January 2009 - change - Mailing Lists

CSE590F Seminar, Phil Fawcett, Information needs of the rural poor
by Richard Anderson 12 Jan '09

12 Jan '09

CSE590f - Computing and the Developing World Seminar Wednesday, January 14th, 4:00 - 4:50 pm, CSE 403. [Note the change from the originally scheduled time/place]. Phil Fawcett, Microsoft / UW iSchool A Tale of two Homes: Observations about the information needs of the rural poor in Ensenada, Mexico Abstract: Several prominent ICT authors including the United Nations Development agency have found that many ICT4D (Information and Communication for development) projects share a number of fundamental flaws. One prominent author, Alfonso Dargan, in his article "Take Five" A Handful of Essential ICTs in Development" notes the following problems and challenges for ICT effectiveness in bringing about real social change and social development: 1. Community Ownership - Many projects are initiated without community input that leads to equipment theft or deterioration because of lack of a sense of ownership. 2. Local Content - Most Internet content is irrelevant to the developing world's poor and is controlled by commercial rules. The demand for telephone, fax, and computer services far exceeds the demand for the Internet in most rural centers. 3. Appropriate Technology - Computers themselves remain a luxury, and purchasing decisions appear to be out of step with the needs of communities. The newest hardware/software capacity is generally underused and is not available to be repaired in most local settings. Technology must be appropriate and adequate to the needs of the communities, not in technical terms but in terms of utilization, learning, and adoption. 4. Language and Culture Pertinence - English dominates the web, and when combined with the Internet's class and cultural uniformity, create a new "Apartheid". The developing world is also left to inherit a "user culture" because of a lack of opportunities for contribution. Without the presence of local cultural/language, ICT's cannot contribute to the development of communities. The present unbalanced "cultural exchange" must be altered and will occur only if communities are empowered to produce more local content. 5. Convergence and Networking - Projects are initiated in areas with no history of participation, no convergence with other programs or organizations, and no networking with other ICT projects. Projects are instituted in isolation without alliances amongst each of or the community. The above issues could be characterized by what the Human Computer Interface (HCI) community calls a failure to "know thy user." Without adequate consultation and understanding of the target users and their communities, many projects lack sustainable impact. As a result, an obvious "design reality" gap exists between the people who create development informatics solutions and the people and communities that use them. My talk will describe the beginnings of an ethnographic exploration to understand the information needs of the rural poor in Ensenada, Mexico. I plan on accomplishing this by studying their day-to-day lives, using a participatory design process, and introducing several technology interventions that are customized to meet the needs of the community The research will begin by closely examining two home-building programs that I've participated in as a volunteer builder and community worker during the past five years. The first program, Homes of Hope, has built more than 3,000 wood houses in Ensenada since 1990. The houses are built from scratch, and take 20-24 total human hours to complete. The other program, Arial Homes, builds manufactured homes made of sheet-metal panels and foam insulation, which are completed in less than 8 human hours. Arial Homes has built 25 homes since 2006. I will discuss my observations and present field notes from preliminary fieldwork to the region since 2003. I'll also discuss a series of proposed field trips in June, July, and August 2009 that will focus more broadly on the information technology needs of the rural poor in Baja, Mexico. Some possible research explorations include: * What role do social networks play in the community at large and in neighborhoods such as the Colonias? * Who are the information gatekeepers in the Colonias? * Can information and technology enhancements be used to close the digital divide in Ensenada and its surrounding area? * How can we discover which information and technology interventions are best suited for the rural poor in developing countries? * Can I generalize the research findings of the rural poor in Ensenada Mexico to rural poor populations in central America and developing countries in around the world? Bio Phil Fawcett has worked in the computer-science industry since the early 1980s. During this time as a corporate controller turned IT manager, he planned and implemented manual-to-automated system conversions for small-and medium-sized businesses in manufacturing, land and building management, and large-scale construction. Since joining Microsoft in 1984, Fawcett has held positions as a support engineer, test lead, and test manager and helped ship more than 25 products, including Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Works for Apple and Windows operating systems, and Microsoft Project for Windows. He also served as a supportability program manager, technical evangelist for Windows hardware platforms, and regional call-center manager. He is currently a principal research program manager doing technology transfer from the research work of 850 Microsoft researchers worldwide to the Microsoft Windows and Mobile and Embedded product divisions. Mr. Fawcett holds a B.A. degree in Accounting and Marketing from Seattle Pacific University and an MBA from Seattle University. He is a doctoral student in Information Science at the University of Washington. Fawcett's volunteer work in Central America and Mexico has led to a strong research interest in information and communication technology for development (ICT4D). In the mid-90's during the Guatemala civil war, he transported computers to rural Guatemala for use in medical clinics north of Guatemala City. In the past five years, he has been involved in house-building projects and community development in Ensenada, Mexico. Fawcett holds five patents in modem and communication-related technologies in Windows. His hobbies are technology, photography, motocross riding, painting, and long-distance bicycle riding. He has participated in three transcontinental bicycle rides across the United States in 21 days or fewer.

