March 2004 Onno Purbo Workshop

News Article: First steps towards first mile, first inch technologies

'We have to ensure that as many of our people as possible master modern technologies and integrate them in their social activities including education, delivery of services and economic activity'. These were the words of President Thabo Mbeki at the launch of the National R&D Strategy in January 2002.

In line with this, the CSIR's drive to boost R&D in the region includes forming partnerships with international organisations such as the International Development and Research Centre (IDRC). Founded in Canada in 1970, the IDRC is a public corporation that aids developing countries to use science and technology in innovative ways that will enhance the quality of life for people. The work of Dr Onno Purbo from Indonesia in opening up telecommunications to all citizens falls directly in line with the IDRC's mission of empowerment through knowledge.

Early in March, staff members from the CSIR's IST Programme were wowed by a workshop held by Purbo, a research fellow of the IDRC, as he demonstrated his revolutionary ways to obtaining low-cost Internet access. The workshop, 'First Mile, First Inch Technologies' was held at the CSIR International Convention Centre.

The meeting took a closer look at how first mile and first inch technologies could be used to free up telecommunications. First mile technology comprises connectivity technologies such as WiFi, wired Ethernet, powerline technologies, Bluetooth, narrowband HF/VHF/UHF and mesh networks, employing any of these technologies. First inch focuses on access devices such as traditional PCs, PCs running open source software, recycled PCs, thin clients and handheld PDAs, and the applications running on these devices.

'Purbo is unique in that he is part of a social movement - he volunteers his time in the community to train young people how to use their knowledge to their maximum capacity,' says Heloise Emdon of the IDRC. Emdon says the workshop was a good opportunity to set the scene for the imminent agreement to be signed with the CSIR and the IDRC's Acacia Initiative. This initiative, which began in 1996, empowers developing countries in Africa to harness ICTs to improve their socio-economic conditions.

'The ultimate goal is to establish a network of ICT social practitioners,' Emdon says. This two-year project will include a sizeable grant from the IDRC for research.'Even in terms of the IDRC, this is a big project,' she adds.

The workshop hosted project partners from Mozambique, Angola and South Africa. Participants from Kenya and Malawi showed their enthusiasm at joining this initiative.

Emdon stresses the importance, at this stage, of the commitment and the sharing of knowledge by the project partners. She feels that Purbo demonstrates this by his openness to people. Almost all his writings (he has authored 40 books) are available from his website free of charge.

'The trick is to give away your knowledge,' Purbo adds, explaining that in this way others can take the ideas further and build upon establishing a knowledge-based society. Purbo's work to set up free networks and giving all people access to communications technologies is only a means to a greater end. His main aim is for people to be self sufficient by using their own knowledge. 'ICTs are just the tools that will help us to do this,' he says. Purbo says he was very surprised at the high level of expertise of the delegates who attended the workshop. The CSIR's Chris Morris adds that the challenge is now to jumpstart the project and apply what was learnt at the workshop to each country project.

The IDRC has great aspirations for the First Mile, First Inch Technologies Project. 'We want to take this to the WSIS in Tunisia in 2005 to highlight the research done during the project,' Emdon adds.