Technology at the Margins: How IT Meets the Needs of Emerging Markets

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