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ICT-113E
LOW COST COMPUTING DEVICES FOR THE DEVELOPING WORLD
Description
A 5-day Training Program to provide participants with an understanding of low cost computing devices (LCCDs), their characteristics, their advantages and disadvantages, the business case for LCCDs, market demand, technological developments and other factors that have motivated their development, and how they can be selected and used. The Program will discuss related issues such as trends in computing and ICT use in general, and in the developing world in particular. It will look closely at the software and hardware design considerations in some of the models of LCCDs, including the One Laptop per Child (OLPC) initiative, as well as competing initiatives from a variety of companies selling these products worldwide. Wherever possible, actual working models of some of these devices will be used for practical demonstrations and hands-on use. The Program will consider how these tools can make a contribution to the diffusion of ICTs in developing countries, and how they can be integrated into ICT strategies and action plans nationally as well as in sectors such as education.
Objectives
- Provide participants with a better understanding of LCCDs, how they operate, and their advantage and disadvantages
- Present the technology, management, development and market trends behind LCCDs
- Equip participants with the knowledge to select LCCDs for specific development applications in a variety of sectors including the education sector
- Provide an understanding of how to justify purchasing LCCDs
- Compare and contrast several LCCDs from the perspective of their relevance to users in developing countries
- Review case studies of the use of LCCDs in developing countries
Topics
- History of ICT use and diffusion
- Defining and measuring ICT diffusion
- What drives ICT uptake? Understanding the value of using ICTs: the relationship between productivity, economic development and ICT diffusion and use
- Technological trends leading to LCCDs
- Recent history of computing developments, innovations and trends
- Moore’s Law
- Digitization and miniaturization
- Ubiquitous computing
- Hardware trends: PCs, microprocessors, storage devices (including solid state storage), peripherals, LCCDs for the developing world: OLPC and related endeavours
- The mobility imperative and related innovations
- Low cost mobile phones
- The evolution of smartphones
- Are low cost Blackberry’s and IPhones next in the list of LCCDs?
- Will mobile devices replace laptops? Will costs drop? Trends in smartphone development
- What functionality for low cost mobile devices?
- Factors specific to ICT use in developing countries and how LCCDs help
- Factors that affect the diffusion and use of ICTs in the developing world
- The importance of wireless
- Community access and related issues
- Sector specific considerations: education, health, community development, etc.
- ICT use in the education sector in the developing world
- Learning environment in classrooms in the developing world
- Factors to consider when planning the use of ICTs and LCCDs
- Advantages of LCCDs
- Case studies
- Green ICTs and LCCDs
- ICTs for e-environment
- The role and contribution of ICTs and LCCDs in reducing energy demand and increasing energy efficiency
- Energy efficiency and LCCDs
- One Laptop per Child (OLPC)
- History
- Design and technical specifications
- Business model
- Advantages and disadvantages
- Other competing designs from large PC manufacturers
- Asus, Dell, HP, Intel and others
- Design and technical specifications
- Business model
- Advantages and disadvantages
- Other lesser known LCCDs
- LCCDs from companies in the developing and developed worlds
- History
- Design and technical specifications
- Business model
- Advantages and disadvantages
- Factors to consider when choosing a LCCD
- Why use LCCDs?
- Is learning about computing that important and why?
- Infrastructure and power requirements for using ICTs
- Mobility
- Low and poorly reliable electrical power environments
- Local and community level access
- Balancing the offer vs. the demand for public services
- Lessons learned and best practices worldwide
Target Audience
- Government officials, planners and decision-makers, including local government officials and administrators
- Decision-makers and planners from the education sector including teachers and school administrators in government and from development aid organizations
- Managers, analysts and program officers working in international development, including foundations and agencies looking to make donations to the benefit of the developing world
- Managers and staff in Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
- Professionals working in the media: journalists, editors, publishers
- Organizations and individuals working in the education sector and at the local and community level in the developing world
- Representatives of the private sector who are working in the learning and education sector especially
- Professionals interested in international development looking to complement their skill-set by enhancing their understanding of the role of LCCDs in development
Methodology
Our Training Programs combine expert presentations, workshops, case studies and discussions based on real-life situations faced by participants. Emphasis is placed on examining issues of local importance and looking at ways in which the material discussed during the program can be used by participants in the context of their own realities or work situation. Complete training material is provided to all participants for future reference and follow-up action plans.
Location
Our Training Programs are held at regular intervals in selected cities around the world. Upon request, our expert trainers can lead Training Programs at the location of your choice. If interested, please contact us at training@neotelis.com.
Expertise
Neotelis provides consulting and training services to telecommunications organizations worldwide. Its team of experts has trained thousands of executives and managers working for operators, regulators, policy-makers and governments in over 100 countries around the world.
