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This presentation was given during the Substantive Session of the ECOSOC 2013 meeting, Geneva Switzerland to show the affordable, accessible and appropriate tools making a difference in the lives of United Methodists in the developing world.
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Human Centered DesignHuman Centered Designfocused on focused on
Humans Living in the Humans Living in the MarginsMargins
N. Neelley HicksN. Neelley HicksDirector, ICT4D Church InitiativesDirector, ICT4D Church InitiativesUnited Methodist CommunicationsUnited Methodist Communications
Narrative: Narrative: A photographer knows that focus means everything. Once you pick the subject of your A photographer knows that focus means everything. Once you pick the subject of your photograph, all of your energy and resources go into developing the best photograph possible…photograph, all of your energy and resources go into developing the best photograph possible…
Narrative: Narrative: The focus of much of the world’s development in Information & Communications The focus of much of the world’s development in Information & Communications Technology has been on those who are valued higher in society…those with access: access to Technology has been on those who are valued higher in society…those with access: access to money, access to power, access to information, in one word: access. money, access to power, access to information, in one word: access.
Narrative: Narrative: United Methodist Communications ICT4D Church Initiatives shifts the focus onto United Methodist Communications ICT4D Church Initiatives shifts the focus onto another subject often lost in the periphery of the world’s landscape: those in the developing another subject often lost in the periphery of the world’s landscape: those in the developing world…world…
Narrative: Narrative: whose access to money is limited…whose access to money is limited…
Narrative: Narrative: whose access to power has been curbed and cutoff…whose access to power has been curbed and cutoff…
Narrative: Narrative: whose access has been defined by those in power…leaving many powerless over their whose access has been defined by those in power…leaving many powerless over their futures.futures.
www.umcom.org/globalwww.umcom.org/global
Narrative: Narrative: United Methodist Communications is focusing on the contextually appropriate United Methodist Communications is focusing on the contextually appropriate technologies that focus on serving the world’s least heard people…their goals…their desires. technologies that focus on serving the world’s least heard people…their goals…their desires. Sometimes these are the ones called the “voiceless” but truly, each person has a voice…the voices Sometimes these are the ones called the “voiceless” but truly, each person has a voice…the voices of the developing world perhaps need more amplification to be heard above cultural noise.of the developing world perhaps need more amplification to be heard above cultural noise.From the simple and affordable solutions to ones that are more costly – we live in an age where From the simple and affordable solutions to ones that are more costly – we live in an age where some really great minds have developed appropriate tools that work well in the difficult contexts some really great minds have developed appropriate tools that work well in the difficult contexts so many live in - making life better – and offering the potential to change the world as we know it. so many live in - making life better – and offering the potential to change the world as we know it. I’d like to share a peek into the toolkit of appropriate resources that United Methodist I’d like to share a peek into the toolkit of appropriate resources that United Methodist Communications is finding success with: Communications is finding success with:
Narrative: Narrative: Ultra low-power computers like these use a fraction of the wattage that typical Ultra low-power computers like these use a fraction of the wattage that typical traditional computers use. The Clamshell Laptop is built for high temperatures – up to 140traditional computers use. The Clamshell Laptop is built for high temperatures – up to 140⁰F – F – and can last in a high salt, open air context. Computers like this achieve a higher degree of and can last in a high salt, open air context. Computers like this achieve a higher degree of success than refurbished computers which were built for the developed world. success than refurbished computers which were built for the developed world.
“ “People are changing their behavior,” such as by boiling People are changing their behavior,” such as by boiling water during a cholera outbreak, or using bednets to water during a cholera outbreak, or using bednets to
prevent malaria." prevent malaria." Betty Kazadi Musau, DRCBetty Kazadi Musau, DRC
Narrative: Narrative: A United Methodist pastor living in Lubumbashi, DRC calls this her "magical rural A United Methodist pastor living in Lubumbashi, DRC calls this her "magical rural instrument," as its battery lasts up to 9 hours.instrument," as its battery lasts up to 9 hours.
"By using automated messages to "By using automated messages to mobile phones, we have increased the mobile phones, we have increased the awareness about the ways to prevent awareness about the ways to prevent
malaria…in the Democratic Republic of malaria…in the Democratic Republic of Congo."Congo."
