Comments on: What future for ICT4D? http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/10/12/what-future-for-ict4d/ The world is talking. Are you listening? Tue, 14 Feb 2012 09:41:23 -0500 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Global Voices Online » Who writes about ICT4D online? http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/10/12/what-future-for-ict4d/comment-page-1/#comment-1614768 Global Voices Online » Who writes about ICT4D online? Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:28:10 +0000 http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=100566#comment-1614768 [...] ambiguous evidence of online discussion of these themes that advances beyond well-worn anecdotes of fishermen with mobile phones. Those discussions surely exist, if not online; a look at the Manthan Awards in South Asia, for [...] [...] ambiguous evidence of online discussion of these themes that advances beyond well-worn anecdotes of fishermen with mobile phones. Those discussions surely exist, if not online; a look at the Manthan Awards in South Asia, for [...]

]]> By: Global Voices Online » The future of ICT4D: How soon is now? http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/10/12/what-future-for-ict4d/comment-page-1/#comment-1598331 Global Voices Online » The future of ICT4D: How soon is now? Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:37:05 +0000 http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=100566#comment-1598331 [...] previous two posts concentrated on what the future of ICTs for development could look like. This post will provide a [...] [...] previous two posts concentrated on what the future of ICTs for development could look like. This post will provide a [...]

]]> By: Global Voices на македонски » ИКТ за развој: Кога мобилните телефони се поврзуваат со компјутерите http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/10/12/what-future-for-ict4d/comment-page-1/#comment-1598116 Global Voices на македонски » ИКТ за развој: Кога мобилните телефони се поврзуваат со компјутерите Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:31:14 +0000 http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=100566#comment-1598116 [...] еден претходен пост, ние ја истражувавме иднината на ИКТ за развој од [...] [...] еден претходен пост, ние ја истражувавме иднината на ИКТ за развој од [...]

]]> By: Reading blogs #21 : ::: Think Macro ::: http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/10/12/what-future-for-ict4d/comment-page-1/#comment-1591836 Reading blogs #21 : ::: Think Macro ::: Thu, 22 Oct 2009 03:26:03 +0000 http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=100566#comment-1591836 [...] “What future for ICT4D?” (via Twitter) – An interesting compilation of various blogs and talks discussing the idea of ICT for development.  While the post highlights some rather obvious points, which have been discussed by social scientists for at least a decade, it also brings in interesting and different perspectives.  One thought that it has triggered in me is that I have yet heard about socially-responsible marketing, which may emerge as an issue in the near future. [...] [...] “What future for ICT4D?” (via Twitter) – An interesting compilation of various blogs and talks discussing the idea of ICT for development.  While the post highlights some rather obvious points, which have been discussed by social scientists for at least a decade, it also brings in interesting and different perspectives.  One thought that it has triggered in me is that I have yet heard about socially-responsible marketing, which may emerge as an issue in the near future. [...]

]]> By: Global Voices Online » ICT4D: When mobile phones link with computers http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/10/12/what-future-for-ict4d/comment-page-1/#comment-1590015 Global Voices Online » ICT4D: When mobile phones link with computers Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:31:35 +0000 http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=100566#comment-1590015 [...] a previous post, we investigated the future of ICT4D from a pretty high level. In this post, I am going to look at [...] [...] a previous post, we investigated the future of ICT4D from a pretty high level. In this post, I am going to look at [...]

