The document discusses bridging the digital divide by proposing low-tech solutions for communication in developing areas with limited infrastructure. It suggests using simple tools like paper forms, wheels with numbers, and radio for collecting local data and reports that can then be sent by SMS, phone calls, or radio to recipients. These approaches are language-independent, cheap to make locally, and don't require constant battery or network access like smartphones.

1. Ideas for bridging the
technology divide
Nicolas di Tada, InSTEDD, nditada@instedd.org

2. Revisiting the mobile
spectrum
SMS
Voice
Mobile applications

3. Why is SMS difficult in
Southeast Asia?

4. Challenges
SMS illiteracy
Phone interface not localized
Character support and input methods

5. 27 letters 8 buttons

6. 50+ letters 8 buttons

7. What about voice?

8. nine cholera nine ........era
thirteen dengue ....teen dengue

9. Sorry
doctor, I’m
calling to report
a case...

10. $

11. Mobile applications

12. Multiple platforms
Java ME
Symbian
Android
Blackberry
Microsoft .NET
etc.

13. Other problems
“App-enabled” phones are more expensive
Applications are usually not in local
languages
Deployment, provisioning, troubleshooting,
updating

14. ICT without software?

15. Tombodu (Sierra Leone) traditional registration

16. Radio tube identifier
source: http://www.stevenjohnson.com/cardboard/index.htm

17. Tombodu (Sierra Leone) traditional registration
source: http://www.stevenjohnson.com/cardboard/index.htm

18. source: http://www.stevenjohnson.com/cardboard/index.htm

19. source: http://www.datalizer.com

20. Walking Papers

22. Digital Paper

23. Talking book

25. Pilot
Reporting Wheel

28. Pros
Easy to learn and use
In local language and language independent
Cheap and not fragile
Easy to make locally
Shareable
No battery required
Error checking built-in

29. Channels for reporting
SMS
Call
Typing numbers
Speaking numbers
Radio
Paper

30. Pros of reporting
channels
Transport independent
Degrades gracefully
Data correction
Cheap and quick

31. Recipient of the reports
Computer
IVR (Interactive Voice Response)
Human

32. Thank you!
Nicolas di Tada, InSTEDD, nditada@instedd.org