Jump to content

Web 2.0 for development

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Grambaldi (talk | contribs) at 20:40, 11 December 2008 (←Created page with ''''Participatory Web 2.0 for development''' in short '''Web2forDev''' was first used as a term at the [http://www.web2fordev.net Web2forDev International Conference...'). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)

Participatory Web 2.0 for development in short Web2forDev was first used as a term at the Web2forDev International Conference organised by CTA and other development partners in Rome at FAO in September 2007. Web2forDev is a way of employing web services, in order to improve information sharing and collaborative production of content in the context of development work. In this context actors in development can easily relate to other stakeholders, have selective access to information, produce and publish their own content and redistribute pieces content released by others. They can integrate, combine, aggregate, generate, moderate and mediate content. In a typical Web2forDev scenario data and/or functionalities from a number of free/low cost online applications are combined and served as mashups thus ensuring a wide range of online services at low cost.

Technology Overview

Opensource and proprietary, free or low-cost interactive user centred applications that promote communication, online collaboration, sharing information, user empowerment, and social networking. Considering the contraints which affect many developing countries, Web2forDev applications are usually low-bandwith friendly.


Usage

Web 2.0 applications are used in the development sector for a number of purposes and by different actors. Examples are ...

  • Internet/SMS gateways are being used to distribute development-related information to people with access to mobile phones but without access to internet. Similarly, these gateways enable mobile phone users to make their presence on the internet by posting to blogs and online databases via sms, etc.
  • Tagging systems and content aggregators enable users with access to only low-bandwidth to find quickly the information they are searching for, without having to navigate through many bandwidth-demanding websites.
  • Users with old computers can take advantage of some online applications which can process their computing tasks the way their computers never could (eg. online version of Adobe Photoshop)
  • Users who don't own their own PCs are using online services to store all their data, such as emails, documents, photos, etc, thus having access to them from any computer connected to internet. That way, online storage spaces and related services substitute physical hard drive spaces (PCs) which in many regions are shared by many users.

References

  • Labelle R. 2008. ICTs for e-Environment – Guidelines for Developing Countries, with a Focus on Climate Change, International Telecommunication Union, Geneva, Switzerland
  • WSIS follow-up Report 2008, UNCTAD, 2008
  • van der Burg G. 2008. Harmonizing Knowledge Sharing for Development, An IGLOO White Paper
  • Griffiths J. 2008. Web 2.0 is not about technology: it’s about human relationships; Market Leader
  • Asoke K Talukder. 2007. Web – “Greatest Equalizer” for the Developing World; WWW 2007, May 8-12, 2007, Banff, Canada
  • Boyera S. 2008. Can the Mobile Web Bridge the Digital Divide? Editor: Gary Marsden, University of Cape Town
  • Glasson G. E., Evans M. A. 2008. Connecting Community Elders and Schools in Malawi Using Mobile Phones and Web 2.0 Technologies
  • Greyling E. and Smith R. 2008. An innovative ICT solution to steer rural communities to global understanding: a case study from Durban, South Africa. paper presented at the World Library and Information Congress: 74th IFLA General Conference and Council; 10-14 August 2008, Québec, Canada
  • Thompson M. 2007. ICT and Development Studies: Towards Development 2.0; paper presented to DSA Annual Conference 2007, Brighton


See also


Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Web_2.0_for_development&oldid=257342827"