Technology and Development I: Digital Inequalities

Spring 2007March 13

TodayToday

Brainstorming - ColinAdventures in education & access - ColinBreakHousekeeping - Steve & ElizabethSL Report Out - GeoffDiscussion ensues - Colin

Today

Hope and Hype Meet…in Panama

Enthusiasm is promising

Institutional & pedagogical shake-up

Access, interaction, creation

v.

Implementation & management

Evaluation & assessment

Integrated sustainability

TodayPanama - Law

$80mGaceta Oficial May 9, 2002

TodayPanama - Implementation

La Prensa June 12, 2003

TodayPanama - Challenges

Access (elec, geog, net), training, curriculum integration, evaluation, partnerships

Party politics

Funding

Institutional home

Leadership and support

TodayDR Outcomes - Structures

TodayDR Outcomes - Connectivity

TodayDR Outcomes - Reactions

TodayDR - Select LessonsAs before, plus…

Planning-implementation gap

Scaling implications

Project integration/coordination

School & community participation

Continued enthusiasm

…and similar results in limited Panama efforts to date

TodayHope and HypeAssessment, planning, evaluation, etc.

Efforts at curriculum dev’t and training

National models – Canada, Costa Rica, Chile, Namibia

Int’l efforts – UNESCO-Bk, Global e-schools, OLPC

University support

TodayHope and Hype Spotted Again

Creating Access, Value and Profits with Rural ICT Services

Hypothesis: The Internet is POWER

Hypothesis is largely untested in rural contextDevelopment Community is slow/ineffectivePrivate sector is still unconvinced/unable

Opportunity knocks: CableSTD/PCOSMS/wirelessPrepaid

SARI: Sustainable Access in Rural India

Demonstrate the sustainability of rural ICT servicesShow a relationship between ICTs and social and economic developmentLearn from cable & STD/PCO success

(with M. Best, A. Jhunjhunwala & J. Sinha)

WLL Village Tele-kiosks

Provide Internet (via WLL/CorDECT), PC, and application suite (an Internet tele-kiosk) to villages - many off the phone grid

Village Internet tele-kiosks are locally owned and operated (franchise model)

Business Model

n-Logue

LSP 1 LSP 2 LSP 3

kiosk kiosk kiosk kiosk kiosk

Services Revenues

Entrepreneurship: Rosie, Razak

Assorted TalesEducational bookletsLocal sourcingEgov effortsHealth, Medicine, Prices

Some ApplicationsEducation & Training: Practice exams, exam results, MSOffice, academicsCommunications: e-mail, voice & video mail, chatE-government services: Caste certificates, income, birth, death, pension schemes, complaints, petitionsHealth/Livelihood: Veterinary, health, agriculture, market prices, transportation tickets, commercial services, insurance, bankingEntertainment: Movies, astrology, games, photographs

Remote Teaching: Tutorials

Agricultural/Veterinary

After

Before

Health

Entertainment

<Radio Chiraag

Chiraag Newspaper^

Services availed

05

1015202530354045

Services

% u

sage

Communication e-Governance Agriculture Others

Social benefitsLower strata

E-Gov applicationsPensionsCertificates

Aravind Eye care Middle /Upper Strata

Agri solutionsEducationCommunication

C2G CommunicationFaster and better interaction

Micro Business ModelCapital costs:

wiring, furniture $300kiosk equipment $1,000other $300

Recurrent costs (monthly):rent, elec., maintenance $25 Internet $15Interest and depreciation $28

Break-even revenue (no labor) $68 (monthly), $ 2.70 (daily)

Randomly Assorted LessonsServices not what you expectScaling is hardChoose partners wiselyBuy decent equipmentFinancing mattersLocal, local, localBeware too much attentionPatience / No meteringCaste and gender less importantKiosk location/access is criticalOperator attitude training, buy-in, ongoing support are essential