April 2012 - change - Mailing Lists

Backpack
by Nicola Dell 12 Apr '12

12 Apr '12

Hi everyone, Someone left a black backpack in CSE203 after the seminar today. It has been handed in to the CSE reception. Thanks Nicki

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Job: NDItech ICT Program Officer
by Yaw Anokwa 12 Apr '12

12 Apr '12

I've got some friends at NDITech so if you are interested in finding out more about the organization, let me know off-list. Glad to make a connection! ------------------------------------------------------ >From http://blogs.ndi.org/blog/2012/03/now-hiring-program-officer-0 NDItech is hiring an Information and Communication Technologies Program Officer. Are you an experienced veteran of technology in politics or development? Join us! This is a senior position on our team tasked with juggling the strategy and implementation of appropriate technology on multiple NDI democracy programs. In one day you may be advising DC's regional experts on how to add language for IVR systems in a grant proposal, joining a Skype call with developers in Lagos building an elections app, and playing with the newest release of FrontlineSMS to see how it can help partners achieve their communications goals. We also get time to think, write and discuss this exciting and evolving field with colleagues in DC and around the world. For the right candidate, the position also includes travel to the field for assessments on appropriate tech strategy or helping with boots-on-the-ground implementation. Our team sits at the intersection of three worlds: international development, political organizing and technology. Few people are rock stars at all of them, but you need to find them all compelling. For this job we're looking for someone with significant experience (say, five years) in some combination of these sectors. We're not (necessarily) looking for hardcore software developers or UNIX geeks, but it is important that you love tech (and politics) generally and playing with new tools and ideas. Hot topics for the upcoming year include improving engagement between citizens and their elected officials, Internet freedom in closing authoritarian regimes, opening legislative data to the public, and researching the impact of tech in democratic development

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Job: Information and Technology Advisor for USAID
by Yaw Anokwa 11 Apr '12

11 Apr '12

USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) is seeking highly motivated, highly qualified individuals who want the opportunity to help support rapid international transition programs for priority conflict-prone countries. Created in 1994 as a distinct operating unit within USAID, OTI helps local, indigenous partners advance peace and democracy in priority conflict-prone countries by providing fast, flexible, short-term assistance targeted at key transition needs. The IT Advisor will perform the following duties: • Monitor and understand agency IT and Information Security systems, requirements and policies, especially as they affect OTI and implementing partner staff in the field. Analyze OTI business processes and work products in order to seamlessly integrate OTI's systems into agency systems, while also reducing redundancies in OTI systems whenever additions and/or changes occur in agency systems. • Assist the IT Team in providing scheduled and ad hoc training for Washington and field-based staff on use of standard OTI information technology equipment and systems with a special focus on OTI-established web-based applications. More about duties and requirements at https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=14444e474336a8532407b1…

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Reminder: Invitation: TASCHA Talk -- April 12 -- From co-working to hackerspaces: An introduction to innovation spaces
by Melody Clark 11 Apr '12

