Programme:
A network of four academic projects with a common objective to explore ways to give access to those currently excluded from world telecommunications and digital networks.
A network of four academic projects with a common objective to explore ways to give access to those currently excluded from world telecommunications and digital networks.
Imagine sending email to a field station collecting data about malaria in Somalia. What would they need to receive your message? Which ISPs would they use, and who pays for the bandwidth in links to the UK? What local communications would be needed, and are Internet protocols the most efficient way to employ them? What kind of hardware and software would you recommend? How would it be maintained, supported and powered?
For your end of the email communication, you might have dealt with 8 or more companies, which themselves rely on a network of technologies and economic relations. Recent R&D initiatives such as Simputer
, the $100 Laptop and Ndiyo projects may produce affordable computers, but users will also need power, connectivity and local skills.
There are billions who are excluded from the digital infrastructure of the developed world. Before these people will have access, these problems will have to be addressed.
Sharing stories across digital divides
Participatory co-design of sustainable software and business systems in rural co-operatives
Village e-science for Life
Empowering producers and consumers by providing enriched information about the roots of goods and services
Is there any relevant research in the UK? There are many technical questions to address, but where do we start? Are the most urgent problems in hardware, software, business models, political science, or education?
The network aims to establish new research that is technically advanced and internationally leading in its own field, but takes a holistic view, not simply restricting its focus to hardware, software, communications or social factors.
Funded through the EPSRC Ideas Factory