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Information and Communication Technologies for Development
Community guides: ITAC Academy for International Development | Paul Matthews | Stephen Pender | Diego Rumiany | Donna Vaughan
ICT: Innovation through experimentation and participation
The World Economic Forum's recent Global IT Readiness report notes that, while there is much evidence that ICT is driving innovation, the two are not always properly connected. It goes on to stress that innovation needs to be open and needs to exploit the global talent pool:-
"National competitiveness is based not only on how the firms at the top of the pyramid perform, but also on the performance of those at the bottom. However, most innovation policies in developing nations are designed for globalized firms or sophisticated startups."The report also notes how the participative web (social and collaborative technologies) is reducing barriers to participation and bringing new opportunities. Elsewhere it has been noted how such Creative and open engagement is a key reason why free and open source software can innovate so well.
Kaufmann's law applies evolutionary principles to technology innovation and explains the combinatorial explosion of technologies we are seeing today. Notably, as useful technologies emerge, we should also expect (and appreciate) technology failures as an important part of the system. Experimentation is seen as an important aspect of innovation. We should be prepared for the hard work and increased risk involved in seeking innovative solutions to the world's big problems.
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A short article that introduces the ideas of Stuart Kaufmann, an evolutionary biologist who argued that possibilities offered by technology are growing combinatorially - just as in evolution, not all of the combinations will be useful, but the trend is towards the development of a toolkit whose application in novel ways will meet a growing range of. . .
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Paul Matthews
May 15, 2008
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The Architecture of Participation
This 2003 essay by Tim O'Reilly argues that it is the empowering nature of open source software development that makes it work so well and enables innovation by breaking down the traditional "closed shop" model and enabling diverse communities to work together.
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Paul Matthews
May 15, 2008
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A simple overview of what innovation is and how it can work for anyone, given the preparedness to work hard, try things out and learn from failure.
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Paul Matthews
May 15, 2008
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Global Information Technology Report 2007-2008 : Executive Summary
The executive summary introduces topical sections related to networked readiness, including innovation, e-skills, unified communications and regulation in emerging telecoms markets
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Paul Matthews
May 15, 2008
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Second call of conference 'INTERNET - EDUCATION – SCIENCE (October, 2008, Ukraine).
Second call of 6th Inter'l conference 'INTERNET - EDUCATION - SCIENCE'(7-11 October, 2008, Ukraine). The conference will be held activity in 18 sections: ). Program committee is include today professionals from 17 countries. Conference will add too : presentation of software and hardware, methods of eLearning; workshops/tutorials on the distance . . .
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Andrey Borzykh
May 15, 2008
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SDI-Africa - GIS & remote sensing news in Africa - May 2008
Spatial Data Infrastructure — Africa (SDI-Africa) is a free, electronic newsletter for people interested in GIS, remote sensing, and data management issues in Africa. The May 2008 issue is chock-full of useful highlights on recent activities; it provides details about available data and tools and includes notices about upcoming training, employmen. . .
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Kate Lance
May 15, 2008
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Free four-day Online e-learning Course: NETWORKING IN SUPPORT OF DEVELOPMENT for members in Asia
The Food and Agriculture Organization and the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation invite applications from the e-agriculture.org Community in Asia to participate in a free four-day Online e-learning Course: NETWORKING IN SUPPORT OF DEVELOPMENT A Course for Applicants in Asia will be held in late 2008. Only open to . . .
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Charlotte Masiello
May 15, 2008
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Incommunicado Reader - Critical Perspective on ICT4D
A collection of papers from a 2005 conference that provides a critical and political perspective on ICT4D, questioning some of the assumptions within this field. A good antidote to the boosterism and hype that characterises some ICT4D discourse.
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Richard Heeks
May 15, 2008
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Equal Access designs and implements compelling communications and outreach projects that address the most critical problems affecting people in the developing world including education, women's empowerment, human rights, improved health practices and HIV/AIDS prevention. We employ a variety of methods-local audio and multimedia content production, . . .
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Anuradha Bhattacharjee
May 15, 2008
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The Telmex Dispute at the WTO: Competition Makes a Backdoor Entry by Sonali Singh(CUTS C-CIER)
In February 2002, the US requested a WTO panel to address restrictions imposed by Mexico on international telecommunications services between the two countries. The US alleged that Mexico had failed to open its cross border telecommunications market as mandated by the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) on the grounds that Mexico has: •. . .
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Shambhu Ghatak
May 15, 2008
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