Re: [GKD-DOTCOM] Bringing Connectivity to Under-Served Communities
Simon Woodside wrote: WorldSpace is a broadcast system. With a WorldSpace system you are only capable of receiving data, not sending it. I wish to disagree in that we are currently using WorldSpace very effectively as a global multicast solution to refresh all of the Axxess servers that Advanced Interactive currently has installed across Africa. With a dialup line as a back channel the server maintains contact with the global Network Operations Center that remotely manages this entire network. In addition to providing high speed local access to Internet content that is refreshed nightly, the WorldSpace downlink also enables distributed Distance Learning content to be reliably delivered to every server through very low cost multicast. Through partnerships with a number of North American universities projects are being finalized to deliver curriculum to these distributed servers that sit on the campus of Universities in China, India, and Africa. This Intellectual Property is encrypted and totally secure, yet remotely accessible by the content developer. While WorldSpace in its native state has been a one way channel, this innovation leverages their low cost delivery medium in exciting new ways that extends the reach of distributed and e-learning to edges of habitation, regardless of existing infrastructure. And, as a number of other satellite providers also provide affordable multicast services, let us not discount this technology where a differentiated last mile solution can manage its shortcomings and turn 1-way downlink with a server managed dialup back channel into a viable way of a sustainable affordable connected community. Having been in India for the past 2 weeks, I have been able to validate that this model can be effectively deployed here, as well. This very low cost turnkey solution utilizes locally sourced, off the shelf technology that is integrated with the connectivity, content, and remote management of the user experience. Several major universities and colleges in North America have licensed their degree and diploma programs to be globally delivered through this innovative Distributed Distance Education model. This solution will be demonstrated at the World Summit on Information Societies in Geneva Switzerland during the week of Dec 8th. For any participants of this forum who may be attending, please plan to visit the HP booth which will be powered with this solution, including satellite partners such as WorldSpace and others. Regards, Robert Miller Direct: (416) 423-9100 Mobile: (416) 464-7525 Fax: (416) 696-9734 History teaches us that people and nations behave wisely, once they have exhausted all other alternatives Abba Eban This DOT-COM Discussion is funded by the dot-ORG USAID Cooperative Agreement, and hosted by GKD. http://www.dot-com-alliance.org provides more information. To post a message, send it to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd For the GKD database, with past messages: http://www.GKDknowledge.org
Re: [GKD-DOTCOM] Bringing Connectivity to Under-Served Communities
On November 14th, Thaths (Sudhakar Chandra) wrote: This brings to mind something that the satellite radio outfit WorldSpace is doing. The idea is brilliant, in my opinion. You basically buy this satellite radio (approx. $70-100 depending on model). You also buy a computer card to interface with the radio. For a fee (that includes the card free) of approx. $40, you get unmetered limited internet access. The access is limited in the sense that you are restricted to a few WorldSpace approved websites. This would work great if WorldSpace expanded the list of approved sites to include those like Yahoo mail and Hotmail. Unfortunately, they don't. For most people, getting cheap access to a web-based email system like Yahoo mail is a good start. The great news is that WorldSpace is a strategic partner of the CampusAxxess solution that I have spoken about in previous messages. There is now a WorldSpace receiver with a USB connection that plugs directly into the CampusAxxess content server that hosts the school network. In addition to caching educational content requested by teachers and the Ministry of Education in each country, it is also preloaded with a broad range of curriculum from North American universities and colleges, K-12 curriculum content in multi-modal versions (video, text, multimedia) formats. And, it should be noted, that this content is refreshed nightly with any updates to ensure it provides the optimal student or user experience. The WorldSpace connection together with this CampusAxxess last mile solution for any school, campus, or village truly narrows the digital divide in an affordable and sustainable way. For more info, contact Dr. S. Rangarajan, Sr. Vice President of WorldSpace at [EMAIL PROTECTED] or me. Regards Bob History teaches us that people and nations behave wisely, once they have exhausted all other alternatives Abba Eban This DOT-COM Discussion is funded by the dot-ORG USAID Cooperative Agreement, and hosted by GKD. http://www.dot-com-alliance.org provides more information. To post a message, send it to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd For the GKD database, with past messages: http://www.GKDknowledge.org
Re: [GKD-DOTCOM] How Much Bandwidth is Necessary?
