[afnog] Fwd: W3C Workshop on the Mobile Web, 1-2 April, Maputo

[McTim]

Apologies for the multiple lists...Some may find this interesting indeed

FYI:
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THE WORLD WIDE WEB CONSORTIUM
Africa Perspective on the Role of Mobile Technologies in Fostering
Social Development
1-2 April 2009,  Maputo, Mozambique
Hosted by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Government of Mozambique
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: http://www.w3.org/2008/10/MW4D_WS/
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W3C WORKSHOP CALL FOR PARTICIPATION
The W3C Workshop on the «Africa Perspective on the Role of Mobile
Technologies in Fostering Social and Economic Development» aims to
understand specific challenges of using mobile phones and Web
technologies to deliver services to underprivileged populations of
developing countries, and to capture the specificities of the African
context.
More specifically, workshop participants will discuss the barriers for
potential content providers (NGO/ grassroots, government,
entrepreneur, etc.) to develop and deploy services, and the barriers
for the targeted population to access these services (issues around
illiteracy, internationalization, accessibility, usability, etc.).
TOPICS OF DISCUSSION
The Web, and ICT in general, has been recognized as a great tool to
potentially resolve the historical divides between developed and
developing economies by providing an infrastructure to deploy minimal
services (health, education, business, government, etc.) to rural
communities and under-privileged populations. A new hope is coming
with the very high penetration rate of mobile telephony in emerging
economies. The challenges that the workshop will explore involve a
coordinated approach from different fields, and different actors.
Topics that might serve as appropriate discussion points for position
papers include, but are not limited to:
*  Analysis of use-cases / real-world projects.
*  Challenges of integrating ICTs in rural communities.
*  Usability and Human-Computer Interfaces (HCI) challenges of mobile
browser and mobile content.
*  Challenges and potential solutions against illiteracy.
*  Analysis on the way the mobile phones and/or the Web could improve
people's lives in developing countries.
*  Comparison between different potential platforms to support ICT's
deployment (mobile phones, low-cost laptop, telecenters, etc.).
*  Challenges of sustainability, scalability and replicability.
*  Challenges and opportunity of integrating mobile phones in specific
domains: eGovernment projects (mGovernment), e-health projects,
disaster management, etc.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Representatives from the following communities are encouraged to attend:
*  ICT for Development experts
*  Academics from developed and developing nations
*  Field practitioners and NGO/grassroots organizations
*  Local entrepreneurs with experience in ICT services
*  Usability, accessibility and Web experts
*  Mobile industry and digital divide experts
REQIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATION
There is no participation fee and W3C membership is not required in
order to participate in the workshop.  Because of the space limitation
and to ensure relevance of interests, each participant must submit a
statement of interest before February 12, 2009. In addition, each
participant wishing to have a paper published on the workshop Web site
and/or wishing to make a presentation during the event must submit a
position paper abstract no later than January 12, 2009. More details
are available on the workshop page at:
http://www.w3.org/2008/10/MW4D_WS/#Participation
Authors will be notified of the decision of the Program Committee by
January 25, 2009. All statement of interests, as well as selected
papers will be made public before the workshop.
IMPORTANT DATES
*  January 12, 2009 -  Deadline for abstract submission
*  January 25, 2009 -  Committee decisions and abstract selection
*  February 20, 2009 - Program released
*  March 10, 2009 -    Deadline for full paper submissions
*  March 15, 2009 -    End of sponsorship opportunity
*  March 20, 2009 -    Deadline for registration
*  April 1-2, 2009 -   Workshop
WORKSHOP ORGANIZATION
The workshop will be chaired by Stéphane Boyera (W3C,Chair of the
Mobile Web for Social Development group)and George Sadowsky.
The Program Committee currently hosts:
*  Ken Banks, Kiwanja.net
*  Anthony Bloome, Peace Corps
*  Philip Hoschka, W3C
*  Michael Maltese, Legatum Center
*  Gary Marsden, University of Cape Town
*  Americo Muchanga, University Eduardo Mondlane, Mozambique
*  David Sawe, Government of Tanzania
*  Alice Wanjira Munya, Kenya ICT Action Network
*  Raul Zambrano, UNDP

SPONSOR THIS WORKSHOP!
This workshop offers a sponsorship program, as a marketing opportunity
that enables sponsors to showcase their organization and to
communicate to the community of participants, and to the industry at
large, that their organization is a driving force within the mobile
Web for social development community.  There are three levels of
sponsorship (Platinum/Gold/Silver) offering a wide range of benefits.
For further information, please contact Stéphane Boyera
(boyera at w3.org) and Marie-Claire Forgue (mcf at w3.org) before 15 March
2009. Note: this sponsorship program is designed to enable
participation by individuals and organizations with particular
expertise, but who might not otherwise be able to attend due to travel
or other costs.

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Cheers,

McTim
http://stateoftheinternetin.ug