Nigeria

So, beyond the research on location based information and patterns, I'm involved in some information technology in development (ITD), looking at the impact of ICT on developing countries. In particular, I'll be working on a project that USAID is helping on called NetPost -- attempting to get Internet access to rural Nigeria by deploying cybercafes in postoffices.

I'd like to look at wireless and location based networking while I'm at it. In particular, some interesting things are happening in disruption tolerant networks that may be very applicable to getting some Internet capabilities to the extreme edges.

Some work at Tech is being done by Mustaffa Amar in this area and he mentioned a project in India called DakNet that may be worth exploring further. Basically, using the store-carry-forward paradigm to do message 'ferrying' to locations that don't have a permanent connection. Interesting thoughts...