Regarding Tony Roberts' reply to Simon Woodside: Simon Woodside wrote: Not only that, but the high cost of a PC or a laptop needs to be considered. A PC is expensive, whether it's connected to high-bandwidth or low. So a substantial sum of the total ICT investment isn't going to change no matter what the bandwidth plan might be. I would beg to differ. There are existing real low cost options for PCs. Computer Aid is a non-profit organisation that supplies professionally refurbished high quality PCs for a fraction of the cost of a new machine. This is a resonant tune and not only relevant in developing countries. In Canada, similar programs exist, including a Government subsidized program that has rolled out approximately 32,000 PC's to schools in the province of Ontario alone across a population of 5,500 schools. And, in addition, several for-profit organizations are doing very good work in this area so there is value in developed and developing countries. A pilot program is currently underway in this same region to test what is termed as a blended model. The rationale is that even urban schools with high speed Internet access use many of their computers in browser mode a significant percentage of the time. The model calls for 15% new, 65% mid life (24 to 42 months old) and 20% are over 42 months old. This allows for a natural cascading of technology rather than software compatibility-driven rollovers. To make this a more viable model, I reference a previous message where I briefly discussed the value of a remotely managed and metered content server (i.e. knowledge delivery engine). When connected to whatever local network is available, this provides reliable, network-speed access to cached applications and content, including educator-selected content (often by the Min of Ed in that country). If a network does not exist, then a simple, low-tech wireless network is set up. However, the key to this model is not the infrastructure, but rather the ability of teachers and students to interact with quality multi-modal learning resources in this low tech market. To finance this model in developing countries where local phones with dial-up capabilities, such as in a northern Canadian Aboriginal community, this Content Server also becomes the local ISP host. Affordable Internet access can fund the entire operational costs in this environment. Alternatively, in developing countries, Telecenters are the economic generator that supports local education and often the healthcare access, also. This does not dispute the necessity of having strong community leadership and the challenges of keeping quality staff and skills. Remote monitoring and management of the server environment, as well as, loading up Tony Roberts' refurbished P166+ PC's with Linux-on-the-desktop can increase the reliability and user experience. Now, the desktops and servers can be remotely managed via the Internet and satellite. This model is being implemented in Uganda, where the donation of 1 Content server and 40 P4 PC's for one school became a project for 41 schools (the PC's were upgraded with a 2nd disk drive) and refurbished PC's were donated as the classroom user devices. As in Canada, this provided immediate evidence of the power of mature PC's in technology-assisted teaching and learning where the content is locally available (and refreshed nightly) to bring learning alive and be a catalyst to life-long learning. For more information or a copy of White Papers that discuss this in more detail, contact me. Regards Bob Robert Miller EVP Global Inc. Direct: (416) 423-9100 Mobile: (416) 464-7525 Fax: (416) 696-9734 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] History teaches us that people and nations behave wisely, once they have exhausted all other alternatives Abba Eban This DOT-COM Discussion is funded by the dot-ORG USAID Cooperative Agreement, and hosted by GKD. http://www.dot-com-alliance.org provides more information. To post a message, send it to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd For the GKD database, with past messages: http://www.GKDknowledge.org
Re: [GKD-DOTCOM] Bringing Connectivity to Under-Served Communities
Hello Thaths and Others: Thaths wrote regarding the issue of viruses becoming bandwidth consumers and ultimately undermining the user experience for students, faculty, and others. While I had discussed the technology behind the solution I wrote about, it provides a remotely managed server that is monitored every 15 minutes to ensure it is healthy and all processes are running properly. It backs itself up each night to protect all of the information stored on it (email, student and faculty web pages, and a personal folder for each user to securely save their work). So this is a more robust solution that just a proxy server - as a matter of fact, its built-in internal and external firewalls have even withstood the rigours of student hackers, often the most creative and dangerous! So, the bottom line is that such solutions are available, affordable, and secure to ensure that resources continue to be available to all authorized users, and the user experience continues to be reliable. In addition, a local Google-like search engine is also built into each CampusAxxess server and can provide users with the ability to search this local repository at network speeds and access Internet web sites that are refreshed nightly to reflect any changes made to the live Internet version. Reliable access to rich content and applications at local area network speeds - sounds easy and it is, but is also the result of a 3 year RD project that was initially co-funded by the Canadian Government Internet RD agency (Canarie) and subsequently launched by the developer, Advanced Interactive, for the international marketplace. If you would like more information, please contact me. Regards Bob Robert Miller EVP Global Inc. Direct: (416) 423-9100 Mobile: (416) 464-7525 Fax: (416) 696-9734 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] History teaches us that people and nations behave wisely, once they have exhausted all other alternatives Abba Eban This DOT-COM Discussion is funded by the dot-ORG USAID Cooperative Agreement, and hosted by GKD. http://www.dot-com-alliance.org provides more information. To post a message, send it to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd For the GKD database, with past messages: http://www.GKDknowledge.org
