Re: [GKD-DOTCOM] Local Governments Should Adopt a Business Model
Would it be possible to standardise on, (at least a minimal number if not one), a 'template,' given that all such bodies have at least: - one grant/capital source, - possibly a revenue stream - a time frame for fund utilisation, sourcing and collection - a structure or powers to distribute funds - likewise, to collect funds - capital or 'against grant' expenses - revenue or operating expenses, - ceilings/budgets against each head - targets for various activities in money-translatable terms - balances and variances from sanctioned figures - surpluses and deficits If so, it should not be difficult to develop a web-based accounting system, wherein an account is opened by each body on a server which can be accessed by various authorised persons, who feed information and receive reports according to the nature of their financial responsibilities. Accordingly, it would be possible to record, reckon and report, and hence to analyse, plan, control and staff each resource transaction. Such a system can further standardise a set of off-line data entry documents like vouchers or journals for efficient accounting. Regards, Udit Chaudhuri On Mon, May 23, 2005, Peter Burgess wrote: Following up on postings by Janice Brodman and Ed Cherlin ... the interesting thing about a company is that the stakeholders who are interested in its value look at both balance sheet and the profit or cash flow past and future. This is very helpful in thinking about what works and what does not. Governments (including local governments) do their accounting on a cash basis that cannot reflect the financial performance of the government entity in a meaningful way because expenditures that have life beyond the current period are essentially off the books. It is a weak system, and I am sure has stayed in vogue for that very reason. ..snip... 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 past messages, see: http://www.dot-com-alliance.org/archive.html
Re: [GKD] The $100 Computer: A Polite Scam
Dear Colleagues, At times I feel that this idea falls prey to the typical techie approach, as if attempting to switch off too many problems with one magic circuit design! It seems we jump to developing entire systems based on latest technology (StrongArm processor et al), which is itself derived through layers of observing market trends in developed markets and dovetailing those needs with progressively advanced features, adapting the latest applied and basic research available, then assume some kind of watered down version of those computing needs for first-time-computer-user markets and produce some kind of a one-size-fits-all mini wizard...Pardon me, but this is what I have observed from the Simputer and Lindows program onwards. Instead, would it not be a better idea to make cheap microprocessor trainer-developer kits and overcome all barriers in marketing these to institutions, community bodies, ICT organisations, etc? The 8085, it seems, survives only for these purposes. Local beneficiaries can then develop and standardise their own systems, with a little help from local institutes. Maybe they would be better able to specify and order more advanced devices and materials too. BW TV technology was passed on to small-scale industries in India during the 1970s via the Central Electronic Engineering Research Institute (CEERI) by readapting a circuit and standardising local sources of components, materials, testing, assembly and QC procedures. This got the local industry going and later this need for CEERI involvement was obviated on this front. What we have, as I see in India is the ingenuity of (akin to the Scandinavian Google promoter whose name I forget, who built a printer from junk parts) re-conditioning and servicing entire machines including electronic plain-paper copiers and electric typewriters, wherein local machinists and moulders have been tapped, by ingenious local repairers, into re-fabricating parts and sub-assemblies of imported machines, whose manufacturers have shut shop, realigned their Indian collaborations, or phased out production. Even if this practice is questioned by big manufacturers and their network, it saved the large amounts of capital invested in the many thousands of photocopy and typing shops all over India. It also saved the reputation of the big names who no doubt hid behind their fine print to leave thousands of customers in the lurch. As the old adage goes, feeding a hungry person with a fish relieves hunger for few hours; teaching the person to fish relieves hunger forever. regards udit chaudhuri http://micropower.blogspot.com ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, a Non-Profit Organization*** 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 Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: http://www.edc.org/GLG/gkd/
Re: [GKD-DOTCOM] What's on the Horizon?
