Comments on: Rambling on about technology and development http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/03/02/rambling-on-about-technology-and-development/ Mon, 13 Feb 2012 05:41:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: udairaj.blogspot.com http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/03/02/rambling-on-about-technology-and-development/comment-page-1/#comment-94815 udairaj.blogspot.com Sat, 17 Mar 2007 04:35:19 +0000 http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/03/02/rambling-on-about-technology-and-development/#comment-94815 Well said about Blackboard and Chalk. Leapfrogging is beneficial to the to only a selected few who have the wealth and want to generate more and who are educated. For the poor and uneducated leapfrogging can never build the capacity to innovate. Well said about Blackboard and Chalk. Leapfrogging is beneficial to the to only a selected few who have the wealth and want to generate more and who are educated. For the poor and uneducated leapfrogging can never build the capacity to innovate.

]]> By: Rebecca Caroe http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/03/02/rambling-on-about-technology-and-development/comment-page-1/#comment-94181 Rebecca Caroe Sat, 10 Mar 2007 09:34:31 +0000 http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/03/02/rambling-on-about-technology-and-development/#comment-94181 This is fantastic stuff. One resource you might want to look at in the context of 'village information centres' is the Sirolli Institute http://www.sirolli.co.uk/ I worked in mid 80s for AKRSP (Aga Khan Rural Support Programme) in northern Gilgit and the principles we worked to there are closely aligned with Ernesto Sirolli's ideas. Now I'm a business consultant but the principles of using enterprise as a tool for economic development is the most rational I have ever seen. And it works - in the first, second and third world! Rebecca This is fantastic stuff.
One resource you might want to look at in the context of ‘village information centres’ is the Sirolli Institute http://www.sirolli.co.uk/

I worked in mid 80s for AKRSP (Aga Khan Rural Support Programme) in northern Gilgit and the principles we worked to there are closely aligned with Ernesto Sirolli’s ideas.

Now I’m a business consultant but the principles of using enterprise as a tool for economic development is the most rational I have ever seen. And it works – in the first, second and third world!

Rebecca

]]> By: abhay tiwari http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/03/02/rambling-on-about-technology-and-development/comment-page-1/#comment-94138 abhay tiwari Fri, 09 Mar 2007 04:55:36 +0000 http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/03/02/rambling-on-about-technology-and-development/#comment-94138 the way you have explained much abused terms, in simple and lucid manner is praise worthy; wish you could reach more people..and write on other terms too. the way you have explained much abused terms, in simple and lucid manner is praise worthy; wish you could reach more people..and write on other terms too.

