer Associates Designmate Edutech Educomp Everonn Foundation eLearning Hayagriva Hughes Intel Metalearn Microsoft Research NComputing NIIT Technologies SMART Technologies Inc. Telelogic Upside Learning ...and many more
Academic Institutions: • Anna University • Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai • Amity University • Cambridge Education, UK • DAIICT Gandhinagar • Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi • GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology • Guru Ghasidas University, India • Indira Gandhi National Open University, India • IIT Bombay • ICAR • Jamia Milia Islamia University, India • Kathmandu University • Melaka Manipal Medical College, Malaysia • Netaji Subash Institute of Technology • NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad • University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA • University of Calcutta • University of Tromso, Norway • Indian Association for medical Informatics (IAMI) ...and many more
Ministry of • Communications & Information Technology • Human Resource Development • Health & Family Welfare • Panchayati Raj • Information and Broadcasting • Urban development • Rural development • Agriculture • Railways
...and many more
Presented by Department of Information Technology Government of India
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knowledge for change
UN DP
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For Exhibition and Registration enquiries contact: Sulakshana Bhattacharya (+ 91-9811925253), Sushma Nautiyal (+91-9873757536 ) eINDIA Secretariat: G-4, Sector - 39, Noida - 201301, Uttar Pradesh, India Tel: +91-0120-2502181 - 85 Fax: +91-0120-2500060 E-mail: info@eINDIA.net.in Web: www.eINDIA.net.in
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