Mobile Phones for telemedicine?

I was forwarded this article from Global Health on whether cell phone technology has the power to improve health initiatives in developing countries. I'll give a review after I read it tonight. If you are also interested in the article... read more here.

Cell phone use by Elephant Caretakers

Cell phone use by Elephant Caretakers,
originally uploaded by make_change.

Connectivity in Kenya has given all people from all walks of life access to cell phone technology. This elephant's caretaker can be away from his family and friends and still be able to let them know about his whereabouts and work.

ICTs and Gender

I have finished going through a whole stack full of journal articles on consumer spending and anything related to ICT system expenditure. There is not too much information available on ICT spending here in East Africa but I have found how most researchers have attempted to manipulate household surveys in order to understand the changes in people's spending habits to buy ICTs.

News: An article on the Daily star that it will be the mobile phone which is going to make the internet growth explosion happen... Read more...

As a break from the economics of it all, I have started to read work on ICTs and Gender. The UN is doing a web-seminar on March 5, 2007 called, "The Role of ICT Policy in Empowering and Protecting the Rights of the Girl Child".

Here are a list of Basic Gender information:

Naila Kabeer. 2003. Gender Mainstreaming in Poverty Eradication and the Millennium Development Goals: A Handbook for Policy-makers and Other Stakeholders. IDRC/CIDA

Hazel Reeves and Sally Baden. “Gender and Development: Concepts and Definitions.” BRIDGE Report, 2000.

World Bank. Engendering Development. Summary. (26 pages) World Bank Policy Report. Oxford University Press. 2001.

R. Charli Carpente. Gender Theory In World Politics: Contributions of a Non-Feminist Standpoint; University of Oregon-Department of Political Science

): Jane L. Parpart, M. Patricia Connelly, and V. Eudine Barriteau. Eds. Theoretical Perspectives on Gender and Development. Chapter Two.

Cash will no longer exist...

This week's Economist titled, "End of the Cash Era" with dinosaurs on the front cover holds a story on the incredible phenomenon of paper cash to mere electronic transactions. The tools to finally transfer money from one country to another through an SMS is happening as we speak. What does that mean for the poor? Those with relatives abroad will be seeking these mobile devices if they do not have them already and they no longer have to deal with time and transport in order to access much needed funds.

IT needs people & action

"IT on its own does not do anything useful; in order to do anything, it must become part of an information system; information systems do not necessarily involve computers and telecommunication equipment; even when they do, information systems are much more than just IT because they involve people and their actions".

- Richard Heeks (1998) - found in article "information age reform of the public sector: the potential and problesm of IT for India"

Video Participation Workshop at WSF

Video Participation Workshop,
originally uploaded by make_change.

Here is one youth activist from Kenya interviewing a documentary filmer from India. This workshop hosted on Sunday was to introduce participants to the power of video and how to use video for documenting the history of lives in their communities. The purpose shows partipants exactly how easy it is for them to develop their own film and script.

World Social Forum ICT Registration

The World Social Forum has implemented a payment-via-mobile phone system. You basicallly purchase airtime credit for your phone (they give you a free SIM card) and then you type in the WSF number and bam! you have paid your registration fees through your phone instantly. I'm not even sure this kind of technology is available in North America but it exists all over Eastern Africa!