Phoning it in: Using mobile phones to collect data
Going forward, isn't it more likely that the ICT tool of choice for students in developing countries will be the mobile phone, and not the computer? This is a question of hot debate in many circles. Whatever the eventual resulution of this debate (and no doubt it will not yield a simple either/or answer), there are still precious few widespread examples of the use of phones for education purposes in classrooms in developing countries. It's inevitable that various forms of low cost handheld computing and communication devices for students (and perhaps one of these will be something still called a 'phone') will proliferate in schools in developing countries in the coming decade. But perhaps the mobile phone's impact in the education sector will be more widely, and quickly, felt in another way?
There has been a lot of progress in the last year in using mobile phones for data collection activities in developing countries. USAID and UNICEF have sponsored useful pilot initiatives to explore data collection using mobile phones as part of survey work in a number of sectors (e.g. famine relief). Nokia released its free LifeTools last November to help with data collection efforts in India related to agriculture. The list is growing.
Until recently, you usually needed a relatively high-end phone, some programming experience -- and often Internet access and a fair amount of money! -- to make this possible. The recent release of the new version of the popular free, open source FrontlineSMS tool, which is specifically designed for use by small NGOs, lowers the bar for the use of such tools in resource-challenged developing country environments. The new version notably supports many new scripts and allows users in the field to download forms directly to their mobile using SMS. The creator of FrontlineSMS, Ken Banks, will be speaking at IREX in DC next week.
Phone versus laptop? It may be a false debate, but occasionally it throws off illumination along with the heat.
(Image at the top of this blog post courtesy of kiwanja.net.)
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Comments
phone software to collect data
Another useful and free software to collect data is "Handylearn Counter". It lets you count the number of key presses.
It is simple and easy to understand. The hardware requirements are low, it is only 40kb big, and it works with a wide range of phone vendors. Nevertheless it has live-updating graphics, it can be customized and has advanced features like signals or upload of results.
More information about the software is here http://handylearn-projects.de/counter-en.html
Regards
Karsten Meier
Data Collection Made Easier
I too agree with your post. Collecting data's through mobile phone is more deeply seen in developing countries rather than developed countries. There are lot of free tools available nowadays which helps us to collect data easily.
the use of cell phones in harsh isolated contexts
Is there any documentation on the use of mobile phones for the professional development of primary school teachers and the strengthening of primary school literacy skills in any of the circum-polar cuntries/regions?
Yakutia (Russian Federation) is interested in the technology for the polar communities and is looking for anything that may exist that documents challenges that are analogous to those they face and how they were overcome.
With thanks in advance
Peter Higginson
re: the use of cell phones in harsh isolated contexts
Hi Peter,
An interesting question.
You may wish to also post it over on the mailing list for the Mobile Web for Social Development Interest Group (MW4D): http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-mw4d/.
-M
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