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CIS Guest Lecture Series Kicks Off January 14th
by Melody Clark 12 Jan '09

12 Jan '09

Hello! We wanted to remind you that CIS is kicking off it¹s first lecture in our new lecture series this Wednesday, January 14, 2009 at 4pm in Mary Gates Hall 241. There will be intellectual stimulation, snacks, and coffee/tea, so please join us, and feel free to bring a friend or two! Hope to see you soon! Melody Melody Clark MLIS Candidate 2010 - University of Washington Coordinator - Center for Information and Society mobile: 206.303.7910 email: melody.r.clark(a)gmail.com or melclark(a)u.washington.edu GUEST LECTURE SERIES ONLINE BUDDHIST COMMUNITY, AUTHORITY AND IDENTITY WHAT: CIS is hosting a monthly Guest Lecture Series, and this is the first Lecture in the series. The format will include a presentation by a UW researcher (faculty/staff/student) accompanied by two panel members from other disciplines. WHERE: Mary Gates Hall 241 WHEN: January 14th, 2008, 4-5pm LECTURER: Laura Busch Dept. of Communications TITLE: Online Buddhist Community, Authority and Identity: a case study on how the process of spiritualizing technology impact religious identity and authority in a Buddhist Web forum. ABSTRACT: This study analyzes the Buddhist message forum E-sangha, to analyze how this forum¹s founder and moderators spiritualized the Internet¹ using contemporary, narratives of global Buddhist community, and in doing so, provided these actors authority in determining the boundaries of Buddhist orthodoxy and identity. Through a qualitative structural and textual analysis of E-sangha Web space, this study demonstrates how religious community narratives provide Web producers and forum moderators the opportunity to frame Web environments as sacred community spaces, which inherently allows those in control of the site the authority to set the boundaries of religious identity and hence, who can take part in the community. PANEL MEMBERS: Gad Barzilai Jackson School¹s Law, Societies, and Justice Program, Rucha Ambikar Center for Information & Society Box 354985 Seattle, WA 98195 Tel 206.616.9101 Fax 206.616.5149 cisinfo(a)u.washington.edu www.cis.washington.edu

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Fwd: [uwdesi-all] Public Education System in India: Now and the Future
by Sunil Garg 10 Jan '09

