Re: [GKD] World's Poor to Get Their Own Search Engine
Hi all, I'm probably jumping into this discussion a little late, but wanted to add that www4mail (see http://www.kabissa.org/members/www4mail/) provides functionality similar to what John describes - allowing the e-mailer to decide which search engine to use. Kabissa ran a www4mail server for a number of years, but we have found that our members (African CSOs) are not using it despite our very actively promoting it to them. There are a lot of reasons for this, including the fact that more people now do have (limited!) access to Internet-connected Web browsers as opposed to e-mail only systems - I wrote a short article on this in ICT Update: http://ictupdate.cta.int/index.php/article/articleview/183/1/31/ There are a number of www4mail servers out there, however none of us have really developed the tool far enough so it is simple for e-mail only users to understand what it does and how to use it. There is a mailing list people can join that might want to get involved in this: http://www.dgroups.org/groups/w4m And finally, there's a www4mail powered portal called VITA-Connect that we developed with funding from infoDev but which was never implemented - the platform is freely distributable open source available to anyone who wants to check it out: http://www.kabissa.org/members/vita-connect/get-vita-connect.php Cheers, Tobias -- Tobias Eigen Executive Director Kabissa - Space for change in Africa http://www.kabissa.org Kabissa's TIME TO GET ONLINE materials now available online! http://www.timetogetonline.org Daniel Makundi [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I was somewhat taken aback by the post below. Internet access in third world has populated significantly in the past few years: hardly anyone is still using email-only system such as the once-popular GreenNet-APC. At least for Tanzania where we have Internet access in all major towns and cities, and spreading fast. John Mullinax [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Very interesting -- one issue with this approach is that the filtering happens without the searcher's knowledge or control. One opportunity to address this may be to use a transformation gateway to compress content (similar to a WAP gateway, but probably not exactly a WAP gateway). The gateway may sufficiently reduce the amount of data sent over the wire so that the searcher in Malawi, or wherever, can select the items that would seem to be most useful. These pages could then be emailed in their entirety, per the system described. Just a thought ***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] World's Poor to Get Their Own Search Engine
I am not sure that this response is too useful it tends to say we don't have a problem. The real issue, in my sector at least, is can the small entrepreneur collect sufficient useful information to justify the cost of going on line. My experience is that the systems that I use to search the Internet through my permanent connection really don't work when I am at a telecenter paying by the half hour. I know its even worse for an Internet starter. Therefore I believe that systems that make the information collection process easier (e.g. TEK, web to email services, sites assembling special information (e.g. www.safpp.co.za ) are useful. Regards Dave D A Harcourt Strengthening African Food Processing Project (SAFPP) . BIO/CHEMTEK TFD . P O Box 395, Pretoria, 0001 . South Africa http://www.safpp.co.za . phone +27 12 841 3097 fax +27 12 841 3726 [EMAIL PROTECTED] __ Barometer - an ingenious instrument which indicates what kind of weather we are having. Definition from Ambrose Bierce's Demon's Dictionary Daniel Makundi [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I was somewhat taken aback by the post below. Internet access in third world has populated significantly in the past few years: hardly anyone is still using email-only system such as the once-popular GreenNet-APC. At least for Tanzania where we have Internet access in all major towns and cities, and spreading fast. John Mullinax [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Very interesting -- one issue with this approach is that the filtering happens without the searcher's knowledge or control. One opportunity to address this may be to use a transformation gateway to compress content (similar to a WAP gateway, but probably not exactly a WAP gateway). The gateway may sufficiently reduce the amount of data sent over the wire so that the searcher in Malawi, or wherever, can select the items that would seem to be most useful. These pages could then be emailed in their entirety, per the system described. Just a thought ***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] World's Poor to Get Their Own Search Engine
I was somewhat taken aback by the post below. Internet access in third world has populated significantly in the past few years: hardly anyone is still using email-only system such as the once-popular GreenNet-APC. At least for Tanzania where we have Internet access in all major towns and cities, and spreading fast. John Mullinax [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Very interesting -- one issue with this approach is that the filtering happens without the searcher's knowledge or control. One opportunity to address this may be to use a transformation gateway to compress content (similar to a WAP gateway, but probably not exactly a WAP gateway). The gateway may sufficiently reduce the amount of data sent over the wire so that the searcher in Malawi, or wherever, can select the items that would seem to be most useful. These pages could then be emailed in their entirety, per the system described. Just a thought ***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/
