ICT and Development
April 1, 2008
Ethics and Policy issues in Computing • Carnegie Mellon University • Spring 2008 • Tongia • http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~tongia/sp08/08-200/
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Guest Presentation by Faheem Hussain,
EPP Ph.D. student
Ethics and Policy issues in Computing • Carnegie Mellon University • Spring 2008 • Tongia • http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~tongia/sp08/08-200/
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ICT and Development
Also called ICT for Development
“ICT4D”
Ethics and Policy issues in Computing • Carnegie Mellon University • Spring 2008 • Tongia • http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~tongia/sp08/08-200/
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Development in Context
50-60 years ago, the world was VERY
different
• Much of the world was not independent
• Much lower population
• Much greater disparities
 Urban/rural
 By ethnicity or sub-group
 Limited granular data
Ethics and Policy issues in Computing • Carnegie Mellon University • Spring 2008 • Tongia • http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~tongia/sp08/08-200/
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Development Trajectories
 Post WWII
• Intl. Agencies + the state = big development
• Rapid industrialization, e.g., Japan/USSR
 1960s/70s
• State guiding the economy to the provision of “basic
needs”
• Lots of “appropriate technology” ideas
 1980s
• State is incompetent, let markets take care of things
• Economies liberalize
Ethics and Policy issues in Computing • Carnegie Mellon University • Spring 2008 • Tongia • http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~tongia/sp08/08-200/
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Development Trajectories (cont.)
1990s
• Markets are central
• BUT liberalization/globalization may bypass
the poorest, so need civil society to increase
“participation”
• USSR falls apart, liberalization accelerates
2000s
• Market to the poorest: consumer = citizen.
• IT is everywhere.
• State must be guarantor of private interests
Ethics and Policy issues in Computing • Carnegie Mellon University • Spring 2008 • Tongia • http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~tongia/sp08/08-200/
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Where did (does) Technology Fit In?
Incremental changes within processes
Changes to processes within economy
(e.g., Services/Knowledge Economy)
ICT
• Large investments and growth
Infrastructure buildout
• What were large US buildouts? When? By
Whom?
 US Govt. played an emorous role, e.g., Tennessee
Valley Authority (TVA)
Ethics and Policy issues in Computing • Carnegie Mellon University • Spring 2008 • Tongia • http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~tongia/sp08/08-200/
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Internet - Innovation at the Edge
 Some innovation is expensive
• Pharmaceuticals
• Chip design (and building)
 Some innovation can be done in the archetypal
“garage” or with limited resources
•
•
•
•
•
Firefox (originally)
Podcasts
RSS (co-invented by a 14-year old)
GIS Mashups (e.g., Google maps + Craigs List)
Street theaters and songs for HIV education
 The Internet by design is meant to allow
innovation at the edge
• “Dumb” cloud in the middle
Ethics and Policy issues in Computing • Carnegie Mellon University • Spring 2008 • Tongia • http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~tongia/sp08/08-200/
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ICT4D - Scholarly Work
 Earlier, was segmented by domain
• Developmental Economics
• Energy, Healthcare, etc.
• IT
 Newly emerging field of ICT and Development
• Nascent
• Many “events” are not rigorous (e.g., WSIS)
 Lack of metrics is a serious challenge
 ICTD2006, ICTD2007, etc. (we are helping co-organize) are
important efforts
 WWW conference now has an emerging regions track
• A few journals are there (e.g., ITID)
Ethics and Policy issues in Computing • Carnegie Mellon University • Spring 2008 • Tongia • http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~tongia/sp08/08-200/
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Field Work
Theory vs. Practice
• “In theory there is no difference between
theory and practice. But, in practice,
there is”
– Jan L.A. van de Snepscheut
Ethics and Policy issues in Computing • Carnegie Mellon University • Spring 2008 • Tongia • http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~tongia/sp08/08-200/
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Student Activities at CMU
TechBridgeWorld
• www.techbridgeworld.org
• Has opportunities for student research and
participation
SURG
• Student Undergraduate Research Grant
…and more
Ethics and Policy issues in Computing • Carnegie Mellon University • Spring 2008 • Tongia • http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~tongia/sp08/08-200/
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ICT for Sustainable Development
 Challenges of sustainable development
 Is ICT just “Toys for rich”?
 Atoms, bits, and more – Going beyond the digital
divide
 Case examples
 Educational programs to meet the challenges
• Interdisciplinary
 Why this is difficult (but important)
Ethics and Policy issues in Computing • Carnegie Mellon University • Spring 2008 • Tongia • http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~tongia/sp08/08-200/
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Copenhagen Consensus 2004
 Applies an economic filter as to
what you’d spend money on
• “good projects”
vs.
• “bad projects”
 What other filters/frameworks
might one apply to determining
projects for global sustainability?
