IFAP Information Society Observatory

Title: Sim or Application Layer? An Implementation-Level Analysis on the Use of
Mobile Phones for ICT Development
Author: Hannah Thinyane
Pages: 7 pp.
ISBN: 1996-1065 (online)
ISBN 1818-1139 (print)
Source: International Journal of Computing and ICT Research, Special Issue Vol.3, No.1, pp. 26-32, October 2009.
Publisher: Makerere University
Date (published): 04/11/2009
Date (accessed): 05/12/2009
Type of information: research paper
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
In recent years, mobile phones have started to become popular in their use as a platform for ICT based development projects. This paper provides an implementation level analysis on the use of SIM card programming and application layer programming. This is a particularly important consideration when the program is to be run in developing nations due to the older handsets that are frequently used. The paper describes the ramifications that each layer would have on the application that is created, in particular in the context of developing nations. It then describes a case study of a development project where we have implemented two such applications, illustrating the principles described in the paper.

Title: The Open Source Software Ecosystem
Author: Charles M. Schweik
Pages: 49 pp.
Source: NCDG Working Paper No. 09-002
Publisher: National Center for Digital Government, Center for Public Policy and Administration, Department of Natural Resources Conservation, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Date (published): 29/11/2009
Date (accessed): 05/12/2009
Type of information: research paper, draft
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
Open source research in the late 1990s and early 2000's described open source development projects as all-volunteer endeavors without the existence of monetary incentives (Chakravarty, Haruvy and Wu, 2007), and relatively recent empirical studies (Ghosh, 2005; Wolf {{243}}) confirm that a sizable percentage of open source developers are indeed volunteers.1 Open source development projects involving more than one developer were seen to follow a “hacker ethic” (Himanen, 2000; von Hippel and von Krogh, 2003) where individuals freely give away and exchange software they had written so that it could be modified and built upon, with an expectation of reciprocation. An early puzzle, of particular interest to economists, was why people would voluntarily contribute their ideas and time to these projects (Lerner and Tirole {{243}}. We'll focus on these fine-scale behavioral questions in Chapter 3, and will explain that there are clear reasons – such as distance learning, signaling, enjoyment, and “user-driven innovation” based on a need (von Hippel, 2005) – that motivate these volunteers to participate.

Title: Introduction to Group 2: Increasing the Availability and Accessibility of Research Outputs – Collection and Preservation
Source: Coherence in Information for Agricultural Research for Development (CIARD)
Date (published): 12/10/2009
Date (accessed): 05/12/2009
Type of information: guide
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML and pdf)
Abstract:
The CIARD Pathways provide an introduction to the ways in which research outputs can be made more available, accessible and applicable for the stakeholders who will derive benefit from this knowledge. The internet in general, the open access movement, and the development of digital repositories, have created new possibilities for enhancing the visibility of research outputs and have greatly increased the potential audience for them.

Title: The role of Social Entrepreneurs in Deploying ICTs for Youth and Community Development in South Africa
Author: Chijioke J. Evoh
ISBN: 1712-4441
Source: The Journal of Community Informatics; Vol 5, No 1 (2009)
Date (published): 22/07/2009
Date (accessed): 04/12/2009
Type of information: peer-reviewed article
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
This study presents the case study of an innovative program designed to use ICT to meet the educational needs of disadvantaged young people in Cape Town communities in South Africa. This study illustrates the methods and experiences of Ikamva Lisezandleni Zethu, a youth organization that harnesses the potential of ICT for educational, youth and community development in South Africa. The case highlights the best practices of social entrepreneurship with less financial and technological resources within the context an African society. The major challenges facing the young organization are highlighted and its successes are also identified. The activities of the Ikamva youth organization reveal that, South Africa and other countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) need effective multilateral initiatives to meet their educational aspiration as well as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Rather, ICTs, if properly and innovatively applied by the public and the civil society groups, has the potential to improve the quality of and expand access to secondary education in Africa.

Title: Microloans in rural areas through mobile phones
Author: Jorge L. Alonso G.
Source: FrontlineSMS:Credit
Date (published): 03/12/2009
Date (accessed): 04/12/2009
Type of information: blog post
Language: English, Spanish
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
Soon the rural populations of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) will have access to microloans, savings and insurance against the unexpected …… and all through their mobile phones. This is indicated by trends in microfinance institutions (MFIs), increasingly advanced mobile payment systems and the emergence of open source programs that serve as a bridge between the two.

