DIYNGO - News & Events.

(un)social media?

2010-06-03T15:05:00.001-07:00

Arrghh! Well, we've now moved around the social media space so much that we're starting to get all mixed-up in terms of our 'corporate' identity! We started over at Webjam which was a neat little enterprise and lasted for some time. However, we soon found that it was not supported by our field equipment, i.e. posts to Blogs etc. could not be made 'off grid' which kind of defeated our ethos. So we moved to Ning.

Ning was being used by a number of organisations who we respected including UN-GAID and a few others so we thought we'd test it for field compatibility. Luckily for us we found that we were able to post to Blogs using some of our (comparitively quite basic) equipment. So we left Webjam behind and wholeheartedly embraced Ning. Overall it seemed a good social networking service, quite professional if at times a little too complex for an 'average' user (if such a person exists). Certainly our colleague in Kenya posted photos and added a couple of Blog posts. We did, however, lose a few of our members in the move which was a concern as we didn't have a lot in the first place!

So, everything was going quite well over at Ning besides the fact that it really turned into a glorified Blog as people stopped using the social network functions. It was basically Yours Truly writing blog entries as to how work was progressing. And so, when Ning decided they were going to start charging a fee for using their site and since we operate on less than a shoestring we decided to jump ships again.

And that's how we ended up back on Blogger which we'd used in the field in Kenya when all else had failed. What can we say, its a Blog. No social networking. Do we need that? Probably not we are realising.

So, still attracted by the idea of having a nice, neat online community represented by a social network we've just been experimenting with Buddypress which is a Wordpress plugin. A quite funky looking site was partially built then we decided to change the 'theme' a little and hey presto lost the whole site! We give up!

To sum, there's a lot to be said for keeping things as simple as possible. Certainly we have been finding that when it comes to designing hardware solutions to help meet our mission aims. Its now looking like the same applies to software (including social media) solutions too. Our community is now running via a very basic static website which has links to Blogger (here) and a Google Discussion Group. We also use Skype a little to stay in touch (actually just the 'chat' facility) and even SMS across continents. And, guess what, on occasions we find ourselves meeting in person! Such delight. :-)

So, in conclusion we should say don't always opt for the latest, most hyped solution out there to help acheive your goals. Stand back, think a little about what it is you are trying to do, think about who will be doing this and where. Don't necessarily opt for the lowest common denominator, sometimes its useful to push the envelope a little. But, please do choose something that works for your community, for the people who will have to get to grips with these new technologies which are still being developed in terms of social as well as technical dimensions. Whilst we are currently disappointed with social media it obviously will find its niche as we all find what works and what doesn't. And I guess that's the point of this far too long Blog post. We've learned a few lessons so its good to share these. And that's what social media should be all about.

SOL-2

2010-06-03T14:38:00.000-07:00

This is a collection of equipment (and assorted bits and pieces) that has been shipped out to Kenya. Here we have a Palm Centro PDA, a Solio solar charger, the necessary cables from the charger to the PDA plus the battery, a 12v ('cigarette lighter' plug) USB connector - to charge the PDA from a 12V battery and an SD card adaptor to convert the micro SD in the PDA to full-size. Additionally you'll see some balloons, a pen and a key fob! :-) Always nice to spread a little fun besides all the boring techy stuff. Oh, and there's a micro wind-up torch in this set-up too which isn't too evident in the picture. Finally both instruction manuals for the PDA and Solio charger are included.

So this is hopefully winging its way to Duncan (our Champion) who lives near Lake Bogoria in the Rift Valley. We're not entirely sure what he intends doing with these (although we have a few ideas!) at this stage but he has certainly been involved with local schools in terms of demonstrating the potential of solar power and even offering to install their own solar systems for free...

The PDA contains a whole host of built-in and additional software including our own expert system which recommends various solutions for renewable energy needs based upon answers to a few basic questions.

We'll keep everyone posted right here (or somewhere around 'here' - more in another Blog post) as to how the project progresses. Meanwhile we have to get back to Sol-1, the solar-powered netbook and continue experiments with micro wind turbines, etc.

Many, many thanks to those who have demonstrated compassion by supporting our efforts to date. These include people who have donated and indeed those we have bought hardware and software from. Others have offered ideas along the way so far and mostly everyone has demonstrated an enormous amount of patience as we struggle to acheive our aims kind of at the cutting edge of some of these ideas. We really appreciate everyone's support!

All the best.

