Re: [GKD] RFI: Who is Linking DE with BOP Strategies?
Jim, I think you are absolutely on target...these ideas have nagged at many of us for years... and there have been significant if discrete efforts, but nothing yet on the scale you suggest... perhaps the most persistent proselyte is Alfred Bork, who is developing (has developed?) a new book on this subject, and surely will respond to this discussion .. your point of institutional constraint is also critical... while nothing quite matches the kudzu of academic tenure (although increasing use of adjuncts does seem to be one practical measure!), the grip is very strong of the teachers unions at BOP levels worldwide... and bringing them on board, rather than bypassing them, seems to be the crux of implementing these kinds of reforms John Lawrence On 8/5/05, Jim Stodder [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hello, I've been an occasional lurker on this List for years. I have a question to which I'd love a response. Can anyone give me good references linking 'Base of the Pyramid' (BOP) strategies with Distance Education (DE)? Forgive me if this seems too obvious for words, but here's my thought: I just finished reading Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid by Prahalad, and Captialism at the Crossroads by Hart. It occurs to me that DE to the BOP would be one of the 'leapfrog' technologies of which they speak, both because of (1) hard institutional constraints in the 1st world and (2) huge cost savings of appropriate technology at the BOP. If non-obvious, points (1-2) are developed below. ..snip... ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, a Non-Profit Organization*** To post a message, send it to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: http://www.edc.org/GLG/gkd/
[GKD] Wireless-for-Development Portal Launched (Venezuela)
Campaigners in Venezuela have launched a wireless-for-development portal, and the English-language details are below. See http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=582985 and also http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=526407 for EsLaRed's eighth Latin American workshop on networking technology... which looks like a rather interesting gathering of people and topics, when viewed from half way around the globe ;-) FN - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Wireless talks development, that too in Spanish: www.wilac.net MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay -- The Latin American School of Networks Foundation (ESLARED) and the Institute for Connectivity in the Americas (ICA) has launched a portal. WiLAC is the new information portal about Wireless Technologies for Development, designed to support individuals, organisations, municipalities and businesses currently implementing community wireless connectivity projects, or those about to launch on this road. The launch took place during the 'Experiences from Wireless Project Implementation event, on July 27, 2005, in Merida (Venezuela), during the WALC 2005, an event about networking and content. WiLAC's portal was launched during a Panel of experiences in implementation of wireless technologies, that was showcased during workshops underway at the event. This panel began at 7 p.m. in the Faculty of Engineering Auditorium of Los Andes University (ULA). In a crowded auditorium, Edmundo Vitale moderated the panel. It was kicked off with initial interventions from Jorge Phillips and Ermanno Pietrosemoli. Both emphasized the importance of having a reference point in the region, to address information needs about wireless technologies, specially in Spanish, the third most-widely spoken language in the world. Jaime Torres and Am©rico Sanchez, experts of the Area of Engineering at CEPES (Peru), presented their experience with the Agrarian Information System of Huaral Valley. They not only shared what they encountered in the implementation of the wireless network, but also about the community development, costs estimates and the impact in the community. CVG Telecom (Venezuela) president Julio Dur°n presented the National Network of Social Connectivity plan, which includes the deployment of technologies that go from fibre across the country to experimentation with WiMAX technologies. But the starting point will be communities that are otherwise much more isolated. [WiMAX is an acronym that stands for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access. The WiMAX protocol is a way of networking computing devices together; for example to provide internet access, in a similar way to Wi-Fi. WiMAX is both faster and has a longer range than Wi-Fi. However, WiMAX does not necessarily conflict with Wi-Fi, but is designed to interoperate with it and may indeed complement it.] Sylvia Cadena presented the model used by the Institute for the Connectivity in Am©ricas (ICA), to support the implementation of projects pilot about fixed and itinerant Wi-Fi technologies through all the region. Finally, the WiLAC portal structure was briefly explored to check its performance as well as the possibilities it could offer. Throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, the WiLAC portal will promote information about design, implementation, development, replication, and the use of necessary components for a successful community wireless project that serves the community. More specifically, the information, available in Spanish, has been structured to offer the user relevant information regarding: research (case studies, impact analysis); implementation (articles and reports about current projects); technical reviews and news about technical standards development; regulatory frameworks (links and descriptions of the conditions in each country to develop community wireless networks); training resources (materials, courses and workshops); regional expertise; support funds available; news about wireless projects in other parts of the world; and related events. WiLAC promotes direct cooperation and exchange among community initiatives using wireless technologies under development in the region (and also in other regions). It also promotes the building up of relationships and support from those initiatives with more experience to those just starting up. This portal was fully developed using free and open source software (FOSS). ESLARED is a non-profit institution dedicated to promoting information technologies in Latin America and the Caribbean, working since 1992, and legally constituted in Venezuela. It has worked to promote the building of human resources and research in telecommunications, computer networks and information technologies in Latin America and the Caribbean. Its focus also includes research and development on technology transfer and appropriate technology, to foster scientific, technical and social progress in the region. It is a member of the Association
Re: [GKD] RFI: Who is Linking DE with BOP Strategies?
