and to follow up on what jerome (who is all around great guy) said. i think he was being sarcastic about using the device to generate more publications...
On Thu, Oct 6, 2011 at 08:02, Sherrilynne Fuller <sfuller at u.washington.edu> wrote: > Judy- > > > > I agree completely!??? I think part of the ?good? you refer to is enabling > ?the poor? to design solutions to their own problems.?? Kenya, as you point > out, ?is a wonderful example of a country with many very smart people (at > all of levels of society) who are turning out creative solutions relevant to > their challenges ?rather than waiting for technology/expertise ?to be > introduced/imposed from the outside. ??????We need to listen carefully to > those individuals and follow/support their lead (and enable them to publish > what they are discovering)!!!!? ?????(and while we?re at it, how about some > investments of faculty energy and funds to helping create innovations labs > in universities in developing countries) > > > > sherri > > > > > > From: change-bounces at change.washington.edu > [mailto:change-bounces at change.washington.edu] On Behalf Of judy wawira > Sent: Thursday, October 06, 2011 7:42 AM > To: Jerome White > Cc: change at change.washington.edu > > Subject: Re: [change] [SPAM] $35 touchscreen tablet launched in India > > > > May have missed out the cynism > > "But, at least we've got another device to help us generate publications :)" > > I think its an amazing feat, but it its time to move away from manufacturing > devices for the poor (whether technical or not). > > This just limits exploration of potential uses, and i wonder if the existing > caste system in India has a role to play in the definition of the product > > As for politial mileage, if it is for the social good and brings > development, i dont mind if you get credit for it( a phenomenon witnessed in > the upgrade of roads infrastructure in enya as part of the current > president's legacy) > > I hope that while academics continue to work at getting publishing and > grants to work in developing countries, the current trend of "dumping " > technology for the sake of it stops, and we leave some good in the areas > where we work > > Judy > > > On Thu, Oct 6, 2011 at 9:15 AM, Jerome White <jerome at cs.caltech.edu> wrote: > > This is a good point. And it kind of depends on how they are defining the > "fringes of society." > > The Rupees' taken a hit against the dollar recently, so it's hard to tell > what the article actually meant in terms of local money. However, assume, > conservatively, that the cost of this device will work out to Rs. 1500 -- > that's still a tremendous amount of money for a lot of people. > > However, there is a "rural/poor" segment that could afford this: those > making between 5 and 10 thousand Rupees a month. In fact it's what some > spend on a mobile phone. However, with the mobile, there is very compelling > reason to make such an investment. A similarly compelling reason, from their > perspective, to own this device isn't clear to me. > > But, at least we've got another device to help us generate publications :) > > jerome > > On 06-Oct-2011, at 4:11 PM, Fritz Meissner wrote: > >> How much is $35 to the poorest of the poor? I recall an economics study >> that paid Indian workers the equivalent of a monthly salary, I think that >> was 50USD... 35USD is beyond cheap in the West but perhaps still not >> affordable in that context. >> >> OTOH if the tablet is locally made, perhaps just the work that the >> manufacturer provides will be beneficial. >> >> Fritz >> >> On Thu, Oct 6, 2011 at 1:32 AM, Joyojeet Pal <joyojeet at gmail.com> wrote: >> I agree with Yaw on this -- sure, it is great that this technology is so >> cheap, and one can argue that similar such efforts have brought up new >> technology innovations (Netbook etc) and various other benefits, what is >> deeply problematic is the idea that this will solve the issues of >> development in India, and Indian minister Kapil Sibal's announcing the >> project as being some kind of a dig out of exclusion >> (http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/india-announces-35-tablet-computer-to-help-lift-villagers-out-of-poverty/2011/10/05/gIQAPT8PNL_story.html) >> >> If you look at UNDP's latest HDI report on India, you may find that >> someone should find this claim at least quixotic, given that the country >> ranks 119th in the world for what ranks are worth. India as a state spends >> among the lowest on education (3.6%) and healthcare (1.1%) and has an income >> inequality problem that is by all measure growing yearly, gender inequity is >> 0.748 (on a scale of the 'best' at 0.212 and 'worst' at 0.814). the average >> Indian spends 4.4 years in formal schooling.. the list goes on and on. >> >> i'm not saying this is not a significant achievement, my concern is tying >> this to development in such a way, in fact specifically in the perception >> that this could be the state's part in providing development in india. i >> think it hurts the cause of folks working in this space at the very least. >> >> On Wed, Oct 5, 2011 at 7:03 PM, Yaw Anokwa <yanokwa at gmail.com> wrote: >> the hype around this tablet is terrible. >> >> i think it's great to have cheaper technology, but android tablets, >> even cheap $35 android tablets, will not lift villagers out of >> poverty. i wish it were that easy... >> >> >> On Wed, Oct 5, 2011 at 15:49, Rahul Banerjee <banerjee at cs.washington.edu> >> wrote: >> > Sorry for the spam, but I couldn't resist sharing such wonderful news: >> > >> > http://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/India-announces-35-tablet-computer-for-rural-poor-2203509.php >> > >> > (Actually, the government is subsidising its price (which would be >> > closer to $50), but it's still pretty amazing that something like this >> > exists at all) >> > >> > -- >> > Rahul >> > _______________________________________________ >> > change mailing list >> > change at change.washington.edu >> > http://changemm.cs.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/change >> > >> _______________________________________________ >> change mailing list >> change at change.washington.edu >> http://changemm.cs.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/change >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> change mailing list >> change at change.washington.edu >> http://changemm.cs.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/change >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> change mailing list >> change at change.washington.edu >> http://changemm.cs.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/change > > > _______________________________________________ > change mailing list > change at change.washington.edu > http://changemm.cs.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/change > > > -- > Judy > > _______________________________________________ > change mailing list > change at change.washington.edu > http://changemm.cs.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/change > >