11 Apr '12

Just a quick, friendly reminder that Chris Coward, director of TASCHA<http://tascha.uw.edu/>, will be giving a TASCHA Talk tomorrow (Thursday, April 12 from 3:45-4:45pm) on innovation spaces. For those that can't make it in person or for those not in Seattle, you can also tune in via Adobe Connect<http://connect.washington.edu/ischool-tascha/>. More information below. From: Melody Clark Sent: Friday, April 06, 2012 8:29 AM To: change(a)change.washington.edu; 'ichat(a)uw.edu'; 'imlis(a)uw.edu'; 'imajors(a)uw.edu'; 'iphds(a)uw.edu'; istaff(a)uw.edu; ifac(a)uw.edu; 'iworld(a)uw.edu'; dub(a)dub.washington.edu; 'EvansWorld(a)u.washington.edu'; publiclife(a)u.washington.edu Subject: Invitation: TASCHA Talk -- April 12 -- From co-working to hackerspaces: An introduction to innovation spaces TASCHA TALK >From co-working to hackerspaces: An introduction to innovation spaces <http://tascha.uw.edu/2011/11/december-1-developing-a-framework-for-digitall…> Chris Coward Thursday -- April 12, from 3:45 to 4:45 pm Roosevelt Commons Building, Multi-Purpose Room Remote or outside of Seattle: Via Adobe Connect <http://connect.washington.edu/ischool-tascha/> We all know what the typical telecenter or library computer space looks like - people sitting behind monitors along rows of desks, working away on whatever it is they are doing. This model serves a purpose, and as our research indicates, people can benefit greatly from the sort of access and services that one finds in these places. But at the same time this standard configuration is limiting in the types of activities that people can engage in around computers. In this talk I introduce other models of communal computer usage, places described as co-working spaces, hacker or maker spaces, and innovation hubs. We will first take a tour, exploring what people do in these places, who they are designed for, and what makes them work. As we will see, the physical design, management, rules, and services of these spaces foster a wide range activities. Next, we will look at the ways people across disciplines are conducting research on innovation spaces. What are the driving questions? How are people trying to understand the phenomenon and introduce technological, design, or other interventions to improve the impacts of these places? Finally, we will discuss potential research opportunities for TASCHA and others to contribute to advancing this space. About the presenter Chris Coward<http://tascha.uw.edu/author/chriscoward/> is the co-founder, Principal Research Scientist, and Director of the Technology & Social Change Group (TASCHA) at the University of Washington Information School. Under his leadership, TASCHA has grown in size and scope over the last decade, encompassing research in 50 countries. Chris specializes in designing research programs that improve policy and practice. His work focuses on examining the social and economic impacts of information and communication technologies (ICT), with particular attention to the role of libraries and nonprofit organizations in developing countries. Chris holds a Master of Public Administration degree and a Master of Arts in International Studies degree, both from the University of Washington. TASCHA Talks are bi-weekly sessions to share, discuss, and advance new ideas around topics related to technology and social change. Learn more at tascha.uw.edu/taschatalks<http://tascha.uw.edu/taschatalks/> -- 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/>

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Job: Mobile Applications Lab Manager in Pretoria, South Africa
by Yaw Anokwa 10 Apr '12

10 Apr '12

The Mobile Applications Laboratory (mLab) Southern Africa, managed by a consortium consisting of the CSIR Meraka Institute, The Innovation Hub and Ungana-Afrika, with support from the World Bank and South African Department of Science and Technology, is seeking to appoint an mLab Manager The main objective of the position is to lead and manage the establishment and growth of the regional mLab, as a self sustaining organisation, and to manage the implementation and operations of the mLab, including the technical and administrative activities. The Manager will represent the mLab within the industry, liaise with stakeholders and industry partners, and carry out the strategy approved by the Steering Committee. The incumbent will be responsible for the operation of all aspects of the mLab development including training and accreditation, certification, competition for ideas, business mentoring, access to finance and markets, development and revision of technical standards, testing procedures and laboratory policies; providing technical support to mLab operations and consulting with stakeholders on mobile technology related matters. http://www.csir.co.za/vacancies/pdf/2012/Final%20version%20of%20the%20long%…

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Nicolás di Tada from InSTEDD
by Nicola Dell 10 Apr '12

