The challenges of technology research for developing regions

The work we've done in the world's developing regions has been immensely rewarding and helped make us all strong advocates for technology. The first reward is simply the experience of these countries, their surprising happiness, and the technology insights that come from being there. The deeper reward is of course actually helping people by creating new options through technology. However, we encountered a wide range of technical, environmental, and cultural challenges that are outside the scope of typical computer science research. In this article, we share some of our experiences with the hope of increasing understanding of these issues. We also hope to help others, particularly researchers from outside these regions, to avoid our mistakes. We document real challenges, try to generalize them, and suggest steps that might at least mitigate the problems.     

The role of exogenous factors in technology acceptance: The case of object-oriented technology

In spite of many theoretical models, the role of exogenous factors in accepting object-oriented technology has not been satisfactorily demonstrated. By comparing two competing models, our study examined the role and location of exogenous variables in explaining user acceptance of object-oriented technology. Based on the results, we developed a new model that combined the key ideas of both TAM and TPB and showed that both models are necessary in understanding the unique role of each exogenous variable.     

Secure and reliable data communication in developing regions and rural areas

Nowadays, despite the ever increasing need of people for staying “connected” at any time and everywhere, in many areas of the world data connection is extremely expensive or even absent. The Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) network virtually covers all the populated areas of the world and on average, the entire world population have a handheld device capable of accessing at least the GSM services. Therefore, it makes sense to consider the Short Message Service (SMS) as the most popular wireless data service for such devices. In this work, we exploit the SMS as mechanism for data transfer, especially in scenarios where there is no other network coverage than GSM, such as in rural areas and developing regions. In particular, we propose a framework, based on the SMS as transport facility, which enables secure end-to-end data communication in a ubiquitous and pervasive manner. Moreover, we investigated how, by using compression techniques, the overall processing and transmission efforts needed for secure data communication can be effectively reduced, with the obvious consequences also in terms of energy consumption on the involved devices. Finally, we successfully tested the effectiveness of the proposed framework within the context of a proof of concept implementation.     

Factors challenging information technology applications in developing countries

The problems faced by an organization when introducing information technology applications have been widely discussed in the literature and at international conferences. The identification and characterization of these problems have been obtained most of the time from cases belonging to developed countries. This paper presents some obstacles that are challenging information technology applications in developing countries, and discusses some of the consequences that arise. Finally, some directions to overcome those obstacles and to get the benefits of these innovations are presented.     

Triggering navigators for innovative system design: The case of lab-on-a-chip technology

Technology innovation is critical for organizational and economic development and thus has been widely discussed. In spite of the extensive research, however, the research community has made few efforts to guide the direction of innovation, considering the general evolutionary patterns of technical systems. Therefore, this research suggests a novel approach to predict prioritized directions of innovation as well as to create the most promising design of practical concept design. For the purpose, firstly, we analyze the main functions of a target system using function analysis techniques. Then we develop an evolution opportunity map based on the Laws of Technical Systems Evolution in TRIZ, from which we generate the most suitable concept for a next-generation system. Finally, we analyze technical challenges that might arise in realizing the concept using Su-field analysis, which can help to obtain a feasible solution for it. Samsung Advanced Institute for Technology in Korea adopted the suggested approach to the new technology generation process, and verified its practicability and utility. We expect this research to be useful for those in charge of innovation management or new product development processes.     

智能卡操作系统开发中的测试技术

标准化和安全是智能卡应用的基本要求。在智能卡操作系统的开发中,要遵循软件工程和协议工程的要求。测试是其中的重要环节。在介绍智能卡操作系统的体系结构的基础上,根据硬件、规范和COS的特点,给出了双界面智能卡操作系统的测试方案,详细分析了测试用例的设计。第3方测试表明,测试方案是可行的。     

Remote Sensing for developing countries A case study of Tunisia

Satellite remote sensing provides a means of providing knowledge and inventory of natural resources in developing countries. This theme is examined in relation to Tunisia, and general conclusions drawn.     

Towards a model curriculum in computer-based information systems for developing countries: The case of Arab environments

A noticeable symptom of the widening gap between developed and developing countries is the lack of an on-going constructive dialogue regarding the design of a more effective model core curriculum in management-oriented computer information systems.This paper is an attempt to activate and share thinking regarding curriculum design and evolution for computer-based information systems in developing countries with special emphasis on Arab developing countries. Focusing on the actual experience in Kuwait University, as an example, attention is then devoted to outlining a suggested model curriculum in computer information systems more appropriate for developing countries with particular reference to Arab developing countries. Adapting what is presently applied in developed countries to accommodate the needs, objectives, conditions and circumstances of developing countries is a useful step towards improving computing knowledge and practices in developing countries.     

Towards developing consistent misuse case models

Secure software development should begin at the early stages of the development life cycle. Misuse case modeling is a technique that stems from traditional use case modeling, which facilitates the elicitation and modeling functional security requirements at the requirements phase. Misuse case modeling is an effective vehicle to potentially identify a large subset of these threats. It is therefore crucial to develop high quality misuse case models otherwise end system developed will be vulnerable to security threats. Templates to describe misuse cases are populated with syntax-free natural language content. The inherent ambiguity of syntax-free natural language coupled with the crucial role of misuse case models in development can have a very detrimental effect. This paper proposes a structure that will guide misuse case authors towards developing consistent misuse case models. This paper also presents a process that utilizes this structure to ensure the consistency of misuse case models as they evolve, eliminating potential damages caused by inconsistencies. A tool was developed to provide automation support for the proposed structure and process. The feasibility and application of this approach were demonstrated using two real-world case studies.     

