Open Source
The Open Invention Network (OIN)
Three of the world’s biggest electronics companies - IBM, Sony and Philips - have joined forces with the two largest Linux software distributors to create a company for sharing Linux patents,
royalty-free.
http://www.ciol.com/content/news/2005/105111016.asp
Get Bangla/Bengali OpenOffice.org 2.0
Ankur group is the official team for Bangla OpenOffice.org. Translation work has already started, and their goal is to have Bangla as a supported language. OpenOffice.org 2.0 is already out with most of the menu entries translated in Bangla. Future versions of OpenOffice.org will have more and more translated modules.
http://www.ankurbangla.org/projects/ooo/
Open Source on (South African) Presidential agenda
While the Internet debacle grabbed headlines at the World Summit onthe Information Society (WSIS) conference in Tunis, Tunisia,
it was the digital divide that took centre stage in many of the
delegates’ opening addresses. The way to bridge the divide, say many of the delegates including South African President Thabo Mbeki is through open source software.
http://www.tectonic.co.za/view.php?id=714
Articles and Publications
Replication Manual Released by Grameen
Foundation USA
This document is a guideline for replicating the Village Phone program in a new country. infoDev along with several other partners, supported this publication. The Study draws on Grameen’s experience in both Bangladesh and Uganda and establishes a template for creating sustainable initiatives that simultaneously bring telecommunications to the rural poor, create viable new businesses for micro-entrepreneurs, and expand the customer base of telecommunications companies.
http://www.infodev.org/files/2868_file_VillagePhone ReplicationManual.pdf
Blogging as a tool: innovative approaches to information access
Blogs and RSS (Real Simple Syndication/Rich Site Summary) feeds and their applications in libraries are increasing exponentially. These applications range from current awareness type of settings in
keeping up-to-date with new information, table of contents alerts of journal articles, feeds based on a research query in electronic
databases, and news alerts from different subject areas.
http://www.lisnews.com/article.pl?sid=05/11/01/078213&mode=thread&tid=29
IJEDICT, Vol. 1, No. 3
IJEDICT is an e-Journal that provides free and open access to all of its content. IJEDICT aims to strengthen links between research and practice in ICT in education and development in hitherto less developed parts of the world, e.g., developing countries (especially small states), and rural and remote regions of developed countries. The emphasis is on providing a space for researchers, practitioners and theoreticians to jointly explore ideas using an eclectic mix of research methods and disciplines. It brings together research, action research and case studies in order to assist in the transfer of best practice, the development of policy and the creation of theory.
Vol. 1, No. 3 (2005) of International Journal of Education and
Development using ICT (IJEDICT) has now been published online.
http://ijedict.dec.uwi.edu/viewissue.php?id=5
Rights Agenda Damaging eDevelopment
It argues the communication/rights agenda is a strong force shaping e-Development debate and action, e.g. in WSIS. This may damage e development if it appears old and implausible, and because it excludes two key roles for ICTs in development: data processing, and IT sector enterprises.
http://www.manchester.ac.uk/idpm/dig/briefings.htm
New Special Report - Information Society:
The Next Steps
The Information Society has produced a tantalizing array of new information and communication technologies (ICT) that have transformed today’s approach to development.
Following on the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) of December 2003, WSIS Phase II in November 2005 will assess progress and prompt further global action to capture the promise of ICT for all. This Special Report “Information Society: Next Steps” looks at how the ICT landscape is changing in the developing world and what lies ahead. Experts from governments, donors, NGOs and the private sector speak out about effective policies, promising applications and innovative business models.
http://topics.developmentgateway.org/special/informationsociety
ICT Policy Formulation and e-Strategy Development: A Comprehensive Guidebook
The objective of this guidebook is to explain the nature of people-focused information and communications technology (ICT) policy formulation and strategy development. Using examples and practices drawn from the Asia-Pacific and around the world, it discusses the role of ICT policy-making in human development.
http://www.apdip.net/news/policyguidebook
The Journal of Community Informatics
Vol. 2, No. 1 (2005) of The Journal of Community Informatics has now been published online at
http://www.ci-journal.net/viewissue.php?id=8
ICT4D
The $100 laptop
The One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project (http://laptop.media. mit.edu/) rests upon a fundamental assumption that the creation and widespread distribution of a single type of computer will solve the problem of the digital divide in the developing world. By creating a laptop computer priced at $100 each (when sold in quantities of millions), the thinking goes, schoolchildren throughout the developing world will all be equipped with powerful tools for learning and exploration.
