Message-ID: <Pine.3.88.9604040152.A8685-0100000@go> Date: Thu, 4 Apr 1996 03:03:45 -0600 From: Abubakr Alkhalifa <mailto:aalkhali@CIS.USOUTHAL.EDU> Subject: Appropriate Software Proposal To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
Dear Stephe,I agree with you that "Appropriate Software for Development" can not be completely implemented at the time being. However, if we agree that it will be useful in the long-run, we can be engaged right now in the analysis, design, coding, and testing phases of developing these information systems (IS).
We can start right now by carrying out the analysis phase for such IS. Collecting raw data, conducting interviews with potential users, and meeting with experts in the fields are important tasks that are independent of the presence of I. T. in rural areas. So, by performing these tasks now, we would have accomplished the necessary foundation.
BTW, this is the foundation for the design of the global generic IS which individual developing countries will later customize to accommodate regional data and local interface.
Prototyping will follow. Again, this phase does not require heavy I. T. to demonstrate how will these IS behave. Therefore, it can also be performed with minimal cost.
Subsequently, when it is time to test these IS, the NGO's, GO's, Volunteer, Not for Profit, International, and other organizations who have developmental interests can participate. They will participate because the objectives of these IS coincide with their goals, and because they do have the necessary hardware and technical staff.
By the time the testing phase is over, infrastructural, technical, and political varaibles in developing countries will have changed (hopefully) to the better.
My vision is this: once these IS are tested, it may prove "profitable" to "invest" in distributing "appropriate" I. T. in all developing countries. These systems will indeed provide the seed of information that is absolutely necessary to ensure continual development and ever brightening future.
Abu _________________________________________________________________________
Abubakr Alkhalifa "I.T. vs. Poverty" 612 Montclaire Way Graduate Student Mobile, AL 36609 School of Computer & Information Sciences USA University of South Alabama Tel/Fax: (334)660-0242 mailto:aalkhali@cis.usouthal.edu _________________________________________________________________________
On Tue, 2 Apr 1996 mailto:Stephe_Dean@wvi.org wrote:
> Hi Abu,
>
> I work for an American based NGO in Harare Zimbabwe. We are a somewhat
> top heavy organisation doing grass roots development in 28 countries in
> Africa. I am and Australian acting as the "systems manager/consultant"
> for the SADC countries.
>
> We use LAN based systems in our capital city offices and are just
> beginning to move electronic services out to the rural sites as part of a
> long term change of development model and cost/organisational structure.
>
> The org that I work for has private international network - all dial up
> - which has had an internet gateway for nearly three years - which is how
> I am talking to you now.
>
> There are two problems I am facing. The first is the availability of
> competent technical staff to implement and maintain systems - and this
> need becomes more acute as you begin to geographically disperse equipment
> and services throughout the country side.
This is really a major obstacle, training is very important. This problem is another strong reason for having "appropriate" hardware.
> The second is how to handle electronic communications form remote sites.
> You may be aware that outside urban hubs cable - and cellular - telephone
> services are generally very poor, and often will not sustain a 2400 baud
> link. There is lots of optimism about Low Earth Orbit satellites and so on
> but at the moment the thing that works is data packets by HF radio.
> Typical baud rate 1200. This is not a big time internet link.
***** Internet advocates are invited to reply to the previous paragraph.
> A further issue which I find hard to express in an acceptable way is so
> many African's mis/disorientation with computers and electronic equipment.
> This is not the fault of the people, it is just an environmental reality.
> I am not sure how long you have been there at South Alabama U. but the
> thing I notice in when I visit the Australia and the US is the sheer
> prolificness and pervasiveness of computers and related technology - so
> that even my father, a 65 year old retiree grudgingly sends me e-mail
> rather than writing letters.
I have lived almost all my life except the last 2 years in Sudan, one of the poorest and least developed in the World. In at least 5 of the major cities there, there are around 200-300 institutions that provide different levels of computer training.
I assure you that people will get used to computers the same way they got used to radios, TV's, vehicles, etc..., specially when the interface is mouse driven (point & click), and is in local language.
> The thing that prompted my response is that I think your aspirations are
> good and noble but a long way from the field reality.
>
> Stephe Dean
>