Wind-Up Radios Help Community Development

2010-05-24T12:10:00.000-07:00

Similar to our own ideas and, indeed, efforts in Haiti, wind-up radios are being deployed in Afghanistan to help improve local governance networks. This seems to be a trial but we think likely to succeed. Its good to see basic communication infrastructures being establised in remote locations for the benefit of the local, rural population. Although, let's not be naive as there are no doubt alterior motives at play here. Nonetheless, should the network prove to be successful we see no reason why it should not be used for purposes beyond taxation collection, etc. For instance, it would be a fairly simple step to commence broadcasting 'educational' content. Furthermore, with the addition of inexpensive mobile phones, such as the one we sent to Haiti - together with a Solio solar charger - communications can become two-way thereby actually empowering local communities to steer their own destiny a little more. Once this is realised the possibilities are almost endless.

so sol

2010-05-13T17:10:00.000-07:00

Still waiting to get ahold of a working (and affordable) solar charger for a PDA to send overseas. Unfortunately we've been having little joy with a host of commercially available products. Hopefully this will be resolved soon though.

Meanwhile the PDA is 'good to go' and includes our 'ICT Helper' software to recommend potentional solutions (utilising an Expert System) to these kinds of issues. Its just a prototype so far but hopefully the complete package will create a solid (and inspirational?) foundation.

These frustrations are rather annoying but certainly one has to persevere to solve these pressing problems. We're not prepared to 'sit around' and see the issues just pass us by...this attitude has prevailed for far too long already.

Meanwhile our experiments with our own technological solutions to sustainability will hopefully resume soon...

DIYNGO Site Updates

2010-05-11T17:51:00.000-07:00

So, a little site maintenance has taken place:

Gone are the two flags - we never found the time to translate the site to French unfortunately. Shame really since English tends to dominate far too much.
Links to the Ning and Webjam blog posts are now under 'resources' together with other useful documents.
Links to Blogger and Google Groups are under 'collaborate'.
A few other behind-the-scenes files have been tidied up.

Overall, this should create a much simpler and easier to use website.

Any problems please do let us know!

Thanks.

Discuss...

2010-05-11T14:31:00.000-07:00

We decided to try Google Groups as a means of basic collaboration since Ning and Webjam weren't working to well. We don't give in easily! :-)

DIYNGO Desiderata

2010-05-05T00:09:00.000-07:00

It seems some time ago now since DIYNGO was dreamed up under what were actually rather difficult circumstances. Although, that said, it probably festered over a prolonged period of reflection.

At first DIYNGO was simply a whole host of ideas without form or shape which were probably not believed by the great majority to whom they were communicated. Perhaps some even felt they were deluded; success would be so far removed from reality that the twain shall never meet. That said, I believe some did think DIYNGO may have legs...

It takes a lot of self-belief and tenacity to move an idea from the realms of the mind to verifiable actions in the physical world. Luckily, DIYNGO is now maturing, having been around for over a year. Technologies we wished existed are beginning to look possible and, indeed, have been proven to work in the areas we wished to investigate. Furthermore, our philosophies are looking like they were 'right' all along...

More to the point though, in this Blog post, is the amount of faith one has to have in one's dreams in order to make them a reality. To fashion something from nothing does not have to be the alchemist's dream alone. It is possible, with determination creativity and sheer bravado at times, to 'fly in the face' of criticism and numerous other obstacles placed in the way of truly innovative projects.

That's all I have to say.

Tim

AGM1 Minutes

2010-05-04T16:27:00.000-07:00

Just added AGM1 minutes as a separate 2 page document under 'resources' at www.diyngo.org

And We're Back!

2010-05-04T16:13:00.000-07:00

So, we moved from Webjam - which was a great product albeit a little flakey (we found it didn't work in Mini Opera and so couldn't be used in 'the field') to Ning - which has decided to start applying a new fees-only business model - (that we cannot afford) back to the stalwart Blogger!

More news to come as it emerges. Meanwhile do please keep an eye on www.diyngo.org

Thanks for your patience...

Tim

The End?

2009-04-22T03:51:00.000-07:00

So tomorrow we leave camp, Lake Bogoria and the village of Sandai behind to return ultimately to the 'relative comfort' of a 'Western' existence. One where we almost take computers and advanced mobile phones for granted plus expect water to appear at the twist of a tap. A far cry from these present circumstances.