• Timeframe
• Likelihood of success
• Cost-benefit analysis (CBA)
Ethics and Policy issues in Computing • Carnegie Mellon University • Spring 2008 • Tongia • http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~tongia/sp08/08-200/
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Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
Goals for development globally adopted
after the Millennium Summit
• Specify quantitative targets over ~15-20 years
• Most deal with basic human development
 Nothing directly relating to Information and
Communications Technology (ICT), or even
infrastructure
Ethics and Policy issues in Computing • Carnegie Mellon University • Spring 2008 • Tongia • http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~tongia/sp08/08-200/
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Millennium Development Goals
Ethics and Policy issues in Computing • Carnegie Mellon University • Spring 2008 • Tongia • http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~tongia/sp08/08-200/
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MDGs Don’t Mention a Number of Things
ICT
• Only peripherally mentioned in Topic 8
Doesn’t even mention Energy
Wealth (GDP)
Doesn’t lead to a composite measure of
Human Development
• E.g., HDI – Human Development Index, which
spans literacy, infant mortality, etc.
Ethics and Policy issues in Computing • Carnegie Mellon University • Spring 2008 • Tongia • http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~tongia/sp08/08-200/
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Themes
Enabling
ICT
ICT and Development (Groups)
Human-Computer Interaction, Sensors, Communication,
Databases/Information Systems, Controllers/Actuators/Effectors
Infrastructure
Development
Energy &
Transportation
Basic Human
Needs and
Development
Healthcare
Water &
Sanitation
Agriculture
Economic
Development
Job Creation
& Poverty
Reduction
Education
Empowerment
Alienation,
Peace, &
Prosperity
Transparency,
Democracy, &
E-Governance
Ethics and Policy issues in Computing • Carnegie Mellon University • Spring 2008 • Tongia • http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~tongia/sp08/08-200/
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Is ICT Even a Factor?
Services are the largest portion of global
economy (over agriculture and
manufacturing), SO
If you’ve got a
in your hand…
…then everything starts to look like a
Ethics and Policy issues in Computing • Carnegie Mellon University • Spring 2008 • Tongia • http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~tongia/sp08/08-200/
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Bill of Rights for the Information Age
“Getting the right information to the right
people in the right language in the right
timeframe in the right level of detail”
Jaime Carbonnel (1997)
 To this, we can add “for the right value”
 Challenges
• Subjective
• Lots of competing goals
Ethics and Policy issues in Computing • Carnegie Mellon University • Spring 2008 • Tongia • http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~tongia/sp08/08-200/
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What would a Farmer do with ICT?
Needs seed, soil, water, fertilizer, money
(credit), etc.
But, with information, could
• Know what to plant
• When to plant
• How to manage
• Reduce diseases
• Optimize sales (negotiation, supply-chain)
This is starting to look like a Decision Support
System (DSS)
Ethics and Policy issues in Computing • Carnegie Mellon University • Spring 2008 • Tongia • http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~tongia/sp08/08-200/
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(Barely) Making a Living
Value-chain: Cup of Coffee (UK)
200
180
160
Price (UK pence)
 How do we obtain
fair prices for
farmers?
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
ric
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il e
rP
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et
a
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oa
sti
ng
in
g
ka
g
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os
ts
po
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D
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C
ry
in
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la
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au
M
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Fa
rm
er
's
Pr
ic
e
0
Source: Guardian
Ethics and Policy issues in Computing • Carnegie Mellon University • Spring 2008 • Tongia • http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~tongia/sp08/08-200/
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Impacts of Technology - Productivity
Farming System /
Input Level
Shifting cultivation
Low traditional
Moderate traditional
Improved traditional
Moderate technological
High technological
Special technological
Ha/person required to
feed
2.65
1.20
0.60
0.17
0.11
0.08
0.05
Source: Lal (2003)
• Advanced technologies include sensors, drip irrigation, robotics, etc.
• Even simple laser soil levelers can be valuable for saving water
Ethics and Policy issues in Computing • Carnegie Mellon University • Spring 2008 • Tongia • http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~tongia/sp08/08-200/
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ICTs and MDGs
Allocation of resources to
an MDG sector and ICT
Allocation of resources
to ICT in the sector
Allocation of resources
to the sector
ICT-related increased
efficiency in delivering
Non ICT-related
increased efficiency in
delivering
Impact on this
MDG sector
Increased efficiency in
delivering in the sector
Source: World Bank
Ethics and Policy issues in Computing • Carnegie Mellon University • Spring 2008 • Tongia • http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~tongia/sp08/08-200/
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Investing in ICTs for Development
Simple RoI calculations may be difficult
• Greatest “bang for buck” may be direct, e.g.,
distributing condoms
 But education plays an enormous role
• ICT’s best promise is in increasing efficiency,
transparency, and empowerment
• Effects may be disperse and hard to
appropriate
 If a government kiosk is established, is it Min. of
Communications that should pay? Or Min. of
Education? Healthcare? Commerce?
