Ken Novak: Digital DevelopmentCommunications and info tech in developing countries, especially wireless broadband and high-value applications(Untitled)- September 13, 2004 Michael Helfrich describes a mobile WiFi cloud experiment during Strong Angel II: "The Pony Express was nothing more than a Chevy SUV, housing a Groove Relay, a yagi mast, and a 5-watt in-line linear amplifier between the PC's WIFI card and the yagi. The vehicle was driven in a large circle linking three camps, much like the refugee camp described above, spread across the big island. These camps had personnel with laptop computers and WIFI capability, but no uplink to the internet. As the.http://www.novak.com/weblog/categories/digitalDevelopment/2004/09/12.html#a2392 (Untitled)- September 11, 2004 Wikipedia Reputation and the Wemedia Project: The rationale for the value of Wikipedia and other open-modification resources. Describes one test where a dozen errors were introduced, and all were corrected within 3 hours. Reminds me of "single text" conflict resolution, open source intelligence, and the codification of traditional knowledge. As long as there are enough authors paying attention, it may work for capturing collective knowledge.http://www.novak.com/weblog/categories/digitalDevelopment/2004/09/10.html#a2385 (Untitled)- September 9, 2004 Internet prods Asia to open up: "in China, where the government has mounted a huge effort to filter Internet content. The "Great Firewall of China" is manned by at least 30,000 censors who blocked as many as 50,000 websites in the first half of 2002, according to a US State Department report on China's human rights. Just this week, Beijing introduced stringent penalties against purveyors of Internet pornography, including life imprisonment for those behind major sites that receive more than...http://www.novak.com/weblog/categories/digitalDevelopment/2004/09/08.html#a2376 (Untitled)- September 9, 2004 Fewer Asians live on less than $1 a day: "In a new report, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) says the number of people in Asia living on less than $1 a day fell by 223 million between 1990 and 2002. China accounted for 3 out of 4 of those whose incomes rose above a level classified as "extreme poverty" by economists. .. Ifzal Ali, chief economist of the ADB estimates that by 2015, provided this growth is sustained, the number of Asians living extreme poverty could fall as low as 150...http://www.novak.com/weblog/categories/digitalDevelopment/2004/09/08.html#a2375 (Untitled)- September 2, 2004 New Ideas for Emerging Markets: Cellphone micropayments for the BOP: For cell phone operators, "mature markets are near saturation, and carriers must develop new strategies to reach low-earning customers. Carriers in emerging markets often find quick early success by catering to customers at the upper end of the local income scale, but at some point, they have to start looking a little lower down. While they'll still go all-out over those top-tier customers, operators must also figure out.http://www.novak.com/weblog/categories/digitalDevelopment/2004/09/02.html#a2363 (Untitled)- September 1, 2004 Mini-Box.Com: "Mini-Box is a small, lightweight, yet powerful x86 system designed for embedded or general purpose PC computing applications. Consuming under 10 watts, the M-100 is an excellent candidate for low power, small form factor computing requirements. The M-100 is equipped with a backlit LCD, customizable 14 key keypad, front load Compact Flash, USB and audio." Comes with Linux on a bootable CF. Powered by 12v DC.http://www.novak.com/weblog/categories/digitalDevelopment/2004/08/31.html#a2356 |