On 8/5/05, Jim Stodder asked: ...I have a question... to which I'd love a response. Can anyone give me good references linking 'Base of the Pyramid' (BOP) strategies with Distance Education (DE) Jim and other List members may be interested to know what CawdNet is doing in rural Nigeria, and how that links in with BOP and DE. N.B. I will use the expression ODL (Open and Distance Education) rather than DE. This is to avoid confusion with the kind of DE familiar in rural Nigeria - where DE usually means F2F (face to face) courses, but delivered partly through satellite centres at a distance from the main institution. If you are familiar with the ideas of Small is Beautiful - Economics as if People Matter please bear them in mind too, as they are relevant to the way we think. The key CawdNet associates that you need to know of for this email are CAWD (Charity for African Welfare and Development, based in the UK) Fantsuam Foundation (FF, in North Central Nigeria) and OCDN (Oke-Ogun Community Development Network, in SW Nigeria) CawdNet has a vision for BOP and ODL which consists of: - Finding ideas for small business development to serve BOP markets (partly through CAWD's networking via the Internet). - Trying ideas out at FF. - Developing good ideas into business plans for micro and small businesses. - Providing F2F business training at FF combined with business incubation. - Sharing this FF training with representatives of other training centres in our network -initially from OCDN's InfoCentre(s) and FF's clan network - but also with representatives of other centres we are developing links with. - Training delivery at FF will include TOT (Training of Trainers) - We will also develop training resources for the trainers to use. - We will develop better and better resources so that ultimately training resources will be suitable for delivery by facilitators who have general training skills, rather than requiring trainers with subject specialisms. - We will cascade our training through an increasing number of satellite training centres. The CawdNet associates already have important foundational elements related to BOP with DE and we are moving to bring these elements more closely together. CawdNet's foundational elements include: * Training delivery * Use of ICTs, relevant to ODL * Services, relevant to BOP business development These are described below. Regarding ICTs (relevant to ODL) CawdNet has: * An organisational history of using ICTs to exchange information and learning back and forth between rural Nigeria and CAWD in the UK - useful for knowing the realities of what will and will not work both technically and culturally. * Individual experience of studying through ODL - which has given an evangelical zeal to share that kind of opportunity with others * VSAT links to FF and OCDN - which could be used to support ODL * Various long term plans regarding better information pathways to other potential satellite training centres - which would increase our outreach potential. * Present use of video-recording for internal purposes - providing a useful basis for future ODL development. Regarding training CawdNet has: * A history of providing F2F training to rural people through FF and OCDN * Experiences of sharing the same training courses with people at FF and OCDN and a need to do it more effectively (the single journey between FF and OCDN takes the best part of two days by public road transport - and is too expensive to be undertaken lightly - so a better solution has to be found). * OCDN's plans for more InfoCentres in addition to its present single one at Ago-Are - which will increase the number of potential ODL sites. * Training courses at FF and OCDN in use of video cameras * Training courses in video editing - a useful skills basis for ODL development. Regarding BOP services CawdNet has: * FF's background of micro-finance services - which gives good experience of BOP finances and related capacity building. * CawdNet's desire to extend that capacity building to helping to set up small business for BOP goods and services - for the mutual benefit of the customers and the businesses. We have gradually developed all the existing elements listed above (and more) in response to various local needs. Creating those elements has led to a clearer understanding of the natural links between ODL and BOP which Jim Stodder mentioned in his original email. We are gradually progressing and increasingly recognising what needs to be done (regarding ODL and BOP and other issues). We are constantly learning, making mistakes, trying again, plodding on at a rate that is limited by the resources we have available - but directed by imaginative yet realistic long term vision regarding ICTs, community development and local needs. In case any List members are interested in Jim's question for practical reasons as well as theoretical reasons I will point out that CawdNet is always willing to explore