As for Guido Sohne's comment on battery life of hand-helds: Of course the real alternative is in effecient circuit design and perhaps the genre of mini fuel cells being researched on by various East Asian companies. However, there is one solution in low-cost solar power. Do visit www.biodesign.org.uk and the URL below this message. Udit Chaudhuri MAXIMISE YOUR MILLIWATT http://microPower.blogspot.com Guido Sohne [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: 1. What new high impact technologies are on the 3-year horizon? Who (exactly) needs to do what (concretely) to make those technologies widely available? Hardware: Cheap handhelds (approx $100) that are Wi-Fi (or GSM 3G) capable. Either as a telephone or a handheld tablet. Processing power won't matter too much, battery life will be more important. Linux is an ideal choice for these devices. No keyboard. ..snip... 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] Flaws in India's Model e-Governance Project
It is high time to find a technology that will end this holy cow computerisation, so typical of India. I don't know if this attitude holds in other 3rd world countries too. The same thing happenned in several organisations including banks and commercial firms throughout the 70s to the 90s, that the first wave of computerisation pervaded various sectors of the Indian economy. With computerisation of records and information, data-entry operators and those authorised to allow access or process outputs became the new power centres, instead of becoming catalysts for efficiency. However, with progrssively less complex technology, increased computing power in desktop machines, advent of the Net, widespread, networked and cheaper PCs, this power of information is slowly being disseminated to the direct beneficiaries intended to be served, i.e. customers, tax-payers, citizens at large, etc. One expected that with the integration of cheap and powerful hand-helds like the Simputer and slew of Linux boxes, this dissemination would receive a shot in the arm, but we seem to have hit a speed-breaker here too. Udit Chaudhuri - Independent Technical Writer www.writers.net/writers/24261 ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, a Non-Profit Organization*** 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 Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: http://www.edc.org/GLG/gkd/
Re: [GKD] ICT Policy Shift Necessary To Bridge Digital Divide
After all, a bridge needs two ends to be supported firmly. While technologists and thinkers may offer ideas, thoughts and even resources, that is just one end of the bridge. It is just one node. At the other end the local beneficiary also needs to handshake with all that is offered, however well meant it may be from the other end. Some of this is direct, by way of education, peoples initiative groups, etc while the government - central and local - play a critical role, in terms of law policy as well as opinion leaders. Therefore a two-pronged effort is a must. Perhaps we could involve more potential beneficiaries in discussions like this. Udit Chaudhuri Ivo Njosa [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I have not been a member of this group for long but I have a deep appreciation as an African for those who are really trying to bridge the digital divide. I would not want to discourage. All the help is needed. However, my re-occurring theme here will be to keep putting the problem where it belongs. African governments must change for a lot of these initiatives to really take off. There are lots of good western- influenced ideas that if implemented and committed to could make a huge impact on African societies. Technology is one of those tools that can really help a nation leap-frog into the modern economy but again, the commitment must be there. African governments are amongst the most irresponsible I have ever seen. They do not even try. It is the mind-set. It is ingrained in the society and accepted by the denizens. Advocating change for the benefit of the greater society is strange to us. Until this changes, I do not see many viable programs\projects. True democracy will go a long way towards alleviating this problem but it will not be an end by itself. African governments at all levels must profoundly feel that they will be held accountable if things do not work. The one that usually gets their attention is the idea of losing power. If this gets solved, a lot of the other problems would at least have a fighting chance. When non-Africans talk about this issue, we get offended. But other societies are leaving us behind. A drunk must accept that he is a drunk before any lasting solution can be introduced. ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, a Non-Profit Organization*** 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 Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: http://www.edc.org/GLG/gkd/
[GKD] Improving ICT Infrastructure in Dev. Countries
Infrastructure is a major issue any ICT enabling effort - be it the Simputer, Village Internet, WiFi... but greatly underestimated. Whereas about every hamlet among your potential sites may even have an educated, sometimes computer-aware if not entirely PC-literate person as your potential user. the supporting utilities such as transmitting-receiving networks, land-lines and basic to all these - reliable mains power at a reasonable voltage - are often insufficient if not absent, while the local administration and official figures may point otherwise. Therefore, any ICT enabling programme needs to work on a two-pronged approach: To liaise with the local administration (communications and energy are mostly government owned or controlled) and pursue the progress of local electrification and comm networks, at the same time planning a supporting ICE programme, to the extent of your aims. Seeking partnerships with such developmental bodies including NGOs, the microPower initiative modestly envisions the independence of a working class rural / urban fringe family from public utilities for its most basic energy, information and communication needs. First, microPower offers autonomous power solutions for the rural / semi-urban beneficiary and will soon follow this up with OEMs in the ICT sector with appropriate built-in solar power and energy storage devices. To elaborate on this initiative, a data sheet on microPower solar photovoltaic battery chargers as well as PDFs on the product range (35KB) and its underlying concept (115KB) are available on request. For enquiries: The microPower Initiative c/o Udit Chaudhuri Unika Enterprises e-mail:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Tel - Fax: +91-22-26045595 Regards, Udit Chaudhuri ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, a Non-Profit Organization*** 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 Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: http://www.edc.org/GLG/gkd/
