October 2012 - change - Mailing Lists

OLPC experiment is showing "encouraging" results
by Yaw Anokwa 04 Nov '12

04 Nov '12

Turns out Ethiopian children can teach themselves -- all they need is tablets dropped off in a village. "Earlier this year, OLPC workers dropped off closed boxes containing the tablets, taped shut, with no instruction. “I thought the kids would play with the boxes. Within four minutes, one kid not only opened the box, found the on-off switch … powered it up. Within five days, they were using 47 apps per child, per day. Within two weeks, they were singing ABC songs in the village, and within five months, they had hacked Android,” Negroponte said." Source: http://www.technologyreview.com/news/506466/given-tablets-but-no-teachers-e…

3 3

Fwd: [dub] HCDE 521, October 31 - Kate Starbird
by Gaetano Borriello 29 Oct '12

29 Oct '12

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Jan H. Spyridakis <jansp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Mon, Oct 29, 2012 at 10:36 AM Subject: [dub] HCDE 521, October 31 - Kate Starbird To: Hello, Please come and hear HCDE Assistant Professor Kate Starbird present at the HCDE Autumn Seminar Series (HCDE 521) Wednesday, October 31 from 5:00 to 5:50 p.m. in Mary Gates Hall 241 at the University of Washington. Details of her talk are listed below. More information about the HCDE 521 seminar series is available online: http://hcde.uw.edu/521. Seminar Title: Crowds, Crisis and Convergence: Unpacking "Crowdsourcing" in the Context of Disaster Abstract: The potential of connected crowds to solve complex problems (that neither individuals nor computers can solve alone) has been the focus of considerable research in recent years across disciplines and certainly within the HCDE field. Though there are several perspectives for approaching crowd work, “crowdsourcing” has become a popular, umbrella term for the phenomenon. In this talk, I will work unpack the crowdsourcing term within the context of disaster. In our hyper-connected world, large-scale disaster events are acting as catalysts for mass “convergence” online, which functions both to generate massive volumes of information and to organize that information. Pulling from multiple studies of crowd work during crisis events, I will describe how the crowd attempts to solve complex problems and address gaps in response efforts through digital volunteerism and other productive crowd work. I will then use these empirical findings to demonstrate the diversity of crowd work and to expose what a focus on “crowdsourcing” obscures. Hope to see you there! Jan Spyridakis Jan Spyridakis Professor and Chair Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering University of Washington Box 352315 Seattle, WA 98195 206-685-1557 (fax 206-543-8858) http://www.hcde.uw.edu/jansp _______________________________________________ dub mailing list dub(a)dub.washington.edu http://dub.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/dub

1 0

Trevor Perrier: Dispatches from the digital divide
by Nicola Dell 29 Oct '12

29 Oct '12

This Tuesday at Change, Trevor Perrier from UW CSE brings dispatches from the digital divide. We all know the digital divide is rapidly disappearing and the world is more connected then it ever has been before. While it is true that tweets have been sent from the top of Mount Everest<http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2385062,00.asp> and the ISS <http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2010/jan/HQ_M10-012_ISS_Web.html>, as Kurtis Heimerl talked about 3 weeks ago there are locations much closer to sea level where finding a 3G or wireless connection is difficult, or even impossible. However, in those places where the global network is beginning to penetrate it is brining change and providing new opportunities. In this talk we learn just how ubiquitous digital technology is at both the trailing and leading edge of the digital wavefront in Africa. Trevor Perrier is a new grad student at UW working with Change and ICTD under Richard Anderson. From July 2008 - October 2011 he was a Peace Corps Volunteer in South Africa. He lived 42km from the Swaziland boarder in Emjindini and worked at an Educational Resource Center assisting teachers at local schools in math and science. After spending three months back home Trevor, needing something to do until grad school started, joined Peace Corps Response. Sent to Liberia he lived in a rural village 25km from Ivory Coast and taught math and science in the local school for six months. Now back from four years working at the grass routs level, Trevor is excited to approach development from a different perspective as part of UW. What: Trevor Perrier: Dispatches from the digital divide When: Tuesday, October 30th at 12 noon Where: The Allen Center, room CSE 203

1 0

NetSquared connecting technologists and nonprofits - forward to change mailing list?
by Nicola Dell 28 Oct '12

28 Oct '12

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Natalie Linnell <linnell(a)cs.washington.edu> Date: Sun, Oct 28, 2012 at 9:21 PM Subject: NetSquared connecting technologists and nonprofits - forward to change mailing list? To: nixdell(a)cs.washington.edu Hi Nicki, A good friend of mine works with NetSquared, which connects programmers with time to donate, with nonprofits who need technical help. Would you mind forwarding the following to the change mailing list? Thanks! Natalie My friend Michael is helping organize the Greattle Seattle NetSquared series for 2013. NetSquared <http://netsquared.org/local> is a monthly series of volunteer-organized meetups that brings together folks in technology and the social sector who want to work on projects for the common good. They are sponsored by a nonprofit in SF called Techsoup<http://techsoup.org/> . NetSquared groups in various cities in the US hold social mixers, presentations, workshops, mentorships, and other similar events, based on the interests of the community. Check out the webpages for Vancouver<http://www.meetup.com/Vancouver-social-media-nonprofits-social-change/> , Portland <http://www.meetup.com/netsquared-13/> and the events held in Seattle (Eastside) <http://www.meetup.com/Greater-Seattle-NetSquared/> until Jun 2012 for more information on the types of events that are held. Michael has his hands pretty full as a lead in Sierra Club's national online organizing team so he'd love to have someone help him with organizing events for NetSquared. He's looking for co-organizers as well as interns! Please feel free to reach out to me at sameer(a)digital-progress.org and I'd love to make a connection!

