(Some of the) Ten Myths of ICT for International Development Kentaro Toyama Visiting Scholar University of California, Berkeley CITRIS Research Exchange UC Berk eley ± November 10, 2010
8/8/2019 2010 11 10 (Some of the) Ten Myths of ICT for International Development - Toyama
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2010-11-10-some-of-the-ten-myths-of-ict-for-international-development-toyama 1/41
(Some of the) Ten Mythsof ICT for International Development
Kentaro Toyama
Visiting Scholar
University of California, Berkeley
CITRIS Research Exchange
UC Berkeley ± November 10, 2010
8/8/2019 2010 11 10 (Some of the) Ten Myths of ICT for International Development - Toyama
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2010-11-10-some-of-the-ten-myths-of-ict-for-international-development-toyama 2/41
Where I used to workPhoto credit: Natalie Linnell
8/8/2019 2010 11 10 (Some of the) Ten Myths of ICT for International Development - Toyama
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2010-11-10-some-of-the-ten-myths-of-ict-for-international-development-toyama 3/41
8/8/2019 2010 11 10 (Some of the) Ten Myths of ICT for International Development - Toyama
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2010-11-10-some-of-the-ten-myths-of-ict-for-international-development-toyama 4/41
A ³writer´ keeping records in a microcredit group meetingPhoto credit: Aishwarya Ratan
8/8/2019 2010 11 10 (Some of the) Ten Myths of ICT for International Development - Toyama
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2010-11-10-some-of-the-ten-myths-of-ict-for-international-development-toyama 5/41
Transaction record from a microcredit group meeting
Hand-written records preferred, but
(1) error-prone;
(2) difficult to digitize.
Photo credit: Aishwarya Ratan, PR AD AN
8/8/2019 2010 11 10 (Some of the) Ten Myths of ICT for International Development - Toyama
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2010-11-10-some-of-the-ten-myths-of-ict-for-international-development-toyama 6/41
Electronic tablet ±
write on paper, digitize with real-time feedbackPhoto credit: Microsoft
8/8/2019 2010 11 10 (Some of the) Ten Myths of ICT for International Development - Toyama
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2010-11-10-some-of-the-ten-myths-of-ict-for-international-development-toyama 7/41
Microfinance self-help group ³writer´ testing the prototypePhoto credit: Sunandan Chakraborty
8/8/2019 2010 11 10 (Some of the) Ten Myths of ICT for International Development - Toyama
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2010-11-10-some-of-the-ten-myths-of-ict-for-international-development-toyama 8/41
Rs. 985 Rs. 946(US$21.89) (US$21.02)
Faster,
Cheaper,
More Accurate!
Aishwarya Lakshmi Ratan, Sunandan
Chakraborty, Pushkar Chitnis, KentaroToyama, Keng SiangOoi, Matthew Phiong,Mike Koenig.
"Managing Microfinancewith Paper, Pen andDigital Slate.´
To be presented atInter national Conf erenceon Inf ormation Technology and Communication and Development , London,Dec. 13-16, 2010.
8/8/2019 2010 11 10 (Some of the) Ten Myths of ICT for International Development - Toyama
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2010-11-10-some-of-the-ten-myths-of-ict-for-international-development-toyama 9/41
Kelsa+
Microfinance & Technology IT and Microentrepreneurs
Information ecology of verysmall businesses
Potential of technology tosupport microfinance
MicroenterprisePC + mobileMixed-method study
Research only
Text-Free UI
Text-free user interfaces for non-literate users
User interfacesPCDesignUser studiesGuidelines
MicrofinancePC + mobileQualitative studiesBusiness analysis
Research only
Information access
PCQualitative studyUsage analysisPilot
Featherweight Multimedia
Paper and cheap electronicsfor low-cost multimedia
General educationElectronicsHCIUser studiesOngoing research
Simultaneous Shared Access
Primary educationPCHCIUser studiesCommercialization
Warana Unwired Digital Green
Video and mediated instructionfor agriculture extensionSubstitution of mobile phonesfor rural PC kiosks
AgricultureVideoInterventionControl trialsNGO spin-off
Info systemsMobileInterventionRural kiosksPilot
Free access PCs for low-income office staff
Multi-user systems for educational
Paper-and-Digital Forms
Easily digitized paper forms
For NGOsPC + scanner HCI
Research only
8/8/2019 2010 11 10 (Some of the) Ten Myths of ICT for International Development - Toyama
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2010-11-10-some-of-the-ten-myths-of-ict-for-international-development-toyama 10/41
Sources: Negroponte, N. 2005, Friedman, E. 2008, New York Times, 2008; Best, M. L., 2004.