In terms of aforementioned emotions there is a tinge of sadness at having to leave a place behind but I fully realise that this is not 'my' place (if indeed a place can belong to anybody). I am acutely aware that my own culture and the surrounding culture are incrongruent although less, by degrees, than when arriving.

In terms of the work itself then we should feel satisfied at the degree of progress and the local partners are to be thanked to the greatest extent possible since they were so willing to share networks. Although this has yet to be deconstructed in terms of its inherent assumptions. This is not a job though for the moment as we are still a part of the context.

This leads onto the need now to remove oneself from the context in order to re-orient any alalysis with a 'developed' versus 'developing' comparitive account. That is, the intention is to look at the data and draw conclusions from a 'Development' perspective which seems to indicate a comparitive rather than participant-observationist account.

It has been an interesting ten days under canvas in the midst of such beauty and scorching, arid conditions. Certainly useful exposure to a way of life which is becoming more dominant in large parts of the world due to Climate Change. As such some interesting, generalisable results should be forthcoming which can hopefully not only benefit the local population but the wider, global society.

Thanks so much to all who have helped to make this project a success so far. Here's to our futures together on this humble, struggling planet.

Cheers,

DIYNGO.

School Visit

2009-04-21T02:34:00.000-07:00

This morning we visited the neigbouring village of Sandai. It was a long underdeveloped track which led to the village. One, we were to learn, upon which the local women and children had to travel for many kilometers to reach Bogoria to obtain water. In the village we were kindly greeted by a welcoming party as the chief finalised his prior business. Soon we were invited to the chief's office to meet with teachers and local VIPs. We subsequently held talks about the various uses of solar including lighting, mobile phone charging and water pumping. We also demnostrated the HYMini but unfortunately, since the Nokia attachment wasn't present the chief sadly could not charge his mobile phone! Next time we need to bring all attachments. We discussed (a common theme emerging from this trip) the need to educate people as to the use of solar before its potential can be realised. With this in mind we will discuss the possibilities of our local champion teaming up with the primary school we were invited to pilot these ideas with. It is the intention that these ideas will dovetail with ideas developing out of the post Science for Sustainability (S4S) work. That is, the S4S game, localised to Bogoria is further contextualised in terms of Global Warming/Climate Change 'glocalised' effects which are researched by students using renewable powered learning technologies. In other words we are trying to join the dots between local needs and knowledge and global happenings so that people start to appreciate the wider picture. Currently this is emerging as lacking in this locale.

There is much more work to do and probably, as the chief states, we would need to collate all of these ideas and associated data into some kind of proposal. It would, however, seem that a few formerly disparate strands are now beginning to be drawn together...

Mission Accomplished!

2009-04-19T08:14:00.000-07:00

Today we got the Asus Eee Pc working on 'our man in Kenya's' solar set up. Duncan has now kindly agreed to be a part of the DIYNGO network. He has a system to be envious of in his home, as described earlier. More importantly though Duncan realises the importance of this approach for the benefit of his community. He makes an exemplorary Champion of the renewable approach. We will no doubt have more to say about all these experiences upon return to the UK. A newsletter certainly seems called for now.

For now, we can almost rest easy in the satisfaction of a job well done by all concerned. All that really remains is to perhaps carry out the remaining one or two interviews of the key players. It would be nice to now further explore this beautiful location. After all, its preservation is partly what we're all about.

Thanks so much to everyone who has contributed to this project to date. This includes all those who have donated in various ways in order to make the project a success, so far. I hope we can all share in the sense of optimism and satisfaction which I am personally feeling at this time.

Sure, this is 'just' a feasibility study to a large extent but it does show that with local co-operation, networking and reliance upon the finer aspects of human nature that some dreams may be acheivable.

I sincerely do hope though that this will not prove to be another infamous, premature 'mission accomplished'. I guess I'll be happier now when all the kit, data and myself return to base for further cogitation and dissemination.

Cheers,

DIYNGO

Emotion is not a dirty word

2009-04-18T07:07:00.000-07:00

There's a place for emotions in research (as that is what this project is in this feasibility stage). It may be that ethics are a kind of conduit between reason (logic, etc.) and emotion (those phenomena which 'make' us human). Aristotle probably knew more about this but it does appear to be that ethics or morals are the rationalisation of emotions. That is, one can think through feelings then decide upon a 'moral code' in order to seemingly objectify the irrational; translate it to the rational. The danger though is when ethics completely lose touch with their emotional genesis and become dogmatic through decree. Then we can say that the moral code is being applied too mechanistically to be of 'real' use, i.e. is being used inappropriately. Conversely though if the emotions are left to dictate the rational then there are at least two dangers. The first is that the results are skewed; are not 'scientific'. The second is that the experimenter becomes too involved in the experiement to their own personal detriment. Certainly the latter is a serious concern for any social intervention. Self-protection must be paramount if the experiment is to acheive any longevity.