[GKD] Hackers Race to Expose Cisco Internet Flaw
Excerpt from the CSS Internet News. See end of message for details. --- Hackers race to expose Cisco Internet flaw Mon Aug 8, 2005 9:12 PM IST By Andy Sullivan http://in.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=technologyNewsstory ID=2005-08-08T204235Z_01_NOOTR_RTRJONC_0_India-211980-1.xml LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Computer hackers worked through the weekend to expose a flaw that could allow an attacker to take control of the Cisco Systems Inc. routers that direct traffic across much of the Internet. Angered and inspired by Cisco's attempts to suppress news of the flaw earlier in the week, several computer security experts at the Defcon computer-security conference worked past midnight Saturday to discover and map out the vulnerability. The reason we're doing this is because someone said you can't, said one hacker, who like the others spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity. Cisco's routers direct traffic across at least 60 percent of the Internet and the security hole has dominated a pair of conferences that draw thousands of security researchers, U.S. government employees and teenage troublemakers to Las Vegas each summer. The hackers said they had no intention of hijacking e-commerce payments, reading private e-mail, or launching any of the other malicious attacks that could be possible by exploiting the flaw. Rather, they said they wanted to illustrate the need for Cisco customers to update their software to defend against such possibilities. Many Cisco customers have postponed the difficult process because it could require them to unplug entirely from the Internet. Security researcher Michael Lynn first described the flaw on Wednesday at the Black Hat conference over the objections of Cisco and his former employer, Internet Security Systems Inc. Lynn helped Cisco develop a fix but wanted to discuss it publicly to raise awareness of the problem, according to associates, going so far as to quit his job with ISS so he could talk freely. What (Lynn) ended up doing was describing how to build a missile without giving all the details. He gave enough (details) so people could understand how a missile could be built, and they could take their research from there, said a security expert who gave his name only as Simonsaz and who said he is not involved in the hacking effort. COURT ORDER After his presentation Cisco and ISS obtained a court order barring Lynn and the Black Hat organization from further disseminating details of the flaw. Cisco employees ripped Lynn's presentation from the conference program, according to witnesses, and Black Hat handed over its video recording of his talk. ISS and Cisco's actions with Mr. Lynn and Black Hat were not based on the fact that a flaw was identified, rather that they chose to address the issue outside of established industry practices, said Cisco spokeswoman Mojgan Khalili, who added that the company is committed to protecting its customers. But those efforts have only inspired other security experts to take a crack at Cisco's software. It's really saddening and disheartening to see Cisco taking this approach, because it leaves their customers less secure, one of the hackers said. In one of the hackers' hotel rooms, several Cisco routers sat surrounded by plastic beer cups on a coffee table. Two laptops on the floor displayed the software's machine code, an endless blur of numbers. If they don't figure out how to take over Cisco's Internet Operating System software by the end of the weekend, their counterparts at a hacking festival in Europe will certainly do so, the hackers said. Some experts said the flaw has been blown out of proportion. Malevolent attackers are more likely to focus on easier targets such as home computers rather than the complex routers that direct traffic across the Internet, said Jon Callas, chief technical officer of PGP Corp., a provider of encryption software. An awful lot of the buzz that is going around is buzz because of the use of lawyers and injunctions and lawsuits rather than the actual thing itself, said Callas, who is not involved in efforts to hack the software. --- Also in this issue: - Nigeria cracking down on e-scams Day in, day out, a strapping, amiable 24-year-old who calls himself Kele B. heads to an Internet cafe, hunkers down at a computer and casts his net upon the cyber-waters. - Pink slip doesn't leave them red-faced Getting fired is rarely a happy event, but that doesn't mean you can't have a sense of humor about it. - Reports of Vista virus rebutted Microsoft has hit back at reports of the first virus for its new version of Windows, dubbed Vista. - Summertime, and the living is digital Technology commentator Bill Thompson is enjoying a technology-rich summer with his children. - WEBLOG WATCH When Weblog Watch did an initial round-up of British bloggers' reactions
