Online Identity for the Base of the Pyramid

Client: Pawel Moll, ARM <Pawel.Moll@arm.com>

Initiatives such as Girl Effect and StoryBank provide new content channels for the poorest people in developing countries to gain a visible online identity. How could you minimise the educational and financial obstacles to their visibility in the global media ecosystem? SMS hubs such as Frontline SMS, or village kiosks containing Raspberry Pi with cameras? Are keyboards or screens essential? You'll need to consider user literacy and appropriate interaction mechanisms for those whose technical expertise may be limited, but who will be empowered by gaining new skills. Finally, don't forget that having a voice is not sufficient to have an identity - somebody has to hear it.