Technologies

Cardpod — by Nepal Studies — last modified Dec 28, 2008 04:07 AM

A Cardpod Player is an SD/MMC Flash Card Reader Digital Audio ("MP3") Player used for distributing and playing podcasts. A Cardpod Recorder or Cardpodcaster has a voice record capability enabling creation of podcasts.

Delay and Disruption Tolerant Networking — by Nepal Studies — last modified Nov 24, 2008 04:56 PM

Most of the work required has already been done.

Directory — by Nepal Studies — last modified Dec 29, 2008 10:17 PM

Directory services at both application layer (X.500/LDAP) and network layer (eg DNS, ENUM, DDDS) are critical for UC, with especially complex considerations applying to use in a "sporadically connected" (disruption tolerant) environment.

Distributed File System (DFS) — by Nepal Studies — last modified May 23, 2010 12:44 PM

A DFS that works over a DTN is essential for maintaining a central library, eg archives of podcast channels, and distributing subsets of it to those nodes interested.

Email and Voicemail — by Nepal Studies — last modified Dec 29, 2008 11:40 PM

Voicemail, fax and several other services can be considered together as variants of "store and forward" messaging - email. Access to search engines and web pages is also possible via email and consequently possible by post without an internet connection or even a "computer" as such.

Evolution — by Nepal Studies — last modified Jan 07, 2009 04:44 AM

Any solution for Universal Communications must be evolutionary. This implies a high priority for reliable distribution of software updates.

First Mile — by Nepal Studies — last modified Feb 01, 2009 05:25 PM

School children carrying flash cards and batteries to and from their local school can provide the "first mile" of Universal Communications connectivity between inaccessible households with no electricity or postal service and the rest of the world.

FOSS - Free and Open Source Software — by Nepal Studies — last modified Dec 09, 2008 05:59 PM

FOSS is critical for all ICT4D projects. This section gathers information on FOSS platforms, frameworks and components other than those listed separately.

OLPC - One Laptop Per Child — by Nepal Studies — last modified Jan 29, 2009 10:05 PM

OLPC is both an educational project based on five core principles and a laptop manufacturer producing the XO laptop and other devices specifically designed to suit those principles.

Optimization — by Nepal Studies — last modified Nov 21, 2008 08:32 PM

Strategy for longer term improvements in performance and quality.

Podcasting — by Nepal Studies — last modified Nov 18, 2008 12:31 AM

Podcasting provides a "narrowcast" service of "Programs On Demand" (Pod) that can be used by anyone with an MP3 player. It is therefore a natural next step beyond broadcasting. Although developed for use by people with computers and internet connectivity (and easily recharged batteries) there is much wider potential, less widely understood as relevant to ICT4D.

Power — by Nepal Studies — last modified Dec 14, 2008 05:48 PM

Rural options for battery storage, transport and portability as well generator transmission, distribution and access including, grid, and mini-grid. Also details of power requirements for various equipment and uses etc.

Radio Broadcasts — by Nepal Studies — last modified Mar 29, 2011 05:54 AM

Digital data can be transmitted at 1 kbps overnight with existing infrastructure. The cell phone network may be more relevant than other radio broadcast techniques for higher data rates.

Standards — by Nepal Studies — last modified Dec 31, 2008 01:25 PM

Enabling Universal Communications under worst case conditions requires a much higher level of engineering sophistication than providing jobs for NGO staff in unscalable support intensive "appropriate technology" pilots. The most advanced technology can only be developed openly and collaboratively and is therefore available in published standards documents even though corresponding "know how" is marketed as "proprietary" and "intellectual property".

Storage — by Nepal Studies — last modified Nov 23, 2008 08:36 PM

Rapid technology changes require careful analysis of physical media used for data interchange and persistent storage at all levels.

TV — by Nepal Studies — last modified Jan 07, 2009 07:31 PM

Television broadcast reception is generally the strongest demand for electricity after domestic lighting. Many households will eventually have TV receivers and/or DVD players initially setup for passive consumption of entertainment.

XO Laptop — by Nepal Studies — last modified Jan 07, 2009 09:50 PM

UC uses the XO laptop hardware developed for OLPC in ways that help build towards but are not part of OLPC.