Information and Communication Technologies for Development

Who am I?

I am a Nigerian and a graduate student in the Systems Design and Management program. I have a background in information technology and have several years of experience in different aspects of it.

My current research is in development of location-based services in emerging economies. Simply put, I'm looking at how one can deploy location-based services (driving directions, local search, friend-finder, etc) or large-scale systems in general, within the constraints of developing countries.

Some people say "you need broad band internet density to do this, so subsidize internet costs"

I say "look around the environment and ask yourself - what is available that can be used? How have the locals been able to find their way around the cities & locations? Generalize this and see if you can come up with a technology/solution."

Why am I going this route? Because if one keeps on waiting till internet access becomes ubiquitous, some of these services will never get off the ground. Unless of course, a solution to internet ubiquity is found immediately., (like a fibre-optic cable is laid all round Africa in the nearest future.

Is this going to work?

Well, I won't know unless I try. So here I am in MIT, spending all my money, researching my theory.

Hmmmm - maybe I'll come up with a solution that will give me millions in returns.

OK, 4get the millions. I figure I can get parlay my education here in a world class institution like MIT into solving problems or as my former employer's mantra goes - "improve the way the world works and lives"

Why Assured Labor?
This concept of looking within the society to find solutions is what drives my interest in the current project in class - Assured Labor.

How do people currently find jobs in developing countries?

Word of mouth. Someone knows someone who knows someone who has a job.

Generalize this, and look for a locally available technology - GSM/SMS

Combine these two things - You have a solution!!

Well, that's it for today.

Stay tuned for more information.......