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Digital Dividend Digest vol. 39
March 18, 2004
CONTENTS
1. New in the
Digital Dividend Clearinghouse: Computer Munshi, Remote
IT Village Project - Laos, Kisaan Call Center
2. Special Opportunities:
ICT R&D Grants Program for Asia Pacific, Michael Dertouzos
Awards, Waag-Sarai Fellowships
1. New
in the
Digital Dividend Clearinghouse: Computer Munshi,
Remote IT Village Project – Laos, Kisaan Call Center
Ten new projects have been entered since the last Digest.
Among the highlights:
Computer Munshi
Many Indian microfinance models suffer from inaccurate
accounting methods. In response, PRADAN has launched its Computer
Munshi program, through which a community-based entrepreneur
provides accounting services to microfinance self-help groups
and PRADAN for a small fee. PRADAN has set up 40 munshis to
date.
Remote IT Village Project - Laos
Five Laotian villages are now connected to the Internet as
a result of the innovative work of the Jhai Foundation. In
2003, the Foundation built a wireless Wide Area Network (WAN)
that links the five remote villages, providing Internet access,
e-mail, Voice over IP (VoIP) telephony, and telephone access.
A critical key in the project's success is that all the computers
and printers require fewer than 20 watts of power each, enabling
the network to be powered by a stationary bike-charged battery.
Kissan Call Center
On January 21, 2004, the Kisaan Call Center began giving advice
to India's small farmers about market prices, weather patterns,
and farming techniques. The center has been a success thus
far, in part due to its service-first orientation. While not
intended to replace the thousands of agricultural extension
workers throughout India, it serves as a helpful complimentary
resource.
2. Special Opportunities: ICT
R&D Grants Programme for Asia Pacific, Michael
Dertouzos Awards, Waag-Sarai
Fellowships
ICT
R&D Grants Programme for Asia Pacific: The March
2004 competition for the Pan Asia R&D Grants Programme is
open for proposal submissions. Two types of grants will be
offered, based on proposed project length and budget. The
competition focuses on proposals in any combination of six
subject areas, including: R&D for ICT applications, Internet
infrastructure research, practical solutions development,
research on outcomes and social impacts of ICT policies, policy
research on Asia Pacific Internet networking, and general
technology-related issues. Deadline for applications is March
31, 2004.
Michael
Dertouzos Awards: Entitled "IT With a Human Face,"
the Dertouzos Awards will be presented to winners at the 14th
World Conference on Information Technology, May 19-21, 2004,
in Athens, Greece. The awards are open to students and researchers
up to 32 years of age who are working in the field of information
technology with a focus on the human interface of computing
systems and innovative IT-based technologies. Three prizes
of 15,000, 9,000, and 6,000 Euro will be awarded to winners.
A 400-word abstract must be submitted by March 26, 2004. The
full paper must be submitted on or before April 14, 2004.
Waag-Sarai Fellowships: The Waag-Sarai collaboration is offering two 6-month fellowships to support proposals for emerging new media initiatives in the South. Successful proposals will focus on building ICT links and collaborations between European and Asian programmers, designers, scholars, and theorists. The fellowships are intended as seed money for successful applicants to produce a document outlining the initiative's plan. The total grant is worth 3,000 Euros and begins on May 1, 2004. Fellowship applications are due March 31, 2004.
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