Events and Announcements
CSDMS Workshops at WSIS 2005
The Centre for Science, Development and Media Studies (CSDMS) two workshops, which took place at the WSIS in Tunis, from November 14 to 19, 2005.
- Introducing Innovative ways of ICT in Schools – 17 November 2005 at WSIS Tunis
- Capacity Building of grassroots practitioners and NGOs for documenting ICT4D Projects – 19 November 2005 at WSIS Tunis
Invitation to Mission 2007: The Power of
Partnerships event
OneWorld South Asia, a network of over 600 organizations working towards empowering local and marginalised communities using ICTs, organized the ‘Mission 2007: the Power of Partnerships’ event, which was held on November 15, 2005 during 1500 - 1530 HRS at the ITU Connect the World Launch Pad, WSIS II, Tunis. You can get a detailed agenda here:
http://www.dgroups.org/groups/oneworld/OneWorldSA/docs/Mission_2007_final.pdf
CCDS-InfochangeIndia Research Fellowships
The Centre for Communication and Development Studies (CCDS) invites applications for short-term fellowships from journalists, researchers and development workers/analysts interested in highlighting issues related to social justice and development in India.
www.infochangeindia.org
eBay and Omidyar Network Founder Launches $100 Million Microfinance Fund in Partnership with Tufts University
MEDFORD/SOMERVILLE, Mass—Tufts University announced that Pierre Omidyar, founder of eBay and co-founder of Omidyar Network with his wife, Pam – both graduates of Tufts – will invest $100 million in international microfinance initiatives through a unique partnership with their alma mater.
http://www.tufts.edu/home/feature/
Nepal - Enterprise, Everest and Everything Else Workshops
In the framework of the Forum de Solidarités Nord-Sud on December 1-3 in Marseille, France, the event Nepal – Enterprise, Everest and Everything Else organized Nepali micro entrepreneurs, microfinance and sustainable development experts, European craft business men, international funding agencies and the interested public in general is being organized.
http://laghudyog.net/ConfrenceIndex.aspx
Call from participants - World Information City Workshops
From November 14th to 19th, an event called World Information City took place in Bangalore organized by Alternative Law Forum, Mahiti, Public Netbase, Sarai and Waag. The event raised questions about the impact of new technologies on our societies: on daily life, work, culture, and politics. We encounter the myth of moving into the information era on an everyday basis. How do we understand the politics of information in terms of ownership, control and access and link it to the transformation of the urban experience in India?
http://world-information.org/wio/program/bangalore/events/1131375053
D.Net’s seminar at WSIS titled “Access to Information through ICT: Missing Dimension in Poverty Alleviation (Case Study Bangladesh)”
The session on ‘Improving Access to Information through ICT: Missing Dimension in Poverty Alleviation (Case Study Bangladesh)’ was held on November 15, 2005 at WSIS. The session highlighted on the issues of access to information as a part of access to resources, which are important for addressing the misgivings of poverty. The session will cover the issues of local content, role of infomediary, use of ICTs other than computers, socio-economic sustainability of ICT-based information exchange system etc.
Software for Development: Is Free/Open Source Software the Answer?
UNDP Asia-Pacific Development Information Programme feature event at the World Summit on the Information Society in Tunis 18 November 2005
Other APDIP Events at WSIS
http://www.apdip.net/news/apdipatwsis
Features
Bytes for All...