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Technology is a driving force in the global economy and innovation is
the lifeblood of the technology. Innovation in computing continues to
yield dramatic productivity benefits to individuals, organizations, and
societies. The power of information and communication technology must be
extended beyond its traditional user base to reach people who, until
now, have not had access to such technology. If computing is made
affordable, accessible, and relevant to all communities, including those
living in rural areas and low-income urban environments, the resultant
impact would be significant; estimates of these populations include as
many as four billion people worldwide. However, some tough research
problems must be solved in order to realize that vision. Since efforts
to find the best digital solutions must be relevant, and because
technologies developed for the industrialized world are often not
appropriate for underserved populations, the scope of these efforts is
much broader than making the microcomputers of today less expensive for
low-income, rural populations. In some cases, entirely new technological
approaches may be required, enabling transformational change.
To reach the promise of digital inclusion, technical issues need to
be address, such as:
- What applications for mobile technologies are relevant for
underserved communities; that is, what are appropriate services and
infrastructures?
- What are effective new user interfaces for form factors such as PCs,
mobile phones, and PDAs?
- What are the technology components that would need to be developed
to meet the needs of underserved communities?
- How can connectivity be provided in both a low-cost and highly
available manner over a wide area? How can we “reach the last mile” more
efficiently?
- How can networks be effective for serving social and economic
concerns, such as environmental issues, disaster mitigation, health,
education, agriculture, and commerce?
- New users may often have little education or may be completely new
to computing devices. What are effective user interfaces for these
communities?
- How can the technology be best used and integrated into the culture
of society?
This initiative is managed by
Tom Healy.
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