10 Apr '12

This Thursday at Change Nicolás di Tada will be speaking about the work he has been doing at InSTEDD. * * *About InSTEDD:* InSTEDD has a unique offering — we design and use open source technology tools to help partners enhance collaboration and improve information flow and knowledge sharing to better deliver critical services to vulnerable populations. With long term sustainability in mind, our interdisciplinary team of public health experts, scientists, and software engineers helps build local capacity to solve critical health, safety and development problems. We are committed to evaluating the impact of our programs, documenting best practices, and sharing the results of our work. InSTEDD’s innovative approach, which facilitates collective action by local partners, is being successfully applied around the world — from pioneering efforts to integrate disease surveillance and response systems in Southeast Asia to implementation of a nationwide communications system to aid victims of the Haiti earthquake in 2010. We are a non-profit; our partners include community groups, government agencies, leading universities, private sector companies, and humanitarian organizations. *About Nicolás: * Nicolás spends most of his time as a software designer, developer and project manager, crafting software with a strong technical and scientific background. Prior to starting his company, Manas Technology Solutions, Nicolás spent 10 years as a software architect and project leader for a diverse range of organizations, including startups and large corporations, acquiring a varied background in information retrieval, machine learning, information visualization and web application development. During the last 7 years, he founded two other companies in the fields of e-Learning and consumer-end social applications and guided several development teams through a wide variety of projects, ranging from digital photogrammetry and biomedical signal processing to internet research tools and enterprise applications. Working both for small startups and Fortune 500 companies in various countries and cultures, his teams have always proudly delivered usable and effective software on time. Passionate about the possibilities of the convergence between technology, science and art, Nicolas currently leads the design and development of InSTEDD’s software platform, coordinating the distributed development team, open source contributors, interns and volunteers. *What:* Nicolás di Tada from InSTEDD. *When:* Thursday, April 12th at Noon *Where:* Paul Allen Center, Room 203

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Discussion on lessons to be Learned from Failure
by Lassana Magassa 10 Apr '12

10 Apr '12

Greetings All! Thank you for participating in the Lessons to be Learned from Failure during the last Change session. Both Alexis<http://www.alexishope.com/> and I felt like there were a lot of important points articulated. To make sure they do not get lost and to encourage the dialogue to continue we have created a blog post on both of our website's. The "golden nuggets" from the discussion can be found below (For the full post visit http://bit.ly/Hz0Fyk or www.lassanamagassa.com/about/blog<http://www.lassanamagassa.com/about/blog>). The five key points by attendees were: 1. There is no fool-proof way to prevent failure 2. The intention and all possible shortcomings of an ICT4D intervention needs to be stated up front 3. Local ownership is important because it will help carry projects beyond the piloting phase 4. It is naïve to believe that "your" ICT4D project by itself will have a life-changing impact 5. Technology must NOT be the main focus of ICT4D-related research or discussions The five key points by local stakeholders in the video were: 1. ICT4D projects need to enhance activities that are already going on 2. Outsiders DON'T know what local stakeholders need, so include them in the development of ICT4D projects 3. Make sure the infrastructure to support your ICT4D project is in place 4. There must be funds to help take projects beyond the pilot stage 5. There are so many things (e.g. weather, trained staff) that make the maintenance of technology complicated If there is something we missed, let us know. If there is something that needs to be expanded feel free to do so. Respectfully submitted, Lassana Magassa http://www.lassanamagassa.com

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Number of Android phones in Kenya
by Yaw Anokwa 10 Apr '12

10 Apr '12

Last year, there was a bit of buzz about the number of Huawei IDEO Android phones in Kenya. Much of this buzz came from a June 2011 Technology Review article which reported, "In Kenya, the price, approximately $80, was low enough to win more than 350,000 buyers to date." http://www.technologyreview.com/communications/37877 I've heard that 350k number repeated lots of times (I've used it myself) and it's never felt quite right. A few days ago, I went digging for an answer and turns out the 350k figure is probably wrong. In May 2011, Huawei, the device manufacturer, said they had sold 60k IDEOS devices in May 2011 and were on track to hit 100k. http://www.huawei.com/africa/en/catalog.do?id=761. In February 2012, Bob Collymore, CEO of Safaricom (the cell operator), said they had sold 170k. https://twitter.com/#!/bobcollymore/status/172736353132494848 http://www.ihub.co.ke/blog/2012/01/fireside-chat-bob-collymore-safaricom-ce… I don't know where the 350k number comes from (maybe an internal Google number?), but if you are using it, it's probably wrong. If anyone has evidence to the contrary, I'd love to know. Yaw PS. Thanks to iHub Research for their help! http://www.research.ihub.co.ke/pages/home.php

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Call for Papers - DEV 2013
by Richard Anderson 10 Apr '12

