Message-ID: <Pine.3.88.9510281552.A15541-0100000@go> Date: Sat, 28 Oct 1995 15:21:05 -0500 From: Abubakr Alkhalifa <mailto:aalkhali@GO.CIS.USOUTHAL.EDU> Subject: IT for the Poor To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
Dear Scholars and Colleagues;I am working on a Master's thesis at the School of Computer and Information Sciences, University of South Alabama. My background is in Economics and Rural Development. I am interested in applying Information Technology to solving developmental problems, specially those of the poor people. Here is a brief description of how I propose an approach for applying IT to the problem of nutritional deficiencies of poor people.
Information technology can participate in solving developmental problems. However, this is most applicable where vital information is complex, rarely available, and/or inaccessible, as is the case in developing countries. Poverty, food insecurity, and poor nutrition are interdependent problems of developing countries. Poor people have very limited income to spend on food. Therefore, they are likely to suffer from nutritional deficiencies, and eventually become vulnerable to malnutrition and other diseases. This in turn puts more limitation on the budget they allocate to food. In an attempt to break this cycle, I am developing a prototype for a nutritional computer information system. Such a system would recommend the best remedies to prevent or treat different combinations of nutritional deficiencies. The proposed system would select the least expensive locally available food items that are relatively rich in a specific combination of nutrients. This project, if proven to be successful, should help the poor optimize their expenditure on food, lessen their exposure to nutritional deficiencies, and maintain their food security. To assure the effectiveness and efficiency of such an approach, I am investigating the means, forecasting the obstacles, and preparing an action plan for the deployment of this system.
This area appears to be relatively new, therefore I would appreciate any kind of support/discussion in terms of ideas and materials as well as pointers to WWW sites, mailing lists, individuals, and organizations that may help in making this system a reality.
Please feel free to forward this message to the appropriate people/groups/organizations.
Thank you very much for your consideration.
mailto:aalkhali@cis.usouthal.edu
Abubakr Alkhalifa 612 Montclaire Way Mobile, AL 36609