Network Effect

So, Metcalfe's Network Effect is kinda cool. I just experienced it recently as fellow from the Scottish Borders. John Connell works for Cisco as their Education Business Development Manager for the Emerging Markets.

John recently spent a brief time in Liberia, hence the connection. Check out blog and his photos. I definitely agree with his thoughts on open source and the role it will play in helping build a platform for education, especially in developing countries. He discusses the OLTP approach, but notes some of the shortcomings especially in countries like Liberia that have effectively zero connectivity outside of the capitol city.

The other critical issue (and one that is even more basic) is access to power. As Russell Southwood of Balancing Act discusses in a recent article on Power, the lack of power makes nearly everything else harder and more expensive. While we (in the US anyway) complain about the cost of gas, we have the luxury of worrying about the cost -- very few people in Liberia have a chance to even experience electric power (other than that produced by the various diesel generators --which mostly produce a lovely odor for people to experience).

Another recent connection thanks to the connected world was an introduction to a member of the parliament in Uganda. I'm hoping to get another perspective on ICT policy development from Edward Baliddawa thanks to an introduction from my friend, Josh Jackson at the University of Alabama, Birmingham.

I hope to extend these connections in the near future!

Kipp