December 2009 - change - Mailing Lists

Change Meeting for CSE Affiliates Day
by Yaw Anokwa 06 Apr '10

06 Apr '10

This Thursday at Change, we will be trying something special for CSE Affiliates Day. We will be hosting the “Technology for Under-Served Regions” session. Please note the change in time and place. 11:40-11:45: Introduction and Overview, Carl Hartung 11:45-12:00: Digital Study Hall Evaluation Study, Amit Saxena 12:00-12:15: Open Data Kit, Carl Hartung 12:15-12:30: Building a Grassroots Transportation Information System, Ruth Anderson Find out more at http://www.cs.washington.edu/affiliates/meetings/talks0910.html#3-305 What: CSE Affiliates Day When: Thursday, October 22 from 11:40 to 12:30 Where: UW, Paul Allen Center, Room 305

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Digital scale / transaction recording device
by Bush, Cory 07 Jan '10

07 Jan '10

Greetings all, I'm trying to scope a solution for coffee cooperatives here in Rwanda that will enhance transparency into the sale of coffee at small community-level collection points, and would appreciate any thoughts / ideas / device recommendations. Basic requirements would include: - A digital scale capable of weighing up to 30kg - Ability to capture transaction information including: ID#, price per kilo, KG delivered, coffee grade, collector ID#, payment type (cash/bank) - Ability to generate a paper receipt - Ability to transmit transaction information in real-time if mobile data network available or store-and-forward batches if data network unavailable - Ability to generate daily/weekly/monthly reconciliation or summary reports - Ideally the scale, transaction device, and printer would be integrated, but not necessary - Device(s) should have low power requirements, and be able to function for a full day between charges or be powerable via standard batteries. - Device(s) should be rugged enough for use in rural settings Thanks in advance for any insight, Cory Cory Bush RW Mobile: +250-788-309287 RW Office: +250-252-580414 Skype: corycbush

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UNICEF seeking Technical Team Adviser
by Yaw Anokwa 22 Dec '09

22 Dec '09

Apply now! UNICEF is looking to hire a Technical Team Adviser for the the newly created Technology 4 Development Coordination Unit in Uganda. More information can be found at: http://share.unicefinnovation.org/terraw/technology-specialist-t4d-unit-kam…

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FW: computer science teaching in Bangladesh
by neal lesh 22 Dec '09

22 Dec '09

Hi everybody, A friend passed this on to me. Note the close deadline (Jan 4th) and timeline for interested North American applicants. Take care, neal -----Original Message----- Dear Friends and Colleagues, I am happily ensconced in an extraordinary new venture in Bangladesh: the Asian University for Women. Our challenge is to provide a quality liberal arts education to women from all over South and South-East Asia, the majority of whom would be unable to get an education otherwise. Currently, we have 300 students from 14 countries- a veritable tower of Babel - amd are growing in leaps and bounds. The reason I'm writing is that we need professors! We are starting a Master's program in Computer Science/Information and Communication Technology (CS/ICT) and looking for teachers interested in developing the Undergraduate and Graduate Program (and in living in Bangladesh!). A description of the available posts can be found at our website www.asian-university.org. If you know of anyone who might be interested in coming here, could you please pass the word? The immediate need is for teachers so currently this should not be considered a research position. However, our vision is an integration of pedagogy, applied research and entrepreneurship for both student and teacher alike. I am working to set up a few research programs that respond directly to the regional needs and we are already working with CMU in a joint internship program. Anyone who comes is in a great position to help determine our research direction. Applications from North America are due Jan. 4th (applicants from this region have until the beginning of February). Because this is so soon, I've asked that any applicants from my contacts be considered even if the application is incomplete. So applicants should send in what they have by Jan. 4 and mention my name. Polly K. Pook Associate Professor Asian University for Women 20/A M.M. Ali Road Chittagong 4000, Bangladesh Mobile: (88) 019 266 730 31 pookpolly(a)gmail.com

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"Design for the Other 90%" exhibit in Portland
by Sunil Garg 22 Dec '09

22 Dec '09

Just saw an article about this, for anyone interested: http://www.oregonlive.com/art/index.ssf/2009/12/review_design_for_the_other… http://www.actioncenter.org/update/20090916/other90 Presented by Mercy Corps and The Lemelson Foundation, Design for the Other 90% features some of the most inspired inventions to improve the lives of low-income people around the world. Go to other90.cooperhewitt.org/about for complete information about this innovative and uplifting exhibition revealing the power of design to improve the lives of millions. WHERE: Mercy Corps Gallery 28 SW 1st Street Portland, OR 97204 WHEN : Runs October 22, 2009 - February 27, 2010

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ITID Journal Focuses on Human-Computer Interaction for Development
by Yaw Anokwa 18 Dec '09

