Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) Sharing Knowledge Improving Rural Livelihoods Only Connect? Emerging ICT Options and Opportunities for Farmers Kevin Painting , CTA Tuesday 26 August 2008

OLPF – one laptop per farmer Concept … recognises that the host of technological and infrastructural developments is creating an environment in which devices like the XO laptop and mobile devices can flourish What role can low cost devices play in boosting communication and information exchange? Feb 2008 issue of ICT Update on “WiFi” Improving connectivity at the village level

Concept

… recognises that the host of technological and infrastructural developments is creating an environment in which devices like the XO laptop and mobile devices can flourish

What role can low cost devices play in boosting communication and information exchange?

Feb 2008 issue of ICT Update on “WiFi”

Improving connectivity at the village level

WiFi

The changing environment Improved wireless connectivity Wifi, WiMAX, Bluetooth Connectivity to each other, not just the internet! Falling hardware costs Low cost, cheap, portables (e.g. XO laptop, Asus EEE) Proliferation of mobile phones Cloud computing & Web 2.0

Improved wireless connectivity

Wifi, WiMAX, Bluetooth

Connectivity to each other, not just the internet!

Falling hardware costs

Low cost, cheap, portables (e.g. XO laptop, Asus EEE)

Proliferation of mobile phones

Cloud computing & Web 2.0

What is possible ? … with infrequent, poor or no Internet connectivity ? How can wireless devices work together to boost communication and information exchange? What are the opportunities for agricultural extension?

… with infrequent, poor or no Internet connectivity ?

How can wireless devices work together to boost communication and information exchange?

What are the opportunities for agricultural extension?