10 Jan '09

Begin forwarded message: > From: Tapoja Chaudhuri <tapoja(a)u.washington.edu> > Date: January 10, 2009 1:21:55 PM PST > To: "uwdesi-all(a)u.washington.edu" <uwdesi-all(a)u.washington.edu>, "soasiagrads(a)u.washington.edu > " <soasiagrads(a)u.washington.edu> > Subject: [uwdesi-all] Public Education System in India: Now and the > Future > > > FYI: A talk given by a grass-roots reformer of public education > system in India. Please see below for more details: > > > Asha Seattle > > Presents > > Sikshana & Public Education System > > Now and the Future > > A talk by > > E S Ramamurthy > > Sunday, 11th Jan 2009 at 5:00 PM > > Building 42, Conference Room 2200, > > Microsoft Campus > > 156th AVE NE & NE 31st ST, Redmond, WA – 98052 > > (See Directions below) > > Contact: Saurabh (Saurabh.madan(a)gmail.com, 425- 591-7890) > > > > Asha-Seattle is delighted to present to you one of its esteemed > partners <http://www.ashanet.org/projects/project-view.php?p=397> > Mr. E. S. Ramamurthy. After a distinguished career at Bharat Heavy > Electricals Ltd. and a stint with Govt. of India as a Senior > Adviser, Mr. Ramamurthy embarked on yet another career in the area > of education by starting Sikshana. Managed by Sivasri Foundation, > Sikshana aims to improve the quality of primary education by > evolving a sustainable model which will lend itself to replication > on a larger scale. As 90% of all children in the age group of 6-14 > attend government run public schools in India, Sikshana tries to > work with the government and attempts to reform the primary > education system by working within the system. Currently, 133 > primary schools, in and around Bangalore, with nearly 20000 students > have been adopted by Sikshana. You can find information about > Sikshana at www.sikshana.org <http://www.sikshana.org/> and attend > this talk to learn even more about this unique program from the man > himself. > > > > Asha-Seattle hopes that this will provide a platform and opportunity > where you get to interact with individuals who are undertaking > groundbreaking social work in India. It also hopes that its partners > get a valuable opportunity to learn and network with individuals who > may have valuable experience to share from diverse backgrounds. > > Directions From Interstate 5, or Hwy 405 - Go East on Hwy 520; Take > NE 40th ST. exit; Turn RIGHT onto NE 40th S.;Turn RIGHT onto 156th > AVE NE; Turn RIGHT onto NE 31st ST. and Bldg 42 will be on your right. > > Directions From Overlake Transit center: Walk to 156th AVE NE; > Head SOUTH on 156th AVE NE toward NE 31st ST; Turn RIGHT on NE > 31st ST; First RIGHT into parking lot with round island; walk across > the lot and Building 42 will be on your right. > >

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FW: Bonderman Travel Fellowships
by Richard Anderson 09 Jan '09

09 Jan '09

-----Original Message----- From: gradappt(a)u.washington.edu [mailto:gradappt@u.washington.edu] Sent: Friday, January 09, 2009 2:55 PM To: Graduate Program Assistants Subject: Bonderman Travel Fellowships Dear GPAs - Please pass this along to your graduate student email lists. ****************************************************************************************** The annual Bonderman Travel Fellowship competition is upon us, and The Graduate School and UW Honors Program will be hosting information sessions on January 13 and 14 for interested applicants. This fellowship is a unique-to-UW opportunity that you don't want to miss. There may never be another time in your life when you get paid to travel and explore your own interests. Selected Bonderman Fellows will undertake international travel for eight or more months, to six or more countries in two or more major regions of the world. Through solo travel the Fellows will focus on exploration and discovery, learning about the world and themselves in it. Up to five graduate (and five undergraduate) Bonderman Fellowships will be awarded in Spring 2009. Each Fellowship carries a $20,000 award to be used only for extended international travel. Fellows may not conduct research, pursue an academic project, or participate in a formal program or organization. Fellows should plan to begin their travel between May 2009 and June 30, 2010. Students who propose to travel beginning later than June 2010 should apply in the next round. More information on the information sessions, the application process, etc. is here: http://www.grad.washington.edu/fellow/Bonderman_page.htm The application deadline is February 16, 2009. If you do not have the chance to attend one of the information sessions and have questions, do not hesitate to contact me at helene(a)u.washington.edu. Best regards, Helene Obradovich Director, Fellowships & Awards The Graduate School

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FW: [TIER] Fwd: 6 month software gig in Ghana
by Richard Anderson 09 Jan '09

