Dritte

	After organizing the first ACM SIGCOMM Workshop on Networked Systems for Developing Regions (NSDR'07) (with SIGCOMM'07), we are organizing NSDR again this year. NSDR'08 will be held with SIGCOMM'08. You can have a look at last year's papers and presentations.
	Our research on accelerated Internet access in the developing world, dubbed "Poor Man's Broadband", recently got featured on the New Scientist. You can read our SIGCOMM CCR article or the ICTD extended version for details on the project.
	Check out ChOpaal - an SMS-based communication system that brings together people with similar interests (e.g. football, protest, IEEE). ChOpaal allows you to make 'tags' about stuff (e.g. earthquake) and then other people can join these tags to get updates. The system is currently functional only with cellular providers in Pakistan.

Last edited at 05:03 PM on January 15, 2008

Dritte is an initiative for leveraging Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for developing third world countries. The United Nations Millennium goals highlight the “Digital Divide” – disparity in access to information and computing technologies (ICT) –as a primary hurdle in the economic prosperity of the developing world. The reason for this “digital divide” is that traditional research in ICT technologies is based on assumptions suited to the affluent world, such as affordability of high-end computing devices, broadband communication infrastructure, uninterrupted power supply, computer savvy users, to enlist a few. Therefore, technologies derived from such assumptions often fail to address key challenges of cost, deployment, power consumption, and support for semi-literate to illiterate users in the developing world.

This realization has recently led to the field of ICT for Development (ICTD). There is a need for research specifically aimed to meet the special needs of developing regions and Dritte's vision is to help fulfill this need. Dritte focuses on developing both hardware and software infrastructure, specifically designed for the physical, social and economic realities of Pakistan and the developing-world in general.

Last edited at 01:38 PM on January 19, 2007

For people interested in Dritte-related news, events, and updates, we have created a Dritte mailing list (dritte@mit.edu) and you can subscribe to the Dritte mailing list.

Kindly, keep in mind that Dritte mailing list is a closed list, which means your subscription will be held for approval. You will be notified of the list moderator's decision by email. This is also a private list, which means that the list of members is not available to non-members.

Last edited at 04:51 PM on November 10, 2007