technology | antropologi.info

Women in Cameroon:Information technology as a way out of the cultural cul-de-sac

Published on February 7, 2005 by lorenz Posted in Africa, anthropology in the news, culture traditions, gender, technology

IPS News Service

As is the case in much of Africa, cultural and religious factors in Cameroon have proved formidable obstacles to the advancement of women in the workplace. Traditional beliefs dictate that a women’s place is in the home, prompting many parents to take their daughters out of school at an early age – and allow them to be married. Information technology has proving especially useful in showing women a way out of the cultural cul-de-sac they so often find themselves in. >> continue

MORE ON IT AND DEVELOPMENT
Digital Opportunity Channel (oneworld.net / digital divide network)

IPS News Service

Anthropologists wonder about iPod-culture

Published on January 31, 2005 by lorenz Posted in anthropology in the news, applied anthropology, culture traditions, internet, music, technology

Detroit News

Portable music players create their own culture. iPod users, who also call themselves “iPeople,” say they can’t get enough of the music downloaded from computer hard drives, the Internet and CD collections. Cultural anthropologists and techno experts wonder what the impact of their actions will be. At this point, experts are still grappling for answers. >> continue (updated link, original no longer available)

SEE ALSO:
iPod Nation? (The Tufts Daily, updated link)

Detroit News

Portable music players create their own culture. iPod users, who also call themselves "iPeople," say they can't get enough of the music downloaded from computer hard drives, the Internet and CD collections. Cultural anthropologists and techno experts wonder what…

Anthropologists on fieldwork for Microsoft in India

Published on January 12, 2005 by lorenz Posted in anthropology in the news, applied anthropology, Asia, corporate & business anthropology, culture traditions, design anthropology, technology

RedNova News / Seattle Post – Intelligencer

Microsoft Corp.’s research unit is turning to social scientists in a new effort to understand the long-term possibilities for computer technology in developing countries.

A Microsoft Research lab, to be inaugurated tomorrow in Bangalore, India, plans to employ anthropologists, ethnographers and others to observe and document the lives of people in India’s rural villages.

A primary aim of the new group is to help Microsoft understand the situation in rural villages before the company tries to create appropriate technologies for them – rather than first creating the technologies and then trying to find areas where they might apply. >> continue

SEE ALSO:
Microsoft hires five anthropologists (Inc Magazine, june 2004)
antropologi.info’s special on Corporate Anthropology

RedNova News / Seattle Post - Intelligencer

Microsoft Corp.'s research unit is turning to social scientists in a new effort to understand the long-term possibilities for computer technology in developing countries.

A Microsoft Research lab, to be inaugurated tomorrow in Bangalore, India,…

Anthropological film: How technology helps men with physical handicaps

Published on December 13, 2004 by lorenz Posted in anthropology in the news, development empowerment, technology, Visual Anthropology

One more film to be viewed on the website of Visual Anthropology in Tromsø/Norway – Independent by Espen Marius Foss:

“This story is about two young Norwegian men with physical handicaps who seek the good life in a technological world. Dagfinn runs his own computer-enterprise, but dreams about a job in a bigger company. Geir Ove has a sound assistance-system, but lacks necessary aids to write another novel.

The film addresses the new possibilities and limits for participation and creative existence within the “Information Society”. It also questions our craving for individual independency.” >> continue and watch the video (Broadband only)

One more film to be viewed on the website of Visual Anthropology in Tromsø/Norway - Independent by Espen Marius Foss:

"This story is about two young Norwegian men with physical handicaps who seek the good life in a technological world. Dagfinn…

Ethnography, cross cultural understanding and product design

Published on December 10, 2004 by lorenz Posted in anthropology in the news, applied anthropology, corporate & business anthropology, design anthropology, technology

Ideas Bazaar reports from an interesting seminar about – among others – ethnography and product design and points to aviable conference papers online.

The Global Watch Mission Report Innovation through people-centred design – lessons from the USA emphasises that people in their social context rather than task-centric users should be considered a fundamental source of innovation. Furthermore it states that “cross-cultural understandings are becoming increasingly important for companies such as Intel who are using multi-sited worldwide research as part of the innovation process” >> download the report

>> to Ideas Bazaar’s comments

>> Anne Galloway’s comments / summary of the report

>> Louise Ferguson’s comment: “The user/human/people agenda is hitting the mainstream rather than being the preserve of a niche community.”

>> Press release University of Surrey: Innovation Through People Centred Design – Lessons For UK Business From the USA

>> Corporate Anthropology

>> Social Software: Video presentations of a conference in Oslo

Ideas Bazaar reports from an interesting seminar about - among others - ethnography and product design and points to aviable conference papers online.

The Global Watch Mission Report Innovation through people-centred design - lessons from the USA emphasises that people in…