- Pierre Omadjela- Pierre Omadjela
Narrative: Narrative: Frontline SMS is a staple for communications in parts of the world where there is no Frontline SMS is a staple for communications in parts of the world where there is no Internet, but where there is basic cell phone coverage. Created by a great humanitarian, Ken Internet, but where there is basic cell phone coverage. Created by a great humanitarian, Ken Banks, it is free for download, and allows mass text messages to be sent by a computer that is Banks, it is free for download, and allows mass text messages to be sent by a computer that is connected to a cell phone. Frontline SMS allows people like Pierre Omadjela in Kinshasa DRC to connected to a cell phone. Frontline SMS allows people like Pierre Omadjela in Kinshasa DRC to send automated messages telling people about malaria. send automated messages telling people about malaria.
Narrative: UshahidiNarrative: Ushahidi is another free tool and it can utilize Frontline SMS for mapping. We have is another free tool and it can utilize Frontline SMS for mapping. We have begun a pilot program – using it to map The United Methodist Church in the developing world. begun a pilot program – using it to map The United Methodist Church in the developing world. Through it, a simple SMS can become a point on a map, where others can find you…even pictures Through it, a simple SMS can become a point on a map, where others can find you…even pictures of what is currently going on. of what is currently going on.
Narrative: Narrative: In the Baguio City area of the Philippines, Mapping Administrator Ernani Celzo has In the Baguio City area of the Philippines, Mapping Administrator Ernani Celzo has been amazed at the potential of this accessible and affordable technology.been amazed at the potential of this accessible and affordable technology.
Narrative: Narrative: While printed resources are inaccessible to so many, World Reader provides books in e-While printed resources are inaccessible to so many, World Reader provides books in e-format using Kindles and mobile phones…format using Kindles and mobile phones…
Narrative: Narrative: using biNu who has focused its lens on those with very little access. biNu offers what they call using biNu who has focused its lens on those with very little access. biNu offers what they call Smart Phone in a Cloud so those who only have feature phones can access the same WorldReader books Smart Phone in a Cloud so those who only have feature phones can access the same WorldReader books that Kindle users have access to…along with access to email, Facebook, Twitter and much more.that Kindle users have access to…along with access to email, Facebook, Twitter and much more.
"What the "What the world of world of tomorrow will tomorrow will be like is be like is greatly greatly dependent on dependent on the power of the power of imagination in imagination in those who are those who are learning to learning to read today." read today."
-- Astrid Lindgren
(1907-2002)
Narrative: Narrative: These are just some of the These are just some of the toolkit solutions which are basics in toolkit solutions which are basics in communications technology – basics communications technology – basics that are inexpensive, appropriate for that are inexpensive, appropriate for many contexts, and which all make a many contexts, and which all make a transformative difference. These all transformative difference. These all can improve lives and change the can improve lives and change the education of generations to come. education of generations to come.
Narrative: Narrative: One of the most important parts of ICT4D is human development…of volunteers & One of the most important parts of ICT4D is human development…of volunteers & fundraisers who may need education in context…and of those in the developing world who fundraisers who may need education in context…and of those in the developing world who ultimately need ownership over the programs that are set to change their lives.ultimately need ownership over the programs that are set to change their lives.
Narrative: Narrative: And so, United Methodist Communications has partnered with the non-profit Inveneo And so, United Methodist Communications has partnered with the non-profit Inveneo whose sole mission is to connect those in the world who need it the most. They are global leaders whose sole mission is to connect those in the world who need it the most. They are global leaders in implementing sustainable solutions in the developing world– providing solutions in solar in implementing sustainable solutions in the developing world– providing solutions in solar power, Internet access, ultra-low-power computing, and open source software – all which are power, Internet access, ultra-low-power computing, and open source software – all which are implemented by people living in the countries where projects are happening. So Inveneo implemented by people living in the countries where projects are happening. So Inveneo generates income in the lives of competent in-country, ICT providers who become trained at a generates income in the lives of competent in-country, ICT providers who become trained at a higher level for ultimate sustainability of programs.higher level for ultimate sustainability of programs.
For more information,go to
www.umcom.org/global
Narrative: Narrative: As United Methodist Communications continues its work in this field, we invite you to As United Methodist Communications continues its work in this field, we invite you to follow our best practices blog – a series of interviews of recognized leaders found through this follow our best practices blog – a series of interviews of recognized leaders found through this website. The culmination of these interviews will result in a white paper to be shared as a living website. The culmination of these interviews will result in a white paper to be shared as a living document for additions as they come. document for additions as they come.
I thank you for your time.I thank you for your time.