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Leveraging Web 2.0 to Develop Better Applications for Rural Communities. Amit Dasgupta. Contents. A Perspective on Knowledge Sharing Applications Challenges in Knowledge Sharing Leveraging Web 2.0 for Better Applications Crop Cultivation Planning Irrigation Scheduling
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Leveraging Web 2.0 to Develop Better Applications for Rural Communities Amit Dasgupta September 2007
Contents • A Perspective on Knowledge Sharing Applications • Challenges in Knowledge Sharing • Leveraging Web 2.0 for Better Applications • Crop Cultivation Planning • Irrigation Scheduling • Agro Input & Prophylactic Control • Web 2.0 for Stakeholders • Conclusions September 2007
A Perspective on Knowledge Apps. • India has made remarkable progress in technology, industrial development and economic growth • But the benefits of such development have not reached the agricultural community - 60% of India’s population. • Lack of easy access to knowledge and information – a key inhibitor for robust agricultural development • Availability of information is not a constraint, several institutions contribute to the knowledge pool - Ineffective dissemination of information is the main impediment. • Applications available currently are limited in content and functionality and can only serve a localised community. September 2007
Challenges in Knowledge Sharing What are the challenges in developing knowledge sharing applications for a larger community? • Without a large user base, difficult to justify the high cost • A large user base can be expected only if regional variations and localization needs are addressed, thereby increasing complexity • To provide rich information and content, data has to be extracted from multiple sources, which demands close collaboration • Due to limited access to computers, applications can be widely used only if they can support multiple devices - cell phones, TV etc September 2007
How Can Web 2.0 be Useful? • To improve the quality of information by linking information from multiple data sources • To reduce cost of content creation and deployment • For providing better access through multiple devices Content aggregation & syndication (RSS/ATOM feeds) with mashups allows better information and knowledge management Collaborative content authoring using WIKI and feeds for publishing data Information access through multiple devices using feeds and mashups September 2007
How Can Web 2.0 be Useful? • To provide richer content using collective intelligence of user communities and experts • For effective information exchange and knowledge management between geographically dispersed stakeholdersthrough a collaborative web platform. • WIKI for collaborative authoring • Through tagging more meaning to data can be attached collaboratively Tag • WIKI & tagging for collaborative authoring & information exchange. • Feeds & mashups for knowledge management. Tag September 2007
Crop Cultivation Planning Trading firms/ Auction Centres Market Demand Data Web Application Farmers To analyse demand & supply position Cultivation Data from Village/Block • Demand Supply Gap • Suggested Crop • Cultivation Plan Application Server • Crop Cultivation Data • Demand Supply Gap Insurance, Financial Agri Input & Food Processing Cos. September 2007
Irrigation Scheduling Meteorological Department Irrigation Department Meteorological Data Web Application Irrigation Schedules For Irrigation Scheduling Application Server Soil Maps Farmers National Bureau of Soil Survey September 2007
Agro Input & Prophylactic Control • Advice on: • Fertiliser & pesticide use • Prophylactic control Experts Web Application Farmers Computerised models for fertiliser and pesticide use • Soil Test Data • Pest Description Guidance on Crop, Agro Inputs & Pesticide use Application Server Experience Sharing & Feedback Farming Community September 2007
User Community Research Institutions, Govt. Agencies & Business Users Systems Developers Subscribe to content feeds Publish feeds on crop demand, prices, agro inputs and meteorology Manage feeds and provide easier mechanisms to publish and consume feed content Feeds Tag content for receiving and searching information Monitor tags to publish more relevant feeds Provide a mechanism to data-mine tag content and provide visualization in the form of tag-clouds Tagging Have access to value added information and content published as feeds Use mash up-builder tools to create mashups for data mining and other research and business needs Provide support for mashing-up of content; using mashup-builders to generate richer information and knowledge Mashups Author and view content Author view and regulate content Maintain the WIKI, and its integration with other Web 2.0 technologies Wiki Web 2.0 for Stakeholders Tag September 2007
Conclusion • Integration of data from multiple sources will be required to provide meaningful information and content. • Involvement of stake holders is crucial for sharing and dissemination of information for knowledge sharing applications for the agricultural community. • Using the Web2.0 framework would offer significant advantages: • Richer information and content • Geographically dispersed organisations can jointly work together • Collaborative framework for community participation September 2007
Conclusion… • The message is clear. Academic and research institutions, government agencies, NGOs, commercial organisations and users must collaborate. • The time is opportune for key stakeholders to convene a Forum to work together, to make knowledge more accessible to rural communities. • The impact of such initiatives on the rural economy and benefits to the farming community worldwide - would be truly astounding! September 2007
Questions? amit_dasgupta@yahoo.com September 2007
Thank You! amit_dasgupta@yahoo.com September 2007