Useful blog by Duncan Green and talk on video about reality of ICT (almost all people have either a mobile phone or at least access to one) and its place as a tool within development. Really good.
People often see me as a 'go to' person for ICT and would think that I am always promoting the use of ICT solutions but no! tis not true! I'm not working for IT company, I work for an NGO so I promote development solutions and where an IT solution is part of that then 'yay' I get to strut my funky stuff but I am also keen to say 'woah there' are you really sure IT is what you need?
And is high tech what you need? I'm a big promoter of low tech e.g. radio! It works so well - we used it in Uganda all the time for communicating with communities to inform of clinics, chilli buying days, registration for deaf children at school, etc. etc. People pass on things they hear on the radio - it's local news - it gets passed on, neighbours say 'hey your daughter is not hearing well, there is registration for schooling, go and see these people in Rukungiri' and they would come.
We really have to think about the world now proliferated with mobile phones (the cheap or 'dumb' ones - not smart ones) - there is a 1 to 33 ratio of smart to dumb phones in Africa (according to D.Green). This is a technology that has arrived ahead of other technologies - toilets, fridges, bicycles, gas cookers, library. A text is often cheaper than a newspaper and can give more up to the minute information about local markets and health care.
Many of us working in NGOs have field experience which has not covered this very new era of the mobile - we need to revisit and keep our eyes wide open for how people in very difficult places are using mobile phones - the innovation is happening out there!
People often see me as a 'go to' person for ICT and would think that I am always promoting the use of ICT solutions but no! tis not true! I'm not working for IT company, I work for an NGO so I promote development solutions and where an IT solution is part of that then 'yay' I get to strut my funky stuff but I am also keen to say 'woah there' are you really sure IT is what you need?
And is high tech what you need? I'm a big promoter of low tech e.g. radio! It works so well - we used it in Uganda all the time for communicating with communities to inform of clinics, chilli buying days, registration for deaf children at school, etc. etc. People pass on things they hear on the radio - it's local news - it gets passed on, neighbours say 'hey your daughter is not hearing well, there is registration for schooling, go and see these people in Rukungiri' and they would come.
We really have to think about the world now proliferated with mobile phones (the cheap or 'dumb' ones - not smart ones) - there is a 1 to 33 ratio of smart to dumb phones in Africa (according to D.Green). This is a technology that has arrived ahead of other technologies - toilets, fridges, bicycles, gas cookers, library. A text is often cheaper than a newspaper and can give more up to the minute information about local markets and health care.
Many of us working in NGOs have field experience which has not covered this very new era of the mobile - we need to revisit and keep our eyes wide open for how people in very difficult places are using mobile phones - the innovation is happening out there!
