[Telecentres] Re: Basic Telecentre Items - avoid open sourcedebate

Tue Oct 5 10:41:36 BST 2004

Dear Bevis,
I think you have raised very important points in relation to telecenters -
(1) that there is a need of conducting market research of local needs
prior to establishment of telecenters and (2) the centers are not end, but
means to end.
When we were starting up project in Mongolia, the most important need
which was identified by local community was need to have access to
information - local, regional, international, etc. However, when we
started implementation of the telecenters projects, apparently, some other
needs were identified, such as training in use of equipment and tools to
get what you wanted. I would think of that there is a need of good
business plan to make this project sustainable in the future.
International organizations and donors would buy an idea of setting up
telecenters, but there is a need of identifiying ways of how to make it
sustainable from the beginning of the project.
Just a brief thought,
Ariunaa
> Greetings all,
>
> First a brief introduction:  I've been studying and thinking about
> "telecentres" (and helping implement them) since the late '80s.  A number
> of
> key lessons have been learned over this time.  Two points are worth making
> at this stage.
>
> First, the important thing is not what equipment or software a telecentre
> should or must have, and neither is it important to try and define
> precisely
> what a telecentre is (or what it should be called).   It is more important
> to recognise what a telecentre can be -- and it can be many things.
> Everything else about the telecentre can be defined by the intended users
> --
> not the implementers, the researchers, or theorists.  Unless the
> telecentre
> matches what it is needed in its target community it will not be relevant,
> it will not be used, and it will not be sustainable.
>
> With this in mind, it will be impossible to define what a telecentre is --
> it will take a different from in every setting.  And therefore trying to
> list specific equipment or software will always be a sideshow to the real
> issues.
>
> For myself, a telecentre is simply somewhere where telework happens.
> (Telework is defined, in this context, as doing it from a distance --
> however the 'it' is defined: employment, information access, education,
> health, etc.)  Starting from this perspective it is possible to identify
> the
> 12 major 'products' a telecentre can 'market', and evaluate each market in
> any given location.  Every location then ends up with a different mix of
> products, a different set of financial imperatives, and a different
> sustainability equation.
>
> Perhaps the question is not what makes up a telecentre or what it is, but
> rather what market research has been done in each location and what
> specific
> questions need to be asked or answered.
>
> The second, but related, point is that telecentres are a means to an end,
> not an end in themselves.  They are a 'tool' to be used when appropriate,
> once the tasks are understood.  The practical implication of this, for me,
> is that talking about telecentres and trying to insert them into
> bureaucratic debates is a bit like trying to create a standard for a
> hammer,
> regardless of the type and size of nail, and regardless of the building
> site
> or factory.  As a consultant, I have found it much more useful and
> effective
> to identify what the tasks are first, what does the community need.  Only
> then can we know whether a telecentre will be useful and what it should
> provide.
>
> Regards,
>
> Bevis England
> Box 60-469, Titirangi, Waitakere City,  0-9-811 8024
> Telework New Zealand  www.telework.co.nz
> Work Raft Trust  www.workraft.org.nz
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: telecentres-bounces at wsis-cs.org
> [mailto:telecentres-bounces at wsis-cs.org]On Behalf Of Taran Rampersad
> Sent: Sunday, 3 October 2004 08:37
> To: telecentres at wsis-cs.org
> Subject: [Telecentres] Re: Basic Telecentre Items - avoid open source
> debate
>
>
> ashish Saboo wrote:
>
>>Anna, Taran, Toby
>>   I share the recurring theme of making ICT ubiquitous & affordable to
> all. Here I would like to draw your attention to a wonderful write-up
> titled:
>>License fees and GDP per capita: The case for open source in developing
> countries by Rishab Aiyer Ghosh
>>http://www.firstmonday.dk/issues/issue8_12/ghos
>>
> Ashish,
>
> I am familiar with this study, in fact I often quote it. However, I have
> suggested that we avoid this debate about these things because at this
> time
> we need to focus more on the abstraction of what a Telecentre is. Then we
> need to decide what the software must do, and then - and only then -
> should
> we evaluate the tools that will be needed and/or already exist. And then
> we
> can speak of the licensing of the tools.
>
> We're not there yet :)
>
> To speak of all of this now can lead to discussion which can slow the
> process down... While I'm a Free Software/Open Source advocate, if we
> start
> this debate now I fear a lot of valuable time and energy will be lost
> before
> we accomplish anything more concrete. When we get to that bridge, we'll
> cross it... and we may find, if we are patient, that the Telecentres
> themselves will define what will be used by the nature of what they are.
> ;-)
>
> --
> Taran Rampersad
>
> cnd at knowprose.com
>
> http://www.linuxgazette.com
> http://www.a42.com
> http://www.worldchanging.com
> http://www.knowprose.com
> http://www.easylum.net
>
> " It requires greater courage to preserve inner freedom, to move on in
> one's
> inward journey into new realms, than to stand defiantly for outer
> freedom."—
> Rollo May
>
>
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L. Ariunaa,
CEO,
InTeC Company
"Your problems - our solutions",
P.O.Box 36/192,
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Phone: 976-99112176
Fax:   976-11-329902
Email: ariunaa at itconsulting.mn