09 Jan '09

From: tier-bounces(a)tier.cs.berkeley.edu [mailto:tier-bounces@tier.cs.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of Jim Forster Sent: Friday, January 09, 2009 10:26 AM To: tier(a)tier.cs.berkeley.edu Subject: [TIER] Fwd: 6 month software gig in Ghana Begin forwarded message: From: Mark Davies <mark(a)busylab.com<mailto:mark@busylab.com>> Date: January 9, 2009 6:19:33 AM PST To: jobs2009(a)busylab.com<mailto:jobs2009@busylab.com> Subject: 6 month software gig in Ghana Reply-To: mark(a)esoko.com<mailto:mark@esoko.com> I'm sure you know someone that would love this opportunity? www.busylab.com/jobs/<http://www.busylab.com/jobs/> Any/all help much appreciated... [cid:image003.jpg@01C97245.0E6CA1C0] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mark Davies +44 20 81445510 [cid:image002.gif@01C9724C.1A568AD0] web www.esoko.com<http://www.esoko.com/> partners www.esokonetworks.com<http://www.esokonetworks.com/> blog esoko.blogspot.com<http://esoko.blogspot.com/> http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/gibsondavies

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Seminar time change (CSE 590f), computing and the developing world
by Richard Anderson 07 Jan '09

07 Jan '09

The computing and the developing world seminar meets Wednesdays at 4pm in CSE 403. (This is a change from the originally scheduled time). The first talk for the quarter is **TODAY**. //// CSE 590F, Wednesday, January 7, 4:00 pm, CSE 403 Androids in the Bush: an Update on UReport and its Alpha-Pilot in Uganda Gaetano Borriello Dept of Computer Science & Engineering, University of Washington and Google-Seattle/Google.org Abstract: UReport seeks to create a public domain framework for data collection to support a wide-range of applications from public health to environmental monitoring. It is based on Google's G1 (Android) and an AppEngine back-end that will result in a highly modularized system to which different communities can contribute modules. We began this past summer and fielded our "version 0" this fall in the context of a collaborative project with Grameen AppLab in Uganda that seeks to assess the usability and utility of an agricultural tips SMS application (deployed by Google). In this talk, we'll discuss the current state of UReport, our experience in Uganda, the issues that arose and how we plan to address them, and outline some of the future deployments we are considering.

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Computing for the developing world seminar, Winter quarter - TIME CHANGE
by Richard Anderson 05 Jan '09

05 Jan '09

Winter quarter, the computing for the developing world seminar will meet on Wednesdays 4:00 - 4:50 pm in CSE 403. This is a new time (shifted to avoid conflict with a CSE course) and a new room. This quarter we will have speakers from UW and other area organizations to talk about their work in Computing for the Developing World. If you are interested in speaking - please let me know. The first speaker is Gaetano Borriello from CSE. //// CSE 590F, Wednesday, January 7, 4:00 pm, CSE 403 Androids in the Bush: an Update on UReport and its Alpha-Pilot in Uganda Gaetano Borriello Dept of Computer Science & Engineering, University of Washington and Google-Seattle/Google.org Abstract: UReport seeks to create a public domain framework for data collection to support a wide-range of applications from public health to environmental monitoring. It is based on Google's G1 (Android) and an AppEngine back-end that will result in a highly modularized system to which different communities can contribute modules. We began this past summer and fielded our "version 0" this fall in the context of a collaborative project with Grameen AppLab in Uganda that seeks to assess the usability and utility of an agricultural tips SMS application (deployed by Google). In this talk, we'll discuss the current state of UReport, our experience in Uganda, the issues that arose and how we plan to address them, and outline some of the future deployments we are considering.