Contact!

2009-04-18T02:15:00.000-07:00

Just met with a fellow renewable energy DIYer, a local man who provides power for his family with a 16W solar array. He uses the power for charging his mobile phone, lighting his home and playing the radio. He also has ambitions to use it to pump water! This local man shares our enthusiasm for renewables and has been into it since 1998-longer than us! We will take a trip over tomorrow with the Asus Eee PC in the hope of using his solar set-up to power it.

Wish us luck! We are thinking we may have found a local Champion!

The Complexities of Development Work

2009-04-17T02:22:00.000-07:00

We're realising that 'Development' work is rather complex! We were trying to avoid to simply go down the charity route of donations to developing communities. We were attempting to encourage communities to help themselves. However, here in Kenya we're now realising that a seed does have to be planted before the tree can grow. That is, it may prove necessary to introduce some basic 'seed' technology to a community in order to start the ball rolling. In other words (to continue the analogy) if the ball is missing the 'game' will never be played! However, it is also proving quite obvious that if the knowledge (or 'rules') of how to play the game are missing then the ball may just sit there idly. So, it will be important to train teachers especially in the use of technology in 'developing' communities.

On the technical front the PDA set-up is still proving to be quite useful. Unfortunately we're not yet getting the MP3 player/recorder to charge from solar-it seems it doesn't like an unsteady power flow. Will try to look at this. Still need to test the FM transmitter but all in due course. Perhaps we'll attempt to broadcast the interview with Dr. David Harper. Generally its perhaps around a 75% succes rate with regard to the technical side of things although it has to be stressed that this is quite an arbitrary measure.

Power Outage!

2009-04-16T04:24:00.000-07:00

We have a temporary power outage at camp! Can charge PDA and camera using solar but not the Eee PC, just when we wanted to use it to write up the aforementioned lesson plan. Nevermind, it will have to wait. Am also charging a Zen MP3 player by solar with a view to using it to record interviews, etc as well as listen to music on! Pity the Asus set up wasn't ready on time...

Linking with Science for Sustainability

2009-04-16T01:07:00.000-07:00

Thinking it may be possible to link with the past Science for Sustainability project. About to design a lesson plan for the games we built and which were re-contextualised for the Lake Bogoria region. Thinking that 'further work' could be utilising ICTs e.g. to further investigate the links between the local and the wider global context. This could help drive DIYNGO'S aims of enabling access to education (for sustainability), healthcare (for local conditions such as malaria) and government (development policy). Although these are simply examples.

How are all things Kenyan?

2009-04-16T00:35:00.000-07:00

So here we are actually in Kenya! Certainly there's more to be thought about here than originally anticipated. We were always interested in a socio-technical perspective on the kinds of issues we'd be attempting to address. After all, the issue of 'development' (hopefully sustainable) concerns humans so we should really perhaps consider the social above the technical?

Anyhow, more posts perhaps as things become a little clearer.

We've been meeting a number of people in the local community here in order to get a feel for the place, or create a 'rich picture' as Social Scientists would say. Data so far consists of field notes in the form of a diary and photographs. Hopefully this afternoon we'll get a chance to run a focus group with some local school children plus we hope to interview a local key actor in various community organisation initiatives.

On the technical side of things it certainly seems like mobile technology is the way to go. In a way this may be a self-fulfilling prophecy of some kind since the renewable energy for the Asus Eee PC was not a viable option at this time. However, the HYMini is working admirably or at least the solar panels are. There is little wind here so the wind turbine is not getting up to a great enough speed to charge the internal battery. There is, though, plenty of sun to be charging solar panels. It is therefore possible to be charging the HYMini by day then use it to charge the Palm Centro PDA over night. The Palm Centro then becomes the technical tool of choice for everything. At least that is the current focus of exploration.

So that maybe brings you up-to-speed. More (shorter) posts from the PDA perhaps as the project progresses.

Thanks,

DIYNGO.

in-situ

2009-04-14T11:19:00.000-07:00

here we are in kenya, lake bogoria!

new beginnings

2008-11-23T14:30:00.000-08:00

kommunitee a go go!