³Kids in the d evelopi ng worl d need the newest
technology«´
³There is a pressi ng need to employ
i
nformati
on technology for rural healthcare insub-Saharan Africa.´
³Can the cellphone help end global poverty ?´
³The Internet shoul d be a human right in and of itself.´
8/8/2019 2010 11 10 (Some of the) Ten Myths of ICT for International Development - Toyama
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2010-11-10-some-of-the-ten-myths-of-ict-for-international-development-toyama 11/41
The Myths
8/8/2019 2010 11 10 (Some of the) Ten Myths of ICT for International Development - Toyama
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2010-11-10-some-of-the-ten-myths-of-ict-for-international-development-toyama 12/41
You and a poor rural farmer are each given a
single e-mail account and asked to raise as muchmoney for the charity of your choice.
Who would be able to raise more money?
8/8/2019 2010 11 10 (Some of the) Ten Myths of ICT for International Development - Toyama
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2010-11-10-some-of-the-ten-myths-of-ict-for-international-development-toyama 13/41
ICT undoes ³rich getting richer.´
³The Internet democratizes«´
³The world is flat«´
Technology mag ni f ies capacity,
it doesn¶t substitute for it. ± Tichenor et al., 1970
± Agre, 2002
± Warschauer, 2008
Photo credit: Rikin Gandhi. References: Tichenor, P.J., Donohue, G. A., & Olien, C.N. (1970). Mass media and the differential growth
in knowledge. Public Opi nion Quarterly , 34, 158-70. Agre, P. (2002) Real-Time Politics. The Inf ormation Society , 2002. Warschauer,M., M. Knobel, L. Stone. Technology and Equity in Schooling: Deconstructing the Digital Divide. E d ucational Policy , 18(4): 562-588.
Myth 6
8/8/2019 2010 11 10 (Some of the) Ten Myths of ICT for International Development - Toyama
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2010-11-10-some-of-the-ten-myths-of-ict-for-international-development-toyama 14/41
Are you as rich as you¶d like to be?
Are you as educated as you¶d like to be?
Are you as compassionate as you¶d like to be?
Sources: http://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+be+richhttp://ocw.mit.edu
http://zenhabits.net/2007/06/a-guide-to-cultivating-compassion-in-your-life-with-7-practices/
8/8/2019 2010 11 10 (Some of the) Ten Myths of ICT for International Development - Toyama
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2010-11-10-some-of-the-ten-myths-of-ict-for-international-development-toyama 15/41
Information is the bottleneck.
Information is just one of manydeficiencies in developing world.
± Other deficiencies: human capacity economics
infrastructure
institutional capacity
political clout
Information educationCommunication commerce
Social networks community
Technology magnifies intent.
Myth 10
Photo credit: Kentaro Toyama
8/8/2019 2010 11 10 (Some of the) Ten Myths of ICT for International Development - Toyama
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2010-11-10-some-of-the-ten-myths-of-ict-for-international-development-toyama 16/41
If you had 20% of your annual incometo spare right now, and had to spend iton one of the following, which wouldyou spend it on«?
a) A part-time personal assistant
b) Travel and tourism
c) iPad or other gadget
(*) Or, use your expected financial status as a working adult, if you¶re a student.
8/8/2019 2010 11 10 (Some of the) Ten Myths of ICT for International Development - Toyama
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2010-11-10-some-of-the-ten-myths-of-ict-for-international-development-toyama 17/41
Needs are more pressing than desires.
N eed s are relative.
N eed d emand
³Needs assessments´ say people need « ± Better healthcare
± Better education
± Better income opportunities
But people spend lavishly on« ± Ring tones
± Music and movies
± Weddings and funerals
± Customized photos
Technology magnifies intent,
but intent is hard to gauge.
Myth 3
Photo Credit: Udai Singh Pawar Sources: Udai Singh Pawar, Nimmi Rangaswamy, Thomas Smyth, Etc.
8/8/2019 2010 11 10 (Some of the) Ten Myths of ICT for International Development - Toyama
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2010-11-10-some-of-the-ten-myths-of-ict-for-international-development-toyama 18/41
Should members of the army have guns?
Should police officers have guns?
Should ordinary civilians have guns?
Should 5-year-old children have guns?
Should convicted serial murderers have guns?
8/8/2019 2010 11 10 (Some of the) Ten Myths of ICT for International Development - Toyama
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2010-11-10-some-of-the-ten-myths-of-ict-for-international-development-toyama 19/41
Widespread technologies alsohave negative impacts«
± TV: violence, political
propaganda, material envy,Jersey Shore
± Internet: illegal content, piracy,terrorism, political oppression,cat videos
± Mobile phone: corruption,
(ship) piracy, gender politics,consumption displacement
Technology magnifies positiveand negative intent.
