The OLPC horse is still being flogged, this time in a smaller format and with dual touch sensitive displays (see the pics below). What consistently confuses me about this project is the lofty goals OLPC espouses without truly connecting with the situation into which it is supposed to be introduced.
Bruce Nussbaum summed it up quite [...]
Nothing new content-wise, but it’s notable that Jan Chipchase has hit the New York Times Magazine.
“This is when I voiced a careless thought about whether there might be something negative about the lightning spread of technology, whether its convenience was somehow supplanting traditional values or practices. Chipchase raised his eyebrows and laid down his spoon. [...]
¶
Posted 13 April 2008
§
mobile
‡
°
Also tagged: anthropology, cell, design, developing, developingworld, janchipchase, mobile, newyorktimes, nokia, phones, poverty
Marek Pawlowski spoke with JD Moore about mobiles and developing countries for the upcoming MEX conference. Watch the 20 minute video below.
JD Moore talks to Marek Pawlowski about mobile user experience in developing markets
Link: In-depth video interview on emerging markets (mobileuserexperience.com)
¶
Posted 24 March 2008
§
mobile
‡
°
Also tagged: conference, design, developingworld, interview, jdmoore, mex, mobile, nokia, research, userexperience, ux, video
Niti Bhan has boldly argued that the eeePC is a potential iPod-like breakthrough (mobile) computing product.
“This product is aimed at first time users – “the next billion customers” – the majority of whom may only have been introduced to any kind of high tech computing device via their experience with their mobile phone. We can [...]
“MobileActive07 convenes people from all over the world using mobile phones in their social change work. Participants include nonprofit practitioners using phones in their organizations in innovative and creative ways, mobile technologists, researchers studying the use of mobile phones, artists and activists. Participants explore how mobiles are used in advocacy, education, health, and democratic [...]
Jan Chipchase talks about literacy and design at the Lift conference earlier this year (for those of you reading on the RSS, follow the link for the video).
Link: LIFT Conference – Jan Chipchase (video.google.com)
“Only a few years ago, places like Muruguru didn’t even register in the plans of handset makers and service providers. What would a Kenyan farmer want with a mobile phone? Plenty, as it turns out. To the astonishment of the industry, people living on a few dollars a day have proven avid phone users, and [...]
Nokia’s design director, Antti Kujala, talks about design and emerging markets.
“In India, there’s a lot of aspiration in a purchase. It’s about looks, style, and projecting the right image. [A phone is] not just a status symbol but about people trying to acquire things to move to the next level…It has to be the right [...]
An article in The Economist discusses the financial impact of access to mobile phones for fishermen in Kerala, India.
“This more efficient market benefited everyone. Fishermen’s profits rose by 8% on average and consumer prices fell by 4% on average. Higher profits meant the phones typically paid for themselves within two months. And the benefits are [...]
Nokia’s created a set of phones specifically for emerging markets. The site’s got case studies and some user videos.
“Many villages within emerging markets do not have access to basic telephony. Nokia helps bring mobile connectivity to these areas through the “wireless village” approach. This approach builds on entrepreneurship, avoids massive roll-out costs and investments on [...]
“Uganda is a country coping with a severe energy crisis resulting in frequent power cuts. In addition, access to mains electricity in rural locations is limited. Given that mobile phones require power, and access to power can be unpredictable – how do people keep their mobile phones and other electrical devices charged?”
Link: Power Up: Street [...]
Jonathon Donner has published a survey of research approaches to mobile use in developing countries. An interesting survey with loads of references. See Jonathon’s site for more of his publications.
“In particular, a few kinds of studies seem most popular: those which focus on the mobile as a tool for new forms of instrumental communication and [...]
Jan Chipchase and Indri Tulusan have just published an ethnographic report on shared phone use, based on research primarily carried out in Uganda.
“The research team identified 6 shared use practices: an informal service called Sente that essentially enables a mobile phone owner to function as an ATM machine; mediated communication that neatly side-steps issues of [...]
Published by Gabriel White.