Comments on: Can the Web 2.0 benefit the World’s poor? http://blog.web2fordev.net/2007/06/13/can-the-web-20-benefit-the-world%e2%80%99s-poor/ Participatory Web for Development - Web collaboratif pour le développement Thu, 28 Aug 2008 20:23:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Michael Saunby http://blog.web2fordev.net/2007/06/13/can-the-web-20-benefit-the-world%e2%80%99s-poor/#comment-14 Michael Saunby Tue, 19 Jun 2007 20:47:34 +0000 http://blog.web2fordev.net/2007/06/13/can-the-web-20-benefit-the-world%e2%80%99s-poor/#comment-14 I'm happy to join a discussion on rural connectivity issues and solutions. There are many different approaches. Here are some ideas that might suit some situations. For the developers of Web2.0 sites consider Google Gears - http://gearsblog.blogspot.com/ This allows suitably built websites to work offline. http://www.firstmilesolutions.com/ is an interesting new interpretation of what used to be called "sneaker-net" when data was carried between PCs on floppy disks. Personally I think that cell/mobile phone are going to be really important for rural users. Even here in the UK family and friends who farm for a living don't have time to use a PC most days. I’m happy to join a discussion on rural connectivity issues and solutions. There are many different approaches. Here are some ideas that might suit some situations.

For the developers of Web2.0 sites consider Google Gears - http://gearsblog.blogspot.com/ This allows suitably built websites to work offline.

http://www.firstmilesolutions.com/ is an interesting new interpretation of what used to be called “sneaker-net” when data was carried between PCs on floppy disks.

Personally I think that cell/mobile phone are going to be really important for rural users. Even here in the UK family and friends who farm for a living don’t have time to use a PC most days.

]]> By: Prince Deh http://blog.web2fordev.net/2007/06/13/can-the-web-20-benefit-the-world%e2%80%99s-poor/#comment-13 Prince Deh Tue, 19 Jun 2007 13:39:07 +0000 http://blog.web2fordev.net/2007/06/13/can-the-web-20-benefit-the-world%e2%80%99s-poor/#comment-13 The impact of web2.0 tools as we see today might not directly affect the rural poor as someone rightly put it.The bennefit of this tool to the rural poor who form the majority much depends on the issue of connectivity and access.The question i also ask is how do we solve the problem of rural connectivity in order to extend the benefits of web2.0 tools much wider beyond the scope of the cities. We can suggest very explicit solutions on this medium just for the sake of argument and discussion but how realistic will these suggestions be without dealing with the core issue of connectivity.I suggest we find some space for the topic" Promoting Rural Connectivity and Access" The impact of web2.0 tools as we see today might not directly affect the rural poor as someone rightly put it.The bennefit of this tool to the rural poor who form the majority much depends on the issue of connectivity and access.The question i also ask is how do we solve the problem of rural connectivity in order to extend the benefits of web2.0 tools much wider beyond the scope of the cities. We can suggest very explicit solutions on this medium just for the sake of argument and discussion but how realistic will these suggestions be without dealing with the core issue of connectivity.I suggest we find some space for the topic” Promoting Rural Connectivity and Access”

]]> By: Michael Saunby http://blog.web2fordev.net/2007/06/13/can-the-web-20-benefit-the-world%e2%80%99s-poor/#comment-12 Michael Saunby Mon, 18 Jun 2007 18:17:03 +0000 http://blog.web2fordev.net/2007/06/13/can-the-web-20-benefit-the-world%e2%80%99s-poor/#comment-12 I've only just discovered this blog today - thanks to PSD blog. It's great to see discussions like this on the Internet and to to me that's what Web 2.0 is all about - folks sharing knowledge, not just a list of their favourite bands but all sorts of knowledge. To use some Web 2.0 jargon, it's the long tail. These technologies are the best hope we have right now for getting really important information to people who really, really need it. Back in January I visted Nekemte in Ethiopia to see how viable it might be to deliver weather forecasts to subsistence farmers using mashups, mobile phones or whatever technology would do the trick. "Internet - rural Ethiopia, are you mad?" several folks said. But we went, we met people, we got sick, and what did we discover? Yes, they already have an Internet cafe, yes they have cell phones. No they've never had a newspaper, and yes they will soon have their own radio station - sometime next year. So folks, the message from Ethiopia seems to be, it might not be perfect, but for now the Internet is the best hope subsistence farmers have to enter the Information Age. So now the challenge for my group is to deal with the last mile (or 50) to get weather forecasts from the Internet to the fields. Could be by local radio, or extension workers, or a girl on a bicyle. I don't know yet, but it's going to be a great adventure..... Michael Saunby (wepoco) I’ve only just discovered this blog today - thanks to PSD blog. It’s great to see discussions like this on the Internet and to to me that’s what Web 2.0 is all about - folks sharing knowledge, not just a list of their favourite bands but all sorts of knowledge. To use some Web 2.0 jargon, it’s the long tail. These technologies are the best hope we have right now for getting really important information to people who really, really need it.

Back in January I visted Nekemte in Ethiopia to see how viable it might be to deliver weather forecasts to subsistence farmers using mashups, mobile phones or whatever technology would do the trick. “Internet - rural Ethiopia, are you mad?” several folks said. But we went, we met people, we got sick, and what did we discover? Yes, they already have an Internet cafe, yes they have cell phones. No they’ve never had a newspaper, and yes they will soon have their own radio station - sometime next year.