[GKD] Improved Solar Cooker Now Available
For all of you who work in tropical regions and for poor (predominantly) rice-eater beneficiaries, here is some interesting news: As you may know, solar cookers have been manufactured in India for about two deacdes (www.renewingindia.org would give some figures) and marketed under various developmental and subsidy schemes, while I understand that a few have been exported to other developing countries under some package or manufacturers' initiative. Most of the fabricators have been small / one-man-show industries, as preferred by the policies, who start by buying drawings from our government's Nodal Agencies and have little scope for product improvement or RD. Taking keen initiative in this situation is the Industrial Design Centre of the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. They have improved on all existing designs and are able to attain a temperature as high as 150 DEG Celsius with sufficient DIRECT COOKING capacity for a small family. It needs 3-4 hours in shadow-free tropical sunlight. Using superior yet locally sourced materials like FRP, PTFE and toughened glass covers for protection and enhanced insulation, the aesthetics and finish are pleasing too, a smooth, attractively coloured, aerodynamic oval. This design has also done away with the mirror, making it acceptable in windy areas as well. The design is available to micro-entrepreneur development agencies, NGOs as well as manufacturers. Please feel free to write to Prof K Munshi [EMAIL PROTECTED] at IDC, Mumbai or me for any further information or assistance. Regards Udit Chaudhuri IDC SOLAR RICE COOKER Salient Features 1. Single dish design, suited to direct cooking, adapted to most tropical cuisines. 2. Cooks for 4 persons at a time. 3. Ideal for rice and lentil preparations - Khichri, Pullao, Kheer - ample scope for local improvisation. 4. Also roasts potatoes, other root vegetables, fish, meat - to temperatures as high as 150 deg. Celsius. 5. Healthful, slow cooking - a typical meal is ready by 12 Noon if loaded by 9 am. 6. No supervision is required after loading the cooker. 7. Hygenic - Teflon coating on cooking vessel and finished FRP exterior easy to clean. 8. Tamper-proof design - double glass cover, 4 tight clamps and no mirrors to distract or re-adjust. 9. Supplements conventional cooking, just like your pressure cooker, electric oven or rice cooker. 10. FUEL SAVING and environment-friendly - burns no wood or gas, smokeless cooking. 11. Tested proven at Mumbai, also in winter. 12. Special recipes for solar cooking and are producing a solar cookbook. 13. Improved performance compared to commonly available box-type solar cookers - very high ratio of energy reception area to heat loss the area. 14. Balanced design function and performance, aesthetics and durability - all kept in mind. 15. Portable - just 6 Kgs, unladen. 16. Pleasant to display on the dining table and easy to carry from kitchen to the Sun-deck (balcony). For further information, please write to: Director INDUSTRIAL DESIGN CENTRE, Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai 400076, INDIA Contact Person: Prof K Munshi, IIT Bombay Telephone (Direct): +91-22-576 7822 (EAPBX) +91-22-572 2545 Ext 7822 Fax: +91-22-576 7803 +91-22-572 3480 e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, an NGO that is a GKP member*** 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 Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: http://www.edc.org/GLG/gkd/
Re: [GKD] Acknowledging the Digital Divide
I would like to build on what Vickram Crishna has stated: It is a common concern that any such development makes some people 'more equal' than the others. Unfortunately, in many Indian cases, the current village 'head-man' or one from the local all-powerful family was the only one educated and responsible to handle and maintain equipment that was supposed to be community-owned. Sometimes it is the only option to equipment vendors and their commissioning engineers, who would otherwise be marooned at the (very remote area) site for as long as a year, struggling to complete the 'handing over' procedure to avail of full payment. Further, the government itself monopolised access to development-driving utilities like postal services, telecom, petroleum and power distribution, besides aviation, steel, cement and fertilisers, making public representatives, civil servants and those in their proximity 'more equal' through their ability to dispense or broker scarce resources and favours. However planners at all levels have learned from these experiences and are trying to correct this. No one can say that the local private courier, PCO (Public Call Office) and Cybercafe owner is any kind of a power-broker or monopolist now. Low capital cost, limited margins, simple equipment and possibility of competition make it unattractive to the quick buck chaser. Likewise, the Nodal Agencies in quite a few States have undertaken mass-education and user-training initiatives, also motivating local 'owners' of community-owned stoves and renewable energy systems like solar streetlights. Telegraph offices have markedly improved. Cement and steel are no longer restricted supplies just as licenses to manufacture or distribute these are no longer exclusive privileges. Instances of money-order racketeering are less known among populaces with higher levels of literacy. We can learn from all this and apply it here too: In case of the Simputer, its low cost, open-source