Technology for International Development is our Passion
Information and communication technologies (ICTs) help people communicate and share information, via old technologies such as radio and TV, and new technologies such as computers, email, and the Internet. The application of ICTs to international development is often expressed as "ICTs for development," or "ICT4D" for short. They are especially helpful for communication, knowledge sharing, and collaboration across geographical distances.
The United Nations' Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are important benchmarks of current development priorities, including increasing universal education and gender equality, and reducing poverty and infant mortality. Not only are ICTs included as one of the MDGs (Goal 8 Target 18), they are also important enablers of the other goals. As ICT specialists, we understand how ICTs can further all of the MDGs. The UN ICT Task Force has documented some recommendations of how to do so. Indeed, in areas with limited alternative resources, such as telephones and libraries, ICTs become even more important.
At fluidIT soltuions, we are especially interested in how modern ICTs can be best applied in rural, economically disadvantaged, resource-limited, language-diverse and partially-literate areas. What place should these technologies have within existing communication channels? How should elders, chiefs, and computers interact? When are text, audio, and audiovisual communications most appropriate, and why?
Our founder, Carole St. Laurent, has had the chance to explore some of these questions first hand through her Master’s research and work in Africa. She shares some of her reflections below.
- Watch our video about computing in Africa; choose the High Speed Internet or Low Speed Internet version (requires Real Media player)