Impact of low-cost, on-demand, information access in a remote Ghanaian village
Cliff Schmidt, Trina Jean Gorman, Andrew Azaabanye Bayor, Michael Shayne Gary · 2010
Technology projects are finding ways to provide information to people living in rural poverty. However, using information to affect health or farming practices requires overcoming unique challenges including illiteracy and lack of electricity. We examine the effects of a low-cost audio computer ("Talking Book")--a battery-powered, durable, handheld device that enables users to create and listen to recordings and copy recordings between devices-for improving learning opportunities and knowledge sharing in such environments. In northern Ghana, we studied the impact of giving rural, illiterate people on-demand access to guidance created by local experts. Our evaluation suggests that Talking Books can make a significant impact on learning and behavior change in villages with low literacy rates and no electricity.