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partners in health - rwanda programmer
by Yaw Anokwa 05 Jan '09

05 Jan '09

partners in health is looking for a programmer to live and work in rural rwanda. if you are interested in working on an open source project designed for the most rural environments while hanging out with the movers and shakers in the hiv/tb world, partners in health is the place to be. i was fortunate enough to work at this position a few years ago, and it was life changing experience. if you'd like to apply, see http://www.pih.org/youcando/join/Rwanda_Programmer.pdf yaw

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Call for Demos - International Conference on ICT and Development 2009
by Yaw Anokwa 02 Jan '09

02 Jan '09

CALL FOR DEMOS - International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies and Development (ICTD 2009) The 3rd IEEE/ACM International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies and Development (ICTD 2009) will be held 17-19 April 2009 at Carnegie Mellon's state-of-the-art campus in Doha, Qatar. This conference will act as a focal point for new scholarship in the field of ICT and international development. Confirmed speakers include a Keynote by William H. Gates, Chairman of Microsoft Corporation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. We invite submissions of demonstrations for ICTD 2009. The demo session provides researchers and practicioners a venue for showcasing live demonstrations of their work. The focus of a demonstration may span novel hardware or software systems, video footage, or physical artifacts unsuitable for presentation in the poster or oral sessions. Unlike ICTD 2009 papers, the subject of a demo may have been published previously, either in ICTD or in other venues. However, the demonstration itself should be new and interesting to the ICTD community, and should reflect work that is at least as mature as a poster presentation. Demo submissions may represent research projects, commercial tools, or government initiatives. Both novel projects as well as well-established systems are invited for demonstration. At the conference, all demonstrations will be presented in parallel with an interactive audience (comparable to a poster session). At least one author of each accepted demo must register for the conference and attend to present the demo. IMPORTANT DATES January 30, 2009 Demo abstracts due February 10, 2009 Final decisions sent out to demo presenters February 20, 2009 Camera-ready demo abstracts due April 17-19, 2009 Conference SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS Presenters must submit a 1-page abstract that describes the context, novelty, and significance of the demonstration, including a precise description of exactly what is to be demonstrated (hardware, software, etc.) Each submission should include a title; the names, affiliations, and contact emails for all authors; as well as a brief abstract (~100 words). Authors should follow IEEE formats and styles. Samples of this format are also available in PDF and MS Word formats. Demo submissions will be reviewed by the demo co-chairs. We expect to publish accepted demo abstracts in the conference proceedings (this will be confirmed later). Authors would be required to sign a copyright release prior to publication. To submit to the demo session, send email to demos(a)ictd2009.org with the following information: * Your 1-page abstract in PDF or MS Word format * Requirements for your demonstration, including: - A/V equipment - Electrical outlets - Internet connectivity - Unusual space or setup requirements CONFERENCE FOCUS The goal of the ICTD conference is to provide a forum for academic researchers and scholarly practitioners working with ICT applied to development. The conference will be scientifically rigorous and multi-disciplinary - papers reporting high-quality original research are being solicited. The conference will bring together researchers and reflective practitioners in both the social and technical sciences, with anticipated representation from anthropology, sociology, economics, political science, computer science, electrical engineering, industrial design, and the like., in addition to domain specialists in various development fields such as healthcare, agriculture, enterprise, education, governance, etc. For the purposes of this conference, the term "ICT" will comprise computing devices (e.g., PCs, PDAs, sensor networks), technologies for voice and data connectivity, the Internet, and related technologies. Application domains include, but are not restricted to, education, agriculture, enterprise, healthcare, poverty alleviation, general communication, and governance. VENUE Qatar is a rapidly growing economy in the region and the world which has set its targets of moving beyond a hydrocarbon economy into becoming a regional and global leader in knowledge and information. Qatar is a modern, stable nation with a vibrant international population, and hosted the Asian Games in 2007. Education City brings leading educational and research institutions to Qatar, including Cornell, Georgetown, Texas A&M, and Carnegie Mellon in Qatar offers degree programs in Computer Science, Business Administration, and Information Systems. This provides an ideal venue for hosting ICTD 2009, in a geographic location close to major population centers around the world, easily accessible by direct flights.

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