ict4d course 2013 - low resources infrastructure
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TRANSCRIPT
ICT4DChristophe Guéret (@cgueret)
ICT infrastructure in low resources settinghttp://bit.ly/ICT4D-Infrastructure
What to expect from this lecture
● Overview of low-resource infrastructures
● Introduction of some technological solutions
● Highlight of "do"s and "don't"s
Where? countries with low income
World Bank projects http://maps.worldbank.org/
Where ? schools, villages, ...
ICT here and there
● Same data needs and expectations but...○ Here: push technology, usage will follow○ There: spot usage and find matching technology
● Direct implications to keep in mind:1. The best infrastructure is not necessarily
the one with the highest specifications !2. Cloning what we enjoy here will most
probably not work there !
Technology enhanced communication
● Several elements are implied● Need to pay attention to all of them in their
context
Software
Computing device
Network
Software
Computing device
Embedding the users
Software
Computing device
Network
Software
Computing device
● Bring the ICT to the users, or the inverse
Two types of deployment
● Examples○ Community computer center (Video)○ Internet café○ "Computer room" in schools
● Advantages○ One installation impact many users○ Centralisation of infrastructural needs
● Disadvantages○ Concentration of valuable items○ Typically high installation costs○ Harder to embed into culture / habits
Bring the users to the ICT
● Examples○ "One Laptop per Child" initiative○ Smart phones and tablets
● Advantages○ "Personal" relationship with the device○ De-centralisation of resource usage
● Disadvantages○ One device per person○ Higher deployment costs
Bring the ICT to the users
What's best to do?
● Very much depending on the context○ Easy access to a central location?○ What kind of usage for the devices?
● It is possible to hybridise the approaches○ e.g.: use laptops and print in a cyber-café
● Also think of embedding other communication channels○ prints○ USB sticks○ ...
● In any case, remember that○ Devices will have to be serviced on spot○ Training individuals to operate something is costly○ Not everything is available everywhere○ Uptake will be better from involved communities
● Thus, to increase chances of success○ Source material locally as much as possible○ Source expertise locally as much as possible○ Ensure appropriation of what is deployed
● "Colonialism 2.0"
Use local expertise and materials
● Ship baby incubator to developing countries
● Big failure○ $40000 per unit○ Hard to find spare parts○ Closed design○ Need skilled staff
Example: baby incubator [1,2]
● Build baby incubator in, and for, developing countries
● NeoNurture○ $1000 per unit○ Car parts○ Open design○ Need staff able to repair
and use a car
Example: baby incubator [1,2]
Example: baby incubator [1,2]
● Failure○ Fragile○ Expensive○ Demanding○ Unfit software
Example: laptops for children
Example: laptops for children
● Goal: rack and charge several laptops
● What would you suggest ?
Example: charging station
Solution [3]: PVC● Inexpensive
and accessible
● Can be assembled by anyone
Example: charging station
One last word about local expertise
Two skilled technicians servicing their broken laptops
Electricity
Software
Computing device
Network
Software
Computing device
● Some of the things to power up○ Power supply○ CPUs and GPUs○ Screens / Lights○ Printing devices○ Storage devices○ Networking devices○ Cooling devices
● Get electricity from○ The grid (Solar, Wind, Nuclear, Tidal, ...)○ Local production (Solar, Fuel, ...)
Electricity consumption
● Varies a lot depending on the CPU class and internal architecture (Intel / ARM)
● Indicated through the TDP value
Consumption of a CPU
Server Desktop Netbook Smart phone
69 to 150 W 19 to 73 W 0.65 to 13 W 0.5 to 2 W
● Varies depending on the technology
Consumption of a Screen
0.4 to 1.7 W
http://pixelqi.com
● Essentially depends on the technology● Not having movable parts is better
Consumption of storage device
Using electricity from the grid
● Pluses○ Stable, and affordable,
source
● Minuses○ High throughput of
generation point○ Significant
infrastructure costs○ Electricity does not
travel well -> hard to connect remote areas
Local production
● Pluses○ Easy to deploy
● Minuses○ Less stable than grid○ High initial costs
More about solar power
http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/technology/solar-power/
● Estimated 1000W per m2
● Actual up to 200W per m2
● Better bet on less in practice
Network
Software
Computing device
Network
Software
Computing device
● In theory, like the post : wrap the message and send it to the address of B
● In practice this is not so simple○ First,find the address of B○ Then, send the message through a relay of
machines and connections
● Let's see what happen when "univ-tours.fr" is typped in a Web browser ...
