Description
Book SynopsisRemain competitive by offering more accessible, affordable, and relevant information technologies that meet mass-market needs
Technology at the Margins demonstrates that by making IT more accessible, affordable, and relevant, new mass markets can be opened. Based on solid insights generated in key areas of health, education, finance and the environment, the book offers practical recommendations and insights from world leaders, innovators, practitioners and new users of emergent technologies.
- Offers recommendations on how companies can ensure their own competitiveness by offering more accessible, affordable, and relevant information technologies to support mass market needs
- Suggests practical recommendations and insights from world leaders, innovators, practitioners and new users of emergent technologies
- Challenges businesses to rethink their uses of existing technologies
Technology at the Margins will be of int
Table of Contents
Foreword xiii
Preface xvii
CHAPTER 1: Information and Communication Technologies for Everyone 1
Innovative Ways to Reach the Majority of the World 1
What Are the Barriers to Success? 7
Where Are We Today? 8
Summary Points 26
Notes 26
CHAPTER 2: Health Care: Where and When It Is Needed 29
World Health 29
Health Education 35
Health Administration and Management 40
Telemedicine 43
Diagnosis and Prevention 45
Disease Surveillance and Information Gathering 51
Taking Stock 53
Steps to Take to Move into the Future 55
Summary Points 58
Notes 59
CHAPTER 3: Outside the “Education Box” 61
Who’s Getting an Education? 61
Breaking Down the Problem 63
Classroom ICT: A History of Unmet Expectations 67
Curriculum within Reach 68
Corporations Invest in ICT for Education 71
New Delivery Methods 73
Effective Mediation 77
What Is Known? 78
New Directions and Challenges Ahead 79
Summary Points 83
Notes 84
CHAPTER 4: Microfinance: The Next Phase 87
Who Are the “Unbanked”? 87
Microfinance: Meeting Financial Needs of Poor Households 88
Microfinance Goes Beyond the “Lending Circle” Approach 90
Barriers to Microfinance 92
ICT Is Helping 94
Management Information Systems Now at the Core of Microfinance 102
Where Does Microfinance Go from Here? 105
Challenges 107
Summary Points 108
Notes 109
CHAPTER 5: Supporting the World in a Changing Environment 111
World of Limited Resources 111
Moving Science from Labs to the Field 113
Minimizing the Impact of Natural Disasters 125
Where Do We Go from Here? 131
Summary Points 132
Notes 132
CHAPTER 6: Conclusion: Harnessing Disruption 135
Reimagining the Role of Experts 136
Reimagining the Role of Institutions 137
Reimagining Partnerships 138
Reimagining Business Models 139
Reimagining Research 140
Reimagining Our Biases 141
Reimagining Public Infrastructure 142
Looking Ahead 142
Notes 143
References 145
Index 157