or public domain software - operating system and applications, hardware specifications, knowledge-sharing groups like the Yahoogroup and Sourceforge communities, and attempts to disseminate this information - even discussions like this, prior to its launch - will definitely help mitigate any 'holy cow' in it. In fact, IT by itself has grown from being a rocket-science for the privileged few to something taught in schools, and the many popular private institutes, with books and CD-ROMs on any topic available all over India and in several regional languages. This is bound to result in better all-round awareness of usage, servicing, applications and peripheral development as well as competition-driven low costs. Branded PC manufacturers need to run hard for their money. It appears that economy - from market-driven regulation more than administered controls, education and communication are about the best anti-monopoly weapons. On my part, I would back all endeavors in preparing all technical support and educational material related to the Simputer. Regards Udit Chaudhuri ***GKD is an initiative of the Global Knowledge Partnership*** 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 Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: http://www.globalknowledge.org
[GKD] Information Village Project (India)
Dear GKD Members, I would like to introduce myself, as this is my first message to GKD. I live in Mumbai, India and have 22 years experience writing technical documentation and promotional material; have supported new market launches and Phased Manufacturing Programmes for a wide number of industries, 12 years of which were spent as a (employee + contracted tenures) marketing and projects executive. Have worked abreast with evolving information systems and technologies since 1979, though about exclusively for the IT industry since 1998. Am an electrical (energy systems) engineer, studied Cybernetic Management Strategy applied to growth of businesses through an Advance Diploma in Management from the Wolfgang Mewes Verlag of Frankfurt, Germany which enables analysis and strategy formulation - esp. business growth by information strategy. Have extensive exposure to all areas of corporate communications - as copywriter and communications consultant. In addition, I take a keen interest in all issues related to economic development, especially energy, environment and technology. I am likewise an observer, subscriber or participant in relevant fora of bodies like Exnora www.exnora.org Save Chennai Environment, the Hawking Communicator Project www.radiophony.com and Society for Clean Environment www.socleen.org, as well as the Simputer list. I would like to share with you this information about the Information Village Project, of the M S Swaminathan Research Foundation, which I drew from the Drumbeat page at the Communication Initiative site: http://www.comminit.com/pds11-2001/sld-3357.html. Best regards, Udit Chaudhuri -- Information Village Project - India Summary The Information Village Project, of the M S Swaminathan Research Foundation, linked ten villages near Pondicherry, India with computers, providing information on such aspects as health, crops, weather, and fishing conditions. These new technology tools are empowering everyone with knowledge and opportunity by an inclusive use of local languages and a multimedia format that allows all to participate. Main Communication Strategies The Information Village Project has connected the villages by a hybrid wired and wireless network-consisting of PCs, telephones, VHF duplex radio devices and email connectivity through dial-up telephone lines - that facilitates both voice and data transfer, and have enabled the villagers to get information that they need and can use. The entire project draws its sustenance from the holistic philosophy of Swaminathan, which emphasises an integrated pro-poor, pro-women, pro-Nature orientation to development and community ownership of technological tools against personal or family ownership, and encourages collective action for spread of technology. The bottom up exercise involves local volunteers to gather information, feed it into an Intranet and provide access through nodes in different villages. Value addition to the raw information, use of the local language (Tamil) and multimedia (to facilitate illiterate users) and participation by local people right from the beginning are the noteworthy features of the project. Most of the operators and volunteers providing primary information are women, thus giving them status and influence. All centres came up because of demands made by the community. Information provided in the village knowledge centres is locale specific and relates to prices of agricultural inputs (such as seeds, fertilizers, pesticides) and outputs (rice, vegetables), market (potential for export), entitlement (the multitude of schemes of the central and state governments, banks), health care (availability of doctors and paramedics in nearby hospitals, women's diseases), cattle diseases, transport (road conditions, cancellation of bus trips), weather (appropriate time for sowing, areas of abundant fish catch, wave heights in the sea), etc. Unique to the project is the fact that most information is collected and fed in by the local community itself. The centres are operated by local volunteers. Development Issues Technology, Economic Development, Rights Key Points In most villages, there are no telephone lines and there are frequent power breakdowns. The project uses hybrid wired and wireless communication links using telephones at one end and Motorola VHF dupleix devices at the other, and by using solar power in conjunction with the mains. In a caste-based society, it is not easy to spread an egaliterian ethos. The project was able to gain working space for the village information centres from a Panchayat (local government) office, a private individual's home and even a temple. They were able to overcome the temple' normal rules and allow Dalit (lowest caste) people and women in their monthly periods to enter and use the informtion centre located in the temple. MSSRF won the Stockholm Challenge Award in 2001 for this project. Partners IDRC