Re: [GKD-DOTCOM] Bringing Connectivity to Under-Served Communities
Hello All, With regard to Ahmed's note and the great work he is doing by bringing Internet literacy to the students in his university in Nigeria, what if you could connect one Campus Content server to that Internet connection and locally store many times the content in the US Library of Congress? What if this provided simultaneous access for several hundred users on campus? And what if simple low-tech Pentium II that supported Netscape or Internet Explorer were all that was required to access this Internet content, as well as, a myriad of rich content including e-Books, e-Learning courses, video and multimedia resources? etc. were also available to any student on campus, wirelessly could be refurbished Pentium II-class PC's that support either Netscape or Internet Explorer? And, what if all the content on this server were remotely refreshed nightly via satellite broadcast with any updates so that those content resources were always current as of 2:00 AM that day and were available to students, faculty, and administration at high-speed using a simple, reliable wireless campus network? Yes, this is possible and it is being done today! And, it operated on a financially self-sustaining basis by the University or a local community business person who is charged with providing this reliable service. And, when the contagious enthusiasm of turned-on Internet- savvy students demonstrate the power of technology-assisted teaching and learning to the faculty and those in the university's administration, it empowers a paradigm shift in thinking for this University. In addition, this reliable, remotely-managed Campus- wide approach can also include partnerships with international universities (from Canada and US) that currently offer world- class virtual degree and diploma programs to students on their local campus. This is an exciting time as affordable, sustainable, repeatable capabilities such as those described above can bring together world-class computing, global connectivity, content, training, teacher professional development, and virtual support in under- served and developing regions. And, as a result, the digital divide is narrowing with increasing opportunities for literate and articulate people from anywhere in the world to compete for a new breed of virtual jobs in the emerging global information society workforce. Regards Bob Robert Miller EVP Global Inc. Direct: (416) 423-9100 Mobile: (416) 464-7525 Fax: (416) 696-9734 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] History teaches us that people and nations behave wisely, once they have exhausted all other alternatives Abba Eban Ahmed Isah wrote: ...The issue is not to do with selling a useless product that has no demand. Rather, it has to do with whether the target market is really aware of the benefits of the product to them. This then boils down to illiteracy of the benefits of the Internet to the user. Take my case as an example. We provide a 24 PC Internet connectivity in an academic environment in Nigeria with about 10,000 students and 400 academic staff. Yet, the connectivity was not maximally utilised. However, when we embarked on Internet awareness training to the students, we now have to plan for more PCs as the students continue to troop in. This DOT-COM Discussion is funded by the dot-ORG USAID Cooperative Agreement, and hosted by GKD. http://www.dot-com-alliance.org provides more information. To post a message, send it to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd For the GKD database, with past messages: http://www.GKDknowledge.org
Re: [GKD-DOTCOM] Bringing Connectivity to Under-Served Communities
Dear GKD Colleagues: I am following up on the series of emails that have gone back and forth on this topic. I am a consultant who spent 19 years with HP prior to taking early retirement last year. My last role was National Business Development Manager for Education and Healthcare and I was engaged to find the next disruptive technology that could change how technology-assisted teaching, learning, and wellness could be sustainably delivered in developed and developing countries. Advanced Interactive, a Vancouver-Canada RD organization, had partnered with Canarie, the Canadian Government Internet RD agency in 2000 to develop a solution for providing high speed access to Internet resources in schools, even when there was only a slow dial-up modem connection from the school to the Internet. The outcome was the commercialization of this distributed and remotely managed technology, which has evolved and brings financially self-sustainable connectivity to under-served communities, including those lacking electrical or communications infrastructure. I have 2 White Papers which will provide a comprehensive view of how they have addressed this challenge. This is currently installed in remote Aboriginal communities in Canada, in Uganda, Ghana, and soon in Senegal. It will also be used as the secure delivery vehicle by several Canadian Universities establishing bi-lateral campuses - one is rolling out with 12 Universities in China and the other 40 Universities in India. The curriculum provided by the Canadian University and a US College is monitored and managed constantly, refreshed nightly, and all student information is available at all times in any school that student touches. For more information or to discuss in more detail, please contact me. I look forward to your response. Regards Bob Robert Miller EVP Global Inc. Direct: (416) 423-9100 Mobile: (416) 464-7525 Fax: (416) 696-9734 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] enabling virtual projects that narrow the digital divide This DOT-COM Discussion is funded by the dot-ORG USAID Cooperative Agreement, and hosted by GKD. http://www.dot-com-alliance.org provides more information. To post a message, send it to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd For the GKD database, with past messages: http://www.GKDknowledge.org
