edwardvielmetti's blog

From the EPROM web site at MIT:

Africa is well-suited as a testbed for the development of a mobile phone programming curriculum. Given their massive adoption and widespread use, as well as the recent technological advances in their computational power, mobile phones are ideal substitutes for the personal computer throughout the continent. Customized applications could have profound implications for the economic development of some of the poorest communities in Africa. Despite the unprecedented growth of mobile phone usage however, these applications are rare. Furthermore, the computer science curricula of universities throughout the continent still focus entirely on traditional desktop computer programming. As a result, African computer science graduates are not qualified to address the computing needs of African people. At such a critical point in the evolution of computing technology, there is a need to equip these computer science students with the skills to develop mobile phone applications specifically for African users.

Here are some news stories and analysis on Wireless Washtenaw, our guests for this week. For some ongoing industry coverage, see Muni Wireless, the portal for news and information about citywide wireless broadband projects around the world. Ann Arbor Business Review: Will Wireless Washtenaw Work?

From First Monday v11n9. CIC seminar participants should be prepared to discuss this on Friday. This article presents findings from the 2006 Public Libraries and the Internet study and other research that demonstrate the impact of public Internet access in public libraries on the communities and individuals that the libraries serve.

Joan Durrance writes: There is still room in the new seminar Information Use in Communities (SI 645/745). This course examines information behavior and use in geographic communities by individuals and groups within specific contexts. The course will also examine information use in civic situations—citizenship, civic engagement, deliberative democracy, and community problem solving. The course will also examine the

(as seen on the ciresearchers list) The Center for Community Informatics (CCI) at Loyola College in Maryland was established in January 2006 as an initiative of the Computer Science Department with support from the Sellinger School of Business. The CCI aims to engage Loyola College's students, faculty and staff in supporting the creation and deployment of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for community empowerment.