]]> By: shiv http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/03/02/rambling-on-about-technology-and-development/comment-page-1/#comment-93983 shiv Wed, 07 Mar 2007 05:42:49 +0000 http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/03/02/rambling-on-about-technology-and-development/#comment-93983 The VKC thing is happening, at least the money is being mis-appropriated. Apparently Rs 6K crores have been allocated for it. We were asked by one of the consulting groups to work out the solar architecture to power the damn things. Our recommendations were perused and they came back to ask if we could achieve the same results with 1/5 the investment on the solar.In effect reduce your solar investment to 20 % of what you are suggesting and find a way for the hardware vendors to still sell their state of the crap junk. Apparently one of the other vendors has suggested a 'hybrid' system that is also grid interactive. This hybrid is a pure con with the solar tacked on to satisfy the RFC conditions and bring down the costs.These cost reductions are so that they can dispose off their inventory on the story that the system will work 9x6. So right at the start there is no way to actually power the infrastructure for the time that they claim.The plethora of middle men seem to have their own physics textbook. They seem to have deep faith in perpetual machines. The vendor knows that once it is setup it will be quietly buried. After all the rush seems to be to garner 'their' share of the 6k cr after the babus and netas have dipped their beaks.They are still talking to me as they realize that our numbers add up without having to undermine the RFP by 'assuming' x hours of grid supply (which is a joke in bangalore leave alone Jumrithaliah) or P4 class machines that run at less than 200W (with inversion losses thrown to the wind). The world forces me to acknowledge that Atanu is probably right in wanting to disband the FDA. :( The VKC thing is happening, at least the money is being mis-appropriated. Apparently Rs 6K crores have been allocated for it. We were asked by one of the consulting groups to work out the solar architecture to power the damn things. Our recommendations were perused and they came back to ask if we could achieve the same results with 1/5 the investment on the solar.In effect reduce your solar investment to 20 % of what you are suggesting and find a way for the hardware vendors to still sell their state of the crap junk. Apparently one of the other vendors has suggested a ‘hybrid’ system that is also grid interactive. This hybrid is a pure con with the solar tacked on to satisfy the RFC conditions and bring down the costs.These cost reductions are so that they can dispose off their inventory on the story that the system will work 9×6. So right at the start there is no way to actually power the infrastructure for the time that they claim.The plethora of middle men seem to have their own physics textbook. They seem to have deep faith in perpetual machines. The vendor knows that once it is setup it will be quietly buried. After all the rush seems to be to garner ‘their’ share of the 6k cr after the babus and netas have dipped their beaks.They are still talking to me as they realize that our numbers add up without having to undermine the RFP by ‘assuming’ x hours of grid supply (which is a joke in bangalore leave alone Jumrithaliah) or P4 class machines that run at less than 200W (with inversion losses thrown to the wind). The world forces me to acknowledge that Atanu is probably right in wanting to disband the FDA. :(

]]> By: Anonymous coward http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/03/02/rambling-on-about-technology-and-development/comment-page-1/#comment-93338 Anonymous coward Mon, 05 Mar 2007 18:29:01 +0000 http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/03/02/rambling-on-about-technology-and-development/#comment-93338 For me (as someone not so used to the terms in economics), economic growth and development are synonymous—- when I say that a company is growing, it automatically entails development in all areas (to different extents). Can you elucidate more on what you meant by the difference between the two? There's no free lunch. Go buy an Economics textbook or enroll yourself in a class. For me (as someone not so used to the terms in economics), economic growth and development are synonymous—- when I say that a company is growing, it automatically entails development in all areas (to different extents). Can you elucidate more on what you meant by the difference between the two?
There’s no free lunch.
Go buy an Economics textbook or enroll yourself in a class.

]]> By: Sudipta Chatterjee http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/03/02/rambling-on-about-technology-and-development/comment-page-1/#comment-93092 Sudipta Chatterjee Sat, 03 Mar 2007 21:33:03 +0000 http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/03/02/rambling-on-about-technology-and-development/#comment-93092 I really liked this post, Atanu... leapfrogging can't be forced and chalks and blackboards will serve a much better purpose than PCs in many places. However, there is something I don't understand. For me (as someone not so used to the terms in economics), economic growth and development are synonymous --- when I say that a company is growing, it automatically entails development in all areas (to different extents). Can you elucidate more on what you meant by the difference between the two? I really liked this post, Atanu… leapfrogging can’t be forced and chalks and blackboards will serve a much better purpose than PCs in many places.

However, there is something I don’t understand. For me (as someone not so used to the terms in economics), economic growth and development are synonymous — when I say that a company is growing, it automatically entails development in all areas (to different extents). Can you elucidate more on what you meant by the difference between the two?

