W3C Workshop on the Mobile Web, 1-2 April, Maputo, Mozambique

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: George Sadowsky <george.sadowsky () gmail com>
Date: January 8, 2009 11:00:23 AM EST
To: David Farber <dave () farber net>
Subject: W3C Workshop on the Mobile Web, 1-2 April, Maputo, Mozambique

Dave,

In the interest of helping ICT penetration in developing countries in  
Africa, would you be willing to post this to the IP list?  Your list  
has widespread geographical and topic scope.

George

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THE WORLD WIDE WEB CONSORTIUM

Africa Perspective on the Role of Mobile Technologies in Fostering  
Social Development

1-2 April 2009,  Maputo, Mozambique

Hosted by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Government of  
Mozambique

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: http://www.w3.org/2008/10/MW4D_WS/

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W3C WORKSHOP CALL FOR PARTICIPATION

The W3C Workshop on the «Africa Perspective on the Role of Mobile  
Technologies in Fostering Social and Economic Development» aims to  
understand specific challenges of using mobile phones and Web  
technologies to deliver services to underprivileged populations of  
developing countries, and to capture the specificities of the African  
context.

More specifically, workshop participants will discuss the barriers for  
potential content providers (NGO/ grassroots, government,  
entrepreneur, etc.) to develop and deploy services, and the barriers  
for the targeted population to access these services (issues around  
illiteracy, internationalization, accessibility, usability, etc.).

TOPICS OF DISCUSSION

The Web, and ICT in general, has been recognized as a great tool to  
potentially resolve the historical divides between developed and  
developing economies by providing an infrastructure to deploy minimal  
services (health, education, business, government, etc.) to rural  
communities and under-privileged populations. A new hope is coming  
with the very high penetration rate of mobile telephony in emerging  
economies. The challenges that the workshop will explore involve a  
coordinated approach from different fields, and different actors.

Topics that might serve as appropriate discussion points for position  
papers include, but are not limited to:

*  Analysis of use-cases / real-world projects.
*  Challenges of integrating ICTs in rural communities.
*  Usability and Human-Computer Interfaces (HCI) challenges of mobile  
browser and mobile content.
*  Challenges and potential solutions against illiteracy.
*  Analysis on the way the mobile phones and/or the Web could improve  
people's lives in developing countries.
*  Comparison between different potential platforms to support ICT's  
deployment (mobile phones, low-cost laptop, telecenters, etc.).
*  Challenges of sustainability, scalability and replicability.
*  Challenges and opportunity of integrating mobile phones in specific  
domains: eGovernment projects (mGovernment), e-health projects,  
disaster management, etc.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

Representatives from the following communities are encouraged to attend:

*  ICT for Development experts
*  Academics from developed and developing nations
*  Field practitioners and NGO/grassroots organizations
*  Local entrepreneurs with experience in ICT services
*  Usability, accessibility and Web experts
*  Mobile industry and digital divide experts

REQIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATION

There is no participation fee and W3C membership is not required in  
order to participate in the workshop.  Because of the space limitation  
and to ensure relevance of interests, each participant must submit a  
statement of interest before February 12, 2009. In addition, each  
participant wishing to have a paper published on the workshop Web site  
and/or wishing to make a presentation during the event must submit a  
position paper abstract no later than January 12, 2009. More details  
are available on the workshop page at: http://www.w3.org/2008/10/MW4D_WS/#Participation

Authors will be notified of the decision of the Program Committee by  
January 25, 2009. All statement of interests, as well as selected  
papers will be made public before the workshop.

IMPORTANT DATES

*  January 12, 2009 -  Deadline for abstract submission
*  January 25, 2009 -  Committee decisions and abstract selection
*  February 20, 2009 - Program released
*  March 10, 2009 -    Deadline for full paper submissions
*  March 15, 2009 -    End of sponsorship opportunity
*  March 20, 2009 -    Deadline for registration
*  April 1-2, 2009 -   Workshop

WORKSHOP ORGANIZATION

The workshop will be chaired by Stéphane Boyera (W3C,Chair of the  
Mobile Web for Social Development group)and George Sadowsky.

The Program Committee currently hosts:

*  Ken Banks, Kiwanja.net
*  Anthony Bloome, Peace Corps
*  Philip Hoschka, W3C
*  Michael Maltese, Legatum Center
*  Gary Marsden, University of Cape Town
*  Americo Muchanga, University Eduardo Mondlane, Mozambique
*  David Sawe, Government of Tanzania
*  Alice Wanjira Munya, Kenya ICT Action Network
*  Raul Zambrano, UNDP


SPONSOR THIS WORKSHOP!

This workshop offers a sponsorship program, as a marketing opportunity  
that enables sponsors to showcase their organization and to  
communicate to the community of participants, and to the industry at  
large, that their organization is a driving force within the mobile  
Web for social development community.  There are three levels of  
sponsorship (Platinum/Gold/Silver) offering a wide range of benefits.  
For further information, please contact Stéphane Boyera  
(boyera () w3 org) and Marie-Claire Forgue (mcf () w3 org) before 15 March  
2009. Note: this sponsorship program is designed to enable  
participation by individuals and organizations with particular  
expertise, but who might not otherwise be able to attend due to travel  
or other costs.


--

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
George Sadowsky                              george.sadowsky () gmail com
2182 Birch Way                           george.sadowsky () attglobal net
Woodstock, VT  05091-8155               http://www.georgesadowsky.org/
tel: +1.802.457.3370                       GSM mobile: +1.202.415.1933
Voice mail & fax: +1.203.547.6020       Grand Central: +1.202.370.7734
SKYPE: sadowsky




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