Sending a message from A to B
● This has to be translated into "193.52.209.12", the actual address of the machine
● Use the DNS system to do that○ Ask the root server ".fr" for the address of "univ-
tours"○ Ask "univ-tours" for its default host address
● Such names are called TLD and have to be paid for (roughly 15 euros per year)
Find the address of "univ-tours.fr"
● The Web browser sends a request for "index.html" to the port 80
● Goal: send the request from a machine in the Netherlands to another (probably) in France
● See what actually happens with the tools "tcptraceroute" and "traceroute"
Ask for the Web index page
● The Web browser sends a request for "index.html" to the port 80
●
What happens in practice...
● Internet is a network of networks● Several routes can connect two devices● Traffic is agglomerated on several levels● ISPs exist for each level
Why ?
Going around the continents
http://www.submarinecablemap.com/
and connecting cities
http://www.lilobzh.com/free/article-degroupage.php#idf
Why does it matter in ICT4D ?
● Let two farmers in Mali send a mail to each other implies a couple of regional servers
● If they want to use GMail, a backbone connection to the US' west coast will also be involved !
● Consequences○ Web-based social networking can hardly be local○ The costs for the end user is likely to be high○ ( Cloud computing is incompatible with ICT4D )
Good news! transit prices are falling
http://www.telegeography.com/research-services/global-internet-geography/index.html
Ok, so what can be done ?
● Research on Downscaling the Semantic Web will bring data sharing to everyone, regardless of Internet connectivity○ https://worldwidesemanticweb.wordpress.com/
● Creating mesh networks is a first step into connecting devices
Mesh VS Infrastructure network
How to choose
● Reasons to prefer a mesh network○ More robust○ Faster to deploy○ Example: Sensors network
● Reasons to prefer an infrastructure network○ Better for the quality of service○ Shared installation costs○ Example: Universities' WiFi
● It is also possible to combine the two
Connecting remote areas
● Long wires○ Use optic fiber and/or copper wires
● Long range Wireless○ Use WiFi technology (IEEE 802.11b) to connect
relays over long distance○ Network technologies 2G (GSM), 3G (WCDMA,
EDGE) and 4G (LTE, WiMax) are licenced
● Sneaker net○ Use removable media to move information among
storage devices
India's rural network
http://www.cse.iitk.ac.in/users/braman/dgp.html
Island of "Nosy Komba"
http://www.olpcnews.com/hardware/wireless/olpc_frances_long_distance_wi-.html
What's up with USB sticks then?
Throughput
Latency
Hybrid solution
http://www.firstmilesolutions.com/documents/DakNet_IEEE_Computer.pdf
Computing devices
Software
Computing device
Network
Software
Computing device
● Keep in mind three things○ The context of usage (dust, humidity, sunlight, ...)○ The target users○ The target use-cases○ The resources needed
● The computer you have at home is most probably not the one you would use in a developing country
● There exist some optimized hardware
What to pick?
The Classmate from Intel
● Rugged● Touch screen● Handle● Speakers● Microphone● Camera
The XO-1.75 and XO-4 from OLPC
● Use a couple of Watts● User-defined sensors● Accelerometer● Light sensor● Camera● Rugged● Speakers● No movable part● Microphone
SheevaPlug from GlobalScale
● ARM based CPU● Ethernet, WiFi● Solid state memory● USB ports
● Here used as an e-book server
T1 from Aleutia
● Sealed and fanless● Operate under 45oC● Atom processor● SSD disk
A note on thin clients
● Thin client = very lightweight PC that outsources all the computing to a bigger one
● Was among the first model of computing (e.g. IBM's AS/400). Still popular in classrooms settings thanks to its advantages
● Getting a new life with the increase of Cloud computing (c.f. Google's ChromeBook)
Software
Software
Computing device
Network
Software
Computing device
Total cost of ownership (TCO)
● Total cost of acquisition and operation● Computed over the expected operation time
Example: TCO of a car = car + parking place + fuel + insurance + driving license + ...
For ICT: hardware + software + skilled staff + infrastructure (electricity, network) + ...
TCO surprises
● Standalone data storage solution (NAS) is often less expensive than a PC with software RAID
● Inkjet printers can be more expensive than laser printers
Things to keep in mind
● Think of the TCO when picking up software○ Maintenance/Development is costly○ Things that don't work now will be left aside
■ Remember the target users are not geeks!
● See how fit the software exactly is○ Are vocal interfaces needed?
● Consider to which extent users can appropriate and customise the software
Suggestions
● Prefer affordable and supported software○ Individuals have few money but don't mind spending
it on things that matters
● Prefer open source software○ Highest level of appropriation level
● Prefer software using open standards○ If the software changes, the data can still be used
Sugar learning environment
To summarise ...
● See what is already working and think how ICT can be improve part of communication
● Think of all the side things○ cost, environmental conditions, ...
● Design carefully your use-cases
● Employ appropriate hardware and software
When you consider ICT in low resources setting