]]> By: Srinivas http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/03/02/rambling-on-about-technology-and-development/comment-page-1/#comment-93034 Srinivas Sat, 03 Mar 2007 09:54:07 +0000 http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/03/02/rambling-on-about-technology-and-development/#comment-93034 When you say that, “Adoption of technology is entirely a matter that is mediated by the market and requires no government intervention.” You are willfully ignoring the fact that market mechanisms in developing countries are under developed, thus rendering them prone to exploitation. I wish your unshakeable faith in markets and disillusionment with the Government is equally matched by concern for social equity. The kind of leapfrogging “from Pigeons to Mobiles” happens only in the mind. India’s vast postal network system and vibrant media at local and state levels addressed the need for communication for many years. Admittedly literacy limits the access to even these forms of communication to the better-off sections. But again it is these better-off sections that use the mobile phones now too. As you rightly mentioned, growth is easier to achieve than development. But unless economic growth reduces societal inequalities and provides equality of opportunity, the friction in the society will remain. The search for the “better idea” to achieve this should look beyond mere “technology” to the “human ingenuity” with equity as the central concern. Finally when you say that “People who have yet to lose their fascination with high tech gizmos promote mindless schemes for bringing high tech to rural areas without asking whether there are cheaper alternatives”, it is not clear, considering your previous post on OLPC if “DVD Players, TV Monitors and Radios” are the cheaper alternatives you have in mind, or the “blackboard and chalk” When you say that, “Adoption of technology is entirely a matter that is mediated by the market and requires no government intervention.” You are willfully ignoring the fact that market mechanisms in developing countries are under developed, thus rendering them prone to exploitation. I wish your unshakeable faith in markets and disillusionment with the Government is equally matched by concern for social equity. The kind of leapfrogging “from Pigeons to Mobiles” happens only in the mind. India’s vast postal network system and vibrant media at local and state levels addressed the need for communication for many years. Admittedly literacy limits the access to even these forms of communication to the better-off sections. But again it is these better-off sections that use the mobile phones now too. As you rightly mentioned, growth is easier to achieve than development. But unless economic growth reduces societal inequalities and provides equality of opportunity, the friction in the society will remain. The search for the “better idea” to achieve this should look beyond mere “technology” to the “human ingenuity” with equity as the central concern. Finally when you say that “People who have yet to lose their fascination with high tech gizmos promote mindless schemes for bringing high tech to rural areas without asking whether there are cheaper alternatives”, it is not clear, considering your previous post on OLPC if “DVD Players, TV Monitors and Radios” are the cheaper alternatives you have in mind, or the “blackboard and chalk”

]]> By: Apun Ka Desh http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/03/02/rambling-on-about-technology-and-development/comment-page-1/#comment-93012 Apun Ka Desh Sat, 03 Mar 2007 04:44:35 +0000 http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/03/02/rambling-on-about-technology-and-development/#comment-93012 Quoting from the post: "What you really need is a blackboard and chalk." Very True. What will a child who cannot read n write do with a damn computer, and worse still, one who doesn't know if he will be fed his next meal. Quoting from the post:
“What you really need is a blackboard and chalk.”

Very True.
What will a child who cannot read n write do with a damn computer, and worse still, one who doesn’t know if he will be fed his next meal.

]]> By: sid http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/03/02/rambling-on-about-technology-and-development/comment-page-1/#comment-92972 sid Fri, 02 Mar 2007 17:19:08 +0000 http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/03/02/rambling-on-about-technology-and-development/#comment-92972 hey atanu , the post and last para in particular makes a point why we (India) shouldn go for OLPC ,,,it is right to say tht we have basic development probelms in education rather than a technological one. hey atanu , the post and last para in particular makes a point why we (India) shouldn go for OLPC ,,,it is right to say tht we have basic development probelms in education rather than a technological one.

]]> By: tejbir http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/03/02/rambling-on-about-technology-and-development/comment-page-1/#comment-92963 tejbir Fri, 02 Mar 2007 14:41:57 +0000 http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/03/02/rambling-on-about-technology-and-development/#comment-92963 I think for the stage that India is in we need more of education dissemination technology to enable the people to convert information to knowledge and again there is no leapfrogging permitted. I think for the stage that India is in we need more of education dissemination technology to enable the people to convert information to knowledge and again there is no leapfrogging permitted.

]]> By: Jayant http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/03/02/rambling-on-about-technology-and-development/comment-page-1/#comment-92957 Jayant Fri, 02 Mar 2007 13:45:27 +0000 http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/03/02/rambling-on-about-technology-and-development/#comment-92957 Well "rambled";-) Well “rambled”;-)

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