Human Computer Interaction for development

I am in Uppsala Sweden this week where we are considering how technology can aid development, further details are at https://sites.google.com/a/lkl.ac.uk/idfdr/thee

Some of the emerging themes are

Capacity building, and whose capacity really needs building.

What is the role of a researcher and who determines the agenda of what gets onto the research agenda?

Is it right to give people interactive white boards for class rooms when they can't afford water?

How important is the understanding of the organisation of local communities by those coming in to carry out projects?

Who should broker access to communities and politicians?

Would love to hear your views on some of these

Africa Gathering- IT and international development

A chance encounter on Twitter with the folk at Africa Gathering lead to an invitation to be a guest speaker at their event at the London University last Saturday 25 April 2009.

The event billed as day of thinkers, doers, supporters and Geeks was unique and a first of it's kind. It focused on how ICT can be used to aid development and in the developing world and the ingenuity of African people.

I was one of the seminar leaders and was invited to speak about running a successful e-commerce and up until I delivered the seminar I was not aware of how much I relied on online forums to run Ethnic supplies.

The one thing that stood out for me at this event was what whilst most seminars and conferences that I have been to focus on theory, this day focused on what has and can be achieved through ICT using real life examples.

The conference brought Africa to those that are removed from it and exposed the myth that Africans are waiting for handout

I am already looking forward to the next event and I am really encouraged that one of the events will be held in Africa