Experiences in developing and applying a software engineering technology testbed

A major problem in empirical software engineering is to determine or ensure comparability across multiple sources of empirical data. This paper summarizes experiences in developing and applying a software engineering technology testbed. The testbed was designed to ensure comparability of empirical data used to evaluate alternative software engineering technologies, and to accelerate the technology maturation and transition into project use. The requirements for such software engineering technology testbeds include not only the specifications and code, but also the package of instrumentation, scenario drivers, seeded defects, experimentation guidelines, and comparative effort and defect data needed to facilitate technology evaluation experiments. The requirements and architecture to build a particular software engineering technology testbed to help NASA evaluate its investments in software dependability research and technology have been developed and applied to evaluate a wide range of technologies. The technologies evaluated came from the fields of architecture, testing, state-model checking, and operational envelopes. This paper will present for the first time the requirements and architecture of the software engineering technology testbed. The results of the technology evaluations will be analyzed from a point of view of how researchers benefitted from using the SETT. The researchers just reported how their technology performed in their original findings. The testbed evaluation showed (1) that certain technologies were complementary and cost-effective to apply; (2) that the testbed was cost-effective to use by researchers within a well-specified domain of applicability; (3) that collaboration in testbed use by researchers and the practitioners resulted comparable empirical data and in actions to accelerate technology maturity and transition into project use, as shown in the AcmeStudio evaluation; and (4) that the software engineering technology testbed’s requirements and architecture were suitable for evaluating technologies and accelerating their maturation and transition into project use.

Rapid prototyping frameworks for developing scientific applications: A case study

In this paper, we describe a Python-based framework for the rapid prototyping of scientific applications. A case study was performed using a problem specification developed for Marmot, a project at the Los Alamos National Laboratory aimed at re-factoring standard physics codes into reusable and extensible components. Components were written in Python, ZPL, Fortran, and C++ following the Marmot component design. We evaluate our solution both qualitatively and quantitatively by comparing it to a single-language version written in C. Los Alamos National Laboratory is operated by the University of California for the National Nuclear Security Administration of the United States Department of Energy under contract W-7405-ENG-36, LA-UR-04-4655.     

The adoption and diffusion of e-commerce in developing countries: The case of an NGO in Jordan

The case study in this research involves a nongovernmental organization (NGO) in Jordan in the Middle East, which attempted to utilize electronic commerce (EC) to streamline its business processes and information flow to businesses in Jordan and to other international businesses interested in the Jordanian market. The NGO managed to achieve these tasks expeditiously, and its EC initiative assisted in adding an effective digital parallel to existing systems and processes in this NGO. The NGO is directly involved in the e-government initiative empowered by H.M. King Abdullah II. At this end, with this royal support, the NGO successfully adopted EC. During the adoption and implementation process, the organization encountered numerous difficulties, as detailed in this research. However, the full success of EC was hampered by other factors. Initially, other governmental entities related indirectly to this NGO were not EC-ready. Second, although Web site utilization was growing in this NGO, most member merchants were reluctant to switch to the online arena and to abandon traditional practices in obtaining information and resources from this NGO. However, the NGO is aware of these concerns and envisages resolving such hurdles in its medium- to long-term projections. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Factors contributing to IT industry success in developing countries: The case of Thailand

A stream of research exists that explores a country's information technology (IT) industry success. The theoretical model used in these studies is primarily focused on small developed countries. We contend that the factors that contribute to IT industry success in developing countries are likely to differ somewhat from those that play a role in small developed countries. Research to date on IT industry success has neglected developing countries. This study therefore presents an alternative IT industry success model for developing countries. It adapts Ein-dor, Myers, and Raman's (1997) model in developing such a conceptual model. The adapted framework is then applied in a study of IT industry in a developing country—Thailand. We found IT-related foreign direct investment to be vital to IT industry success in Thailand. Unlike findings from earlier studies on small developed countries, geographical location and to a lesser extent government investment promotion policies are also important to IT industry success in a developing country. These findings support the view that there are differences in the factors that affect IT industry success in developed and developing countries. Implications for research and practice are discussed. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Mobile technology utilization for social development in developing countries: An ethnographic futures research study

This exploratory paper aims to apply a qualitative, method known as Ethnographic Futures Research (EFR) to predict the future for mobile phones when used for social development in developing countries. The EFR approach was used in a participatory manner to provide scenarios of the future for mobile phone growth. By employing EFR there is an opportunity to consider different paradigms of mobile services creation deployment in developing environments where historically tele-center models are shown to be unsustainable. The implication of this research study is the provision of a novel way of determining diffusion strategies within regions displaying increasing mobile services adoption patterns. In terms of decision making, this research provides an alternative approach to considering scenarios using a qualitative approach, something amiss within decision support systems literature.     

Taking technology to the field: hardware challenges in developing countries

A great deal has been written about the various socio-political, economic, and cultural reasons that information and communications technologies (ICTs) fail to achieve the potential they represent. Far less attention has been paid to the technology itself, and the role that the hardware plays in the success or failure of ICT4D. Along these lines, we find a disconnect between much of the scholarly ICT4D research and many of the needs and concerns of practitioners and intended beneficiaries. Using interviews and surveys, this article asks ICT4D practitioners and end-users about the technology and hardware needs and challenges they face in the field. These practitioners consistently suggest that electricity is the most important hardware-related concern, followed closely by cost, robustness/ruggedness, and ease of maintenance/repair. We argue for the inclusion of hardware and technology considerations in the planning and implementation of ICT4D projects. Failure to address these concerns may account for the underperformance of many technologies in the development context.