10 Apr '12

Here is the call for papers for Dev 2013. The conference will be held Jan 11-12, 2013 in Bangalore, India, co-located with COMSNETS. The paper submission deadline is September 7, 2012. Sincerely, Richard Anderson, University of Washington Aaditeshwar Seth, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi --------------------------------- ACM DEV 2013 3rd Symposium on Computing for Development Co-located with COMSNETS January 11-12, 2013 Bangalore, India http://dev2013.org/ Important Dates: Submissions due: September 7, 2012 (11:59pm UTC) - firm deadline Author notification: October 26, 2012 Camera-ready: December 7, 2012 Conference: January 11-12, 2013 DEV 2013 provides an international forum for research in the design and implementation of information and communication technologies (ICTs) for social and economic development. In particular, we focus on emerging contexts where conventional computing solutions are often inappropriate due to various contextual factors - including, but not limited to, cost, language, literacy, and the availability of power and bandwidth. Papers should describe original and previously unpublished research. Three metrics will be applied to judge papers: (a) Relevance of the problem for development; (b) Novelty of the technical solution; (c) Evaluation of the solution, making a case for development-focused impact. All DEV paper submissions should either provide or directly motivate a novel technical solution that has direct implications for development. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to: Networks/Systems/Security/Architecture Low-cost wireless connectivity Intermittent networks and systems Power-efficient systems Low-cost computing devices Mobile systems and applications Mixed networks, e.g., telephony and IP Special-purpose sensor systems Security challenges in developing regions HCI/Applications User interfaces for low-literacy populations Multi-lingual computing User-interfaces for low-cost devices Participatory methods and user-centered design Accessibility to disabled populations in developing regions Design and evaluation of applications for health, microfinance, education, agriculture, entertainment AI/NLP/Data Mining/Speech/Vision Machine learning techniques for large-scale data analysis in development contexts Adapting content and applications to local languages and education levels Understanding social relationships and information flows in disadvantaged societies Speech interfaces and speech recognition for low-resource languages Development of new AI-centric tools/solutions for development Computer vision challenges in development We also welcome papers outside of these topics that address the DEV focus on computing innovations supporting social and economic development. Conference co-chairs: Bill Thies, Microsoft Research India Amit Nanavati, IBM India Research Labs PC co-chairs: Richard Anderson, University of Washington Aaditeshwar Seth, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi [http://email.launchrock.com/wf/open?upn=JVsLsZbioQ7REmR6pE9aplRScQgaTVPzOAK…]

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Re: [change] Results of randomized control trial of OLPC in Peru
by Yaw Anokwa 09 Apr '12

09 Apr '12

If you are interested in a debate on the OLPC Peru report, https://edutechdebate.org/archive/olpc-in-peru/ is the place to be ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Wayan Vota <wayan.vota(a)inveneo.org> Date: Mon, Apr 9, 2012 at 11:39 Subject: Re: [change] Results of randomized control trial of OLPC in Peru We've had a great discussion on the OLPC Peru report and what it might mean for ICT4E in general on Educational Technology Debate, including with the implementer in Peru, Oscar Becerra. https://edutechdebate.org/archive/olpc-in-peru/ Wayan On Apr 7, 2012, at 2:20 PM, Yaw Anokwa wrote: > From http://www.iadb.org/en/research-and-data/publication-details,3169.html?pub_… > > "Although many countries are aggressively implementing the One Laptop > per Child (OLPC) program, there is a lack of empirical evidence on its > effects. This paper presents the impact of the first large-scale > randomized evaluation of the OLPC program, using data collected after > 15 months of implementation in 319 primary schools in rural Peru. The > results indicate that the program increased the ratio of computers per > student from 0.12 to 1.18 in treatment schools. This expansion in > access translated into substantial increases in use both at school and > at home. No evidence is found of effects on enrollment and test scores > in Math and Language. Some positive effects are found, however, in > general cognitive skills as measured by Raven's Progressive Matrices, > a verbal fluency test and a Coding test."" > > The Economist also has a short story up at > http://www.economist.com/node/21552202 > _______________________________________________ > change mailing list > change(a)change.washington.edu > http://changemm.cs.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/change Wayan -- ............................................................... Start your day with ICTworks http://www.ictworks.org ...............................................................

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