Blog entries tagged 'open software'

Why we will never see MXit in UK - but its great for Africa

admin

Why won't we see Mxit in the Developed Countries? Interestingly this is one of those technologies that has an easy fit to Africa even though it may never gain traction in developed countries.

• SMS costs nothing? Africa is almost entirely prepaid in its mobile use. In developed countries a sizeable proportion of the market is contract post paid. In most contracts, SMS are bu [...]

ePub ! why did no-one tell me?

admin

The format of books is changing. As the emerging technologies converge, so too the way the world handles written text is also converging. This will affect three arenas of development – research policy communication; children’s education; and adult learning.

The convergence of books and internet will be through “Apps”. It may seem that the internet offers an increasingly media rich experie [...]

Instant Messaging is a way forward.....

admin

A new technology has crept onto the African scene that has enabled a step change in the way that the poor can access and share information. This concept note outlines why we believe that Instant Messaging (IM) through services such as Mxit can make a significant difference to the provision and impact of information services. It proposes a programme of action researchthat will use such services to prove the concept and enhance existing services [...]

Open hardware

Simon Batchelor

At the GK3 recently, Steve Song pointed out that open hardware was becoming an option. Mobile phone circuit diagrams opened up in Australia, were picked up by two small factories in China, and the designer invited to come and see them making his design. Interesting -the factories made circuit but had not previously made phones.

Mind you the working conditions sounded a bit dodgy - soldering by dipping the board into a pan using fingertips!