LatAm field research notes

I spent my Spring break in Santiago and São Paulo, working on two separate (ICT4D-related) research projects. In Santiago, I met with librarians involved in biblioredes, a nationwide program providing internet access in libraries. In São Paulo, I worked with research partners at IPSO and USP to explore the use and impact of cellphones in Brazil. Had fascinating meetings with motoboys (and one motogirl), the professional motorcycle courriers whose phone use we will study. Also with kids in the periferia, who have been making cool videos using their celulars. And I gave an interview to journalist Mari-Jô Zivelti (which she will eventually post).

Upcoming talk: “Multiple and Growing Costs of Network Exclusion”

On Monday, March 24th, Dean Wilson and Dr. Rahul Tongia from Carnegie Mellon University  will be the Annenberg Research Seminar speakers.  Their talk is titled, “Multiple and Growing Costs of Network Exclusion.”

For more info on Professor Tongia, see http://www.epp.cmu.edu/httpdocs/people/bios/tongia.html

Nigeria is Mobile

In preparation for our upcoming class on ‘mobile phones and development,’ look at this book review of “Mobile Telephony: Leveraging Strengths and Opportunities for Socio-Economic Development in Nigeria” on MobileActive.org.

Diversifying Participation in Network Development

Those of you coordinating the class sessions on Low-Cost Technologies and Mobile Phones ought to look at the recently published “Diversifying Participation in Network Development“. Some of the chapters would make excellent readings for those weeks. Sections 1 and 2 are particularly relevant:

“The book is divided into three sections. The first, entitled Affordability and Use, opens with a study on affordability - definitions, analysis and issues. This is followed by two demand side studies, the first focusing on mobile use by the poor; and the second assessing communication expenditures across four developing countries. The final chapter in this section reports on a survey of ICT use by SMEs in eight African countries.

Section 2, Models to Extend Participation in Network Development considers microfinance, smart subsidies, community owned microtelcos and the extension of research networks. The countries used to highlight these alternative approaches include Bangladesh, Nepal, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Ghana.”

See the book’s table of contents

Municipal Wireless

Wifi is often put forth as a cheap technology that can help connect developing countries. Yet, the technology’s success in the North has been mixed. Tomorrow morning, the New America Foundation hosts a debate that looks at WiFi experiences in US cities, in particular in Philadelphia, one of the pioneers.

“On Wednesday, the New America Foundation’s Wireless Future Program will host an event on the future of municipal wireless with experts from the government, industry and academia. This event will be webcast LIVE starting at 12:00 p.m. EST. Additionally, we have set up an IRC chatroom to allow you to ask questions during the event.”

If you are able to watch the webcast (Wednesday, February 6, 2008, 9:00 p.m. - 11:00 a.m. PST), please let us know what where the highlights.

Welcome to ICT4Dev!

Welcome to the collective blog of the CMGT582 class (”International Communication and National Development”) at USC’s Annenberg School for Communication. We will use it to comment on news relevant to the course and to expand on class discussions.