Technology¶s impact is only positive.Myth 12
Photo credit: Thomas Smyth
8/8/2019 2010 11 10 (Some of the) Ten Myths of ICT for International Development - Toyama
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2010-11-10-some-of-the-ten-myths-of-ict-for-international-development-toyama 20/41
³« X has never been used to its full
capacity in support of economic
development. It may be financially
impossible to use it in this way. But
still the possibility is tantalizing: What
is the full power and vividness of X
teaching were to be used to help the
schools develop a country¶s new
educational pattern? What if the full persuasive and instructional power of
X were to be used in support of
community development and the
modernization of farming? Where
would the break-even point come?
Where would the saving in rate of
change catch up with the increased
cost?´
X = ³television´
Source: Schramm, Wilbur. (1964)
M ass
M edia and National Development:The Role of Information in the Developing Countries.Pp. 231
8/8/2019 2010 11 10 (Some of the) Ten Myths of ICT for International Development - Toyama
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2010-11-10-some-of-the-ten-myths-of-ict-for-international-development-toyama 21/41
Technology X will save the world.
Wasn¶t true for X = radio, TV, or landline phone, despite initialexpectations and significantpenetration.
Doesn¶t seem true for X = PC.
How about X = mobile phone?
Technology magnifies intent andcapacity.
Photo credit: Tom Pirelli
Myth 1
8/8/2019 2010 11 10 (Some of the) Ten Myths of ICT for International Development - Toyama
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2010-11-10-some-of-the-ten-myths-of-ict-for-international-development-toyama 22/41
Obvious, right?
8/8/2019 2010 11 10 (Some of the) Ten Myths of ICT for International Development - Toyama
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2010-11-10-some-of-the-ten-myths-of-ict-for-international-development-toyama 23/41
Sources: Negroponte, N. 2005, Friedman, E. 2008, New York Times, 2008; Best, M. L., 2004.
³Kids in the developing world need the newest
technology«´
³There is a pressing need to employ informationtechnology for rural healthcare in sub-Saharan Africa.´
³Can the cellphone help end global poverty?´
³The Internet should be a human right in and of itself.´
8/8/2019 2010 11 10 (Some of the) Ten Myths of ICT for International Development - Toyama
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2010-11-10-some-of-the-ten-myths-of-ict-for-international-development-toyama 24/41
Agricultural Systems?
Low literacyin local lang
No bank accountExpensivecredit
No unique ID
Poor roads
Credit card
Device and connectivity not enough!
farmer expert
VolumebuyersPoor quality
control
Market
8/8/2019 2010 11 10 (Some of the) Ten Myths of ICT for International Development - Toyama
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2010-11-10-some-of-the-ten-myths-of-ict-for-international-development-toyama 25/41
E-commerce?
Low literacyin local lang
No bank accountExpensivecredit
No unique ID
Poor roads
Ill health
HH
consumptionpressures
Small scaleproduction/quality diff
ongoingbusiness
opportunity
Credit card
Parcel service
seller buyer
Device and connectivity not enough!
8/8/2019 2010 11 10 (Some of the) Ten Myths of ICT for International Development - Toyama
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2010-11-10-some-of-the-ten-myths-of-ict-for-international-development-toyama 26/41
Rural Telemedicine?
Low literacyin local lang
No bank accountExpensivecredit
No unique ID
Poor roads
Poor
access todrugs
Credit card
patient
Medicine
Trust absentwithout healthworker
Device and connectivity not enough!
doctor
8/8/2019 2010 11 10 (Some of the) Ten Myths of ICT for International Development - Toyama
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2010-11-10-some-of-the-ten-myths-of-ict-for-international-development-toyama 27/41
Rural Telemedicine with new device?
Low literacyin local lang
No bank accountExpensivecredit
No unique ID
Poor roads
Poor
access todrugs
Credit card
patient doctor
Medicine
Trust absentwithout healthworker
Device and connectivity not enough?
8/8/2019 2010 11 10 (Some of the) Ten Myths of ICT for International Development - Toyama
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2010-11-10-some-of-the-ten-myths-of-ict-for-international-development-toyama 28/41
Successes ExistPCs for NGO / MFI back ends
± Unsung success
Grameen Village Phone
± Mobile killer app: voice!