1 0

Students win $100K for 3-D printer to turn waste plastic into composting toilets, rainwater harvesting systems
by Gaetano Borriello 25 Oct '12

25 Oct '12

http://www.washington.edu/news/2012/10/25/students-win-100k-for-3-d-printer… A University of Washington team this week claimed top prize in the first 3D4D Challenge, an international contest to use 3-D printing for social benefit in the developing world. The three undergraduates won $100,000 to form a company that will work with partners in Oaxaca, Mexico, to build machines that can transform waste plastic into composting toilets and pieces for rainwater harvesting systems........

1 0

November Salon from GlobalWA // Gather
by Nicola Dell 25 Oct '12

25 Oct '12

** Having trouble viewing this email? View as a web page<https://bos.etapestry.com/prod/viewEmailAsPage.do?databaseId=GlobalWashingt…>. **** **** *Strength in What Remains*** *Deo Niyizonkiza and Village Health Works** * *an intimate salon and conversation with Village Health Works founder and star of a New York Times best seller *** * * Co-presented by Fremont Abbey Arts Center<http://tracking.etapestry.com/t/25370791/650772071/55119479/0/>and Pangea <http://tracking.etapestry.com/t/25370791/650772071/55119482/0/>**** **** *When:* Thursday, November 1, 4:00pm to 6:00pm *Where: *Fremont Abbey Arts Center**** 4272 Fremont Ave N, Seattle *Ticket price:* $30**** A reception with beverages and light hors doeuvres will follow the talk.**** *Register here<http://tracking.etapestry.com/t/25370791/650772071/55108602/0/> ***** **** Deogratias Niyizonkiza is the co-founder and director of Village Health Works, a non-profit organization that takes a comprehensive approach to health and development in Burundi, one of the world's poorest countries.**** **** Deo's extraordinary story is the subject of Tracy Kidder's best seller, *Strength in What Remains* . Deo grew up in rural Burundi under military dictatorships, and was a medical school student at the country's only university when an ethnic civl war tore his world apart. He narrowly escaped with his life only to land in New York City with just $200 and no English. After months of delivering groceries and nights sleeping in Central Park, he met a nun who facilitated introductions to generous benefactors. Deo eventually graduated from Columbia University and went on to Harvard's School of Public Health and Dartmouth Medical School.**** **** With encouragement from Paul Farmer, Deo returned to Burundi in 2006. He rallied the southern Burundi community of Kigutu and established Village Health Works. With land donated by the community and an army of committed volunteers, the clinic opened in December 2007. VHW has served over 60,000 people, runs programs in healthcare, education, and agriculture, and is now planning a new center devoted to women’s health. It is unique in being entirely community-driven.**** **** A frequent lecturer on global health, Deo is the recipient of multiple awards including the 2011 International Medal Award of St. John’s University and the 2010 Women Refugee Commission’s Voices of Courage Award. **** **** During Q&A, Deo will be joined by VHW co-founder and Health Programs Director, Dr. Dziwe Ntaba. Dziwe is Clinical Instructor in Emergency Medicine at Columbia University and Associate Physician in the Division of Global Health Equity at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.**** **** *Please visit GlobalWA's website at www.globalwa.org* **** Would you like to forward this email to a friend? Click here<https://bos.etapestry.com/prod/forwardToFriend.do?databaseId=GlobalWashingt…>. **** Share This Email: [image: Facebook]<https://bos.etapestry.com/prod/shareLink.do?dbName=GlobalWashington&jobRef=…>[image: Twitter]<https://bos.etapestry.com/prod/shareLink.do?dbName=GlobalWashington&jobRef=…>[image: Digg]<https://bos.etapestry.com/prod/shareLink.do?dbName=GlobalWashington&jobRef=…>[image: Myspace]<https://bos.etapestry.com/prod/shareLink.do?dbName=GlobalWashington&jobRef=…>[image: Linked In]<https://bos.etapestry.com/prod/shareLink.do?dbName=GlobalWashington&jobRef=…>[image: Delicious]<https://bos.etapestry.com/prod/shareLink.do?dbName=GlobalWashington&jobRef=…> **** Remove my name from all future email correspondence <https://bos.etapestry.com/prod/optOut.do?databaseId=GlobalWashington&jobRef…> **** **** *Address postal inquiries to:***** Global Washington**** 500 Union St. Ste. 801**** Seattle, WA 98101 **** *Powered By***** [image: eTapestry]<https://www.blackbaud.com/fundraising-crm/etapestry-donor-management.aspx> [image: Delivra] <http://www.delivra.com>**** ****

