[GKD] WSIS Prepcom Fellowship Deadline Approaching

[Robert Guerra]

*** Reminder - Prepcom fellowship deadline - 5 August 2005 ***

Further details at:

http://www.itu.int/wsis/preparatory2/pc3/index.html#fellowships

To facilitate the participation of developing countries at the UN World
Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), Third Preparatory Meeting, 
19 - 30 September 2005, ITU is pleased to announce that a limited number of
fellowships will be available to developing country representatives from
Government and from NGOs and civil society entities, with priority being
given to participants from Least Developed Countries.

Rules governing the administration of fellowships for the WSIS Third
Preparatory Meeting, Geneva, from 19-30 September 2005


Application procedure

Submission of a nomination form duly completed (see Form), signed and
endorsed by the official responsible to nominate candidates in the
organization must be received no later than:

5 August 2005


Profile of candidate:

Government participants: Senior Managers responsible for ICT-related
issues at decision-making or policy level.

NGOs and civil society entities: Senior members of accredited NGOs and
civil society entities with active participation in WSIS.

Validated, signed applications may be forwarded to:

WSIS Fellowships
Geneva
Fax:  +41 22 730 5778
Email:[EMAIL PROTECTED]

--
Robert Guerra <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Managing Director, Privaterra 




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Re: [GKD] The $100 Computer is Key to India's Technology Fortunes

[Gary Garriott]

On Thursday, July 21, 2005, Tom Abeles wrote:
> I think that it is "nice" to think about the $100 computer. But one
> needs to remember that cell phones are ubiquitous and relatively low
> cost. One post secondary education institution is developing curricula
> using the cell phone as the device of choice for their students. Cells
> that are both WiFi and work on the cellular bands are on the market, and
> some are predicting the $2 cell phone which is "printed", realizing that
> these can be built up with the proper inks, which are even being used to
> make mechanical devices.

Tom,

Hwell, in my experience "we ain't there yet" when it comes to
the "relatively low cost" of cellphones in developing countries. In
fact, handset cost is one of the main reasons why they aren't even more
available to the poor. Add other features like WiFi and they will
probably be even more out of reach except for the richest of the poor
and we're back where we started.

$2 cell phones? Isn't that akin to all the promises we used to hear that
telecommunications costs would fall to near zero? (Because they haven't;
even those poor who can afford the handsets frequently opt for the very
low rates that allow them to receive calls, but not make them.)

(Just curious though if you are talking about "desktop factories" or
"fab labs" to manufacture such phones at such costs. Who is doing it?)

Best,

Gary

Gary Garriott
Innovation Program Officer, ICT for Rural Development
Winrock International
Voice: +703 525 9430, ext. 614
www.winrock.org




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Re: [GKD] RFI: Citizens Actively Participating in Creating New ICT Applications?

[Elsa Kruger-Cloete]

Dear GKD Members,

I'm responding to the query by C Wendy Olpert on examples where
communities are shaping the use of ICT development and applications.
First, let me introduce myself. I'm exploring innovative solutions to
the development challenges we face in southern Africa.

I would like to mention an ICT project - the Mogalakwena HP i-community
- a partnership between HP, the Limpopo Province and the Mogalakwena
Municipality in South Africa. The project is aimed at building local ICT
capacity and starting a sustainable livelihoods initiative to address
the challenges faced by the community in a sustainable manner.

Building municipal ICT capacity enhances local ICT infrastructure,
builds staff ICT capacity, and improves service delivery to the public.
Multi-purpose centres are created to build sustainable service solutions
to the community. A major focus is communicating the vast potential that
ICT holds to improve government electronic service delivery. A
demonstration room showcases innovations in e-service delivery from
around the world relevant to the municipality and communities.
Transforming the project into a global model for a multi-purpose centre
and establishing a centre of excellence programme through schools.

Innovative solutions are sought for villages, which lack access to clean
water, electricity or telecommunications. The sustainable livelihoods
initiative has introduced a variety of ICT-enhanced solutions to meet
the basic challenges they face. A fully fledged call centre has been
introduced where call centre agents study and work at the same time.

More information on the Mogalakwena HP i-community - Phase 11 progress
update is available at 


Kind regards,
 
Elsa Kruger-Cloete,
Development Bank of Southern Africa
Tel:+27 11 3133300
Fax:+27 11 3133086


On Thursday, July 21 2005, C Wendy Olphert wrote:

> Please let me introduce myself. I am a researcher at Loughborough
> University investigating the ways in which citizens and communities use
> ICTs. Over recent weeks I have seen many interesting postings by members
> of the GKD group about using technology for citizen empowerment and
> community benefit. Although there are numerous examples where people
> have been involved in developing or influencing content in some way
> (e.g., websites, blogs, online forums or newsletters, etc.), I am
> particularly interested in situations where citizens or communities have
> actively participated in creating or shaping new ICT applications or
> developments. If you are aware of any such examples I would be really
> grateful to hear about them.




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Re: [GKD] The $100 Computer is Key to India's Technology Fortunes

[Pat Hall]

Dear GKD Members,

Tom Abeles is absolutely right, and I do like his slogan about not "trying
to
make the past cheaper".

To this I would add that this is an area where market forces do work to
our benefit, the large volumes of potential sales in phones and music
players and the strong competition means that the technology gets both
cheaper and better. Let us ride that wave.

By contrast any purpose developed solution like these proliferating $100
computers don't have a market, unless you view wealthy but possibly
gullible donor agencies as a market, and are using old technologies that
will be left ever further behind.

The only thing that leaves me uncomfortable in this is that we are
relying on a trickle down effect - market forces in the west may be
creating benefits that can be picked in emerging economies.

Pat Hall



On 7/21/2005, Tom Abeles wrote:

> I think that it is "nice" to think about the $100 computer. But one
> needs to remember that cell phones are ubiquitous and relatively low
> cost. One post secondary education institution is developing curricula
> using the cell phone as the device of choice for their students. Cells
> that are both WiFi and work on the cellular bands are on the market, and
> some are predicting the $2 cell phone which is "printed", realizing that
> these can be built up with the proper inks, which are even being used to
> make mechanical devices.
> 
> Also, think about iPods and where the next generation is going to be,
> rather than trying to make the past cheaper.




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