The Case For Technology in Developing Regions By: Eric Brewer, Mathew Kam Sonesh Surana etc. University of California at Berkeley

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The Case For Technology in Developing Regions
By Eric Brewer, Mathew Kam Sonesh Surana etc.
University of California at Berkeley

• ICT4D-CS761

Jitendra Nayak 07808808 Department of Humanities
Social Sciences IITB
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U N millennium Development Goals in 2000 states
Make available the benefits of New Technologies-
especially Information and Communication
TechnologiesAlong with good governance,
technology is considered among the greatest
enabler for improved quality of life- but
Majority of its benefit concentrated in
industrialised world Limited to a fraction of
the Worlds populationTechnology has a larger
role to play in developing regions since First
world technology has been a poor fit in these
areas thus need for technology research in
developing regionsCellular telephony the most
visible applicationThere are large differences
in assumptions related to cost, power and usage
Little work on how technology needs in
developing regions differ from those of
industrialised regions

• Introduction

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ICT has potential for great impact in a variety
of field ranging from health care to education to
economic efficiencyICT can enable new solution
only when applied with a broad understanding and
multidisciplinary approachAny deployment must
deal with complex social issues like gender,
ethinic inequalities as well as existing players
on which ICT might have a negative impactNeed
to work closely with Social Scientists and to
partner with strong government and NGOs , which
understand local needs and dynamics in a way that
is not possible from far

• ICT Research for Developing Regions

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Three things necessary for ICT in developing
regions areThe impact of Moores Law Which has
decreased the cost of computing to fractions
applied to shared infrastructure, not to personal
devicesIncreased availability of Wireless
communication- particularly cellular and Wi-Fi
has decreased the cost. For example majority in
villages in Bangladesh now have shared cell
phonesEmergence of more supportive business
environment- because of diffusion of technology
world wide and growing access to capital have
created environment to deploy large scale ICT
projects for research

• WHY NOW ?

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ICT Projects have four main technology
needs Connectivity Low Cost
devices Appropriate user interface Power

• What Should we do?

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It has significant impact on the opportunities
for ICT research in developing regions Three
factors have impact on providing access to ICT in
these areas, they are
Investment Capital
Franchising Shared
Technology

• Economic Issues

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Though Environmental and cultural concerns
require consideration, the long term impact of
technology depends on its Economic
sustainabilityProjects can sustainable either
because they serve a public good and have ongoing
supportICTs research covers vast areas for
exampleHealth Education Disaster
management e-government Economic efficiency
etc.

• Impact and Opportunities

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Thus the Paper tries to Convince the researchers
that ICT can play a larger role in addressing
the challenges and that there is a real need for
innovative researchThat the need of developing
regions are both great and unique and thus need a
rich and diverse research agendaThese needs are
different from the industrialised nations at the
same time providing ICT for developing region is
not easy, but it is uniquely rewardingBecause
the needs are great, we must do better

• Conclusion

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• Thank you