So folks, the message from Ethiopia seems to be, it might not be perfect, but for now the Internet is the best hope subsistence farmers have to enter the Information Age. So now the challenge for my group is to deal with the last mile (or 50) to get weather forecasts from the Internet to the fields. Could be by local radio, or extension workers, or a girl on a bicyle. I don’t know yet, but it’s going to be a great adventure…..

Michael Saunby (wepoco)

]]> By: pauline maingi http://blog.web2fordev.net/2007/06/13/can-the-web-20-benefit-the-world%e2%80%99s-poor/#comment-9 pauline maingi Thu, 14 Jun 2007 16:36:31 +0000 http://blog.web2fordev.net/2007/06/13/can-the-web-20-benefit-the-world%e2%80%99s-poor/#comment-9 to add my two cents worth to this debate, personally i was asking the same question as edward. .. i must admit, its not always that we see the broader issues, and even when we do, we may not have the 'exact answers'. recently, i came across a research article on a project based in rural uganda. the project combines online and offline information sharing to help rural farmers, mostly women. extention workers act as intermediaries (as anja mentions), by getting information from the web, and repackages and shares with the rural farmers .. .. not sure if the website incorporates any web 2.0 concepts, but to me this was a good example of what i was looking for in web4dev.. .. to add my two cents worth to this debate, personally i was asking the same question as edward. .. i must admit, its not always that we see the broader issues, and even when we do, we may not have the ‘exact answers’. recently, i came across a research article on a project based in rural uganda. the project combines online and offline information sharing to help rural farmers, mostly women. extention workers act as intermediaries (as anja mentions), by getting information from the web, and repackages and shares with the rural farmers .. .. not sure if the website incorporates any web 2.0 concepts, but to me this was a good example of what i was looking for in web4dev.. ..

]]> By: Anja Barth http://blog.web2fordev.net/2007/06/13/can-the-web-20-benefit-the-world%e2%80%99s-poor/#comment-8 Anja Barth Thu, 14 Jun 2007 14:39:24 +0000 http://blog.web2fordev.net/2007/06/13/can-the-web-20-benefit-the-world%e2%80%99s-poor/#comment-8 With many problems in developing countries a conference focusing on Web2ForDev might appear a bit contradictory. But as Joachim is pointing out the view on the possibilities and of course challenges of Web 2.0 should be broader based. It this case the first target groups are not directly the “poor”. A lot of so called intermediaries can take advantage from the opportunities of Web 2.0 tools and the exchange that is possible within the networks that are built using Web 2.0. The conference Web2ForDev aims to bring together people that can share concrete experiences in using Web 2.0 with focus on the rural and agricultural development. In many ways that could benefit the “poor” at the end. With many problems in developing countries a conference focusing on Web2ForDev might appear a bit contradictory. But as Joachim is pointing out the view on the possibilities and of course challenges of Web 2.0 should be broader based. It this case the first target groups are not directly the “poor”. A lot of so called intermediaries can take advantage from the opportunities of Web 2.0 tools and the exchange that is possible within the networks that are built using Web 2.0. The conference Web2ForDev aims to bring together people that can share concrete experiences in using Web 2.0 with focus on the rural and agricultural development. In many ways that could benefit the “poor” at the end.

]]> By: Joachim Hofer http://blog.web2fordev.net/2007/06/13/can-the-web-20-benefit-the-world%e2%80%99s-poor/#comment-7 Joachim Hofer Thu, 14 Jun 2007 11:36:52 +0000 http://blog.web2fordev.net/2007/06/13/can-the-web-20-benefit-the-world%e2%80%99s-poor/#comment-7 I feel that the discussion about “Can Web 2.0 benefit the World’s poor?” is often focussed too much on the idea of direct access of the poor to this new technology. Issues of connectivity, hardware etc. are then of course a big issue. I am looking at this more in the framework of the service landscape in rural areas in general. And to me, a more impact oriented approach would be to support and promote access and usage to/of Web2.0 on the Meso-Level of rural service providers. They in turn could then improve their services to the "poor". I feel that the discussion about “Can Web 2.0 benefit the World’s poor?” is often focussed too much on the idea of direct access of the poor to this new technology. Issues of connectivity, hardware etc. are then of course a big issue.
I am looking at this more in the framework of the service landscape in rural areas in general. And to me, a more impact oriented approach would be to support and promote access and usage to/of Web2.0 on the Meso-Level of rural service providers. They in turn could then improve their services to the “poor”.

]]> By: giulio quaggiotto http://blog.web2fordev.net/2007/06/13/can-the-web-20-benefit-the-world%e2%80%99s-poor/#comment-6 giulio quaggiotto Wed, 13 Jun 2007 22:27:14 +0000 http://blog.web2fordev.net/2007/06/13/can-the-web-20-benefit-the-world%e2%80%99s-poor/#comment-6 You might be interested in an article with (almost) the same title on .net Magazine Development 2.0: can the web save the world? http://www.netmag.co.uk/zine/discover-culture/development-2-0-can-the-web-save-the-world You might be interested in an article with (almost) the same title on .net Magazine

Development 2.0: can the web save the world?
http://www.netmag.co.uk/zine/discover-culture/development-2-0-can-the-web-save-the-world

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