Practical Insights on Technology for ICT4D Projects

Battery Backups: How Nepal Works Through Load Shedding

Battery Backups: How Nepal Works Through Load Shedding

Published on: May 14 2010 by Wayan Vota - 1 Comment
All across Nepal, and especially in Kathmandu, there is daily electrical system “load shedding” – which is a polite way of describing 10-14 hour...
Are Mobile Phones Pushing Cyber Cafes Out of Business?

Are Mobile Phones Pushing Cyber Cafes Out of Business?

Published on: May 10 2010 by Oluniyi Ajao - 8 Comments
When last did you visit a cyber cafe? Eight years ago, my answer would have been “right now”. I would have been writing/reading this on a computer in a cyber...
African Open Source Technology and ICT4D Differences

African Open Source Technology and ICT4D Differences

Published on: May 07 2010 by Nana Kwabena Owusu - 1 Comment
An interesting conversation sparked by a blog post on the Ushahdi blog is the main reason for this post. The post by Erik Hersman raises issues about open source...
Why African Internet Bandwidth Prices Are Still High

Why African Internet Bandwidth Prices Are Still High

Published on: May 05 2010 by Alex Twinomugisha - 2 Comments
It’s been about 12 months since Africa was the only continent without submarine fiber telecommunication links to the rest of the world on all of its coasts. The...
SMS:Gov – Local Government Interface for Constituents via SMS Text Messages

SMS:Gov – Local Government Interface for Constituents via SMS Text Messages

Published on: May 03 2010 by Wayan Vota - Comments Off on SMS:Gov – Local Government Interface for Constituents via SMS Text Messages
Local governments in the developing world face a serious communications problem. As Roomthinker tweets, there is currently no easy mechanism for constituents to...
How to Stop Internet Porn in School Computer Labs

How to Stop Internet Porn in School Computer Labs

Published on: Apr 26 2010 by Wayan Vota - Comments Off on How to Stop Internet Porn in School Computer Labs
First off, pornography happens online, and it’s been a problem in every country for decades now. Just read what the U.S. Department of Justice said way back...
8 Ways to Improve Internet Bandwidth Speeds in Computer Labs

8 Ways to Improve Internet Bandwidth Speeds in Computer Labs

Published on: Apr 19 2010 by Wayan Vota - Comments Off on 8 Ways to Improve Internet Bandwidth Speeds in Computer Labs
Internet bandwidth – everyone wants more, no matter where you are or who is looking at the screen. Yet, its as much a matter of perception as anything else...
Are Most Investments in Technology for Schools Wasted? – a live Educational Technology Debate

Are Most Investments in Technology for Schools Wasted? – a live Educational Technology Debate

Published on: Apr 16 2010 by Wayan Vota - Comments Off on Are Most Investments in Technology for Schools Wasted? – a live Educational Technology Debate
The Educational Technology Debate – an initiative of World Bank and Unesco to explore the impact of low-cost ICT devices on educational systems in the developing...
Interview with Kayode Muyibi of SMSvolt: a Free SMS Service within Nigeria

Interview with Kayode Muyibi of SMSvolt: a Free SMS Service within Nigeria

Published on: Apr 09 2010 by Wayan Vota - 1 Comment
Kayode Muyibi of Narihost has launched a new service for Nigerians – free SMS messages to and from any Nigerian mobile phone provider via SMSvolt.com. The...
Inveneo Low Power Advantage: 60 Hours of Computing on One Charge!

Inveneo Low Power Advantage: 60 Hours of Computing on One Charge!

Published on: Apr 05 2010 by Wayan Vota - 2 Comments
The cost of electricity is a huge barrier to ICT adoption in the developing world. Rolling blackouts are common in cities, while in peri-urban and rural areas,...