]]> By: Alma Anides http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/10/12/what-future-for-ict4d/comment-page-1/#comment-1589858 Alma Anides Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:45:58 +0000 http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=100566#comment-1589858 I am glad you outline the changing nature of ICT as well as its complexities and promising possibilities in your blog. As a student of international relations, I feel many of us are not informed adequately of the progress and needs of ICT4D even though technology provides fast and cheap ways for the “bottom of the economic pyramid to improve [their] economic prospects”. I agree with Benkler in that the beginning success of mobile phones in poorer countries is due to their simplicity and affordability. As we move towards higher complex technologies, new problems will arise, but with the new innovation models suggested by Heeks and the educational training stressed by Benkler, consumers in developing countries will be able to take active roles as producers and innovators in ICT. For example, in South Africa WIZZIT is a mobile payment operator that offers low-cost financial services to those who otherwise would not have access to formal banking (40% of South Africans yet 60% are cell phone owners). WIZZIT has been so successful the International Finance Corporation (IFC) has invested in it. A most notable result is the creation of employment opportunities for disadvantaged youth as “the company trains young entrepreneurs and allows them to set up their own businesses”. Several times you indirectly mention cloud-computing through other bloggers’ work. In the blog and article you cite, Heeks calls cloud-computing as a “new hardware priority” and Nelson’s article includes it in the “phase three of the evolution of ICT”. I wish you would have talked more about this subject as it seems like the next possible future step in ICT4D. Cloud-computing is not exclusive to the betterment of developing countries, but as the Cloud Computing Journal mentions, the President’s fiscal budget for 2010 prioritizes cloud-computing as part of information technology (IT) spending due to the expected “significant impact of scale efficiencies”. Given these promising benefits why do you think a larger effort has not been made in further researching its possibilities in developing countries? Have there been any examples of successes/failures and what have proved to be the biggest obstacles? ICT4D seems to be a risky business of trial and error where innovation ensures the survival and success in both industrialized and developing countries. I am glad you outline the changing nature of ICT as well as its complexities and promising possibilities in your blog. As a student of international relations, I feel many of us are not informed adequately of the progress and needs of ICT4D even though technology provides fast and cheap ways for the “bottom of the economic pyramid to improve [their] economic prospects”. I agree with Benkler in that the beginning success of mobile phones in poorer countries is due to their simplicity and affordability. As we move towards higher complex technologies, new problems will arise, but with the new innovation models suggested by Heeks and the educational training stressed by Benkler, consumers in developing countries will be able to take active roles as producers and innovators in ICT. For example, in South Africa WIZZIT is a mobile payment operator that offers low-cost financial services to those who otherwise would not have access to formal banking (40% of South Africans yet 60% are cell phone owners). WIZZIT has been so successful the International Finance Corporation (IFC) has invested in it. A most notable result is the creation of employment opportunities for disadvantaged youth as “the company trains young entrepreneurs and allows them to set up their own businesses”.

Several times you indirectly mention cloud-computing through other bloggers’ work. In the blog and article you cite, Heeks calls cloud-computing as a “new hardware priority” and Nelson’s article includes it in the “phase three of the evolution of ICT”. I wish you would have talked more about this subject as it seems like the next possible future step in ICT4D. Cloud-computing is not exclusive to the betterment of developing countries, but as the Cloud Computing Journal mentions, the President’s fiscal budget for 2010 prioritizes cloud-computing as part of information technology (IT) spending due to the expected “significant impact of scale efficiencies”. Given these promising benefits why do you think a larger effort has not been made in further researching its possibilities in developing countries? Have there been any examples of successes/failures and what have proved to be the biggest obstacles? ICT4D seems to be a risky business of trial and error where innovation ensures the survival and success in both industrialized and developing countries.

]]> By: colin maclay http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/10/12/what-future-for-ict4d/comment-page-1/#comment-1584571 colin maclay Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:05:33 +0000 http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=100566#comment-1584571 Just as a quick FYI, unlike many old stories, the one about fishing and the mobile is actually quite well documented at not only improving yields for fisherfolk, but also improving market functioning, and family welfare. A few links to Rob Jensen's excellent work are offered at: http://blogs.broughturner.com/communications/2008/02/more-evidence-f.html Just as a quick FYI, unlike many old stories, the one about fishing and the mobile is actually quite well documented at not only improving yields for fisherfolk, but also improving market functioning, and family welfare. A few links to Rob Jensen’s excellent work are offered at:
http://blogs.broughturner.com/communications/2008/02/more-evidence-f.html

]]> By: Stones Cry Out - If they keep silent… » Things Heard: e89v2 http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/10/12/what-future-for-ict4d/comment-page-1/#comment-1584542 Stones Cry Out - If they keep silent… » Things Heard: e89v2 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:11:14 +0000 http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=100566#comment-1584542 [...] On that topic, development and tech. [...] [...] On that topic, development and tech. [...]

]]> By: David Sasaki http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/10/12/what-future-for-ict4d/comment-page-1/#comment-1584513 David Sasaki Tue, 13 Oct 2009 06:55:19 +0000 http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=100566#comment-1584513 Thanks for this very useful update and overview. You're right - the field needs to move on past the fisherman story. What is interesting is that the points that are being brought up today in discussions around ICT for development are the very <a href="http://www.pbs.org/idealab/2009/10/the-new-era-of-media-development-part-1280.html" rel="nofollow">same issues</a> that media development organizations are talking about. I wonder if it even makes sense to distinguish the two fields anymore. Either way, what seems to be the bottleneck for both is costly internet access and telecom regulation. I have a feeling that which communities decide to adopt a cloud-based infrastructure for their data and computing versus those who prefer to keep their data on personal hard drives has a lot to do with culture. Thanks for this very useful update and overview. You’re right – the field needs to move on past the fisherman story. What is interesting is that the points that are being brought up today in discussions around ICT for development are the very same issues that media development organizations are talking about. I wonder if it even makes sense to distinguish the two fields anymore. Either way, what seems to be the bottleneck for both is costly internet access and telecom regulation.

I have a feeling that which communities decide to adopt a cloud-based infrastructure for their data and computing versus those who prefer to keep their data on personal hard drives has a lot to do with culture.

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