All IT & New Media Projects

To create an outlet for students to produce multimedia content, teach them about digital media tools, and push the boundaries of video on the internet. Learn more

Currently, we received limited support to conduct field-testing of malaria outbreak prediction model only at one site in India. We need to conduct field-testing in at least two other sites to develop a preliminary model of disease outbreak prediction. This funding will enable us to undertake these field tests. We plan to undertake research on issues involved in large-scale development and use of this model. We also plan to develop a preliminary understanding of using this model for other vector borne disease including Dengue, Yellow fever, and Chikungunya. We need financial support for conducting field studies, which include travel and lodging and a stipend to cover our time of preparatory research at Berkeley. We estimate that we would require approximately $10,000 for the above-mentioned activities. Learn more

To enhance access to literacy among children of school-going age in the developing world. In particular, we aim to complement the formal schooling system by applying mobile learning technology to augment educational opportunities in out-of-school settings. In order to make the literacy challenge more tractable, we are currently focusing on English language literacy in rural India. But we expect our lessons to be applicable to other languages and to other developing regions throughout the world. English is widely seen as a key to socioeconomic success in India. English is taught in almost all schools: as a second language in public schools, and as a first language and the medium of instruction in most private schools. Fluency in English can almost be equated with membership in the middle and upper classes. A recent article states that mastery of English is the “single most influential factor that determines access to elite educational institutions, and hence to important avenues of economic and social advancement.” Language competency is also the biggest barrier to technology empowerment, e.g. 90% of the indigenous web content in India is in English. Learn more

Prepare students in the research, project management, and design of information and communication technologies for development (ICT4D). Build on and integrate the existing efforts at Berkeley in ICT4D Learn more

To develop a working prototype of a microscopy device that will perform rapid optical screening for diseases by collecting and transmitting images via a camera cell phone. Learn more

To democratize the independent film financing business. Learn more