Category Archives: Development

The Problem With Open Data

Posted on June 2, 2012 by

Recent initiatives have dramatically increased the range of previously “closed” data being made “open” by the government, including data sets on travel, weather and healthcare. This data can then be used by anyone to create great new products, business opportunities and community … Continue reading →

Posted in Development, ICT4D, Open Data, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Reflecting on 15 years of ICT4D

Last week the not-for-profit agency Computer Aid International celebrated providing its 200,000th computer to education and health organisations working in 112 countries worldwide (including the UK). Computer Aid’s Founder & ex-CEO Tony Roberts reflects on changes in the field of information … Continue reading →

Aside | Posted on March 19, 2012 by | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Open-Source Technology in ICT4D

Posted on March 10, 2012 by

This week I had to prepare a tutorial on ‘Open & Subversive Technologies’ for students of ICT4D at Royal Holloway, University of London. It got me thinking about the importance of enabling users to genuinely ‘appropriate’ ICT for Development, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Development, Freire, ICT4D, Open Data, Open ICT4D, Open Source | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Raspberry Pi – Total Cost of Ownership

Posted on March 1, 2012 by

The Raspberry Pi is a computer on a single printed circuit board. It centres around a mobile phone micro-processor and has various input/output sockets that allow you to attach the essential peripherals that you need but which are not included in … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Development, ICT4D | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Rant in Defense of ICT4D

Posted on November 9, 2011 by

Erik Hersman is due a great deal of respect for his work with Ushahidi and iHub Nairobi. I am a confirmed fan of both. On a personal level he’s a genuinely nice guy. However, in my humble opinion, his rant on ‘The … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer Aid International, Development, ICT4D | Tagged | 3 Comments

Appropriating Technology via Rural Hackspaces

Posted on August 4, 2011 by

In his recent blog-post Emeka Okafor raised the issue of appropriate technology and illustrated the concept with case studies. According to Rolfe Leary’s article, appropriate technology is defined as “a simple technology created for, but not by, the people“. Compared to … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Development, ICT4D | 4 Comments

Development as Struggle

Posted on May 19, 2011 by

In her recent ODI blog post, “What Egypt tells us that development discourse doesn’t?”, Lisa Denny points out that ‘people’s resistance & solidarity’ will have a greater positive effect on the country’s development than all of the planned interventions of governments … Continue reading →

Posted in Development | 1 Comment

Why Apps can’t Transform Society

Posted on May 3, 2011 by

The nice folk at ICTworks are plugging WikiReader again & are asking: “Is WikiReader the Killer App that will transform the developing world?”. Well, the answer is a resounding “No”. WikiReader is a neat gadget but like any other gadget … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Development, ICT4D | 21 Comments

Top Ten ICT4D Conferences 2011

Posted on April 12, 2011 by

OK the final results are in and so, according to popular acclaim, this the official Top Ten ICT4D Conferences of 2011:    *drum-roll*   May 16-20th, Geneva: WSIS Forum 2011 May 22-25th, Nepal: Partners for Development – ICT Actors and Actions … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Development, ICT4D | 3 Comments

Reply to Bill Easterly

Posted on March 31, 2011 by

In his recent blog post entitled 2500 years of Development Professor Bill Easterly argues that “for most of history, things were mainly happening along the line between Birmingham and Baghdad,” as represented by the lights on Gareth Lloyd’s new video which … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Development | Leave a comment