Exciting Projects for Emerging Markets - An Interview with Wayan Vota

Wayan Vota, Director of the Geekcorps Division, International Executive Services Corps, presented some insights on his experience of technology deployment in emerging markets in the Emerging Markets Technology Track on June 9. In this brief interview, Wayan shares more about Geekcorps and the benefits of its VIA-based technology solutions.

Q1: What are the fascinating projects that Geekcorps are involved in at this time?

Wayan: Geekcorps and VIA are collaborating on two cutting edge solutions in Mali, West Africa, the Desert PC and the Cybertigi.  The Desert PC system uses a VIA Mini-ITX form factor as the base of a hardened, satellite Internet-connected PC for radio stations in extremely remote locations beyond the famed Timbuktu, to research, create, and share digital audio content with their listeners and other radio stations in Mali.  The Desert PC Systems also allow the radios to provide communication services to their listeners, and combined with digital radio programming revenue, are creating new business opportunities for the community.

The Cybertigi is a mobile computing kiosk based on the VIA PHD Platform for micro-businesses to sell cyber services (email, voicemail, copying, digital imaging, printing, etc) at market days to Mali's "last mile" - people in rural Mali without access to basic information or communication services.  The Cybertigi will have both synchronous and asynchronous Internet connectivity, depending on location, and use a touch screen and localized software to ease use by the highly illiterate population.

Q2: What kinds of benefits can the users of Geekcorps' and VIA's technology solutions expect to reap from your efforts?

Wayan: Geekcorps' international technology experts teach communities how to be digitally independent: able to create and expand private enterprise with innovative, appropriate, and affordable information and communication technologies (ICTs).  VIA's innovative chip sets and the PHD Appliance allow Geekcorps to focus on the most difficult aspect of digital independence - sustainable ICT-based business models that are applicable to and replicatable across developing nations.