2 1

Heather Underwood on Improving Maternal Labor Monitoring in Kenya Using Digital Pen Technology
by Nicola Dell 22 Oct '12

22 Oct '12

This Tuesday at Change, Heather Underwood will talk about Improving Maternal Labor Monitoring in Kenya Using Digital Pen Technology. Paper-based systems for monitoring maternal labor have been shown to reduce life-threatening complications in low-resource environments; however, significant barriers exist to the use of these tools in developing countries. This paper presents the PartoPen – a digital pen system that enhances a common labor-monitoring form known as the partograph. The PartoPen system provides real-time data feedback and reinforces birth attendant training, while retaining the paper-and-pen interface currently used by most healthcare workers. In this presentation, the results from a preliminary user evaluation, and two pilot studies of the system in Kenya will be discussed. The qualitative and quantitative results collected in these studies suggest that the PartoPen system effectively addresses many of the current barriers facing effective partograph use in developing countries. Heather Underwood graduated in 2009 from the University of Washington with a degree in computer science, with a strong focus in the field of ICTD - information and communication technologies for development. In addition to interning for Microsoft, Zillow, and IBM while at UW, Heather focused her academic work on developing educational games for public schools in India. After graduating, she worked as an iphone app developer for a health-focused San Francisco startup - MedHelp - but left to continue her work in ICTD by pursuing an interdisciplinary PhD at the University of Colorado Boulder's ATLAS Institute. Heather's current work focuses on developing point-of-care health solutions for maternal and child health in developing countries, and is supported by a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship and a Bill & Melinda Gates Global Challenge Grant. What: Heather Underwood on Improving Maternal Labor Monitoring in Kenya Using Digital Pen Technology When: Tuesday, October 23rd at 12 noon Where: The Allen Center, room CSE 203

1 0

Youth and Technology Organizations in Africa
by Kelechi Edozie-Anyadiegwu 22 Oct '12

22 Oct '12

Hi Everyone, I was hoping some people on this list could point me towards some organizations/programs in African countries that focus on youth and technology/ICTs. Thanks! Kelechi -- *Kelechi Anyadiegwu * *MHCI, Human-Computer Interaction * *Carnegie Mellon University* *Human Computer Interaction Institute * *web* | www.kelechi.net *twitter* | @jadoreKelechi <http://twitter.com/#!/jadoreKelechi> Check out JELYPals! *"Uniting the Diaspora One Story at a Time"* *web* | www.jelypals.org *twitter* | @JELYPals <https://twitter.com/JELYPals>

4 3

New brief - Empowering Women & Girls Through ICT at Libraries
by Melody Clark 18 Oct '12

18 Oct '12

Hello, all! Given that I had such a great response from these lists about the brief I was working on focusing on girls, women, libraries, and ICT, I wanted to share the final Beyond Access<http://www.beyondaccess.net/> publication with you. Thank you all again for your messages, examples, and interest in this work. It can be seen & downloaded here: http://www.beyondaccess.net/2012/10/18/empowering-women-and-girls-through-i… I've also attached a PDF copy here. Hope you enjoy! Melody From: Melody Clark Sent: Sunday, July 15, 2012 11:28 AM To: change(a)change.washington.edu; 'iworld(a)uw.edu' Subject: Seeking your help - how libraries help girls & women with technology access & skills Hello, all! I'm working on a policy brief about girls & women, ICT, and libraries - specifically how libraries can be a safe, reliable place where girls & women in developing countries can gain access to ICT skills and technology training. In the brief, we'd like to include 3-5 examples of libraries already filling this increasingly important need for girls & women to have safe access to gain ICT skills. Do any of you have examples of how a library(ies) you know of are doing this? If so, please email me at melclark(a)uw.edu<mailto:melclark@uw.edu> with your example(s). Thank you very much in advance, and I look forward to hearing from you! Melody -- Melody Clark Research Coordinator | Global Impact Study Technology & Social Change (TASCHA) http://about.me/melodyclark melclark(a)uw.edu<mailto:melclark@uw.edu> | 206.685.7819 Twitter: @ictimpact<http://twitter.com/#!/ICTimpact> | @melodyrclark<https://twitter.com/#!/melodyrclark> www.globalimpactstudy.org<http://www.globalimpactstudy.org/>

1 0

Need for translation
by judy wawira 16 Oct '12

16 Oct '12

Hello I am doing a brief needs assessment for need of translation of languages for s student project around ICT4D i am helping out My questions are !) Have you had a need for translation , and for what purpose? II) How did you access translation services III) What could better improve your utilization of translation services IV) Would you pay for translation services? If yes, what would you prefer, pay per translation or a subscription fee? Thank you -- Judy -- Judy

1 0