M-PES A
± Money transfer ($160M in first year)
Same-language subtitling for literacy ± Better literacy for 200M+ people
Long-distanceWiFi for eye care
± Enabled 50,000+ consultations
Photo credit: Indrani Medhi
8/8/2019 2010 11 10 (Some of the) Ten Myths of ICT for International Development - Toyama
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2010-11-10-some-of-the-ten-myths-of-ict-for-international-development-toyama 29/41
Financial
operational costs,maintenance,training
Digital
hardware,software,connectivity,
content
Physical
building,goods,transport,
roads
Human
education,computer literacy,motivation,awareness
Social
institutions,norms,political support
Technology is Just One Part
8/8/2019 2010 11 10 (Some of the) Ten Myths of ICT for International Development - Toyama
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2010-11-10-some-of-the-ten-myths-of-ict-for-international-development-toyama 30/41
Financial
operational costs,maintenance,training
Human
education,computer literacy,motivation,awareness
Social
institutions,norms,political support
Digital
hardware,software,connectivity,
content
Physical
building,goods,transport,
roads
In the Developed World«(includes wealthier segments of developing countries)
8/8/2019 2010 11 10 (Some of the) Ten Myths of ICT for International Development - Toyama
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2010-11-10-some-of-the-ten-myths-of-ict-for-international-development-toyama 31/41
In the Developing World«
Digital
hardware,software,connectivity,
content
8/8/2019 2010 11 10 (Some of the) Ten Myths of ICT for International Development - Toyama
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2010-11-10-some-of-the-ten-myths-of-ict-for-international-development-toyama 32/41
What to do?
8/8/2019 2010 11 10 (Some of the) Ten Myths of ICT for International Development - Toyama
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2010-11-10-some-of-the-ten-myths-of-ict-for-international-development-toyama 33/41
Technology magnif ies human i ntent and capacity.
Technology itsel f requires support f rom well-i ntentioned , capable people or i nstitutions.
For best results, use technology to augment
i nstitutions alread y havi ng positive impact.
8/8/2019 2010 11 10 (Some of the) Ten Myths of ICT for International Development - Toyama
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2010-11-10-some-of-the-ten-myths-of-ict-for-international-development-toyama 34/41
Photo credit: Aishwarya Ratan
A competent non-profit (PR AD AN) and a self-help group
make the technology work.
8/8/2019 2010 11 10 (Some of the) Ten Myths of ICT for International Development - Toyama
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2010-11-10-some-of-the-ten-myths-of-ict-for-international-development-toyama 35/41
Why the Myths Persist
8/8/2019 2010 11 10 (Some of the) Ten Myths of ICT for International Development - Toyama
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2010-11-10-some-of-the-ten-myths-of-ict-for-international-development-toyama 36/41
Why do these myths persist?
Desire for an easy solution
Desire for a one-time, catalyticinvestment
Desire to see ingenuity triumph
Seductive power of technology in thedeveloped world
Not enough insight into actual poor communities
Misleading explanations of successfulICT4D projects ± a variation of AI¶s
³frame problem´
8/8/2019 2010 11 10 (Some of the) Ten Myths of ICT for International Development - Toyama
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2010-11-10-some-of-the-ten-myths-of-ict-for-international-development-toyama 37/41
Sources: Negroponte, N. 2005, Friedman, E. 2008, New York Times, 2008; Best, M. L., 2004.
³Kids in the developing world need the newest
technology«´
³There is a pressing need to employ informationtechnology for rural healthcare in sub-Saharan Africa.´
³Can the cellphone help end global poverty?´
³The Internet should be a human right in and of itself.´
8/8/2019 2010 11 10 (Some of the) Ten Myths of ICT for International Development - Toyama
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2010-11-10-some-of-the-ten-myths-of-ict-for-international-development-toyama 38/41
³Twitter ischanging the way
we live.´
Sources: Time Magazine, Nonprofit Technology Conference, The Huffington Post, Wall Street Journal, Cybermedia.
³Each of us issimultaneously an
individual person and
a global publisher.´
³Social networkingwill transform
learning´
³The Internetchanges
everything.´
³The Internetdemocratizes access to
information.´
8/8/2019 2010 11 10 (Some of the) Ten Myths of ICT for International Development - Toyama
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2010-11-10-some-of-the-ten-myths-of-ict-for-international-development-toyama 39/41
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau,Wikipedia
ARPANET
Microsoft
PC
Cellphone
WWW
iPhone
8/8/2019 2010 11 10 (Some of the) Ten Myths of ICT for International Development - Toyama
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2010-11-10-some-of-the-ten-myths-of-ict-for-international-development-toyama 40/41
Summary
Myths of ICT4D
± ICT undoes ³rich getting richer.´
± Information is the bottleneck.
± Needs are more pressing than desires.
± Technology¶s impact is only positive.
± Technology X will save the world.
Conclusion
± Technology is a magnifier of human/institutional intent and capacity.
Recommendation for ICT4D interventions:
± Augment institutions already having positive development impact.
8/8/2019 2010 11 10 (Some of the) Ten Myths of ICT for International Development - Toyama
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2010-11-10-some-of-the-ten-myths-of-ict-for-international-development-toyama 41/41
[email protected]://www.kentarotoyama.org
Boston Review article: http://www.bostonreview.net
Photo credit: http://visionhelp.wordpress.com