18 Dec '09

Information Technologies & International Development (http://itidjournal.org/itid) an interdisciplinary open-access journal that focuses on the intersection of information and communication technologies (ICTs) with the "other four billion" has just published its Winter 2009 issue. This special issue deals with Human-Computer Interaction for Development (HCI4D) where as the editors state, "[the focus is] on the wider issues of designing, developing, and deploying technologies in developing regions, placing socio-cultural aspects at the core of study". As always, the journal is filled with a number of great articles, but make sure to check out the articles from the "young" researchers listed below. All three offer interesting perspectives on this growing field. Human-Computer Interaction for Development: The Past, Present, and Future Melissa R. Ho, Thomas N. Smyth, Matthew Kam, and Andy Dearden http://itidjournal.org/itid/article/view/420/188 Recent years have seen a burgeoning interest in research into the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the context of developing regions, particularly into how such ICTs might be appropriately designed to meet the unique user and infrastructural requirements that we encounter in these cross-cultural environments. This emerging field, known to some as HCI4D, is the product of a diverse set of origins. As such, it can often be difficult to navigate prior work, and/or to piece together a broad picture of what the field looks like as a whole. In this paper, we aim to contextualize HCI4D-to give it some historical background, to review its existing literature spanning a number of research traditions, to discuss some of its key issues arising from the work done so far, and to suggest some major research objectives for the future. Orality-Grounded HCID: Understanding the Oral User Jahanzeb Sherwani, Nosheen Ali, Carolyn Penstein Rosé, Roni Rosenfeld http://itidjournal.org/itid/article/view/422/190 While human-computer interaction (HCI) methodologies are designed to be general, they have most often been applied in the context of literate end users in the West. These methodologies may, however, need rethinking for application in HCI for the developing world (HCID) contexts, where many of the basic assumptions that underpin the methods may not always hold true. In this article, we present an overview of one factor that is significantly different in the HCID context-the literacy of the end user-by drawing on the literature of orality, and we offer a framework for HCID methodology that we argue is more appropriate for the HCID context. Based on this framework, we then present guidelines for design and user research methodologies in such contexts, highlighting seminal HCID research that corroborates these guidelines. Stories from the Field: Reflections on HCI4D Experiences Yaw Anokwa, Thomas N. Smyth, Divya Ramachandran, Jahanzeb Sherwani, Yael Schwartzman, Rowena Luk, Melissa Ho, Neema Moraveji, Brian DeRenzi http://itidjournal.org/itid/article/view/427/195 Human-computer interaction for development (HCI4D) requires considerable time in the field interacting with users. While this is true for most HCI work, fieldwork in developing regions presents unique challenges due to differences in culture, language, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. As a group of nine HCI4D researchers, we have adopted a systematic approach to reflect on the challenges we have encountered in the field. Arising from this exercise are three contributions: The first is our research method itself, which uses a mix of qualitative and quantitative instruments to elicit and synthesize individual experiences. The second, intended for beginning researchers, is a set of lessons learned and suggested strategies for navigating the unique challenges of HCI4D research. The third, intended for the HCI4D community at large, is a critical reflection on the field itself, inspired by our findings. Topics covered include the incentives and agendas of the research world, the importance of managing expectations, the nature of "participation" in HCI4D, and the conflict between research and development more generally.

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Looking for EMR/OpenMRS project manager in Malawi
by Yaw Anokwa 17 Dec '09

17 Dec '09

more partners in health hiring. the job posting is at http://pih.org/youcando/join/Malawi_EMR_Manager_0809.pdf. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Hamish Fraser <hamish_fraser(a)hms.harvard.edu> Date: Thu, Dec 17, 2009 at 6:27 PM Asking for a little help here. We at PIH are looking for a replacement EMR project manager for our site in Neno Malawi as Evan moves to bigger things. This person needs to have solid IT skills and data management and project management skills if possible or at least an interest and feel for it. They need to support the IT and satellite internet systems, manage the OpenMRS implementation, ideally building their own forms and reports, and also manage the linked Baobab implementation. One option would be to go with a mainly IT support person and find a more public health/informatics person to complement them if that was more feasible. If you know any budding global health informatics/IT people looking for an exciting and challenging job with real systems and lots of patients please put them in touch. I can forward you the job description.

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IBM interns saving the world
by Gaetano Borriello 17 Dec '09

17 Dec '09

http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/zachary-wilson/and-how/are-your-interns-sav… ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: James A. Landay <landay(a)cs.washington.edu> Date: Thu, Dec 17, 2009 at 5:51 AM Subject: assume you guys saw this or already know about it... but just in case: http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/zachary-wilson/and-how/are-your-interns-sav… --

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Radio, Convergence and Development Competition
by Yaw Anokwa 17 Dec '09

17 Dec '09

You can download any attachments from the Pamoya website (http://www.pamoya.com/node/13061#attachments) Carleton University's (Ottawa, Canada) Centre for Media and Transitional Societies (CMTS) has launched a call for concept notes outlining proposed research examining the impact of convergence between traditional radio and new information and communications technologies (ICTs) in sub-Saharan Africa (http://comunica.org/radio2.0/archives/tag/africa) Shortlisted concept notes will be invited to submit full applications for small seed grants of CAD$7,500 or larger grants of up to CAD$100,000. Concept notes and research can be in English or French. Details at http://www.cmts-cmst.org/ Deadline for concept notes: 8 January 2010.

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UN Foundation Report on Technology for Emergencies and Conflicts
by Yaw Anokwa 14 Dec '09

14 Dec '09

The United Nations Foundation has released a new report on "New Technologies in Emergencies and Conflicts: The Role of Information and Social Networks". It looks at innovation in the use of technology along the timeline of crisis response, from emergency preparedness and alerts to recovery and rebuilding. The report profiles organizations whose work is advancing the frontlines of innovation, offers an overview of international efforts to increase sophistication in the use of IT and social networks during emergencies, and provides recommendations for how governments, aid groups, and international organizations can leverage this innovation to improve community resilience. Download the full report and join a global online discussion about the key themes addressed in this publication. Submit questions for their panel of experts via Twitter (using the tag #Tech4Dev) or the UN Foundation’s Facebook page. http://www.unfoundation.org/press-center/publications/new-technologies-emer…

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