This post will briefly explain how MFIs and mobile payments work, how open source software can facilitate financial inclusion and what challenges face this process.
(via http://twitter.com/e_agriculture )

Title: LexPublica: Open Sourcing the Legal Process
Author: Glyn Moody
Source: open...
Date (published): 02/12/2009
Date (accessed): 04/12/2009
Type of information: blog post
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
"There is a crying need for access to legal help. No one can afford lawyers."...LexPublica aims to solve this problem by opening up the world of legal knowledge to everyone." It's plans are splendidly ambitious - nothing less than to create a global legal commons...

"LexPublica creates free contracts for small businesses, along with supporting information to help you use them. We're a community of lawyers and non-lawyers committed to making legal knowledge more accessible to businesses and the general public."

Title: More on afTLDs
Author: Jonathan Gosier
Source: Appfrica.net
Publisher: Appfrica International
Date (published): 04/12/29
Date (accessed): 04/12/2009
Type of information: blog post
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
Following some great feedback, I thought I’d expand on my last post on ccTLDs. First, however it came across, the post wasn’t intended to be accusatory towards IANA or ICANN. There are indeed real problems with some of the countries registries. However, as one of the commentors, McTim wrote, “It’s not as black and white as you put it.”

Title: First Experiences with OLPC in European Classrooms
Authors: Martin Ebner, Johannes Dorfinger, Walther Neuper, Christian Safran
Pages: 9 pp.
Source: E-Learn - World Conference on E-Learning in Corporate, Government, Healthcare, & Higher Education ; 2009
Date (published): 03/10/2009
Date (accessed): 03/12/2009
Type of information: research paper
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
The use of laptops in educational settings is discussed by lots of e-Learning researchers for years now. Since 2002 the One Laptop Per Child project (OLPC-project) tries to bring digital devices to developing countries avoiding the increase of the digital gap. Austria has been one of the first countries in the European Union (EU) to start an OLPC-project on its own. The focus was on the use of digital devices in education at a very early stage. Accompanied by a solid research team, bringing teachers, e-learning experts as well as software developer together, a first attempt was established. This publication aims to carry out the description of the prework, the first real life setting and concludes with the experiences of the whole research group. Furthermore it summarizes a recommendation for a transfer of the project to developing countries.
Keyords: OLPC, XO, classroom, e-learning, digital literacy, digital device, children

Title: e Sri Lanka: Promise realized?
Author: Rohan Samarajiva
Source: Lanka Business Online (LBO.lk)
Publisher: Vanguard Management Services (Pvt) Limited
Date (published): 02/12/2009
Date (accessed): 03/12/2009
Type of information: article
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
2009 has been year of celebration for the ICT Agency, the entity created to implement the e Sri Lanka program...For the first Sri Lankan government agency that was supposed to go out of business after having completed its work (by 2008), the first full year of non-sunsetted existence has been full of pomp and ceremony.

What did it achieve in its originally allotted five years? It would be useful to identify criteria that may be used by the citizens of Sri Lanka to assess success and hold it accountable for the next five years.

Success criteria must be related to outputs, not inputs. Not money spent but results achieved in forms that citizens and stakeholders can perceive. The measures would, ideally, be comparative (also applied to other countries). Sri Lanka must have improved its standing relative to our peers. Equipped as it was with a large World Bank credit and empowered as part of the President’s Office, ICTA has no excuses if success has not been achieved.

Title: Using mobiles for rural literacy and market information in Niger: Projet ABC/IMAC data sheet
Author: Joshua Haynes
Source: MobileActive.org
Date (published): 02/12/2009
Date (accessed): 03/12/2009
Type of information: blog post
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
Projet Alphabétisation de Base par Cellulaire (ABC), conceived of and spearheaded by Tufts University professor Jenny Aker, uses mobiles phones as tools to aid in adult literacy acquisition in rural Niger.

Adult literacy in rural areas faces an inherent problem. In Niger, for example, there are no novels, newspapers, or journals in native languages like Hausa or Zarma. The 20% of Nigériens who are literate are literate in French. The vast majority of rural villagers have struggled to maintain their livelihoods since time immemorial without ever knowing how to read a single word. What’s the point of literacy if there is no need for written materials?