• Investments may be modest
 A telecom network is 10-100x less expensive than
roads
Ethics and Policy issues in Computing • Carnegie Mellon University • Spring 2008 • Tongia • http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~tongia/sp08/08-200/
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Development Needs Drive ICT Research (examples only, non-exhaustive)
Infrastructure
Development
S
Basic Human Needs
and Development
S Disaster / DB/IS
CTRL Weather
Advanced DB/IS
Urban
Transport
C
CTRL
HCI
CTRL
C
HCI
HCI
Management
C
S
Enabling
ICT
Remote DB/IS
Medical
Detection /
Diagnosis C
DB/IS
Water
Management
CTRL
Health DB/IS
Monitoring
and
Epidemiology C
S
DB/IS
S Electricity
Load
HCI
CTRL
Forecasting
and Warning C
C
S
HCI
HCI
Drip and
Advanced
Irrigation
CTRL
Empowerment
DB/IS
Distance and
e-Learning
HCI
C
DB/IS
S
S Electricity
Theft
Reduction
Economic
Development
Agricultural
Price
Discovery
DB/IS
E-Governance
C
Expanding
DB/IS
Markets for
Rural /
Traditional
Goods C
HCI
C
DB/IS
HCI
National and
Global
Inclusiveness
C
DB/IS
Digital
Libraries
C
HCI
C
Sensors, Communication, Databases/Information Systems (DB/IS),
Controllers/Actuators/Effectors (CTRL), Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)
Incorporates issues of: OS, Protocols, Robustness, Software, Hardware, Power Management,
Ethics and Policy issues in Computing • Carnegie Mellon University • SpringRegulation,
2008 • Tongia • http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~tongia/sp08/08-200/
Security, etc.
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Power
Connectivity
e-Choupal Agriculture Supply-Chain
Training
Content
Helps millions of Indian farmers; is a model for replication worldwide
Ethics and Policy issues in Computing • Carnegie Mellon University • Spring 2008 • Tongia • http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~tongia/sp08/08-200/
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The e-Choupal System
1. ICT Infrastructure:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
Computer
Internet
Multimedia
Broadband
Smart Card
VSAT
Solar Power
2. Physical Reach:
a. Choupals within walking distance
b. Multipurpose Warehouse hubs within driving distance
3. Key Intermediaries:
a. Sanchalak (1 per cluster of 5-6 villages) 1500/state
b. Sanyojak (1 per group of 10-15 choupals) 100/state
c. ITC (support the farm produce marketing end)
Committed Multinational
Ethics and Policy issues in Computing • Carnegie Mellon University • Spring 2008 • Tongia • http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~tongia/sp08/08-200/
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Transaction Costs
The Mandi Chain
Rs per MT
Trolley Freight to Mandi = 100
Filling & Weighing Labour = 70
Farmer Incurs
270
Labour Khadi Karai
= 50
Handling Loss
= 50
Processor
Incurs
Source: ITC
Commission to Agent
= 100
Cost of Gunny Bags (net) = 75
Labour (Stitching, Loading)= 35 505
Labour at Factory (Unload) = 35
Freight to Factory
= 250
Transit Losses
= 10
Total Chain
775
Ethics and Policy issues in Computing • Carnegie Mellon University • Spring 2008 • Tongia • http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~tongia/sp08/08-200/
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Transaction Costs
The eChoupal Chain
Rs per MT
Trolley Freight to Mandi = 100
Filling & Weighing Labour = 70
Farmer Incurs
270
Labour Khadi Karai
= 50
Handling Loss
= 50
Source: ITC
Sanchalak
50
Commission to Agent
= 100
Cost of Gunny Bags (net) = 75
Processor
505
Labour (Stitching, Loading)= 35
Incurs
185
Labour at Factory (Unload) = 35
Freight to Factory
100 = 250
Transit Losses
= 10
775 185
Total Chain
Ethics and Policy issues in Computing • Carnegie Mellon University • Spring 2008 • Tongia • http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~tongia/sp08/08-200/
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e-Choupal
 Technologies were largely off the shelf
 Information was free to farmer
• ITC and Sanchalak only make money if he/she
chooses to transact
 Trust was a key ingredient to the success of eChoupal
 Information is only one ingredient – ITC provided
the supply chain to actually fulfill the transaction
(warehouses nearby)
 They are extending the infrastructure for other
uses
Ethics and Policy issues in Computing • Carnegie Mellon University • Spring 2008 • Tongia • http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~tongia/sp08/08-200/
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Successful Development
Sustainable
Institution and capacity building
Stakeholder participation
Empowerment
Feedback and flexibility
• Transparent metrics
Ethics and Policy issues in Computing • Carnegie Mellon University • Spring 2008 • Tongia • http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~tongia/sp08/08-200/
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